Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Keep your baby safe!

Are you a mom or dad that is always finding ways to keep your baby safe?! Well guess what? It's Baby Safety Month and here are some great tips we found on how to keep your baby/babies safe!

About Baby Safety Month

Baby Safety Month started in 1983 when JPMA initiated “Expectant Mother’s Day.” In 1986, it was extended to a week-long celebration, until 1991, when JPMA sponsored the first “Baby Safety Awareness Month.” Since then, every September has been designated as Baby Safety Month.


http://jpma.org/content/press/news/baby-safety-month-highlights-safety-every-room

INFANT CAR SEAT

When you first think of keeping your baby safe, you immediately think of car safety. Daily commutes to the daycare center, elementary school, the office and the dry cleaners keep us feeling like we spend more time in our vehicles than we do in our homes. This is why your child’s safety in the car should be priority number one – it is where they are spending a lot of time each day.

To read more visit: http://dailymom.com/nurture/baby-safety-guide-giveaway/ 


In and Around the Car

You’ve done your research on keeping your child safe in the car, and on the road. You shopped for the safest car when you started a family. You read up on car seats for kids and figured out which one worked best for you and your family. You even took your car and car seat to a seat-checking station to let an expert check and approve of your handiwork.
But did you know there are other dangers in and around your vehicle that could seriously harm or even kill your child?
We’ve identified six common dangers that even the most careful parents can overlook, and some tips on how to avoid them: Back Over, Seat belt Entanglement, Trunk Entrapment, Power Windows, Heatstroke and Vehicle Rollaway

Back Over

Many children are killed or seriously injured in backover incidents. A backover incident typically occurs when a vehicle coming out of a driveway or parking space backs over an unattended child because the driver did not see him or her.

Prevention Tips
-Teach children not to play in or around cars.
-Supervise children carefully when in and around vehicles.
-Always walk around your vehicle and check the area around it before backing up.
-Be aware of small children-the smaller a child, the more likely it is you will not see them.
-Teach children to move away from a vehicle when a driver gets in it or if the car is started.
-Have children in the area stand to the side of the driveway or sidewalk so you can see them as you are backing out of a driveway or parking space.
-Make sure to look behind you while backing up slowly in case a child dashes behind your vehicle unexpectedly.
-Roll down your windows while backing out of your driveway or parking space so that you'll be able to hear what is happening outside of your vehicle.
-Teach your children to keep their toys and bikes out of the driveway.
-Because kids can move unpredictably, you should actively check your mirrors while backing up.
-Many cars are equipped with detection devices that provide rearview video or warning sounds, but they cannot completely take the place of actively walking around your car to make sure children are safely out of the way. Do not rely solely on these devices to detect what is behind your vehicle.


Seat Belt Entanglement

A child within reach of a seat belt may become entangled if he or she pulls the seat belt all the way out and wraps the belt around his or her head, neck, or waist.

The majority of seat belts have a locking mechanism that is activated when the seat belt is pulled all the way out from the retractor. This feature is designed for child seat installation. In instances when the locking feature activates, the child may not be able to free him or herself.

This can happen if you do not properly restrain your child, for example, if you let the child lie down or sleep on the vehicle seat, instead of being properly restrained. Older children who are no longer in a child restraint system, can become entangled by pulling a seat belt all the way out of the retractor, or by playing with an unused seat belt.

If you used your vehicle's Lower Anchors and Tether for Children (LATCH) system to install the car seat, your child may be able to reach an unused belt.


Prevention Tips
-Do not let children play in or around cars.
-Never leave a child unattended in or around a vehicle.
-Always ensure children are properly restrained.
-Teach children that seat belts are not toys.
-Be aware that some seat belts have a retractor that locks if pulled all the way out.
-If a child has an unused seat belt within reach:
-Buckle unused seat belts. Pull the seat belt out all the way to the end without yanking. Then, feed the excess webbing back into the retractor.
-If a child seat is installed with LATCH, consider completing the steps above before you install the child seat. -Always consult your child seat and vehicle owner's manual for installation instructions.

Trunk Entrapment

Children are naturally curious and love to explore their surroundings. So, if you leave your kids unattended, in or near a vehicle, it won't be long before they are playing in it. Hide and seek can turn deadly if they get trapped in the trunk, where temperatures can rise very quickly - resulting in heatstroke or asphyxiation.

