What are you doing to stay safe this summer?

 

Important Dates

National Safety Month

6/3 World Bicycle Day

6/4 -6/10 National Trailer Safety Week

6/5 World Environment Day

6/17 Eat Your Vegetables Day

6/16 Take A Road Trip Day

6/18 Father's Day

6/18-6/24- National Lightning Safety Awareness Week

6/19  National Ride to Work Day

  

The summer months tend to bring about different or heightened safety hazards. Kids are out of school, people are traveling, it's getting hot, and we are heading toward firework season. This month's safety blog focuses on how to be safe in a variety of areas. Within it, you will find some helpful tips on road safety, firework safety, stranger danger, and hot car safety.  As always last month's product safety RECALLS are at the bottom.

According to Wikipedia, "National Safety Month (NSM) is an annual month-long observance in the United States each June.

During National Safety Month, individuals and organizations participate by making efforts to reduce the leading causes of unintentional injury and death at work, on the road, and in homes and communities."

Road Safety Tips

• Teach your children how to cross a road safely:
  • Find a safe place to cross, then stop.
  • Look right, left, right and listen for vehicles.
  • If traffic is coming, wait for it to pass.
  • Walk straight across the road.
  • Keep looking and listening for traffic while you cross.
• Your child will learn about pedestrian safety by watching you, so use safe behavior around cars, roads and car parks.
• Take advantage of car seat checks and events to make sure your car seat is properly installed for long trips and in case of an accident.

• Some general driving tips to keep you and your family safe on the road from Safety.com:
  1. Buckle up.
  2. Put down the cell phone.
  3. Use the left lane for passing.
  4. Get up to speed on the acceleration ramp.
  5. Carefully get out of your vehicle after an accident.
  6. Don't drive too closely.
  7. Watch your speed.
  8. Let it go. Avoid road rage.
  9. Be considerate of tractor trailer drivers.
  10. Drive defensively. Watch out for other drivers.
  11. Take breaks over long stretches.
  12. Drive according to weather conditions.
  13. Do NOT drive under the influence.

Firework Safety Tips

Firework safety advice from KidsHealth.org

• The safest way to enjoy fireworks is at a professional display.
• It's best to stay away from areas where nonprofessionals are setting off fireworks.
• Fireworks can cause serious eye injuries, including blindness and starting fires, be cautious.

• Only adults should light fireworks.
• Never use fireworks indoors.
• Be prepared to put out a fire by having a hose or water nearby.
• Light fireworks one at a time.
• Stay away from a firework that has not gone off and never try to relight it.
• Sparklers may seem less dangerous than fireworks, but they get extremely hot — as hot as 1,800°F (982°C), use caution.

Stranger Danger Safety Tips

Have frequent discussions with your children about stranger danger. Teach them:

• Always tell you or their parents where they are going.
• Try not to walk anywhere alone.
• Don't take shortcuts through the woods, a back street or empty lot.
• Bad people do not always look mean or scary.
• Do not get close to strangers.
  • Make sure they have room to run.
• Don’t tell their name or address to a stranger.
• Never go with a stranger to help look for a lost pet or play a game.
• Never get into a car with anyone they don’t know.

• If a stranger bothers them, run away and ask an adult for help.
• Know safe places they can go – a police or fire station, the library, a store or a friend’s house.
• If a stranger follows them or grabs for them, yell loud! 
  • Shout, “I don’t know you!”  Fight back and make as much noise as you can.
• If anyone touches them in a bad way, say,
  • “NO!”  Get away and tell an adult you trust.
  • Keep telling until someone listens.
• Tell you or their parents about places they don’t feel safe.
• Talk to you or their parents and come up with a secret code word.
  • Never go with anyone unless they know the secret code word.

If your children are old enough to stay home alone, review these tips with them:

• Know how and when to call 911.
• Never open the door to a stranger.
• Never tell anyone on the phone they are home alone.
• Never tell any callers their name, number, or address.
• Hang up right away if they do not like what someone is saying on the phone.

Hot Car Safety Tips

In 2022, 33 children died in hot cars. Use these tips to help prevent a tragedy like this.

