Three Ways to Give Your Family the Gift of Safety this Holiday Season

Who needs a break? After balancing all the different challenges that come with a global pandemic, we’re looking forward to some well-earned peace and joy this holiday season. At Safe Kids, we’d like to get a head start on the gift giving with three simple, but important reminders to keep kids safe and provide families with a little peace of mind.

1. Holiday Shopping. While parents and caregivers appreciate the gift of health and safety, most children are probably more excited about the gift of toys. Before you add your gift to the cart, remember to read the instructions and warning labels to make sure the toy or game is appropriate for your child’s age and development. Toys and electronics intended for older children may contain small pieces, including button batteries, that can pose a risk to curious, younger siblings. Giving a bike, skateboard or scooter this holiday season? Remember to include a properly-fitted helmet to keep your kids safe while they’re having fun. 
2. Cooking Safety. With all that is going on during the holidays, it’s easy to forget when you have a meal simmering on the stove. Remember to stay in the kitchen while cooking and teach older children how to cook safely. The holidays are also a perfect time to check that you have a working smoke alarm on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and near sleeping areas. Candles can be perfect for the season in many ways, but remember to blow them out when you leave the room or before you go to sleep. What do these tips have in common? They are also opportunities to get your kids involved and teach them about safety. Practice a fire drill with your family (kids do it at school and you do it work, why not at home?); spend time cooking together; give older children a chance to help blow out the candles.
3. Up and Away, Out of Reach and Out of Sight. This is a busy time for families and as parents and caregivers, many of us are distracted now more than ever. At the same time, young children are full of curiosity and sometimes we find them getting into things they shouldn’t. Give yourself a little peace of mind by putting cleaning products, medicine and button batteries out of children’s reach and sight. Also, take a minute to save these numbers in your phone:

• Poison Help Number: 1-800-222-1222. Specialists at poison control centers can help if your child has gotten into household products or medicine. They provide free, confidential, expert medical advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• National Battery Ingestion Hotline: 1-800-498-8666. If you think your child has swallowed a button battery, call the National Battery Ingestion Hotline for expert advice.

On behalf of everyone at Safe Kids, have a safe, happy holiday season and a wonderful New Year!

Safe Kids is partnering with the American Cleaning Institute and P&G to give parents a little peace of mind by remembering to put cleaning products out of children’s reach and sight.