Holiday Home Fire- Safety Check

One Way to Baby Proof your Tree - Friday Funny

Child Safety Gates on Stairs

Beautiful and SAFE Pool Fences

National Safe Toys and Gifts Month

Important Dates

National Safe Toys and Gifts Month
12/10  Children's Day of Broadcasting
12/22-  12/30 Hanukkah
12/25 Christmas 
12/31 New Year's Eve

It's the most wonderful time of the year! It is a time to enjoy your family and be in the giving spirit! While you are enjoying your winter decorations and wrapping gifts, please don't forget about safety. This month's blog will focus on some things to help keep your kiddos protected this holiday season, as well as what to keep in mind when buying gifts for your little ones.

Winter Home Safety Tips

Kitchen
Clean and Check Range Hood
Clean Garbage Disposal
Inspect Hoses on Dishwasher, Ice Maker, and Fridge
Bedrooms and Living Areas
Check Flashlights, Replace Batteries
Hide Holiday Presents
Wipe Walls and Ceilings
Clean Lampshades
Basement
Service Generator
Vacuum and Dust HVAC System
Replace Furnace Filter
Bathrooms
Update First Aid Kit
Clean or Replace Shower Curtain
Hallways
Repair Steps and Banister
Test and Change Detector Batteries
Outside
Check for Ice Dams and Icicles
Install Outdoor Security Camera
Maintain Shoveled and Salted Walkway
Install Smart Holiday Lights

More details and a downloadable checklist at Safewise

Choosing Safe Toys

According to the American Public Health Association, "Prevent Blindness America has declared December as Safe Toys and Gifts Awareness Month. The group encourages everyone to consider if the toys they wish to give suits the age and individual skills and abilities of the individual child who will receive it, especially for infants and children under age three."
Some quick guidelines from APHA  for choosing safe toys this holiday season:

• Inspect all toys before purchasing. Avoid those that shoot or include parts that fly off. The toy should have no sharp edges or points and should be sturdy enough to withstand impact without breaking, being crushed, or being pulled apart easily.
• When purchasing toys for children with special needs try to: Choose toys that may appeal to different senses such as sound, movement, and texture; consider interactive toys to allow the child to play with others; and think about the size of the toy and the position a child would need to be in to play with it.
• Be diligent about inspecting toys your child has received. Check them for age, skill level, and developmental appropriateness before allowing them to be played with. 
• Look for labels that assure you the toys have passed a safety inspection – “ATSM” means the toy has met the American Society for Testing and Materials standards.
• Gifts of sports equipment should always be accompanied by protective gear (give a helmet with the skateboard)
• Keep kids safe from lead in toys by: Educating yourself about lead exposure from toys, symptoms of lead poisoning, and what kinds of toys have been recalled; being aware that old toys may be more likely to contain lead in the paint; having your children wash their hands frequently and calling your doctor if you suspect your child has been exposed to lead. 
• Do NOT give toys with small parts (including magnets and “button” batteries which can cause serious injury or death if ingested) to young children as they tend to put things in their mouths, increasing the risk of choking. If the piece can fit inside a toilet paper roll, it is not appropriate for kids under age three.
• Do NOT give toys with ropes and cords or heating elements. 
• Do NOT give crayons and markers unless they are labeled “nontoxic”.

RECALLS:
December 6, 2019 CPSC; DaVinci Recalls Bassinets Due to Fall Hazard (Recall Alert)
November 14, 2019 CPSC; Quest Products Recalls ALOCANE Emergency Burn Pads Due to Failure to Meet Child Resistant Closure Requirement; Risk of Poisoning
November 12, 2019 CPSC; Hooey Recalls Children’s Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Due to Strangulation Hazard
October 31, 2019 CPSC; New Port Sales Recalls All-Gloo Craft Glue Due to Failure to Meet Child Resistant Closure Requirements; Poison Hazard to Children

* information from Consumer Product Safety Commission

Car Seat Safety- Puffy Jackets

Best Pool Fence Colors for AZ

Arizona's ONLY Certified Professional Childproofer - Dustin Dastrup

12 Days of Safety Tips

Child Safety and Protection Month

Important Dates

CHILD SAFETY & PROTECTION MONTH 
11/7  Infant Protection Day
11/13 World Kindness Day
11/20 Universal Children's Day
11/28 Thanksgiving

Holiday season has arrived and so has cool weather, busy schedules, and traveling for some! With all of the great things going on this time of year, it is important to keep child safety and protection in mind. This month's newsletter will focus on some things to help keep your kiddos protected this holiday season, as well as any other time! Arizona Childproofers has been keeping busy with all things child safety by attending the ABC Kids Expo and International Association For Child Safety Conference, so check our Facebook for neat new products and current expert information on in-home safety! 

