Tag Archives: Child

General Safety Issues

NATIONAL CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY WEEK

September 18 –24 is National Child Passenger Safety Week.  On September 24, there will be a National Seat check for parents to take their child seats for an inspection by certified CPS technicians.   When you shop for a new car, you want to know all the safety features it has; the same goes for the child seat that you choose for your little one.  Here are the stages of guidelines for child passenger safety, from the Centers for Disease Control:

  • Until Age 1/20 Lbs:  Keep infants in the back seat, in rear-facing child safety seats, as long as possible up to the height or weight limit of their particular seat.  At a minimum, keep infants rear-facing until at least age 1 year and at least 20 lbs.
  • Until age 4/40 Lbs: After reaching age year 1 and at least 20 pounds, they may ride in forward-facing child seats, in the back seat.  This is appropriate until they reach age 4 and 40 lbs.
  • Until Age 8 or 4’9” Tall: Once children outgrow their forward facing seats, (at around age 4/40 lbs.), they should ride in booster seats, in the back seat, until the vehicle seat belts fit properly.  Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest (usually at age 8 or when they are 4”9” tall.
  • After Age 8 or 4’9” Tall: They may now use the adult seat belts in the back seat, if they fit properly (lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belts fits across the chest.)
  • Children younger than 13 years old should ride in the back seat.  Never place a child in the front seat facing an airbag. 

Other information from the CDC from 2008, was that child safety seats reduced the risk of death in car crashes by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers ages one to four.  For children ages 4 to 7, booster seats reduced injury risk by 59% compared to safety belts alone.  There are many people who may be unaware of the risk they are taking by letting their child ride in the front seat.  I know a lady who was hit almost head-on by another car, whose eight-year old son was in the front seat, and was injured by the airbag.  It wasn’t too serious; however, I really don’t think she knew that he shouldn’t be riding in the front.  Kids want to ride “shotgun,” but it should become a habit to have them ride in the rear seat. 

Another safety tip: a child within reach of a seat belt may become entangled if he or she pulls the seat belt all the way out and wraps the belt around the head, neck or waist.  Never let the child lie down or sleep on the vehicle seat instead of being properly buckled in.  A good rule of thumb is to buckle unused seat belts.  One should never leave a child unattended in a vehicle and also teach children that seat belts are not toys. 

We’ve come a long way from the car seats we used when our kids were small.  Car seats fit in the middle of the front seat, hooked over the seats.  If they were not properly strapped in, they were like little projectiles!  I can also remember the times they would stand next to the driver, and we’d throw our right arm out to protect them if we thought someone was going to run into us.  It’s an old habit that I bet many of you remember, too.  If not, those were the “good old days!”  Our little ones were not as safe as they are now, thanks to child safety seats and other safety measures, such as child-door locks. 

You may check online at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website to find a child safety seat inspection locator in your area.  Take the time to ensure that the seat you are using for your little passenger is secure. 

Source: CDC, NHTSA

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

LET’S KEEP CHILDREN IN SCHOOL, NOT IN THE FIELDS!

We witnessed a disturbing story aired by ABC News last week, regarding child labor.  Four graduate students working as fellows with Carnegie Corporation, and ABC, observed children ages 5, 7, and 8 working alongside their parents on a Michigan blueberry farm.  As a result of this report, some popular stores have severed their ties with this particular supplier of blueberries, pending further investigations of child labor.

Countries have minimum age requirements for child labor.  The lowest exist in countries like Syria, Paraguay, or Bangladesh, where minimum age is 12. Many youngsters in developing countries begin work prior to reaching the minimum legal age.  Most countries set minimum age at 15-16 years old; but in a few cases, the minimum age may be 14. The minimum age in the U.S. ranges from 15-16, and generally, one must have permission from parents to work prior to being 18 and being considered an adult. (Read on, for federal law regarding agricultural work.)

Child labor has been a going on for decades.  It is a sad fact that families that live in poverty depend on the help of their children just to make a living.  Many are migrant, seasonal workers.  Our federal labor laws have been very lax in the past, according to some legal aid attorneys that work with migrant families.  Federal law says that children ages 12-13 are allowed to have non-hazardous jobs if they work on the same farm with their parents and have parental consent.  Many youngsters are on farms with other family members because the parents cannot afford childcare during the summer months.  Many health hazards exist on farms, such as pesticides and chemicals.

One wonders if we shouldn’t be trying to see that our laws are enforced when it comes to child labor, as this is a problem throughout our country.  Aren’t we all guilty of buying certain things that are made outside the U.S., because they are cheaper?  Chances are that inexpensive item may have been made by some child.  Probably the stores that boycotted this particular industry sell many items that are made by child labor.

Laws requiring children to attend school are essential, thereby giving them the opportunity to get decent work once they have completed their education.  If they work on farms or elsewhere, it should be when they are out of school.  We must keep our children learning skills and not perpetuating poverty.  Foremost, we must keep those children safe!

One last thought: there’s so much unemployment in this country, why don’t some of the unemployed who are healthy and able to work take these seasonal, agricultural jobs?

There are many jobs out there that are waiting for someone to come along.  It seems that many times there are certain tasks that no one wants to do, but it’s not the place of children to fill in the gaps.

General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

HOW SAFE ARE YOUR WINDOWS?

This may sound odd, but when it comes to child safety, the type of window coverings you select may play an important part in keeping your little ones safe.

One of the many tasks we have when we buy a new home or move into an apartment is choosing window treatments.  Whether we have children, grandchildren, or an occasional toddler visit our home, we must be aware of certain hazards that are present.  If you select blinds to cover your windows, be sure they are the new type of cordless ones.
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that on the average, once every two weeks, a toddler or infant dies from strangulation from window blind cords.  Blinds made prior to 2001 do not meet child safety regulations.
Little ones love to climb up to look out of the window, and if they slip and fall, they could become entangled in the cords.  Infants in cribs that are placed too near a window may grab a cord, place it in their mouth, and get it wrapped around their neck.
Here are some actions you may take to ensure safety regarding this hazard:

  • Never have furniture near dangling cords in windows.
  • Buy new cordless window blinds.
  • Consider other window treatments, such as shutters or curtains.
  • If you have older blinds, get retrofit kits to make them safe.
  • Never place cribs near windows.
  • Keep the child away from blind cords.

If you want to adjust the existing blind cords that you now own, the USCPSC recommends eliminating loops on 2-corded horizontal blinds by cutting the cord above the end tassel (looks like a small wood or plastic thimble).  Remove equalizer buckle and add new tassels for each cord, or replace it with a safety break-away tassel.  Do not retie the cords in a knot, as that only recreates a new loop.  Or, you can lower the blind all the way, cut cords as close to top of blind as possible and then re-install tassels.  Parents can reach, but the tots cannot!  Otherwise, use old-fashioned cord cleats, which are available at most window covering stores.

Recently, we learned of a tragic accident involving some type of cord hanging from a treadmill.  A little four-year old girl died after becoming strangled by this cord.  So, parents, you can’t be too careful when it comes to toddlers’ safety.

The Window Covering Safety Council provides free retrofit kits: cord stops, tassels, and tie-down devices.

Their toll-free number is 800-506-4636.  You can contact them at their website or give them a call for more information.