Prevent Poison Emergencies in Your Home

Remember Mr. Yuk? It’s time to introduce him to your household again as just one serious babyproofing measure in your efforts to prevent any poison emergencies.

In honor of National Poison Prevention Week (March 18-24, 2012), we are highlighting the risks that could exist in your house. If you should suspect a poison emergency, call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 1-800-222-1222. Program this number into your family’s phones. If your child has collapsed or is not breathing, call 911.

Childproof? Maybe

Your medicines and vitamins look just like candy to your kids. A medicine safe allows you to store all of your pills, potions, and powders in one place and features a locking system that requires adult-sized hands to operate. It’s a necessary safety measure and a big help when it comes to organization too. Just keep it in a high cupboard out of reach of curious hands.

Medications are the predominant cause of poisonings among young children, with more than 60,000 young children admitted to emergency departments each year after getting into medications while unsupervised. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Bathroom Beautiful

Your bathrooms are a haven of poisons: Hair gel, soap, cologne, perfume, aftershave, lotion, powder, hairspray, makeup, mouthwash, and nail polish. These products often smell great, just adding to their appeal. Use a medicine safe in each bathroom to babyproof properly and to also keep dangerous items – including sharp objects like scissors, tweezers, and clippers – far out of reach.

Get Truly Clean

Cleaning products are packaged in such nifty containers with vibrant colors they are most certainly attractive to young children. For poison prevention, keep them all in one place in an extra-large Smart Guard. This box features a convenient carry handle and will keep all of your sprays, wipes, and detergents contained. Not only will this keep prying fingers out of the way of shiny bottles, but having all of your cleaning goods in one place will ultimately be a boon to your housekeeping efforts. 

Household and personal care products, medicines, vitamins, pesticides and plants are among the substances most frequently involved in poison exposures among children. (American Association of Poison Control Centers)

Household Poison Prevention

Some additional precautions: Equip every floor of your home and all sleeping areas with a carbon monoxide detector. Read labels on every product you buy to find out what is poisonous, including plants, toys, and art supplies. Be aware of poisons that could be in your handbag (anti-bacterial lotion) or diaper bag (diaper cream). Never mix cleaning products. Always buy child-resistant packages when available – nothing is foolproof, but every deterrent helps.

Familiarize your child with Mr. Yuk – you can request a free sheet of stickers by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Pittsburgh Poison Center. Get the details here. And don’t just let your kids play with the stickers. Apply Mr. Yuk to the most dangerous products in your home, then lock them up! 

Poisoning Prevention: Four common mistakes parents make

If you took a tour through your home, you would likely find potentially poisonous substances in nearly every room of your home. Whether chemicals, medications, plants, cosmetics, batteries, the list is endless. Combined a child’s innate curiosity of the world with the numerous potential poisoning hazards within your child’s grasp and it’s no wonder that poisoning is one of the leading causes of unintentional injuries to children. What you may find surprising are the ways you maybe increasing your child’s risk. Many parents are unknowingly contributing to their child’s curiosity of potentially poisonous household items. Avoid these common parenting mistakes and reduce your child’s risk of poisoning.

Monkey See Monkey Do. Avoid taking medications in front of your child as kids love to imitate. You’ll also want to think twice about using products, such as mouthwash, in front of your little copycats.

Mr. Yuk or Mr. Yum? Sure, putting Mr. Yuk stickers on chemical bottles seems like a good idea, but when most kids identify stickers and bright colors with fun, it’s essential that your child understands what this funny man really means…DANGER- STAY AWAY!


Heart Medication or Sweet Tarts? Think your child can tell the difference between candy and medicine? Can you? Test yourself. The California Poison Control System has created a fabulous online test challenging you to identify which picture is the pill and which is the candy. Give it a shot. It’s entertaining, enlightening, and harder than you think! Choose Your Poison.


Out of Reach AND Out of Sight. Storing chemicals and medications on a high shelf is not enough – most resourceful toddlers can master a countertop climb. Instead keep items out of sight, out of reach, and locked up! Childproof your cabinets and drawers and add door locks to closets that contain potentially poisonous items. Child safety lock boxes are an excellent way for you to lock up chemicals and medications. Childproofing is a must and will significantly reduce the likelihood of an accident.


