November is National Child Safety Month

November is National Child Safety Month. MetroWest Public Safety is sharing these safety tips to keep your kids safe during the holidays:

• Decorate your tree with your kids in mind. Move the ornaments that are breakable or have metal hooks towards the top of the tree, keeping ornaments safe for young children at the bottom.
• Check and water your natural tree regularly. A natural tree’s needles can dry out and pose a potential fire hazard.
• Examine the lights on your tree and in and around your home for exposed or frayed wires, loose connections or broken sockets.
• Blow out candles and store matches out of reach. Keep holiday candles at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn, and don’t forget to blow them out when you leave the room or before you
• go to sleep. Consider transitioning to LED candles.
• Keep harmful/poisonous plants out of reach, including mistletoe berries, holly berry, and Jerusalem cherry. In a poison emergency, call the national Poison Control Center at 1- 800-222-1222.
• Keep a special eye on small pieces, including button batteries that may be included in electronic toys. Serious, and even life-threatening, complications can occur if children swallow button batteries, or put them in the nose or ear.