CHECK that your CAR SEAT is
INSTALLED CORRECTLY

• Over time your car seat can move from where it was originally installed.
• You should frequently check that your car seat is still installed correctly by adjust the straps to make sure that it moves no more than 1 inch. 
• As your child grows, check your car seat manual to make sure your car seat is installed to the appropriate weight/height and age. 

Child Safety & Protection Links

1. The National Fire Protection Association has valuable planning tips, as well as other resources to help your family develop an EMERGENCY ESCAPE PLAN in case of a fire.
2. all4kids.org has compiled a list of important information around household safety, infant safety, outdoor safety, and water safety to keep your children safe and protected.
3. Three practical ways to talk to kids about stranger danger are highlighted on PARENTS.COM:
• Choose your words with care.
• Plan ahead.
• Teach them to trust their instincts.

Thanksgiving Holiday Safety Tips

The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day are among the busiest of the year. Families are planning trips to visit relatives, searching for thoughtful gifts, preparing special meals and many other tasks to make the holidays the most wonderful time of the year.
In the next few fast-paced weeks, it is easy to be so busy that we forget some safety basics.

Have you ever gone to an event....where you are bringing a hot casserole or other yummy dish.  You keep it hot and place it on the floor and while driving you have to quickly stop!  Now that yummy dish is all over the floor or seat!  Well, that wasn’t in the plan!

• Make sure to properly place items (especially really hot foods) in the trunk of a vehicle to avoid potential injury and also distraction from the road.
• Remember, just one distracted moment can cause far greater harm than a ruined meal.
• Taking a moment to remember simple safety tips can help keep your holidays safe and your memories joyous and fun.

Seven Tips for Safe Holiday Travel from Safe Kids Worldwide and General Motors

• Remember to buckle up every ride, every time, whether it’s the long trip to visit family or around the block to the mall. 
• Shopping center parking lots are busier during the holidays. Watch out for distracted pedestrians and drivers who may not be paying attention to you, especially when backing out of parking spaces.
• For parents of teens, remind them to be extra alert during this holiday season, when conditions are more challenging even for experienced drivers.
• Commit to keeping your electronics out of your hand. No text message or playlist is worth the risk.
• If you are headed to a party and plan to drink alcohol, designate a driver or use a car service to make sure you get home safely.
• Expect the unexpected. You never know when you have to stop abruptly, so keep hot foods, large gifts and anything that can become a projectile in the trunk.
• Remember when traveling in large groups, all vehicle occupants need their own seat belt or car seat, even for short rides.

TIPs on TIP-overs

Safe Sleep for Baby

Water Safety Tips from American Red Cross

Another Meaning to Dishwasher Safe!

Smart Dog! - Baby Proofing Funnies

Steps for Finding the Right Car Seat

SIDS, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month

Important Dates

SIDS AWARENESS MONTH
PREGNANCY AND INFANT LOSS AWARENESS MONTH
10/9 - 10/15 Baby Loss Awareness Week
10/13 Breast Cancer Awareness Day
10/19 AzAAP Speak up for Kids: Heroes Unite! Event Free at Heritage Square
10/31 Halloween



It's FALL YA'LL!

October can be an exciting time for children and adults alike!  The weather is cooling down, spooky decorations are being put up, and kids are deciding on their costumes and dreaming of sugar! This month's blog is providing some trick-or-treating tips for a fun and safe night to remember. We are also raising awareness about SIDS and how to reduce the risk. We hope this information helps you and keeps your little pumpkins safe.  




According to Safe to Sleep, 

• SIDS is a sudden and silent medical disorder that can happen to an infant who seems healthy.
• SIDS is sometimes called "crib death" or "cot death" because it is associated with the time when the baby is sleeping. Cribs themselves don't cause SIDS, but the baby's sleep environment can influence sleep-related causes of death.
• SIDS is the leading cause of death among babies between 1 month and 1 year of age.
• About 1,360 babies died of SIDS in 2017, the last year for which such statistics are available.
• Most SIDS deaths happen in babies between 1 month and 4 months of age, and the majority (90%) of SIDS deaths happen before a baby reaches 6 months of age. However, SIDS deaths can happen anytime during a baby's first year.

Ways to Help Protect your Baby from SIDS

1. Ensure the crib is properly assembled.
2. Always place baby on their back to sleep.
3. Remove everything from the crib other than the mattress and fitted sheets (i.e. stuffed animals, pillows, blankets and bumpers.)
4. Use a firm mattress.
5. Do not overdress your baby when they sleep. 
6. Use a sleep sack, not sheets.
7. Baby sharing parents room for at least the first 6 months can reduce the risk of SIDS.
8. Baby should not sleep with other infants in the crib or in a bed/on a couch with adults.
9. Keep a pollutant/ smoke-free room. 
10. Breastfeeding or using expressed milk for the first 6 months can reduce the risk of SIDS.
11. Limit baby's exposure to persons who have colds or other respiratory infections.

