Tag Archives: toddlers

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

IT’S NATIONAL BURN AWARENESS WEEK – 2013!

Burn Awareness Week, observed the first full week in February, is designed to provide an opportunity for burn, fire and life safety educators to unite in sharing a common burn awareness and prevention message in our communities. Burn Awareness Week, celebrated early in the year, is an excellent opportunity to “kick off” a year full of burn awareness education.  This year’s theme focuses on Preventing Scald Injuries.

Scalds – A Burning Issue

Scald injuries are painful and require prolonged treatment. They may result in lifelong scarring and even death. Prevention of scalds is always preferable to treatment and can be accomplished through simple changes in behavior and the home environment.

In conjunction with Burn Awareness Week, (February 3 through February 9) the American Burn Association is providing information relating to scald burns for use in your own communities.  Although anyone can sustain a scald burn, certain people are more likely to be scalded —infants, young children, older adults and people with disabilities. These high-risk groups are also more likely to require hospitalization, suffer complications and experience a difficult recovery.

Most burn injuries occur in the person’s own home and the vast majority of these injuries could have easily been prevented.  Tap water scalds are often more severe than cooking-related scalds. The American Burn Association recommends the following simple safety tips to decrease the risk to yourself and those you love from tap water scalds.

  •  Set home water heater thermostats to deliver water at a temperature no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit / 48 degree Celsius. An easy method to test this is to allow hot water to run for three to five minutes, then test with a candy, meat or water thermometer.
  • Adjust the water heater and wait a day to let the temperature drop. Re-test and re-adjust as necessary.
  •  Provide constant adult supervision of young children or anyone who may experience difficulty removing themselves from hot water on their own. Gather all necessary supplies before placing a child in the tub, and keep them within easy reach.
  •  Fill tub to desired level before getting in. Run cold water first, then add hot. Turn off the hot water first. This can prevent scalding in case someone should fall in while the tub is filling. Mix the water thoroughly and check the temperature by moving your elbow, wrist or hand with spread fingers through the water before allowing someone to get in.
  •  Install grab bars, shower seats or non-slip flooring in tubs or showers if the person is     unsteady or weak.
  • Avoid flushing toilets, running water or using the dish- or clothes washer while anyone is showering.
  •  Install anti-scald or tempering devices. These heat sensitive instruments stop or interrupt the flow of water when the temperature reaches a pre-determined level and prevent hot water that is too hot from coming out of the tap. 

Cooking-related scalds are also easy to prevent. Some things you can do to make your home safer from cooking-related burns include:

  •  Establish a “kid zone” out of the traffic path between the stove and sink where children can safely play and still be supervised. Keep young children in high chairs or play yards, a safe distance from counter- or stovetops, hot liquids, hot surfaces or other cooking hazards.
  • Cook on back burners when young children are present. Keep all pot handles turned back, away from the stove edge. All appliance cords should be coiled and away from the counter edge. During mealtime, place hot items in the center of the table, at least 10 inches from the table edge. Use non-slip placemats instead of tablecloths if toddlers are present.
  • Never drink or carry hot liquids while carrying or holding a child. Quick motions may cause spilling of the liquid onto the child. 

For more information about preventing scald burns, contact the American Burn Association at 312-642-9260 or www.ameriburn.org.  Accidents happen so quickly, and burns are so painful and slow to heal, let’s all take a little more time for extra care where there is a potential for getting injured by burns.

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues

SUMMER SAFETY ALERT – FOLLOW WATER SAFETY GUIDELINES (Guest Post)

With the official beginning of Summer being tomorrow, June 20th, this post sent to us by Carrie Dotson, of  is most appropriate.  There are many little ones splashing in pools everywhere, so it’s very important that they are properly supervised.  Here is some advice from Carrie: 

With the summer months here, many nannies and children will spend time in and around water.  For this reason, it’s important that parents take precautions when choosing who their children swim with.

International Nanny Association recently released the following recommendation:

INA recommends that children are only to be taken swimming by a nanny if she is a lifeguard, if she has successfully completed a credible water safety and rescue course, or if there is a lifeguard present.

