Tag Archives: house

General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

HOW SAFE ARE YOUR WINDOWS?

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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 in furnishing our home is choosing window treatments.  Whether we have children, grandchildren, or an occasional toddler visit our home, we must be aware of certain hazards that exist.  If you select blinds to cover your windows, be sure they are the new type of cordless ones.
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.  One child died as a result of getting strangled by a loop attached to a treadmill.
Here are some actions you may take to ensure safety regarding this hazard:
q Never have furniture near dangling cords in windows.
q Buy new cordless window blinds.
q Consider other window treatments, such as shutters or curtains.
q If you have older blinds, get retrofit kits to make them safe.
q Never place cribs near windows.
q 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.
UPDATE:  As of December 15, 2009, the USCPS Commission issued one of five of the largest recalls in the 35-year history of the agency.  Roman shades have killed five children and almost strangled sixteen others since 2006.  Since 2001, roll-up blinds have caused the deaths of three children.  More than 50 million roll-up blinds and Roman shades are involved in the recall, due to strangulation of children.  The space between the inner cord and shade fabric of the Roman shades, and the roll-up loop at the end of cords on blinds are very hazardous to children.  “The agency is considering setting federal mandatory standards, as repeated recalls are not the answer,” said Scott Wolfson, spokesman for USCPSC.  The Window Covering Safety Council is also backing the recall.
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.
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 in furnishing our home is choosing window treatments.  Whether we have children, grandchildren, or an occasional toddler visit our home, we must be aware of certain hazards that exist.  If you select blinds to cover your windows, be sure they are the new type of cordless ones.
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.  One child died as a result of getting strangled by a loop attached to a treadmill.
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.
UPDATE:  As of December 15, 2009, the USCPS Commission issued one of five of the largest recalls in the 35-year history of the agency.  Roman shades have killed five children and almost strangled sixteen others since 2006.  Since 2001, roll-up blinds have caused the deaths of three children.  More than 50 million roll-up blinds and Roman shades are involved in the recall, due to strangulation of children.  The space between the inner cord and shade fabric of the Roman shades, and the roll-up loop at the end of cords on blinds are very hazardous to children.  “The agency is considering setting federal mandatory standards, as repeated recalls are not the answer,” said Scott Wolfson, spokesman for USCPSC.  The Window Covering Safety Council is also backing the recall.
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.
Eye Protection, First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

HOW SAFE IS YOUR HOME?

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Not only is the month of June National Safety Month, but also National Home Safety Month, as designated by the Home Safety Council.  We know that “a man’s home is his castle,” but how many of us have looked around to see how many hidden dangers are lurking in our castles?
For example:
q Does your family have an evacuation plan in case of fire?
q Do you know how to use a fire extinguisher?
q Do you know how to extinguish a fire on the stove or oven?
q Have you ever left your house with the washer or dryer running?
q Do you leave candles unattended?
q Do you unplug appliances such as toasters, coffee makers, waffle irons, after using them?
q Do your stairs have ample lighting at top and bottom to prevent falls?
q Are there hazards in your house that might injure a child?
q Have you installed electric plug outlets, locks on medicines, and door latches?
q Are emergency numbers such as fire department, police, etc. posted in easy-to-find places?
q Do you have an emergency supply kit that will provide water, non-perishable foods, flashlight, medications, first aid kit, etc. in case of a natural disaster?
q Is your water heater set for 120° F or less?
q Do you check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors monthly?
q Do you have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors?
q When you leave for a period of time, do you make arrangements with friends, family, or neighbors to pick up your mail, papers, etc., in order to not tempt burglars?
q Have you done a check of an elderly friend or parent’s home to make sure there are no fall hazards, and that they have an alert device if they live alone?
q Do you use non-slip mats in the bathtub or shower?
q Do you constantly supervise children in or near water, such as bathtubs or pools?
These are just a few questions that everyone needs to be sure they can answer.  According to the Home Safety Council’s State of Home Safety in AmericaÔ reports, there are more than 21 million medical visits and almost 20,000 deaths that result from home injuries each year.  The Home Safety Council’s goal is to educate and empower families and businesses to take actions that will make homes safe.
We feel sure that we all can look around and see things that we could do to make our homes safer.  Those who work in the yard and gardens need to take precautions when working with machinery.  Wearing eye protection, such as wraparound safety glasses or goggles, and gloves, are necessary to protect our eyes and hands.  By keeping both the inside and outside of our homes safer, we can avoid those medical visits!
Not only is the month of June National Safety Month, but also National Home Safety Month, as designated by the Home Safety Council.  We know that “a man’s home is his castle,” but how many of us have looked around to see how many hidden dangers are lurking in our castles?
For example:
  • Does your family have an evacuation plan in case of fire?
  • Do you know how to use a fire extinguisher?
  • Do you know how to extinguish a fire on the stove or oven?
  • Have you ever left your house with the washer or dryer running?
  • Do you leave candles unattended?
  • Do you unplug appliances such as toasters, coffee makers, waffle irons, after using them?
  • Do your stairs have ample lighting at top and bottom to prevent falls?
  • Are there hazards in your house that might injure a child?
  • Have you installed electric plug outlets, locks on medicines, and door latches?
  • Are emergency numbers such as fire department, police, etc. posted in easy-to-find places?
  • Do you have an emergency supply kit that will provide water, non-perishable foods, flashlight, medications, safety kit, etc. in case of a natural disaster?
  • Is your water heater set for 120° F or less?
  • Do you check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors monthly?
  • Do you have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors?
  • When you leave for a period of time, do you make arrangements with friends, family, or neighbors to pick up your mail, papers, etc., in order to not tempt burglars?
  • Have you done a check of an elderly friend or parent’s home to make sure there are no fall hazards, and that they have an alert device if they live alone?
  • Do you use non-slip mats in the bathtub or shower?
  • Do you constantly supervise children in or near water, such as bathtubs or pools?
These are just a few questions that everyone needs to be sure they can answer.  According to the Home Safety Council’s State of Home Safety in AmericaÔ reports, there are more than 21 million medical visits and almost 20,000 deaths that result from home injuries each year.  The Home Safety Council’s goal is to educate and empower families and businesses to take actions that will make homes safe.
We feel sure that we all can look around and see things that we could do to make our homes safer.  Those who work in the yard and gardens need to take precautions when working with machinery.  Wearing eye protection, such as wraparound safety glasses or goggles, and gloves, are necessary to protect our eyes and hands.  By keeping both the inside and outside of our homes safer, we can avoid those medical visits!