ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — We want your family to be safe and healthy this holiday season. Especially if you’re having guests over or spending time with kids, there could be some potential holiday hazards that aren’t usually on your mind.
So, 10 Tampa Bay talked to the experts at the Florida Poison Information Center about what to watch out for.
The first hazard we’re highlighting is edible cannabis products.
Morgan McCoy learned that firsthand when her 6-year-old found a bag of Delta 8 THC left by a neighbor.
“I had a mom come out and say, ‘We think your daughter may have eaten a gummy.’ And I went in and my daughter was non-responsive. She was very -- she was like a rag doll, basically,” McCoy said.
Keep those items up and away from kids.
You want to have a plan for where you and your guests are putting medications.
“Guests go into your house. They go into your guest room. They take out their medications and set it up on a counter and it’s left not secured,” said Florida Poison Information Center Media Relations and Education Coordinator Mike McCormick. “When guests come into your home, make sure you’re talking to them about how they are securing their medication. You may have a good medication safety protocol in your house, but when your guests come, they probably do not.”
Another big one to watch out for: Button batteries can be dangerous right away if a kid swallows them.
“They come in lots of different things, whether it’s key fobs, remote controls. But we start pulling out ornaments that have them in them, and then greeting cards come with them right now. And those batteries are not secured inside — especially, greeting cards,” McCormick said.
If you’re going to a holiday party, keep an eye on your food and drinks.
Don’t leave alcohol unattended; it can cause blood pressure issues very quickly in young kids.
And keep in mind that bacteria that causes foodborne illness can start growing in as little as two hours.
“And kind of the rule on that is: Cold things need to stay under 40 degrees in temperature and hot things need to stay above 140 — and definitely not be out for more than two hours,” McCormick said.
The most important step you can take right now is to save Florida's Poison Control Centers' number in your phone: 1-800-222-1222. That number connects you to a toxicologist fast, free and confidentially. The service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Here are some tips to keep your pet healthy and safe:
- The American Veterinary Medical Association says poinsettias will not kill your pets but could cause an upset stomach.
- Florida Poison Control recommends keeping pets away from cut Christmas trees and the water they stand in.
- Keep any stockings with chocolates in them out of your dog’s reach.