Holiday Safety Tips 

from

Arizona Childproofers

The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day are amoung 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. I love to organize and decorate and plan the gatherings and attend holiday parties.  There are lists and more lists and awesome conversations and looking forward to the gathering of family friends and especially the Grand-kids!

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!

Here are a couple of ideas to help you not to have the unexpected accident...  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. I even have had the great idea to put hot dishes in a cardboard box to keep it secure in the trunk or back seat floor. 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.

Here are Seven Tips for Safe Holiday Travel, from Safe Kids Worldwide and General Motors,  as you plan the holidays, 

• 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.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact

ARIZONA CHILDPROOFERS

www.azchildproofers.com        info@azchildproofers.com

480-634-7366

Childproofing, Pool Fences, Car Seat Safety, Senior Safety

Community Education

Sources:

www.safekidsworldwide.org

www.azchildproofers.com
www.iafcs.com
www.childproofingexperts.com/

HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS FOR HALLOWEEN NIGHT!

A.  BEFORE YOU LEAVE

       1.   EAT A HEALTHY MEAL!!!!! 
       2.   REVIEW the Safety Rules (see below)      
       3.   DO a Safety Check on the costumes....be sure everything works, there are no tripping hazards and if you are wearing a mask the child can see forward and side way,  all shoes are comfortable

B.  HALLOWEEN NIGHT SAFETY RULES

       1.  NO Running      
       2.  STAY with the group 
       3.  UNDER 12 should Trick or Treat and cross streets                       with an adult at corners and crosswalks.     
       4.  NO Eating Candy till you get home and check it    
       5.  STAY on the sidewalk      
       6.  LOOK both ways before crossing the street       
       7.  STOP at only familiar houses and only those with
                a Porch Light on.      
       8.  ESTABLISH the route you will be going      
       9.  NEVER go inside a house to get a treat...stay on the porch       
      10  DON'T play near Jack 'O Lanterns
      11. WATCH for cars turning or backing up.
      12 DON'T Dart into the street

C.  CANDY

       1.  THE BAG...A Light Color with Reflective Strips       
       2.  INSPECT all candy BEFORE your child eats even
                  one piece            
                a.  If your child insists before you get home...with
                      a flashlight inspect the candy           
                b.  Carry the bag if you must            
                c.  TOSS candy with faded wrappers,  with holes or
                    tears or no wrapper at all            
                d.  REMOVE candy that can be a choking hazard especially for those under 3 yrs              3. DO NOT accept food products - from people you don't know
                a.  Set aside and discard later
        4.  CHECK fruit for injection or puncture wounds or foreign objects             
                a.  Wash the item, feel and inspect the skin and slice before serving 

                b.  If not certain - toss it

        5.  LIMIT the amount of candy your child eats to avoid a 
                  tummy ache

        6.  KEEP the candy up and out of the way

D.  DRIVING

Auto Accidents on Halloween night are as high or higher than on Labor Day Weekend.  Do not Drink and Drive.  Do Not Talk on phone or Text and Drive...Be a part of the solution.

        1.  SLOW DOWN....especially in residential 

                   neighborhoods

        2.  BE ALERT  Children are excited on Halloween 

        3.  TAKE EXTRA TIME to look....

                 a.  intersections, medians, and curbs

        4.  ENTER AND EXIT Driveways and alleys carefully

                    and slowly

        5.  ELIMINATE distractions inside your car - be hyper vigilant

        6.  TURN HEADLIGHTS on early....to see children sooner

         

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact

ARIZONA CHILDPROOFERS

www.azchildproofers.com        info@azchildproofers.com

480-634-7366

Childproofing, Pool Fences, Car Seat Safety, Senior Safety

Community Education

Sources:

www.azchildproofers.com

www.safekidsworldwide.com

www.iafcs.org

HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS for COSTUMES

from

Arizona Childproofers

HALLOWEEN....what a fun time of year for many.  Children LOVE to dress up.  Parents LOVE to dress up.  The excitement of So much candy can be just a little overwhelming.  When I was a little girl my mother made my costumes and we were able to run around the neighborhood with lots of freedom.

