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UPCOMING ISSUES |
SAFETYEnsuring a sun-safe summer
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------ Ensuring a sun-safe summer According to Safe Kids Canada, approximately 1,800 children will be seriously injured this June through August, and approximately 50 will die. It is important to remember at least 40 percent of these injuries can be prevented by following basic safety advice, according to Safe Kids Canada. But there are things that parents can do to ensure everyone has a safe and fun summer. Making waves: Children under five have the highest risk of drowning because they are attracted to water but don’t understand the dangers. They can drown quickly and silently. According to the Canadian Pediatric Society, drowning is one of the leading causes of death among children one to four years of age. Babies and toddlers drown most often at home, in bathtubs and swimming pools. Children can drown in as little as 4 cm (1.5 inches) of water. According to Shawna DiFilippo, program coordinator for Safe Kids Canada, 50 percent of all drownings happen in backyard pools. Never allow your child to go near water without Mom or Dad. That is the challenge for parents of children at this age, says DiFilippo: “Young children just don’t understand the risks, and the consequences.” Supervision is the key. “Pools should be fenced on all four sides and have self-closing and self-latching gates, latched from the inside. [The gate] should block access from the house to the pool because that is often how kids get out,” DiFilippo adds. Don’t forget those baby pools; they should be emptied after every use. Monkeying around: Parents can help their children stay safe on playgrounds by doing a few simple things, including assessing your child’s abilities before they get involved in new summer sports and activities. Your children may have grown over the past year. It is important to ensure that children are using the right-sized equipment and appropriate safety gear. Drawstring and skipping ropes are a big no-no on playgrounds. Clothing can get trapped in equipment and strangle a child. Children should not wear bicycle helmets while they are on playground equipment. Their heads may get stuck in a space between narrow openings. Parents can get playground safety checklists to evaluate basic playground hazards. Contact your local or provincial injury prevention centre, your nearest children’s hospital, or Safe Kids Canada tip line at 1-888-SAFE-TIPS. Window-watching: DiFilippo says there is an increase in the number of window falls in the warmer weather but that shouldn’t force parents to keep the windows locked. She says there are a number of products on the market that limit how much window can open. Parents can install a window safety device, which stops the window from opening more than 10 cm (four inches). A simpler measure could include using screws in the window frame to prevent the window from opening more than 10 cm. DiFilippo says it’s important to keep furniture away from windows, as well as balcony railings, to prevent young kids from climbing and falling. Recent numbers from Safe Kids Canada shows that between 1994 and 2003 the number of deaths and injuries are going down. In 1994, there 500 preventable deaths in children; by 2003 that had gone down to 300. DiFilippo says that is in part because of increased education, enforcement, like legislation, and awareness by parents, community and manufacturers. Let the sunshine in: Protect yourself and your children from the sun particularly in the summer because you’re outside more. Bad sunburns and too much time spent in the sun without skin protection have been linked to a higher risk of skin cancer later in life, according to the Canadian Pediatric Society. Experts recommend you ease yourselves into the sun, don’t try to get a tan all in one day. Cover up: Lightweight cotton clothing, a hat with a brim, and sunglasses with 100 percent UV protection are all a must for Mom and child. Don’t forget the sunscreen with SPF of at least 15. Reapply throughout the day to ensure proper protection. Sun block isn’t recommended for babies under six months because they may get it in their eyes or mouth. Keep very young children covered and out of the sun’s direct rays. Children should avoid playing outside in the sun during the sun’s peak hours, which are between 11am and 2 pm. ------Summer-proof your children Summer is here! And by all means, we should let our children enjoy it. So bring out the wading pool, get the picnic supplies ready, and have fun! But don’t forget that safety comes first, which is why you should read on before you head out for a sunny, fun-filled day. Water Safety If you put your little one ankle-deep in water in a wading pool, be vigilant. Don’t leave his side – not even for a few seconds – unless you take him out first and drain the pool. While this may sound like an exaggerated precaution, it isn’t. Every now and then, sad news proves that no measure is too great when it comes to a child’s safety. If you go to the beach, stay close to your little one if he likes to be near water. Waves roll in and can easily sweep him off his feet. Inflatable flotation devices can give a false sense of security. Always be in close proximity (within arm’s reach) when your little one is using flotation devices in the water. Lastly, make a point of teaching your babysitter about water safety. Better yet, hire someone who knows about water safety and what to do in an emergency situation. Sun Safety Enter sunscreen. