Child Safety Blog

It's Christmas Time Again - Safe Toys for All Those Good Little Girls and Boys

2009-12-11T06:12:14Z

I'm not sure how it's the holiday season again, because it seems like it just ended yesterday. I am particularly distressed about how Christmas continues to invade November - this year, here in Charlottesville, the town lit its Christmas tree before Thanksgiving. Despite all we are hearing about the economy, the retail chaos has started. Money is tight for a lot of people, and this naturally leads people to purchase less expensive toys for their kids. Unfortunately, it is usually the cheaper toys that are poorly designed and poorly made. Parents should be vigilant in inspecting all toys bought for or given to their children.

But it's important that parents know what to look for. In that vein, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (USPIRG) has recently released their 24^th annual report on toy safety entitled "Trouble in Toyland" which draws attention to toys which might present a danger to children. USPIRG's report divides "dangerous" toys into 16 different categories, including toys that are too noisy and may endanger children's hearing, toys with small or detachable parts that could be accidentally swallowed, and toys that may contain potentially toxic chemicals (lead and phthalates), to name only a few.

And a really cool feature - they also has an interactive smart phone website: http://www.toysafety.mobi to aid shoppers in avoiding already-known toy hazards and to report potential dangers. So, if you have a question about a toy while your shopping, you can access this site and get an immediate answer.

A recent CNN "American Morning" show examined several toys which were identified in the USPIRG report as containing potential hazards to children, such as the "Real Wood Shape Sorter Barn" made by P&C, which had a toy part on the side of the barn that could be a choking hazard to a child. Also, Kota and Pals Stompers Triceratops made by Playskool was identified as a toy potentially too noisy for children's ears. Hasbro, the parent company of Playskool, indicated, however, that this particular "toy complies with all sound requirements" answering USPIRG's concern. A toy identified as potentially toxic to children is "The Elmo Lunch Bag" made by Fast Forward, New York.

Check out toy safety tips after the jump.

]]> A variety of different child safety resources all generally agree on how best to protect kids from potentially dangerous toys. Here are some tips on toys and toy shopping for your child's safety:

Keep toys with tiny parts away from children younger than 3 years old. These toys and their parts are choking hazards for infants and toddlers.
If you purchase a toy a child can ride (tricycle, bicycle, scooter, etc.), remember helmets are important and necessary for the safety of your child when using these toys and should accompany their purchase.
If you use a shopping cart of any kind, make sure your child remains seated and secured with a seat belt. And watch little hands carefully when you are at the check-out counter!
When shopping for toys, take into consideration a child's age, interests and abilities. A "grown-up" toy in a child's hands can be boring, frustrating , and sometimes dangerous.
Whether you shop at a mall toy shop or at a large distributor, or thrift or second-hand store, check http://www.recalls.gov or http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html to make sure children's toys and products haven't been previously recalled for safety reasons.

Have a happy and safe holiday!

More Crib Recalls

2009-11-30T04:27:50Z

In the broken record category, we had another major crib recall last week. A company called Stork Craft Manufacturing, Inc. has recalled 2.1 million cribs. The cribs were manufactured beginning in 1993, and have been sold by retailers such as Wal-Mart, BabiesRUs, K-Mart and Sears (among others). Some of these cribs have the Fischer Price brand on them, and come in many different styles and finishes. For more information, go to the CPSC page on the recall, or go to the Stork Craft site via the link above.

This is not one of those recalls where a potential safety problem was discovered, and the recall occurred before anyone was hurt. Here, four infants died, including a six month old in West Virginia. These deaths are absolutely senseless. First, it appears that this company has had hundreds of complaints about these cribs - why did it take so long for this recall to occur? Second, why is it so hard to design a safe crib? The hardware used to assemble these cribs is cheaply made, and therefore breaks easily. This permits the drop side component of the crib to become loose, and enables a child to become entrapped between the drop-side and the mattress. Once that happens, a baby can suffocate. There are numerous crib designs that address this potential hazard, and in my opinion this company decided to cut corners to increase the profitability of the cribs.

