Holiday parties mean having family and friends over and in some cases small children. Nicole Vesely, Madison-area coordinator for the Safe Kids Coalition, has tips on child-proofing for those who don’t have kids.
She says look around the home to see if there is anything a small child could put in their mouth. She also says look at their eye level to see if there are potential dangers such as electrical outlets.
Vesely has a reminder that just because a toy is sold in the U.S. does not mean it is safe. She says an estimated 217,000 children go to the emergency room each year for toy-related injuries. Some toys pose a danger because of choking hazards; they are too loud for developing ears or are laced with toxic chemicals.
Vesely says if you know a parent whose child is playing with a dangerous toy explain to the adult about the potential harm and encourage them to visit toysafety.mobi.