By Bob Waddell
Author’s Note: As a practicing Catholic, I have strong personal beliefs and emotions surrounding the sacred, end-of-the-calendar-year festivities. For me, it is Christmas and the Christmas season. Out of respect for those of different, yet equal or greater commitment to their beliefs, I have attempted to be respectful and inclusive of the major religions represented within the United States of America, namely Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Those without a religious orientation or who choose to not celebrate an event during the years end should follow standard safe practices throughout the year.
EMS in America is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. Every fourth year we even add an extra day of coverage to assure those who fall ill or become injured on February 29th do not have to endure their pain until March 1st. With that availability, we also have dedicated ourselves to the provision of delivering the highest quality of care with the resources available. Now, in the 21st century, our responsibilities are expanding into illness and injury prevention. Most notable during the past several months has been participation with public health the H1N1 flu pandemic. Equally important are those activities and educational opportunities we can provide to reduce or eliminate preventable accidents during one of the most emotional — and to some, the holiest — time of the year.
Every year, thousands of children become ill or are injured secondary to events related to Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, or other holiday activities. The following is a summary of precautions that can be used, shared, or at least considered to assure that every child and every family has a better chance of having a blessed Christmas, a joyous Hanukkah, or a sacred Ramadan.
Christmas
Each year during the Christmas season, approximately 8,700 children and adults are treated in US Emergency Departments for injuries and illnesses directly related to Christmas activities. Of these, nearly 20 families will have to plan a funeral during a time when joy and happiness are supposed to be the predominant emotions. Injury and illness prevention may help reduce that number. Here are a few tips:
1. Make sure the artificial tree you use is certified to be “fire resistant.” Non-fire resistant trees obviously have a greater affinity to catch fire or produce toxic fumes as they overheat from electrical or open flame decorations. Spending a few dollars more for a safe tree is a huge investment in your family’s safety!
2. The smell of a freshly cut Christmas tree brings back memories from our youth. The joys of yesteryear can be handed down to our children and grandchildren if a few safety rules are followed. Make sure the tree IS freshly cut. Some sellers cut their tree one to two months early. The trees may be sprayed with a wax type sealant to help reduce the effects of drying or may be spray-painted to assure their color appears new and natural, yet they are drying out beneath these marketing techniques. Make sure to buy a truly fresh tree from a reputable grower or reseller.
3. Make sure the tree is well watered. A dry tree has a lower flash point and a greater potential to catch fire. My Grandma often put aspirin in with the water to “help the tree’s headache from being cut down!” I don’t know if there is any scientific evidence to support Grandma’s hypothesis, but as little kids, we made sure the tree always had water and aspirin.
4. The Rocky Mountain region has been experiencing an infestation of “pine beetles,” little bugs that kill the tree from the inside out. Therefore, it is of great importance to make sure your tree is not infected if you buy or cut it down from this region. A pine beetle-infected tree will:
a) look like someone drilled little holes all around the trunk
b) be much drier throughout
c) have a greater affinity to catch fire
If you cut your own tree, look to see how many trees around the one you pick are red, brown, or otherwise appear dead. If you can see more than a few dead trees, your choice is probably also infected. As a side note, bringing an infected tree to your home may be exactly what the destructive little bug needs to infect your neighbors and community. Be cautious not to bring infected trees into non-infected areas!
5. Now that LED lighting is commonplace, the opportunity to use low-energy consumption — and more importantly, low heat-generating — decorative lights has greatly reduced the potential for in-home fires from tree decorations. If you’re still using the old filament bulb lights, extra care must be given to checking the tree often for overheating and making sure the tree is not dried out.
6. With the return of the metal Christmas tree, a renewed caution must be provided for the potential electrical hazard that comes with them. Old or frayed electric cords placed on a metallic object increase the likelihood of an electrical injury or electrocution. Extra care must be taken.
7. NEVER use open flame candles on a Christmas tree! Flame and wood produce fire. There is a reason the NFPA has established many of the standards they have and why they and others strongly encourage “flameless” candles.