As an aside, I have raised four babies, and each had a crib with a drop-side. I don't think I ever actually used this feature, and my wife has only done so a couple of times. If I were purchasing a crib now, I would consider buying one without a drop-side - it introduces a movable part into the crib, and as a result there is an increased opportunity for malfunction.

Another Installment About Child Safety Seats

2009-11-23T04:53:24Z

Couldn't resist the pun in the title. So we're talking again about child safety seats. Why? Because they're really important. There are few things that a parent or caregiver can do to keep a child safe that are more effective than placing that child in a properly installed child safety seat. For earlier posts about child seats and how they work, you can go here and here.

A lot of progress has been made in reducing deaths and injuries to children by publicizing the correct use of child safety seats, booster seats and safety belts. But we can do more. We appreciate the time and attention the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and others advocating for child passenger safety have devoted to this important cause, but more work needs to be done to protect children who ride in cars in safety seats.

The NHTSA says 3 out of 4 car seats are not properly used or installed and that 3 out of every 4 children in child safety seats are not properly secured, or are not restrained at all.

As a parent, do you know how to use the Safety Seat correctly? Some parents are not sure how to install their child's safety seat properly. It's important for parents to know that not every seat fits every car. Also, some parents don't know their vehicle (if manufactured after September 2002) is required to be equipped with the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system.

NHTSA says, "LATCH makes it easier to get the child seat in right." And NHTSA has several video demonstrations on their website (with instructions in both English and Spanish) which you can view! Go here to view.

We know as a parent or caregiver, you want to protect your children the best way possible, and using the LATCH system is one way to help.

Another way is to learn which kind of seat is best and safest to use for your children: NHTSA says, "for infants (from birth to at least 1 year old or at least 20 pounds), the best possible protection is to place them in the back seat, in rear-facing child safety seats."

When children outgrow rear-facing seats (when they are older than one year old and weigh more than 20 pounds), they should ride in forward-facing child safety seats, still in the back seat, until they reach an upper weight or height limit of the particular seat (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds).

Always check the child safety seat instruction manual of the brand of child safety seat you have. Every safety seat manufacturer provides specific instructions to the proper installation and use of their brand of child safety seat.

Finally, if as a parent or caregiver you are still not sure whether your child safety seat is properly installed, you can take your vehicle to a Child Safety Seat Inspection Station. If you need help locating a child safety seat inspection station near you, you can call the NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236 (Vehicle Safety Hotline) or you can jump to this link. Enter your zip code or state, and a list of child safety seat inspection stations in your area or state will be displayed. Some stations have bilingual speakers and some stations inspect by appointment only. You may want to call ahead!

With grateful thanks to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

To write NHTSA and obtain more information on Child Safety Seats, please contact them at:

NHTSA Headquarters
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
West Building
Washington, DC 20590

Preventing Child Scald and Burn Injuries (Part 1)

2009-11-04T13:11:27Z

Today's topic is preventing scald and burn injuries in children. Most accidents occur in the home, and scalds and burns to children almost always occur in the kitchen or bathroom of the home. For the most part, these are preventable injuries. Burns, especially scalds from hot water and, cooking liquids, are some of the most commonly occurring accidents to children. Babies and young children are most vulnerable because they're small and have sensitive skin that requires greater protection than adult skin.

While minor burns ("first-degree" burns) can often be safely treated at home, more serious burns (second- and third-degree burns) require immediate medical care. Most parents are aware that the causes of burns range from scalds, to contact with flames or hot objects, chemical burns (from chemical spills of home cleaning items like bleach, drain cleaner, dishwasher detergent, etc.), to electrical burns from hot appliances or frayed electrical cords, to burned skin from over-exposure to sun. Medical professionals caution parents that all burns need to be treated as soon as possible to lower the temperature of the burned area and minimize damage to the skin and underlying tissues (in the case of severe burns).

