Start the New Year with some Safety Pledges for your kids

Internet Safety Pledge

1.I WILL TALK WITH MY PARENTS OR GUARDIAN ABOUT THEIR EXPECTATIONS AND GROUND RULES FOR GOING ONLINE

I will talk with my parents or guardian so that we can set up rules for going online. The rules will include the time of day that I may be online, the length of time I may be online, whom I may communicate with while online, and appropriate areas for me to visit while online. I will not break these rules or access other areas without their permission.

I will never download anything from anyone I don't know. In addition to offensive content, spam or junk e-mail may contain viruses that can damage my computer.

2.I WILL KEEP MY IDENTITY PRIVATE

I will never share personal information such as my full name, my mailing address, my telephone number, the name of my school, or any other information that could help someone determine my actual identity.

I will also not reveal any personal information about my friends or family. I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking with my parents or guardian.

3.I WILL NEVER RESPOND TO ANY ONLINE COMMUNICATION THAT MAKES ME FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE

I will tell a trusted adult if I come across any information that makes me feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused.

I will never respond to any messages that are rude or offensive in any way. I will show the message to a trusted adult right away so that he or she can decide if it’s necessary to contact the online service or other authorities.

4.I WILL NEVER MEET IN PERSON WITH ANYONE I HAVE FIRST “MET” ONLINE WITHOUT DISCUSSING IT WITH MY PARENTS OR GUARDIAN

Since the biggest danger to my safety is getting together with someone I have first “met” online, I won’t meet in person with anyone unless my parents or guardian agrees to the meeting, they will go with me to the meeting, and the meeting will be in a public place.

5.I WILL RESPECT OTHER PEOPLE’S RIGHTS WHILE ONLINE

The Internet is a large community; therefore, my behavior while on it affects others. I will always treat others the way I would like to be treated.

I will respect copyright laws and check on sources. When writing reports I will make sure that the online sources of information are credible, and I will always cite my sources.

Piracy is illegal and keeps authors, artists, and others from getting paid for their work. I will never download things such as pictures, games, music, or movies that have not been given to the public for free.

Real World Safety Pledge

1.I WILL TAKE SOMEONE WITH ME WHEREVER I GO.

If I go anywhere, I will take a friend, brother, or sister with me. When I am with friends and something happens, there is a better chance that we can help each other to be safer.

I will get permission if I need to go out alone and make sure that a parent or guardian knows the details of my whereabouts.

2.I WILL TELL A TRUSTED ADULT WHERE I AM GOING AT ALL TIMES.
It's important that a trusted adult knows where I am going to be, who I'll be with, what I'll be doing, and when I'll be back. I will check in regularly by directly telling, leaving a note, or leaving a phone or e-mail message letting my trusted adult know the details of my whereabouts.
By keeping others informed about my activities, I can better protect myself. If I'm ever faced with a risky situation or get into trouble, my family and friends will know where to begin looking for me. I will avoid situations that put me at risk in the first place.

3.I HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY "NO."
I have the right to reject unwanted and inappropriate attention such as teasing, touching, and bullying. If someone – anyone – touches me in a way that makes me feel uncomfortable, I have the right to say "NO." I will pay attention to my feelings and use my best judgment.

Whether it is peer pressure about sex, drugs, or doing something that I know is wrong, I will be strong and stand my ground. I will make my feelings known by using a firm, loud, voice clearly stating 'No." If my friends are making bad decisions, that doesn't mean I have to, and I will try to help stop them from doing so.

4.I WILL TELL A TRUSTED ADULT IF I FEEL SCARED, UNCOMFORTABLE, OR CONFUSED.
I will talk about my problems and concerns with a trusted adult; and I know someone will be there to help me. I will remember there is a solution to every problem and talking it through with a trusted adult will help. I will trust my intuition by recognizing when I am feeling uncomfortable and taking action to get myself out of that situation.