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that sunscreen should not be applied on babies six months and younger. For toddlers and older children, look for sunscreen with SPF15 or higher. Pass on the nice-smelling creams and look for the ones that contain titanium oxide as a sun protection agent, and no synthetic filters. Also, there should be no preservatives, colours and scents in your child’s sunscreen, since they can cause skin rashes and allergic reactions. For maximum protection, sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before going outside and then reapplied every couple of hours. Many children’s stores offer sun protective swimwear, which is generally rated in UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) units. They go from good (UPF 15-24) to excellent (UPF 50 and higher). As a general rule, if you can see through a fabric, it does not offer enough protection. Look for tightly woven, darker coloured fabrics. Hats and UV-proofed sunglasses are a must, so persuade your little one to wear them. As with everything else, lead by example. Say No to Tummy Bugs If there is any meat on your picnic menu, don’t let young children hang out around the preparation area. Cook meat thoroughly and wash any utensils that were used in the process, very well. When it’s time to eat, make sure that all those little hands have been carefully washed. Most food-borne illnesses happen because of poor hygiene. Watch out for signs of food poisoning in your little ones. Stomach cramps, fever, diarrhea and vomiting are obvious signs of food poisoning. They can start anywhere from several hours after ingesting the food to a couple of days. See a doctor if your toddler: has severe abdominal pain, blood in the stool, or a high fever or has been vomiting for more than three days, which could lead to dehydration. Prevent dehydration by offering sips of water or an over-the-counter electrolyte solution that will help your little one replace the lost fluids, salt and minerals. ------ How safe is baby in your car? I’m neurotic,” said one mom-to-be when asked why she and her partner had come to the child seat inspection clinic. But if the steady stream of cars pulling into the clinic was any indication, Ginaya Peters and Scott Jackson are typical of parents and soon-to-be parents. They want to make sure their little one is safely secured in their vehicle. One after another the cars pull in, each driven by an anxious mom or dad. This morning they have one thing on their minds – they are wondering if they have done it right. Jennifer Rodrigues and Henry Sison have just purchased a new convertible seat for son Matthew. Almost seven months old, he has now outgrown his infant seat, but mom and dad had trouble installing the new seat rear facing. “The way I had installed it, I didn’t trust it,” said Rodrigues. A recent Child Passenger Safety Program province-wide survey confirms that parents want to get it right. Preliminary results indicate that 95 percent of babies and toddlers are restrained in the vehicle. Worrisome, though, is that around half of those surveyed had one or more installation or use problems. As a child passenger safety technician, I look at all aspects of an infant’s or child’s safety seat installation and harnessing. Around 80 percent of infant and child seats the program inspects are installed or used incorrectly. And that concerns me. It’s important to realize that babies are not just tiny adults. Their proportions are different. With relatively large heads and undeveloped neck muscles, they require special protection. It’s critical that children ride in the rear-facing position until they are at least one year of age. Rear-facing infant seats are designed to provide maximum support for babies. Parents should remember that weight limits vary from seat to seat, so it’s always important to check the manufacturer’s instructions. Tall babies, like seven-month-old Matthew, may outgrow their infant seat. After the baby has outgrown the infant seat, parents should buy a convertible seat that can be used rear facing up to at least 30 lb. (14 kg). Babies should continue to be restrained in the rear-facing position in a convertible seat until they are at least one year old and up to the recommended weight/height limit for the rear-facing position. What are the most common mistakes parents make when transporting their baby in an infant or convertible seat? At a child seat inspection clinic, we check to see if parents have installed their infant or child seat correctly. We also look at the harness to ensure it’s being used properly. Usually we see relief on the faces of parents once they know they’re doing everything they can to ensure their baby’s safety in the car. Rodrigues says she couldn’t get Matthew’s seat tight enough but is pleased the technician demonstrated how to correct this problem so that it’s easier now. “I’m a visual person. Once I see it the first time, I can do it the second time.” Jocelyn Pedder is an expert in impact biomechanics. She’s investigated motor vehicle collisions and analysed the impact forces of various types of injury-causing crashes for more than 20 years. She continues to be impressed at the track record of properly installed and used rear-facing seats. She recalls a number of serious crashes, so serious that the vehicles were barely recognizable, and in some cases front seat passengers were seriously injured. For her, the effectiveness of these seats is apparent when, “in the back seat you have a baby in a rear-facing child seat who is, at most, crying.” She stresses the importance of “taking the time to do it properly” and selecting the best vehicle position for the infant or child seat. Not only must the child seat for those one year and under be rear facing, it should never be placed in a vehicle seat with a front air bag. She also recommends positioning the child seat in the centre of the back seat, usually a safer position in the event of a side-impact crash. Back at the inspection clinic, Rodrigues and Sison are glad they came and Matthew smiles as he sits in his new, properly installed and harnessed convertible