Parents are being advised to exercise extra vigilance this Christmas to help reduce the number of injuries to children that traditionally occur during the festive season.
With colourful lights and sparkling toys tempting children to swallow dangerous objects, Christmas can be a dangerous time for children, according to the National Safety Council and doctors.
Dr Róisín Healy, of Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, said yesterday that the Dublin hospital sees an increase in the number of children with objects they have put up their noses, ears or swallowed at this time of year.
The most common objects are coins and medals, but there are also cases of batteries being swallowed. If stuck in the gullet, batteries can corrode and cause perforations that are potentially fatal if left untreated, said Dr Healy.
Toys with detachable parts, such as those found in Christmas crackers, are another seasonal hazard.
To prevent a child being accidentally poisoned, hospitals also caution against leaving handbags containing prescription drugs unattended.
This year the hospital has already seen cases of children choking on foam while making Christmas decorations in school, and burns caused by children grasping improperly insulated wire.
Ms Anne Marie Dowling, of Temple Street Children's Hospital in Dublin, said they treat a lot of burns at Christmas time and a lot of accidents on St Stephen's Day due to falls from new bicycles.
The chief executive of the National Parents Council, Ms Fionnuala Kilfeather, advised parents to make a checklist before Christmas to ensure that batteries taken out of toys are out of harm's way and that decorations that could be choked on are kept out of reach.
The Christmas tree should always be unplugged at night, she cautioned.
"You should also be careful when taking things out of the oven at Christmas, as the turkey is very heavy. Make sure the children are not around when that happens," she said.
Mr John Hanley, of the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs, said parents can check toys conform to national safety standards by seeing if they carry a CE mark.
"Toy safety has improved a lot; but still there's no ground for complacency. Accidents do happen. Watch what you're buying. Think about your child," he said.
"Labelling is there for a reason, especially age warnings, and should always be taken very seriously."