Having a fire extinguisher mounted on your wall is a great first step toward child safety from fire.  But a hand-held fire extinguisher is only as good as its user.  To control a fire and protect your family, learn how to select, use and maintain a fire extinguisher.

There are fire extinguishers made for electrical, flammable liquids (like a grease fire), and common combustibles such as paper.  Instead of having three extinguishing units around, an easier and safer way to do it is to buy an extinguisher that will effectively address all three types of fires.  There needs to be enough extinguishing agent to do the job, and you want it certified by a credible laboratory.  So, when you buy an extinguisher, select a 10-pound, U.L.-listed (Underwriter’s Laboratories), ABC-rated fire extinguisher.  This means you have a dependable extinguisher filled with 10 pounds of extinguishing agent designed to put out all three types of fires.  Be sure the pressure gauge at the top of the unit reads “full.”

Once you get it home, mount the fire extinguisher on the wall using its mounting bracket or place it in a cabinet out of reach of kids but known to all adults and older children.  The extinguisher should remain dry to avoid corrosion, and shouldn’t be subjected to physical abuse.  Glance at the unit once in a while, preferably monthly, to ensure that the bottle hasn’t lost pressure.  This helps to ensure that the extinguisher performs as you expect it to in an emergency.

Speaking of making it perform, here are a few tips to remember.  First, grasp the fire extinguisher, pull the pin by the ring, and aim the nozzle at the base of the fire.  Aim at the base of the flames coming off of that pan of blazing grease on your stove.  Squeeze the lever to the side of the bottle and sweep the extinguisher from one side of the fire to the other.  Use short bursts to avoid using the entire bottle all at once.  Remember, the entire extinguisher can be emptied in seconds if the lever is held down continuously.

 To ensure that your extinguisher continues to be ready to function, have it serviced annually by a licensed fire extinguisher firm.  They’re easily found on line or in the yellow pages.  Such a firm will hydrostatically test the bottle to ensure it is sound under pressure.  They will also empty out the old powder and refill with new extinguishing agent.  When you take your extinguisher to be tested, take the unit outside or to their shop, pull the pin and squeeze the lever down until there is no more white powder coming from the nozzle.  This will show you, in a matter of seconds, how fast a unit can be emptied.  While your extinguisher is being refilled, have some baking soda at the ready until your fire extinguisher returns from the shop.  Lastly, explain to all family members over 10 years of age how the extinguisher works.

 In short, select a U.L.-listed, 10lb, ABC-rated fire extinguisher.  Store it properly and train the family how to use it.  Then, have it serviced annually to ensure proper performance.

 While every attempt has been made to ensure that the information presented here is correct, contents and any links are not warranted for accuracy or any other implied or explicit purposes, and are for information only.  Medical or other suitable professionals should be contacted when appropriate.

A crib is a bed for a baby.   A safe haven for an infant.  In spite of that, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) continues to announce periodic recalls for cribs that were poorly manufactured.  An example recall was initiated because the drop-sides on cribs had come loose, resulting in three infant deaths and 20 cases of bruising and falls (one of which involved a broken arm).  The purchasing and use of a crib requires constant parental vigilance.  The following guidelines are offered to assist parents in the purchasing and maintenance of their baby’s crib.

 Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is every parent’s nightmare.  Some suggestions to guard against SIDS include buying a tight-fitting mattress and using fitted sheets made just for cribs.  Recent recommendations instruct parents to put the baby on his back covered with a blanket that reaches only to the chest and is tucked under the mattress on each side.  The baby’s feet should be pointing toward the foot of the bed.

 Another option is to consider using a sleeper or swaddling in lieu of a blanket.  Regardless, don’t add pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, pillow-like bumper pads or pillow-like stuffed toys to the crib.  Any of these can potentially cause suffocation. 

 As the baby ages, it is still important to use a tight-fitting mattress to avoid entrapment between mattress and crib slats.  Crib slats should be no more than 2 3/8 inches apart so that the baby’s head and body cannot fit between two slats.  Corner posts cannot exceed 1/16^th inch in height to avoid catching the baby’s clothing.  Do not buy or modify a crib to have cutouts in the foot- or head-boards.  An infant’s head can be trapped in such decorations.

 It is paramount that cribs are properly assembled in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.  Once it is assembled and in the nursery, be sure to watch for any rough edges, broken hardware or loose screws or bolts.  This is critical:  some of the reported deaths have resulted from something as simple as two loose screws which allowed the drop-side to move out of position and create a suffocation hazard.  Likewise, broken slats should be replaced immediately.

