Gadgets

Automatic garage door openers are extremely powerful, so powerful in fact as to be deadly to anyone struck or trapped by a closing door.

Garage door openers are particularly dangerous to young children. You can safeguard your children with a few simple precautions:

Precautions To Take

* Read and follow all manufacturers’ instructions.
* Operate the remote control only when you can see the garage door and there are no children around.
* Test the auto-reverse safety mechanism at least once a month. Repair faulty mechanisms at once.
* Keep the remote control up and out of your child’s reach.
* Wall controls must be installed at least 1.53 metres or 5 feet off the ground to keep them safe from little hands.
* Teach your children the dangers of automatic garage doors – especially playing “chicken” or trying to slide under the door before it closes.
* Keep the emergency release mechanism where you can find it fast. Know how to use it.
* Examine the equipment regularly for signs of wear. Have all repair work done by a professional.

Though you wouldn’t think so, strangulation poses a very real threat to children.

But like all accidents, strangulation can be prevented by applying a few simple safety measures as follows:

* Never tie a pacifier or, for that matter, any object around a baby’s neck.
* Tie or fasten Venetian blind or drapery cords out of a child’s reach.
* Remove the chains between verticle blinds.
* Never place a crib, bed or chair near a blind or drapery cord.
* Avoid children’s clothing with drawstrings, or remove all drawstrings from exisiting clothing. Many a child has been strangulated on play equipment by drawstrings.
* Pay close attention to the clothing children wear to the playground: scarves, ties, hoods, and loose clothing can get caught on playground equipment.
* Avoid accordion style safety gates which, if spread too far, could entrap a child’s head.
* Remove mobiles with dangling cords once a child is able to grab at the objects.
* Remove toy box lids that can slam down on a child’s neck.
* Keep extension and applicance cords wrapped up and out of reach.
* Do not remove the centre strap from high chairs, car seats, swings, etc., as a child could easily slide down and catch his/her neck on the waist strap.

From the bathtub to the backyard pool and from the beach to the dockside, children need to be properly supervised around water. Many children have drowned in as little as two inches of water. Here are some guidelines to help you keep your children safe this summer.

How To Stay Safe

* Make pool rules simple but clear, i.e.: no dunking, running around the pool, pushing, diving, or going down head first on the water slide.
* Keep a cordless telephone outside.
* Keep toys away from the pool area to prevent children from playing too closely to the water.
* Ensure family pools are secured by a fence of at least 4 feet, and that latches are too high for a child to reach.
* Keep furniture away from the pool to prevent the child from climbing in.
* Have a life preserver, rope, and rescue pole at pool side.
* Take a first aid and CPR course. Make sure your provider’s is up-to-date.
* Ensure pool chemicals are up and out of harm’s way.
* Do a safety check of your provider’s back yard and pool area using the above.

The most important think we can do for our kids as they head out to play this spring/summer season is to teach them so very basic streetproofing tips.

At an early age children should be taught:

* their full name
* their age
* their telephone number
* their address
* how and when to dial 911 or operator
* how and when to dial a parent or relative.

Define clearly what a stranger is . . . anyone your child does not know. There are “good strangers” and “bad strangers”. Since children cannot recognize the difference they must learn to treat all strangers the same and follow the rules:

* do not talk to strangers (despite tricks like asking directions, offering candy, lost pet, etc.)
* do not take anything from a stranger (candy, food, money, toys
* do not go anywhere with a stranger (riding in a car, walking, entering a house, etc.)

Teach children that if a stranger bothers them:

* to make a loud noise by yelling (help! stop! go away!) “no” is not enough
* to run to a safe place and tell someone what happened (school, store, office, Block Parent, library, bus driver, etc.)
* not to hide (in “hide and seek”).

Play, walk and ride safely. . .

* stay with a group, never walk alone
* avoid unsupervised areas like vacant lots and buildings, construction sites, wooded or busy areas, creeks and riverbeds.

If someone follows a child they should:

* get a description if the person
* get a description of the vehicle
* get a licence number
* run to the closest safe place (listed above)
* turn around and run in the opposite directions (it takes time for a vehicle to get turned around)
* tell you about anything they feel uncomfortable about.

Parents and caregivers should:

* keep important telephone numbers by the phones
* familiarize children with safe places in their community
* provide adequate supervision and do not leave a child unattended even for a moment
* do not display a child’s name on clothing or backpacks, etc.
* if a child gets lost in a store, go to the nearest cashier
* become a Block Parent and encourage others to do the same.

By Catherine M. Pruissen

Fast Facts:

* you have no more than 3 minutes to escape a burning building
* more people die from smoke inhalation than from fire itself
* fire creates so much smoke that a room turns pitch black in minutes
* the toxic fumes created by a fire can kill you within a few breaths
* heat produced by fire can exceed temperatures of 1000oF, yet temperatures of more than 150oF can cause your body to shut down; high temperatures actually cause the body to go into shock.

