Holiday Safety Tips
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- Published on Tuesday, 05 December 2017 11:15
Safety Never Takes a Holiday
Poisonings never take a break, even during the holidays. Missouri Poison Center is always ready to help, every day of the year. One of the best pieces of advice we give is to program the poison help phone number into your mobile phone: 1-800-222-1222. Being prepared and calling right away is your best bet – you’ll be speaking with a poison specialist within seconds to get the help you need!
FOOD SAFETY
Food safety guidelines are very important to know and follow. Appetizers set out early should be put away before the meal is served. When serving a holiday buffet, keep cold food cold, and hot food hot. Meat should be cooked to the appropriate temperature based on the cut and type. After the meal, food should be put in containers and stored in the refrigerator to avoid bacterial growth. Check out foodsafety.gov for useful information, there is even an app to help keep this information right at your fingertips: https://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/index.html.
WINTER PLANTS
Traditional holiday plants such as mistletoe, poinsettias, and amaryllis bring a bit of the outdoors inside during the cold, winter months. The plants and berries are beautiful, but might look like food to young children. In general, each of these plants can cause symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea if eaten in large enough amounts. Keep all plants out of reach and don’t forget the pets! If there has been an ingestion of any winter plant, why wonder or worry? Call the poison center right away for answers. For more information, check out our post about winter plant safety.
HOLIDAY SAFETY FOR SMALL CHILDREN
Holiday parties are an adventure for a toddler and their curiosity meter goes into overdrive with so many new things to see, taste, and touch. We suggest checking out this new environment at your child’s eye level to identify possible poison hazards.
- Ice melt products can be inadvertently brought into the home from the bottom of shoes. Of course, a toddler will not only find it, but will put it right into their mouths. Keep the bags and buckets of ice melt out of sight and reach of children because their salt content can be a problem if ingested in large enough amounts.
- Look around the Christmas tree area, needles from the tree are likely to be on the floor, and there is usually a stray piece of tinsel or an ornament to be found. These items can be a choking hazard if placed in the mouth.
- Don’t forget about the scented plug-ins placed in outlets right at kid level. These can cause irritation to the mouth and upset stomach if swallowed.
- Hand bags and purses are frequently set down on the floor and not watched closely. For a toddler, a purse is a treasure waiting to be explored. Cosmetic products are not likely to cause symptoms, but medications can be serious, so be sure to keep hand bags and purses up and away.
- Don’t forget about the alcoholic beverages sitting out on the table, a child may come by and drink from the wrong cup. Depending on the amount and strength of the beverage, an intoxication can occur. If a child drinks an alcoholic beverage, call Missouri Poison Center right away!
TOYS AND GIFTS
Gifts are a kid’s favorite part of the holiday party. Once they have been opened, there’s wrapping paper and bows thrown all about and the kids start trying out their new toys. Keep in mind, anything small enough to fit in a baby’s mouth will go in their mouth and can be a choking hazard.
Science kits and art supplies are intended for older children to use under adult supervision. Commonly, there are small pieces present, along with brightly colored paints and chemicals. If possible, save the box or package insert to make identification easier if an exposure occurs.
Disc or button batteries come with many toys and other objects that make sound or light up. If swallowed, the batteries can lead to serious symptoms, no matter the age of the child. Any device that comes with a button battery should have a compartment that is secured with screws. Make sure the screws are securely tightened to keep little ones from getting into the battery. Even if you SUSPECT someone has swallowed a battery, call the poison center immediately for individual recommendations. When it comes to button batteries, you do not want to wait or take any chances.
Rare earth magnets are typically given as a gift to an adult to keep on their desk as a creative outlet and stress reliever. If a child swallows more than one unattached magnet, they can attract to each other in the intestines and cause damage. One surgeon described the damage as being similar to a bullet wound, without the entry and exit points. The best advice is to keep these magnets away from children of any age. They should never be allowed to play with them.
CHANGE IN ROUTINE
Holidays bring a change in our normal routine, but child safety precautions remain the same. Guests, such as grandparents, may be spending the night in your home. Be sure they keep all toiletries and medications up and out of sight of little ones. If the kids are staying over at the grandparent’s house, make the necessary safety changes before the kids come over.
Medication errors are common due to changes in your usual sleep and wake up times. If you have accidentally double-dosed or skipped a dose of your medication, call the poison center, we are there to help get you back on track safely.
If you have questions about holiday safety, call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Specially trained nurses and pharmacists are available 24/7/365. The service is free and confidential.