Loma Linda Children's Hospital in Loma Linda, California, advises parents that toddlers are at greatest risk of scalds and burns as they begin to walk, climb, and reach, while children under age 5 are at greatest risk when fire strikes, as they may panic and hide in closets or under beds. Some children are needlessly burned because they think clothes protect them from flames. In children ages 3 to 8, curiosity about matches and lighters is normal. But, sadly, more than one-third of the burns to these children are the result of playing with matches.

Go to the jump for tips on how to prevent these dangerous and painful injuries.

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The following simple tips to prevent scalds and burns can make your home safer for you and your children.

To prevent scalds in the kitchen:

Keep hot foods and drinks away from the edge of tables and counters. Do not put them on a tablecloth that small hands can tug.
If you're holding something hot, don't hold your child at the same time.
When you cook, keep your child away from the stove.
When you cook, turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. If possible, use rear burners.
Always watch for dangling appliance cords to fry pans, irons, and other heated appliances (hot plates, crock pots, etc.).
When you pass a hot item, food or beverage, to another person, do not pass it over the head of a child.

To prevent scalds in the bathroom:

Test the heat of water. Turn on the hot water at the tub faucet. Let it run for 3 to 5 minutes. Measure the temperature with a hot water gauge or mercury thermometer.
For safe bathing, set the water heater's thermostat to low, warm, or 120 degrees F. Wait a day. Test the water again. Repeat if necessary. Your clothes and dishes will get clean at this setting!
Install anti-scald devices in shower and bathtub fixtures that stop water flow when the temperature exceeds 120 degrees F.
Always check water temperature before placing your child in the tub. A child's skin burns more easily than an adult's. Test the water by placing a few drops on your wrist--if it's hot for you, it's too hot for your child.
Supervise children when they are in the bathtub. Young children can turn the hot water on by themselves. Older children can accidentally scald a younger child.
If you rent, ask your landlord if it's possible to lower the water temperature or put an anti-scald device in your shower and bathtub fixtures.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-30T19:42:45Z

I hope everyone has a happy and safe Halloween. For safety tips while trick or treating, please see my post from last year.

Young Children and Cold Medicines - New Findings

2009-10-28T03:24:30Z

Cold and flu season is upon us. When we're unlucky enough to come down with something, it's almost second nature to reach a multi-symptom cold medicine. New findings show that, when it comes to children, parents should think twice before giving such medications to their children.

Last year, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) announced that eading manufacturers of pediatric cough and cold medicines are adding a warning to their products' labels, "Don't use over-the-counter pediatric cough and cold medicines in children younger than 4." FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Janet Woodcock, MD, says FDA supports the label "change" and drug manufacturers are doing this voluntarily.

The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends that over-the-counter cough and cold medications not be given to infants and children younger than 2 years because of the risk of life-threatening side effects. Also, several studies show that cold and cough products don't work in children younger than 6 years and can have potentially serious side effects.

The New York Times recently reported results of a new Centers for Disease Control (CDC) study on unintentional medication overdoses in children which "indicates 8 percent of emergency room visits and 14 percent of hospitalizations were caused by parents accidentally overdosing their children."

The study, which looks at causes for emergency room visits, estimates that 70,000 children under 18 years of age visit emergency rooms annually suffering from unintentional medication overdoses causing adverse drug events. More importantly, 75 percent of the overdoses occurred in children under age 5.

CDC's web page on child medication safety further indicates that the number one cause of emergency room visits due to adverse drug events in young children under the age of 5 is the unsupervised consumption of medicines. CDC also notes, according to WebMD, that 7,000 children under 11 go to emergency rooms each year after taking cough and cold medicines. Roughly two-thirds of those adverse drug events occurred after children consumed medication while unsupervised.

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CDC recommends the following guidelines when dispensing medications to children:

Always recap and store medicines out of the reach and out of sight of children.

