(BPT) - The holidays are usually a time to gather in person to share the joys and traditions of the season with friends and family. However, not unlike many occasions in 2020, the ongoing restrictions to help curb the spread of COVID-19 may make holiday festivities look different this year. This could mean spending time with fewer people, participating in virtual celebrations, and more shopping online. Regardless of how you celebrate, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging American families to protect themselves from possible dangers associated with unsafe toys, cooking and decorating as they prepare for the holidays.
Here is what consumers need to know:
Toys
Although toy recalls continue to decline, CPSC reports that in 2019, there were an estimated 162,700 toy-related, emergency department-treated injuries and 14 deaths among children younger than 15. Most of the deaths were associated with choking on small toy parts and small balls, in addition to deaths associated with riding toys. Consumers should remember the tips below when purchasing toys as holiday gifts:
Cooking
Did you know that cooking fires are the number one cause of residential fires? CPSC reports that an average of 1,700 cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving Day each year. This is more than three times the average number occurring any other day of the year. Specifically, in the past two decades, there were 220 fire or burn incidents involving turkey fryers, resulting in 81 injuries and $9.7 million in property loss. To prevent your holiday meal from going up in flames, follow these safety suggestions:
Decorating
CPSC reports, on average, 200 decorating-related injuries occur each day during the holiday season. About half of the incidents involve falls. During the 2018 season alone, approximately 17,500 people were treated in emergency rooms for holiday decorating-related injuries. During the 2019 season, there were six deaths associated with decorating. Many of the injury incidents involve Christmas tree fires and candles burning. Families are advised to follow these safety steps to avoid similar incidents occurring in 2020:
Hazardous Counterfeit Products
Online shopping is popular and convenient, and it can be a safer alternative to heading into the stores this year. Follow CPSC’s tips to avoid purchasing unsafe items:
To learn more about how to be safer at home for the holidays, please visit the CPSC Holiday Safety Information Center.
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