SAFE HALLOWEEN : make it great!

 

Halloween is an exciting time of year for kids, and to help ensure they have a safe holiday, here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Feel free to excerpt these tips or use them in their entirety for any print or broadcast story, with acknowledgment of source.

ALL DRESSED UP:

• Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.
• Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.
• Because masks can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives. Hats should fit properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes.
• When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories look for and purchase those with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.
• If a sword, cane, or stick is a part of your child's costume, make sure it is not sharp or too long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he stumbles or trips.
• Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.
• Do not use decorative contact lenses without an eye examination and a prescription from an eye care professional. While the packaging on decorative lenses will often make claims such as “one size fits all,” or “no need to see an eye specialist,” obtaining decorative contact lenses without a prescription is both dangerous and illegal. This can cause pain, inflammation, and serious eye disorders and infections, which may lead to permanent vision loss.
• Teach children how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they have an emergency or become lost.

CARVING A NICHE:

• Small children should never carve pumpkins. Children can draw a face with markers. Then parents can do the cutting.

• Consider using a flashlight or glow stick instead of a candle to light your pumpkin. If you do use a candle, a votive candle is safest.
• Candlelit pumpkins should be placed on a sturdy table, away from curtains and other flammable objects, and should never be left unattended.

HOME SAFE HOME:

• To keep homes safe for visiting trick-or-treaters, parents should remove from the porch and front yard anything a child could trip over such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations.
• Parents should check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
• Wet leaves or snow should be swept from sidewalks and steps.
• Restrain pets so they do not inadvertently jump on or bite a trick-or-treater.

ON THE TRICK-OR-TREAT TRAIL:

• A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.

• If your older children are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when they should return home.

• Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.

• Because pedestrian injuries are the most common injuries to children on Halloween, remind Trick-or-Treaters.
• Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.

• Remember reflective tape for costumes and trick-or-treat bags.

• Carry a cellphone for quick communication.

• Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.

• If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.

• Never cut across yards or use alleys.

• Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom). Never cross between parked cars or out driveways.

• Don’t assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn't mean others will!

• Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

HEALTHY HALLOWEEN:

• A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
• Consider purchasing non-food treats for those who visit your home, such as coloring books or pens and pencils.
• Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
• Try to ration treats for the days following Halloween.

©2013 American Academy of Pediatrics

- See more at: http://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/news-features-and-safety-tips/pages/Halloween-Safety-Tips.aspx#sthash.Fdb2FMGW.dpuf

Be safe and have fun! Return home alive.

 

 

 

Arm Yourself With Knowledge and ASK #ASKingsaveskids

The Question To Ask On June 21, And After

In America, nearly 1.7 million children live in a home with a loaded, unlocked gun, and a
staggering 33 percent of homes with children have a gun.
Every year, thousands of children are killed or seriously injured as a result.
As parents, we can protect those we love by arming ourselves with knowledge and
educating ourselves about very real health and safety issues that fuel unnecessary tragedy.
One way of arming ourselves with knowledge is by making sure to ASK if there are guns
where our children play. If the answer is no, then we have one less thing to worry about.
If it’s yes, then we need to ensure that the guns are stored, locked, and kept separate from ammunition.
On Friday, June 21, 2013, organizations and individuals around the country will celebrate
National ASK (Asking Saves Kids) Day. Held annually on the first day of summer, a season
when children spend more time in other homes, ASK Day reminds parents about the
importance of asking if there are guns in the homes where their children play.

Another resource for parents is the “Arm Yourself with Knowledge” Facebook Page, which
offers simple, empowering solutions to prevent youth violence by making your home, family and
community safer.
For more information or to participate in ASK day, email ask@cpyv.org, or visit
askingsaveskids.org

Just the facts ma'm:

