What are the top ten ways to keep your children healthy and safe during the holiday season?
Always dress them appropriately for the colder weather. Children should always be wearing hats and gloves when outside in winter. Do not let your children outside to play or go sledding in extreme cold or snow for long periods of time.
Encourage your children to wash their hands frequently, especially when out shopping in stores and around family and friends during holiday get togethers. Washing hands will prevent germs from spreading and keep them from catching common illnesses.
Get your children vaccinated! Keep your kids free from the influenza by getting them the flu vaccine this winter.
Keep your fragile ornaments and decorations out of reach of children to prevent them from breaking and causing lacerations, burns, and other injuries.
Keep burning candles out of reach of children in order to prevent fires. All cords and holiday lights should be protected so that children cannot trip on them or cause electrical damage to themselves or the home. Lastly, keep space heaters away from blankets or other objects that may set on fire and keep children from accidentally burning themselves on heaters.
Always keep the home at a warm and comfortable temperature in winter. It’s also a good idea to keep a humidifier running in your child’s room at night. Dry air will often cause bloody noses, nasal congestion, coughs, and other symptoms, which can be prevented if rooms are kept humidified.
Always keep driveways and sidewalks shoveled and salted to remove ice and prevent unnecessary falls and injuries.
Make sure your children aren’t overeating sweets, candies, junk food, etc… during the holiday time. Proper nutrition will help prevent illness and keep your child’s stomach from feeling upset.
Get plenty of rest! The holiday time can get very busy and children often don’t get as much sleep as usual, but it is important to try and get the proper amount of sleep in order to keep your children healthy during the busiest time of the year.
Make sure furnaces have been checked and carbon monoxide detectors are functioning properly. Many unnecessary deaths occur in winter from carbon monoxide poisoning.
