The winter holidays are meant to be festive and fun. To keep things festive and fun, you need to keep them safe. The NFPA reports that there are an average of 160 home fires started with Christmas trees annually. And that isn’t the only danger to your holiday season. Christmas safety is important and with COVID threatening a winter spike, your holiday safety plan is as important as ever.
How to put lights on the Christmas tree – safely
Christmas safety tips: Think like a child to identify choking hazards and other dangers
Dr. Tony Woodward of Seattle Children’s Hospital told Mom.com that you have to get into the mindset of a child to best protect your little ones. “Get down on your hands and knees and look around the house. If something looks shiny and enticing, a child may want to put it in their mouth. Keep decorations high and out of reach,” he advised.
This includes garland, tinsel, and delicate ornaments. Ornaments that are made up of various pieces can break and become choking hazards. And the lights on the tree might seem enticing to pull at, potentially bringing the whole tree down on children.
Don’t forget about plants you may use around the house to make the season feel more festive. Mistletoe, holly, and poinsettias may be common but they can be dangerous to humans and animals. Don’t leave these around where kids or pets can get to them. While you’re at it, don’t put decorations out that look like food, you never know when someone will try to eat them and get sick.
With all the lights posing a fire risk, make sure to turn everything off when you go to sleep or leave the house. This prevents a spark from igniting when you least expect it.
Decorating and COVID-19
I really enjoy having friends over for a tree decorating party. It’s fun to share the stories behind the ornaments and fond memories of childhood (ours and the kids). But 2020 will be different, and any celebrations will be socially distanced. The CDC recommends avoiding gatherings, especially if they are indoors. This makes something like a tree decorating party a no-go, at least for us.