rear-facing child seat. Even though Rodrigues wishes built-in rear-facing child seats were available, she says: “This program is really good. Now I know where everything goes!” Want more information? The Child Passenger Safety Program (a BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation/ICBC partnership) offers helpful resources for parents who want to make sure they are doing it right. Go to www.tsf-bcaa.com and follow the links to Child Seats to access a wide range of resources. You can talk to a certified child restraint systems technician at 1- 877-247-5551 Mondays to Fridays from 9 am to 5 pm. Check the website to find out when an inspection clinic will be coming to your area and make sure you phone for an appointment. Attendance is free but donations are gratefully accepted. ------ Summer Safety Tips for Baby and Toddler What a joy to have a baby in the summer time. The longer days are pleasant and there are many ways to enjoy the outdoors with your new baby. But there are a few health concerns specific to young infants in the hot summer days. Sun exposure & dehydration Because babies have thinner skin and again because of their larger surface area, sunburns can occur more easily. Sun protection is important to prevent the immediate risk of sunburn, and to decrease the risk of skin cancer later in life. There is good evidence to show that early sun exposure is associated with an increased risk of melanoma and other skin cancers. Prolonged sun exposure, episodes of intense sun exposure, and sunburns are all independent risk factors for malignant melanoma. Current recommendations are against the use of sunscreen in children less than six months old. There is no known toxicity to sunscreens below this age, but they have never been formally tested. So, the current recommendation is avoidance of sun exposure. This means covering the skin during daytime hours and staying inside during peak UV hours (10 am to 2 pm). If it is impossible to avoid the sun, it would still be prefereable to use sunscreen. In general, one should read the labels of sunscreens and check their endorsement from either the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Academy of Pediatrics or the Canadian Pediatric Society. The sun protection factor (SPF) should be 15 or preferably 30, and you should follow directions for application. This would be a good time to mention one of the benefits of the sun – it promotes the synthesis of vitamin D in our skin. Vitamin D is responsible for absorption of calcium and phosphorus from our diet, and vitamin D deficiency can lead to rickets – a “softening” of the bones. Because of our appreciation of the sun’s harmful effects over the last few decades, there has been a resurgence of vitamin D deficiency in people of all ages. This is being investigated, and in the future a daily “safe” dose of sun may be recommended which allows for vitamin D synthesis, while not increasing cancer risk. At present, babies should avoid the sun and have an adequate dietary source of vitamin D. Breastfed babes need a daily supplement of 400 units. Formula-fed infants will receive an adequate supply in the formula. If you are combining breast and formula feeding, ask your doctor about the need for supplements. Insect bites First, try to minimize exposure by avoidance, and by keeping your environment free of areas of stagnant water, where insects like to breed. If your child is going to be outside in an area where there may be mosquitoes, they will need protection. Covering areas of exposed skin with clothing is easy and safe. For exposed areas of skin, an insect repellent must be applied. The most effective and well-studied repellent is DEET (NN diethyl 3 methyl menzamide). Concentrations vary from five percent to 24 percent and the duration of protection is proportional to the concentration – about 90 minutes to five hours respectively. DEET is safe for infants over two months, children, pregnant women and nursing moms, if applied according to directions. For children, the repellent should be applied to the caregivers hands and then spread onto the child’s exposed skin, avoiding mouth, eyes and hands (as children will often suck on their hands). Don’t apply on areas covered by clothing, and never apply on open wounds or irritated skin. Follow directions, and reapply as necessary. Another effective agent is two percent soybean oil. This is safe but lasts only 90 minutes, so must be reapplied diligently. Finally, if you are applying both sunscreen and insect repellent, the sunscreen should be applied first. Have a healthy, safe and happy summer! -------- Baby
gear safety check: what you don't know may hurt baby Despite manufacturers' best intentions, baby products do not always perform in a real-world setting the same way they do in a laboratory. When a product is subjected to the rigorous demands of daily use, unforeseen hazards can emerge. Calls from concerned parents to a regulating body such as Health Canada or the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in the United States are often the catalyst for what is known as a recall - an attempt by the manufacturer to pull an item from store shelves and alert unsuspecting families who have already purchased the product to its potential danger. Last year alone, the CPSC initiated 90 recalls and warnings of hazardous children's products. These recalls affected 14 million units in the US and Canada. Unfortunately, most safety warnings and recalls don't appear in the headlines and few parents actually repair or replace defective items. Here is a partial list of common and sometimes dangerous nursery products. Could one of these be in your home? Cribs:
1986 was a good year Playpens
& Portable Cribs: Is danger lurking in your home? Avoid accepting
a second-hand portable crib or playpen unless you are sure it is safe!
