Getting to school safely!

It's National Safety Month!

Follow these tips to get to and from school safely!

Bicycle safety

• Make sure the student is wearing a helmet. Helmets can reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent.
• Obey the rules of the road; the rules are the same for all vehicles, including bicycles.
• Stay on the right-hand side of the road and ride in the same direction as traffic.
• Know and use appropriate hand signals.
• Talk with your children, and choose the safest route between home and school and practice it with children until they can demonstrate traffic safety awareness.

Walking safety

• Supervise young children walking or biking to school or as they wait at the school bus stop.
• Ensure your child leaves early enough to get to school 10 minutes prior to the start of school.
• Use the same route every day and avoid shortcuts.
• Go straight home after school.
• Students should use public sidewalks and streets when walking to school.
• Choose the safest route between home and school and practice walking it with children until they can demonstrate traffic safety awareness.
• Walk to school with other students. Strength in numbers.
• Teach children to recognize and obey traffic signals and pavement markings.
• Cross at designated crosswalks, street corners and traffic controlled intersections.
• Always look both ways before crossing the street and never enter streets from between parked cars or from behind shrubbery.
• Walk, don’t run, across intersections. A flashing “walk signal” or the crossing guard in the street does not mean it’s safe to cross.
• Tell your child to avoid talking to strangers.
• Never get into a vehicle with a person – even if your child knows that person – without parent permission. If a stranger approaches, tell a trusted adult such as a parent or teacher.

Things to avoid

• Allowing your child to be at school any earlier than 15 minutes prior to the start of school as crossing guards, teachers, or aids may not be at the school to monitor your child.
• Letting your child go to friend’s houses without getting permission.
• Walking to school using canals, alleys, and cutting through yards or open fields.
• Walking alone as they will be an easier target for harassment, bullying, or stranger approach.
• Running to cross the street or intersection or cross in the middle of the block especially in heavy traffic areas. Never let children under age 10 cross the street alone.
• Talk to strangers or get within reach of that person. That includes taking a ride from a stranger or someone they know without parent’s permission.

Source: State of Michigan and compiled by EdNews Parent

Water Safety!

It's National Safety Month!

Check out these tips to keep your kids safe!

 

Start early Once a child is potty trained, a child is old enough to take swim lessons. There are even classes for infants! 

Use swim vests or arm floatation devices Floaties and/or water wings should never replace the parent. Parents or caregivers should always be within arm's reach of the child. These items are inflatable toys and are used for support but should never be thought of as approved PFDs (personal flotation devices); they are not life vests. They should not be used in teaching a child how to swim. 

Finding a good learn-to-swim program These basic skills are best taught by a professional, and parents can ensure the quality of a specific learn-to-swim program by following these guidelines:

• Make sure the instructors are certified (CPR, first aid and water safety)
• Ensure that there is a favorable instructor-to-student ratio (6 students or less per instructor)
• Check that there is a set progressive curriculum in place
• Visit makeasplash.org and click on “Take Action” to find a swim club in your area 

Making your kids water-safe There are several simple skills that kids need to become water-safe.

• Hold breath for 7-10 seconds.
• Tread water with vertical kicking and arm movements for balance and body support
• Float on back and kick for 7 feet
• Float prone and kick for 7 feet 

Know the drowning risks

• Drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related death for children in the U.S.
• 3/4 of all drownings occur from May to September
• Nine people drown each day in the U.S.
• Kids don’t have to be in a pool to drown. Drainage ditches, lakes and ponds, and for small children, bathtubs, toilets and buckets all create a risk

Educate yourself Many kids never learn to swim because their parents cannot afford swimming lessons. Parents may visit makeasplash.org to find a place for their kids to learn to swim, and also to provide swim lessons for children who are less fortunate. 

 Have a safe & Happy Summer!

Tips courtesy of NBCNews.com

Suprising Safety Hazards

Does your toddler get into everything?  Here are a few Surprising Safety Hazards to look out for. 

Dishwashers

The Danger: Dishwashers give children easy access to sharp knives and forks. Detergent can irritate your child's skin and eyes and can burn the lining of her mouth and esophagus if swallowed. 

 

Safe Strategy: Point knives, forks, and other sharp items downward in the utensil basket. Don't fill the dispenser with detergent until you're ready to run the load, and wipe out any that's left over after each cycle. Always replace the cap on the bottle tightly, and store it in a locked cabinet. Keep the dishwasher closed and latched when it's not in use.

Latex Balloons

The Danger:  Children can choke to death when chewing on or blowing up latex balloons. "Latex balloons are one of the worst things to choke on because they can conform to a child's throat and completely block breathing,"

Safe Strategy:  Buy Mylar balloons instead of latex ones. Always supervise children playing with latex balloons, and never allow biting or chewing on balloons. When a balloon pops, immediately throw away the pieces.

Soft Bedding

 The Danger: Fluffy comforters and bumper pads may make a crib cozy, but soft bedding can mold around babies' faces and suffocate them. 

Safe Strategy: Place babies on their backs on a firm mattress covered with a tight-fitting mattress pad and sheet. Don't put pillows, comforters, thick bumper pads, or soft toys in the crib until they are a year old. Keep them warm with a lightweight blanket tucked tightly around the mattress, or dress them in a blanket sleeper.