INA recommends that any child care provider who works in a home where there is a large body of water present be properly trained in water safety and rescue.  

While to some the recommendation may seem overboard, the 2010 drowning death of a Long Island toddler and nanny in a swimming pool  and the death of a nanny who did not know how to swim but jumped in the water to rescue her charge serve as reminders that when in and around water, it is essential that the caregiver be a strong  swimmer who is comfortable around water.

If a nanny is required or encouraged to take the children in and around water, it is important that the caregiver have the skills and confidence necessary to safely supervise the children in her care.

As an INA member, we support INA’s recommendations. In addition, we recommend that when looking for a nanny, parents:

  • Disclose if water play or swimming will be encouraged or required.
  • Ask if the nanny has lifeguard or water safety and rescue training.
  • Ask for proof of current CPR and first aid certification.
  • Ask if the nanny is comfortable around water.
  • Inquire as to the nanny’s swimming ability.
  • Require the nanny to obtain life guard certification or to take a water safety and rescue course if supervising the children in and around water will be part of her duties and responsibilities. Parents may wish to contribute to or cover the cost of this training should they require it.

The warm, summer months are ideal for playing in and around water. Before allowing your child to enjoy water activities with her caregiver, be sure she is qualified to supervise her properly and save her from drowning, should the need arise.

Parents who don’t employ nannys should always be vigilant about times that their little ones are in the pool.  Public pools are very loud and active, so it’s difficult for lifeguards to see every movement.  Private pools should be fenced in order to keep children from being tempted to dive in unannounced.  Have a safe and fun summer! pb

 

General Safety Issues

BURN AWARENESS WEEK – FEBRUARY 5 THROUGH 11

This is a tough topic to write about, but a far tougher experience when a family goes through seeing their child burned in an accident.  Eighty percent of burn injuries occur in and around our homes.  Most of the time, the victims of these accidents are small children.  And, most of the time, those accidents were preventable.  Anyone who has raised children can verify that you can’t turn your back on a toddler.  

There are five national organizations – the International Association of Fire Fighters Burn Foundation, the American Burn Association Burn Prevention Committee, the Federation of Burn Foundations, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, and the Home Safety Council (now merged with Safe Kids Worldwide) – who have joined forces to create  National Scald Prevention.  This campaign focuses on the high -risk population 0-4 years of age and the senior population.  Also, the Shriners Hospitals for Children has begun its annual Burn Prevention Campaign.  As we said, homes are the sites of thousands of burn injuries to children every year, including scalds and fire-related injuries.  By following basic safety tips, many of these incidents would not have happened.  Shriners Hospitals for Children changes lives every day through innovative pediatric care, world-class research and outstanding medical education.  Twenty-two hospitals in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada provide advanced care for children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate. 

One type of fire injury that toddlers and children suffer is from touching the glass front of a gas fireplace.  FairWarning report published in 2011 revealed that more than 2,000 children ages 5 and younger have suffered burns from fireplace glass since 1999, according to a federal estimate; however, some burn specialists think the actual toll is higher.  Children’s Hospital Colorado Burn Center reports:

  •          Contact with the glass of gas fireplace doors can result in second or third degree burns.
  •          Burns of the hand can result in hand dysfunction causing long term impairment and disability.
  •          Treatment of burns of the hand are time intensive, costly, painful, and can require long term therapy of the hand.
  •          The glass barrier of a gas fireplace door can heat up to more than 200 degrees F in approximately 6 minutes. 

Every year there are approximately 25,000 burn injuries resulting from scalds.  These injuries are very painful and require prolonged treatment.  The majority of scald injuries are related to hot tap water and cooking accidents.  These are places where we adults have the most control. Adequate and continuous supervision is the most effective way to prevent young children from receiving scald burns.  

