Monthly Archives: September 2012

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues

PREPARING YOUR CHILD FOR DISASTER (GUEST POST)

Sent to us by Nancy Parker.  Her bio follows this article. pb

There are many different kinds of disasters and they are always out of human control. As an adult you know how to prepare and what to do during a disaster, but what about the children? Some adults neglect to teach their child what to do base on the fact it could ‘never happen’ to them. Before it’s too late, here are ways to help you prepare your child for a disaster:

Educate: It is always good to keep your child informed of possible and potential disasters. Now this doesn’t mean that you educate them to the point where they live in fear but that they understand the potential disaster. When teaching them about disasters, keep the conversation upbeat and positive by stating that there is a solution to the disaster. Keep the conversations short, allow for questions and answer honestly.

Prepare:Always be prepared, that is the best advice for a disaster. Get the supplies that you need to help yourself during a disaster. For example if it’s preparing for bad weather, gather the tools you need like candles, emergency radios, food, water, and a first aid kit.  Teach your child what is needed in certain disasters so that they know what is available for them, if ever needed.

Plan:You should always have an emergency plan for you and your child for any dangerous situation. Teach them the first they should do for different disasters. Write out a simple and easy list that they can read. Typically that emergency plan should start with “listen to an adult’s advice and/or call 911”.

Practice:Once you have purchased the correct safety tools and figured out the right plan, practice. Practicing with your child what to do during a disaster will help them if the time comes. Explain during the practice the procedures that they need to take and why. Practice this emergency plan every few months.

Reaction: The most important advice that regency officials can give people during a disaster is to remain calm. Teach your child to remain calm during emergencies. You can do this by leading by example, if you remain calm you child is more likely to remain calm. Disasters have the potential to be worse if there is fear and panic to cause confusion and difficulty.

Disasters can’t be avoided but they can be lessened the more you are prepared and ready for one. Teaching your child this will help you and them in any future events. Remember above anything else, remain calm and work with them on the emergency plan.

 Author Bio

Nancy Parker was a professional full time nanny and she loves to write about wide range of subjects like health, Parenting, Child Care, Babysitting, nanny background check tips etc. You can reach her @ nancy.parker015 @ gmail.com

General Safety Issues

PLAN AND PREPARE FOR DISASTERS

September is National Preparedness Month.  Citizens of the United States and other countries are targets for terrorists.  We have seen examples of the violence thrust upon our foreign ambassadors and others who represent our country to help bring peace to their nations.  Our troops in Afghanistan have been killed and injured by certain terrorists, disguised in U.S. military uniforms.  It has been a game of “Who Do You Trust” in Iraq and Afghanistan for too long.    We must not let our guard down. 

Preparedness, as defined by Department of Homeland Security/FEMA, is a continuous cycle of planning, organizing, training, equipping, exercising, evaluating, and taking corrective action in an effort to ensure effective coordination during incident response.  This cycle is one element of a broader National Preparedness System to prevent, respond to, and recover from natural disasters, acts of terrorism and other disasters.  

Strategic and operational planning establishes priorities.  The National Response Framework establishes the guiding principles that enable all response partners to prepare for and provide a unified national response to disasters and emergencies from the smallest incident to the largest catastrophe.  

Homeland security begins with hometown security.  The nationwide “If You See Something, Say Something” public awareness campaign is a simple and effective program to raise public awareness of indicators of terrorism and terrorism-related crime.  It also emphasizes the importance of reporting suspicious activity to the proper local law authorities.  When you see something suspicious taking place, report that behavior or activity to local law enforcement or call 9-1-1.  Race, ethnicity, national origin or religious affiliation alone are not reasons for suspicions.  The public should report only suspicious behavior and situations such as an unattended backpack in a public place, someone trying to break into a restricted area, or other threatening scenarios.  Reports that document behavior reasonably indicative of criminal activity related to terrorism will be shared with federal partners.  (An example of this is last week’s threat of  bombs being placed on the University of Texas campus, as well as two bomb threats in one week at North Dakota State University.) The campaign, originally used by New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority, has licensed the use of the slogan to DHS for anti-terrorism and anti-terrorism crime related efforts. 