Given the above, can you get your family out of a fire in your home safely? Can your child care provider get your and every other child in her care out alive? If you are telling yourself you “think so”, that isn’t good enough. You have to “know so”, and without a shadow of a doubt. In other words, you must both have a fire escape plan.

Fire Escape Plan

The best way to plan your escape route is to make a drawing of your home, marking each room, window, door and stairwell. Using arrows, mark at least two exits from each room.

It is vitally important you practice your escape routes regularly, that you know them by heart. Your provider should have frequent fire drills with the children and should be teaching them to understand what it means when the smoke detector goes off and what they are to do when they hear it. She, like you, should let the children hear the sound it makes so they know when to take action.

Teaching Children Fire Safety

There are a number of things you and your provider can do together to teach your child about fire safety. You can:

* teach them how to STOP, DROP and ROLL if their clothing catches fire, by having them place their arms at their sides, drop to the ground, then rolling until the fire is out. Younger kids may need your help learning this technique;
* borrow books from your library that explain fire safety. Your librarian can help (see the Resource section);
* arrange for the children to visit the local fire hall and if possible, for a fire fighter to visit with them in their centre or home, to teach them how to crawl to safety, and that fire fighters are their friends;
* show them where to go once they are outside of the building, i.e., your designated safe spot where you can find them;
* teach them to alert an adult if they see smoke or fire;
* tell them they are never to go back inside a burning building for any reason like getting their doll or pet.

Fire Prevention

Saving lives begins by preventing fires. Use the following checklist to ensure your home and the daycare center or home is fire safe.

* fire evacuation plans are clearly posted in each room;
* all matches, lighters and flammable substances are locked up;
* exit passageways are clear at all times;
* smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are functioning properly;
* all staff members know how to use fire extinguishers properly;
* electrical plugs and extension cords are not overloaded;
* curtains, blankets and/or bedspreads are not close to heat sources such as the stove, space heater, radiators, heat vents, or the fireplace;
* home or building is free of flammable debris such as oily rags, gas containers, stacks of old newspapers;
* heating systems are checked regularly and portable heaters are used according to manufacturer instructions and are not within a child’s grasp;
* facility is inspected yearly by the local fire marshall.

“How much you know is not as important as what you do with what you know.” Talk to your provider and work together on a fire prevention plan that could save your child’s life.

Resources

Start and Run a Profitable Home Day Care By Catherine M. Pruissen, Self-Counsel Press, Inc., 1993

Family Care: A Caregiver’s Guide By Lee Dunster, Child Care Providers Association, 1990

Get Out Alive By John Morse, Ladies’ Home Journal Parent’s Digest, Spring 1993

The Daycare Alternative By Catherine M. Pruissen, CanDan Publishing Co., 1992

Once nothing more thank a pesky insect, mosquitoes are now a public enemy, spreading the sometimes deadly West Nile Virus and other diseases to unsuspecting outdoor enthusiasts, young and old.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, there were 49 cases of West Nile Virus last year in children aged 0 to 9 and 81 cases in children aged 10-19.

While the most serious cases of WNV occur in seniors, children are nonetheless susceptible to the disease. Fortunately, most children who get the virus will have only a mild illness. Children with weak immune systems or who already have a serious illness are most at risk of becoming very sick.

Children playing outdoors during the daytime hours are at minimal risk for exposure, as the mosquitoes that most commonly carry West Nile Virus are generally more active during the early evening and early morning hours.

Protecting Children From Bugs

To protect children from exposure to the virus carrying mosquitos, the Canadian Paediatric Society recommends the following ways to avoid insect bites:

* Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts outdoors.
* Avoid places where mosquitoes breed and live, like standing water.
* Stay inside when mosquitoes are most active: dawn, dusk, early evening.
* Use insect repellent, such as DEET, which keeps flies and mosquitoes away. Not all products have the same concentration, or amount, of DEET. This amount is expressed as a percentage, such as 10% DEET.

Parents are naturally concerned about using insect repellents on very young children. In their Caring for Kids resource sheet, Insect repellents for children, the CPA offers the following suggestions:

* When using insect repellent on children, always apply it for them.
* Always read the entire label before using.
* Apply the product lightly. Don’t use more than you need.
* Do not apply on irritated or sunburned skin.
* Apply it only on top of clothing or to skin that is showing.
* Don’t use it under clothes.
* Do not get it in eyes. If you do get insect repellent in your eyes, rinse with water right away.
* If you are spraying, be careful not to breathe it.
* Always spray products in a place that is well ventilated.
* Don’t spray it in a tent, or near food.
* Don’t spray children’s hands. They’ll be less likely to get it into their eyes or mouth.
* When you don’t need the protection anymore, wash the skin with soap and water.
* If you think your child is having a reaction to the product, wash the skin and get medical help right away. Take the container with you so the doctor knows what you used.