As well, look for these must-have safety features: Do you already own a used playpen or portable crib? Go to the end of this article to find out how you can check for recalls. Strollers:
Prevent tip-overs A safe stroller
should have these key components: Infant
Car Seats: Kids aren't dummies Car seats
sold in Canada must meet Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS).
Besides making sure your car seat meets these standards, also check for
the following: If you plan to give away or sell your car seat, make sure it meets CMVSS standards and has not been recalled. If you are expecting and haven't yet bought a seat, the safest car seats for newborns are marked 'infant-only'. These seats fit newborns better and also have handles for transport to and from the car. Baby Walkers:
Too young to drive! Should you
place your infant in a walker, you will be exposing him or her to: If you want a product that can entertain your baby for short periods, look for an activity centre without wheels. Walkers and activity centres are not babysitters. Research has found that using one for prolonged periods can interfere with a baby's muscle development and actually delay the onset of walking. Safety
Gates: Diamonds aren't a baby's best friend! Before you
purchase a gate, consider the following: Remove your stair gate when your child reaches two to three years of age or when the top of the gate is at chin height. Need
More Help? You can find out if you own a recalled car seat by visiting the British Columbia Automobile Association's (BCAA) website at www.bcaa.com/automo/safety.html. For car seat safety and usability ratings, visit www.icbc.com or call the Safe Ride program at 604-875-3273. For room-by-room home safety information and baby-proofing products for the home, visit the Safety Station at B.C.'s Children's Hospital, www.cw.bc.ca/safetystation or call 604-875-2244. Anne Williams has spent more than 10 years teaching injury prevention on behalf of the BC Paraplegic Association, Vancouver General Hospital and B.C.'s Children's Hospital. In 1998, she helped launch the Safety Station, currently Canada's only hospital-based safety centre and baby-proofing shop. Located in the Children's Hospital lobby, the Safety Station raises funds for the Safe Start injury prevention program. -------- Rub-a-dub-dub:
safety in the tub Some of our most frequently asked safety questions from parents are to do with infant bathing. A wonderful bonding experience, bath time can also bring new parents much anxiety about whether or not they are bathing their infants properly. Here are answers to a few of the most frequently asked bath safety questions. What is
the best way to bathe my newborn? What are
the baby bath essentials? Here are
a few more bathing essentials: Prior to bathing your baby, set the room temperature to about 24° C (75° C) to avoid chills. Infant tubs are convenient but not necessary. The most important thing is to keep baby's head well-supported and elevated. To prevent falls, be extremely careful when handling a soapy infant. A soapy baby is a slippery baby! What is
the ideal bathwater temperature? For more information on infant bathing, call your local health department or doctor's office, or BC's Newborn Hotline at 604-737-3737. Safety
alert! For more information visit www.cpsc.gov. The dangers
of hot tap water: The safest water temperature for households with young children is 49º C (120º F). If possible, turn down the thermostat on your tank. If you cannot locate it, call the manufacturer or a plumbing expert to help you. If you live in an apartment or condominium with shared hot water, install mixing valves in your bathroom or kitchen plumbing. Lowering hot water temperature poses no risk for healthy individuals. However, if someone in your family has a weakened immune system due to an organ transplant, HIV or other illness, consult with your doctor before turning down your hot water. Anne Williams manages the Safety Station at B.C.'s Children's Hospital. It is Canada's only hospital-based safety information centre and fundraising shop. Proceeds support the hospital's injury prevention program. Call the Safety Station between 10 am and 4 pm, Tuesday through Saturday, at (604) 875-2244, or toll-free in BC 1-888-331-8100. www.cw.bc.ca/safetystation. -------- Babyproofing
tips Some babyproofing guides are so exhaustive they could qualify as scripts for the reality show Fear Factor. As well, manufacturers often exaggerate risk in order to sell their products. It's no wonder parents don't know where to start! Babies are less likely to be injured today than those born 30 years ago. In the past decade alone, awareness programs, product regulations, engineering and the advancement of medical technology have contributed to a decline in childhood injury deaths and hospitalizations by 20 percent. Despite this progress, injuries continue to hospitalize more children than all other diseases combined. The key to successful babyproofing is finding out what the most serious injuries are and making them the targets of your prevention strategy. Minor bumps and bruises are unavoidable. Here are the top five serious injuries seen at hospital emergency departments in BC. Once you've got these covered, you'll be well on your way to a baby-friendly home. The Top
