Back to School Safety

As summer draws to a close, back-to-school season is in full effect. Safety should be a priority for every family as children return to classrooms this fall. It is important for parents to stay up-to-date on the proper safety precautions and share this information with their children to keep them safe throughout the school year. Even though we homeschool here at our house, we live very close to an elementary school and see school buses traveling daily with children.

Back-to-School Safety Checklist – Use this checklist to review important safety procedures to make sure your children are fully prepared for the school year.

Teen Driving Safety – The back-to-school season is a great time to learn about Graduated Driver Licensing and what practices will work best for your family. Parents can also find more information to help their teen drivers at driveithome.org.

Safety while riding the school bus is very important. Have the discussion before school starts about how to wait for the bus and how to get on and off the bus. Go with your child the first week to make sure they are understanding the concept. Many young children will be scared at first, but catch on soon enough. 

As a driver, the school bus's should be a high priority for paying attention and not being distracted while driving! 

School Bus Safety: Back-to-School Tips for Parents – Teach your children how to stay safe on and around school buses.

School Safety from National Safety Council 

Playground Safety – Every year more than 200,000 children visit hospital emergency rooms because of playground injuries, many of which could have been prevented.

Backpack Safety – Overloaded backpacks continue to cause injuries, including bruises, sprains and strains to the back and shoulder and fractures.

Preventing Bullying – Every adult plays an important role in addressing bullying and making schools a safe and respectful place for all children.

Drive Safely with School Buses – Safety tips for motorists to share the road safely with school buses during back-to-school season and throughout the year.




Stop Bullying: What Parents Can Do – Educate your children on the signs of bullying and learn what to do if your child is bullied. Next week we will talk more about bullying and what to do if you think your child is being bullied at school or online.

Thank you to the National Safety Council for much of this information, visit their website for much more information.

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.

 

 

 

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

#Nurses and #Bloggers we need your help on December 18th

Nurses I Ask a Favor of you too!! Join the Blog World on December 18th for a day of Silence and Support for Sandy Hook and the senseless tragedy that happened that day. How can we ever understand why? My heart absolutely hurts tonight so much thinking about those dead children and the adults that died with them.
I look at my Christmas tree and weep thinking of the parents and loved ones that have been so heartbroken here right before the holidays. Having so much medical knowledge in my head does not help me deal with this any better, as an ER nurse I can envision the trauma that those poor babies endured and how they may have passed from this earth to a heavenly plan. I pray that my daddy met them with open arms at the gates of glory and led them to the foot of Jesus and told them that they were safe now.
Please read the bloggers plee below and on Tuesday December 18th, lets show Newtown CT that we care, support them and help those families get thru this tragic time.

____________________________________________________________________

To the Blog World and Anyone Else who Wants to Help,

Yesterday, tragedy struck so many of us in ways we did not foresee. An elementary school and small town in Connecticut was shattered by a mass shooting. We knew we wanted to help and we came up with this:

<img src="https://sites.google.com/site/megoblogdesign/files/sandyhooksupport.png" />

On Tuesday, December 18th, there will be a blogger day of silence. We will post the button and that's it. Please try to not post anything else that day if possible.

We are also raising money that will go to an organization in the memory of this tragedy. The organization is called The Newtown Family Youth and Family Services.

Here is the official description of the support service we are donating to:

"Newtown Youth and Family Services, Inc. is a licensed, non-profit, mental health clinic

and youth services bureau dedicated to helping children and families achieve their

highest potential. NYFS provides programs, services, activities, counseling, support

groups and education throughout the Greater Newtown area.

ANY DONATIONS MADE TO NEWTOWN YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES WILL BE DONATED DIRECTLY TO THOSE EFFECTED BY THE SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOOTING."

Please visit THIS PAGE to make your donation.

We can't imagine how they must be feeling, especially this close to the holidays. We would love for you to spread the word on your own blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Let's make a difference and use blogging in a positive way.

Thank you in advance for participating.

Love,

The Blog World

P.S. If you would like to, copy-paste and repost any part of this, please do. Share on.

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

Wash Your Nasty Hands

This is the season for bugs, all sorts of nasty germs are floating around our daily lives.
So remember the one simple thing that you can do to help the spread of these bugs.
Wash your nasty hands....please!! Thank you

Here are a couple videos to help :)




Handwashing is a global thing!!



One for the kiddos to learn



and one for the little ones :)

Enjoy and stay safe and well this winter

Have a safe and Happy Memorial Day!!

A long weekend and celebrations should never end in tragedy, take a minute to remember these tips from the great people at "Safe Kids USA" before heading out for your festivities or family fun today.
http://www.safekids.org/have-a-safe-memorial-day-week.html


If you plan to be at the pool or on the beach over the holiday weekend, check out our water safety page for drowning prevention tips, and make sure to read: "Five Truths About Children Who Drown."
If you are planning a pool party, make sure to always have an adult serve as a water watcher. Print out the Water Watcher card.


Before you put the burgers on the grill, follow a few simple tips to avoid grilling injuries.
Make sure to also visit our fire, burn and scald prevention page for more tips.





Before letting your kids out the door to go play with friends, siblings and cousins, remind them about how to stay safe around traffic, on the playground and on their bikes.
Make sure to check out our sports and recreation safety tips, our pedestrian and driver safety tips for summer and our falls prevention tips.





Just another reminder to NEVER leave your child alone in a car even for a second. If you see someone's child or pet left alone in a car, call 911 immediately!

For related safety tip on kids in around cars, visit: "Car Seats, Boosters and Seat Belt Safety."


Thank you to Safe Kids for the above information on keeping our kids safe, happy and back home again after your holiday fun.

