{"id":2694,"date":"2017-11-21T19:54:40","date_gmt":"2017-11-22T01:54:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=2694"},"modified":"2022-02-11T10:05:33","modified_gmt":"2022-02-11T16:05:33","slug":"top-5-reasons-kids-go-er-holidays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/top-5-reasons-kids-go-er-holidays\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 reasons kids go to the ER over the holidays"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Dr.

Working closely with your pediatrician can help you avoid seeing them over the holidays.<\/p><\/div>\n

The holidays are an exciting time for children. But between playful reunions and hectic schedules, it\u2019s easy for a child to wind up in the emergency room.<\/p>\n

Dr. Ameera Nauman<\/a> and advanced nurse practitioner Elizabeth Schmerold, part of the OSF HealthCare Medical Group pediatric care<\/a> team, urge parents to be aware of these top five things that can put a wrinkle in your holiday plans.<\/p>\n

Flu, illness or fever<\/h2>\n

Wherever there is a large gathering of people, there\u2019s a risk of spreading bacteria and viruses.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven with a greater exposure to people, you can practice healthy lifestyle choices to protect your children,\u201d Dr. Nauman said. \u201cEveryone should wash their hands frequently, especially before meals, and you should try to maintain their sleep schedule.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf your child has a fever or appears to be ill, you should keep them away from other children.\u201d<\/p>\n

Animals<\/h2>\n
\n

Talk to an expert<\/p>\n

Find a pediatrician near you<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Visiting relatives can expose your child to pets that could be scared by the change in routine.<\/p>\n

\u201cFriendly pets can become scared and bite. Children can add to the animal\u2019s stress because children tend to hug on the animal,\u201d Schmerold said. \u201cOther times animals can feel the need to protect their immediate family. Children wrestling can trigger that instinct.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should warn your child to stay away from pets you aren\u2019t 100 percent sure about.\u201d<\/p>\n

Accidents<\/h2>\n

Family reunions can lead to rough-housing for excited children.<\/p>\n

\u201cChildren are energetic and curious and can push each other to the limit,\u201d Dr. Nauman said. \u201cIf all the adults or older children watch out for the little ones, your gatherings will be safe and more fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Allergic reactions<\/h2>\n

Being exposed to new foods or geographical locations can trigger allergies<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cExposure to new things might trigger a reaction that is unexpected,\u201d Dr. Nauman said. \u201cAllergic reactions are often mild, but that doesn\u2019t mean they should be taken lightly. Some reactions can be serious.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most common signs of a serious reaction are coughing, difficulty or irregular breathing, abdominal pain and difficulty swallowing. Make sure everyone knows if your child has severe allergic reactions to certain things like peanuts or insect stings.\u201d<\/p>\n

Foreign objects in the body<\/h2>\n

New toys<\/a> can lead to sometimes dangerous situations.<\/p>\n

\u201cChildren playing with toys that are not age-appropriate can lead to small pieces ending up in a nostril or ear canal,\u201d Schmerold said. \u201cBut the biggest dangers are choking hazards and poisons.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnsure children are playing safely, and poisons, like laundry pods, are out of reach.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The holidays are an exciting time for children. But between playful reunions and hectic schedules, it\u2019s easy for a child to wind up in the emergency room. Dr. Ameera Nauman and advanced nurse practitioner Elizabeth Schmerold, part of the OSF HealthCare Medical Group pediatric care team, urge parents to be aware of these top five […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":2701,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[116],"tags":[429,324,371,677],"coauthors":[687],"class_list":["post-2694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pediatrics","tag-emergency","tag-holidays","tag-pediatrics","tag-safety"],"yoast_head":"\nTop 5 reasons kids go to the emergency room over the holidays<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The holidays are an exciting time for kids. 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