Prevent Injury During the Holidays
Everyone loves fireworks on the Fourth of July, scares on Halloween and presents during the winter holidays. But sometimes, an unexpected injury gets in the way of the fun.
Our Injury Prevention team provides holiday safety education so you can enjoy your time with family and friends, not in our trauma center. Follow these tips to enjoy your next holiday safely.
Firework Safety Tips
Fireworks can cause serious injuries if not handled properly. The best way to keep your family safe is to leave it to the professionals at public fireworks displays.
If you plan to use fireworks at home, follow these safety tips:
- Keep children and other observers at a safe distance away from lit fireworks.
- Point fireworks away from homes, brush, dry grass, leaves and other flammables.
- Keep a bucket of water and/or a fire extinguisher nearby.
- Use glow sticks instead of sparklers. Sparklers can reach 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Never hold lit fireworks in your hand.
- Don’t allow children to pick up the spent fireworks; some may still be active and very hot.
- If your child or one of your guests is injured, seek medical attention immediately.
Charcoal Grill Safety Tips
- Keep children away from the barbecue fire.
- When using lighter or starter fluid, move the container away from the grill before lighting the coals. After soaking the coals, wait a minute before lighting the coals.
- Never use gasoline as a starter fluid or accelerant, and never add starter fluid to hot or warm coals.
- Wear an insulated, fire retardant barbecue mitt when lighting pre-soaked coals.
- Barbecue lighters are for adults. They are not safe for children.
- If you use a lighter to start a gas barbecue, always turn on the lighter before you turn on the grill's gas or propane.
Campfire Safety Tips
- Make sure your tent is made of flame-retardant fabric.
- Build your fire downwind, far away from tents.
- Make sure the fire is fully extinguished when unattended.
- Supervise children at all times around a campfire.
Boat Safety
- Wear a life jacket approved by the U.S. Coast Guard while on boats, around open bodies of water or when participating in water sports.
- Water wings, noodles and other pool accessories should never be used as a substitute.
- Keep your children warm with a dry blanket or towel.
- Infants and young kids are at a higher risk for hypothermia, especially out on the water.
- Do not drink alcoholic beverages while boating.
Halloween Safety Tips
The combination of excitement, limited visibility and drivers arriving home at dusk creates a potentially dangerous environment for trick-or-treaters.
We focus on three primary areas to prevent injuries on Halloween:
- Costumes
- Crosswalks
- Candy
Children under 12 should be supervised by an adult while trick-or-treating.
Costumes
- Ensure the length of the costume doesn’t cause trips or falls.
- Wear athletic shoes with a non-slip sole.
- Avoid costume footwear such as clown shoes, slippers, high heels or decorative shoe covers.
- Check that your child’s shoelaces are tied and that the costume doesn’t inhibit their ability to re-tie during trick-or-treating.
- Decorate their costumes with reflective tape or stickers and have them carry a glow stick or flashlight.
- Costume swords, knives and other accessories should be short, soft and flexible. Do not use toy guns.
- Use non-toxic face makeup rather than an ill-fitting mask. Masks can make it difficult for your kids to see where they are walking. If your kid wears a mask, make sure it fits and has eyeholes large enough to allow full vision.
- Avoid costumes made with:
- Flimsy materials
- Big, baggy sleeves
- Billowing skirts
Crosswalks
- Cross at corners, obey traffic signals and always use crosswalks.
- Stick to sidewalks and paths, face traffic and walk — don’t run — across streets.
- Never cross between parked cars.
- Check driveways before crossing.
- Stay away from lit candles and luminaries while walking.
Candy
- Urge kids to avoid snacking while trick-or-treating so you have a chance to inspect their goodies first.
- Throw away anything suspicious, unwrapped or in a torn or faded wrapper.
- If your kids are younger than 5, remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies or small toys.
Winter Holiday Safety Tips
No matter what holidays you celebrate in December, keeping yourself and your family safe is at the top of everyone’s wish list.
Many people start the holidays by decorating their home, and that’s where safety starts, too. Adults often sustain fractures or more serious injuries from falling off ladders while decorating their home.
Ladder Safety Tips
- Don’t use a ladder alone. Have someone hold the ladder.
- Do not use chairs, tables or anything with wheels to hang decorations.
- Make sure the ladder is secure and on level ground before climbing.
- Space the base of the ladder 1 foot away from the wall for every 4 feet it extends upward.
- Stay centered between the rails of the ladder and don’t overreach.
- Don’t stand on the top two rungs of the ladder.
- Extend the ladder at least 3 feet beyond the edge of the roof.
- Keep the area clear around the top and bottom of the ladder.
- Ensure step ladders are locked securely in the open position. Never use a folding step ladder in a closed position.
Tree Decoration
- Keep breakable ornaments out of reach of young children.
- Don’t use string lights with exposed or frayed wires.
- If you use a real tree, give it plenty of water because dry trees are fire hazards.
Toy Safety
- Read instructions and warning labels before buying toys for your children.
- Buy age-appropriate toys.
- Avoid giving gifts with small parts or button batteries, which are hazardous if swallowed.
- Get more toy safety tips in our blog.