The holiday season is here and no matter which holiday(s) you celebrate (or not), it's a change in the season that affects everyone. Traffic is more hectic as the time draws near, and chances are pretty good that those that said last year that they will be better prepared for the next holiday season, are not.
Most of us will being getting more than enough of an emotional charge from watching way too many of the Christmas movies on TV that we watch every year that always manage to bring our senses to a yearly high. Many of us have family and friends coming to our homes, and we'll will be in a rush to make it a ‘perfect day’ and in a full on panic to get all the details just right to make it memorial, and joyous for all.
It's well worth taking a bit of extra time to think twice about safety for everyone attending.
With all the rushing, panic and self-induced stress that go with the season, sadly there will be several types of accidents, and incidents that are all preventable. Many of our homes are not exactly 'child-proof' and with so many little people coming to visit us, here are a few holiday safety 'gifts' aimed at helping to keep all of our holiday visitors a bit safer while we celebrate.
- Take special care to avoid decorations that are small, sharp or breakable
- Avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a young child to eat them
- Prevent burns and electrical shocks, don't give children (under age ten) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet
- Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length - they could be a strangulation hazard
- Clean up immediately after a holiday party - A toddler could rise early and choke on leftover food or come in contact with alcohol or tobacco
- Remember that the homes you visit with your children are probably not childproofed
- Mistletoe, holly berries, poinsettia plants and Christmas cactus are poisonous if swallowed
- An easy gauge to use is an empty toilet paper roll - if a toy can fit through the roll it is too small for a child
- Include helmets and other protective gear when giving bicycles, skates, or skateboards
- Be sure to place the breakable ornaments higher than small children and babies can reach
- Make sure there is someone designated to supervise the children - consider hiring a babysitter
- Keep visitors' purses and coats in a designated area, out of reach of young children - visitors' coats may contain items such as medicines and lighters that could harm a child
If the unthinkable happens have the Poison Control Center number by the phone as well as all other Emergency Numbers. In the US you can reach the Poison Control Center at 800.222.1222, or dial 911 or click here for more helpful safety gifts. In Alberta you can reach the Poison & Drug Information Service here, or simply dial 911.
Safety is a core value at Zedi, and we take our values very seriously. We hope you take safety seriously as a value as well for you, and your family - every day of the year.
Here's to wishing you and everyone in your family a safe, and happy holiday season!