 Some cribs and playpens are made with mesh sides.  Like cribs with slats, these units must be assembled properly and watched carefully for tears in the mesh or the top rail cover.  If mesh tears develop, the unit must be replaced.  Mesh openings should be less than ¼ inch across so that the small buttons on an infant’s clothing will not be caught.  The mesh must be securely attached to the top rail and floor plate usually with staples.  If so, staples should not be loose or missing.  

 In summary, cribs must be assembled according to the manufacturer’s directions, and be properly maintained throughout its lifespan.  Be especially attentive to loose or damaged parts.  Use a tight-fitting mattress with either a sleeper or a blanket up to the baby’s chest and tucked in on both sides of the mattress.  Stay away from putting pillows, comforters and stuffed toys inside the crib or playpen.  Taking these few guidelines into account will continue to make a crib an infant’s safe haven.  As always, check with your child’s doctor for any recommendations.

 If you’d like more information on baby and child safety, we invite you to join us at www.homesafetytipsforkids.com.

 While every attempt has been made to ensure that the information presented here is correct, contents and any links are not warranted for accuracy or any other implied or explicit purposes, and are for information only.  Medical or other suitable professionals should be contacted when appropriate.

 
Little is more important when childproofing a home than proper electrical safety.  Electricity is something we use every day.  Sometimes we forget that even though its use is second nature to us, we still have to use it safely to protect our children and ourselves.  Here are a few basic ideas to help child proof your home.   

Always install ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) at all electrical plugs within ten feet of any water source.  A GFCI will detect five milli-amps of stray current and interrupt the circuit in milli-seconds to prevent electrocution.   In comparison, a circuit breaker requires a current of 20 amps (for a 20 amp breaker) and at least a second to trip.  Installing GFCI’s is important; they save lives!

When our grandchildren were babies and toddlers, the state of the art electrical plug protection was various types of plastic plugs.  These had prongs which pushed into an outlet just as any electrical cord does.  They filled the outlet holes preventing a child from inserting a paperclip or some other conductive material into the outlet.  The downside here is that kids quickly learned to pull these plastic plug-ins out of the socket, but modern technology has once again met the challenge.  You can now buy plastic electric outlet covers that either slide to the side when you want to plug in a lamp, or they snap shut automatically when you disconnect a cord.  Either way faceplates or outlets are revealed only when it is time for an adult to use them, and the spring-fed covers are strong enough to prevent a toddler from opening them.

 In today’s electronic age, no home is free of electrical strips or surge protectors and computers.  Both the strips and the computer’s central processing unit (CPU) sit on the floor, placing both within easy access by a young child.  Leaving such devices open to a toddler’s curiosity exposes kids to electrocution hazards.  Manufacturers have produced covers for both the surge protectors and the CPU.  Even though light switches are a little harder to reach, they should also be protected by plastic switch covers.  Don’t underestimate a toddler’s curiosity or determination.

 To reduce the potential for a child to asphyxiate him- or herself, apply cord shortners to all lamp and computer cords that have more length than needed.  To reduce the potential for a baby or toddler to accidently bite (they put everything into their mouths) into a live wire, apply wire guards or covers to the wire and secure it to the baseboards in your home. 

All of these safety devices can save the life of your baby or toddler.  For a few dollars, you can  substantially reduce the electrical hazard exposure to your child.  All can be ordered on line or found in many local hardware stores.  They are a fast and low-cost step to babyproofing your home.

For more information on childproofing and other child safety issues, we invite you to join us at www.homesafetytipsforkids.com .

While every attempt has been made to ensure that the information presented here is correct, contents and any links are not warranted for accuracy or any other implied or explicit purposes, and are for information only.  Medical or other suitable professionals should be contacted when appropriate.

When you think about it, there is a wide range of chemicals used around the home all the time.  We take them for granted.  Nonetheless, they can be a major child safety hazard in our homes.   Take a minute and give it some thought.  There’s gasoline for the mower, carpet cleaners, spot removers, polishes, detergents and cleaning agents.  They are all poisonous to children, some are flammable and many are corrosive and/or explosive when combined with others. 