Increasingly sophisticated use of the mainstream and social media, the internet, and information technology by violent extremists adds another layer of complexity.  These threats are neither constrained by international borders nor limited to any single ideology.  Groups and individuals inspired by a range of political, religious, or other ideological beliefs have promoted and used violence against the homeland. 

International partners with the DHS include the UK, Netherlands, Germany, Canada, Belgium, Spain, Denmark and Australia, along with international law enforcement organizations such as Europol.  Our Department of Homeland Security also holds conferences and workshops for law enforcement to better educate them about countering violent extremism.  Along with the Department of Justice, DHS has trained hundreds of thousands of front line officers on suspicious activities reporting and Counter Violent Extremism.  DHS has issued grants that directly support local law enforcement efforts to understand, recognize, prepare for, prevent, and respond to terrorist pre-cursor activity, and raise public awareness and vigilance through the campaign, “If You See Something, Say Something.” 

We all must work together to keep our country safe.  

Source: Department of Homeland Security

 

 

Back Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Respiratory Safety

CARPET FITTING SAFETY TIPS (GUEST POST)

After doing an apprenticeship in carpet fitting when I left college, I realised that there were so many things to be careful of when fitting a variety of flooring. I worked on domestic properties but, mainly worked on commercial contracts and building sites, so these safety tips are designed to cover all angles. I understand that you aren’t always in a position to have all safety gear and it can be so much quicker getting on with the job but, if you can use these tips, it will certainly give you a better standard of living. 

Knee Pads

Ask any carpet fitter what he/she thinks needs the most protection when fitting carpets or vinyl and they’ll point straight to their knees and say “knee pads”. As a young lad I didn’t really feel the comfort of them on the carpet but older, wiser colleagues wore them all the time as they had seen the effects on their fathers and other workers. Investing in a comfortable and durable pair of knee pads will really make your day easier and later life more bearable. I eventually bought a pair and couldn’t live without them especially when working on hard floors and vinyl. Some safety trousers include them so get these if you can so you don’t ever forget your kneepads. 

Good Ventilation

Most flooring in industrial settings require the use of sprays and glues that help stick the material to the floor. These can have many harmful chemicals in them and give off some pretty wacky fumes so when possible, always open windows or doors to get the best ventilation. In situations where you can’t get great ventilation, try using a mask to prevent as much harmful fumes as possible. 

Dust Masks

Mainly needed for building sites, dust masks are a God send when you’re working in dusty settings. I lost count of the times I’d have to sweep, scrape, sweep then scrape again on my hands and knees covering my mouth and nose with my sleeve. It’s not professional, efficient or clever not to wear a mask and it’ll give your health a boost if you use one regularly. Some sprays and glues can be pretty nasty too which a mask will help reduce the levels that you inhale. 

Hygiene Gel and Gloves

I remember pulling old vinyl from some of the dirtiest toilets in old houses, offices and schools. This is probably the most disgusting aspect of carpet fitting however, having some gloves and/or hygiene gel will help kill the spread of germs and stop you getting any infections. 

Tough Footwear

Steel toe caps are a must for any carpet fitter and it’s not just heavy items that can crush your toes. On a building site there are many hazardous things you can step on or catch as well as sharp cutting knives and blades that could fall and cut through a standard pair of trainers. 

Most Importantly

Watch your back. So many aspects of fitting carpet require heavy lifting. Try to get help when you need it and be careful not to over-do it. A carpet fitter with a bad back is no use to anyone! 

Author BIO- 

This article was written by Alan Gregory.

Thank you, Alan for this good advice.  Many of the safety articles you mentioned can be found at http://www.tasco-safety.com. pb

General Safety Issues

SEVEN TIPS FOR KEEPING SLEEPING BABIES SAFE (Guest Post)