Five Falls Baby Safety
Check Poisonings
Baby Safety
Check Burns
and scalds Baby Safety
Check Choking
Babies go through a phase during which they put almost anything in their mouths, so clearing your home of potential choking hazards is an important babyproofing strategy. Baby Safety
Check Drowning
Baby Safety
Check Babyproofing products aren't always the answer - awareness and monitoring of your environment and developing routine behaviors go a long way in preventing injuries. As your baby develops, he or she will likely show interest in things that you never predicted. Once you've covered the necessities, you will be better able to handle these challenges as they come along. For more info on safety products and childproofing tips for the home, visit the Safety Station at www.cw.bc.ca/safetystation, or call 604-875-2244. For safety gate reviews, visit www.epinions.com. The Gate
Debate Stair Gates
Pressure
Gates Gates with round or diamond-shaped holes (a common design) are not a good choice if your baby tends toward climbing. According to the Safety Station babyproofing centre, the following gates get good reviews from parents for durability and ease-of-use. Most popular
stair gates Anne Williams manages the Safety Station at BC's Children's Hospital. It is Canada's only hospital-based safety information centre and fundraising shop. Proceeds support the hospital's injury prevention program. -------- Bikes,
buckets and bites: tips for baby's first summer Summer is a time to relax and have fun. But it's no time to let your guard down when it comes to the safety of your baby. Here are some of the most common summertime hazards to watch for while you enjoy the next few months with baby. Who let
the dogs out? If you are planning to adopt a pet this summer, research dog breeds to find one suitable for children. As well, because most injuries are caused by the family pet, teach your child at a very early age not to pull on, taunt or tease your dog. This will avoid bites triggered by an animal's natural defensiveness. Water
hazards Children have a natural fascination with water and they move quickly. Between 60 to 70 percent of toddler drownings and near-drownings are caused by falls into water during activities other than swimming. A typical scenario involves an unexpected fall into a kiddy pool, backyard pool, lake or river. Large, 10-gallon buckets - often used to wash vehicles - are also dangerous. During recreational activities, make sure your baby always wears a personal floatation device (PFD) when on a boat or around rivers, lakes and pools. Type II PFDs are manufactured to fit infants as small as nine kilograms (20 lbs) and can be worn comfortably while playing near water sources. Always empty buckets and plastic kiddy pools after using them. Otherwise, a baby who falls in head-first will not have the strength to pull him or herself out, and may drown. Backyard pools are the number one cause of toddler drownings. If you own a pool, install a self-locking gate and fence between the pool and your back door, as well as around the pool's perimeter. Pool fencing should be a minimum of four feet tall and have no toe-holds for climbing. Too hot
to handle On a sunny day, the inside temperature of your vehicle can reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit in a matter of minutes. Never leave your baby (or the family pet) locked in a hot car while you run a quick errand, as heat stroke can happen in the few moments you are away from your vehicle. It is vitally important to protect an infant from UV exposure. A sunburn - as well as being very painful - can more than double a baby's risk of skin cancer in adulthood. Umbrellas, stroller covers, hats and beach tents are all ways to help keep the sun off baby's delicate skin. UV-protective sunwear, originally developed in Australia, is widely available in Canada and is made of swim-friendly fabric that blocks out up to 98 percent of UV rays. When shopping for UV-protective products, look for those rated 50 UPF. This is the highest rating given to sun-protective material. After six months of age, babies should wear a minimum SPF 30, broad spectrum sunscreen every time they go outdoors. To prevent adverse reactions, always test any new skin product on a small patch of baby's skin before applying it all over. An open
invitation Windows are a major climbing hazard if they are left open more than 10 cm wide, are within two feet off the ground or have furniture placed underneath them. Always lock windows and patio doors at a maximum of 10 cm (four inches) wide. Some older homes may not meet current building codes for deck rail spacing and may also be a hazard. Put a barrier in front of your deck rails if they are more than 10 cm apart. Never use a screen as a window barrier. The screen will pop out or the netting will tear under the weight of a toddler. Fragile