Prevention Tips
-Teach children that vehicle trunks are for cargo, not for playing.
-Always supervise your children carefully when in and around vehicles.
-Check the trunk right away if your child is missing.
-Lock your car doors and trunk and be sure keys and remote entry devices are out of sight and reach of your kids.
-Keep the rear fold-down seats closed/locked to keep your children from climbing into the trunk from inside your car.

Retrofit Your Car

As of September 1, 2001, auto manufacturers were required to equip all new vehicle trunks with a 'glow in the dark' trunk release inside the trunk compartment. Show your kids how to use the release in case of an emergency. If your car is older and does not have the 'glow in the dark' trunk release, ask your automobile dealership about getting your vehicle retrofitted with a trunk release mechanism.

What You Need To Know, Now.

Younger children are more sensitive to heat than older children and adults, and are at greater risk for heatstroke.
High temperature, humidity and poor ventilation create an extremely dangerous environment in a vehicle trunk.
Even in cooler temperatures, your vehicle can heat up to dangerous temperatures very quickly. An outside temperature in the mid 60s can cause a vehicle’s inside temperature to rise above 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The inside temperature of your car can rise almost 20 degrees Fahrenheit within the first 10 minutes.

Vehicle Rollaway

With the key in the ignition, automatic transmissions may be shifted "out of park" even if the vehicle's engine is off and the driver's foot is not on the brake. If you leave the key in the ignition and turned to the accessory mode (to listen to the radio, open/close the windows, etc.), your vehicle's automatic transmission may be shifted out of "Park"
if you or a child moves the gear selector. If you leave a child alone in a motor vehicle,
whether the engine running or not, it doesn't take long for a child to unintentionally set
your car in motion.

Prevention Tips
-Teach children not to play in or around cars.
-Supervise children carefully when in and around vehicles.
-Keep vehicle locked when unattended.
-Never leave keys in the car.
-Engage your emergency brake every time you park.
-Verify whether or not your vehicle has a Brake Transmission Safety Interlock (BTSI). Read the owner's manual or check HERE to find BTSI-equipped vehicles.


http://www.safercar.gov/parents/rollaway.htm

Prevent Child Heatstroke in Cars

Even great parents can forget a child in the back seat, and caregivers who aren't used to driving kids are especially likely to forget. A change in a caregiver’s normal routine is another risk factor.Unfortunately, heatstroke is one of the leading causes of death among children. Be sure to follow these three important rules to prevent child heatstroke in your car:

1. Never Leave a Child Alone in a Car
It’s never OK to leave a child alone in a car, even for a few minutes, and even if the car is on.
Opening windows will not prevent heatstroke.
Heatstroke happens even on cloudy days and in outside temperatures below 70 degrees.
Don’t let kids play in an unattended vehicle.

2. Look Before You Lock
Always check the back seats of your vehicle before your lock it and walk away.
Keep a stuffed animal or other memento in your child’s car seat when it’s empty, and move it to the front seat as a visual reminder when your child is in the back seat.
If someone else is driving your child, or your daily routine has been altered, always check that your child arrived safely.

3. Take Action if You See a Child Alone in a Car
Don’t wait more than a few minutes for the driver to return.
Don’t worry about getting involved in someone else’s business—protecting children is everyone’s business.
"Good Samaritan" laws offer legal protection for those who offer assistance in an emergency.
If the Child Is Not Responsive or Is in Distress, Immediately:
Call 911.
Get the child out of the car.
Spray the child with cool water (not in an ice bath).
If the Child Is Responsive:
Stay with the child until help arrives.
Have someone else search for the driver or ask the facility to page them.


http://www.safercar.gov/parents/heatstroke.htm


Car Seat Recommendations for Children

There are many car seat choices on the market. Use the information below to help you choose a car seat that best meets your child's needs.
Age & Size Chart
Recommendations




Birth - 12 Months

Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. There are different types of rear-facing car seats: Infant-only seats can only be used rear-facing. Convertible and 3-in-1 car seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time.
1 - 3 Years

Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. It's the best way to keep him or her safe. Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.
4 - 7 Years

Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it's time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat.
8 - 12 Years

Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. Remember: your child should still ride in the back seat because it's safer there.


http://www.safercar.gov/parents/RightSeat.htm


Signing Off: Keeping Babies Safe








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