You may download printable pledges here http://www.netsmartz.org/resources/pledge.htm#mshs
to share with your kids and sign. Don't just assume that your kids know this information, anytime is the right time to talk about safety online or offline.

What do you do if you believe your child has been approached online by a predator? You can contact your local law enforcement and go here for more information.

Click here for the Cyber TipLine and more info

Free Car Seat Check~

Come out on Saturday and join us for a free car seat/booster seat inspection, bring your car seat/and or booster seat, the instructions book that came with your seat if possible, the vehicle manual and the child who will use the seat (if possible). We invite new parents, parents-to-be, grandparents, caretakers, or anyone that drives with a child in their car. Even if you just need information, stop by and say hello, we will have Certified Car Seat Technicians on hand to answer your questions.

For more info contact Amanda Peters at the Iredell County Health Department or email me at ernursescare@charter.net

Car Seat Safety Week Celebrated

This is some wonderful information I found on the CentralfoothillsMommies.com blog about car seat safety, kudos to Jaime for posting it.
By Sarah on High Country Mom Squad • on September 10, 2009

I remember when my first daughter was born prematurely, we didn’t get to put her in the carseat for the drive home right away. She was six weeks early, when I had severe preeclampsia, but thankfully, she did not have to go to the NICU (just a level 2 nursery), she didn’t have severe problems, and we went home after 12 days.
Before we took her home, we had to go through a “car seat test” where they set HipChick in her car seat for 30 minutes and monitored her oxygen saturation. Well, she failed the test, meaning that sitting up in her carseat made her chest compress so she couldn't breathe well. I had never heard of a “Car Bed,” but that’s what we took her home in! (I’ll try to find a picture today)
But speaking of carseat safety, I spent some time this week on a conference call with Amy Lupold Bair (Resourceful Mommy) and representatives the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) about Child Passenger Safety Week, September 12-18.

I learned tons of new information on that call, and I’ve been carting kids around for eight years! They talked about the LATCH system, which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. Out of eight years of carseats, I have never realized that I needed to use a tether or lower anchors!


NHTSA has put together tons of information for parents regarding Child Seat Safety, and the LATCH system, so thanks to modern technology and social media, we can be fully informed and armed with the information we need! Here are some websites where you can see information, videos, downloadable instructions, and more:

http://childcarsafety.adcouncil.org/ – Child Passenger Safety Landing Page

Here you can download fact sheets, diagrams, and instructions, and link to all the places Child Passenger Safety can be found on the web.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Child-Passenger-Safety/144641660131
Child Passenger Safety: www.nhtsa.gov/cps
Twitter: http://twitter.com/childseatsafety
Inspection Station locator: http://www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm
According to NHTSA, “According to a NHTSA study, 3 out of 4 kids are not as secure in the car as they should be because their car seats are not being used correctly. The LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) was developed to make it easier to correctly install car seats.”

So here are some quick facts from NHTSA:

Do I need to buy a new carseat? Is LATCH safer than using the seat belts for installation? Not necessarily. A carseat PROPERLY installed with a seat belt should be as safe as one properly installed with LATCH. LATCH should make it easier to get a proper installation.

Where do I get a tether anchor for my vehicle? Contact your local dealer or your manufacturer to see if a kit specific to your vehicle exists. Some dealers will install an anchor for free.

Can I use a tether on my convertible seat when it is rear-facing? NO, unless it is specifically stated in the manual. Britax and Sunshine Kids allow this on some of their models.

Click here to find a Car Seat Safety checkpoint near you! It definitely helps to have someone there to show you how to safely buckle in your car seat. I spoke with Appalachian Regional Health Care and Healthy Carolinians, and they are planning to do a Car Seat Safety Checkpoint this fall, probably in October. We’ll have more info on that soon.
Click here for all the places you can connect with NHTSA and receive valuable tips and updates!

Check out this handy widget with a video and lots of tips! You can share it on your blog, Facebook Page, email, or anywhere you can inset HTML code!



