Keep Your Kids From Getting Injured On Christmas Day - KAUZ-TV: Newschannel 6 Now | Wichita Falls, TX

On Christmas day when kids are opening their presents parents usually keep in mind the well known safety hazards that could put their child at risk.

Kristin Brumbelow says,"Always a concern for me is what everybody else buys for him that you don't get to approve for yourself. So you know, small things, toys that come apart, anything like that I always worry about."

Kids choking on small pieces and playing with inappropriate toys is a real concern. But pediatrician Lawrence Lyford says what usually sends a child to the hospital every year is what's left laying around the house after the Christmas festivities.

"Most of the time kids pick the boxes, you know the wrap paper and the boxes over anything else but that's something you don't normally think about," said Brumbelow.

And Lyford says, "Plastic over their heads suffocating. You've got Christmas ornaments laying around that might be broken or cut."

Toys with long strings can also be a strangulation hazard for babies. Experts say you shouldn't give a child under the age of 10 toys that need to be plugged into an electrical outlet to prevent electrical shock. And Lyford says what could be even worse, is leaving an alcoholic beverage unattended and within the reach of a child.

"During the holidays, particularly around new year's, parties and the kid gets up early and drinks and several a year will die of alcohol consumption," said Lyford.

When it comes to parents who have kids with a significant age gap in between, it's important to keep in mind that all their toys will most likely get mixed up and the little ones might get their hands on the wrong toy.

Tanya De Jesus, Newschannel 6