January 2023

Important Dates

1/1  The New Year is Here!
1/4  World Braille Day
1/11 Human Trafficking Awareness Day
1/16 Martin Luther King Jr. Day
1/18 Museum Selfie Day
1/23 National Pie Day
1/27 Holocaust Memorial Day
1/31 National Hot Chocolate Day

Happy New Year! If you're still trying to think of a resolution, consider making a safer environment for your kiddos IT! We all get busy and sometimes safety falls down our list of priorities. Make this year the year to put safety at the top of your list! This month's blog will focus on some general child safety tips to start 2021 off right... and SAFE!

January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month

Planning how to take care of your health conditions before you become pregnant can help keep you and your developing baby healthy!

Tips from nbdpn.org (National Birth Defects Prevention Network)

• Protect yourself and your baby by getting your flu shot every year! 
• Try to be your healthiest self before & during. Be sure to take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day. 
• What is best for you is also best for your baby. Stop using harmful substances during pregnancy (including & tobacco) to avoid harmful effects on your baby.

For New Parents

For babies under 1 year old, remember BARE IS BEST! (No bumpers, blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, or stringy toys in the crib).

Following the ABCs of Sleep Safety will help reduce the risk of SIDS for your brand new little:

 Alone- Baby should sleep alone whether it be in a crib, bassinet, pack n' play, etc. It is recommended that they sleep in the parent's bedroom for up to the first year, but in their own sleeping vessel.

 Back- Baby needs to sleep on their back, not their stomach or their side. Research shows that this is the safest way for newborns to sleep. 

 Crib- Baby needs an empty crib with just a firm mattress and tight-fitting sheet only. Bumpers, blankets, pillows, and toys are all potential suffocation hazards. 

 Smoke/ Pollutant Free- Baby needs smoke/pollutant free areas. Babies exposed to smoke have a higher risk of SIDS.

Some cute, SAFE nursery alternatives are: fun decals over baby's crib and changing table, cute crib sheets, modern, minimalist furniture that is at least 3 feet away from crib and anchored to wall, and mount baby monitor on wall corner or on furniture 3 feet away from crib and cover with cord molding so it is safe and not an eyesore.

 

General Home Safety Tips

1.    Check/ replace batteries on smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

2.    Create/ review your home's fire plan and have a fire extinguishers in the kitchen and bedrooms

3.    Lower water heater temperature to 120 degrees F to avoid potential scalding

4.    Add layers of protections such as alarms/ locks on doors and windows with access to your pool and a pool barrier around the pool itself

5.    Check that your car seat is still properly installed as it can loosen over time and make sure you are using the proper seat and direction of the seat based on the manual and your child's height or weight

6.    Put away all toxic/ harmful products (medicine, alcohol, batteries, chemicals, etc.) up high and in a locked cabinet

7.    Create a plan for stranger danger and talk to your kiddos about what to do when approached by a stranger or what to do if someone tries to take them

RECALLS:

RECALLS

December 12, 2022 FDA; Detect Inc. recalled its Covid-19 Test because the tests from lot numbers HB264, HY263, and HY264 may give false negative results.

December 12, 2022 CPSC; A1En USA recalled Art of Green laundry detergent products because they contain bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. People with weakened immune systems or external medical devices face a risk of serious infection if exposed to these bacteria. Units: About 14,550.

December 8, 2022 CPSC; The Life is Good Company recalled its Fall 2022 Darkest Blue Fleece Women’s Sweatshirts and Men’s Shorts because the clothing fails to meet flammability standards for clothing textiles, posing a risk of burn injuries to consumers. Units: About 750.

December 8, 2022 CPSC; Ortal recalled its Traditional 90 and 110 Gas Fireplaces because the improper installation of the fireplaces can lead to problems with heat and/pr ventilation, posing a fire hazard. Units: About 400.

December 8, 2022 CPSC; 3M recalled its Scotch TL1302 Thermal Laminators because a safety feature can malfunction if the laminator overheats, posing a fire hazard. Units: About 516,500 (an additional 3,560 in Canada).

December 1, 2022 CPSC; eWheels recalled its Gotway and Begode unicycles’s because the lithium-ion batteries can ignite, posing a fire hazard. Units: About 500.

December 1, 2022 CPSC; Conair recalled its Cuisinart Compact Blender & Juice Extractor Combos Model CBJ-450 because the nut holding the blender blade assembly can loosen and detach from the base when in use, posing a laceration hazard if a consumer comes in contact with a loose blade. Units: About 66,000 (an additional ~1,500 in Canada).

December 1, 2022 CPSC; JBR solutions recalled its Aduro surge protectors because they contain incorrect polarization and poorly soldered connections, posing shock and fire hazards. Units: About 51,750.

December 1, 2022 CPSC; Target recalled its Cloud Island 4-Piece Plush Toy Sets because the tires on the toy vehicles can detach, posing a choking hazard to children. Units: About 23,400.

December 1, 2022 CPSC; HABA USA recalled its Discovery Cubes Animal Hide and Seek Activity Toy because the seam on the toy’s house can open, allowing a young child access to the toy’s filling, posing choking and ingestion hazards if placed in the mouth. Units: About 800.

December 1, 2022 CPSC; American Honda recalled its 2022 model year Honda TRX90X ATVs because the vehicle’s throttle cable can get stuck, posing crash and injury hazards. Units: About 2,900.

December 1, 2022 CPSC; The Laundress recalled its laundry and household cleaning products because they contain bacteria, including Burkholderia cepacia complex, Klebsiella aerogenes and multiple different species of Pseudomonas, posing a risk of serious infection to people with weakened immune systems, external medical devices, and underlying lung conditions. Units: About 8 million. 

November 28, 2022 NHTSA; JD E-Commerce recalled certain Marainbow Portable Infant Safe Seat child seats because the installation labels display incorrect instructions and the child seat’s design prohibits its from being installed properly, posing a risk of serious injury to children.

November 23, 2022 CPSC; Bentex recalled its Children’s clothing sets because the textile ink painted on the clothing sets contains levels of lead that exceed the federal lead paint ban, posing a lead poisoning hazard and causing adverse health issues if ingested by young children. Units: About 87,000.

November 23, 2022 CPSC; Indigo Books & Music recalled its Indigo branded Papa Bear and Mama Bear Mugs because they can crack or break when filled with hot liquid, posing burn and laceration hazards. Units: About 270 (an additional ~29,232 in Canada).

November 23, 2022 CPSC; Green Sprouts recalled its Stainless Steel Straw Bottles, Sippy Cups and Sip & Straw Cups because the bottom base can break off, exposing a solder dot that contain lead, posing a lead poisoning hazard to the child. Units: About 10,500.

* information from Consumer Product Safety Commission