Safer Child Products

Everyone in my family has seasonal allergies, grass, trees, pollen, but it’s never been more serious than being itchy eyes and sneezing, until a few weeks ago.  My daughter was at an event and they got to sample different types of fruits.  She had a small piece of nectarine, which she’s had in the past, and her tongue got tingly, her ears got itchy. This is when I decided to take her to see an allergist. 

I was amazed to find out that there is such a thing as cross-reactions.  It’s actually called Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS) or Pollen-Food Syndrome. According to an article by Melissa Schultz in Allergy and Asthma Today, “When people who are sensitized to a particular pollen consume fruits and vegetables in the same plant family, their body mistakes one protein for the other.  This protein cross-reaction can cause itching and swelling of the lips, moth or throat.  Most OAS reactions are local and mild, and disappear with a glass of water.  In very rare instances, however, asthma or anaphylactic shock may occur.”

Here are some examples of cross reaction.  If you (or your child) are allergic to Grass pollen, you may find you have a problem with Tomato, Melon, or Watermelon  and if you are allergic to Latex you should probably avoid banana, kiwi, chesnut, avocado, potato and papaya.

If you have any concerns or have experienced any symptoms or reactions as described above, you may want to consult an Allergist.

Safer Child Products

A friend called us on Friday night telling us that the neighborhood next to ours had a fire. Any fire is upsetting, but when it’s so close to home it’s even scarier.  That’s when I remembered that we are supposed to test our smoke alarms at the same time we are changing our clocks.  Well, the alarm off my kitchen goes off every time I broil, so I know that one works, and the one upstairs is hard wired to our electric system, so I never really worried about that.  However, I was reading a post from Safe Kids Worldwide and they pointed out that even when alarms are hard wired, they need back up batteries in case of a power outage and that the unit itself only lasts 8-10 years.  I know we have been in our house longer than that, so I think it’s time to change out our smoke alarms! 

I read that “having a working smoke alarm reduces a person’s chances of dying in a fire by half!” I say that’s worth the effort!  Make sure you have a smoke alarm on every level of your home and outside the sleeping areas. 

Safe Kids offers Fire Prevention Tips as well.  Check them out at http://www.safekids.org/safety-basics/safety-resources-by-risk-area/fire-burn-and-scalds/fire-prevention-tips-1.html

Let’s keep our families safe!

Safer Child Products

As part of being a Child Passenger Safety Technician, I must stay up to date with new products and car seat technology. 

Last week I completed an online course, or webinar, that debunked many car seat myths and discussed many new car seats that were introduced in 2011.  It was fascinating to see the many new products.  Car seats that have Higher Harness Weights, often 65 or 70 pounds, and some booster seats which last as high as 110 or even 120 pounds.

Many car seats have newer, clearer lock off systems and color coded labels! 

I love that many companies are extending their expiration dates to make these combination and high harness weight seats viable for extended use, but think about it.  If you buy a 3 in 1 seat that can be used Rear Facing, Forward Facing and as a Belt Positioning Booster, but it expires in 6 years from date of Manufacture, will your child really get to maximize this seat? The seat may already be close to 1 year when you purchase it. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that we keep our children Rear Facing until at least age 2 and many car seat companies are increasing the RF weight limits for their new seats.  If you are able to keep your child rear facing until they reach the highest height and weight limit for the seat, perhaps they will be 2 ½ before you turn them forward facing.  With a 70 pound Forward Facing weight limit my 10 year old would still be in a harness!  Buy wait, you need to factor in height as well.  The top of a child’s ears must not be above the top of the car seat shell.  So granted, I may have gotten many years use out of the seat, but was it worth buying a 3 in 1 rather than a convertible that is only RF and FF? 

Did you know that Evenflo requires at least 1 ½ inches between the rear facing child car seat and the seat back of the front seat in front of it?  That is important to take into consideration when you are buying a seat to fit your car as well as your child.

It would be nearly impossible for me to impart all the knowledge I learned during my training.  Every car seat is different and ever car seat manufacturer has different requirements.  I encourage you to read your car seat manual and keep it in the car with your vehicle’s owner’s manual.  Use your vehicle’s owner’s manual as a reference tool to determine proper car seat placement in your vehicle, use of latch and seatbelt/ airbag requirements.

I hope this helps you to understand and appreciate the importance of Child Passenger Safety Technicians and getting your child’s car seat inspected. This allows you get 1:1 attention and information specific to your car seat and your child.

For information on a checkup or community safety event go to http://www.safekids.org/in-your-area/events/?event_type_category=community-event&submit.x=21&submit.y=8&submit=submit

Also, you can call your local Police or Fire Station to inquire if they provide this service.  DO NOT USE 911 FOR THIS.  ONLY CALL 911 IN AN EMERGENCY.

Let’s keep all our children safe!