Parents are being told by the Government how to stop their children hurting themselves during Christmas festivities, it was revealed today.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families said it has produced more than 150,000 leaflets giving tips on avoiding hazardous situations. Designed to look like Advent calendars, the guidance - called "Tis the season to be careful" - will be handed out in shopping centres, children's centres, housing associations and fire stations over the Christmas period.
Advice includes taking care with candles and games with small pieces as well as warning of the potential risks of aftershave, perfume and dregs of alcohol in glasses when young children are around. Sheila Merrill, home safety manager for England at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: "Christmas is a time when your home is likely to be full of people and it is in the excitement of the season that accidents can easily happen. "One of the good things about Christmas is that there are typically more people around to supervise the children, and, with a little more care and forward planning, most accidents and the resulting trips to A&E could be avoided."
According to RoSPA, more than 80,000 people are expected to go to hospital after accidents at home during the 12 days of Christmas. Typical "festive" mishaps include parents stabbing themselves with scissors while assembling toys; people cutting themselves with knives they are using to open presents; children falling off rocking horses or smashing new bikes into walls; gravy exploding in microwave ovens; cuts when chopping vegetables; tipsy party guests toppling down stairs; and injuries caused by decorations.
Delyth Morgan, minister for children, said: "The festive period is for families to enjoy each others company, gifts and food, so the last thing you want is a trip to the hospital as a result of an accident which with a little thought can be avoided. "That's why the leaflet we've produced this Christmas will act as a reminder of the small but important things parents can do around the home to make sure Christmas is a time for fun and laughter not tears."
The Government said it had committed to keeping young people safe from harm as part of its Children's Plan. "Since then we have a launched a new £18 million home safety equipment scheme targeted at vulnerable families and we also announced early in 2008 the Staying Safe Action Plan which sets out our future plans on how we are going to improve all children and young people's safety," a spokesman for the DCSF said.
Tips included on the leaflet
 Keep toys, games and decorations with small parts out of reach of young children.
Remember babies and toddlers can choke on small things – including tiny batteries.
Make sure presents are suitable for your child’s age. And only buy toys from reputable shops.
Put gifts of perfume and aftershave where toddlers can’t reach them. They contain alcohol that’s harmful if swallowed.
Check Christmas lights for frayed wires, broken sockets or loose connections. Turn them off when you go to bed or go out, as they can short out and start a fire.
Avoid decorations like baubles that break easily, as the pieces can be very sharp.
Put candles out of children’s reach, in containers that won’t tip over and aren’t made of plastic. Remember to blow them out before you go to bed.
Keep candles away from Christmas trees and decorations. And don’t hang decorations from lights and heaters, as they can burn easily.
Don’t forget your safety routines in all the excitement. Check your smoke alarms are still working.
Keep young children out of the kitchen while you’re cooking turkey and all the trimmings, to avoid burns and scalds.
Clear away the last dregs of drinks left in glasses before you go to bed. Small amounts of alcohol can poison young children.
For more information on keeping your kids safer this Christmas, visit www.direct.gov.uk/childsafety or www.capt.org.uk/parents for more information.
Dec 2008
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