HONOLULU (KHON2) — Tis the season for holiday celebrations, tons of decorations and yule-tide cheer, but doctors said they also treat more kids with injuries this time of year.
Christmas trees, holiday parties and all those toys are a big part of yule-tide festivities. But Dr. Trudy Hong, a pediatrician at Straub Benioff Medical Center, warned they can be dangerous for kids.
“The holiday time we do see more high risk for other certain injuries and accidents,” Hong explained.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were 10 deaths and more than 154,700 kids under 12 treated in emergency rooms last year for toy-related injuries.
Hong said one of the most common injuries is choking from little ones putting toys and bright ornaments in their mouth.
“Other things would be like small magnets,” she added. “If they ingest these multiple pieces, then these can connect inside the intestines and cause serious bowel injury.”
She said button batteries are also extremely toxic when swallowed and suggests looking for the ones that are child-secure have a bitter taste and are meant to get any tot that swallows it to immediately spit it out.
Burns are also common from candles and cooking accidents and Hong said kids are frequently brought in for ingesting something toxic.
“Like if there are cups of alcohol that are not finished and children might ingest this, which is very poisonous,” she explained. “And with the holiday plants, the poinsettia and mistletoe are poisonous if ingested.”
She said she’s also seen injuries from kids pulling Christmas trees and furniture down and toys that aren’t age-appropriate.
To keep your kids safe, Hong said:
- Always secure your tree and furniture.
- Hang breakable or small ornaments higher up, and put holiday plants out of reach of little hands.
- Make sure to blow out candles.
- Don’t leave alcohol unattended.
- Scan rooms for small objects kids may be tempted to put in their mouth–especially at other’s homes.
- Always check that toys are age-appropriate before giving them to your child.
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If your child does get injured, Hong said you should contact your pediatrician immediately. If the injury is serious, she said to call 911 or go to the emergency room.