Children under 6 months old:

* Do not use insect repellents with DEET on infants. Although there is no known hazard to breastfed infants, nursing mothers may wish to consider DEET alternatives, such as using protective clothing and avoiding exposure to insects (see above).
* Products containing citronella or lavender oil should not be used on infants.

Children aged 6 months to 2 years:

* If there is a high risk of complications from insect bites (for example, an area where there are reports of West Nile virus), you can use products with DEET only once a day.
* Use a product with the least available concentration: 10% DEET or less. Although there is no known hazard to breastfed infants, nursing mothers may wish to consider DEET alternatives, such as using protective clothing and avoiding exposure to insects (see above).
* Products containing citronella or lavender oil should not be used. Use just a little bit of the product.
* Don’t apply it to the child’s face or hands. It’s best not to use the product for a long time.

Children between 2 and 12 years old:

* Use a product with no more than 10% DEET.
* Do not apply more than 3 times a day.
* Do not apply to the child’s face or hands. It’s best not to use the product for a long time.

1992 marked a new era for Canada’s Food Guide and the U.S.D.A.’s Basic Four Food Groups, both of which were revised to meet the nutritional standards of today’s healthy lifestyle.

For example, Canada has added peanut butter to its list of meat and alternatives while the U.S.D.A. has replaced its Four Basic Food Groups with a pyramid of daily portions. Fats, added as a fifth group, occupy the top position on the pyramid indicating the smallest allotment. Grain products on the other hand take up the entire and noticeably larger bottom segment thus illustrating significant differences in recommended daily intake. In addition the U.S.D.A. has added key symbols throughout the pyramid to demonstrate the fat and sugar content of each group.

If these new food guides do anything they remind us that a well-balanced diet is important, especially where children are concerned. Parents are, by nature, conscientious nutritionists when it comes to their family’s health. Oh sure, the odd fast food meal slips into the well-planned weekly menu but even the experts concede that in moderation these meals are not really bad. It’s what gets (or doesn’t get) eaten when parents are not around that is cause for concern. This is particularly so when a child is in daycare for a great portion of the day and meals such as breakfast and lunch are part of that care.

Child Care and Meal Planning

It is important then that parents take the time to go over their child’s diet with the provider even before they place their child in a center or home. They should ask to see a menu and should look it over thoroughly to ensure it is:

* balanced and nutritious, and
* that their child will enjoy and more important, actually eat what is being served.

Most licensing boards require that weekly menus be posted in a conspicuous place where parents can review them. Although menus are the first indication of a provider’s knowledge of nutrition, there are many other things, as the following list indicates, that are part and parcel to providing healthy meals and establishing good eating habits.

Parents should ensure that:

* food preparation areas are clean and well maintained. Cleanliness and good hygiene are vital to reducing the spread of germs and diseases. A solution of nine parts water to one part bleach is a suggested cleanser.
* diaper changing areas are not located close to the food preparation area.
* staff practice good hand washing techniques.
* all eating utensils are rinsed in a bleach solution, then rinsed again.
* baby bottles and other perishable foods are tightly covered, properly labeled and stored in the refrigerator.
* meals are served in small groups and are pleasant and enjoyable, not rushed. It is important for providers to join the children at meal times as this enhances the child/provider relationship, fosters social skills, and enables the provider to properly supervise the group. It is during this time the provider can note the child’s food intake.
* their children are being served adequate portions. Most licensing boards require that children who are in a provider’s care for three hours be served a snack; for five hours a meal and a snack; for any time thereafter two meals and a snack. Meals should consist of at least one third of the faily recommended portions as per the Food Guide.
* their provider is receptive to them leaving expressed breast milk.
* they are welcome to join their child at meal time or any time.

Special Diets

A child who requires a special diet is of major concern to both the parents and the provider. To be certain the child is eating only recommended food parents should discuss the diet at length with the provider. They may also choose to provide their child’s meals and snacks.

Most parents and providers know that a child’s appetite varies from day to day just as his or her preference for certain foods changes as often as the wind blows. The best they can do is respect the child’s growing independence while at the same time try to find new, interesting foods that the child will like. No easy feat to be sure. But as tempting as it may be sometimes, a child should never be forced to eat.

Canada’s Food Guide and the U.S.D.A.’s Food Guide Pyramid are focal points on which to balance meals that help children (and adults too) develop strong healthy bodies and set the premise for good lifelong eating habits. “Bon appetit” as they say

Backyard ponds seem harmless enough. Their foliage, fish and rocks compliment any garden. The sound of the running water sooths and calms. They are an oasis in our own backyards.