Coins, Cosmetics, and Pills – OH MY! What’s in your purse? If your purse doubles as a pharmacy, you may want to think twice about where you store it. Allowing your child access to diaper bags, purses, and backpacks also allows them access to the contents. Avoid using your purse as a medicine cabinet and keep all bags up and out of reach.

For more Poison Safety Information and Tips visit the National Capital Poison Center.

Fight Back with Fitness. A fundraiser to help end pediatric cancer.

I’ve been cancer free for 8-years. I admit it’s a badge of courage I wear with pride. Yet if you asked me to give you the day-by-day details of the battle, it would be a struggle. Much of my experience has become a vague, distant memory; however there is one significant event I remember vividly – the diagnosis. I remember the sterile, cold room where I awaited my fate. I remember the doctor and nurse entering the room. I remember the Doctor standing at the foot of the examining table and the nurse who stood at my side – was she there to soften the blow or catch me if I were to fall? I remember the doctor deeply inhaling, preparing to say the words- “I’m sorry. You have cancer.” I recall my husband’s face turn to panic and just as quickly to a determined look of how can I fix this. I remember the tears welling in my eyes. I remember leaving the office, averting the gaze of waiting room visitors who wondered, what could be this woman’s fate?

Repeat this scenario. You’re sitting in a doctor’s office. The doctor and nurse enter. The nurse stands at your side, as if there to catch you if you were to fall. The doctor who sits before you, takes a deep breath as to prepare himself to speak the words that will inevitably change your life forever - “I’m sorry. Your child has cancer.”

I find it difficult to even type the words. Saying them out loud is nearly impossible. Hearing those words? Unfathomable. Yet these were the words that Jake Wetchler’s parents heard and are the same words that approximately 12,400 parents in the US are told every year.

Jake Wetchler

Jake Wetchler was a senior in high school when he was diagnosed with Stage IV Hodgkin’s lymphoma. His parents describe him as a born philosopher who pushed himself to the max both physically and mentally. Jake fought hard and successfully beat his Hodgkin’s into remission; however the joy was short lived. Nearly a year later, Jake was diagnosed with AML- an aggressive and relentless form of cancer which was likely caused by the chemotherapy used to treat Jake’s Hodgkin’s. Not without a fight, AML eventually took the life of Jake Wetchler. Here is an excerpt from Jake’s story, which I urge you to read in full:

"In many ways, Jake’s story has a tragic ending. But while cancer killed Jake, it never defeated him. Jake went the distance—and more—and his story is one of an indomitable spirit. In his honor, and in our continuing fight against cancer, that spirit is ours."

In this age of incredible scientific and medical advances, the treatments for most pediatric cancers have yet to advance in recent decades. The Jake Wetchler Foundation- don’t let the cancer win is fighting to make a change. Their fundraising mission, Fight Back with Fitness, helps raise the necessary funds for research and improvement of pediatric cancer treatments.

Challenge yourself to a personal fitness goal and raise funds by promising to stick with it. You get fit and kids get a better chance at beating cancer. Everyone wins.

I’m a child safety professional by day, but a volleyball coach by night. In Jake’s honor and in his spirit, our team, the “Sparx”, are joining The JakeWetchler Foundation as part of the MVSAFight Back with Fitness Invitational. In addition to playing in this tournament, our team of 11 girls are determined to reach a fundraising goal of $500. Why Fight Back with Fitness? Because it challenges participants to Pick a Fitness Goal, Set a Fundraising Goal, and Go For It!

The Sparx are Fighting Back with Fitness!

Team Sparx wants your help! Will you help us reach our goal? It’s easy to do. Simply click on the link to our fundraising page and donate what you can. Every dollar counts but you must act fast. We want to reach our goal by March 25^th. It is on this day that Team Sparx will dedicate each serve, set, pass and dig to this cause. We will strive to play each game with the strength and courage Jake Wetchler demonstrated every day.