The kitchen is the place where children under five are at the highest risk for burns caused by hot fluids.  We must teach our children/grandchildren under age five to not play around the stove or microwave.  Tablecloths and place mats are tempting for children to pull on, which could also cause a spill of hot foods.  Next, the bathroom is the second highest risk area for scald burn injuries in the home.  The temperature of the water that comes from the water heater should be set at a maximum of 120 degrees F.  To test bath water, submerge the hand, spread the fingers and move the hand vigorously in the water.  If the water is uncomfortable to the hand, it is too hot for a child.  Young children’s skin is thinner that adults, therefore there is an increased risk of scalding. 

Children should never be left unattended around burning candles.  Cigarettes, lighters, and other incendiary products should never be where a toddler can get to them.  There could be nothing worse than the guilt of leaving something around where curious little fingers could pick them up and injury occurred.  These tips are also directed to those who care for or are responsible for senior citizens that may be at the point of being left unattended in their homes.  Hundreds of seniors have been seriously burned, or even worse, because they simply forgot that they left something cooking on their stove, until it was too late.  They may not be able to take responsibility for themselves.  Their personal safety should be the responsibility of a close family member, or close friend.  If they have no one to check on them or a caregiver, neighbors should call Family Protective Services or another local organization that can follow up to ensure their safety. 

Please observe Burn Awareness not just this week, but all year long.  Watch out for our “little citizens” and “senior citizens.”

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues

TEN COMMANDMENTS OF KEEPING TODDLERS SAFE

GUEST BLOG

We recently received this informative article from Roxanne Porter (www. nannyjobs.org).  With the holidays coming up, it’s wise to brush up on these suggestions, as some of you will have little visitors, and your house may not be properly “child-proofed.”  For those parents of little ones, these suggestions are to be followed every day, as there is nothing more important than the safety of our children. 

When a child reaches the toddler stage, there are a whole range of precautions that need to be taken into account in order to assure safe play times and places. Here are 10 commandments to bear in mind for keeping toddlers safe while playing.

  1. Secure all Straps and Handles. Toddlers love to reach and grab, so any heavy or dangerous items with straps or handles should be secured out of their reach. Purses, backpacks, pots & pans, or anything that may be grabbed and used to pull an object down on top of a toddler needs to be accounted for.
  2. Keep Unused Rooms Locked. Any room that is not expected to be played in, or that has not been “toddler-proofed” should be locked in order to keep toddlers from wandering in. Just closing doors is not likely to be effective, as toddlers are notoriously curious and prone to exploration.
  3. Employ Baby Gates and Toddler-Latches. Open stairways or passageways into unsecure areas without doors should be blocked with baby gates. Cabinets and drawers that contain potentially dangerous items need to be secured with the types of latches that are meant to keep toddlers from pulling them open.
  4. Secure Electrical Outlets and Cords. Any room that a toddler may play in should have all electrical outlets covered, and all electrical cords secured in such a way that they can’t be chewed on or unplugged. Also, be aware that electrical cords can be used to pull a lamp or other appliance off of a table. It’s a good idea to get down on the floor and inspect the entire room from toddler level, in order to assure that all electrical sources are inaccessible.
  5. Cover or Remove Sharp Corners. All furniture or decorative items in a toddler’s play room should be examined for sharp corners and edges that may be fallen against or that may be at a level to injure a toddler’s head. Look underneath tables, plant stands, etc., for metal brackets or screws that may project and be hazardous to a child that crawls or walks under them.
  6. Remove Hinged Toy Box Lids. Toy boxes should be open, or with covers that may be removed and set aside. Hinged lids pose a danger in two ways; the possibility of slamming shut on tender fingers or the head of a child looking in the box, and the chance that a child might crawl inside and be trapped when the lid falls shut.
  7. Secure all Bathrooms. Bathrooms are full of things that can be dangerous to toddlers. Toilets and bathtubs are potential drowning hazards for curious children, cleaning utensils are likely to have chemical or bacteria residues, and cleaning products are usually toxic.
  8. Beware of Choking/Poison/Burn/Laceration Hazards. Any room that is meant for child’s play needs to be closely inspected for anything that a child might put in his or her mouth and present a danger of choking or poisoning. Fireplaces and stoves should be blocked off from toddlers, and anything that may present a danger of puncture or laceration wounds should be removed. Outside play areas should be inspected just as thoroughly.
  9. Inspect/Secure Sandboxes Before Play. Sandboxes should be covered when not in use, but should also be inspected before a child is allowed access for play. Small animals such as cats may find them handy for waste elimination duties, or, depending on where you live, potentially dangerous creepy-crawlies could find them a comfortable place for hiding.
  10. EYES ON! Although all of the first 9 listed here are important, this is the most important commandment of all when it comes to safe toddler play. Keep eyes on the child, and ears tuned in the small moments when you might lose sight of a child. They move fast, and disasters can happen as quickly as the time it takes to send a brief text message to a friend.

