HOLIDAY SAFETY CHECK

Holiday tree lights offer a bright, colorful array to a room. But those little bulbs can be a danger to a child. The time of the year is almost upon us when we need to use extra precautions in ensuring the safety of our homes.

Young children are unaware of dangers surrounding them. It is the responsibility of the parent to protect little ones. Iowa State University Extension offers several tips on home safety.

Babies are curious about everything. They explore by climbing, touching and pulling things down that they are not tall enough to see. Help prevent those little people from getting hurt by keeping holiday tree lights, lamps that can tip over, uncovered electrical outlets and matches out of their reach.

A parent should watch out for hazards all around the home. Parents have learned from experience where dangers are. Young children have not had this experience. Hazards in the home could be breakable glass, marbles and other tiny toys, plastic bags, plastic toys that break with sharp edges
and scissors and other sewing items.

Is your house and family safe? Here are some helpful tips to find if the family is safe:

• Are electrical sockets covered and furniture placed so that little fingers cannot reach them?
• Does the family buckle up during every car ride?
• Do kids under 10 cross streets with an adult?
• Are kids always supervised in or near water, including the bathtub?
• Is the home's smoke detector working and are the batteries checked monthly?
• Is the water heater set lower than 120 degrees to prevent scalding burns?
• If guns are in the home, are they kept unloaded and locked away?
• Are kids protected against falls from windows, stairs, furniture and playground equipment?
• Are household cleaners, medicines and vitamins stored out of the reach of young kids?
• Does the home have emergency numbers near the telephone and first aid supplies?

The holiday season is a time of fun and memories; do not let it be destroyed by unsafe practices.

11/17/97

Lesia Oesterreich
Extension Family Life Specialist
Human Development & Family Studies
Iowa State University Extension
1086 Lebaron Hall
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-4380

Treva Blumenshine
Extension Communication Systems
Morrill Hall
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011