Babies spend the majority of their first months of life in their sleep space.  Considering that babies are typically sleeping while in their cribs or bassinets – and for the longest stretches of time it’s when mom and dad are also sleeping – it’s safe to say that the time that they do spend in their sleep space is largely unsupervised. For that reason alone, parents must take proactive steps to assure their baby’s safety while sleeping.
When creating your baby’s sleep space, keep these 7 tips in mind:
1.  Avoid bed-sharing. While there’s an upswing in the support of co-sleeping and bed sharing from many parents, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) still insists that room-sharing, rather than bed-sharing, is safest for babies. According to First Candle, bed-sharing increases a baby’s risk of death by 40 percent. Keeping your baby in a separate, but close, sleep space is the safest place for your baby to sleep. Placing a co-sleeper or bassinet beside your bed allows you to closely monitor your baby throughout the night.
2. Use a firm sleep surface. While it can be tempting to put a fussy baby in a car seat or bouncy seat to sleep, for regular, routine sleep the safest place for your baby is on a firm surface. Cribs, bassinets, and play yards certified by the Juvenile Product Manufacturer’s Association (JPMA) are held to safety standards above and beyond the standard requirements set forth by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Be sure that the mattress has a firm fit and that the sheet fits snugly on the mattress.
3. Put baby to sleep on his back. While your mother may argue that she put you to sleep on your stomach and you turned out fine, it is now known that putting a baby to sleep on his back is safest. Since the 1994 Back to Sleep campaign started, overall SIDS rates have dropped by more than 50 percent.
4. Keep loose items, including bumpers, out of the crib. While great grandma may be offended that you don’t tuck your baby into his crib with the blanket she lovingly knitted him, you’ll have to put hurt feelings aside for the sake of your baby’s safety. Loose bedding and soft items like stuffed toys and positioning wedges can pose a suffocation risk to your baby.  Instead of using a blanket, opt for a sleep sack, which will keep your baby safely covered while asleep.
5. Avoid overheating. While you may think that dressing your baby in layers and keeping the heat on year round will keep him warm, doing so can put him at risk for overheating. A baby’s room temperature should be about 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit, or comfortable to a lightly clothed adult. If your baby is sweating, feels damp or has heat rash, he’s too hot.
6. Position cribs away from windows. While your baby’s crib may look lovely centered under his bedroom window, putting it there can pose a safety risk. Having a baby within reach of window cord blinds, open windows, draperies, air conditioner cords and other window accessories puts your baby unnecessarily at risk for injury or death.
7. Communicate sleep safety. While your caregiver may already be well versed in sleep safety, communicating your requirements for a safe sleep space is essential to ensuring that you and your caregiver are on the same safety page.
Parents have enough safety concerns to worry about when their baby is awake. Creating a safe sleep space can minimize the risks associated with SIDS, crib injuries, and crib death.

Our thanks to Roxanne Porter for this important information on keeping your baby safe. pb

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

A QUICK REVIEW OF SAFE CO-SLEEPING (Guest Post)

In the United States co-sleeping with your infant is an extremely controversial topic.  The American Academy of Pediatrics (or AAP) advices against bed-sharing and instead advocates for room-sharing. The Consumer Product Safety Commission agrees with the AAP and advises parents to not place their babies in adult beds. While there are definitely benefits to sharing a bed with your baby, in Western culture the risks seem to outweigh the benefits, which are as follows:

  • Easy and convenient breastfeeding
  • Sleep synchronization for mother and baby
  • Increased bonding
  • Baby can smell, hear, and feel their mother which may promote safer sleep via “protective arousal”
  • Increase in nighttime sleep for both mother and baby.

The risks of bed-sharing include:

  • Suffocation
  • Entrapment
  • Strangulation
  • Rolling over onto baby
  • Knocking baby off of the bed
  • Increased risk of SIDS, in some cases.

Soft adult mattresses, loose bedding, bed frames, headboards, footboards, and positioning the bed close to walls may contribute to the risk of a baby being harmed or killed during bed-sharing.  In other cultures, where injuries and deaths related to bed-sharing are comparatively less, the cultural practices for bed-sharing are different. For example, in other cultures the mattresses may be firm and placed directly on the floor.

Infants who bed-share with siblings or with parents who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol and infants with parents who smoke could be at a greater risk for injury or death while co-sleeping.

The term co-sleeping and bed-sharing are often used interchangeably, but they have two separate meanings.   Dr. Sears offers clarification to the different terms. The term co-sleeping refers to sleeping close enough to the baby for easy comforting, while the term bed-sharing refers to mother and baby sleeping side by side in an adult bed.