In today's world there are so many things to consider, plus the safety of our children being able to just run around the neighborhoods is not really an option anymore.  So, what are we supposed to do?  How can we keep the whimsical part of this tradition and have fun?  Here are a few simple things to follow and remember as October 31st is approaching and you are getting your costumes together

THINGS TO CONSIDER AS YOU PREPARE YOUR HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

1.  Fabric Should be Fire Retardant

      a.  If your costume is homemade....use fabrics that are Fire Retardant 

2.  Keep Costumes Short - this is to avoid Tripping

       a.  Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries on Halloween

3.  Put Reflective Tape on Costumes and/or Glow Sticks/Jewelry

       a.  You want Drivers AND Others to see your little ones

4.  Comfortable Shoes are a must!

       a.  Trick or Treating is NOT a time for Cute Shoes 

5.  Avoid MASKS

       a.  If a Mask is a must.....make sure the EYES HOLES are LARGE and there is a nose hole for breathing and mouth hole for talking/breathing

       b.  Masks make it hard for peripheral vision and can cause tripping or not seeing an on coming car

       c.  Full masks impair hearing

6.  Face Make Up - MUCH safer than Masks

       a.  Test the make-up or face paint before you use to make sure your child does not have any reactions to the product

        b.  Keep Make-up remover wipes with you

7.  Keep the Costume Loose so that warm clothes can be worn under it

       a.  It can get chilly while Trick or Treating and you don't want your little one to be uncomfortable

8.  Assessories

       a.  Knives, swords and other accessories should be made from cardboard or another flexible materials.  Children should NOT carry sharp objects.  They or others could get hurt.

       b.  Bags or sacks carried should be light colored or trimmed with reflective tape or lights.

       c.  Flashlights, glow sticks and LED lights are a great added accessories - kids love them and they will be able to see AND be seen more clearly

9.  Practice Walking, Running and Playing in the costume BEFORE you go out

      a.  You will find what you need to fix to prevent a fall or costume malfuntion

10.  Costumes for under Three Yrs Old

       a.  Avoid Chocking hazards - things that can be pried off and get into the mouth of a baby/toddler.  i.e. buttons, bling, patches, decorations, etc

Watch for our next blog on Decorating and Trick or Treating

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact

ARIZONA CHILDPROOFERS

www.azchildproofers.com        info@azchildproofers.com

480-634-7366

Childproofing, Pool Fences, Car Seat Safety, Senior Safety

Community Education

Sources:

www.azchildproofers.com

www.safekidsworldwide.com

www.iafcs.org

AUGUST: DROWNING IMPACT AWARENESS MONTH

Drowning and Near Drowning's Impact everyone!  

When we hear that someone has drowned we are sad.  Usually, when we hear there was a near drowning we breath a sigh of relief.  But, what we don't realize, drownings don't always lead to deaths, those who do survive often require long-term care. 

August is Drowning Impact Awareness Month.  

Why August?  The month of August has the highest rate of drownings than any other month.  Why?  Summer is almost over.  Some schools have started and others are about to.  Families are a little more distracted trying to get everything ready to end summer and begin the school year.  Last minute trips to the lake are crammed in and sometimes caution is thrown to the wind.  Distractions subtly abound.

Drowning is a top cause of injury-related death for children in Arizona between the ages of 1 and 5.  This year alone....just in Maricopa County, 13 of the 70 children involved in water-related incidents have died. These deaths are preventable as are the thousands of emergency room visits that result from non-fatal  drowning each year.  The number is unknown how many of these hospitalizations result in permanent disability, including brain damage but it is many.  I have talked to so many nurses that work with children that have survived and have seen the devastating impact it has on the child and the families.

These are PREVENTABLE....

SUPERVISION is critical in pool and water safety.....combined with water safe behaviors....knowledge.....and equipment prevention goes even further toward drowning prevention.

Adopting and practicing as many water safety measures as possible give the greatest water safety assurance....

