CELEBRITIES-HEALTH.COM

CHILDREN CHRISTMAS 2008 SAFETY TIPS AND RULES

Accidents not only happen to others, and unintentional injury is the leading cause of death among small children, so better know all the risks to be prepared to avoid them.

It's possible to improve your children safety during the holidays and other events by following a few rules.

When you children receive toys for Christmas, always follow recommended age ranges on toy packages. You might not understand why, and even if you think that your child is able to use some toys for which he is supposed to be to young, don't take the risk, because some advanced toys could be a safety hazard for younger children.
Always check if some parts of the toys can be put apart and see if they could be swallowed. Always read the toys instructions carefully, and if the toy seems appropriate for your child, show him how to use it properly, so he won't get bad habits using that toys the wrong way. Never give toys that have sharp edges and points to very small children.

If your child is under age 3, parts contained in toys or games are even more a danger for him. Try to avoid any games with small balls, and always remember that small kids like to pull, and twist toys, so try to imitate them to see what happens with the toy if you throw it to the wall. Also remember that babies like to put small parts in their mouth and risk strangulation any time.

If your child is under age 8 remember that he could choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons.
It's also good to avoid toys that are constructed with thin, brittle plastic that might easily break into small pieces or leave jagged edges. Older kids playing around must be reminded to keep their own toys away from the smaller children and babies.

It should be a general rule for parents to check toys periodically for breakage and potential hazards, because even if at first a toy was ok, its shape might have changed and it might have become dangerous. Damaged or dangerous toys should be repaired or given to charity.
If you buy a bicycle for any age child, buy a helmet and legs protection too, and make sure the child wears them all the time. Teach all children to put toys away when they have finished playing so they don't trip over them or fall on them.

When kids have opened their Chrismas gifts you should throw away plastic wrappings on toys before they become dangerous play things. If more than one kid are opening their gift together, be sure they got the proper gift and are not playing with their friends' gift which might be dangerous for them. Always read toys warnings before kids start using them.

If your kids are playing outside the house with their Chrismas or new year gifts, make sure that their gloves and shoes stay dry, and change them as soon as they get wet.
Playing on the road should be prohibited, but if you have no other choice for example for kids to try their new bicycle, an adult should always stay with the kids.

But Christmas might also be a dangerous time because people are more relaxed, so if you have a party at home, clean up the room as fast as possible to avoid any child to play with something dangerous, or eat old food, or drink some alcohol forgotten in a glass.
If you go out for party or church ceremony, be sure the baby sitter knows your phone number and can reach you anytime.
She should also know the police station number, the fire department, your pediatrician number, and how to contact the poison control center.
Anywhere you go with your children, remember that these places may not be childproofed, even more if your friends do not have children, so keep an eye out for danger spots.