Holiday Season Safety

Note: Efforts were made in this article to be inclusive of the major religions represented within the United States. These include Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

     As EMS professionals, we are responsible for providing the highest quality of care to ill or injured children with the resources we have available. Equally important are the activities we promote to reduce or eliminate preventable incidents. Each year, thousands of children are injured and hundreds die due to incidents directly related to holiday celebrations. Following are some safety precautions you can share with parents in your community to help keep children safe during the upcoming holiday season.

Halloween or "All Saints Day"
     Halloween is a time when children roam about in search of "tricks or treats." Failing to look both ways before crossing the street, darting between cars and running out into traffic are hazards most parents are aware of, especially after sunset. Some tips for parents to consider are:

1. Make sure your children have costumes that allow them to see and be seen, especially in low-light situations. Give them a flashlight, light or glow stick to carry, or have reflective materials on their costumes.
2. Remind ALL children that getting into a stranger's car or going into a stranger's house is unacceptable and dangerous.
3. Parents should accompany their children. Delegating this responsibility to a sibling or older child can be a recipe for disaster.
4. Don't allow children to eat any of the treats until you have checked them thoroughly. In some communities, hospitals, clinics or doctors' offices offer free examinations, including x-raying treats to ensure safety.

Ramadan
     The celebration of Ramadan includes fasting, in which young children are typically not required to participate; however, some families encourage the practice before children reach puberty. This may cause problems with blood sugar fluctuations, especially if the child is diabetic, diagnosed or undiagnosed. Fasting and then consuming food can also cause gastrointestinal symptoms.

Hanukkah
     Hanukkah, or Chanuka, the Jewish festival of lights, is a holiday of renewed dedication, faith, hope and spiritual light. As with all celebrations involving candles, fire prevention is the standard. A few safety rules to remember include:

1. Keep the menorah out of children's reach.
2. Always use a menorah with a sturdy base to reduce the possibility of it tipping over.
3. Never leave curious youngsters alone in the room with a lit candle(s).
4. If a child is lighting the Hanukkah candles, keep his/her hair back and out of the way. Never allow children to reach over one candle to light another, as their clothing might catch fire.

Christmas
     Each year, approximately 8,700 patients are seen in emergency departments for injuries related directly to Christmas activities. Approximately 20 of them will die from the injuries they sustain. Here are a few tips to ensure a safe and joyous holiday:

1. When purchasing an artificial tree, make sure it is labeled "fire-resistant."
2. If you prefer a live tree, make sure it is freshly cut and keep it well-watered. Some producers harvest their trees months in advance, which dries them out and increases the fire hazard significantly.
3. Use only noncombustible or flame-resistant decorations on either a fresh or artificial tree.
4. Never use real candles.
5. If the artificial tree is metallic, use extreme caution if using electric lights or decorations. Faulty wiring can cause the tree to become electrified.
6. Follow manufacturer's instructions regarding the number of light strings that can be safely connected together. Additional strings can overload electrical circuits and increase the chance of fire or electrocution.
7. Keep the tree at least three feet away from any heat source. The drying effect increases the likelihood of a fire.
8. Use extreme caution when using "fire salts" to color fireplace flames, as heavy metals in the salts can cause intestinal irritation and vomiting if consumed, and may have other toxic effects.
9. Keep all holiday plants out of reach of small children, as most are poisonous. Keep the National Poison Control Help Line number readily available: 800/222-1222.

Conclusion
     Regardless of a child's age, adult supervision is pivotal in assuring every holiday remains a joyful celebration. It is parents' responsibility to ensure their children grow up in a fun and safe environment. Don't let the flurry of holiday activities and distractions become your child's mechanism of injury or cause of death.

Robert K. Waddell, II, has been involved in EMS for over 30 years, working as a volunteer EMT in rural Wyoming, a paramedic in the Front Range of Colorado and as the Colorado State EMS Training Coordinator. He was the first Director of EMS Systems for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services EMS-C program at the EMS-C National Resource Center in Washington, DC. Currently, he is the International Chair for the NAEMT Emergency Pediatric Care (EPC) course.