Stay Safe

 

The safety and well being of your child is something that can never be taken for granted.  Here you'll find simple yet thought provoking information to provide you with ideas on the simple things you can do to keep your child safe. 

 

 

May I Suggest…….

Bike Safety

 

Please remember that with the warm weather and longer days come active kids.  Bikes are being taken down from the rafters and children are taking to the streets with great speed.  Don’t forget that all riders under 16 years of age are required by law to be wearing a proper bicycle safety helmet.  If you are unsure of how to fit your child’s helmet properly please visit you local bike shop or police department.  They are eager to lend a hand.  Many hospitals also offer helmets at a reduced rate to those who are in need.  And remember be a good example wear a helmet yourself…ok so it’s not real good on the hair but a parent with total brain function is a bit more important! 

Happy riding!

Water Safety and Prevention

 

If children and adolescents are around bodies of water on a regular basis, it benefits parents to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), which, in case of an emergency, can save lives, reduce the severity of injury, and improve the chance of survival. CPR training is available through the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, and your local hospital or fire department.

Teens and water safety:
Although older youth are more likely to know how to swim, they are at risk for drowning due to overestimation of their skills, unawareness of water currents or water depth, and when consuming alcohol or using drugs. To protect your adolescent from drowning, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers the following tips:

· Insist that your adolescent always swim with a buddy.

· Encourage your adolescent to take swimming, diving, and water safety or rescue classes to give him/her the skills needed to swim and dive safely. These classes may also prevent your adolescent from acting recklessly.

· Teach your adolescent never to swim or dive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Make sure your adolescent checks the depth of the water before diving.

A warning about diving:
Diving accidents can result in permanent spinal cord injuries, brain damage, and/or death. Diving accidents occur when a person:

· dives into shallow water.

· dives into above-ground pools, which are usually shallow.

· dives into the shallow end of a pool.

springs upward from the diving board and hits the board on the way down.

A warning about personal flotation devices:
On boats, PFDs should be US Coast Guard-approved. In fact, many states require the use of PFDs on all boats at all times. Blow-up swimming devices such as "water wings," rafts, toys, and other items are not considered safe and should not be relied on to prevent drowning.

It is important that the PFD is the correct size for your adolescent (life jackets are usually labeled "adult" or "child"). However, PFDs do not replace adult supervision.According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, 85 percent of boating-related drownings can be prevented with the proper use of PFDs.

Eye Safety

 

Each year thousands of eye injuries could have been prevented if the victim had been wearing protective eyewear. Prevent Blindness America said recent figures show that toys led the list of products involved in eye injuries to children through age 14. Toys were involved in 9.8 percent and 9.1 percent of product-related eye injuries to children under 5 and ages 5-14 respectively.

For children under 5, general purpose household cleaners were next at 6.9%, cigars, cigarettes and related products, 6.4%, and adhesives, 4%.

The second and third categories for children ages 5-14 were baseballs, 7.7%, and basketballs 6%. (Please refer to any of the on line sites that inform parents on the most current dangerous toys)

For children, eye injuries happen mainly while playing. Children should wear eye protection for the following sports and recreational activities: baseball, softball, racquetball, tennis, badminton, soccer, ice or street hockey, basketball, lacrosse, boxing, karate.

Add to the list any other activity that uses a projectile or racket; or involves rough contact with other players; or requires travel at high speeds.

Some kids may object to wearing protective eyewear because it hinders their vision, or no one else is wearing it. Remind your child that many professional athletes have worn protective eyewear and excelled in their sport.

 

Information provided by Dr Mitch Martin of Cascade Eye Center Whom I personally thank for teaching me the importance of proper eye care.

Helpful Hints for a Happy Holiday

 

The holiday season is upon us, bringing with it the joy of transforming family homes into festive wonderlands. Dazzling lights, sparkly tinsel, fancy dishes, and children's laughter are all part of the holiday magic -- but young children and holiday decorations aren't always a perfect mix. Worry not, armed with a few safety precautions, decorating alternatives, and a dash of creativity, parents can create fun, hazard-free holiday homes for all to enjoy.

Decorate a Safe, Festive Christmas Tree

As the centerpiece of the holiday home, Christmas tree safety is a primary concern. The tree should be set in a stable stand and may be further secured by tying twine or fishing line from the upper trunk to a hook on the closest wall. Tree needles can be a choking hazard for small children, so check a live tree closely for shedding needles, try to keep the floor clear of dropped needles, and remember to keep the tree well watered to retain freshness.

Traditional Christmas tree decorations can pose child safety risks, but parents have several safer decorating options. If using lights, wrap strands close to the trunk, well away from little hands. Garlands and ribbon streamers, too, should be placed out of reach of small children because of choking and tree-tipping dangers. Fragile glass balls and ornaments, including any with small pieces, can be securely tied high on the tree, but avoid using tinsel icicles and hook-style ornament hangers around small children, as both pose choking risks. Decorate child-accessible areas on the tree appropriately for children's ages.

Remember to check gifts under the tree for wrappings that may be dangerous, such as tied-on ornaments and stretchy elastic cording. For added safety around the Christmas tree, a versatile child safety gate such  can be installed to keep little ones at a safe distance.

Watch It With Your Childs Weight.

 

It’s a new year and television segments and magazine articles and bombarding us with new and improved weight lose ideas.  Granted we are now paying the price for our holiday feastings. To mom or dad loosing a few pounds may not be such a bad idea, but there’s a growing problem with our youth today, a preoccupation with weight and appearance. Not just in girls but in boys as well and at a surprisingly young age.  Everyone knows that the ideal body type as seen on TV isn’t always very realistic. It’s important for us as parents to set a good example for our children. While it is natural for us to cut back on treats and the size of our portions, it’s important to watch how our children perspective these actions. Does your child hear comments such as “I’m so fat” or “I was good I didn’t eat that cookie” Do they see you skipping meals or letting the scale control your mood? We might tell our children they are beautiful just the way they are but will they believe us if we don’t believe it for ourselves.