Carefully administer medicines as directed on the label or as instructed by a physician or pharmacist.

Use prescription and over-the-counter medicines only when needed.

Tips for parents:

Children should never be left alone with any medicines. If you are giving or taking medicine and you need to do something else, such as answer the phone, take the medicine with you.

Do not leave medicines out after using them. Store medicines in lockable medicine cabinets or other childproof cabinets out of reach of young children.

Check to make sure medicines you purchase for your child are in child-resistant packaging that you know how to open and close properly.

Place the Poison Control Center number, 1-800-222-1222, on or near every home telephone and save this number to your cell phone.

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association would add to this:

Do not give medicine intended only for adults to a child.

Do not use two medicines at the same time which contain the same ingredients.

We say, with children's' medicines, "Read the label, recap the bottle, store it away safely; make sure you know what's in a cough-cold med IF you administer these to your children during the coming cold and flu season. Over-the-counter child meds that used to be considered "safe" may no longer be safe. So it's good to be aware and be prepared.

More Window Blind and Shade Recalls After More Children Die

2009-08-27T13:46:34Z

There's nothing I find more senseless than children being seriously injured or dying as a result of a well known, and easily fixable, hazard. Last year, I wrote about the strangulation danger posed by a common household item -- window blinds and shades. Since then, three more kids have died, and there is another recall. The recall covers 4.2 million roll-up blinds with plastic slats made by Lewis Hyman Inc.; 600,000 Woolrich Roman shades; blinds and shades made by Vertical Land Inc. of Panama City Beach, Fla.; Roman shades by Pottery Barn Kids/Williams-Sonoma Inc.; 245,000 Lutron Shading Solutions fabric roller shades; 163,000 Roman shades by Victoria Classics; and IKEA is recalling 120,000 MELINA Roman Blinds. The LA Times has a good article about the problem and the recall.

This is so infuriating. This problem has been recognized for decades, yet shades and blinds are still being produced with this dangerous problem. A group called Parents for Window Blind Safety has an informative website that focuses on correcting the danger. It also brings the tragedy home as it shows the many children who have died as a result of these products.

The best solution for parents is to purchase cordless blinds. Go here for available types, or ask for them at your local home improvement center. If you have purchased these blinds, go to the CPSC to find out what to do. At the very least, parents should cut cord loops of existing blinds in half, never leave your children unattended in a room with these blinds, and NEVER put a crib or play yard in the vicinity of a blind.

Safety 1st StairLight Stair Gate Recall

2009-08-11T02:47:31Z

Durel Juvenile Group and the CPSC is announcing a recall of approximately 31,000 Safety 1st stair gates. Apparently, the hinges can break and give way, which creates a fall hazard if the gate is placed at the top of the stairs. Here's what the gates look like:

This gate has a motion sensor which lights up when someone approaches. The model number for the gate is 42111, and the number is printed on a sticker under the handle panel. This gate was manufactured between January 2005 and July 2009, and was sold in many big box stores, including Toys R Us, WalMart, and other retailers. Shockingly, the gate was made in China.

Consumers should stop using the gate immediately and contact Dorel Juvenile Group (the importer) at (866) 690-2540 or to their website. While there, check out the company's numerous other recalls, including the 100,000 of these gates that have previously been recalled.

Child Seat Safety - Part 2

2009-05-08T02:26:46Z

We know child seats are important, but do we know why? How do they work to keep our children safer in a car accident, and why is it so vitally important that they be installed correctly?

It helps to first examine how seat belts work. There's an old saying in injury analysis -- "it's not how fast you're going, but how fast you stop," meaning injuries occur not because you are traveling fast, but because you stop incredibly quickly (like under a tenth of a second). To give an obvious example of this, a passenger jet lands at something like 150 mph, and everyone is fine because it comes to a stop over a relatively long period of time. If that same jet crashes into the ground at the same speed, everyone dies instantly. The difference is the time period over which the plane stops.

