The Safety Mom Chronicles

Independence Day Safety

The 4th of July is just a few weeks away and that means two things – fireworks and barbeques.  According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were an estimated 9,800 injuries caused by fireworks in 2007.  Stay away from backyard fireworks!!!!  Most towns and cities around the country put on a spectacular display - that is the safest way to enjoy fireworks.

However, if you are going to light your own fireworks, be sure to follow the safety guidelines as put out by the National Council of Firework Safety (www.fireworksafety.com) and the CPSC (www.cpsc.gov).

• Use fireworks outdoors only.
• Obey local laws.
• If fireworks are not legal where you live, do not use them.
• Keep a bucket of water in case of a malfunction or fire.
• Only use fireworks as intended.Don't try to alter them or combine them.
• Never try to relight fireworks that have not fully functioned.
• Use common sense. Spectators should keep a safe distance from the shooter and the shooter should wear safety glasses.
• Alcohol and fireworks do not mix.Have a "designated shooter"
• Only persons over the age of 12 should be allowed to handle sparklers of any type.
• Do not ever use homemade fireworks of illegal explosives: They can kill you! Report illegal explosives to the fire or police department in your community.
• Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
• Read and follow all warnings and instructions.
• Only light fireworks on a smooth, flat surface away from the house, dry leaves, and flammable materials.

Planning and Preparation For All of Life's Twists and Turns

With my divorce almost finalized, I find myself "cleaning house" and really trying to get myself organized to start my new life.  My good friend Alicia Rockmore is co-founder of Buttoned Up, Inc - www.getbuttonedup.com, a great site that provides all the tools, tips and resources you need to get your life organized.  Below is a great article they authored about the importance of planning and preparation for all of life's twists and turns:

Get Prepared: How to Ensure You Have What You Need in an Emergency

Why is that that the only time we think to get prepared is when disaster is breathing down our necks?

So often we hear about hurricanes, fires or other disasters and think, ‘I should really put a few things together in case of an emergency,’ but never actually get around to doing anything about it. It’s a universal problem driven by two things. First, for many of us, it’s difficult to be sure of what is needed or how to put it together. And second, the thought of something bad happening to our loved ones is often too difficult to consider. These are fears worth overcoming.

Alicia on the importance of getting informed

The most important step in getting prepared is to read up on the topic. There are many websites out there that can help you wrap your head around what exactly you need to get ready for anything. One of the best web sites for this is The Department of Homeland Security at http://www.ready.gov/america/index.html. We recommend that you spend enough time on the site to gain the confidence you need to get started.

Pay particular attention to the following areas:
1. Assembling a kit of emergency supplies — what’s necessary and what’s not?
2. Making an emergency plan — what are the important components of a plan?
3. Preparing for communication gaps — where should you look for important directives and how to you stay in touch if phones aren’t working?

Sarah on getting it done

One way to make the entire task seem less daunting is to keep in mind that it will take you less than 3 hours to get prepared for the unexpected. That’s right, isn’t your family’s safety worth one night of prime time TV? And if that still seems overwhelming, break it up into smaller bite-sized pieces. Assign one week as ‘emergency preparedness week’ and have your family spend 30 minutes a night (ideally right before or after dinner) going through the steps together. Once everyone agrees on what to do, write it down and post it in the house. Think of how much worry this will save you all down the line.

These three tips are designed to help you get the basics in order.

#1: Remember the ‘Big 4′
Water, food, cash and a first aid kit are the foundation of any emergency kit. Make sure you have enough of each of these things to last each person in the house at least 5 days. Imagine how much suffering could have been avoided in the recent hurricanes if people had prepared a family emergency kit stocked with these amenities.

#2: Engage the Entire Family
Getting prepared should be a family event, not a burden for one person to carry. It’s in everybody’s best interest to know what’s been done and to be invested in the process. Make sure each family member has a job to do and encourage them to get it done within a week. One person can buy flashlights, a whistle and lots of batteries, another can find a radio (battery operated) in the house and make sure it still works, and someone else can clear out space in the pantry, garage or basement to store all of the emergency supplies.

#3: Get ‘Extras’
Think about any items that are critical to you and that may not be easy to get for a few days in an emergency and have extras on hand. Some important things to consider are prescription medicines taken regularly, glasses and contact lenses including saline solution and contact case, and baby items such as formula and diapers.

We are the co-founders of Buttoned Up, inc., a company dedicated to helping stretched and stressed women get themselves organized and co-authors of “Everything (almost) In Its Place.”  We welcome your thoughts!  Please send ideas and questions to us at:  yourlife@getbuttonedup.com or visit us at www.getbuttonedup.com

Bike Helmet Giveaway!!

Summer is here and kids will be hopping on their bikes, Razor Scooters and other ride on toys more than any other time during the year.  For me, this is the summer that my daughter’s training wheels are coming off.  And I would not let her ride without a bike helmet, which is key to keeping kids safe.

 

The alarming news is that ride on toys account for the majority of childhood accidents but the good news is that 68% of these injuries could be eliminated just by wearing a helmet.  I love the bike helmets from Bell Sports (http://www.bellbikehelmets.com/products.asp).   They were created with True Fit Technology which requires only one adjustment for the right fit every time – tremendously improving safety.  The helmet doesn’t sit too far forward or back and it’s easy to snap into place without pinching your child’s chin. 

 

One lucky reader can win a bike helmet.  Email stephanie@safetymom.com to enter.  All entries must be received by no later than July 1st 5:00pm ET. 