“…though I might die tonight, I must plan on fighting for tomorrow. Fear is real and right, but must be confronted and sometimes conquered if it gets in the way of living. I must embrace my fear, for it is here for a reason—but I must not let it stop me. It will make me stronger. I will love life better. I have the chance to fight nobly. I will go to sleep, and wake up tomorrow knowing that a battle has been won, and there is a full day ahead of me for celebration.” -Jake Wetchler

Babyproofing Baby Steps

When you’re expecting, the urgency to nest comes on strong – you feel like everything has to be just right before baby arrives. You “must” purchase all the necessities, “must” finish the nursery, “must” have a freezer full of food. Well, as any parent will tell you, these intentions are great but they put a ton of pressure on parents-to-be, especially exhausted and very round mothers.

It’s OK if you’re not completely ready for your baby. Everything will fall into place, even though it may not seem that way pre-baby. The same goes for babyproofing. While the best way to childproof your home is to be proactive rather than reactive, your house doesn’t have to become Alcatraz by the time your baby is born.

So if you’re freaking out that you can’t secure your home all at once because of financial constraints, time issues, or otherwise, take a deep breath. It’s OK. Just make it your goal to have certain safety tools in place by the time your child reaches specific ages and milestones so that you’re keeping him as safe as possible while he grows.

 

Newborns: Babyproofing for newborns? They don’t need baby gates! No, but they do need safe places to sleep since that’s what they’ll be doing with most of their time. As cute as those crib sets may be, we’re hoping they soon go the way of the dinosaur. Bumper pads, blankets, toys, and pillows are all hazards to a tiny baby. Keep the crib clear of these items – use only a firm mattress and sheet. If you want to feel the need for a bumper pad, make it a breathable one.

3-6 months: This is an age when you may underestimate a baby’s ability to get into mischief. Curiosity is kicking into full gear and your child will begin to realize that reaching and grabbing for something may get him that item. Be careful when holding your baby near things like a hot coffee mug, boiling pots on the stove, or sharp utensils.

Tubby time is likely becoming one of your child’s favorite activities. But they’re just beginning to master the art of sitting. Even if they’re beyond the Leaning Tower of Pisa stage, you always need to be on full alert during bath time. Don’t leave your child alone for a second, even in the shallowest water. Get all your gear ready before your child hits the water. To avoid the temptation of making the mad dash to grab the oh-so-important phone call, bring the cordless into the bathroom with you. 

Babies are starting to put everything in their mouth at this halfway point of the first year too so it’s important to look at things from their vantage point. Get down on the ground, peer under furniture, change to one-piece doorstops if necessary, and vacuum, vacuum, vacuum.

6-9 months: Mobility has arrived or is on the very near horizon. It’s time to batten down the hatches – add furniture straps, gate the top and bottom of your stairs, install latches and locks to your cabinets, and change outlet covers. Be prepared for that crawler to turn into a walker and climber in the blink of an eye.

You’ve also got a little eater on your hands by this point and it will be great fun to test out new foods with your child. Avoid “slippery foods” (e.g., grapes, baby tomatoes) and keep things cut to very small pieces to avoid any choking hazards. Make sure you know what to do if your baby is choking.

A little bit of babyproofing is better than no child proofing at all. Do your best and always try to think one step ahead of your baby. Just remember that exploration is how your child learns so make your house safe, but don’t make it boring.

Spring Forward into Fire Safety

Reluctant as you may have been to change your clocks, I'm sure the task has been completed, but did you also remember to change your smoke detector batteries? Just as turning the clocks forward each Spring is not an option, changing the batteries in your smoke detectors shouldn't be either.

Smoke detectors save lives.
By having working smoke detectors in your home, you reduce your chances of dying in a fire by half! Worth the 5 minutes of hassle to me.

Do you have smoke detectors in every bedroom?
You should. Smoke alarms should not only be installed on every level and outside of every sleeping area, but they should also be installed inside every sleeping area. Imagine a fire starting in your child's bedroom; it could take minutes before the smoke would set off a hallway alarm- especially if it's behind a closed door.

Change yearly, check frequently.
Make it habit to change your batteries when you change your clock and you'll be more likely to remember. Even if your alarms are hard-wired, batteries must be changed in the event of a power outage.

Check your expiration date.
Smoke alarms do not last forever! The maximum life span is 8 - 10 years. Do you know how old your detectors are? If they are older than 8 years, it's time to replace them.