FACT SHEET________________________________________________
• An average of 8 kids and teens are killed by firearms every day and 42 additional children
and teens are seriously injured (Injury Mortality Reports, National Center for Injury
Prevention and Control, CDC, 2010; 2011).
• 27 children and teens are seriously injured by BB or pellet guns every day (Injury Mortality
Reports, 2011).
• Studies show that between 33% and 40% of American households with children have guns
(Johnson, Renee, “Firearm Ownership and Storage Practices, U.S. Households, 1992-
2002.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine 27, 2004; Peter Hart Research Associates
Poll, 1999, American Journal of Public Health, April 2000).
• 1 in 4 kids and teens whose parents own guns say they have seen or touched a gun without
their parents’ knowledge. (Global Strategy Group Youth Study commissioned by CPYV,
2011).
• Almost 90 percent of accidental shootings involving children are linked to an easy-to-find,
loaded handgun in the house (Society of Pediatric Nurses, 1998).
• Eighty-eight percent of the children who are injured or killed in unintentional shootings are
shot in their own homes or in the homes of relatives or friends (Pediatrics 2005).
• 42% of parents with guns keep at least one unlocked; 25% keep at least one loaded, and 14%
keep one unlocked AND loaded (Global Strategy Group Parent Study commissioned by
CPYV, 2011).
• Over 75% of kids in homes with guns say they know where the gun is hidden (Benenson
Strategy Group Study commissioned by PAX, July 2002).

THE ASK SOLUTION__________________________________________
• Less than 50% of parents reported being concerned about guns in other homes, but 79%
would be concerned if they knew there was a gun in the home their child was visiting (GSG
Parent Study).
• Only 23% of parents said they had asked in the past, but by the end of the survey, 89% said
ASKing was important (GSG Parent Study).
• 97% of parents who owned a gun said that they would not be offended if another parent
asked about a gun in their home (GSG Parent Study).

TIPS FOR STARTING THE CONVERSATION_______________________
• “We all know how curious kids can be…”
• “I hope you don't mind me asking a few questions about the kids’ safety…”
• “I heard the most surprising fact from my pediatrician…”
• “Do you remember that tragic story about the kids who found a gun?....”
• “All of us on the PTA have committed to making sure our kids are safe…”
• “Remember what we found in our houses when we were kids!”

A US & Global View Of Child Injury #prevention #safety

Condom Snorting Challenge ..yep the latest craze

YouTube is the place to learn the latest challenges for your kids. Believe it or not your kids are learning some down right dangerous crap on YouTube.
Like the "Cinnamon Challenge" " Chubby Bunny or Marshmallow Challenge" or the "Salt and Ice Challenge" all of these are dumb and stupid and can be found on YouTube with other such risky behaviors like "The Choking Game" that has claimed thousands of pre-teen and teen lives in the US and UK. 

This latest craze amongst teens on YouTube is putting them in real danger of choking and suffocating. As seen in the video below, 3 girls snort (yes, SNORT) condoms through their noses and attempt to pull them out of their mouths. After much gagging and choking they accomplish the disgusting feat. 

Not without a bit of vomit though. Yuck!

These videos are getting huge amounts of views on a daily basis and it can only be fueling the condom-snorting fire.

The Condom Challenge sounds simple, really, and it is -- simple and possibly fatal: To complete the challenge, a teen has to snort a condom up his or her nose and expel it through his or her mouth WITHOUT choking to death in the process. (If you choke to death, you lose! Ha, ha!) Not so funny huh?
Come on people, this is not only disgusting, it is just irresponsible and gross! If you think that snorting a condom up your nose makes you look cool, it does not!
As a nurse I can tell you that if you choke on this condom it is very hard to "fish" it out of your trachea or lungs, look at the diagram below and see how easy it is for that condom to go the wrong way and end up blocking your airway.

Please be responsible and be safe! 

TV Tip-Overs Kills a Child Every 3 Weeks!

What kind of TV do you have? Have you thought about childproofing the TV? I bet not! This will scare you and make you much more aware of the dangers in your home.
Dressers, mirrors and other heavy furniture  also need to be secure, children can climb or pull out drawers that can result in tragedy. Today lets focus on your TV's and what all parents need to know......

Credit to SafeKids USA for the information and video.

One Child Dies Every Three Weeks from a TV Tipping Over

New Report Reveals a 31% Increase in Injuries from Television Tip-Overs in the Last 10 Years

December 13, 2012

Washington, DC – A new report released today by Safe Kids Worldwide and SANUS revealed that every three weeks, a child dies from a television tipping over and nearly 13,000 more children are injured each year in the U.S. This represents a 31 percent increase in TV tip-over-related injuries over the last ten years.

The study, A Report to the Nation on Home Safety: The Dangers of TV Tip-Overs, includes data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and new findings from Safe Kids Worldwide primary research. According to the CPSC, from 2000-2010, on average, a child dies every three weeks.