The first step to reducing your child’s accidental contact is to take inventory of everything you have in the house.  Anything that is old or out of date (most have expiration dates on them), or something you haven’t used in a long time, should be properly disposed of in accordance with environmental laws at the county, state and federal levels.   The easiest way to determine local requirements and capabilities is to contact the local county waste disposal or environmental control department.  They can tell you quickly how to dispose of various materials, which chemicals they can dispose of for you, and how to recycle some of them. 

Once you’ve determined what you have, you can begin to properly store, control and use chemicals safely.  As every parent knows, kids are naturally curious and will explore everywhere they can.  Storing silver polish, soaps and cleanser under the kitchen sink without cabinet latches no longer works.  General storage guidelines should include some of the following tips.  All flammables, such as gasoline, oil-based paints and some spot removers, should be stored in the garage or an outside shed in a metal box or cabinet with a little ventilation and away from heat sources (e.g., furnaces, hot water heaters, glue guns, soldering irons and other heat producers).  The container should either be placed high enough so toddlers and small kids can’t get into it or, even better, it should be locked. Chemicals should not be stored in an old soda bottle or fruit juice container.  A child may think it’s orange juice or soda. 

The other chemical items that we all use every day to clean and maintain our homes should be stored out of reach (don’t forget those little climbers) of our kids.  They should also be stored with an eye to chemical compatibility.  Dishwashing and clothes washing detergents, while they could be poisonous to a small child, won’t present a problem if they happen to spill and mix.  But others, such as chlorine bleach and vinegar and various other cleaning agents will chemically interact to form free chlorine gas which can be toxic, if not lethal, when breathed by adults or children.  It is important to  remember when using cleaning agents in the home to take a moment to read the label and determine what the “warning” sections have to say about usage and storage of the respective agent. 

If your child does get into a household chemical, the container will have first aid instructions on it.  Another good reason to read the label before using; it’s difficult to read a label when your child is hurting from a chemical exposure.  In an emergency, call 911 to get help on the way.  Call the National Capital Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.  Even if the concern seems to have passed, contact your child’s doctor for further advice. 

Finally, chemicals are all around us at home and can be toxic to small children.  By conducting an inventory then properly disposing of potentially dangerous products no longer needed, storing flammable chemicals in a metal, secured container and by storing and using only compatible chemicals together, you can decrease your child’s chances of serious injury.

Medications, both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC), are wonderful, make our lives better and are often life-saving.  But to babies, toddlers and young children at least under the age of 12, medications can be deadly.  Unless a drug or supplement is specifically made for young children, medications are designed primarily for adults.  Prescription medications in particular are compounded and prescribed for specific adult maladies and adult body weights.     Excessive drug strength, to say nothing of an overdose, can cause serious problems for an adult, so you can imagine how deadly such medications can be for babies, toddlers and young children.

 Begin by buying and using only the OTC and the prescription medications that are recommended by your family doctor or pediatrician.   Be sure to use these medications as specifically directed by your physician.  Also listen carefully when your pharmacist tells you how to use the drug, what the side effects can be and what drug interactions may occur.  Pharmacists are often more knowledgeable about drugs and their interactions than physicians. Most use a computer program to check for any interactions.  There are just too many pharmaceuticals available to remember all the potential exposures.  Be sure that the pharmacy uses child-proof caps on all bottles. 

 All medications should be stored ideally in a locked cabinet.  At the very least,  medications, supplements and minor malady controls, such as OTC pain controls, antacids and diarrhea controls, should be kept well out of the grasp of toddlers and small children.  Small lock boxes are available for home and travel use.  Children are naturally curious, couple this with their ability to climb, and you can see the need to store medications out of their reach.

 Be sure to turn on the light when administering any type of medication to be sure that you have the right material in the proper strength and dosage.  Many prescription containers look alike, but we can’t afford to take a chance where a child’s safety is concerned.  It’s best not to take your medications in front of your children; they tend to mimic what they see parents, grandparents and caregivers do.  Don’t ever call any medication “candy.”  Doing so can encourage a child to take several of those shiny pills believing that they are eating candy.

 Make sure you review everything in your medicine cabinet periodically. Throw out any medications that are out of date.  Expired drugs may well have a reduced potency and may not be as effective.  Keep all medications in their original bottles or other packaging.  If any are not, get rid of them.  Old prescriptions can be placed in the garbage, but an even better option is through the pharmacy that sold them originally if they have a program for disposal.

 In short, use the correct medicine in the proper way as set by your doctor.  Keep medications properly labeled and stored, be sure they are not out of date, and keep them out of the reach of young children.   Set the right example for your kids by using medications safely.  A little attention to detail can save a child’s life.

