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Christmas should be a time for family fun, not a trip to the emergency room. Help prevent children from getting injured at Christmas by following these safety tips:
chaos, confusion, changes in routine

Christmas Trees and Holiday Greenery

• Buy a fresh tree with needles that don't easy break or detach from the branches.
  
• Cut a few inches off the trunk to expose fresh wood for better water absorption and check the water level every day.
  
• Place the tree at least 3 feet from fireplaces and radiators.
• Place tree out of pathways to avoid scratches and poked eyes. Do not block doorways.
• Never decorate a tree, even an artificial one, with real candles.
• Mistletoe and holly are poisonous. Hang greenery well out of reach of children and and wrap in netting to avoid berries falling on the floor.
• Avoid decorations that are sharp, breakable, or look like candy or food.
  
• Keep decorations with small removable parts out of the reach of children.
• Dispose of the tree properly when it begins dropping needles. Do not burn in fireplace. Do not leave an old tree in your garage or against your house.

Holiday Lights

• Inspect both new and old light strands and return or discard those with cracked sockets, loose connections, or frayed or exposed wires.
• Don't pull on a string of lights and store lights loosely wrapped to avoid damage.
• Use a maximum of three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord. Secure extension cords to avoid tripping.
• Never use electric lights on a metallic tree.
• When decorating outside only use lights and extension cords labeled for outdoor use.
• Plug outdoor lights into circuits with ground fault circuit interrupters Portable units are available.
• Turn off holiday lights when you leave home or go to bed.
• Place candles in a sturdy holder on a heat resistant surface and away from any flammable materials, such as draperies. Don't move burning candles and extinguish candles at bedtime and before leaving the house.
• Unplug lights before replacing a bulb with one of the same wattage.
• All outdoor electrical decorations should be plugged into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).
• Secure outside Christmas lights with insulated holders, instead of tacks or nails.
• Keep outdoor electrical connectors above ground and out of puddles and snow. Wrap a plastic bag around connections secure with electrical tape.

Fireplace Safety

• Before lighting any fire, remove all greens, boughs, papers, and other decorations from fireplace area.
• Do not burn wrapping paper or other packaging in the fireplace. These can ignite suddenly and burn intensely.
• Dispose of fireplace ashes in a metal container.
• Keep fire salts (for colored flame) away from children.

Toy Safety

• Supervise children on new riding toys, such as rocking horses and bicycles, until they learn to use them safely.
• If you're buying your child a bike, skates, or skateboard, also buy a helmet.
• Check toys from friends and relatives to ensure that they are age appropriate for your child.
• Keep toys out of pathways and off stairs to avoid trips and falls.

Kitchen and Food Safety

• Carefully supervise children in the kitchen to avoid burns and cuts.
• Don't hold a child while cooking or carrying hot foods.
• Keep handles of pots and pans turned so they can't be grabbed by little hands
• Keep knives and other sharp objects out of reach.
• Wipe up spills quickly.
• Use caution when micro waving liquids, especially fatty liquids such as gravy and milk. These can become explosively hot.
• Keep hot drinks away from table and counter edges.
• Throw away partially eaten foods and alcohol to avoid children nibbling on food that isn't safe for them.
• Quickly store leftovers in your refrigerator or freezer in clean containers.
• Provide a variety of non-alcoholic beverages to curb excessive drinking.

Driving Safety

• Be especially careful when driving during the holiday season due to weather-related hazards and increased risk of tired or drunken drivers.
• Don't carry more passengers than you have seatbelts for and ensure that all children have properly installed car seats.
• Don't transport large or heavy objects in your backseat. These can end up in the front seat if you need to break quickly.

General

• Ensure that small children are carefully supervised at all times. Don't assume that "someone" is watching them.
• Keep scissors, knives, screwdrivers and other sharp objects away from children.
• Be on alert for potential choking hazards from holiday decorations, toys, and foods.
• Keep walkways and stairs clears to reduce the risk of trips and falls.
• Keep pets calm and away from holiday crowds.
• Test your smoke detectors and change batteries or replace any that aren't operating properly.
• Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home.
• Have an operable fire extinguisher readily available.