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Saturday, February 21, 2009

Safety Gates

Baby safety gates are an essential element in making your home baby proof. Now that he's on the move, every nook and cranny is a potential area of exploration for him. Your baby is curious about his new environment, wanting to investigate each little corner and new room. The best way to make sure he can't do any harm to himself is to install safety gates. These will prevent him from reaching the stairs, kitchen, or an office room, where there might be many wires and electrical equipment just at his height

Accordion gates, which open to form diamond-shaped patterns with wide V's at the top, can trap a baby's head and have resulted in strangulation deaths. In January 1985, gate manufacturers halted production of these gates, but there are still an estimated 15 million gates in use. Mesh gates also can be dangerous because a toddler's fingers can become trapped.

When purchasing a safety gate, look for the following:

• A hardware-mounted gate that attaches to the doorframe without any openings to trap fingers or necks. Pressure-mounted gates should not be used between rooms of different levels or at the top of stairs; children can dislodge them and take a tumble.

• Gates that swing out should never be used at the top of stairways.

• Nonflexible vertical slats or rods should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart.

• Check for sharp edges and protrusions that could hurt a toddler's hands.

• Avoid gates with structures that could give a child a foothold for climbing. Keep large toys away from the gate to prevent a child from using them to climb over.

• The gate should be no less than 3/4 of the child's height

Car Seats

More children are seriously injured and killed in auto accidents than in any other type of accident. Each year, hundreds of lives could be saved if children were protected in cars by using child safety seats. Using a child safety seat is the best protection you can give your child when travelling by car.

When purchasing a car seat, look for:

• Label states that it meets or exceeds the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards;

• Is the car seat appropriate for your child's height and weight?

• Be aware of the type of seat belts your car has; all car seats are not compatible with all seat belts;

• Check recent car seat recalls before making a purchase;

• Be sure that the seat you choose fits your child - a smaller baby can slip out of a seat that's too large. Infants one year or younger and up to 20 pounds must be placed in a rear-facing seat, toddlers (older than 1 year and between 20 and 40 pounds) may use a forward-facing seat, and children who are between 40 and 80 pounds need to be placed in a booster seat;

• Consider choosing a seat that is upholstered in fabric - it may be more comfortable for your child

Keeping Baby Safe: You’re Most Important Role as a Parent

Once your beautiful bundle of joy arrives, the work of raising your child really begins. The biggest job you have as a parent is keeping your baby safe. Yet, it is impossible to watch over your children twenty-four hours a day.

Thankfully, there are many safety products available to keep them from getting hurt. These products include safety gates, outlet covers, oven and table bumpers, doorknob covers, bed rails, locks and guards, and many more. As a parent, you need to use products that are one step ahead of their children's abilities, and can do so by getting down on their level and looking around. This gives you a child's eye perspective of child safety issues in your home.

But with so many products to buy and so many different brand names, how do you decide what products you need most? The best thing to do when it comes to safety is buy new products rather than used ones. An older, used product may have been recalled due to dangerous safety issues, or it may be damaged from previous use. Although hand-me-downs are great for clothes and toys, your child’s safety is just too important to leave to chance. Babies R Us is a great place to find all the safety products you need.

INFANT TOYS

Infant toys, such as rattles, squeeze toys, and teethers, should be large enough so that they cannot enter and become lodged in an infant's throat.

ELECTRIC TOYS

Electric toys that are improperly constructed, wired or misused can shock or burn. Electric toys must meet mandatory requirements for maximum surface temperatures, electrical construction and prominent warning labels. Electric toys with heating elements are recommended only for children over eight years old. Children should be taught to use electric toys properly, cautiously and under adult supervision.

ALL TOYS ARE NOT FOR ALL CHILDREN

Keep toys designed for older children out of the hands of little ones. Follow labels that give age recommendations -- some toys are recommended for older children because they may be hazardous in the hands of a younger child. Teach older children to help keep their toys away from younger brothers and sisters.

Even balloons, when uninflated or broken, can choke or suffocate if young children try to swallow them. More children have suffocated on uninflated balloons and pieces of broken balloons than on any other type of toy.

PROPELLED OBJECTS

Projectiles -- guided missiles and similar flying toys -- can be turned into weapons and can injure eyes in particular. Children should never be permitted to play with adult lawn darts or other hobby or sporting equipment that have sharp points. Arrows or darts used by children should have soft cork tips, rubber suction cups or other protective tips intended to prevent injury. Check to be sure the tips are secure. Avoid those dart guns or other toys which might be capable of firing articles not intended for use in the toy, such as pencils or nails.

