HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-12-21, Page 34PAGE 34. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 198«.
Keep kids safe from holiday
hazards with these helpful hints
MEDDY CHRISTMAS
Parents of infants and toddlers
may be unaware that the holiday
season presents extra hazards, and
thatspecificstepscanbetaken to
minimize them, warns a specialist at
New York University Medical Cen
tre.
“Three factors combine to make
this time of year especially danger
ous,’’ says Dr. George Foltin,
director of Pediatric Emergency
Services at Bellevue Hospital Cen
tre.
“One is the creation of newly
exciting and colourful surroundings.
The second is that infants and
toddlers quite normally explore their
envi ron me nt by putting things in
Plan feast
for feathered
friends
Why not celebrate Christmas this
year with the birds? Invite those
fine-feathered backyard neighbours
to a feast among your trees, and
serve them a wide assortment of
goodies they’ll be sure to peck about.
Make food holders from cut-up
milk cartons and hollowed-out or
anges and hang them up with string.
Fill them with a smorgasbord of
birdseed, bread crumbs, chopped
nuts, cranberries and sunflower
seeds. For a special treat, coat pine
cones with peanut butter and roll
them in a tasty mixture of seeds and
nuts.
Garlands of popcorn and marsh
mallows are not only decorative, but
a tantalizing delight for the birds as
well. String up a few yards, then
listen to the chorus of birds chirp
Christmas carols during their holi
day feast.
their mouths. Third, parents are
busy and preoccupied with holiday
preparations, just when they need to
be especially alert.”
As most parents of infants and
toddlers know, once a child is
mobile, the house must be “child-
proofed” by locking away break
ables, sharp instruments, deter
gents and other potentially perilous
items. In addition to standard
precautions against fire and electri
cal accidents, a report in the centre’s
Health Letter advises heightened
awareness in general and singled
out several specific areas:
•Moring-after leftovers: Children
are highly sensitive to alcohol. Make
sure to empty punch bowls and
glasses before going to bed.
•Electriccords: Biting orchewing
on them can cause severe injury.
Unplug tree lights when not in use,
and cover the outlet with child-proof
electrical guards. Be watchful of
children when tree lights are on,
even when other adults are present.
•Holiday plants: Holly and mistle
toe are both poisonous. Berries of
the latter may be toxic if consumed in
large amounts; nausea and diarrhea
may develop. Both poinsettia and
evergreens can cause skin irritation
andphysical injury to the gastro
intestinal tract.
•Christmas tree decorations: Po
tentially dangerous ones include
glass or metal objects; angel hair,
which is made of spun glass and can
cause serious internal injury if
swallowed; icicles, which can choke
an infant; bubblings lights, which
contain methylene chloride, a pois
onous chemical, and shellacked
cookies and other foodstuffs.
•Spray-on snow: The white
“snow’ ’ itself is inert and harmless,
but the various hydrocarbons used
as propellants can cause eye, skin or
respiratory damage if sprayed in a
child’s eyes or mouth.
•Gifts: Presents are often left on
display after opening. Some may
include hazardous materials -- for
example, aftershaves and colognes,
which contain alcohol, and easily
swallowed “button” batteries
which contain dangerous caustics.
•Fireplace colors: Chemicals tos
sed in the fire to create colorful
flames are salts of heavy metals,
such as copper, arsenic, lead, and
selenium, and can cause serious
illness if swallowed.
•Holiday visits: Parents should be
particularly alert on family visits to
households where there are no small
children, since such houses are like
to offer many attractive hazards in a
non-child-proofed environment.
If there is a question concerning
the toxicity of a swallowed sub
stance, or the proper procedure to
follow, telephone your local poison
control centre immediately.
THE BAKER
WORKED ALL
THROUGH THE NIGHT
Thanks for
your Patronage
May the warm
Christmas tradition /
grace your holiday
with health and xj
happiness.
Sue's 1
Hairstyling
Brussels 887-6072
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Season s Greetings
Diane Ferguson .
.. .constructing homes of
gingerbread, while noggins
thought to be in dreams
ate up their sugarplums instead.
Warm thanks and
merry Christmas to all
our customers.
TODDS
BAKERY
Brussels 887-6666
Let’s set the holiday in motion
with good times, good fun,
good friends and a hearty thanks
to you for your business.
Management & Staff of the
BRUSSELS
HOTEL
887-9035
For all its charm
and warmth,
Christmas is a
season to celebrate.
Thanks, friends,
for your very
valued business.
John & Bonnie
JOHN
PENNINGTON
i
Season’s 6reelings
BURNER SERVICE •*
887-9233 X.
from
McNEIL’S AUTO BODY
and STAFF
Brussels, 887-6833
+eJoqoos -f’
Holidaqs
The Merriest of Christmases to
all our loyal customers. In
every department, we think
you're the best!
Ken & Liz
Boys' Wear
Ken's Men's
and