Toys usually bring smiles to young faces.  Parents have been providing toys for their children for centuries.  While toys are fun most of the time, they can result in injury or death under certain conditions.  The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) recorded a substantial drop in deaths for children under the age of 15.   Most of these deaths were associated with motorized vehicles, drowning and airway blockage in infants and toddlers as they tend to put small toys or toy parts in their mouth.  While toy-related deaths are down, emergency room visits associated with toys have increased from 152,000 in 2005 to 186,000 in 2009. 

 Many foreign countries do not have the quality and safety standards that we do (even some American manufacturers lack good quality checks).  The CPSC and the U.S.Custom Service work together to keep sub-standard toys out of the U.S. marketplace.   Even so, we still read about dangerous toys purchased here but made overseas.  Due to this joint effort and the increased diligence of many American toy manufacturers, toy recalls have been reduced from 172 in fiscal year 2008 to 50 in 2009 and 44 in fiscal year 2010.

 Toy safety starts at the beginning:  Buy or build toys that are age appropriate (no little toy parts for children under the age of three, for example), and match both the child’s interests and skill level.  Just because a child is three doesn’t mean they are necessarily ready to play with small parts and pieces.

 Once purchased, toys should be properly stored on shelves or in a toy box, and out of the weather for outdoor toys.  Shelves and especially toy boxes can develop sharp or splintery edges, and chests can offer places where fingers can be pinched and the potential for a lid to drop on an unsuspecting child. So select and maintain toy chests that  provide recessed or protected hinges, have no splintery or sharp edges (sand them down if rough edges begin to develop), and ensure that chest lids are designed to stay open in any position so that they won’t close on a child.  Be sure chests have air holes in them.  That way, if a child hides in a box or is trapped in one, they will still be able to breathe.

 Regular inspection of toys (especially outdoor toys) is prudent.  Sand down rough wooden edges.  Repainting is ok; just remember to use new paints which have little or no lead in them (older paints have high lead content levels which have been shown to affect childhood development and present other health issues).  If a toy is broken beyond repair, then destroy it.  To hesitate because it might be a favorite toy is only inviting trouble. 

 Overall, toy accidents can be minimized by selecting the appropriate toys for the child in question, and then properly storing, inspecting and maintaining those toys.  Special attention should given  to powered riding toys, as well as balloons, marbles, small balls and small toy parts in order to avoid choking hazards

We take electrical power for granted.  We expect it to be there at the ready all the time and to be our faithful servant.  Nonetheless, that genie that serves so well can become deadly when not used safely.  This is true for adults and children alike, but is especially true of toddlers and small children.

 To continue to use electricity safely around kids, let’s start at the beginning.  Building codes for new home, condo and apartment construction today require the installation of a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) near water sources in the home.  Why?  A GFCI can save a child’s life or prevent a serious burn.

 A GFCI detects any stray current of 5 milliamps or more and trips the respective breaker in milliseconds.  A conventional breaker will trip at 20 amps.  This is important because a current of 100 milliamps can be fatal if an electrical appliance falls into the tub while bathing children. 

If your home doesn’t have GFCIs protecting electrical outlets within ten feet of all water sources, such as sinks, tubs, swimming pools, or exterior outlets, they can and should be installed as soon as possible.  If you are comfortable doing basic home electrical work, you can make this change for the safety of your baby or toddler.  If not, any licensed electrician can easily retrofit your home with this safety device.

While you’re at it, vacuum the dust out of your breaker box.  Breakers will work more dependably and a fire or short hazard will be greatly reduced. Test all the breakers to identify which circuits they control.  This will take a little assistance from another person, but it is worth the time spent.  It not only makes life easier when you need to work on a particular appliance or circuit, but it also is a must if you have an emergency.   

Speaking of babies and appliances, all electrical countertop appliances should be unplugged when not in use and the cords should be coiled away from the counter edge.  This prevents children’s little hands from pulling the appliance off the counter and onto themselves.  Likewise, electrical appliances should not be placed on a tub edge; it’s just too easy for the appliance to fall into the water.

Start on the right foot: Install and test ground fault circuit interrupters near all water sources in your home.  Clean and identify the electrical circuit breakers.  Be sure to store small appliances and and electronics, such as CD/DVD  players safely.

For more information on child safety, we invite you to go to homesafetytipsforkids.com.