Hazardous holidays! Parents urged caution on visits with family & friends who don’t have kids

The holiday season has arrived with the anticipation of spending time with family and friends makes it even more delightful, but visiting homes that may not be childproof can put your child in danger, according to a news release from Prince William County Fire and Rescue.

Parents and guardians should be mindful of their child’s safety when visiting someone’s else’s home.  The leading cause of death among children are accidents.

The majority of parents believe they can watch their children closely, even if a house is not childproof. Child safety experts say that’s hard to do when there are numerous people of all ages and various activities are taking place throughout the home.

Most parents understand standard practices in most homes with small children and the importance of childproofing one’s home such as placing gates across the top and bottom of the stairs, installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and keeping household poisons out of the reach of childre.

Sometimes parents forget seasonal risks such as holiday decorations, games, and food and beverages in which younger children can be harmed if the home has not been properly childproofed before the festivities begin and reevaluated during and after the festivities.

Most likely, you will find a home that is not childproof when visiting relatives and friends who who have never had children or no longer have young children residing in their home.

Besides not having general childproofing safety measures such as locks on cabinets, or covers on electrical outlets, these friends and relatives may have prescription medications that are not in child resistant containers.

Medications often attract young children due to the resemblance of candy. Parents need to remain vigilant and request the homeowner(s) keep their medications stored away in places that are not easily accessible to children.

As a precautionary measure, learn the poison control number (1-800-222-1222) and keep it posted by the phone, or listed in your phone contacts in case of an emergency.

Here are a few things parents should be especially watchful for and/or want to ask about prior to visiting someone’s home:

• Do they have a pool? Does it have a fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate?Can the children get to the area where the pool is located?

• Are there small objects, such as hard candy or nuts in candy dishes, whereyounger children can get them?

• Are there gates across the top and bottom of the stairs?

• Are medications, poisons, and household cleaners out of reach?

• Do they have an aggressive pet that may harm children?

• If your child has food allergies, will they be serving that specific food?

• Do they smoke? Are matches and lighters out of reach of children,preferably up high and in a locked cabinet?

• Do they reside in a multi-level home or high-rise apartment? Are there windowguards or window stop devices that prevent windows from opening more than4 inches? Is there a porch or balcony with railings widely spaced apart (morethan 4”)?

Toy Safety
• IMMEDIATELY discard plastic wrappings from toys.

• Check toys regularly for small parts, breakage, and potential hazards, includingchipped or peeling paint. Damaged or dangerous toys should be repaired orthrown away.

•Teach older children to keep their toys away from younger children.

•Keep button batteries away from younger children.
A child can swallow a battery button and suffer dangerous chemicalburns in as little as two hours. DO NOT leave products with accessible button batteries within reach of children.

For more information, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission for:
Child safety basics for your home or away at cpsc.gov/safety-education/safety-guides/kids-and-babies/Childproofing-Your-Home
Toy safety, education, and guides at cpsc-d8-media-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/281%281%29.pdf
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