The report shows that young children are at greatest risk of TV tip-overs. According to the research, 7 out of 10 children injured by TV tip-overs are 5 years old or younger. This age group also accounts for 9 out of 10 serious injuries requiring hospitalization, including head injuries, which are among the most severe.

“Every 45 minutes, or less than the length of a Sesame Street episode, a child visits the ER because of a TV tipping over,” said Kate Carr, President and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide. “Dramas and tragedies should be on TV, not caused by them.”

Many TV tip-overs are a result of unsteady TVs that are not secured to the wall. Flat screen TVs that are top-heavy with narrow bases can be easily pulled off an entertainment center or table. Large and heavy old-style cathode ray tube (CRT) TVs placed on dressers or high furniture can also tip over if children climb the drawers to reach a remote control, a piece of candy, a video game or anything else that attracts their attention.

The report also revealed that three out of four parents don’t secure their TV to the wall. Most families are unaware that securing a TV is an important safety measure. Others decide not to mount their TVs because of concerns about damaging the wall or installing the TV incorrectly.

“You wouldn’t think to bring a baby home from the hospital without a car seat or have your child ride a bike without a helmet,” said Carr. “Mounting your TV will protect your TV, and most important, your child.”

Safe Kids Worldwide is launching a national effort to prevent injuries from TV and furniture tip-overs and educate communities by calling on families to conduct a quick TV safety check, which includes the following steps:

• Check Your TV. Assess the stability of the TVs in your home.  Remember, a curious, determined child can topple a TV. Children playing with friends or pets could knock a TV over, while other kids might be tempted to climb up to reach items placed on or near a TV, such as remote controls or candy.

• Secure Your TV. Securing your TV to the wall is a safe solution. Much like child proofing with a toddler gate or electrical socket cover, TV mounts and furniture straps are necessary precautions for keeping your family safe.

Go to www.safekids.org to learn more.

                                                                               Source: safekids.org via Safe on Pinterest

Know For Sure, don't just think you do!

ASK (Asking Saves Kids)

ASK (Asking Saves Kids)

“Is there a gun where your child plays?” Asking this simple question is an important step every parent can take to help their kids stay safe.
About 1/3 of homes with kids have guns, many left unlocked or loaded. Just talking to your child about the dangers of firearms is not enough. Children are naturally curious. If a gun is accessible in someone’s home, there is a good chance a child will find it and play with it. Countless tragedies have occurred when kids found guns that parents thought were well hidden or safely stored.

 FACT SHEET  Access to Guns

• An average of 8 kids and teens are killed by firearms every day and 38 additional
children and teens are seriously injured (Injury Mortality Reports, National Center for
Injury Prevention and Control, CDC, 2007; 2009). 5RJ43GGK78FP

• 29 children and teens are seriously injured by BB or Pellet guns every day (Injury
Mortality Reports, 2009).

• Studies show that between 33% and 40% of American households with children have guns (Johnson, Renee, “Firearm Ownership and Storage Practices, U.S. Households, 1992-2002.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine 27, 2004; Peter Hart Research Associates Poll, 1999, American Journal of Public Health, April 2000).

• 1 in 4 kids and teens whose parents own guns say they have seen or touched a gun
without their parents’ knowledge. (Global Strategy Group Youth Study commissioned
by CPYV, 2011).

• Almost 90 percent of accidental shootings involving children are linked to an easy-to-find, loaded handgun in the house (Society of Pediatric Nurses, 1998).

• Eighty-eight percent of the children who are injured or killed in unintentional shootings are shot in their own homes or in the homes of relatives or friends (Pediatrics 2005).

• 42% of parents with guns keep at least one unlocked, 25% keep at least one loaded, and 14% keep one unlocked AND loaded (Global Strategy Group Parent Study commissioned by CPYV, 2011).

• Over 75% of kids in homes with guns say they know where the gun is hidden (Benenson Strategy Group Study commissioned by PAX, July 2002).
THE ASK SOLUTION

• Less than 50% of parents reported being concerned about guns in other homes, but 79% would be concerned if they knew there was a gun in the home their child was visiting (GSG Parent Study).

• Only 23% of parents said they had asked in the past, but by the end of the survey, 89% said ASKing was important (GSG Parent Study).