 

1.     Stay Close….Be Alert….Watch Children IN and AROUND the pool

a.     This goes for any body of water

b.     Never leave children unattended

c.     Teach children basic water safety tips

d.     Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapment

e.     Have a phone close by  at all times when you or your family are using a pool, spa or at the lake ( do not use it except for emergencies)

          Child Missing?  Check the pool, Spa or water first

f.      Share safety instructions with family, friends and neighbors – do NOT be afraid to offend anyone

1.     Learn and practice water safety skills....which means....know how to swim and practice CPR

a.     Everyone in the family should know how to swim…including adults

b.     Learn how to preform CPR on Adults and Children – update regularly

c.     Understand the basics of life saving so that you can assist in a pool or water emergency

     3.  Have the appropriate equipment for your pool or spa

a.     Compliant drain covers

b.     Door Alarms 

c.     Fences and other barriers 4 - 5 feet in height with a self-closing/self-latching door

d.     Ask your neighbors and community groups to do the same for all residential pools

e.     Make sure Spa covers are maintained and locked

f.      Have Life-saving equipment - life rings and/or reaching poles available for easy use

Drowning Impacts everyone….

The individual, the families, the community

As a Community we can help to stop this preventable tragedy

LET’S WORK TOGETHER

For More Information

Contact:

Arizona Childproofers at 480-634-7366

For

Childproofing, Pool Fence, Car Seat and Senior Safety

info@azchildproofers.com

www.azchildproofers.com

Sources:

www.azchildproofers.com

www.kidsafepoolfences.com

www.exquisitepoolfence.com

www.kidsafeworldwide.org

DROWNING PREVENTION - WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!!

It is half way through 2014 and Arizona has already passed the number of drownings in children from 2013

How is this Happening???

Water Needs to be Respected.....It is FUN and it is DANGEROUS 

One person cannot spread the word and help families to be aware.  Can YOU help get the word out so that we can stop preventable drowning?
  
It will take us all to understand and get passionate about this....it is not the other persons problem or responsibility....it is all of ours

You may have heard this before but it needs to be repeated.  It WILL save lives.....

Gate propped open

Most of the drowning on children have been because there was NOT a Pool Fence OR the barrier was compromised....i.e. gate propped open, gate lock broken, a gap in the fence, etc.

Failed Gate Latch

SECURE GATE WITH LOCK                             

A POOL FENCE WITH A SELF-LATCHING/SELF-CLOSING GATE IS A MUST

ON LAYER OF PROTECTION

A Pre-teen, Teen and an Adult lost their lives because they did not know how to swim.....Don't be afraid to let someone know YOU do not know how to swim.....and If you are going to a party....be sure that your child is wearing a coast guard  approved floating device....blow-up floaties do not count...

Adult Learning to Swim

Giving Babies and Early Start

Swimming Lessons for Children

One of Many Coast Guard Approved Flotation Devises

SWIM LESSONS & COAST GUARD APPROVED FLOATING DEVISES  IMPORTANT

ONE LAYER OF PROTECTION

We have had fatal incidences this year with toddlers, young children and a preteen who did not know how to swim.  There were people in the water and around the water but a designated Water Watcher was not assigned.  Most times we THINK we are watching....or someone else is watching...A Water Watcher is ALWAYS an Adult!

ALWAYS ASSIGN A DESIGNATED WATER WATCHER AND ROTATE EVERY 15 MIN

ONE LAYER OF PROTECTION

Although not in order, the above is the ABC's of Water Safety......

A - Always Adult Supervision  (Water Watcher)

B - Barrier around the Pool     (In working Condition)

C - Classes  (Swim Classes AND CPR Classes)

PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION.....HELP US.....THE FIRST RESPONDERS AND FAMILIES TO SPREAD THE NEWS ABOUT WATER SAFETY.....IN TURN YOU WILL BE HELPING TO SAVE LIVES!!

For More Information

Contact:

Arizona Childproofers at 480-634-7366

For

Childproofing, Pool Fence, Car Seat and Senior Safety

info@azchildproofers.com

www.azchildproofers.com

Sources:

www.azchildproofers.com

www.kidsafepoolfences.com

www.exquisitepoolfence.com

www.kidsafeworldwide.org