safety corner

HAVE A SAFE HOLIDAY

A few simple tips can prevent the most common injuries and hazards of the season. | BY FARRAH FISHMAN

The holidays are a time holiday decorations. And about 4,000 • Be sure to check the Christmas to reconnect with people are treated for injuries that tree — make sure it’s got plenty of family and friends, but are associated with extension cords. water and it isn’t near heat sources. they also can present These injuries include contusions, • When cooking, pay close attenseasonal safety hazards. lacerations, fractures or sprains as a tion to what you’re doing and your Here are some tips to help you keep result of tripping over the cords. Here surroundings. your home safe this holiday season. are some tips to make your holiday • Keep a fire extinguisher close by. decorating safer: • Be sure you have smoke detecELECTRICAL SAFETY • Never use furniture as a ladder. tors at least 10 feet from your stove, • Follow the 1-to-4 rule for exten- and test them monthly.

Between 2011 and 2015, the sion ladders: for every 4 feet the ladNational Fire Protection Association der rises, move the base out one foot PREVENT indicates an average of 200 home fires, per year, started with Christfrom the structure. • Always keep three points of con- POISONING AND mas trees. Those fires resulted in six tact on the ladder: two hands and one INGESTION INJURIES deaths, 16 injuries and $14.8 million foot, or two feet and one hand. in property damage. The risk of poisoning also in• Avoid electrical fires by purchas- A LITTLE FIRE creases during the holiday period, ing lights from reputable retailers and only those approved by nation- SAFETY CAN GO resulting not only from common household items, but also carbon ally recognized testing labs like US, A LONG WAY monoxide. The U.S. Consumer Intertek or CSA. Product Safety Commission reports • Inspect both indoor and outdoor Even with all those Christmas tree that the majority of CO deaths occur lights for broken sockets, frayed wires fires, cooking equipment is the lead- in the colder months of November and loose connections. ing cause of home fires and injuries. through February. • Don’t overload outlets with too Most fires occur on Thanksgiving, • Be sure your child doesn’t have many electrical devices — this could followed by the day before Thanks- access to dangerous plants. Mistletoe, cause a fire. giving and then Christmas day. holly berries and Jerusalem cherries • Avoid using candles if possible. can be poisonous if consumed in HOLIDAY Consider using battery-operated ones. large amounts. DECORATING TIPS • Mantels are beautiful when covered with stockings and greenery. • Those small button batteries found in toys, remotes, and the like,

People falling is a serious concern But these items are flammable. If you are VERY dangerous, so make sure this time of year. Annually, hospital use your fireplace frequently, consider children don’t swallow them. emergency rooms treat about 5,800 hanging these decorations some- • Tiny magnets are also dangerous people injured from falls involving where else. if swallowed.

Safe Kids is a nonprofit coalition of agencies and organizations dedicated to eliminating preventable childhood injuries. Visit safekidsswfl.org. Farrah Fishman is a health educator consultant for the Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County.

FEED THE NEED • Fort Myers Christian School surpassed its fundraising goal of $50,000 to support the school through a “food-raising” project called Feed the Need. A significant portion of the money raised went toward purchasing, packing and distributing healthy meals to hungry children in Southwest Florida. During a student-led food packing party at the end of the campaign, students packed, sealed and boxed more than 10,000 meals that will be distributed to hungry children and families in Southwest Florida. Photos courtesy of Fort Myers Christian School

BREAKING GROUND • The Guadalupe Center broke ground October 30 on a new campus in Immokalee. The van Otterloo Family Campus for Learning will feature two academic buildings with multiple classrooms, a library, learning lab, cafeteria and kitchen, playground, administrative offices, mentor lounges, commons areas, a medical and dental suite, outdoor gardens and a student wall of fame. The campus will accommodate up to 154 students in Guadalupe Center’s Early Childhood Education Program, as well as 125 high school students in the collegepreparatory Tutor Corps Program. Here: early childhood education students from the Guadalupe Center. Photo special to SW FL Parent & Child

Send us your snapshots: Send your images with a brief description and names of the people in them to editor@swflparentchild.com

FEEDING FUR BABIES • Naples resident and Miss Teen Global United States Cayley McCloskey visited the Norman Love Confections to drop off over 50 pounds of dog and cat food. Norman Love was part of the Humane Society’s Pet Food drive to help pet owners in need. Courtesy of Envy Pageant Productions Inc. PET SUPPLY DRIVE • Students in Mrs. Melton’s seventh grade religion class worked collaboratively to organize a school-wide pet supply drive, which kicked off on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (Patron Saint of Animals). They surpassed their goal of 350 items with 747 items at final count. Their efforts benefit the Gulf Coast Humane Society. Photo courtesy of St. Andrew Catholic School