cargo Because of their weak neck muscles, babies younger than one year of age are too young to ride on the back of a bike or in a trailer. As well, the smallest helmets are designed to fit children with head circumferences of 47 cm (18.5) inches or greater. Most bike helmets are too big for babies. After your baby is old enough to fit a helmet properly and is at least one year of age, buy him or her a high-back bike seat. This will provide support and prevent neck strain created by the bumps felt while buckled up on the back of your bike. For more information on any of the topics listed above, or other injury prevention information, call Safe Start or the Safety Station at BC's Children's Hospital at 604-875-2244, or visit www.cw.bc.ca/safetystation. For information on choosing the right helmet for your child, visit www.safekidscanada.ca. Anne Williams manages the Safety Station at BC's Children's Hospital. It is Canada's only hospital-based safety information centre and fundraising shop. Proceeds support the hospital's injury prevention program. -------- Learning
first aid for your children The first time I witnessed a choking incident, the victim was my own child. My 14-month-old was eating a cracker, which became lodged in his throat. By the time I realized something was wrong, he was hunched over and his face deep blue. Frantically, I tried removing the cracker - scooping his mouth with my finger, while whacking his back with my open palm. He slumped in my arms, unresponsive. Sitting next to me was another mom, anxiously observing my attempts to revive my son. She sprang to action, grabbed my child, laid him face down across her lap and administered several sharp blows between his shoulders. The cracker popped out, enabling him to breathe. He cried; then I cried. I was thankful for the woman's swift response; she may well have saved my son's life. Yet, I was angry with myself: I should have known what to do! This unsettling incident prompted me to register for a first aid course - something that I had always planned to do, but never got around to doing. Did you know that 80 percent of injuries to babies and toddlers occur at home? According to the Safety Station website sponsored by BC's Children's Hospital "each year in BC, more than 10,000 children are hospitalized and 200 are killed by preventable injuries. These include falls, poisoning, burns, choking, suffocation, drowning, and car crashes." Sobering statistics. As parents, we have natural instincts for protecting our children; we take every precaution to ensure their safety, health, and well-being. Yet, accidents happen. And when they do, you require more than instinct. You need practical skills to respond. This is where ChildSafe from the Red Cross and St. John Ambulance's Save That Child can help. These first aid courses, designed specifically for parents and caregivers and taught by certified instructors, can help equip you for an emergency, and help you to create a safer environment for your child. Both ChildSafe and Save That Child courses stress accident prevention and safety education. They also cover similar topics: CPR for infants and children, rescue breathing, choking, bleeding management, and common first aid situations. I registered for Save That Child. During the course, I received four-and-a-half hours of instruction and hands-on training, a folder of safety and first aid handouts, and a certificate of participation. The course costs $38 per person and $68 per couple. ChildSafe participants receive eight hours of instruction and hands-on training, a first aid and safety manual, and a three-year certification upon completion. ChildSafe courses range in price, depending on the provider, from $65 to $80 per person. You can find out more about course registration and schedules by calling each organization's contact centre or by visiting their websites. In addition to scheduled courses, you can request private training. If you gather a group of 8 to12 participants, St. John Ambulance will either send a course instructor to your home or other facility, or arrange a private course at one of its local branches. The Red Cross contact centre will provide you with a list of authorized first aid providers in the lower mainland, some of whom offer private training as well. Says Karen Clark, ChildSafe instructor at The Vital Link, "My motto is, 'first aid training brought to you'." She emphasizes that her courses are fun, success-oriented and non-intimidating. Convenient, flexible and fun: what more could you ask from something that could potentially save a child's life? Consider that the wait time for a Lower Mainland ambulance could be four to eight minutes, and in some cases, even