Health expert warns of seasonal dangers

Parents must beware of the festive dangers lurking in the home at this time of the year, health experts warned today.

Patricia Casey, of the National Poisons Information Centre, appealed to people to beware of the hazards that decorations, seasonal plants, small toy parts and Christmas visits to other homes may hold for small children.

“Things tend to come up more at Christmas including eating holly, ivy and mistletoe which is more a Christmas thing,” the manager of the centre said.

Common festive plants, including mistletoe, holly, poinsettia, ivy and pine needles from the Christmas tree, have bright colours and often attract young children.

Ms Casey said that in most cases children do not eat enough berries to cause any serious symptoms but may get mild poisoning, including nausea and vomiting.

Around one-third of the centre’s 14,661 potential poison queries last year centred on children.

Ms Casey said information staff received around 300 calls last December from medical professionals concerning different types of poisoning in children.

Ms Casey warned that Christmas decorations could cause choking and breathing problems if swallowed. Toys with detachable parts, or those found in Christmas crackers, can cause obstructions if a child puts them in their mouth.

“We have inquiries about batteries all year round but the potential for this is stronger at Christmas with the toys. They are small and easy to swallow or stick in ears or noses,” she said.

“Small things are a choking hazard rather than a poison.”

Fake snow also contains a corrosive chemical that can cause serious problems if swallowed or sprayed onto skin. The artificial snow forms a fine powdery substance when it is sprayed and can cause a chemical type of pneumonia if it gets into the lungs.

The national centre, which is located in Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital, warned that children should not be allowed to play with the ‘snow’ canisters.

Ms Casey said parents should be extra vigilant when paying visits to other homes.

Some popular gifts found lying under many Christmas trees can also prove a danger.

“Concentrated essential oils are very popular but are toxic,” Ms Casey said.

The centre, which has published a leaflet on poison prevention guidelines for the home, said that medical advice must be sought if a child swallows any amount of an essential oil.

However, dilute aromatherapy and pot pourri oils are much less toxic. Gifts like perfume or aftershave can cause drowsiness if swallowed.

The centre said that poisoning from household products like bleach, detergents and oven cleaners is also common at this time of year.