      

Halloween Safety Tips

BEFORE YOU LEAVE

•  EAT A HEALTHY MEAL 
•  REVIEW the safety rules (see below)      
•  DO a safety check on the costumes to be sure everything works, there are no tripping hazards and if  wearing a mask the child can see forward and sideways

HALLOWEEN NIGHT SAFETY RULES

• NO running      
• Stay with the group 
• KIDS UNDER 12 should 'Trick or Treat' and cross streets  with an adult at corners and crosswalks. 
• Establish a route you will be going on   
• Stay on the sidewalk, do not dart into the street 
•  LOOK BOTH WAYS before crossing the street   
•  WATCH FOR CARS turning or backing up.   
•  Stop at only familiar houses and only those with a porch light on.      
•  NEVER go inside a house to get a treat, stay on the porch       
•  Don't play near lit Jack 'O Lanterns
•  No eating candy till you get home and check it    

CANDY

•   Try to get reflective candy bags or buckets to make kids more visible
•   INSPECT all candy BEFORE your child eats even one piece                       
  • Toss candy with faded wrappers,  with holes or tears or no wrapper at all
  • Remove candy that can be a choking hazard especially for those under 3 years old 
• DO NOT eat food products - from people you don't know, set aside and discard later
• LIMIT the amount of candy your child eats to avoid a  tummy ache
• Keep the candy up and out of the way

DRIVING

• SLOW DOWN... especially in residential  neighborhoods
• BE ALERT! Children are excited on Halloween 
• TAKE EXTRA TIME to look at intersections, medians, and curbs
• Enter and exit driveways or alleys carefully and slowly
• ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS inside your car - be hyper vigilant
• Turn headlights on early to see children sooner

DO NOT drink and drive.  DO NOT talk on the phone or text and drive. WATCH for kids!

RECALLS:
September 30, 2019 NHTSA; WAYB is recalling certain WAYB Pico child restraints manufactured between May 1 and May 12, 2019, because the aluminum tubular frame of the restraint’s headrest can break, allowing the headrest to detach. Units: About 4,558.
September 26, 2019 CPSC; ASKO Recalls its dishwashers because their power cord can overheat, posing a fire hazard. Units: About 26,600 (an additional 4,300 sold in Canada).
September 24, 2019 CPSC; Home Meridian recalls its Mid-Century three-drawer chests because they are unstable if not anchored to a wall, posing tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in death or injuries to children. Units: About 640.
September 19, 2019 CPSC; Exploding Kittens recalls the Safety Goggles sold with its Throw Throw Burrito Extreme Going Pro Edition Dodgeball Card Game sets because the goggles contain glass lenses, posing a laceration hazard if shattered. Units: About 10,500 (an additional 735 sold in Canada).
September 10, 2019 CPSC; Healing Solutions recalls its Wintergreen and Birch 100 Percent Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils because the bottles are not child-resistant as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act, posing a poisoning risk if the contents are swallowed by young children. Units: About 32,000.
September 10, 2019 CPSC; Ragdoll & Rockets recalls its children’s loungewear because it fails to meet the flammability standards for children’s sleepwear, posing a risk of burn injuries to children. Units: About 14,100.
September 5, 2019 CPSC; Walker Edison Furniture recalls its children’s bunk beds because the beds’ support boards can break, posing fall and injury hazards. Units: About 1,200.
September 4, 2019 CPSC; Artizen Oils recalls its Wintergreen and Birch 100 Percent Pure & Natural Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils because the bottles are not child-resistant as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act, posing a poisoning risk if the contents are swallowed by young children. Units: About 6,000.
September 3, 2019 CPSC; The Beaufort Bonnet Company recalls its Handmade Knit Dolls because a sewing needle was discovered in the stuffing of one of the dolls, posing a puncture injury hazard. Units: About 4,500.

* information from Safe Kids

AZ Sleep Tee Pee ' TEEPEE TALK' Episode with Arizona Childproofers

Good People Doing Good Things in CO. - SIDS AWARENESS

Arizona's Family Home Safety Experts

Baby Gates are Pretty Great!

DOs and DON'Ts of Infant Car Seat Use

It's Fall Y'all! Remember the ABCs of Water Safety!

Car Seat Tips

Rear-Facing Car Seats for Infants and Toddlers

Simple Steps to Register your Car Seat plus TIPS!

