Safer Child Products

I know I am not alone when I say that my smoke alarm beeps every time I try to cook.  It is loud and annoying and I need to open all the kitchen windows to make it stop.  But isn’t that the point?  Don’t we want the smoke alarm to beep when there is smoke?  At least I know the one outside my kitchen works!  But, what about the others?  I have a smoke alarm on each level of my home, do you?  I even have one attached to my security alarm that will contact the fire department directly.

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) suggests that smoke alarms be tested every month, but the batteries should be changed once a year.  How am I going to remember to do this?  Pick a holiday or your birthday, and use that as the date to replace your smoke alarm batteries every year, or do it when you change your clocks in the fall or spring.  Even if your smoke alarm is hard wired to the electricity in your home it needs to be checked.  These smoke alarms often have a battery backup in them and those too need to be changed annually.  I just learned from reading the USFA website that the life span of a smoke alarm is 8-10 years.  Do you know how long you have had your smoke alarm?

Keeping your smoke alarm in working order is an important step in keeping your family safe in case of a fire, but it is not enough.  Your family needs to create and practice an emergency escape plan. Teach children what to do in case of a fire, when to leave the house, and where to meet. Don’t forget to keep matches and lighters out of reach of children and never leave burning candles unattended http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/home_fire_prev/alarms

Also concerning is that studies show that 78% of school-aged children sleep through smoke alarms.  In the study, “Parents reported that of the 22% of children who awoke, only half identified the noise as a smoke alarm. And only half of those children knew that smoke alarms mean Get Out Now.”  How are you going to address this in your family?  Read the rest of the article at http://healthland.time.com/2011/03/25/children-sleep-through-fire-alarms-study-shows/

Safer Child Products

I remember when I was a kid and I tried to open a box of “Ring-Dings” with a scissor when it slipped and hit me in the eye.  My mother rushed me to the eye hospital and fortunately my eye was fine. Now that I am a parent I want to know all I can about how to protect my children.  I want to know when I need to call a doctor and when I don’t. 

As for eye injuries, get medical attention immediately if your child has the following symptoms:  vision changes, blood in the eyeball, change in shape of the pupil or the iris, or eye pain. Many eye injuries occur while playing sports, especially baseball and children should wear protective eye gear while playing sports.  However, be aware that as in my situation, common household objects such as paperclips, rubber bands and scissors can be just as dangerous. In fact, injuries involving common household products cause 125,000 eye injuries each year. 

Be cautious when working outside and protect your eyes (and your little helpers’) from debris and pesticides.  Keep all cleansers and pesticides locked in a cabinet so children and animals cannot get to them. Same goes for sharp objects such as knives or garden shears.

Do not let your child play with pellet or BB guns or pointy flying toys such as darts. I always thought that if you get something in your eye, you should try rinsing it with water, but according to Eye Smart from the American Academy of Opthalmology, only rinse with water if you get a chemical in your eye. Otherwise, try to blink several times fast to allow the natural tears to flush out the object.

For more tips on the prevention and treatment of eye injuries go to http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/living/children-preventing-eye-injuries.cfm

Safer Child Products

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 310,000 U.S. children between ages 1-5 have lead levels above which public health should intervene (10 ug/dl). It is now believed than even lower levels than10 ug/dl are associated with long term cognitive effects. Houses built before 1978 contain some lead paint. In addition, traditional medicines may have lead and other metals thought to be helpful in treating disorders. Sometimes lead gets into the folk medicine during its preparation. Some examples listed by the CDC are:

Greta and Azarcon (also known as alarcon, coral, luiga, maria luisa, or rueda) are Hispanic traditional remedies taken for an upset stomach (empacho), constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, and used on teething babies. Greta and Azarcon are both fine orange powders that have a lead content as high as 90%.

Ghasard, an Indian folk remedy, has also been found to contain lead. It is a brown powder used as a tonic.

Ba-baw-san is a Chinese herbal remedy that contains lead. It is used to treat colic pain or to pacify young children.

Daw Tway is a digestive aid used in Thailand and Myanmar (Burma). Analysis of Daw Tway samples showed them to contain as much as 970 parts per million (ppm) of lead. The Daw Tway samples also contained high arsenic levels, as great as 7,100 ppm.

A blood test is the most common way to detect levels of lead in a child though stores of lead remain elevated in the bones. It is recommended that a blood test be routinely obtained for all children around age 1 and even more frequently (starting at age 6 months- once a child is mobile till age 6) for those at higher risk (e.g. poor, older home, relative with high lead levels, certain occupations of parents).

Here are some useful links:

http://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/all-around/pages/Lead-Poisoning.aspx

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/Recalls/allhazards.htm  for recalls of items including toys with lead.

Safer Child Products

Belt Positioning Booster Seats (BPB) are probably the most Misunderstood and Least Used of all Child Restraints.  We are working with our local legislators to help improve Booster Seat Laws.  We would love to see all states adopt the same laws when it comes to Child Passenger Safety, but so far, that is not the case.  Some States require children to use a BPB only until age 6 or 60 pounds, whereas others require it until age 8 or 80 pounds. We are basing our recommendations on the American Academy of Pediatrics’ advice. To ensure proper fit of the vehicle seat belt, the AAP now states that children should use the BPB up to age 8, but ALSO until they reach 4’9” tall. They advise that children under age 13 should sit in the rear vehicle seat whenever possible.  Did you know that law enforcement can fine you for not using a car seat or booster seat for your child?  In many cases, they are allowed to stop your car solely to check if you are using an appropriate child restraint. Don’t forget that even when your child outgrows his/her booster seat, they are required by law to use a seatbelt.  Set a good example and buckle up every time you ride! Here is a link to a chart to help you figure out what the child restraint laws are in your state http://www.elitecarseats.com/custserv/custserv.jsp?pageName=car_seat_laws .  However, keep in mind that the AAP recommendations are for best practice on how to keep children safer in cars.