Today is Christmas and in a week’s time it will be the dawn of another New Year. Since schools are also on holiday, it will be a fun time for all. But, watch out for unexpected dangers that could lurk inside and outside your home during these carefree days, leading to accidents which could result in unwanted suffering, mental anguish, long term disability, unnecessary expenses and even death. Most of these accidents are avoidable but parents and family members in charge of caring for elderly persons should always be on the alert and take precautions to prevent them.
Children and elders are especially vulnerable and at risk, during a festive season. Hospital statistics from the National Hospital of Sri Lanka and Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital (LRH) show that the number of patients treated and admitted to the hospital during Christmas, the New Year and the National New Year in April are usually much higher than during the other days of the year.
Falls
Falls are some of the commonest and most avoidable accidents that occur within a home, especially, when everyone is busy making those last minute preparations for Christmas and New Year. Even while you read this, your little toddler or older child could have fallen from a table, stool or chair, which he attempted to climb when you were not watching him. Unless you have placed pillows and mattresses around your table or chairs to soften the fall in anticipation of such an accident, parents must be extremely watchful, especially, as young children of this age usually want to assert their independence.
Although we still have no exact figures in Sri Lanka regarding falls that occur in homes across the country, in the US a study showed that they account for over 1/3 of all injury deaths and are the leading cause of home injuries. So much so that they even coined a medical alert television commercial catchphrase ‘I’ve fallen…and I can’t get up!’ which may not seem so funny when you think about the potentially dangerous consequences of that fall.
Take toddler Tharindu’s fall from his cot when he tried to jump across to his brother’s bed, and fell on the hard tiled floor. He was unconscious by the time his mother who forgot to put up the rails, found him, and rushed to hospital where he was kept under observation for some days till the big bump on his forehead disappeared. Luckily he returned home but still suffers occasional dizzy spells, says his mother.
Teenager Malik, tried sky diving from the second floor of his apartment building after watching a popular superman series and fractured his leg and collar bone.
Hema Premaratne, 66, who has an arthritic knee, slipped on a banana peel carelessly thrown in the corridor by her grandson and fractured her hip. Socially isolated since she is now confined to her bed, this once outgoing woman admits she suffers from bouts of depression.
So how do we avoid these accidents that are now on the rise?
“People can trip over coir mats, or collide with small objects on the floor, such as a toy, building block, an uneven surface or slippery floor in the toilet. The best way to avoid them is to remove these obstacles and instal handrails in toilets, and generally ensure your home is environmentally safe for your whole family”, says a leading GP of over sixty years of practice, Dr Dennis Aloysius. “Since it is holiday time, there must be rules and guidelines which everyone in the family must adhere to, such as, proper disposal of fruit peel, chocolate paper, discarded balloons, wrapping paper and tissue paper,” he adds. “Keep stairways clear of toys, shoes, and other items,” he continues. “Clean up spills immediately. Pay attention to areas that pose problems for the elderly and small children, such as showers, cribs, and stairways. Install baby gates at the top and bottom of stairs.
Be sure to follow ladder safety rules, which include proper angles, set-up on solid and level ground, and other commonsense precautions.
What about play areas where children spend most of their time during the holidays? we asked him.
“Make sure they are free from pieces of glass, nails, twigs from thorny trees such as the bougainvillea if they are playing outside. If there are pits and drains which are not clearly visible, see that the ground is levelled and these areas are well lit so children won’t fall into them. Ponds, and even bird baths must be fenced so children can’t enter these areas alone . If there is a swimming pool in a private garden make sure there is adult supervision always.
Q. How can you prevent accidents from children’s toys?
A. Keep away toys that can cause lacerations on tender skins with their sharp edges. Beware of allowing very young children playing with toys that have small parts that can be swallowed or pushed up their noses. For very small kids, I suggest soft washable toys. As young children like to explore and discover things on their own, keep away small items that they may want to push up their noses or into their ears or swallow, such as, buttons, beads, seeds, peanuts , cotton wool, pins , needles”.
Swallowing medicinal drugs
A danger not always recognised, but which constantly exists in a home where there are elders, is the likelihood of children swallowing their medical tablets accidentally. “These tablets must always be locked up in their medicine cabinet and kept away from their reach “, Dr Aloysius says. “ I have had panicked parents bringing their children because they have swallowed their diabetes pills or cholesterol pills, lying on the table and been attracted by their bright colours. If a patient has a memory loss, it is up to her care giver to make sure the tablets are locked away after being administered to the patient. Most bottles of syrup, like cough mixture now have safety caps to prevent them being opened by a young child”.
Electrical hazards
Crawling babies and older children are apt to experiment with any electrical item lying in their way. If it is an exposed plug they are likely to poke their fingers into the plug or insert an alien object. This could be very dangerous, especially, if there is a leakage”, Dr Aloysius warns. “Plug points, extension cords and adapters should be safe and no electrical appliance in the house should have a leakage. So, make sure your Christmas lights are first checked out by a competent person and installed by an electrician. If you are keeping your tree lit up throughout the season till the dawn of the New Year, check the bulbs every day, as your children could have dislodged some wires when tripping over them while playing. See that the wires don’t get into anyone’s way especially, if there are elderly persons.”
Kitchen
Since Christmas and the season is a time when children like getting involved in cooking, baking and making their own favourite cookies and cup cakes, the kitchen must have a safe working environment for them, Dr Aloysius points out.
“Keep away sharp knives and heavy objects that can injure their fingers. If the children are of a mixed age group, separate the play areas for those who are very young and for the older kids.
Knives, forks, gas stoves, boxes of matches should not be permitted. If an electric stove is used, first check it out and see if it is working properly. Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking on the stove.
Poisonings
Millions of people are poisoned every year, and children under 6 are at the greatest risk.
National safety studies in a recent US survey have revealed that more than 2/3 of homes with young children report storing household chemicals in unlocked places. Every family can take steps to avoid a poisoning injury.
Dr Aloysius tells us how:
Keep harmful household chemicals in an out-of-reach, locked cabinet.
Never leave children alone with household products or medications. If you are using a product, take the child with you to the telephone or the door. Most poisonings occur when the product is in use.
Instal child locks on cabinets - especially, where you store harmful items.
Keep household medicines and poisonous products in their original, labelled, child-resistant containers.
Keep the number of your local poison control center near your phone.
- Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking on the stove.
Keep curtains, furniture, and bedding away from heaters.
Allow air space around the TV and stereo to prevent overheating.
Check your TV, or have it repaired if it doesn’t work right.
Don’t overload electric outlets.
Have an electrician examine frayed, worn, or suspect wiring.
Suffocation
More than 1/3 of choking or suffocation fatalities also occur inside a home. particularly to small children. Reduce the risk by keeping a watchful eye on little ones and taking the following preventive steps, says Dr Aloysius, who offers these basic rules:
*Never place infants face down on soft bedding or pillows. They cannot raise their heads and might not be able to get enough oxygen. Avoid large stuffed animals.
*Keep plastic bags out of children’s reach, and tie bags in a knot before disposing.
*Cut children’s food into small pieces, and be sure to chew your own food thoroughly.
*Keep balloons away from babies and toddlers, who can swallow them and choke.
*Keep your eye on infants around strangulation risks such as window blind cords, long telephone cords, drawstrings, necklaces, and headbands.