Christmas won’t be complete without the bright lights and the beautiful Christmas tree. These holiday decorations are fun to look at, but they can also be hazardous for children. Here’s how to deal with common accidents during the Christmas season:

Your child steps on a glass ornament- You can use clean hands or tweezers to remove the visible shards of glass. To make it stop bleeding, try elevating her foot and apply direct pressure to the wound using a clean cloth. Remember to wash the area with water and soap when the bleeding stops. Apply an antibiotic ointment, and bandage the wound to avoid infection.

A candle tips over and burns your child’s hand – Run her hand under cold water for 15 – 20 minutes. Apply a topical antibiotic ointment (prescribe by the doctor). Don’t use petroleum jelly or butter which could cause an infection. You can give your child ibuprofen to lessen the pain and swelling. Always keep her elevated.

Your toddler gets an electrical shock from holiday lights. – Unplug the lights immediately. If you can’t turn off the power, don’t touch your child. Stand in a dry area and use a wooden object (such as a broom handle) to push your child away from the current. Once he’s free, check if he’s breathing normally. If he’s unconscious, start CPR or bring him to the hospital immediately. Even if he seems okay, call your pediatrician or take your child to the E.R. – he could have internal injury.

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