• A child's body heats up three to five times faster than an adult's does.
• A child can die when his temperature reaches 107 degrees F.
• Cars heat up quickly! In just 10 minutes, a car can heat up 20 degrees F.
• Cracking a window and/or air conditioning does little to keep it cool once the car is turned off.
• Heatstroke can happen when the outside temperature is as low as 57 degrees F.

• Some ways to prevent hot car deaths:
  1. Look in the backseat before you lock your car and leave.
  2. Keep something you need (like a cellphone, purse, ID badge, left shoe) in the backseat so you will have to look in the back seat.
  3. Travel with a stuffed animal or something obvious in your passenger seat to remind you that their is a child in the backseat.
  4. Always lock the car when not using it, even in the garage, so that kids can't get in and overheat.
  5. Put keys and fobs up and away from children so they cannot get into cars without your supervision and overheat. 
  6. Make a plan with your childcare provider to check in with you if your child does show up.
  7. If you see something, do something:

     • If the child is not responsive or is in pain, immediately:

       • Call 911.

       • Get the child out of the car.

       • Spray the child with cool water (not in an ice bath).

     • If the child is responsive:

       • Stay with the child until help arrives.

       • Have someone else search for the driver or ask the facility to page them.

“The biggest mistake people make is thinking it can’t happen to them,” Fennell says.

RECALLS:

May 25, 2023 CPSC; The Good and the Beautiful recalled its Math 1 and Math 3 Boxes with metallic whiteboards because the whiteboard attached to the boxes can become detached exposing sharp edges, posing a laceration hazard. Units: About 103,200 (an additional ~ 1,820 in Canada).

May 25, 2023 CPSC; Bunch Bikes recalled its Preschool Electric Bicycles because the paint on the recalled electric bikes contains levels of lead that exceed the federal lead paint ban, posing a risk of lead poisoning and adverse heath issues if ingested by young children. Units: About 150.

May 25, 2023 CPSC; Juratoys recalled its Janod Sweet Cocoon Activity Tables because the table contains a silver metal bell which can detach from its metal arch, posing a choking hazard to young children. Units: About 5,080 (an additional ~1,030 in Canada).

May 18, 2023 FDA; Novis PR LLC recalled its G-Supress DX Pediatric Drops because some cartons of the product have been found to contain an incorrect product, an anesthetic/analgesic instead of cough suppressant, expectorant, and nasal decongestant drops. The incorrect product puts children at risk of serious adverse events, including alcohol toxicity.

May 18, 2023 CPSC; Empower Brands recalled its PowerXL Stuffed Wafflizer waffle makers because hot pieces of the waffle or stuffing can be expelled from the waffle maker during use or upon opening the product, posing a burn risk to consumers. Units: About 456,000.

May 18, 2023 CPSC; Target recalled its Threshold Glass Jar Candles because the jar can crack or break during use, posing laceration and burn hazards. Units: About 4.9 million.

May 18, 2023 CPSC; Kell Electronic recalled its Personal Chiller Mini Fridge Gamer Beverage Refrigerators with LED Lights because the power cord can overheat, posing a burn hazard. Units: About 25,000.

May 18, 2023 CPSC; Cycle Force recalled its Ventura Adult Bike Helmets because they do not comply with the positional stability requirement of the CPSC federal safety standard for bicycle helmets, posing a risk of head injury. Units: About 1,750.

May 18, 2023 CPSC; DKB Household recalled its Cole & Mason 505WEG Pepper Mills exclusively sold at Wegmans Food Markets because the pepper mills contain a metal grinding mechanism that lets off metal “shards” for the first 10 grinds, posing a laceration hazard. Units: About 9,340.

May 18, 2023 CPSC; Acme United recalled its PhysiciansCare Allergy, Allergy Plus and Cold and Cough Tablets because the products contain diphenhydramine hydrochloride and acetaminophen but is not child resistant, posing a risk of poisoning if the contents are swallowed by young children. Units: About 2,400.

May 11, 2023 CPSC; Peloton recalled its Peloton Bikes Model PL01 because the bike’s seat post assembly can break during use, posing fall and injury hazards to the user. Units: About 2.2 million.

May 11, 2023 CPSC; American Woodmark recalled its Continental Cabinets and Hampton Bay Kitchen Wall Cabinets because the cabinets can detach from the wall, posing an impact hazard. Units: About 235,000.

