Safety Tips For Festive Times

From UConn Health Center

FARMINGTON — It’s the season for holiday gatherings, parties, baking, decorating, sending cards and whatever else has become a tradition in your home. It also creates an opportunistic environment for young, energetic and curious children to explore, experiment and find themselves in trouble. Sometimes that trouble can be life-threatening.

Parents are often preoccupied with holiday chores and focused on the task at hand, says Mary McCormick, PharmD, administrative director at the Connecticut Poison Control Center at the UConn Health Center. “They need to acknowledge that they are busy and therefore more likely to be less observant. Parents may even be unaware of potential risks for poisoning for kids during the holidays,” says Dr McCormick. “Holiday homes can easily be made safe for children.”

Many of the calls the Poison Control staff receives during the holidays are alcohol related. According to Dr McCormick, even moderate amounts of alcohol can be lethal to a young child. “A spiked eggnog left on a low cocktail table is an invitation for disaster,” says Dr McCormick. “Youngsters can quickly drink it, and depending on the amount of alcohol in the drink and the weight of the child, it can cause severe alcohol poisoning resulting in a coma, even death.”

Other sources of potential poisonings related to the holidays include toiletries, plants, fireplaces, lamp oils and sprays.

The Poison Control Center has the following information and advice to help keep the merry  in your holidays.

In addition to beer, wine, cocktails and punches, alcohol is also in such popular gifts as shaving lotion, perfume and cologne. Don’t leave bottles of toiletries or perfumes where young children can reach them. Never give children alcohol.

Recent design trends feature bowls filled with lamp oil. When swallowed, coughing causes the oil to be aspirated into the lungs, which can lead to pneumonia and in some cases cause death. Even lamp oil that is spilled can be aspirated. Lamp oils come in a variety of soft-drink colors and look tasty to children. Don’t use lamp oils in open bowls; be sure bottles are closed securely and safely stored; and oil lamps of all kinds are out of children’s reach.

Holly, mistletoe, balsam, juniper, cedar, pines and fir may be harmful if swallowed. Mistletoe and holly are especially toxic, and the berries can look very appetizing. With young children in the home, parents may want to avoid using greens and berries, or at least place them out of children’s reach.

Poinsettias have an undeserved reputation for being poisonous. A 50 pound child would have to eat more than one pound, about 500 leaves, of a poinsettia plant to experience symptoms such as an upset stomach, nausea and diarrhea.

Artificial snow, evergreen scent sprays, shellacked ornaments, glitter, angel hair and an array of manufactured decorations can be dangerous if ingested. Never use potentially hazardous sprays without proper ventilation.

Never use charcoal, which emits toxic carbon monoxide, inside the house, and never use lighter fluid or charcoal lighter fluid to light a fireplace.

Don’t leave foods that normally require refrigeration out for too long. Bacteria can grow quickly at room temperature and cause food poisoning. What’s too long? Not more than a couple of hours; less if the room is very warm. If you’re not sure, throw it out.

If you suspect a poisoning or have questions about substances you think might be harmful, call the Poison Center’s 24-hour hotline at 800/343-2722. Don’t wait to see what happens. “Our lines are very busy during the holidays. We’re here to help,” said Dr McCormick.