Holiday Health Hazards to Avoid This Winter

Stay safe with these tips during the holidays.

ByABC News
December 19, 2016, 2:32 PM

— -- The holiday season often means having friends, family and even few furry friends come together to spend quality time, while enjoying food, drink and good cheer. But the arrival of winter along with the holiday season also means an increased risk of certain health hazards that can put a damper on the cheeriest of nights.

Here are some tips to ensure a safe and lively celebration when enjoying the holidays.

Bundle Up for the Snowball Fight

Arctic winds and single-digit temperatures pose an increased risk for cold weather injuries among children. Dr. Leslie Dingeldein, an emergency medicine physician at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in Ohio, spoke to ABC News about the importance of dressing kids appropriately for the weather.

“This means layers,” she said. “Snow pants, coats, gloves, scarves -- and making sure fingers, toes, noses and ears are covered," Dingeldein said.

Frostbite appears quickly, so kids should take breaks from the cold every 10 to 20 minutes to go inside and warm up, she recommended. Clothes should be dry before attempting to go outside again.

And sometimes, it’s just not worth the risks of braving the cold.

“Kids should stay inside when the weather is severe,” Dingeldein said. “There is no reason to go outside in the bitter cold.”

Check on Those Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Carbon monoxide poisoning is much more common in the winter months when families seek ways to heat their homes. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends installing carbon monoxide alarms outside each separate sleeping area in your home. Generators should not be used indoors, and fireplaces should be properly ventilated at this time of year.

“Children are often the first ones in a household to become affected by carbon monoxide poisoning,” Dingeldein pointed out.

It’s important to recognize the signs and symptoms, including headache, nausea, dizziness, confusion and increased sleepiness. If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, take your child outside immediately and call 911.

Safeguard Family Homes During Holiday Visits

With holiday travel and visitors at your home, young children get into luggage, medicine cabinets and other unsafe areas.

“One of the big things that people don’t always think about is medication ingestion, because during the holiday season people are visiting family, and homes are not childproof the same way you childproof your own home,” Dingeldein said.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends storing medications, as well as chemical cleaners and detergents, in high-up cabinets, out of reach of children. Make sure that your family’s medications come with safety caps and that they dispose of any unused medications.

Beware of Pets Eating Poisonous Holiday Plants

Adding a poinsettia, mistletoe or holly to a room is a quick way to add some holiday cheer, but if your pet eats the plant as a holiday treat, it can mean disaster.

In the case of poinsettias and holly, the different chemicals and sap in the plants can cause gastrointestinal distress in your pup, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. With mistletoe, toxic chemicals called lectins and phoratoxins can cause low blood pressure and slowed heart rate, according to the FDA.

If your furry friend does decide to eat the decorations, the FDA recommends calling your veterinarian immediately.

"Your veterinarian can give you advice on what you can do at home to make your pet more comfortable and help you decide if you should bring your pet in for a visit," the FDA advises on its website.

Maintain Your Cool Amid Holiday Stress

The holidays can be stressful, and many take this stress out on family members.

“There are many details to take care of, and it’s easy to get frustrated,” said Dr. Pauline Wallin, clinical psychologist in Pennsylvania and author of the book "Taming Your Inner Brat." “There’s evidence from research that frustration leads to aggression.”

In these situations, it’s easy to yell or lash out. But instead of taking your frustration out on your children, it’s best to take a step back and recognize the frustration, Wallin said.

Although it’s easy to get bogged down in the stress, “all those details that seem so important in the moment really aren’t that important,” she explained. “Just look around you and enjoy other people. It’s not about your performance.”

Dr. Nina Suresh is a resident physician in pediatrics at New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center. She is a resident in the ABC News Medical Unit.