So let's apply this to seat belts and child safety seats. Let's say John runs his car into a wall at 50 mph, and is stupid enough to not be wearing a seat belt. John's car stops in the blink of an eye, but poor John keeps moving at 50 mph . . . until he hits the windshield with his head (for all of you smart alecks out there - his car didn't have an airbag). John has bought himself a ticket to the morgue, because his skull couldn't withstand those forces.

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The seat belt retractor is designed to make sure the belt is snug to an occupant's body at all times. During normal movement of a passenger, it allows a person to move freely, but in an accident, or with a sudden stop, it locks quickly. It's important that the retractor lock quickly. Let's use the example of a 50 mph crash. If the retractor doesn't lock at the moment of impact, the occupant keeps moving at 50 mph. When the retractor locks too late, there are tremendous forces put on the person as he slams into the belt. An analogy would be the snapping of a whip.

This is why it's so important to install child carseats correctly. If a carseat is tightly coupled to the vehicle, via a seatbelt or "latch" system, and also a tether, then an infant or child will gain the benefit of the vehicle absorbing most of the accident forces -- the forces to the child are lessened. If the car seat is not tightly coupled, the child is going to keep moving forward at the vehicle's speed. Two things can happen - both of them bad. 1) The child can move forward so far that he strikes a component of the vehicles interior, and, 2) when the retractor does finally catch the seat, tremendous forces are put on the child's head and neck as he is snapped violently.

So, that's a quick lessen in seat belt safety, and why it's so important to install car seats correctly. In my next posts, we'll talk about how to install them so that your child is as safe as possible when he or she is riding in a car.

Most people have no idea how violent a high speed crash is. If you'd like to see the forces involved on a child, click here to see a video of testing done on a child accident dummy. As you'll see, it's still incredibly violent. Keep in mind that this is slow motion -- everything you see takes place in the blink of an eye.

If anyone ever questions the importance of a car seat, or jokes about how they didn't have them when they were kids, and they turned out fine, show them this video comparing a child in a car seat to one who's unrestrained.

Car Seat Safety - Part 1 of Many

2009-05-04T10:01:23Z

One of the best ways to protect your young child is to CORRECTLY put them in an appropriate child safety seat. I emphasize correctly because the statistics show that only 72% of child restraints are properly used. Here are the most common ways that restraints are improperly used:

Inappropriate age and weight for child restraints
Wrong direction for the child restraint
Child restraint improperly placed relative to vehicle's airbags
Improperly placed or secured child restraints (vehicle's belt or straps not tight enough)
Crotch strap or harness strap of child restraint secure or tight enough
Use of a locking clip for certain safety belts
Improper vehicle belt fit across child in a booster seat
Child restraints with broken parts.

It's amazing to me that these misuse statistics are so high when we know that proper use of child restraints is one of the most effective ways to protect children against serious injury. Personally, I personally believe this is a combined failure of government regulation/education and a failure to focus on or address the problem by our vehicle manufacturers.

So, this month will be dedicated to the proper use of child safety restraints. If there are any particular issues you want me to address, please let me know.

New CDC Report on Child Safety and Injuries

2009-01-07T01:09:19Z

The CDC has released a report on child injuries which is fascinating and very instructive. I'll write on this in greater detail over the next few weeks, but I highly recommend that parents take a look at the report for themselves. One very sobering statistic - every day in the United States, 20 children die as a result of preventable injuries. This is higher than the number of deaths from all childhood diseases combined. Go to the next page for other highlights.

]]> Other highlights of the report:

The majority of deaths were from five causes: falls, being struck by or against an object, overexertion, motor vehicle deaths, and animal bites or insect stings.

Falls were the leading cause of non-fatal injuries, accounting for approximately 2.8 million emergency room visits (one of whom was our son Michael when he was 14 months old - but he's got the walking thing down now).

