Ultimate First Aid Kit

Have you made a first aid kit for your baby? Do you know what to include? Be prepared for all your baby’s minor aches and illnesses with this list.

• Baby nail clippers
• Cotton balls (not swabs)
• Baby thermometer
• Bulb syringe/nasal aspirator
• Medicine dropper
• Infant acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Saline nasal drops
• Baby gas drops
• Antibiotic cream
• Petroleum jelly and sterile gauze
• Disinfecting hand soap (for you!)

Safe Swimming – Five Things to Remember

There’s nothing like swimming to cool off on a hot summer day. Whether you’re taking a dip in the pool or enjoying a day at the lake, Safe Start Baby wants you to be safe. Here are five things to remember and some steps you can take to enjoy your summer water fun!


SUPERVISION
Children drown quickly and silently in a matter of seconds. Adults who were present when a child drowns were often distracted in some way, by talking on the phone, talking with other adults around the pool, or reading.

What you can do:

• Actively supervise. Follow the 10/20 rule. Sit where you can scan the pool within 10 seconds and reach the water within 20 seconds.


• Have a phone nearby to call for help in an emergency.

BARRIERS
Curious children, especially those younger than 4 years old, can easily find and fall into the pool or bodies of water, tubs and buckets. Remember, infants can drown in just a few inches of water.

What you can do:

• If you have a pool at home, install a fence. The fence should be at least four-feet high and have a self-closing, self-latching gate that has a locking mechanism beyond your child’s reach.


• Never leave a child alone near a body of water—even if it’s less than a few inches.


• Empty small wading pools after the kids are done playing.


• Remove all pool toys as these may attract the kids to the pool when it's unattended.


• Cover and lock your hot tub when you're not using it.

CPR SKILLS
Drowning victims who are rescued from the water need CPR immediately—before the paramedics arrive. It can prevent brain damage and be the difference between life and death.

What you can do:

• Learn infant and child CPR.


• Contact Safe Start Baby, your local health department, hospital or American Red Cross Chapter to find a class.

SWIMMING ABILITY
Children whose families don’t know how to swim or aren't comfortable with their swimming abilities are more likely to be at-risk of drowning.

What you can do:

• Make sure your child knows how to swim. If you don't how to swim either, take a parent-child class.


• To find swimming lessons, contact your local parks and recreation department, an aquatics center or visit the YMCA Web site to find a YMCA near you.


• Flotation devices, toys and inflatable swimming aids aren't safety devices.

LIFE JACKETS
Of those who drown in boating accidents in lakes, rivers and oceans, 9 out of 10 were not wearing a life jacket. Also, alcohol use is involved in up to 1 in 5 reported boating deaths.

What you can do:

• Make sure your kids wear a life jacket every time you're on a dock or go boating.


• Avoid or moderate your alcoholic consumption when boating.


• If you and your family boat frequently, consider taking a boating safety class through the U.S. Coast Guard.

References:

• American Red Cross
• Healthy Children
• Safe Kids Worlwide
• U.S. Coast Guard

Pottery Barn Drop-Side Cribs Recalled

Pottery Barn Kids has recalled 82,000 drop-side cribs sold over the past 10 years. For a complete list of all models included in the recall visit Pottery Barn Kids.

What's the hazard? The drop-sides on theses cribs can detach when hardware breaks, creating a space into which a young child can become entrapped and potentially suffocate. Children can also fall out of the crib.

What should you do? Stop using the recalled crib, inspect the hardware to make sure it's not broken, and contact Pottery Barn Kids to receive a free fixed-gate conversion kit that will immobilize the drop side.