longer. Those few minutes can seem like hours if you're hovering over an injured child. One benefit first aid courses offer is "peace of mind," according to St. John Ambulance instructor and Vancouver police officer, Gordon Stokes. "You know that should a minor incident take place, you have the fundamental skills to deal with it," Stokes says, adding that first aid courses "help [you] to take a proactive approach toward safety. They change your way of thinking and can enable you to prevent accidents." Red Cross instructor and firefighter, Ian Fitzpatrick explains some of the benefits of ChildSafe saying, "It gives people a sense of what they can change in their homes. A lot of people are surprised by the things they learn." Finally, as Fitzpatrick will attest, whenever people gather together, they can benefit from one other's experiences. Keep in mind that first aid courses have their limits. While my experience was generally positive, I found that Save That Child provided a lot of content, but not enough time to absorb the information and practise the skills. Admittedly, I have forgotten some of the techniques over time. Stokes addresses these drawbacks, explaining, "First aid is a perishable skill. It's like a second language: if you don't use it, you lose it." He recommends making first aid training a part of your regular family life by taking courses yearly. To avoid potential drawbacks, Fitzpatrick explains that "the philosophy of the Red Cross is to keep it simple. The more skills you have to remember, the more you have to forget." At any rate, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages when it comes to learning how to keep your child safe. Creating a safer home environment reduces your child's chances of injury, while knowing first aid techniques prepares you for an emergency and increases your confidence. During my first aid course I learned that my child had reached an advanced stage of choking: he could no longer breathe. If someone nearby had not known how to respond, my story could have had a different ending. -------- Make
toy safety child's play What do children really need to get the full benefits of play? The television commercial of a famous credit card company put it best when it showed a toddler passing over Dad's expensive present for the cardboard box it came in. In other words, simplicity is the key to buying toys, just as it was a generation ago. Toys for infants and toddlers must be designed to minimize the potential for choking, lacerations and eye injuries. Standards exist, but they are often voluntary and if legislated, are extremely difficult to police. It is vital as a parent that you know the key safety issues related to toys for this age group before you buy. Toy Safety
Standards Canada's
Hazardous Product Act does not require toys to be labeled to indicate
they contain choking hazards. So watch out for toys from discount stores,
garage sales and flea markets, and stick to companies who put age-appropriate
labeling on their products. Hearing and
Over-stimulation According
to the Hearing Foundation of Canada, 33.7 percent of hearing loss is caused
by repetitive overexposure to noise. Canadian regulations prohibit noisy
toys exceeding 100 decibels. But some argue that the 34-year-old standard
is outdated and that many children hold toys much closer to their ears
than government testing supposes. Advocates for quieter toys suggest that
the limit of 100 decibels - the same level of noise emitted by a chainsaw
or a rock concert - is too high for comfort and recommends a level of
87 decibels. How to
tell if a toy is age-appropriate Birth to
6 Months Mobiles should be suspended 2 to 36 cm (8 to 14") from your baby's eyes and moved up and out of his reach. Remove all crib toys and mobiles containing strings, cords or ribbons as soon your baby is old enough to push up on hands and knees, or is five months of age (whichever comes first). Age 7 to
12 months All toys for babies must be safe for mouthing, contain no toxic materials or long strings, be free of small parts and have no sharp points or edges. Age 1 to
2 years One- and two-year olds are unsteady on their feet and as a result are the highest risk group for falls among children under age five. Anything made for this age group should be strong enough for a child to stand on or in, be unbreakable, low-to-the-ground and contain no removable small parts. Toddlers act fast and without warning. Regardless of how safe you think a toy might be, active supervision is imperative. Which Toy for Which Child covers developmental stages up to five years of age. To view the publication, go to www.cpsc.gov and click on CPSC Publications. How do
