“I don’t want to spend Christmas in the emergency room”. Often pronounced at the opening of the oysters, this sentence can give rise to a smile when it is not premonitory. The end-of-year celebrations remain a time conducive to certain accidents, allergies and poisoning, as the health authorities remind us, who recommend adopting simple gestures to enjoy these evenings with complete peace of mind.
The National Food Safety Agency (ANSES) reminds the French of the importance of following certain recommendations to limit, or even eliminate, the risk of accidents during the end-of-year celebrations. And this mainly involves choosing and monitoring toys for the little ones, but also respecting basic health rules in terms of food.
Be careful with toys
While toys for the youngest children aren’t supposed to contain small parts, parents should be on the lookout for new toys that Santa will drop under the tree. Button batteries, which are distinguished by their round and flat shape, are particularly dangerous for children under 5 years of age. “Swallowing a button cell battery is a serious hazard that can be fatal. It can be responsible for choking, but also for very serious complications“, reminds ANSES. To overcome this risk, it is advisable to choose toys that have a secure battery compartment and to check that it is properly locked. In the event of ingestion, you must contact a center. anti-poison or SAMU without waiting.
Do you know slime? This sticky paste that makes children and adolescents happy is not without danger, say health authorities. Whether it’s homemade preparation, preparation boxes, or ready-to-use Slime, parents must remain vigilant as to the products used, the products diverted from their use, or even the “prolonged and repeated handling ” paste. Cases of sometimes severe skin irritations and allergies have been reported, including damage to the skin and nails, burns, redness, and eczema, requiring the full attention of parents during this Christmas period.
More generally, the health authorities call for the greatest attention vis-à-vis the small elements present in toys. This can particularly concern water beads, but also toys or products that imitate food, which children could instinctively put in their mouths.
Respect certain health rules
It’s a refrain that you now know by heart, and that will have to be applied during the holiday season. If everyone now knows the barrier gestures intended to limit the spread of Covid-19, there are also others to prevent any risk of food poisoning. Because it is indeed in your kitchen that everything will be decided on December 24 and 31.
Unsurprisingly, hand washing is an essential step in reducing the risk of food poisoning. Good news, he could only return to the habits of the French in this year of a pandemic. ANSES also specifies that in order not to subject your guests to poisoning, food should be stored in the refrigerator, cleaned beforehand, and the coldest area should be kept at a temperature between 0 and 4 degrees.
When preparing the meal, it is also recommended not to use the same cutting board for different types of food (meat, fish, vegetables, etc.). While it may seem logical, health authorities also recommend not preparing the meal if you have gastroenteritis.
Accidents far from trivial
It can make you smile, and yet champagne corks are the cause of many accidents during the end-of-year celebrations, which can be responsible for significant trauma or even blindness. Despite the festive atmosphere, it is therefore necessary to handle this type of bottle with care in the presence of guests.
The opening of the oysters is also a delicate stage in the preparation of the Christmas meal. About 2,000 injuries of this type are reported each year, according to the latest figures published on the subject by the Institute for Health Surveillance. A good reason to be vigilant, and not to take this responsibility lightly.