Placing your baby in a safe, separate, and close sleep space offers the benefits as co-sleeping without the added risks associated with bed-sharing. In fact, the Arm’s Reach Co-sleeper Bassinet, recommended by co-sleeping advocate and pediatrician Dr. Sears, attaches to a parents bed and keeps the mother and baby close to each other while still providing the baby with a separate sleep space on a firm mattress, away from the parent’s bedding, headboard, and footboard, which can all contribute to suffocation, strangulation, entrapment, or even SIDS.

For parents who opt to bed-share, despise the warnings, they should:

  • Always put their baby to sleep on her back
  • Always ensure their baby’s head is not covered
  • Make sure that their headboard or footboard doesn’t have cutouts that could trap their baby
  • Not leave their baby alone in the bed
  • Ensure  that their bed is away from walls, which could trap their baby should he fall
  • Ensure their bed is away from blind cords and drapes to prevent strangulation.
  • Be sure that there are no crevices between the headboard and mattress, which could lead to entrapment.
  • Not use pillows, comforters or other fluffy, loose bedding

For parents who choose to co-sleep, they should:

  • Always put their baby to sleep on her back
  • Use a wearable sleep blanket, rather than loose bedding
  • Place nothing else in the bassinet or crib
  • Position the bassinet or crib away from blind cords and drapes
  • Be sure the mattress fits snugly into the bassinet  or crib
  • Be sure the bassinet or crib sheet fits snugly and securely.

So, is co-sleeping safe?

Yes. The safest place for a baby to sleep is in a safe and separate sleep space, in the parents’ room, within arm’s reach away from his mother.

Sent to us by Sara Dawkins. pb

 

General Safety Issues

TEN PHYSICAL CONTACT RULES FOR BABYSITTERS (GUEST POST)

 Establishing the the rules regarding physical contact for a babysitter is one of the most important things to clarify from the beginning, especially if the sitter in question is young and relatively inexperienced. Drawing clear lines between acceptable contact and that which crosses the lines can help to keep your children safe and eliminate any confusion on the part of the sitter. These ten rules are examples of those that you might want to have in place for your sitter.

  1. No Corporal Punishment – Even if your family practices corporal punishment, it should be strictly forbidden for the babysitter to do so. The potential for excessive force due to inexperience is too great, and could lead to injury. If your family does not practice corporal punishment, having it introduced by a babysitter is likely to be a traumatic event for your child.
  2. Attachment Parenting Guidelines – For babysitters that will be watching an infant whose parents are practicing attachment parenting, it’s important to explain the guidelines clearly in order to ensure that your sitter follows them.
  3. Rules Regarding Bathing – Depending on the age of your children and the experience level of your sitter, the rules regarding bathing probably need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Tailoring these guidelines to each sitter and situation might be the best option.
  4. Acceptable Methods of Showing Affection – When children are young and sitters are inexperienced, a simple show of innocent affection can become one that parents would might find inappropriate. Letting your sitter know what sort of affection is acceptable (such as hugging or patting on the back) versus what is not (kissing on the mouth, for example) is important for the safety of your children and the comfort of everyone involved.
  5. Never Shake an Infant – Teenagers with limited baby experience might accidentally shake an infant that won’t stop crying or seems to be unconscious, which could lead to brain damage. Because this situation is almost always the result of an uninformed, inexperienced sitter reacting to a stressful situation it’s important to clearly explain the dangers ahead of time.
  6. Avoid Overly Rough Play – Accidental injuries could easily result from roughhousing, so it’s a good idea to make sure that your sitter knows this sort of behavior is not acceptable. While you certainly don’t want to discourage a sitter from playing with your kids, younger sitters may need some guidelines to guarantee that safety comes first.
  7. Forceful Handling is Forbidden – Spanking is only one form of corporal punishment, but it’s the first that comes to mind for most people. It’s important to make sure that your sitter knows that rough handling of any sort, especially that which stems from anger, is absolutely forbidden. (Having a nanny camera would be a way to know what is going on at home.)
  8. Rules Children Should Know – Babysitters should be well informed of your expectations, but children should also know what sort of contact is acceptable. Explaining good touch/bad touch and other concepts related to physical contact is just as important for your children as it is for the sitter that will be looking after them.
  9. Be Observant of Kids’ Contact With One Another – Kids of a certain age are naturally curious about their bodies and how they differ from those of the opposite gender; instructing sitters to keep an eye out for this behavior when watching several children, especially those that have shown indications or have a history of exploratory contact, might be a wise choice.
  10. Eliminate the Potential For Kids’ Witnessing Inappropriate Contact – In addition to establishing rules that govern the acceptable contact between the sitter and your child, it’s also important to establish ones that protect your children from witnessing inappropriate contact between your sitter and their significant other. Strictly forbidding visitors of any kind will not only eliminate this possibility, but will also keep your sitter from being distracted and inattentive to your children in favor of their guest.

