The holidays are a time of wonder for children of all ages, but unfortunately this time of year also creates some new hazards for kids. The father-son attorney team at Flaxman Law Group has worked with many families who have been facing a child’s injury and we’ve put together this guide to help you reduce the risk of child injuries in your home and during your holidays.
How to Keep Kids Safe During the Holidays
While you can’t foresee every hazard, here are some ways you can keep your children safer:
- Check gifts carefully. Make sure every gift your child plays with is age appropriate. A toy safe for an older child is a danger for a toddler. Also check toys and gifts for sharp edges and small detachable pieces that can pose a choking hazard. A quick search online can verify if a toy is considered safe or whether it’s on a recall list.
- Avoid candles as decorations. While beautiful, candles create the risk of fire and burn injuries. Candles and open flame can be especially attractive to young children, so smart alternatives are LED lights, which don’t heat up, and flameless candles that use LED lights rather than flame.
- Avoid decorations on the stairs. Garlands around the railing can look festive, but they can also make it harder to get a firm grip when you’re going up and down stairs. Similarly, anything that drapes over the stairs or rests on the stairs can cause trip and fall injuries.
- Check lights and other decorations carefully. Small children may find lights and other décor interesting and may reach for them, pulling them down. Make sure lights are cooler LED lights and check all decorations for sharp edges or any small pieces that can break off.
- Watch out for extension cords. You may need some extension cords if you’re hanging lights, but kids may want to play with the cords and the cords can pose a tripping hazard for everyone in your household. Try to avoid extension cords if you can. If you can’t, try to run the extension cords high, out of children’s reach, or use childproof cord covers to reduce the risk of injury.
- Place decorations up high. Any decorations are safer up high, well out of each of children. This is especially the case for items such as poinsettias, which can cause a rash and stomach upset if chewed, and for any ceramic or breakable items.
- Have a plan for supervision. One of the biggest risks for children is that they can get into trouble while the adults are busy with holiday preparations or festivities. One of the best things you can do for kids’ safety is to set up a solid plan for supervision that includes having a few adults or older children watching younger children at all times.
Sometimes, even with the best care childhood injuries happen, and they’re especially upsetting during the holidays. Unsafe toys, negligent security at stores, and many other situations can cause an injury.
If your child is injured, you can call Flaxman Law Group at 866-352-9626 anytime, 24/7, and speak to a live person to schedule a free, no obligation consultation with a Hollywood childhood injury claims attorney. At Flaxman Law Group, we’re family, too, and we look out for families after a serious injury. In your free accident consultation with a Hollywood childhood injury claims attorney, you’ll get a chance to ask questions and to get an evaluation of your potential claim.