Leslie RN (ernursescare)

Child Safety Tips: 10 Things You Can Do In 10 Minutes Or Less To Make Your Home Safer

These child safety tips can all make your home safer in 10 minutes or less.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay, parents, I hope you’re wearing running shoes because you’re about to get a child safety themed workout.
I’ve compiled a minute by minute workout schedule that will turn you into a lean, mean, child injury prevention machine. You should be able to do execute each of these child safety tips in 10 minutes or less…
On your mark.  Get set.  Go!

1. Child Chemical Safety

Let’s start out in the kitchen.  Look around to make sure all household chemicals are not accessible to children.
You might not realize it, but to children, these chemicals look similar to their favorite fruit drinks, so your child might not understand that blue window cleaner isn’t blue-raspberry Kool-aid. To prevent a case of mistaken identity, put hazardous materials on higher shelves, not close to your food, of course.
If you can’t store your cleaning products anywhere else but near floor level, lock your cupboard doors tight with a child proof lock.

2. Child Climbing Safety

While you’re still in the kitchen, start looking for opportunities your child might have to climb to unsafe heights. Reposition any climbable pieces of furniture to deter children from using them as ladders to your kitchen counter.
Your kids probably love sweets so keep those goodies in a locked pantry or in a locked shelf lower than counter height.  That way your kids don’t have to climb anything to find out they don’t have access to their tasty temptations.

3. Child Hot Water Safety

Still with me? If so, you’re doing great!  But now it’s time for a bit of a run.
Head to your basement or wherever your hot water heater is located.  Read the temperature setting. If your hot water heater is set to anything above 120-125 degrees fahrenheit or above medium, it’s too hot.
According to the National Ag Safety Database, it only takes takes two seconds for a child to receive third degree burns from water at 150 degrees, five seconds if the water is at 140 degrees and 30 seconds at 130 degrees.
Turning the water heater down to a proper setting should be easy to do, but if you can’t figure it out, call a trusted friend or plumber.

4. Child Sharp Object Safety

While you’re in the basement, grab an empty bottle of laundry detergent, tear the labels off and write “SHARPS” or “DANGER” on both sides.
You now have your own container for proper disposal of sharp objects.
Whatever it may be, sewing needles, thumb tacks, nails, if you don’t have a place for it, put it in the sharps container.  This is a method medical professionals use to dispose of hazardous sharp objects, so it’s child safety expert and doctor approved.
Store the sharps container in a secure, child safe location and get ready to move!

5. Child Electrical Safety

It’s time for an electrical outlet check.
Head back up the stairs and through your house to each individual outlet to make sure they all have child proof covers.
Children are more likely to tamper with your electrical outlets than you might think.  The National Electrical Manufacturers Association estimates that an average of seven children per day are treated in emergency rooms for injuries due to electrical outlet contact.
Child safety covers prevent unnecessary child injury by keeping kids from sticking their fingers and metallic objects in electrical outlets. Until your children are old enough to know better, keep all the outlets in your home covered.

6. Child Suffocation Safety

Did you see any plastic bags lying out in the open during your last lap around the house?  If you did and you didn’t pick them up, well, looks like it’s another lap for you.
Kids who like to play make believe can see colorful, plastic grocery bags as masks that can turn them into astronauts and monsters, but these bags can easily suffocate your child.
Gather all your plastic bags together and store them in a safe, secure place like the now locked cabinet you keep your household chemicals in.

7. Child Shelf Safety

If you are one of those reading types who hasn’t replaced their paperbacks and hardcovers with e-books, there are probably bookshelves around your house.
Although your children may be learning to read, they see bookshelves more as ladders than “knowledge storage devices.”  The CPSC estimates that in 2006, more than 16,000 children five years old and younger were treated in emergency rooms due to furniture and appliance tipovers.
Secure bookshelves, and all other shelving units in your home, to walls so there is no chance of them falling over when your child decides he’s the next Indiana Jones.

8. Child Padding Safety

Alright, now do another lap around your house, this time looking for sharp corners and edges on furniture and walls.
More than likely, there are more edges and corners that could use padding than you can do in under ten minutes, but make a note of their locations.
There are a number of different manufacturers who specialize in making child safe edging for furniture and walls.  If you don’t want to pay $15 a foot, though, use foam pipe edging and clear tape.  It works just as well at a fraction of the cost.

9. Child Window Safety

Windows always spell trouble for children.
Windows with blinds usually mean low hanging cords that kids like to play with.  These cords are choking hazards so secure them at a higher altitude by coiling them up with a rubber band or piece of string.
Push all chairs and other pieces of climbable furniture away from windows so that children have less access to them.
And if you like keeping your windows open and haven’t invested in some child safe window guards, you need to install them soon.

10. Child Refrigerator Safety

It’s the home stretch!  Get to your refrigerator.
If you have small magnets on the fridge, either take them off or move them higher and out of reach.  Your child can easily pluck the magnets off the fridge and put them in their mouths.
Also, open your refrigerator door and determine if the seal is strong enough to keep a child from opening it.  If it’s not, add a latch system to the door for extra security.

11. Relax

I ended the workout in front of your refrigerator on purpose.  Open it up and grab something cold to drink or stick your head in the freezer to cool off.
You’re looking buff and now your home is now child safety expert approved.
Have anything you’d like to add?  Leave a comment and let me know.
———
Ken Levinson is a Chicago-based child injury attorney and child safety advocate. If your child has been injured or worse, please call Ken Levinson at Joseph, Lichtenstein and Levinson at 312-346-9270 or e-mail ken@thesafestline.com. Although based in Chicago, Ken works on child injury cases across the country.