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.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
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.
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.
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.
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.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Car Safety Tips
The single biggest threat to your babies life as documented every year by every relevant US government agency is the threat when they are travelling in the car with you, friends or family.
Here are a few tips to make sure your baby will always be safe when travelling in a car.
Car Seats
When buying a car seat, make sure you look for;
A label that clearly states that it meets or exceeds the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
That the car seat is setup exactly and will suit a child of your weight and height
Check recent car seat recalls before making a purchase
Be aware of the type of seat belts your car has; all car seats are not compatible with all seat belts
Consider choosing a seat that is upholstered in fabric - it may be more comfortable for your child.
The Best Way to Protect Your Children in the Car by Susan Dunn
Car seats may be required but there’s one other thing you should be doing to protect your children in the car, because the best-constructed car seat in the world doesn’t insure they’ll live through an accident.
Prevention is the best cure, and driver error has been documented to contribute to over 90% of collisions.
Your distractibility is crucial, and once again one of our best technological advances has proven to be a very mixed blessing. You might even say a very mixed curse.
And what is that?
It’s the conversation you’re having with your sister about the party next week. Or the quick call to verify directions or to say you’re running late. Or worst of all, an intense or complex relationship issue you’re discussing with your spouse. ON THE CELL PHONE WHILE DRIVING.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s hand-held or mounted, and it doesn’t matter whether you’re dialing, chatting, intensely relating, or hanging up. It’s dangerous.
According to the Fatal Analysis Reporting System, in one analysis of fatal accidents involving cell phone use, the cell phone-using drivers were all in what’s called “the striking vehicle.” This means they either hit a stationary object, or left their lane of traffic and struck a vehicle or obstacle. In these crashes, 75% of the drivers were engaged in conversation, 13% were dialing, and 13% were hanging up.
And worse yet - of those engaged in conversation, 1/3 were using mounted phones in the hands-free mode.
Risk of collision when using a cell is 4 times higher regardless of your age, driving experience, of experience with a cell phone, and - get this: the hands-free units offer no safety advantage.
People using cell phones simply take longer to react, and miss things that would allow them to avoid collisions. Even when not at-fault, cell users were unable to avoid collisions with others.
Your cell phone records can and will be subpoened in case of a lawsuit involving an accident, by the way.
So why not, when you strap the kids into their car seats, lay the cell phone down on the floor beside them and turn off the ringer?
C ell phones are great for productivity and personal safety. Just make sure you aren’t using yours to call the EMS after a car accident caused by the fact you were using yours while driving.
Go here
P. S. And don’t let the grandparents off the hook either. According to the National Public Services Research Institute for AAA, where cell phone use in the car is concerned, the distraction effect in drivers over the age of 50 is 2-3 times as great and encompasses all tasks - placing calls, simple conversations, and complex conversations. They increase response time by 33-38%.
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