I know you were considering this, so here’s a safety tip.

Don’t hide Easter eggs in light sockets. Or poison ivy. Or a squirrel's nest.

Those are among the Easter safety tips in a recent news release from “Mr. No-No,” aka Scott Cirillo, a teacher, father of four and child safety advocate in Hollywood, Calif.

He is affiliated with The Thinking CAPP Foundation (Children’s Accident Prevention Program), whose mission is to reduce the number of children who end up in hospitals every year from preventable accidents.

Very laudable. But apparently Thinking CAPP has had some dark thoughts about Easter egg hunts.

Dr. No-No says we shouldn’t hide eggs near electrical outlets or plugs, in cupboards or drawers with dangerous products (i.e. giant knives), or under glass. Outside, avoid putting eggs in any plants that have thorns, look potentially dangerous or are poisonous.

Other tips: “Do not hide eggs in any animals’ home, food bowl or play area. Do not hide eggs where pesticides or poisons have recently been sprayed. Do not hide eggs in tool sheds.”

Now, I would think even the dimmest bulb in the box would know not to send a child to an empty light socket or wild animal’s home to find an Easter egg. Or hide eggs next to a chain saw.

Cirillo says you’d be surprised. He’s heard just about everything from parents who were a bit too creative about hiding places.

“I wish it were just an isolated incident,” he says. “There’s a reason these tips have made it to the top.”

One dad called in while Cirillo was on a radio show and explained that he’d unscrewed the light bulb on a lamp and put an egg in its place so it looked just like a colored bulb. “My only question,” the man asked Cirillo, “is should I have unplugged the actual light?”

Cirillo wasn’t quite sure what to say, other than to suggest someone else hide the eggs. “Where is your wife?” he asked the caller.

Another parent put eggs inside a fish tank, with the actual fish still inside.

Unfortunately, children have been severely injured by dogs after parents hid eggs in a food bowl. Dogs can be territorial about such things.

Dr. No-No’s tips have been picked up by newspapers and web sites around the country, and he does have some practical advice:

— Color-code the eggs for each child’s age group, so the big kids don’t hog all the eggs or trample the young ones.
— Keep eggs at or below eye level of younger children. Kids will climb anything and have fallen off stairs or stools in their zeal to reach an egg.
— Keep track of the eggs you hide, presumably so you don’t attract critters or accidentally wind up with a baby robin in your basket.
— Dispose of eggs that show cracks or damage, or any that have been out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours.
— Don’t eat any hard-boiled eggs longer than a week after refrigeration.

Here are a few others, from www.sheknows.com:
— Wash your hands before and after handling raw eggs.
— Be careful what you put inside those plastic eggs for children under 5. Small candy or toys can be choking hazards.
— If you’re inviting a large group of children, check with parents about food allergies (peanuts, chocolate) before choosing the treats.
— If you’re going to be outside for long periods for a hunt, don’t forget the sunscreen.

For more info: www.TheThinkingCAPPFoundation.org  

News-Gazette file photo: A bunny peeks out behind a tree during a 2008 egg hunt at the Bryant Cottage state historical site in Bement.

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