As sleep deprived as you may be, spring into action and change your smoke alarm batteries today; it could save a life!

For more fire safety resources visit:
The Baby Proofing Blog- Spring Forward into Safety
Safe Kids USA Fire Prevention Tips
Fire Safety for All Families- Safe Kids USAs Video

Twitter Giveaway: Kidco Premier Baby Gate

I reached a goal this week....1000 Twitter followers (1031 to be exact). Okay, Lady GaGa I'm not, but it's a solid number I'm proud of. To celebrate my recent accomplishment, I'm giving away a Kidco Premier Baby Gate. The drawing will occur when I reach 1500 followers, and all will be entered to win.

So, if you want up-to-date product recall alerts, great safety tips, and parenting advice, in 140 characters or less, you can find me at @TheSafetyFreak.

Happy Tweeting!

The Safety Freak

Defending the Childproofer (and those who hire them)

As thrilled as I was when my childproofing company became a topic of discussion on an online forum, I wasn’t surprised when my client’s positive reviews were replaced by mean-spirited insults directed at these same parents.

Read comments posted to child safety forums, blogs and discussion boards, and you will likely find an angry group of protesters determined to overthrow the evil, fear mongering, child safety advocates. I picture these protesters sitting in a dark room, in front of their computers, surfing the blogosphere, prepared to squash the efforts of the Safety Freaks!

I’m here to set the record straight; however I'm not here to defend my industry, myself, safety advocates, or the non-profit agencies working vigorously to reduce childhood injuries. Instead I'm here to defend the parents who recognize the importance of childproofing. Maybe then these trolls (def: someone who disrupts discussions with obnoxious posts), will channel their energy into other areas; such as watching their child in their un-babyproofed home, instead of posting insults against parents who are just trying to do the best they can.

So, here is my attempt to counter this group's most common childproofing criticisms.

Instead of babyproofing, parents should just teach their children that no means no

No touching the stove! No climbing the furniture! No playing with the outlet! No! No! No! If you are constantly trailing behind your child with your “no” alarm ringing, you will rapidly drive yourself (and your child) crazy. What would happen if you barked NO at your spouse all day long? He would quickly tune you out. A toddler is no different. 

It is innate for a child to explore the world around him and it’s a parent’s job to keep him safe. Babyproofing your home allows your child the freedom to explore and allows you the opportunity to relax and watch in amazement. Gate your stairs, strap your furniture, and latch your cabinets and you'll find your no’s will turn to yes- and that will be music to your child’s ears.

Hiring a babyproofer is laziness

Hiring a child proofer to install baby gates, furniture straps and other babyproofing gear is not for everyone; however, whether you choose to DIY or hire a professional, childproofing your home is a must. Many parents hire professionals because they do not have the time or skill to do it themselves. Your childproofing products can become the hazard if not installed correctly. Additionally, some clients hire professionals to avoid unnecessary damage, and others want a professional eye to find hidden hazards. Would you hire a painter to paint your home? A service to mow your lawn? Or a cleaner to clean your house? I ask critics…what's the difference?

Childproofing is a scam

Every year, about 2800 children die from preventable injuries in the home. Millions more end up in emergency rooms. Research has shown that by properly childproofing your home, you can reduce your child's likeness of injury by more than 70%! Furthermore, Safe Kids USA has found that children ages 4 and under have the highest fatality rate from unintentional injury; more than twice that of all other age groups. Childproofing is not a scam, it’s common sense.

About Michele Spahr: Childproofing and safety expert Michele Spahr is founder of DC's leading childproofing company, Safe Start Baby, and DC’s eco-consulting company, Safe Start Eco Baby. Even more importantly, she is mom to four energetic children who challenge her every day with their inventive ways of finding all possible safety hazards. AKA, The Safety Freak, Michele gives tips, recommendations and the facts you need to hear, not just what you want to hear, about your child's safety. Follow The Safety Freak at Twitter @TheSafetyFreak  

How to Select the Right Child Proof Gate

Never underestimate your busy crawling baby. One minute he may be completely content to sit at the bottom of the stairs, playing with blocks, oblivious to the heights surrounding him. But one thing babies have on us adults is that they look up, they see the world from a unique vantage point – and once they spy new heights to climb, they intend to conquer them.