But as the number of backyard water ponds increases in neighbourhoods everywhere, so too does the number of children and pets drowning in these ponds.

For anyone considering such an addition to their garden and for those with existing ponds, kid-proofing is an absolute must. One of the easiest and simplest ways to child-proof a pond area is to install a fence or safety barrier.

Likewise, a pool alarm should be considered along with the sculptured fountain. Commonly used in backyard swimming pools, a pool alarm floats on the surface of the pool or pond and sounds a loud, shrill alarm when something or someone falls into the pond. While this may not be so practical if you plan to add fish or other moving water creatures to the pond, any pool pool safety specialist should be able to guide you to a workable solution.

Other safety precautions include:

* Building the rocks up enough around the edge of the pond to keep the children from falling in (cylinder blocks look attractive)
* Placing a fair amount of loose rock or gribable stairs in the pond itself so that should a child or pet fall into the pond, they have something to gain their footing on as pond liners become extremely slippery when coated with algae
* Ensuring decorative materials around the pond are secure and won’t fall should a child decide to climb on them
* Understanding and abiding by your local codes for installing a pond – even a three inch pond without a fence may be a violation of local regulations. Children have drown in less than three inches of water.

Kid Proofing A Pond

When it comes right down to kid-proofing the pond, even when all known safety precautions have been put in place, it really all starts with you. Children should never, never be left alone for even a second when in the vicinity of any unsecured water source. Anyone with a pond, pool, or spa on their property should have updated infant/child first aid and CPR training. Knowing how to resuscitate a child who has been submerged in water is imperative.

Children are as unpredictable as the weather. Keeping one step ahead of them takes planning and above all else, common sense. Your backyard pond can be a treasure for everyone if you think safety first, design and stocking the pond second.

Did you know that from 1982 to 1995, ten children between the age of two and ten died in Canada when their clothing or drawstrings got caught on playground equipment or fences?

Did you know that by the end of 1995 in the U.S.A., most clothing manufactures had eliminated drawstrings from children’s clothing?

Playgrounds pose special dangers for strangulation incidents.  As in most cases involving injury to children events can take place in the blink of an eye.  Playground fun should be closely supervised.

Playing Safe

Children should be taught to play safely and to use playground equipment appropriate to their physical development.  Parents and caregivers should inspect playground areas for unsafe or broken equipment before allowing the children to play.  The following suggestions will help parents, caregivers and children bring safety into play:

* Always remove cords and drawstrings, and tuck in all clothing that can strangle a child.
* Five children between the age of four and ten died when they became entangled in ropes or skipping ropes attached to playground equipment. Always remove ropes and skipping ropes tied to slides and playground equipment.
* Loose clothing, hoods, scarves, drawstrings, mitten cords, ropes and skipping ropes can get caught on playground equipment or fences and strangle a child!
* Zip up the child’s jacket.
* Make sure gaps in equipment cannot snare a child’s clothing or body.
* Although helmets are important pieces of protective equipment, be aware of the dangers of wearing them on the playground.  Strangulations have occurred because helmets have became trapped between rungs on climbing equipment.

From: Kids for Keeps by Martin Lesperance, Kids for Keeps Ltd., Cochrane, AB.  and Playground Safety Tips from Health Canada.

Ah! The joys of winter: Snow and ice, tobogganing and skating, snow castles and skiing. For children of all ages winter truly is nature’s wonderland. But as Martin Lesperance points out in his book, Kids For Keeps – Preventing Injuries to Children, despite all the fun the season has to offer, parents and cargivers must take precautions to keep children safe during the winter.

“Many of the precautions you should take when going outdoors an a sunny day apply to taking your child outdoors on wintery days — the obvious difference is that cold days require appropriately warm clothing, such as hats, mittens, and boots,” writes Lesperance. “Here are some additional tips for making winter outings safe:

• Dress the children in layers.
• If children are playing on snow, remember that it reflects light and the risk of sun burn is therefor increased. Use sunscreen an exposed skin, especially in the mountains.
• If they are playing in the snow on bright days, children should wear appropriate eye protection: sunglasses or goggles with UV protection.
• A good portion of body heat is lost through the top of the head: make sure your child wears a hat, toque, or hood.
• Children should use footwear that keeps their feet warm and dry.
• Children should wear gloves for snowboarding or other hand warming gloves if they are engaging in snow activities.
• Monitor local temperatures and wind chill factors.
• It is a good idea not to expose your children to cold for to lengthy a time. Know the signs of frostbite — whitening of the skin on the nose,ears, and extremities — and bring your child into a warm shelter before these signs appear! “

So bundle the kids up and have fun. After all the fresh air is good for both the body and soul.

Source: Kids for Keeps: Preventing Injury to Children, by Martin Lesperance. Kids for Keeps Ltd. Cochrane, Alberta.