Don't let accidents put a damper on the holidays.
       "It's a time when people are busy and supervision of children is more difficult," says Claudia Romo, injury prevention program manager at Children's.

To give the gift of safety:

• Natural Christmas trees always involve some risk of fire. To minimize the risk, buy a fresh tree. It should have sticky resin at the bottom and needles that bend instead of breaking. Keep trees away from fireplaces. Keep stands filled with water so needles don't become brittle and fire-prone. Do not put the tree near a fireplace, space heater, radiator or heat vent. When buying an artificial tree, look for the label "fire resistant." 
• Decorate with care. "Take time to reassess the ornaments that are on your tree or that are put throughout the home," says Romo. If you have small children, avoid glass ornaments, decorations with small removable parts that kids could swallow, or ornaments that look like food or candy. Holly berries, mistletoe berries, poinsettias, amaryllis, boxwood, Christmas rose, Crown of Thorns, English Ivy and Jerusalem cherry all are potentially harmful if eaten.
• Use caution with candles. "Realistically, with young children it may be better not to use candles at all," Romo says. If you do, put them where they can't be knocked over or ignite trees, decorations, wrapping paper, clothing and curtains. "And never, ever leave a child alone with a lit candle or go to bed with a candle still lit."
• Inspect holiday lights. "Check to make sure the wires are not frayed or broken and make sure not to overload the cords by plugging too many into one outlet, which can cause an electrical fire," says Romo. If the cord is hot when in use, it isn't safe. Never run an electrical cord under a rug. Also note that LED lights burn cooler than incandescent lights and pose a lower risk of fire. If decorating outside, make sure that your decorative lighting is labeled with a UL seal of approval from Underwriters Labs. If it's not labeled for outdoor use, don't use it outdoors.
• If you have a fireplace, add a sturdy screen. That helps prevent sparks from igniting newspapers, carpeting, curtains or upholstery. The screen also acts as a barrier between the fire and small children.
• Keep fresh batteries in smoke detectors. You should have one on every level of the home, especially near bedrooms. Develop an evacuation plan and make sure everyone knows it, including guests.
• Ensure kitchen safety. Adults can lose track of children as they cook big holiday meals. Romo suggests assigning an adult to supervise children. Move knives, other utensils and hot drinks away from counter edges, turn pot handles toward the back of the stove and keep children away from hot ovens.
• Watch kids open their gifts and then dispose of the gift wrap and ribbon immediately as it can pose a chocking hazard. Even if you buy age-appropriate toys, small children can get into things meant for older siblings. "When there are lots of children frantically opening gifts at one time, it creates excitement, and a smaller child can be enticed by toys that are not appropriate for them," says Romo.

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