 

An Extra Set of Eyes for the Backs of Moms Heads

As a working mom, coordinating everyone’s schedules during the summer is like being an air traffic controller!  Who’s coming in and out of the house at any given time is pretty chaotic.  And when a pool is involved it makes me even more nervous.  We have all heard of too many instances where a child has wandered out the patio doors and into a pool and drowned.    Front Point security system is a great way to monitor what’s going on in and around your house at any given time.  Where ever you are, you can be alerted online or on your smart phone whenever anyone enters or leaves your home and you can also monitor what’s going on inside the house.  In fact I can even view live video over a wireless camera in my home.  And with teenagers and part time baby sitters that’s absolutely crucial!  What I also love is the flexibility of their system.  Because it’s wireless and all-cellular you can even take it with you if you’re visiting grandma’s house! Check out www.frontpointsecurity.com.  

This Summer Plan Ahead Before Taking Off For Your Vacation

Now that summer is here, family vacations, summer camps and visits to grandma’s are on the way.  There are a million things that we need to plan before hitting the road – I spend at least two to three days planning!  But one thing many of us don’t consider is putting plans in place – and documented forms – of what actions to take in case of an emergency.

 

Forms4Parents.com & Forms4Travel.com provide parents with a catalog of over 75 different authorization forms to choose from, whether parents are traveling without their children, or their children are traveling with a grandparent, relative, teacher, coach, with one of two parents abroad or alone.  There are even forms for pet owners.

 

The forms address all types of family configurations, so the language used is appropriate given the family structure and informational fields are properly provided for necessary contact information.  So, whether parents are together, divorced/separated or single parents they will have an appropriate form to use.  In addition, the customized and comprehensive information parents provide in each form, for travel companions and/or caregivers, is practical and immediately recognizable by parents, grandparents and caregivers as essential.  Each form is balanced with clear legal authorization language in a concise manner combined with specific basic medical information about each child.  Certain forms provide more extensive information including contact information for each child’s pediatrician, dentist and specialist, as well as primary and secondary/travel insurance information for effective care.

 

You can check them out at www.forms4travel.com. 

 

 

You Can Have A Starring Role In King Kong Or Gone with the Wind!!!

Have you always wanted to be in the movies?  Breyers^® is giving you a chance to star in your own webisode.  They have just released a follow-up to their widely popular Gone with the Wind webisode.  This time the Hollywood classic is King Kong starring “30 Rock” actress Jane Krakowski.   Dreaming of her perfect match as she eats Breyers Smooth and Dreamy, which by the way, is delicious!!!.  Check it out www.SmoothandDreamy.com/love.

What is so much fun about this is that by simply uploading your own photo, you can be in the webisode!!  You have the option to insert yourself as either Jane’s character, Rhett Butler or King Kong.  You can then email your personalized webisode to your friends or even post on FaceBook.

And, there is a contest, where you can enter for a chance to win a dreamy Hollywood sweepstakes. The grand prize is an eight day/seven night trip to Hollywood for four people, a deluxe Warner Bros. VIP Studio Tour and $5,000 cash.

See you in the movies!

Child Sleep Safety While On Vacation

Whether your summer vacation will be taking you to Grandma’s or a destination with a hotel stay, you need to think about your child’s sleeping safety before you leave the house.   I never was comfortable using hotel cribs since it's almost impossible to know if they meet current safety standards.   I am however, a true fan of portable cribs.  I even used them for nap time at home saving me a thousand trips up and down the stairs!   But keep in mind, all portable cribs are not created equally.  To be sure you are purchasing one that has met strict safety standards, visit the Juvenile Products Manufacturer's website www.jpma.org.  The JPMA has a stringent safety certification program in place for all juvenile products that gives parents the assurance that the crib they are buying for their baby is the safest possible.

 

With any certified portable crib you choose, make sure that the mattress is tight fitting with no gaps between the edges of the mattress and the wall of the crib.  Also, be sure that the sheets are snug fitting not allowing a child to pull a corner off and become entrapped.

Families Traveling Seperately For Safety - To Do or Not To Do?"

We are starting to learn more about the victims  of Air France flight 447, who they are and the loved ones left behind.  One story that is making parents think about travel habits is the family that took separate flights.  The mother and son lost their lives while the father and daughter, who travelled seperately, are left to grieve.  If you do travel separately, how far do you take it?   You are much safer in a plane than a car – do you  take separate cars when going out as a family?  Reporter Susan James from ABC News interviewed several of my readers and wrote a great article.  Take a read and let me know your thoughts. 

 

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Technology/story?id=7749781&page=1

Death of Tyson Child Highlights The Dangers of Children & Gym Equipment

The death of Mike Tyson’s 4-year-old daughter is a tragic reminder that we must take measures to ensure our children are safe in their homes.  This accident was indeed an accident. However too many of these unintentional and bizarre events happen each year.  According to the Center for an average 12,175 children 0 to 19 years of age die each year in the United States from an unintentional injury. 

 

Create "safe zones" in your home - areas where there are no dangerous and potentially lethal items.  Remember, nothing takes the place of adult supervision.  Make sure all gym equipment is in no way accessible to children and unplugged when not in use!!!

One Step Closer to Unraveling the Mystery of Autism

A report was released online today by the journal Molecular Psychiatry stating that researchers have uncovered the reason that autism effects boys four times more often than girls.  The "autism-risk" gene is more prevalent in boys than girls although researchers are not clear why this is the case.   As a mom with a child with learning disabilities I realize how frustrating and overwhelming it can be when searching for answers.  While this might be a small step, at least it's a step in the right direction.  More information can be found at http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1899756,00.html?imw=Y