Thursday, September 3, 2020

Baby Safety Month 2020


 
BABY SAFETY MONTH

According to Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, "JPMA initiated Baby Safety Month to educate parents and caregivers on the importance of the safe use and selection of juvenile products. The campaign started when JPMA initiated "Expectant Mother's Day." In 1986, it was extended to a week-long celebration, until 1991, when JPMA sponsored the first "Baby Safety Awareness Month." Since then, every September has been designated as Baby Safety Month."

Important Dates

9/1 - 9/7 National Childhood Injury Prevention Week
9/15 Tackle Kids Cancer Day

9/20 - 9/26 Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week
9/26 National Seat Check Saturday

Having a baby is such a wonderful experience and can impact your life for the better. There are also many new responsibilities to make sure your child is in a safe environment to learn and grow. This month's blog is focused on baby safety and ways to keep your child safe in different environments, so you can enjoy watching them discover the new world around them.

Child Passenger Safety

   

All 50 states require the use of a car seat. 

Your responsibilities include choosing a safe car seat, installing it properly, and using it for every car ride from baby's first ride until they meet the requirements of your state law that say it is safe to remove them.
Please FOLLOW THE THE MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS!

Children should be rear-facing until they meet the maximum height OR weight requirements allowed by the manufacturer's instructions. Then, they should be front-facing with a harness until they meet height OR weight limits per manufacturer's instructions. After that, they should ride in a booster seat until seat belts alone fit CORRECTLY (usually around 4' 9").

Do not use a car seat or booster car seat that:
  • is used, especially if it is more than eight years old.
  • has ever been involved in a crash.
  • is missing the manufacturer's label showing the name of the manufacturer, model number, and date of manufacture. 
Car seats expire! Check your labels for the expiration date

This and more information was found at JPMA.org.

Child Safety Tips


The A B Cs of Safe Sleep
  • Baby sleeps ALONE, not with anyone else in their bed.
  • Baby sleeps on their BACK, not on their side or stomach.
  • Baby sleeps in a CRIB, with only a firm mattress and tight-fitting sheet.
  • BARE IS BEST! No pillows, blankets, toys in the crib that could create suffocation or choking hazards. 
  • Nothing should be hanging over the crib or be within 3 feet of it.
Childproofing
When thinking about in-home safety hazards, think
  1. If my child got a hold of this, would it hurt them?
  2. If they got a hold of this and it broke, would it hurt them? 
  3. If they got a hold of this and destroyed it, would I be sad?
Some common things to keep in mind and best practice are:
  • sharp, glass, and toxic products like cleaning supplies should be locked away with magnetic cabinet locks
  • stairs should have hardware-mounted gates at the top and bottom
  • anchor all heavy furniture (if it is taller than it is wide, ANCHOR IT)
  • use outlet covers in all of baby's areas (single plastic plug-ins are a choking hazard, best practice is to use sliding outlet covers)
When thinking about safety hazards in the pool area, think LAYERS of PROTECTION such as:
  • locks/chimes on doors and windows
  • pool barriers
  • life jackets
  • CPR and swim lessons
  • water watcher 
Product Safety
It is best to use JPMA Certified products and use them correctly every time, as the manufacturer intended. Also, keep up with child product recalls that are listed at the bottom of this newsletter. You can also check CPSC.gov for past and present recalls.

#TackleKidsCancer is dedicated to funding the research we need to help our youngest patients. Join TKC this September, and help tackle childhood cancer. #ResearchMatters #morethan4 #childhoodcancer #pediatriccancer Learn more at www.tacklekidscancer.org.

RECALLS:

August 26, 2020 CPSC; Communicorp Recalls Plush Aflac Doctor Duck Due to Violation of Federal Lead Content Ban; Lead Poisoning Hazard

August 21, 2020 CPSC; woom bikes USA Recalls Children’s Helmets Due to Risk of Head Injury (Recall Alert)

August 19, 2020 CPSC; Hasbro Recalls Super Soaker XP 20 and XP 30 Water Blasters Due to Violation of Federal Lead Content Ban; Sold Exclusively at Target

August 12, 2020 CPSC; Thule Recalls Strollers Due to Injury Hazard

August 11, 2020 CPSC; Transform Recalls Four-Drawer Chests Due to Tip-Over and Entrapment Hazards; Sold Exclusively at Kmart


* information from Consumer Product Safety Commisision


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