Decorations and Holiday Safety

Holiday plants and trees, twinkly lights, candles – decorations and other ornaments are an essential part of holiday celebrations. Aside from being fun and festive, the holiday decorations that you bring out every year-end can help your kids feel connected to family traditions.

While holiday celebrations are meant to be spent enjoying the company of friends and family, a lot of families end up going to their local Corpus Christi ER. The young ones get caught up in the excitement of the holiday and may be prone to injuries that can be prevented. Make the most out of this holiday season by learning how you can keep your family safe.

1. Are you going to buy a live tree? Be sure to check for freshness. If the tree is fresh, the needles should not break when you bend them and should be difficult to pull off. Before putting the tree in the stand, cut a few inches off the bottom of the trunk.
2. If you are going to get an artificial tree, be sure that it comes with a “Fire Resistant” label.
3. Place the tree away from portable heaters, radiators, or fireplaces. Do not place the tree in a place that is blocking a doorway, and make sure that it is out of the way of traffic.
4. Check all the lights – even the newly purchased ones – before hanging them on a tree. Make sure that there are no broken sockets, frayed wires, or loose connections.
5. When trimming a tree, use only flame-resistant or non-combustible materials.
6. Be cautious; there are trimmings that might have lead. Go for artificial icicles or tinsel of nonleaded or plastic materials. Sometimes lead is present in high amounts in light strands, in the wire coating, and bulb sockets. Be sure to wash your hands after handling the trimmings, and that they are out of reach of children. They might get too curious and try to put the lights in their mouths.
7. Never leave a burning candle unattended. Put them in a safe place where they will not be knocked over.

Throughout the year, young kids should be supervised at all times, but it’s especially important to take a few special precautions during the holidays. If you need emergency medical attention, know that Physicians Premier, your Corpus Christi ER, is open 24/7 during the holidays.