Drowning Impact Awareness Month 2021

 

August Safety Blog 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. Check out the eye health information and pedestrian safety tips as well!

According to Children's Safety Zone, "Back-to-school distractions in August make it a high risk month for child drowning. Drowning is a top cause of injury-related death for children in Arizona, especially the one to five year old age group. Every child drowning is preventable – but sometimes, little can be done for a child once he or she has fallen into the water.  Prevention is the cure, and awareness is free."

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

1 in 4 children has a vision problem. 80% of information children receive in the classroom is presented visually. It can also affect sports performance, inferring with hand-eye coordination, depth perception, and eye tracking ability. Make sure your child has an eye exam every year and keep this in mind if they are struggling in school.

SAFE SLEEP ENVIRONMENT - AZCP Safety Tips

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DON'T LEAVE TOYS IN THE POOL AREA - AZCP Safety Tips

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NO PRESSURE GATES AT STAIR TOP - AZCP Safety Tips

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PREVENT INJURY FROM STAIR FALLS - AZCP Safety Tips

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Brain Injury Awareness Month and National Poison Prevention Week 2021

 

Important Dates

Brain Injury Awareness Month
3/14 National Pi Day
3/15 National Napping Day
3/17  St. Patrick's Day
3/21 - 3/27 National Poison Prevention Week
3/19 National Certified Nurses Day
3/21 World Down Syndrome Day

We hope the month of March is filled with good luck, great fortune, and ZERO pinches for you and your families! However, when it comes to safety we can't depend on luck. So, this month's safety blog will focus on ways to keep your little ones safe from potential hazards that may lead to brain injury, such as falls, vehicle accidents and furniture tip-overs, as well as poison prevention safety tips.

Brain Injury Awareness Month

"Brain injury is the leading cause of disability and death in children and adolescents in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the two age groups at greatest risk for brain injury are age 0-4 and 15-19... In its 2004 Report to Congress, Traumatic Brain Injury in the United States: Emergency Department Visits, Hospitalizations, and Deaths, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes falls are the leading cause of TBI for children age 0-4." - Brain Injury Association of America

Traumatic Brain Injury Prevention

• CHILDPROOFING FOR FALLS
  • Install window guards/locks to keep children from falling out and getting injured. 
  • Install/use safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs to prevent small children from accessing the stairs and falling down them. Do NOT use pressure gates at the top of the stairs as they can shift out of place over time and become unstable.
  • Cover large railing gaps using plexiglass or mesh guards.
  • Make sure playgrounds have soft material under it, such as hardwood mulch or sand

• CAR SEAT SAFETY
  • Always secure your child in a car seat when traveling in a vehicle.
  • Buckle children in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of their car seat. Keep children rear-facing for as long as possible. Do not worry too much about if their legs are looking curled or uncomfortable as long as they fit their car seat and their head is safe.
  • When children outgrow their rear-facing car seat, they should be buckled into a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum height and weight limit of their car seat. DO not use/attach any accessories with the car seat that were not crash tested with that car seat. Accessories such as mirrors, play toys, etc. can become projectiles in an accident and cause injury to children in a car seat. 
  • When children outgrow their forward-facing car seat, they should be buckled into a booster seat until the vehicle's seat belt fits properly.

• FURNITURE ANCHORING
  • Anchor all large pieces of furniture with a heavy duty anchor. Avoid using the cheap, plastic latches that often come with the furniture.
  • Mount/ anchor all TVs. 
  • If the furniture is taller than it is deep, anchor it.
  • Not sure if your dresser need to be anchored? Pull out the drawers and apply 60 lbs. of pressure. If it moves at all, anchor it.

For more information visit anchorit.gov

Poison Prevention Tips

Keep your littles safe from poisons with this information from HRSA:

MEDICINES

• Keep all medicines, and potentially poisonous substances, in locked cabinets or out of the reach of children.
• Keep medicines in their original containers, properly labeled, and store them appropriately.
• Never share prescription medicines. If you are taking more than one drug at a time, check with your health care provider, pharmacist, or call the toll-free Poison Help line (1-800-222-1222), which connects you to your local poison center, to find out more about possible drug interactions.

CARBON MONOXIDE (CO)

• Have a working carbon monoxide detector in your home. The best places for a CO detector are near bedrooms and close to furnaces.

HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

• Keep all household cleaners and potentially poisonous substances in locked cabinets or out of the reach of children.
• Keep products in their original containers. 
• Do not use food containers (such as cups or bottles) to store household cleaners and other chemicals or products.
• Keep all laundry products locked up, high, and out of the reach of children.

CHEMICALS

• Keep all chemicals and potentially poisonous substances in locked cabinets or out of the reach of children.
• Keep antifreeze and all chemicals and household products in their original containers.
• Never mix household or chemical products together. Doing so can create a dangerous gas.

BACK TO SCHOOL AND ART SUPPLIES

• Some art products are mixtures of chemicals. They can be dangerous if not used correctly. Make sure children use art products safely by reading and following directions.
• Do not eat or drink while using art products.
• Wash skin after contact with art products. 
• Clean equipment. Wipe tables, desks, and counters.
• Keep art products in their original containers.

FOOD

• Wash hands and counters before preparing all food.
• Store food at the proper temperatures. Refrigerated foods should not be left out at temperatures above 40 degrees F (5 degrees C).
• Use clean utensils for cooking and serving.

ANIMALS AND INSECTS

• Know what poisonous snakes live in your area and wear proper attire (boots, etc.) when hiking outdoors.
• Check the label on any insect repellent. Be aware that most contain DEET, which can be poisonous in large quantities.

PLANTS, MUSHROOMS, AND BERRIES

• Be sure that everyone in your family can identify poisonous mushrooms and plants.
• Remember when it comes to poison ivy, "leaves of three, let it be."

RECALLS:

February 25, 2021 CPSC; Dr. Reddy’s Recalls Prescription Drug Blister Packages Due to Risk of Poisoning

February 25, 2021 CPSC; MTIG Productions Recalls deSensua Wintergreen, Birch and Pain Soother Essential Oils Due to Failure to Meet Child Resistant Packaging Requirement; Risk of Poisoning (Recall Alert)

February 25, 2021 CPSC; Home Depot Recalls Wood Windsor Dining Chair Sets Due to Fall Hazard (Recall Alert)

February 24, 2021 CPSC; SmartPool Recalls Children’s Multi-Purpose Helmets Due to Risk of Head Injury

February 17, 2021 CPSC; Anker Play Products Recalls 10-in-1 Incredible Inventions Science Kit Due to Violation of the Federal Lead Paint Ban

January 27, 2021 CPSC; CB2 Recalls Junction Tall Chests and Low Dressers Due to Tip-Over and Entrapment Hazards

* information from Consumer Product Safety Commission

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