SHARP POINTS

Toys which have been broken may have dangerous points or prongs. Stuffed toys may have wires inside the toy which could cut or stab if exposed. A CPSC regulation prohibits sharp points in new toys and other articles intended for use by children under eight years of age.

CORDS AND STRINGS

Toys with long strings or cords may be dangerous for infants and very young children. The cords may become wrapped around an infant's neck, causing strangulation. Never hang toys with long strings, cords, loops, or ribbons in cribs or playpens where children can become entangled. Remove crib gyms for the crib when the child can pull up on hands and knees; some children have strangled when they fell across crib gyms stretched across the crib.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

SMALL PARTS

Older toys can break to reveal parts small enough to be swallowed or to become lodged in a child's windpipe, ears or nose. The law bans small parts in new toys intended for children under three. This includes removable small eyes and noses on stuffed toys and dolls, and small, removable squeakers on squeeze toys. LOUD NOISES Toy caps and some noisemaking guns and other toys can produce sounds at noise levels that can damage hearing. The law requires the following label on boxes of caps producing noise above a certain level: "WARNING -- Do not fire closer than one foot to the ear. Do not use indoors." Caps producing noise that can injure a child's hearing are banned.

SHARP EDGES

New toys intended for children under eight years of age should, by regulation, be free of sharp glass and metal edges.

With use, however, older toys may break, exposing cutting edges.

WHEN STORING TOYS

Teach children to put their toys safely away on shelves or in a toy chest after playing to prevent trips and falls.

Toy boxes, too, should be checked for safety. Use a toy chest that has a lid that will stay open in any position to which it is raised, and will not fall unexpectedly on a child. For extra safety, be sure there are ventilation holes for fresh air. Watch for sharp edges that could cut and hinges that could pinch or squeeze. See that toys used outdoors are stored after play -- rain or dew can rust or damage a variety of toys and toy parts creating hazards.

WHEN MAINTAINING TOYS

Check all toys periodically for breakage and potential hazards. A damaged or dangerous toy should be thrown away or repaired immediately.

Edges on wooden toys that might have become sharp or surfaces covered with splinters should be sanded smooth. When repainting toys and toy boxes, avoid using leftover paint, unless purchased recently, since older paints may contain more lead than new paint, which is regulated by CPSC. Examine all outdoor toys regularly for rust or weak parts that could become hazardous.

Toy Safety Tips

WHEN BUYING TOYS

Choosing toys with care. Keep in mind the child's age, interests and skill level.

Look for quality design and construction in all toys for all ages.

Make sure that all directions or instructions are clear -- to you, and, when appropriate, to the child. Plastic wrappings on toys should be discarded at once before they become deadly playthings.

Be a label reader. Look for and heed age recommendations, such as "Not recommended for children under three". Look for other safety labels including: "Flame retardant/Flame resistant" on fabric products and "Washable/hygienic materials" on stuffed toys and dolls.

Poison Lookout Checklist:

The home areas listed below are the most common site of accidental poisonings. Follow this checklist to learn how to correct situations that may lead to poisonings. If you answer "No" to any questions, fix the situation quickly. Your goal is to have all your answers "Yes."

THE KITCHEN

Do all harmful products in the cabinets have child-resistant caps? Products like furniture polishes, drain cleaners and some oven cleaners should have safety packaging to keep little children from accidentally opening the packages.


Are all potentially harmful products in their original containers? There are two dangers if products aren't stored in their original containers. Labels on the original containers often give first aid information if someone should swallow the product. And if products are stored in containers like drinking glasses or pop bottles, someone may think it is food and swallow it.


Are harmful products stored away from food? If harmful products are placed next to food, someone may accidentally get a food and a poison mixed up and swallow the poison.


Have all potentially harmful products been put up high and out of reach of children? The best way to prevent poisoning is making sure that it's impossible to find and get at the poisons. Locking all cabinets that hold dangerous products is the best poison prevention.

Yes No?

THE BATHROOM

Did you ever stop to think that medicines could poison if used improperly? Many children are poisoned each year by overdoses of aspirin. If aspirin can poison, just think of how many other poisons might be in your medicine cabinet.

Do your aspirins and other potentially harmful products have child-resistant closures? Aspirins and most prescription drugs come with child-resistant caps. Check to see yours have them, and that they are properly secured. Check your prescriptions before leaving the pharmacy to make sure the medicines are in child-resistant packaging. These caps have been shown to save the lives of children.

Have you thrown out all out-of-date prescriptions? As medicines get older, the chemicals inside them can change. So what was once a good medicine may now be a dangerous poison. Flush all old drugs down the toilet. Rinse the container well, then discard it.

