The following stories appear in full on today's Vidyya Medical News Service Web site.

Hazards lurk in the most benign places. From cuts caused by broken ornaments to choking on tree trimmings or ribbons, most are surprised by the list of the known hazards of Christmas.

For more information: Christmas Hazards: Potential Pitfalls Of The Merry Holiday

American mistletoe is generally considered to be extremely toxic. Although there are no data to support this contention, both the lay public and medical professionals often respond very aggressively after ingestion of any portion of this plant. To determine if American mistletoe is deserving of this reputation, the outcomes of 1,754 exposures to this plant were examined. All mistletoe data extracted from the American Association of Poison Control Centers national data collection system for the period of 1985 to 1992 were analyzed according to patient age, gastrointestinal decontamination therapy, patient outcome, and geographic region of the exposure.

For more information: Is Mistletoe Toxic?

The FDA has requested that manufacturers of vaccines using bovine-derived materials obtained from countries on the USDA list replace these materials with materials from countries not on the USDA list, consistent with the recommendations of the FDA's joint Advisory Committees. The manufacturers have agreed to fully implement these changes. Indeed, several manufacturers have already initiated a number of these changes. The full list of questionable vaccines appears in today's Vidyya. Vidyya will watch for updates of the vaccine list and post an updated list as necessary. It is hoped that soon, there will be no vaccines on the list.

For more information: Poinsettia Exposure? Not A Problem.

The resources in this article represent a treasure trove that will educate and entertain children. Part of the joy of the holidays is sharing information with families. Most of the time medical information if provided, but its important to support parents and professionals in their role as teachers of children. Giving books to children and parents encourages them to read together. Other media, such as videos and CDs, have become popular in the past decade.

For more information: Gift Ideas: Fun and Enriching Books, Videos, And CDs For Computers

Millions of persons ski, snowboard, and sled each year in the United States. These cold weather activities, which can be exhilarating, also result in many injuries each year. By developing skills with a qualified instructor and supervising young children while they participate in these activities, you can help reduce the risk of injury.

For more information: Winter Sports Injury Prevention: Safety on the Slopes

Today's Vidyya articles are:

• Christmas Hazards: Potential Pitfalls Of The Merry Holiday

• Is Mistletoe Toxic?

• Poinsettia Exposure? Not A Problem.

• Gift Ideas: Fun and Enriching Books, Videos, And CDs For Computers

• Winter Sports Injury Prevention: Safety on the Slopes