Holiday ‘Guests’ to Avoid

Hopefully there will be lots of happy surprises for you over the holiday. But some hazards can lead to unhappy health surprises - especially for children and pets. Check these hazards out and don’t invite them in for the holidays!

1. Guessing when meat is done

Don’t guess - use a food thermometer and refer to a reliable guide to make sure harmful bacteria are killed in foods like that turkey or ham. For recommended temperatures, check out the Government of Canada site: Safe cooking temperatures - Canada.ca

2. Keeping poisonous plants like poinsettias too low

Did you know that a favorite Christmas plant, the poinsettia, is toxic to pets? And it may be dangerous to children so keep poinsettias out of reach of little fingers or paws. Check out these other houseplants that are dangers for pets: Top 10 Toxic Household Plants For Pets.

3. Leaving baking extracts in reach of children

Holiday baking can call for extracts like vanilla or almond. They add great flavor to baked goodies but, in large amounts, can lead to alcohol toxicity for children. Make a point of putting extracts out of reach when little hands are around.

4. Not securing prescription medications

Visiting guests might not be used to keeping medications (and marijuana edibles and vaping or nicotine products) out of reach of children. Plan on making a safe space available to guests for such products.

5. Letting food sit out for too long

It’s so easy when visiting or playing games during the holidays to forget about that food sitting out on the counter or stovetop. But take care because bacteria can grow at room temperature and make us sick. Four hours is the maximum recommended by some sources say no longer than an hour. Tolerance to bacteria varies, so it’s best to be cautious. To limit risk, consider methods like slow cookers and chafing dishes or ice to keep food at safe temperatures.   

6. Licking that baking spoon

It’s so tempting to lick that baking spoon but resist. Raw flour and eggs can carry Salmonella or E.coli so clean and sanitize those utensils. (If licking that spoon is a treat not to pass up during the holidays check out ready-to-eat dough now available at grocery stores).

7. Leaving button batteries out

This little coin batteries can be tempting to children. In addition to being a choking hazard, they can also cause serious internal damage if swallowed.

8. Hanging antique ornaments too low

Current health and manufacturing standards may not apply to older ornaments or ornaments from other countries. They may be decorated with harmful lead paint so put them out of reach.

It’s easy to overlook hazards like this during all the activity and fun of the holiday season. Take a few minutes before all the excitement sets in to review these tips with your family to avoid unwelcome health surprises.  

Adapted from https://www.prevention.com/health/a42318004/holiday-health-hazards/?