CARPOOL! Not car.. pool...

Baby into Cabinets? Stop, Drop, and Lock it.

Child Passenger Safety Stages

No Decking, No Problem!

Flippin' Easy Childproofing

Friday Funny- Unique Baby Proofing

Baby Safety Month

Important Dates

BABY SAFETY MONTH

9/15 - 9/21 Child Passenger Safety Week
9/21 National Seat Check Saturday
9/23 - 9/30 Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week

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 newsletter 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 blog. You can also check CPSC.gov for past and present recalls.

RECALLS:

July 31, 2019 CPSC; Dorel Juvenile Group USA Recalls Inclined Sleepers Due to Safety Concerns About Inclined Sleep Products Units: About 24,000

August 1, 2019 CPSC; Super Jumper Recalls Trampolines Due to Fall and Injury Hazards Units: About 23,000 (In addition, 860 in Canada)

August 20, 2019 CPSC; Crate and Barrel Recalls Push Walkers Due to Choking and Laceration Hazards  Units: About 1,500

August 20, 2019 CPSC; SAMpark Recalls Children’s Pajamas Due to Violation of Federal Flammability Standard Units: About 185

August 29, 2019 CPSC; Pearhead Recalls Ubbi Connecting Bath Toys Due To Choking Hazard. Units: About 6,200

August 30, 2019 CPSC; RH Recalls Children’s Chairs and Stools Due to Violation of Federal Lead Paint Ban. Units: About 3,200 (In addition, about 180 were sold in Canada) 

  * information from Consumer Product Safety Commisision

National Safety Council- Child Passenger Safety

Baby Safety Game by JPMA

Happy Labor Day!

Have a HAPPY and SAFE Saturday!

Car Seat Accessory NO NOs

Layers of Protection

Childproofing- Outlet Covers

Arizona Childproofers BID RED on the Move!

They don't make 'em like they used to... THANKFULLY- Vintage Car Seat 1952

Near-Drowning in Gilbert

ABCs of Water Safety- Barriers

Childproofing Washers, Dryers, and the Laundry Room

Babes on a Plane

100 Years of Weird Parenting Advice

Car Seats Save Lives

Drowning Impact Awareness Month

Important Dates

DROWNING IMPACT AWARENESS MONTH

8/1 - International Friendship Day
8/12 -  International Youth Day
8/17/19  - Water Safety Expo in Tuscon

It's time to go back to school but it still feels like summer, so continue to stay safe around water. This month's blog is focused on drowning impact awareness and portable flotation devices that could save your child's life if they fall into water. Awareness and prevention are key to avoiding this tragedy.

Puddle Jumpers

Puddle Jumpers are a great flotation device for beginning swimmers as the design allows children to lie on their bellies and practice arm strokes and kicks without the worry of sinking. However, this same design can also be very dangerous children under 30 lbs and not able to hold themselves up in the water. If a child is not able to control their body weight, they will end up on their back with their head being forced underwater by the flotation device. Please ALWAYS check all flotation devices for Coast Guard Approved.  There are Puddle Jumper knock-offs and other flotation devices that are not Coast Guard Approved that you should be wary of. Always use the correct weight requirements and usage. This a very popular product, so we urge caution on the side of safety when purchasing or using it and any other flotation device.

Portable Flotation Devices

The following list explains the types of PFD’s and what they are recommended by the US Coast Guards to be used for and when they are required.

Type I PFDs – Off-shore life jackets: best devices for all waters, open ocean, rough seas or remote water where rescue may be slow in coming. 

Type II PFDs – Near-shore buoyant vests: for general boating activities, calm inland waters or where there is a good chance for fast rescue.

Type III PFDs – Flotation aids: For general boating or specialized activity that is marked on the device (such as water skiing, canoeing, kayaking, hunting etc.). 

Type IV PFDs – Throwable devices: designed to be thrown to persons in distress. Often includes boat seat cushions, ring buoys and horseshoe buoys. 

Type V PFDs – Special use and condition devices: typically labeled with their limits of use. Commonly used for canoeing/kayaking, boardsailing, deck suits, work vests for commercial vessels and man over-board situations and law enforcement. Also included in this classification are hybrid inflatables. Hybrid inflatables are deflated devices and can be inflated on demand. These devices can have a buoyancy of between 22 and 34 lbs.

An important part of having and using a PFD is the fit. It should fit comfortably and snug. It is important to try it on before use. It should not ride up your body. To test whether the it has the correct buoyancy for your weight, when lying on your back in water and relaxing, the PFD should keep your chin well above water. If it does not, a device with higher buoyancy is needed.

*Information from www.grainger.com

Cord Hazards