May 11, 2023 CPSC; Advanced EV recalled its Advent 4F, Advent 4FL, Advent 6 and Advent 6L golf carts because the cart’s front seat can become loose due to missing rubber grommets, posing fall and injury hazards to operators and/or passengers. Units: About 2,500.

May 10, 2023 FDA; BearCare recalled its rechargeable Walnut Wearable Smart Thermometer intended for chest temperature monitoring  of children ages 0-6 because they have received consumer complaints of minor to severe skin burns and skin irritation in children.

May 5, 2023 FDA; SD Biosensor, Inc. recalled its Pilot COVID-19 At-Home Tests because they potentially contain harmful bacteria, posing a risk of serious illness if the user is directly exposed to the liquid in the tube through misuse or spillage could potentially lead to serious illness.

May 4, 2023 FDA; Family Dollar recalled its Advil over-the-counter drug products because they were stored by Family Dollar outside of labeled temperature requirements.

May 4, 2023 FDA; Akorn updated its recall of various human and animal drug products because the company has ceased and shut down all operations, including the quality program to assure that products meet the identity, strength, quality, and purity standards.

May 4, 2023 CPSC; Positec recalled its Blue Ridge Utility Knives because the knife can become unlocked and the blade can protrude only while in the original packaging, posing a laceration hazard. Units: About 36,250.

May 4, 2023 CPSC; The Company Store recalled its Children’s white robes because they fail to meet the federal flammability standards for children’s sleepwear, posing a risk of burn injuries to children. Units: About 930.

May 4, 2023 CPSC; CultureFly recalled its L.O.L. Surprise! Trick or Treat subscription boxes sold with Metal Doll Pins because the paint on the pins contains levels of lead that exceed the federal lead paint ban, posing a lead poisoning hazard. Units: About 6,600.

May 4, 2023 CPSC; ODL recalled its Severe Weather Doorglass Inserts because the adhesive bond holding the doorglass inserts can become separates from the door causing a risk of injury and property damage from windborne debris. Units: About 39,100.

May 4, 2023 CPSC; Ricky Powersports recalled its Youth All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) because they fail to comply with mandatory requirements, including parking brake requirements and safety requirements of ATVs intended for children 10 years of age and older, posing a risk of serious injury or death. Units: About 570.

May 4, 2023 CPSC; Walker Edison Furniture recalled its Twin Over Twin Bunk Beds because the wooden slats supporting the bunk beds can break while in use, posing fall and impact hazards. Units: About 121,000. 

May 4, 2023 NHTSA; Baby Trend, Inc. recalled its Hybrid 3-in-1 Combination Booster Seat-Desert Blue child seats because the latch assembly webbing that secures the child restraint system to the lower anchorages may fray, which can reduce the strength of the webbing and fail to properly restrain a child in a crash. Units: About 2,600.

More Signs of Drowning

 More signs of drowning to watch for when people are in the water – no Matter the age of the person:

When children are playing….the water makes noise

When they get quiet, you get to them and find out why.

•  Head is low in the water, mouth at water level
• Head tilted back with mouth open
• Eyes are glassy and empty, unable to focus
• Eyes closed
• Hair over forehead or eyes
• Not using legs—in vertical position
• Hyperventilating or gasping
• Trying to swim in a particular direction but not making headway
• Trying to roll over on the back
• Appear to be climbing an invisible ladder
• Cannot respond to you when you ask if they are OK
• Quiet

So if you are on a boat and a person falls overboard and everything looks OK—don’t be too sure.  If a child in the pool seems to be just treading water…call out to see if they are OK….if they can answer….they probably are.  Sometimes the most common indication that someone is drowning is that they don’t look like they’re drowning. They may just look like they are treading water and looking up at the deck or sky.  

REMEMBER: One way to be sure? Ask them, “Are you all right?” If they can answer at all—they probably are.

 If they return a blank stare, you may have less than 30 seconds to get to them.

Don’t think that just because a child has had swim lessons and swims like a fish, or the pool is full of teens or adults that you do not need to watch them.  5 children have died already in Arizona this year so far, more than we have had in years past.

