A Greeting for You!

5 Unsafe Things Kids Should Do? Hmmmm...

OK, so we as parents like to think we can protect our children from most major hazards. But some people believe we have become overly protective and risk preventing our kids from...well...being kids.

Here's what Gever Tulley had to say recently on TED.com. I should say that by showing you this video in no way do I mean to imply that I agree with Gever; though in theory I like some of what he's saying. But at Safety4Kids, our concern is a much younger audience--so I really don't want you to put a pocketknife under the tree for your preschooler. But it's an interesting and valid argument for older kids. After all, if you're anyting like me, you find yourself sometimes saying, "When I was a kid, we did _______ and no one got hurt." I grant you it's a different world now than when I was growing up, but still, the instinct to protect your kids is not something that changes with the latest fads (remember fads?!).

Fun Family Adventure or Nightmare? A Fine Line

A family missing anytime of the year is a horrible notion; during the holiday season, when emotions are heightened, it has an additional layer of drama. I'd rather imagine kids singing carols by a warm fire, than huddled in a culvert trying to survive hypothermia.

So when I read the story about the father leading his three kids on a tree-cutting mission deep into the snowy woods, I had several reactions:

1. Why would any adult lead their kids on such a mission? Can't they just go buy a tree like everyone else?
2. If they're going to go foraging on their own for this tree, shouldn't they let someone know, just in case?
3. If they are used to this kind of adventure, then surely they packed an appropriate survival kit.

I live in New York City, so the most trying adventure concerning a Christmas tree in my life is braving the traffic at Rockefeller Center. And I wouldn't be making light of any of this, if the end of this story had been different. Thankfully, dad and kids are home and fine. But do yourself a favor--if you're going to go into the woods, whether in the snow or not, BE PREPARED for any emergency.

Any time you go into the woods, snow or not, bring these essential items. And make sure each person has their own--everything fits in a small backpack or fanny pack:
--something with which to make a fire
--a compass, or these days, a GPS
--a large garbage bag or some other fold-able, light material that can act as a temporary shelter
--a cell phone with a fully charged battery or a two-way radio; if you opt for the two-way, tell a friend or family member which channel you'll be using
--a bullion cube, or the season packet form Ramen noodles--salty is the key
--a First Aid kit--you can find these online at the Red Cross

And please, make sure someone knows EXACTLY where you're going.

Stay safe and warm, and have a happy holiday!

(c) Howard Sandler. Image from BigStockPhoto.com

Free Holiday Gift! (Now That We Have Your Attention...)

When we talk about safety during the holidays, we're usually talking about lights on your tree, candles in your window, your mother-in-law's pills on the night table, and other important issues that get a lot of necessary attention this time of year. But there is another kind of safety concern we have at the holidays--Internet safety. That's right. Your kids will spend more time online now that school is in recess. They'll play online with their friends, they'll play by themselves, and hopefully they'll play with you, too. Internet safety, media literacy, whatever you want to call it, it's a huge concern. After all, being online can be...well...addicting! Guilty as charged.

So what's a concerned parent to do?

Well, for one thing, establish some limits. Here's some good advice from Parenting magazine.

And if you've got little ones at home who want to be on the computer playing games, here's a web browser we developed at Safety4Kids, and it's yours for free--because we care! Click on SeeMore the Safety Seal's adorable face and follow a few simples steps. Consider it an early holiday present!

Let me know if you and your kids like the browser. Empowering parents (and who couldn't use some empowering?!) is key, and this is one way I think we can help.

Of course, you can always turn off the computer and go sledding! Just be careful when you do.

Be Well and Be Safe!

Get The Lead Out: Keeping Toys Safe

At last, some good news in the toy industry! Hasbro, the second largest toy maker, has hired a firm to lobby the government on product safety issues. Now maybe when we buy toys for our kids, we won't find out months later that they contain lead, turn into date-rape drugs, or perforate internal organs. Doesn't really seem like too much to ask!

Check out the article.

And if you notice a new "look" to our blog, we've decided to pull back the curtain and show our face--or rather, my face! I've been writing most of the posts for Safety4Kids, and along with Sheila Josephson, writing the Kid Nation posts on WebMD's TV Checkup blog. Now don't get mad - we wanted to like the show - we just didn't!

I'll be writing more often, offering information, comments on relevant safety issues, and asking some of my colleagues to share their thoughts, too. And I'm going to give you some fun media to share with your kids. And I promise...no lead in any of it!

Be Safe!


Related Links:

• 2007 Unsafe Toys Report Released
• Buying Safe Toys for the Holidays

'Tis The Season...To Be Safe!

OK, so we're obsessed with safety. There are worse things to be. Especially when you devote your days and nights to creating entertaining and educational programming for preschoolers. So when everyone else's thoughts turn to "sugar plum fairies", our thoughts, at Safety4Kids, turn to those same fairies falling on their heads! It's not always easy being us!

But as the temperatures drop and the forecast is for snow in many parts of the country, we turn our focus to the particular safety hazards of the season. And how best to prevent them.

Dr. Carl Baum, our favorite expert wearing both his toxicology and pediatric emergency hats, offered his thoughts on the "top" safety hazards to be aware of.

Automobiles (approximately 43,000 deaths per year)
Make sure your children are restrained in age-appropriate car or booster seats. And if you're in the market for a new car, consider one with good crash resistance, paying close attention to side-impact resistance. These sites can help:
http://www.iihs.org
http://www.safercar.gov/

And remember that SUVs are not the "super-fortresses" that the public perceives them to be; in one large study, any benefit from increased mass in terms of child-occupant protection was lost because of the tendency to roll over. (Not to mention that SUVs are obscene gasoline hogs and increase your carbon footprint.) We care about wellness AND safety! And the environment is part of it all.

Carbon Monoxide (approximately 500 unintentional deaths per year)
Make sure your furnace is inspected and cleaned annually. Be extremely careful venting exhaust from portable propane or gasoline-powered generators and heaters. And have at least one carbon monoxide detector in your home. Remember that during a power failure--when people often turn to alternate sources of power and heat--only battery-powered detectors will continue to work.

Other Poisoning
Grandparents visiting for the holidays? Make sure their medications and your toddler stay separated! One-and 2-year-olds account for approximately 1/3 of the 2.4 million calls to US poison centers annually.
Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222.

Recalls
2007 seems to be the year of the recall! Confused? You're not alone. Here's a website that summarizes recalls, not just of toys but of many consumer products, including cars. You can search the database and sign up for email notification:
http://recalls.gov/

Check back often for updates and more helpful information from our safety team at Safety4Kids. Happy, healthy, and safe holidays from our family to yours!

(c) Judi Brenstein. Image from BigStockPhoto.com