Keep these 10 commandments in mind, and you will reduce the chances for a toddler in your care to be injured. An eleventh commandment would be to always keep a phone handy for a 911 call, as even the most meticulous attention to the commandments above is not going to assure 100% safety for toddlers.

I would like to add two more suggestions: be sure your parked car doors are locked.  Toddlers love to try to get inside the car and play.  Be sure to lock the doors when you park your car and remind your visitors to, as well.  Getting out of a hot car may be more difficult than getting into one.  Also, keep a first aid kit handy; you never know when you might need it!

Thank you, Roxanne, for these reminders.  You can read more excellent information on child safety at http://www.nannyjobs.org/blog.

General Safety Issues

SAFETY THOUGHTS ABOUT POOLS AND TRAMPOLINES

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There is a debate among some parents about which is safer, a pool or trampoline?  They are both fun for children, but they also both pose dangers.  The key to safety with either is supervision by parents.  When children are taught safety and are given rules to follow that are enforced, they can have fun and be safe at the same time. 

Most parents don’t understand that trampolines require the same amount of supervision as pools.  When children are unsupervised, most injuries occur.  Serious accidents can occur when children of different weights are double  jumping, and the smaller child becomes a missile and is thrown from the trampoline.  Serious neck injuries may occur.  Letting children jump alone is as dangerous as swimming alone.  Falling from a trampoline improperly can cause sprains or broken bones.  Sometimes children land on the trampoline edge.  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends trampolines should be used as training devices, not toys.  Injuries that can occur are spinal injuries, falling the wrong way, head lacerations, or colliding with other jumpers.  Children under 17 should be supervised at all times.  Between 2000 and 2005, there were an estimated 88,563 emergency room visits by injured trampoline participants.

Persons who own swimming pools must supervise their children at all times.  Between 2000 and 2009, more than 675 preschoolers drowned each year.  Another 2,000 preschoolers almost drowned, the majority of them in their own pool.  Parents can be out of sight for less than five minutes, and their little one may drown.  

Pools should have a 4’ high fence on all four sides, with a self-closing gate and latch out of the reach of children.  Alarms can alert parents if someone enters the pool area.  Parents or caregivers should take every thing they might need while their toddler is swimming: towels, snacks, sunscreen, phone, so they will never have to leave the pool.  The phone is also handy in case of an emergency. 

Drowning continues to be the second leading cause of death for children ages 1-19.  Drowning is silent!  Think about the cunningness of a toddler.  They watch us and learn how to open a door, or take a stool out to reach something.  They are more than capable of figuring out how to reach a door handle even with a lock, and head straight for the pool.  There’s no screaming or yelling with drowning.  The child quietly goes beneath the water and sinks.  The consequences of drowning are devastating.   Even those children that have had swimming lessons and are capable of swimming should have some sort of flotation device with them. 

Please take time to think about making your back yard as safe for your children as possible.  Whether it’s a trampoline or swimming pool, you can’t be too careful.  Teach them how important it is to not get on a trampoline or into the water unless mom or dad or a caregiver is present.  Having a swimming pool or trampoline ensures that your home will be the “fun” place for your family and your kids’ friends to gather.  Just remember: the biggest issue surrounding children playing in pools and jumping on trampolines is parental supervision!  It only takes seconds for an accident to happen.

 

 

Source: KidsDr.com, WFAA.com