Milestone Tracker Mobile App
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- Published on Monday, 27 November 2017 15:04
Milestones matter! Track your child’s milestones from age 2 months to 5 years with CDC’s easy-to-use illustrated checklists; get tips from CDC for encouraging your child’s development; and find out what to do if you are ever concerned about how your child is developing.
From birth to age 5, your child should reach milestones in how he or she plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves. Photos and videos in this app illustrate each milestone and make tracking them for your child easy and fun!
Features:
- Add a Child – enter personalized information about your child or multiple children
- Milestone Tracker – track your child’s developmental progress by looking for important milestones using an interactive, illustrated checklist
- Milestone Photos and Videos – know what each milestone looks like so that you can better identify them in your own child
- Tips and Activities – support your child’s development at every age
- When to Act Early – know when it’s time to “act early” and talk with your child’s doctor about developmental concerns
- Appointments – keep track of your child’s doctors’ appointments and get reminders about recommended developmental screenings
- Milestone Summary – get a summary of your child’s milestones to view, and share with or email to your child’s doctor and other important care providers
The use of this app is not a substitute for the use of validated, standardized developmental screening tools as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
CDC does not collect or share any personal information that can be used to identify you or your child.
Download the Milestone Tracker app from the App Store or Google Play today!
Notice of Elections
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- Published on Monday, 27 November 2017 10:26
Notice of Election
The Health Department Board of Trustees of Andrew County will hold an election for one Board Member position for a two-year term (April 2018 – April 2020) at the General Municipal Election, Tuesday April 3, 2018. The first day to file a Declaration of Candidacy for the Board Member positions is Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at 8:00 a.m. Filing will remain open through Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. Anyone qualified to file for the position, shall file at the Andrew County Health Department, 106 North 5th Street, Savannah, MO, during regular business hours, excluding holidays.
Stand By Your Pan
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- Published on Wednesday, 22 November 2017 08:34
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission – News Release
Release Date: November 21, 2017
Release Number: 18-043
“Stand By Your Pan”: Thanksgiving Cooking Tips That You Can Be Thankful For
There’s nothing quite like sharing special moments with family and friends on Thanksgiving Day. To keep families safe this holiday, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) encourages consumers to follow safe cooking practices to ensure a memorable and enjoyable Thanksgiving meal.
Most home cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving Day. From 2012 through 2014, there was an average of 2,100 cooking fires on Thanksgiving Day alone—more than three times the average rate of 400 cooking fires a day.
‘STAND BY YOUR PAN!’
“Being prepared in the kitchen is important, especially on Thanksgiving Day when there is a lot of activity and people are at home,” said CPSC Acting Chairman Ann Marie Buerkle. “Never leave the stove unattended as cooking is the top cause of home fires. Keep an eye on your food to prevent a fire from starting in the first place.”
PRACTICE SAFE COOKING.
- Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing and keep flammable items away from hot ranges or ovens.
- Be on alert! Keep children and pets away from hot stovetops.
- Turn pan handles to the back and away from the front of the range.
- Have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Visit www.cpsc.gov/recalls to see if your fire extinguisher has been recalled.
Never pour water or flour on a pan fire. Cover the pan with a lid to smother the flames or use a fire extinguisher. Call 911 if necessary.
COOK THE TURKEY, NOT THE HOUSE!
- Only use a turkey fryer outside and away from your home. Never use a turkey fryer in a garage or on a porch.
- Don’t overfill the oil or leave the turkey fryer unattended.
- Be sure to cook your turkey to a minimum internal temperature of 165 °F as measured by a food thermometer. For more tips on how to cook a turkey, check out the Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Since 1998, there have been more than 214 turkey fryer-related fires, burns, explosions or incidents reported. These incidents caused 80 injuries (none fatal) and over 9.6 million in property damage.
SMOKE ALARMS SAVE LIVES.
Protect your family by installing smoke alarms on every level of your home and in every bedroom. Test your smoke alarm every month to make sure they are working properly. Change batteries in smoke alarms every year – many people do so at daylight savings time.
“The Fire Service has long been witness to the many lives saved through the presence of working smoke alarms,” said U.S. Fire Administrator G. Keith Bryant. “As we begin this year’s holiday season we encourage everyone to ensure their families and homes are protected by a working smoke alarm.”
PLAN YOUR ESCAPE!
Establish a fire escape plan and practice with everyone who lives in your home.
- Find two ways out - Make sure there are two ways out from each room and a clear path to the outside from each exit.
- Children, disabled persons, and the elderly will need additional assistance during a fire emergency, so plan accordingly.
For more information and tips on how to protect your family in the event of a fire, check out our multigenerational toolkit. You can also find more fire safety tips in our fire safety information center.