Leading causes of fatal injuries per age group - suffocation was the cause of two-thirds of deaths for children under 1 year of age, drowning was the major cause for children 1-4, and for 5-19 year olds, the leading cause was being an occupant in a motor vehicle crash.

I always preach that the three greatest dangers for parents are cars, water and burn injuries. I will now add falls to that list. We as parents cannot prevent all the bumps and bruises of childhood, but these are the areas where we need to be especially vigilant for our children's safety.

Child Safety in the Kitchen

2008-12-17T03:52:32Z

It's the holiday season, and families are coming together from near and far. Almost without fail, we all tend to congregate in the kitchen. Certainly people are attracted to the wonderful smells and holiday treats, but it's more than that - the kitchen table instinctively seems to be a gathering place for friends and family.

It's also a fun place for kids. Sweets are often there for the taking, and it's fun for children to help out with cooking and baking projects. Cooking with Jane and Libby is one of my favorite activities to do together, and they are having fun learning a skill that they can enjoy for a lifetime (and they also get to taste the sugar). In addition to making our time in the kitchen fun, there are a few simple precautions that can keep them safe, as well. Go to the next page for a few tips on how to keep kids safe while they're in the kitchen.
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1) Keep the handle of pots on stove turned inwards. Scaldings from pots that are tipped over present the greatest danger of serious injuries in the kitchen. 65% of burn injuries to children under four who are hospitalized are the result of scalding. Toddlers and young children are naturally curious, and are unable to look out for their own safety. These accidents can happen in seconds, so make sure to develop the habit of turning pot handles inwards.

2) Purchase a stove guard to prevent young hands from reaching up towards the stove.

3) If children are standing on a chair or stool to help with a project, make sure they are far enough away from the stove so that they can't tip and fall onto it.

4) If children are old enough to be working at the stove, make sure they do not wear clothing that is too loose fitting -- be especially careful of sleeves that hang down.

5) Keep knives stored safely out of reach of young children. When children do become old enough to responsibly use knives, teach them safe handling techniques. If you need a refresher course on how to safely handle and use kitchen knives, click here.

6) Practice and teach safe food handling techniques. Use different cutting boards (or separate sides of the same board) for meats and produce. After handling poultry, thoroughly wash your hands, any utensils that touched the meat, and all cutting boards.

7) Finally, pick projects that are age appropriate. This tip is more for fun than for safety. Baking is probably more fun for young kids than cooking. The projects are fairly quick, and children can participate in simple ways, such as helping add ingredients that have already been measured. Kids also have fun tasting the finished product.

Here's a good link for childproofing a kitchen.

Have fun -- if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, add them below, or email me, Bryan Slaughter, at bryan@childsafetyblog.org, Thanks, and have a happy and safe holiday season.

Toy Safety Organization Releases Its Annual Top 10 Worst Toys

2008-12-15T12:16:03Z

Just in time for Christmas, an organization called W.A.T.C.H. (World Against Toys Causing Harm) has released its annual list of the top 10 worst toys. What amazes me is that all of the hazards here have long been established -- choking hazards, projectiles that can damage eyes, etc - yet these dangerous toys still reach the market. There is no approval or evaluation process by any government agency for toys - the CPSC only steps in when a problem is identified. Please go to the next page for the list.

Click here for a list of the worst toys of all time (complete with Lawn Darts). These would be funny if not for the fact that each of these put thousands of kids needlessly at risk. ]]> Animal Alley Purse Pet
Ninja Battle Gear - Michelangelo
Walk'n Sounds Digger The Dog
Pucci Puppies - My Own Puppy House Golden Retrieve r
Meadow Mystery Play-A-Sound Book With A Cuddly Pooh
Inflatable Giga Ball
Spider-Man Adjustable Toy Skates
Sportsman Shotgun
Extreme Spiral Copters
Go Go Minis Pullback Vehicle

Parents -- Check Your Window Blinds - Recalls of Blinds Made by Ikea and Green Mountain Vista

2008-11-22T18:40:08Z

Some hazards are obviously dangerous to kids - the Drano under the sink, a pot of boiling water on the stove, or a car backing out of the driveway. Those are things we as parents intuitively know can be dangerous to our kids, so we take precautions such as cabinet locks and stove guards to protect them.