Are all medicines in their original containers with the original labels? Prescription medicines may or may notlist ingredients. The prescription number on the label will, however, allow rapid identification by the pharmacist of the ingredients should they not be listed. Without the original label and container, you can't be sure of what you're taking. After all, aspirin looks a lot like poisonous roach tablets.

If your vitamins or vitamin/mineral supplements contain iron, are they in child-resistant packaging? Most people think of vitamins and minerals as foods and, therefore, nontoxic, but a few iron pills can kill a child.

Yes No?

Did you know that many things in your garage or storage area that can be swallowed are terrible poisons? Death may occur when people swallow such everyday substances as charcoal lighter, paint thinner and remover, antifreeze and turpentine.

Do all these poisons have child-resistant caps?

Are they stored in the containers?

Are the original labels on the containers?

Have you made sure that no poisons are stored in drinking glasses or pop bottles?

Are all these harmful products locked up and out of sight and reach?

Yes No?

When all your answers are "Yes," then continue this level of poison protection by making sure that, whenever you buy potentially harmful products, they have child-resistant closures and are kept out of sight and reach. Post the number of the Poison Control Center near your telephone.

To reduce the risk of poisoning:

1. Keep household products and medicines out of reach and out of sight of children, preferably in a locked cabinet or closet. Even if you must leave the room for only an instant, put the container in a safe spot.

2. Store medicines and dietary supplements (especially iron pills) separately from other household products and keep these items in their original containers - never in cups or soft-drink bottles.

3. Be sure that all products are properly labelled, and read the label before using.

4. Always turn the light on when giving or taking medicine to be sure you have the right medicine and the correct measure or count of the dosage.

5. Since children tend to imitate adults - avoid taking medications in their presence. Avoid drinking medicine from the bottle.

6. Refer to medicines by their proper names. They are not candies.

7. Clean out your medicine cabinet periodically. Get rid of old medicines by flushing them down the drain or toilet, rinsing the container in wafer, and then discarding it.

8. Ask for and use household products which are available in child resistant packaging. Insist on safety packaging for prescription medicines. Resecure safety feature carefully after using Safety packaging gives extra protection to your children.

How To Reduce The Risk Of Poisoning In Your House Hold!

YOUNG CHILDREN WILL EAT AND DRINK ALMOST ANYTHING!

Keep all liquids and solids that may be poisonous out of their reach. Use child-resistant packaging to help prevent poisonings with medicines and household chemicals. Each year poison control centers report nearly one million children under the age of five are exposed to potentially poisonous medicines and household chemicals.

Medicines (especially iron pills and food supplements containing iron), household substances, insect sprays, kerosene, lighter fluid, some furniture polishes, turpentine, points, solvents, and products containing lye and acids are most frequently the cause of accidental poisoning among children.

ALWAYS RETURN TO SAFE STORAGE IMMEDIATELY (locked up - away from children)

Never leave a bottle of aspirin or other pills where children can reach it Return it to a safe place immediately after using.

MEDICINES ...

are often swallowed by young children who find medicines where their grandparents have left them. Grandparents - and all adults - should use child-resistant closures whenever young children are around. Keep medicines out of reach - and out of sight - of all children.

HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

Read labels before using any household product and follow the directions carefully. Store these products so that children cannot reach them.

Always resecure child-resistant packaging.

KEEP ALL PRODUCTS IN ORIGINAL CONTAINERS

Never place kerosene, anti-freeze, paints, or solvents in cups, glasses, milk or soft-drink bottles, or other utensils customarily used for food or drinks.

Never transfer products to a bottle without a child-resistant closure.

DESTROY OLD MEDICATIONS

Pour contents down drain or toilet, and rinse container before discarding. Do not put container with its contents into trash.

KEEP FOODS AND HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS SEPARATED

Cleaning fluids, detergents, lye, soap powders, insecticides, and other everyday household products should be stored away from food and medications. Death could be the result of a mistaken identity.

NEVER CALL MEDICINE "CANDY"

Children should not be deceived by having flavored medicines called "candy." When left alone, they may locate the bottle and eat or drink its contents.

GROWING CHILDREN ARE CURIOUS ABOUT...

things that glitter pretty colored pills bottles and containers of all kinds. These arouse their natural curiosity. If a child is in the crawling stage, arrange to keep household products in places other than below the kitchen sink unless the cabinet is locked or secured with child safety latches.

If the child is walking, be certain that bottles and boxes containing medicines or household products are put away before answering the telephone or doorbell.

If he is able to climb, find a shelf that is completely beyond his ability to reach, or, better yet, lock these products in a cabinet or closet.

After using a product, always re-secure the child-resistant closure.