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Home Safety
National Window Safety Week: Apr. 7-13
Apr 11, 2013
Observed annually during the first full week in April, National Window Safety Week is designed to heighten the awareness of what can be done to help keep families safe from the risk of accidental falls or injuries in the home. While National Window Safety Week is observed annually, safety education occurs throughout the year.
From the National Safety Council (NSC):
Babyproofing 101: 10 Household Safety Hazards | Parents
Apr 04, 2013
This list from Parents.com has a list of 10 household safety hazards that are often missed, such as dishwashers and balloons.
Play Yards: New Safety Rule to Take Effect | CPSC Blogger
Feb 28, 2013
Beginning Feb. 28, 2013, manufacturers and importers of infant and toddler play yards are required to test their play yards to ensure that they meet new federal safety standards.
Play yards are framed enclosures with a floor and mesh or fabric side panels. Most can be folded for storage or travel.
CPSC Blog - Be Safe: Check Your Home Heating
Feb 14, 2013
Two women are reported to have died from carbon monoxide poisoning recently in Chicago, according to the Chicago Tribune. The newspaper reports that a faulty boiler is suspected.
Product Instability or Tip-Over Injuries and Fatalities Associated with Televisions, Furniture, and Appliances: 2012 Report | CPSC
Nov. 2012
Description
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging parents of young children to anchor and stabilize their televisions, furniture, and appliances to prevent tip-over related incidents. In a quest to reach a toy, TV or game remote, or other desired item, young children are using dressers and tables as climbing devices and the results are tragic.
A new CPSC data report (pdf) issued recently shows that 349 consumers (84 percent of them were children younger than age 9) were killed between 2000 and 2011, when TVs, furniture or appliances toppled over onto them. Last year (2011) had the highest one-year number of fatalities reported. The 41 recorded fatalities is an increase from 31 in 2010 and 27 in 2009. This total also may increase in future years as additional fatalities are reported.
For the press release, click here.
For the data report, click here.
The Tipping Point: Highest Number of TV and Furniture Tip-Over Deaths Recorded By CPSC in 2011
Jan 17, 2013
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging parents of young children to anchor and stabilize their televisions, furniture, and appliances to prevent tip-over related incidents. In a quest to reach a toy, TV or game remote, or other desired item, young children are using dressers and tables as climbing devices and the results are tragic.
Kids Use Kitchen Items for Risky Games and Highs | WebMD
Jan 03, 2013
Common kitchen items like ground cinnamon and marshmallows are increasingly being used by kids for dangerous choking games and cheap, easy highs, a toxicologist warns.
"A lot of these spices and household products are around all year. But during the holidays, kids are out of school. So they have less structure and may spend more time on the Internet, where they can learn about choking games and other ways to get high," says Christina Hantsch, MD, of Loyola University Health System in Maywood, Ill.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Hazards Rise in Colder Weather | HealthDay
Nov 29, 2012
The arrival of cold weather increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can occur when gas furnaces, fireplaces and other heating devices don't work properly and release the dangerous gas into homes, experts warn.
For the news story, click here.
AAP News: Tips to Make Your Gas Fireplace Safe for Your Toddler
Nov 08, 2012
In the past, gas fireplaces were mainly ornamental additions to homes and hotels. Now, they often are installed as heating units and can get blisteringly hot. Glass fronts to fireplaces — often placed at the perfect height for curious toddlers to touch or fall into — can reach 500 degrees and cause injuries in as little as one second.
To learn more, click here.
Asbestos May Pose Health Hazards In Hurricane Sandy's Wake | Huffington Post
Nov 08, 2012
With wind and water damage caused by Sandy compromising the integrity of homes, schools and other buildings along much of the East Coast, health experts warn of increased risks of exposure to a variety of environmental toxins. One of the most worrisome, they say, is asbestos. Much of the compromised construction materials, including roofing, piping and insulation, could contain the microscopic mineral fibers. And while a person generally can't see it, smell it or taste it, they can breathe it and ingest it -- and the consequences can be severe.