Although these discussions may make some parents uncomfortable, they are essential for the safety of your children, especially when dealing with a new or inexperienced babysitter.

Our thanks to Tina Marconi, of Babysitters. net, for this important information.  Nothing is more important than the safety of our children. pb

General Safety Issues

TEN LOST ARTS PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS CAN TEACH THEIR CHARGES (GUEST POST)

Observe any group of children for any length of time and it’s clear that today’s children are different that those of yesteryears. While technology advances have definitely provided advantages to youth of the 21st century, when it comes to homemaking, communication and playtime, some things have become a lost art.

To rediscover things of times past, consider teaching your children:

1. The art of writing thank you cards. Many children today operate with a sense of entitlement and as a result, fail to properly acknowledge and thank people for the things they contribute to them. If someone has done something kind for a child, like give a gift or taken her on a special outing, writing a thank you note is an appropriate way to say thanks.

2. The art of handwritten notes. The handwritten word is a powerful and personal communication tool. With computers and cell phones that function as mini computers, hand written notes have become a thing of the past. Encourage children to write a handwritten letter to a grandparent, pen pal or friend. They’ll be excited to receive their own mail back.

3. The art of storytelling. Long before books, people used to tell stories. Stories can be used to teach a moral principle, share an educational lesson of for pure entertainment. Passing down folklores and fairytales, or sharing stories about your family’s heritage can instill a love of storytelling in your children.

4.  The art of being neighborly. Life is so busy the needs of others around us can go unnoticed. Encourage children to care for their neighbors. Bringing cookies to a new family that moves in, helping to pick up an elderly neighbors lawn or offering to take in the mail for a neighboring family that goes on vacation can help children learn the value of being neighborly.

5. The art of respecting elders. The way children talk to and treat adults and those in authority at times can be downright embarrassing. Reinforce the importance of respecting elders by modeling respect. Insisting children address adults using their proper title, hold and open doors for adults and listen to those in authority, like their teachers, can help reinforce the importance or respect.    There are many older students who are rude to their teachers.  In earlier times, students wouldn’t have even dreamed of being as disrespectful as some are today.

6. The art of thinking. Children need to learn how to think for themselves. Encourage them to consider information for themselves before accepting it as fact. If they think something doesn’t make sense, help them explore their thoughts and encourage deeper consideration of topics that interest them.  They also must learn to be kind to others, and helpful to someone who may be hurt.

7. The art of problem solving. Helping children to see problems as challenges can help to foster a desire to problem solve. Encourage children to face challenges with confidence and brainstorm with them ways to overcome obstacles.

8. The art of sewing. Mending a button or taking up a hem is a life lesson that is worth teaching.  Practice simple sewing projects and progress to other things, should the child express real interest.  How many of us have to take clothes to the dry cleaners because we don’t know how to mend?

9. The art of having manners. Looking at someone in the eyes when speaking to you, saying please, thank you and excuse me when appropriate and not reaching across the table are a few lessons all children could benefit from learning.

10. The art of free play. Never have children been so overscheduled. Play is a child’s work and too often, children aren’t given an opportunity to play. Free time provides the opportunity to children to explore their world around them and create fun for themselves.

Don’t let technology rob your children of learning the lost arts and valuable lessons that have stood the test of time.While making headway in the areas of science and technology are admirable, losing footing in the areas of kindness, courtesy and conversation is not so much.

Thank you, Carol Watson, for this great article, reminding us that teaching children the things learned by generations before them still matter.  Carol writes for National Nannies.