So that’s where baby gates begin – at the bottom of your stairs. But that’s not where they end. The top of your stairs must be gated as well. And it’s important to block off at least one designated, babyproofed area with baby gates.

Kidco Deluxe Safeway Gate
& No-Holes Mounting Kits

Hardware-mounted baby gates

If there are stairs in your home, you have one option at the top and bottom: hardware-mounted baby gates. This means the gates are drilled into the wall or banisters themselves. Or better yet, mount the gate into a hole-free mounting kit and avoid drilling into your banister completely!  

You may be groaning at the thought of making holes in your walls, but avoid the temptation of installing a pressure-mounted gate at the top of the stairs. These gates can easily come loose and both gate and baby could go tumbling. 

Kidco Premier Center Gateway

Pressure-mounted baby gates

Depending on the layout of your home, pressure-mounted baby gates work in most doorways. They also satisfy the parent who isn’t keen on dragging out the drill or screwdriver. The KidCo Premiere Center Gateway® installs quickly without tools or hardware and without damaging walls or woodwork. Keep in mind that with pressure-mounted gates there is a stationary frame that remains firmly installed while the door swings open – so you will have to step over the bottom of the gate. All accident-prone parents, take note.

Retract-a-Gate

The look, the feel, the shape

Today’s baby gates are made from a variety of materials, including white metal, wood, and black metal. There are even retractable child proof gate options and some gates that are designed with extra-special flair so they look like they’re part of your décor rather than an eyesore (more on childproofing for modern décor). For extra-wide doorways, corners, or large areas, gate extensions can be attached to your baby gate so that the desired territory is cordoned off.

Installing baby gates can be complicated and time-consuming, but installation is the most important part of baby gates if they’re to actually do their job. You want the gates to be put in place correctly and safely so there is no chance of injury to anyone in your family. Safety installation kits can help you attach gates in and around tricky surfaces, including wrought iron and hollow walls. There are also a variety of gate mounts that can help simplify the process.

Babyproofing for a Normal Life

Your child can’t live in a bubble. They’re going to inhale germs, eat dirt, and get into plenty of icky and undesirable things. They’re going to get cut, bruised, pinched, and they’re going to bleed. Nevertheless, it is your job to protect your little one within the walls of your home, but even there you can’t be 100 percent babyproofed.

How could a babyproofing company say this? Well, because we have kids, and we understand that you just can’t live as a family when the whole house is on lockdown 24 hours a day. Your child needs to develop confidence and independence – and she does that through exploration.

So babyproof the high-exploration territory and accept that some rooms are simply safer than others. Here’s how.

Super-Babyproof the High-Traffic Area

You likely have a family room or living room where your family congregates to watch television, play, and relax. This is where your busy baby will be the most, so make it a point to designate this room as the “safe” area and do everything you can to babyproof it. Add gates at the entrances and exits to the room, cover sharp corners and fireplace hearths with foam, and hang your television on the wall or anchor it with furniture straps. Box up your surge protectors and install wire covers.

The kitchen is also a heavily trafficked area so take precautions here as well. Install childproof safety latches to all cupboards, and magnetic locks to the cabinet that holds household cleaners. If your oven and dishwasher are not equipped with safety locks, install them.

Universal Babyproofing
In the low-traffic areas of your home – the places your child will only be if you are always present – you can be a little less diligent about the hardcore babyproofing. But there are a few “musts” for your house as a whole, even for the rooms your child doesn’t often frequent. These include outlet covers – they’re inexpensive and simple to install. Also strap all of your heavy furniture to the walls to avoid tip-over accidents.

Some rooms you spend a lot of time in and others you don’t. Some rooms will be off limits until your child is in grade school, other rooms are the heart of your home. Put your energy where it’s needed most. When you’re hanging out in the less-babyproofed rooms, make sure your brain is turned to high alert and that you’re keeping a close eye on your curious child. Need to relax a bit and let your baby play without you acting like a helicopter? Park yourselves in the heavily babyproofed territory.