Stay safe and always buckle up!!
~~Leslie~~

Top 5 mistakes that new parents should avoid

~~September is Baby Safety Month ~~

Top Five Mistakes from Safe Kids:

1. Not having a safe sleep environment. Put babies back to sleep in cribs that meet safety standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) with a firm, tight fitting mattress. Remove pillows, loose sheets or blankets, stuffed toys, crib bumpers, sleep positioners and other soft bedding products before putting babies to sleep.


2.Holding a baby while cooking or carrying hot foods and liquids. Most scald burns in young children, especially in those ages 6 months to 2 years, are from spilled hot foods and liquids. If you need to cook or carry something hot, first strap the baby into a bouncy chair or high chair.


3.Leaving a baby unattended in the tub or near sinks, buckets and containers filled with water. The main reason babies drown is lack of supervision - often for a very short amount of time. Babies can slip out of bath seats, fall out of baby tubs, or tip forward or sideways into the water and drown in seconds. Children under 1 year usually drown in bathtubs, 5-gallon buckets, and toilets. Never leave a baby unattended in or near water - even for a second.


4.Turning infants facing-forward too early. For the best possible protection, keep your infant in a rear-facing child safety seat in a back seat for as long as possible - up to the height or weight limit of the particular seat. The "12-months-and-20-pounds" rule that many parents cite when turning their child forward in the car is actually the minimum size and age requirement. Never turn a child forward-facing before age 1 and at least 20 pounds, although keeping kids rear-facing until about age 2 is safer if the seat allows.


5.Underestimating a baby's abilities and limitations. Babies will wiggle, kick, roll over, mouth their toys, move around, pull up, crawl, take her first steps and walk. Even if she can't do all of these things right now, there’s always a first time. As babies grow, they may have different abilities and limitations that put them at risk for injury. Parents should think ahead and ask themselves what they need to do to make their house a safe place for little ones, and they should share this information with other caregivers.
Baby Safety Month is an annual observance led by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association since 1991. To learn more about this year's focus, "JPMA Certification is the Key to Caring," visit www.jpma.org/bsm/2009.

~~Leslie~~

Texting while Driving (very graphic video)

As the parent of a teen this video upsets me greatly, as an ER nurse I know the importance of sharing this with others. I read that texting while driving can increase your chances of a crash 23 times more! so why do it? Watch this with your teens after you watch it yourself and talk to them honestly about the consequences of making poor choices. If you are a parent make sure that your choices are good ones, you are always being watched. At my house we always say 'monkey see monkey do" and that is so true for little eyes that watch what we do and do the same thing. Stay safe and keep your kids safe ;)
~~Leslie~~

***I will warn you, this is graphic and might not be suitable for some****

What is a SVRS? and why do I need it?

Install an SVRS in your pool or spa for safety.
(from SafeKids Water Safety)
When a swimmer becomes stuck to a drain or suction outlet in a swimming
pool, spa, wading pool, or hot tub, the force of the circulation system can be
tremendous.
This suction force will not allow a person to free themselves, no matter how
strong a swimmer they may be. It is extremely difficult for onlookers to break
this suction by lifting the person off the drain — to do so, you would have to
be able to lift more than 500 pounds. Even several people working together
may not be able to accomplish this. This “suction entrapment” will hold the
bather in its grip until the vacuum is broken. A person held underwater in this
manner can suffer severe body or limb injury, or even death.

What is an SVRS?
A Safety Vacuum Release System — or SVRS for short — is an automatic suction
force release system. When a drain becomes blocked, the SVRS provides a rapid
vacuum release. This quickly frees anyone whose body or limb is trapped on the
drain.
An SVRS works whether or not there is a cover on the drain, and does not interfere
with the pump function. Once installed, an SVRS requires little or no maintenance.

How does a mechanical SVRS prevent entrapment?
A spring loaded piston located in the SVRS unit forms a seal to prevent air entering
the suction system during normal operation. Should a sudden rise in vacuum occur
due to an entrapment event, the piston is forced open and the air seal is broken.
Under this condition, outside air is allowed to enter the suction side of the pump
causing the pump to lose prime, thereby releasing the vacuum.