I choose the best toys? The Oppenheim Toy Portfolio is an independent testing agency in the US, which accounts for more than one-quarter of the world's toy sales. Ratings are categorized by age-appropriateness and type of toy. The site is a breeze to navigate. See Oppenheim's top picks for 2005 at www.toyportfolio.com Never assume your toddler or pre-schooler is intellectually or physically advanced to the point where you don't need to acknowledge safety warnings. And if in doubt about a toy's safety, don't buy it. There are thousands of other options to choose from. Anne Williams manages the Safety Station at BC's Children's Hospital. It is Canada's only hospital-based safety information centre and fundraising shop. Proceeds support the hospital's injury prevention program. ----- Is your toddler secure in your car? One-year-old Alexandra and her mother Lynn came to today’s child seat inspection clinic to make sure Alexandra’s child safety seat was installed correctly in the family vehicle. A smart move – Dad had installed the seat earlier, but hadn’t fastened the tether strap. The Forbes family is not alone. A recent Child Passenger Safety Program province-wide study shows that while 95 percent of babies and toddlers are restrained in the vehicle, more than half of the child safety seats have installation or use problems that could compromise the child’s safety. Sadly, a very small percentage of parents are still neglecting to put their children into child safety seats at all. It is important to use and install a child safety seat correctly. That means choosing the right seat, and installing and using it the right way for each child. Babies should be in a rear-facing child safety seat until at least one year of age. Toddlers who are over the age of one and over the rear-facing weight and height limits of the seat should be in a forward-facing child safety seat. And they should remain in a forward-facing child safety seat until they are approximately four years of age and are at least 18 kg. (40 lbs.). But remember, there’s no need to rush the transition to forward facing. Dr. Jocelyn Pedder is an expert in impact biomechanics. She recommends keeping toddlers rear facing as long as possible. Not only should they be at least one year before making the switch to forward facing, Pedder says it’s important to keep toddlers rear facing until they reach the child safety seat’s weight limit for the rear-facing position. This can be up to 35 lbs. (16 kg.) for some seats. If you are purchasing a convertible seat for your baby, Pedder recommends buying a child seat that can be used in the rear-facing position for as long as possible. However, she stresses the importance of checking the child safety seat manufacturer’s instructions for the weight limit – it varies from seat to seat. What are the most common mistakes parents make when driving with their toddlers? In addition to putting their toddlers into the forward-facing position too soon, here are some common mistakes we see: • Seat belt or Universal Anchorage System (UAS) is too loose – The child seat needs to be tightly secured to the vehicle. This is done either with a seat belt or the UAS that is found in newer cars. Either way, there should be no more than one inch of play when attempting to move the child seat from side to side. • The tether strap is not secured to the vehicle – This is a common mistake parents make when they transition their toddler to the forward-facing position. A properly secured tether strap will help keep the child seat in position in a crash, reducing the risk of injury. Many vehicles have ready-to-use tether anchors. If yours doesn’t have an anchor, one will have to be professionally installed. • Harness is too loose – The harness secures the toddler in the seat. Make sure no more than one finger fits between the harness and the toddler’s collarbone. While these are the most common mistakes, a few parents make the more critical mistakes of neglecting to secure the child safety seat to the vehicle or neglecting to buckle their child into the child safety seat. Sound confusing? Your child safety seat manufacturer’s instructions, along with your vehicle owner’s manual, can help you sort out any confusion. It’s important to read them each time you get a new vehicle or child safety seat or change the seat’s position. And if you’re still having trouble, call the toll-free info line at 1-877-247-5551 and talk to a certified child restraint systems technician. Want more information? The Child Passenger Safety Program (a BCAA Traffic Safety Foundation/ICBC partnership) offers help to parents. Go to www.tsf-bcaa.com and follow the links to Child Seats to access a wide range of resources. You can talk to a certified child restraint systems technician at 1-877-247-5551 (toll-free) Mondays to Fridays from 9 am to 5 pm. Check the website to find out when the next inspection clinic will be held in your area. Phone for an appointment. Attendance is free. Marg Deibert has 15 years experience and is a certified child restraint systems technician and instructor. She is the senior technician for the Child Passenger Safety Program and also works as a consultant in the field. |
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