REMEMBER:  The ABC’s of Pool Safety!  ALWAYS ACTIVE Adult Supervision:   BARRIER..have a pool fence with a Self-Locking/Self-Latching Gate and never swim without a BUDDY:  CLASSES…Swim and CPR Classes for all.

To save lives it takes everyone to be on the watch.  Don’t expect the person next you is watching or knows what to look for.  If we each make it our responsibility and, not the other person’s, lives will not be lost!  Let us all make a difference!

HAPPY AND SAFE SWIMMING TO ALL

For More Information on Pool and Water Safety, Pool Fences and Childproofing Contact

Arizona Childproofers at 480-634-7366

info@azchildproofers.com

www.azchildproofers.com

Sources:

www.azchildproofers.com

www.kidsafepoolfences.com

www.exquisitepoolfence.com

Mario Vittone’s blog. 

THE INSTINCTIVE DROWNING RESPONSE

 

            What is “The Instinctive Drowning Response?”  The term coined by Francesco A. Pia, Ph.D is what people do to avoid drowning or perceive suffocation in the water.  It is almost silent:  Very little splashing , No waving, No yelling or calls for help.

Consider this to understand just how quiet and undramatic from the surface drowning can be:

a.       Drowning is the # 2 cause of accidental death in children, ages 14 and under (just behind vehicle accidents)—

b.     Approximately 750 children who will drown next year, about 375 of them will do so within 25 yards of a parent or other adult. 

c.      In some of the 750 drownings, the adult will actually watch the child do it, having no idea it is happening.

d.     Drowning does not look like drowning

            Dr. Pia, in an article in the Coast Guard’s On Scene magazine, described the Instinctive Drowning Response like this:

1.      “Except in rare circumstances, drowning people are physiologically unable to call out for help. The respiratory system was designed for breathing. Speech is the secondary or overlaid function. Breathing must be fulfilled before speech occurs.

2.      Drowning people’s mouths alternately sink below and reappear above the surface of the water. The mouths of drowning people are not above the surface of the water long enough for them to exhale, inhale, and call out for help. When the drowning people’s mouths are above the surface, they exhale and inhale quickly as their mouths start to sink below the surface of the water.

3.      Drowning people cannot wave for help. Nature instinctively forces them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the water’s surface. Pressing down on the surface of the water permits drowning people to leverage their bodies so they can lift their mouths out of the water to breathe.

4.      Throughout the Instinctive Drowning Response, drowning people cannot voluntarily control their arm movements. Physiologically, drowning people who are struggling on the surface of the water cannot stop drowning and perform voluntary movements such as waving for help, moving toward a rescuer, or reaching out for a piece of rescue equipment.

5.      From beginning to end of the Instinctive Drowning Response people’s bodies remain upright in the water, with no evidence of a supporting kick. Unless rescued by a trained lifeguard, these drowning people can only struggle on the surface of the water from 20 to 60 seconds before submersion occurs.”

            Not always when a person is yelling for help and thrashing are they in real trouble….they could be experiencing aquatic distress.  Aquatic distress is not always present before the Instinctive Drowning Response and aquatic distress doesn’t last long – BUT – unlike true drowning, these victims can still assist in their own rescue.  They can grab lifelines, throw rings, etc.  Knowing about water Safety and Pool Safety can and will save lives.

For more information about Water Safety, Pool Safety and Pool Fences contact:

Arizona Childproofers at 480-634-7366

info@azchildproofers.com

www.azchildproofers.com

Sources:

www.azchildproofers.com

www.Kidsafepoolfences.com

www.ExquisitePoolfence.com

http://mariovittone.com/

Don't Fry Day

Don't Fry Day is observed annually on the Friday before Memorial Day in the United States, and it is a day to raise awareness about the importance of sun safety and skin cancer prevention. The goal of this day is to encourage people to protect themselves from the harmful effects of the sun's rays.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, and it is primarily caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. However, it is also one of the most preventable types of cancer, and taking steps to protect your skin from the sun can help reduce your risk.

To protect yourself from the harmful effects of the sun's rays, follow these sun safety tips:

Wear protective clothing: Cover up with long-sleeved shirts, pants, and wide-brimmed hats.

Use sunscreen: Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to all exposed skin, and reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or sweating.