Bath and Baby Oils

The Danger: Some bath and baby oils contain liquid hydrocarbons, which can cause a serious pneumonia-like condition, irreversible lung damage, and even death if a child aspirates the substance into their lungs.

Safe Strategy: Read labels and store all bath and baby oils out of your child's reach, even if they're in child-resistant packaging.

 Tips courtesy of Parents.com

Fire Safety Tips

Fire safety can be scary. Do you have a emergency evacuation plan? Here are a few tips to help your whole family get out safely.

1.) Have a meeting place identified. 

2.) Do home fire Drills.

3.) Have emergency numbers posted.

4.) Do regular smoke detector checks.

5.) Keep it simple. Children learn when the rules are straight forward and easy to remember. If you have pre-schoolers, you may want to introduce just one or two of the rules at a time.

6.) Use teachable moments. Reinforce your discussions about fire safety whenever the topic arises -- for example, when there is a fire in the news or in a book, or when you see a fire, ask your children what they would do if they were in that situation.

7.) Do it. Don't just say it! Children learn by doing and by following your example. Make a game of practicing a fast escape from each room in your house, especially at night when most deadly fires occur.

8.) Know two ways out. Use a stopwatch and wait until everyone has gathered at your family's designated meeting place before you stop the timer. Work together to set a family record.

9.) Repeat yourself. Children need to hear and do things over and over before they remember them. Practice your family's escape plan 4 times every year.

10.) Don't scare small children with too much responsibility. In a dangerous situation, it's normal for 3-6 year olds to forget things they've learned. Make a game of practicing fire safety do they become very comfortable with all of the rules. Remind them to never hide. Go outside.

Tips courtesy of Firesafetyforkids.org

Sun Safety tips for your Little Ones!

Just one blistering sunburn in childhood more than doubles a person's chances of developing melanoma later in life.

Below are The Skin Cancer Foundation's recommendations.

Infants
0-6 months: Infants under 6 months of age should be kept out of the sun. Their skin is too sensitive for sunscreen.

• Use removable mesh window shields to keep direct sunlight from coming in through the windows of your car or invest in UV window film,
• Take walks early in the morning before 10 AM or after 4 PM and use a stroller with a sun-protective cover.
• Dress baby in lightweight clothing that covers the arms and legs.
• Choose a wide-brimmed hat or bonnet that protects the baby's face, neck, and ears.

Babies
6-12 months: It's now safe to use sunscreen on babies.

• All the protection methods explained above still apply, however now sunscreen use should be incorporated.
• Apply broad-spectrum, SPF 15+ sunscreen to areas left uncovered such as baby's hands.
• Most importantly, sunscreen must be applied 30 minutes before going outside and reapplied every two hours or after swimming or excessive sweating.

Toddlers/Pre-School Age

• Make sure your child seeks the shade between 10 AM and 4 PM. Check the outdoor area where your child plays to make sure there is adequate shade.
• Make sure toddlers are covered. Long-sleeved, unbleached cotton clothing is cool and comfortable, while also highly protective. Clothing with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) listing on the label offers extra security. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends clothing with a UPF of 30 or higher. 
• Don't forget hats and sunglasses. Choose a wide-brimmed hat that protects face, neck, and ears.Water-resistant, spray-on sunscreens are a good choice for toddlers who won't sit still. Look for broad-spectrum sunscreens with an SPF 15 or higher.

Tips courtesy of Skin Cancer Foundation

Backyard Safety Tips for a Safe & Happy Labor Day!

Many families enjoy spending time in their backyards, especially while celebrating Labor Day. But the backyard poses an entirely new set of problems and concerns. It doesn’t matter whether you like to have family cook outs or simply sit outside and look at the stars.

 

Here is a list of tips to keep your little ones safe in the backyard. 1. Watch your baby at all times. Bugs, rocks, dirt, grass, etc. could all prove to be hazards. Attentive parenting is always the best safety tool. 2. Bug spray. If you live in a climate where mosquitoes, ticks, etc are a problem then you will want something to protect your baby. The best products are Deet free and come in gentle formulas. 3. Water. Always have plenty of fresh water and snacks. 4. Sunscreen. Anytime your baby is outdoors they should be protected with an SPF of at least 50. 5. Keep your baby contained. If you have a large yard, you may want to invest in playyard. It will keep baby in one area, and give you a much smaller area to baby proof. Pay special attention once your child starts standing, as they will eventually be able to climb out. 6. Be mindful of plants and insects. Babies love to put things in their mouth, and many items outdoors are poisonous. Make sure to research anything you plant in the garden, as well as anything that pops up in the wild. If you do find something poisonous, uproot it immediately or kill it with a weed killer. 7. Be prepared for stings. Bees, wasps, yellow jackets etc, are all real threats to your baby. If your child gets stung (assuming that they aren’t allergic) you can administer a cold compress and some antihistamines. 8. Grilling. Always keep the baby away from the grill and open flame.  Tips courtesy of Babyproofingdirectory.com