8. Follow all manufacturer instructions regarding how many and what type of lights can be strung together. Failing to follow the cited can overload electrical circuits and increase the chance of fire or electrocution.
9. Wherever you place your tree in your home, make sure it is at least three feet away from any heater vent or duct. The same mechanism that creates a comfortable home has a drying effect on your tree.
10. If you have a fireplace or wood stove, use extreme caution when considering putting “fire salts” in it. These additives make beautifully colored flames, but in reality are heavy metals. The fumes produced are toxic and potentially fatal. Additionally, they may burn at temperatures greater than those acceptable for the type of fireplace or stove you have. Burning a hole through the romantic fireplace and filling your home with flames changes the mood! Be careful.
11. Many houseplants and especially a number of those associated with the holiday season are toxic to highly toxic. With family and friends coming to visit, be sure to remove all plants on which an infant, toddler, or pet might be able to graze. “Eating your greens” should not include poinsettia or mistletoe. Keep the National Poison Control Help Line number readily available (800-222-1222).
Hanukkah
Hanukkah, or Chanuka, the Jewish festival of lights, is a holiday of renewed dedication, faith, hope and spiritual light. As with all celebrations involving candles, fire safety and prevention is the hallmark. A few safety rules to remember include:
1. Keep the menorah out of children’s reach. If a child can reach, touch, or otherwise grab the menorah, the potential for disaster is increased. A child’s curiosity or willingness to help can be the difference between a wonderful holiday or not.
2. Always use a menorah with a sturdy base to reduce the possibility of tipping over. Any object — sacred or otherwise — that holds a flame needs to have a base that lowers the overall center of gravity. Sometimes the menorah has an appropriate base for its size, but then it is placed on an unstable surface, which defeats the design of the base. If the menorah or any candle holder does tip, the potential for burns comes not only from contact with the flame, but also from the hot wax, which may be splashed on to nearby children. The wax will continue to burn for several seconds after making contact with the skin.
3. Never leave curious youngsters alone in the room with a lit candle(s). Flames of all sizes have a nearly hypnotical power over us. That curiosity extends from infancy to old age. Always be mindful of children any time a candle is present. The old cliché “curiosity killed the cat” is unfortunately also true with children. Candles caused an estimated 18,000 reported fires, 190 deaths, and 1450 injuries last year. Most of these were from non-sacred activities, yet the fact remains candle cause fires and fires kill!
4. Make sure that clothing and hair are adequately pulled back, tucked in, or otherwise not allowed to get too close to a flame. Loose clothing or hair can swing into the open flame in a split second, causing a sudden life-altering or life-threatening event.
Ramadan
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar is Ramadan. The month’s only event calls on Muslims to re-evaluate their lives in light of Islamic guidance. They are to make peace with those that have wronged them, strengthen ties with family and friends, and do away with bad habits. Ramadan includes fasting during the day and potential over eating during family gatherings at night. For some this “feast — gorge” cycle may present physiological challenges. Younger children may find participation difficult until they are nearing their teens simply because they are not used to going without nutrition for extended periods of time.
Diabetics — diagnosed or not — can get into real physiological problems because of the significant fluctuations in blood sugar and insulin levels. The fluctuations in consumption can also be responsible for a variety of gastrointestinal disorders. Care must be taken to assure that medical implications are addressed to their fullest extent. Beyond the precautions of fasting, general considerations of the festive or sacred environment must be considered. Prevention has a greater impact than treatment.
During any celebration, consideration must also be given to the physical safety and well-being of the children. Family gatherings are not the time to let your guard down or allow activities that you normally wouldn’t. Of the approximately 100,000 reported sexual assaults on children, up to 90 percent are perpetrated by someone the child or family knows. Regardless of a child’s age, adult supervision is pivotal in assuring every holiday remains a joyful celebration.
Conclusion
All of the precautions listed above may be applicable to any celebration regardless the religious foundation. Safety and prevention is always the best treatment. May you have a blessed Christmas or Ramadan, or a joyous Hanukkah!