Seek shade: Avoid spending time in direct sunlight during peak hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

Wear sunglasses: Protect your eyes from UV radiation by wearing sunglasses with UV protection.

Check your skin: Regularly check your skin for any unusual moles or changes, and see a dermatologist if you notice anything concerning.

By following these sun safety tips, you can help protect your skin from the harmful effects of the sun's rays and reduce your risk of skin cancer.

480-634-7366   www.azchildproofers.com

Childproofing, Pool Fences, Car Seat Safety, Community Education

How can I help keep my kids safe outside when they play?

CAN YOU TELL WHEN SOMEONE IS DROWING???

 

Arizona Childproofers wants EVERYONE to be safe in the water.  Drowning can happen in a pool at a home OR a friends house, in a public pool, at the beach or at the lake.  Drowning can happen anywhere there is water.  The more aware we are of what to do, what to watch for, and how to react, the more lives will be saved.

Below is an excerpt for a blog written by Mario Vittone

The new captain jumped from the deck, fully dressed, and sprinted through the water. A former lifeguard, he kept his eyes on his victim as he headed straight for the couple swimming between their anchored sportfisher and the beach. “I think he thinks you’re drowning,” the husband said to his wife. They had been splashing each other and she had screamed but now they were just standing, neck-deep on the sand bar. “We’re fine; what is he doing?” she asked, a little annoyed. “We’re fine!” the husband yelled, waving him off, but his captain kept swimming hard. ”Move!” he barked as he sprinted between the stunned owners. Directly behind them, not 10 feet away, their 9-year-old daughter was drowning. Safely above the surface in the arms of the captain, she burst into tears, “Daddy!”

How did this captain know—from 50 feet away—what the father could not recognize from just 10? Drowning is not the violent, splashing call for help that most people expect. The captain was trained to recognize drowning by experts and years of experience. The father, on the other hand, had learned what drowning looks like by watching television. If you spend time on or near the water (hint: that’s all of us) then you should make sure that you and your crew know what to look for whenever people enter the water. Until she cried a tearful, “Daddy,” she hadn’t made a sound. As a former Coast Guard rescue swimmer, I wasn’t surprised at all by this story. Drowning is almost always a deceptively quiet event. The waving, splashing, and yelling that dramatic conditioning (television) prepares us to look for is rarely seen in real life.

The Instinctive Drowning Response—so named by Francesco A. Pia, Ph.D., is what people do to avoid actual or perceived suffocation in the water. And it does not look like most people expect. There is very little splashing, no waving, and no yelling or calls for help of any kind. To get an idea of just how quiet and undramatic from the surface drowning can be, consider this: It is the No. 2 cause of accidental death in children, ages 15 and under (just behind vehicle accidents)—of the approximately 750 children who will drown next year, about 375 of them will do so within 25 yards of a parent or other adult. In some of those drownings, the adult will actually watch the child do it, having no idea it is happening.

Recognizing the signs of someone who is drowning is crucial in order to take quick action and potentially save their life. Here are some signs that someone may be drowning:

Silence: Contrary to what you may see in movies or TV shows, drowning is often a silent process. The person may not be able to yell or call for help.

Difficulty breathing: The person may be struggling to breathe, gasping for air or have their mouth at water level.

Vertical position: The person may be in a vertical position in the water with their head tilted back, which is an instinctive attempt to keep their mouth above the water surface.

Bobbing up and down: The person may appear to be bobbing up and down in the water and unable to stay afloat.

Glassy or closed eyes: The person may have glassy or closed eyes.

Hair in face: The person's hair may be covering their face, making it difficult for them to see or breathe.

Panic or confusion: The person may appear panicked or confused, and may be flailing their arms and legs.

Noisy breathing: The person may be making a "gurgling" or "gasping" sound.

If you suspect someone is drowning, it's important to act quickly and call for help. Never attempt to rescue someone without proper training or equipment, as this could put both you and the victim in danger.

For more information contact:

480-634-7366   www.azchildproofers.com

Childproofing, Pool Fences, Car Seat Safety, Community Education

Sources:

www.azchildproofers.com

www.kidsafepoolfences.com

www.exquisitepoolfence.com

http://mariovittone.com/