The holiday season brings with it a warm, festive spirit, and homes everywhere start to glow with decorations, twinkling lights, and holiday trees. However, these holiday staples can introduce potential hazards. To make sure your celebrations are both joyful and safe, here are some detailed tips for safeguarding your family around common holiday items, from trees to toys.
Holiday Trees
A beautiful holiday tree often takes center stage in the home, but it also requires special care. If you choose a real tree, freshness is key. Look for a tree with needles that are difficult to pull off—they’ll hold up better and reduce fire risk. Once your tree is set up indoors, water it daily to keep it hydrated and minimize the chance of it drying out and becoming flammable.
Position the tree away from areas where it might get knocked over, such as doorways or high-traffic zones. Keep it far from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, heating vents, and candles, as these can dry out the tree and increase fire hazards. Use a sturdy stand to stabilize it, ensuring it doesn’t tip if accidentally bumped. Ornaments can be equally attractive to small children, so keep metal, sharp, or breakable ornaments out of reach, especially if they have small, removable parts. Finally, when the season is over, dispose of the tree promptly. Many municipalities offer recycling programs, making it easy to get rid of your tree responsibly and safely.
Holiday Lights and Decorations
Holiday lights and festive decorations bring brightness to winter days, but they must be used with care. Start by selecting lights that carry a mark of approval from accredited safety certification agencies like CSA, cUL, or cETL. This ensures they meet basic safety standards. When using lights, always check the label to see if they’re rated for indoor or outdoor use and stick to the appropriate location. Overloading circuits is a common holiday hazard, so avoid plugging too many light strings or decorations into a single outlet, which can lead to overheating and fire. If you need extra outlets, consider power strips with surge protectors rather than daisy-chaining extension cords.
Inspect all light strings and cords for wear, including fraying, exposed wires, or broken sockets. Discard any that show signs of damage, as these can pose fire or shock risks. When running extension cords, avoid putting them across doorways where they might be pinched or cause a tripping hazard. Also, never run cords under carpets; this can lead to overheating.
Outdoor lighting brings an extra layer of risk, so it’s best to use GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets to protect against electric shocks from moisture exposure. Always turn off all holiday lights when you leave home or go to bed. Certain decorations, like “bubble lights,” contain hazardous chemicals and can be harmful if broken, so keep these away from children and pets. Opt for tinsel, icicles, and other trimmings made of non-toxic, non-leaded materials. Children can be tempted to put these items in their mouths, so supervise them around holiday decorations.
Toys and Gifts
For children, new toys and gifts are often the highlight of the holidays. To make sure they enjoy them safely, look for sturdy, well-constructed toys that are age-appropriate. Age labels on toys are there for a reason: they’re based on safety factors like small parts, potential choking hazards, and physical development milestones. Toys designed for older children might contain removable parts or pieces that can be dangerous for younger kids.
It’s also wise to check the latest recalls from Health Canada’s Recalls and Safety Alerts Database to avoid giving toys that may have health or safety risks. Packaging materials like plastic bags, foam, staples, and ties can pose hazards, too—small parts can become choking risks, and plastic can cause suffocation if it covers a child’s face. Remove and dispose of these materials promptly after opening gifts.
If the toy includes batteries, be particularly cautious. Batteries should be installed by an adult and securely contained, as they can cause severe injuries if swallowed. Supervise children as they play with their new toys, teaching them proper use, and store any high-tech or battery-operated toys out of reach when not in use. Health Canada’s “Is Your Child Safe? Play Time” guide is a great resource for parents and caregivers, providing additional advice on choosing toys and creating a safer play environment both indoors and outdoors.
Additional Tips for a Safe Holiday
The holidays bring warmth, joy, and a sense of togetherness, but they also add new items and activity to your home, which can create unexpected risks. Consider adding these final touches to make the season as safe as possible:
Tree Disposal: Real trees, once dry, become increasingly flammable. Dispose of your tree as soon as possible after the holiday season. Many local governments provide pick-up and recycling services to make this easy.
Holiday Candles: Candles add warmth and ambiance but should be used cautiously. Keep them away from anything flammable, including trees and decorations, and never leave them unattended.
Secure Holiday Cooking: Cooking for family and friends often means extra heat sources. Keep young children away from the stove, and make sure pot handles are turned inward to prevent accidental tipping.
Pet Safety: Pets can be attracted to decorations, too, so try to keep delicate or hazardous items out of reach to prevent them from accidentally ingesting or damaging them.
Taking a few extra precautions can help ensure the holiday season is both joyful and safe for everyone in your home. With a bit of planning, you can protect your loved ones and focus on what truly matters: celebrating together.
Conclusion
In the spirit of the season, adding extra layers of safety to your holiday setup can make a world of difference for you and your loved ones. By taking simple steps—securing your holiday tree, ensuring safe lighting, and choosing age-appropriate toys and decorations—you create a safer and more enjoyable atmosphere for everyone. Holidays are all about togetherness, joy, and creating lasting memories. With these precautions in place, you can focus on what matters most: enjoying a festive, worry-free time with family and friends. Here’s to a safe and joyful holiday season!