Not all hazards are so obvious, but they can be just as dangerous. Window blinds are a great example. They seem innocent enough, and it certainly doesn't seem like a child could hurt himself (or herself) if left alone with one. Yet, the cords on certain window blinds can present a serious strangulation hazard to young children. Over the years, hundreds of boys and girls have been seriously injured and even killed by becoming entangled and then strangled by window blind cords.

On Thursday, the CPSC issued two recall alerts. Popular furniture maker IKEA is recalling its IRIS and ALVINE Roman Blinds, and Green Mountain Vista Inc of Williston, Vt. is recalling its Insulated Black-Out Roller Shades and Insulated Roman Shades. This past April, a one year old girl in Greenwich, Ct.tragically died as a result of strangulation by the cord of an IKEA blind. She was found in her playpen with the cord from a nearby fully lowered blind wrapped twice around her neck. This past June, a two year old girl from Bristol, Ct, was nearly strangled by a Green Mountain Vista blind when she placed a cord loop around her neck and then fell. Luckily, she was saved by her brother.
]]> The IKEA shades were sold at its stores nationwide for between $7 and $30 from July 2005 through June 2008. The Green Mountain Vista shades were sold nationwide for between $60 and $200 at the following stores: Target.com, Plow & Hearth, Country Curtains, The Curtain Shop of Maine, Sturbridge, Yankee Workshop, Ann & Hope, The Linen Source, Solutions Catalog, and The Sportsman's Guide.

IKEA's recall states that users should return the blinds to one of its stores for a full refund. Green Mountain says that users should check their blinds to see if the tensioning device is still attached. If it's not, they should contact Green Mountain Vista at (800) 639- 1728 or go to its website.

For window blind safety, I found a great site -- the Window Covering Safety Council. I highly recommend checking out this site and then checking your window coverings. Here are basic safety tips from their website:

Install only cordless window coverings in young children's bedrooms and sleeping areas. Replace window blinds, corded shades and draperies manufactured before 2001 with today's safer products

Move all cribs, beds, furniture and toys away from windows and window cords, preferably to another wall

Keep all window pull cords and inner lift cords out of the reach of children. Make sure that tasseled pull cords are short and continuous-loop cords are permanently anchored to the floor or wall. Make sure cord stops are properly installed and adjusted to limit movement of inner lift cords

Lock cords into position whenever horizontal blinds or shades are lowered, including when they come to rest on a windowsill.

If you have any questions or need more information, please email Bryan Slaughter.

A Shout Out and Thank You to Shriners Hospitals for Children

2008-11-19T02:51:13Z

No matter how much we try to educate ourselves and our kids about health and safety, it's a sad fact of life that serious illnesses and accidents are going to happen. When they do, we can only hope that a child gets the best health care possible. One institution that has been singularly dedicated to children for more than 80 years is the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

I'm writing about the Shriners because I had occasion to speak with one of their doctors last week -- one of the preeminent pediatric burn doctors in the nation. I can only imagine what this doctor sees on a day-to-day basis, and it brings up the larger point about what Shriners does and how they do it. Shriners has 22 hospitals, all dedicated to taking care of children. They treat children up to age 18 for serious orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries (SCI) and cleft palate and lip conditions. And the amazing thing -- they do this all at no charge and without regard to financial need.
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Over the years, Shriner's hospitals have treated hundreds of thousands of children with all types of serious injuries. The institution and its dedicated professionals deserve a huge thank you. If you are interested in making a donation to this worthy cause, or want more information about doing so, go here.

If you want to contact Bryan Slaughter or the Child Safety Blog, go here.