 

General Safety Issues

TEN TIPS FOR KEEPING THE PEACE AMONG SIBLINGS (GUEST POST)

This weekend, we are going to feature various articles about child care that are important to all parents and caregivers.
This article from BabySitters.net gives us some insight into the mystery of peace among brothers and sisters.  I could have used this when my three were growing up! pb

For parents and caregivers of multiple children, keeping the peace among siblings can seem like a full-time job in and of itself. Siblings may fight for a parent’s attention, they may fight over a toy, or they may fight because their developmental levels are so different from one another that it’s hard for them to relate to each other. If siblings have opposing temperaments, such as when one is laid back and one craves a rigid routine, they may also bicker constantly because they are simply wired differently, making it hard for them to connect.

Fortunately there are things parents and caregivers can do to help keep the peace among siblings.

These include:

Allowing them their own space. Siblings spend most of their time together, and often it is not by choice. Allowing each child to have their own space and to play independently can help defuse feelings of resentment. While siblings should of course learn to play nicely together, allowing children to play alone at times gives them permission to take a much needed break from a sibling when needed. When a child says he wants to play alone, insisting other children allow him to do so provides an opportunity to teach about respect.

Allowing them their own things. While most of the toys in your home will be available for any and all children to use, each child should have a few cherished toys that they aren’t required to share. When children have their own things they are forced to take responsibility and ownership of them. Having a few toys that are share-free can help children to feel like individuals, which is important for their self-esteem.

Laying the ground rules.When it comes to acceptable and unacceptable treatment of siblings, the rules should be clear and few. Your rules may read something like this: “In our home we are kind to our siblings. We don’t hurt our siblings with our hands or our words.”  Make a simple sign and hang it on the fridge so everyone is reminded of the rules.

Staying out of it. At all costs, parents must avoid taking sides. Trying to assign blame or figure out who did what only makes the situation worse. When safety isn’t an issue, stay out of it for as long as possible to give the children a chance to work it out on their own. If you do need to intervene, instead of trying to referee, insist that both children stop doing whatever they’re doing wrong.

Teaching them to talk it out.For a child, learning to communicate their feelings with words, rather than fists, doesn’t always come naturally. Get out a paper towel tube and give it to one child at a time. Encourage them to use “I and when” statements to communicate their feelings with words rather than fists. “I feel hurt when you won’t let me play trucks with you.” While you may have to model and coach them through their dialogue at first, teaching them to talk it out is a life lesson that’s worth the time invested in instruction.

Insist they kiss and make up. When the children fight, encourage the instigator to apologize and say something nice to his sibling. When you do this, it forces the child to consider something nice about his sibling and allows the child who was hurt to hear something nice about himself. Teaching children to never go to bed angry is another life lesson worth teaching.

Appreciate each child. While it can be tempting to compare siblings, don’t. Appreciate each child for the unique being she is. If one child loves dance and the other baseball, encourage them to each pursue their own interests and passions. Don’t expect all siblings, even twins, to be cut from the same mold. As each child is unique, so is each sibling.

Spend time alone with each child. Carving out one-on-one time for each child every day can significantly reduce sibling rivalry. Each child wants to know that they are special to you and valuable enough to have your undivided attention. Whether it be giving each child a bath, reading a book to each child before bed or going for a short walk with each child after dinner, spending time with each child individually is vital to helping siblings to get along.

Foster a friendship. Your children are siblings by blood, friends by choice. Encourage your children to become friends. Provide opportunities for them to help and support each other. From attending school events in support of each other, to getting a diaper for a baby sibling, adopting an “I am here to help and support you” attitude in your children will foster lasting friendships for life.

Praise good behavior. When you see your children treating each other kindly and with respect, call them out on it. “I saw how you shared your last piece of candy with your brother. That was so kind and something a good friend would do. I am so proud you made the choice to share.”  When you call attention to desirable behavior, you naturally reinforce it.

While almost all siblings will bicker and argue from time to time, with a little planning and support from parents and caregivers, the overall relationships between siblings can be peaceful. 

It is a wonderful gift to be able to see your grown children truly become best friends, and be there for each other. pb