• 97% of parents who owned a gun said that they would not be offended if another
parent asked about a gun in their home (GSG Parent Study).

In preparation for June 21 "Ask Day"  I am going to focus on some information that

I recieved from CPYV. Stay tuned next for some real stories that will shock you.

Please help spread this important information:

The ASK campaign provides opportunities for community groups, healthcare
organizations and individuals to help ensure the safety of our children. In this
packet, we have provided suggestions for activities to share the ASK
message as well as examples of materials. 

If you need additional information or wish to provide your feedback, please contact 212-269-5100 or ask@cpyv.org.
 

ASK is a partnership between CPYV / The Center to Prevent Youth Violence and the American Academy of
Pediatrics and is sponsored by the American Medical Association
ASK Endorsers Include:
American Federation of Teachers
American Public Health Association
Children’s Defense Fund
Emergency Nurses Association
The Interfaith Alliance Foundation
National Association of Children’s
Hospitals and Related Institutions
National Association of Pediatric
Nurse Practitioners
National Education Association
National Head Start Association
National Parenting Association
Physicians For Social Responsibility
Police Executive Research Forum
Police Foundation
Safe Kids Worldwide

Your Poison Purse~ what if?

What is in your bag? As a mom myself I carry a bag or some kind of pocket book every where I go. I am ashamed to tell anybody what I found in mine today, lots of items that would harm any small child that might get into my bag. So I am doing some heavy spring bag cleaning today! You should too! The Great folks here at The Poison Center have lots of info on their website, one is this http://www.ncpoisoncenter.org/workfiles/Poison%20Purse_compressed.pdf "Poison Purse" pdf that shows you exactly what might be dangerous in your purse.

One of the best resources in our area here is our Poison Control Center at Carolinas Medical Center, areas all over the country also have Poison Control Center's and the main number can get you the right information.
As an ER nurse I have utilized the services of our poison control center many times over and can not say how pleased with the expert care and compassion they have given both the professional and the patients who call them. Visit the website today for great info http://www.ncpoisoncenter.org/

Poison Prevention Week: what can parents do?

Did you know that each year, more than 1.2 million children ages 5 and under are unintentionally poisoned? Whether it's medication on your dresser, cleaning supplies under your kitchen sink, cosmetics in your bathroom or carbon monoxide from gas appliances in your home, you can take simple steps to keep your kids safe.
Have you taken a look closely around your house lately? You might be very surprised to find items like medications that you have left out on the counter, microwave, bathroom cabinet and just not thought about it. Here at our house my kids are getting a little older and we have gotten more relaxed with poison prevention. So I did a survey and was shocked to see the stuff that I just had sitting here and there within child's reach.
When I showed some of our medications to my youngest daughter who is 8, she could not tell the difference in some pills and candy. This lead to a nice discussion about medications and candy look alikes.
Never keep medications out, always keep them in the child resistant containers labeled as they should be, and never call your medications "candy" even if you think you are just kidding around, your child thinks everything you say is true. 

Medication Safety Tips

From Safe Kids
Store medications out of your child’s sight and reach.

• Do not leave medicines in your purse, an unlocked kitchen or bathroom cabinet or a kitchen or bedside table.

• Read labels to find out what can be poisonous. Keep those things separate from toothpaste, soap and other things you use every day.

• Never leave medicines or potentially poisonous household products unattended while you are using them.

• Do not leave out loose pills.

• Buy child-resistant packages when available. 

Be safe when giving medicines to your children.

• Always read labels, follow directions and give medicines to children based on their weights and ages. 

• Avoid confusion by keeping all medicines and potentially poisonous household products in their original packages.

• Do not take medicine or vitamins in front of kids, or involve children as helpers with your medication.

• Tell grandparents and friends about avoiding medication poisoning when your family visits their homes.

Learn the toll-free nationwide poison control center number (1-800-222-1222), program it into all phones and keep it near every phone.

• If you suspect your child has been poisoned, take the product to the phone and call 1-800-222-1222. If your child has collapsed or is not breathing, call 911.

• Poison control centers offer fast, free, confidential help in English and Spanish. Most poisonings are resolved over the phone. The number works from anywhere in the United States 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Follow the operator’s instructions.

• Do not make the child vomit or give him anything unless directed. 

 Stay tuned, I'm not done yet.............