Keeping Your Kids Healthy and Safe this Holiday

Holidays are best when they are spent having a wonderful time with family and friends – and not spent in an Potranco ER. However, each year, thousands of people end up in the emergency room due to holiday-related illnesses and injuries.

Below are some holiday safety tips that you should keep in mind to support your efforts for safety and health this season.

1. Toys – toys are meant to bring happiness, not harm. Keep these in mind, especially if you have young children:

• Take note of the age recommendations and be sure to follow them.
• If the toy doesn’t come with an age recommendation to serve as a guide, don’t purchase, and don’t gift anything with small parts for a child who is 3 years and below. This includes tiny pieces that seem to be attached – such as car wheels – but could become unattached.
• Remove ribbons, tags, and strings from toys before giving it to a young child.
• Be cautious of anything that has magnets or button batteries if you have little ones in the house. Ingestion of either one of them can lead to a serious medical emergency.
• Toys intended for very young children cannot have sharp edges or points.
• For babies, do not give toys with cords or strings that are seven inches or more. This may cause strangulation.

2. Holiday food – one of the most wonderful traditions about holidays is preparing holiday food. This can be safe with a few precautions.

• Ensure that all raw produce is washed well.
• Be sure that poultry and meat are cooked thoroughly.
• Keep raw and cooked food separated from the refrigerator, so that the raw food won’t contaminate the cooked food with bacteria.
• Wash your hands often! Keeping them clean is one of the most important things you can do to prevent yourself from getting sick and from spreading germs to others. Rub your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.
• If there are little ones underfoot while you cook, use back burners whenever possible, keep hot liquids out of reach, and keep knives away from curious kids.

The holidays are a wonderful time to enjoy time with your family, reflect on what’s important, and be grateful. Protect yourself and your family from holiday dangers by keeping these tips in mind. And if you need us, Physicians Premier, your local Potranco ER, is open 24/7 daily, even on holidays!