How is an SVRS installed?
A mechanical SVRS unit is easily installed, adjusted and tested with standard tools
and supplies. The SVRS unit is mounted vertically, above or off a tee installed in the
main drain suction line close to the circulation pump. Since the SVRS is an air
passageway only, the unit does not convey water, and therefore can be installed on
small or large pipe sizes. Most installations can be completed in less than 30 minutes.
An electrical SVRS unit may also be used and is installed by a licensed electrician.

I have multiple drains in my pool — do I still need an SVRS?
Having multiple drains is no assurance that someone will not become entrapped
by the suction force on one of the drains. One or more of the drain lines can become
clogged or completely obstructed by leaves, debris, towels, toys, etc. However,
the pool/spa system will appear to be functioning normally, as there is still one
functioning drain.
An SVRS provides a quick release of a person’s body or limb trapped on a drain.

What features should I look for in an SVRS?
• Easy to install (within 30 minutes). It is recommended to have a pool professional
install the SVRS.
• Self-monitoring, and low maintenance.
• Covered by a warranty of more than one year.
• Won’t damage your pump when activated.
• Meets all requirements of the International Code Council — both the
International Building Code (IBC) and the International Residential Code (IRC).
• Meets or exceeds all the ANSI/ASME performance standards for safety vacuum
release systems.
• Constructed of non-corroding parts to ensure long life and superior performance.
Vac-AlertTM Model VA-2000 SVRS, with cutaway
showing the interior. Pictures can be found here http://www.usa.safekids.org/water/documents/SVRS.pdf


How can I learn more?
Contact Safe Kids Worldwide at
202-662-0600, or http://www.safekids.org/.

Stay safe
~~~Leslie~~~

Pool and Safety Act

The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act was enacted by Congress and signed by President Bush on December 19, 2007. It was enacted to prevent the tragic and hidden hazard of drain entrapments and eviscerations in pools and spas. The law became effective on December 19, 2008.The VGB Act established a federal swimming pool and spa drain cover standard to ensure pools are equipped with the proper devices. Under the law, all public pools and spas must have ASME/ANSI A112.19.8-2007 compliant drain covers installed and a second anti-entrapment system installed, when there is only a single main drain (other than an unblockable drain) or multiple main drains less than 3 feet apart.

The CPSC is focusing on the pools and spas that pose the greatest risk of entrapment (especially those with single main drain systems and flat drain grates):Public Wading pools Kiddie pools In ground spas.

Here are some ways to help prevent drownings:

Supervise your children at all times

Learn how to swim and teach your children how

Learn CPR

Watch out for drains and suction outlets

Create barriers around your pool or spa

Install a telephone near your pool along with door alarms and pool covers

Each year many American families encounter pool tragedies – drowning and submersion incidents. These tragedies are preventable.In May 2009 the Commission released a report related to pool and spa submersion incidents involving children under 5.

Each year there are nearly 300 reported drownings involving children younger than five years old.

Each year there are about 3,000 emergency room-treated submersion injuries to children younger than five years old.

In addition, there have been 83 reported entrapment incidents reported to the CPSC from 1999 through 2008. Among these are eleven fatality reports, including the accident that ended Virginia Graeme Baker's life in 2002.CPSC staff began investigating reported incidents of pool/spa suction entrapment in the 1970s. Figures from 1999 through 2008 include:83 reported entrapments 11 fatality reports (7 residential, 4 public) 69 injury reports (38 residential, 21 public, 10 unknown location) 3 no injury reports (residential)

Types of entrapment:

Hair

Body

Limb

Evisceration/disembowelment

Mechanical: Jewelry, bathing suits

For more information on this very important Act http://www.poolsafety.gov/vgb.html

Another wonderful resource http://www.usa.safekids.org/water/index.html great info about water safety.

More water safety info to blog, stay tuned in...............

~~Leslie~~~