Be Child Safe

Author: Marianne Halterman

  • Thanksgiving Safety Tips

    It’s Thanksgiving week! Wow, time flies! People are out there purchasing the turkeys for their Thanksgiving tables, families are travelling, preparation is underway for the big day–and for the first time in a few years, it’s chilly leading up to Thanksgiving, so there are fires in fireplaces and wood in wood-burning stoves. In my home, we are making sure to have the proper TV channels lined up for the parade and the football games! Woo hoo!

    As a member of SafeKids of the Central Shenandoah Valley, I check the SafeKids website regularly and found these very good safety tips I am republishing here. Enjoy your Thanksgiving and please, do all you can to keep children safe!

    5 Tips for a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving from SafeKids

    Whether you’re traveling by car, or train or plane, coming home for the holidays is exciting.

    Before you pack up the car and bundle up the kids, put the turkey and pies in the oven – or whatever else is on your list before you go – here are five quick tips to help you and your family stay safe for the holiday.

    1. In the car: If you’re like me, colder weather means lots of layers of clothing. But remember, bulky winter clothes and coats can keep a car seat from doing its job. Instead, cover your child with a thick blanket to stay warm after you’ve securely strapped him or her into the car seat.
    2. In the kitchen: At Thanksgiving, things are guaranteed to get a little busy. To help keep hot food out of the reach of little hands, be sure that pot handles and other dishes aren’t close to the edge of the counter or table where they could be pulled down by curious kids.
    3. By the fireplace: If there’s a fireplace in the home, be sure to check that it’s protected by a sturdy screen – and remember that glass screens can take a while to cool down even after the fire has gone out.
    4. Wherever the medicine is stored: Kids get into medication in all sorts of places, like in purses and nightstands. In fact, in 67 percent of medicine-related ER visits, the medicine was within reach of a child, such as in a purse, left on a counter or dresser, or found on the ground. A good rule of thumb: “Up, up and away.” Keep medications out of reach and out of sight.
    5. In the room where you sleep: For many of us, holiday travel means we’ll be spending the night away from home. While you might be fine sleeping on the couch or an air mattress, make sure your baby always sleeps in a safe crib, bassinet or pack-n-play.

    Two more tips from BeChildSafe

    1. If you light candles to create a festive mood, be sure to douse all candles if you are leaving the house or going to sleep.
    2. If you are serving or consuming alcoholic beverages over the holidays, please don’t leave them unattended where young children can pick them up and drink them.  If this occurs, please call 911 right away or get your child to the nearest Hospital Emergency Room.

    Thank you– and have a safe Thanksgiving from all of us at BeChildSafe.org.

  • H.I.S. Recalls Girl’s Clothing Sets Due to Violation of Federal Lead Content Ban:

    Recall Date: November 8, 2018

    Recall Number: 19-034

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Girl’s clothing sets with pendant necklace

    Hazard: The metal pendant on the necklace contains levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content ban. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health issues.

    Remedy: Refund. Consumers should immediately stop using the necklace from the recalled clothing sets, take it away from children and return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

    Consumer Contact: H.I.S. at 800-451-0285 extension 2879 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, email at address-info@his-nyc.com or online at www.his-nyc.com and click on Product Safety Recall for more information.

    Pictures available here: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2019/HIS-Recalls-Girls-Clothing-Sets-Due-to-Violation-of-Federal-Lead-Content-Ban

    Recall Details

    Units: About 4,400

    Description:
    This recall involves Self-Esteem brand girl’s clothing sets with a gold leaf pendant necklace. The recalled clothing sets consists of three items: a short-sleeve teal top with cut-out shoulders, a navy blue legging pant with a teal floral print and a pendant necklace with an orange and teal center. The recalled clothing sets have style number PO#71160/LOT9 and a date of production of 10/2017 printed on a white label on the inside of the garment. The recalled clothing sets were sold in girl’s sizes 4x-12x.

    Incidents/Injuries: None reported

    Sold At: Burlington and Shopko stores nationwide from February 2018 through October 2018 for about $14.

    Manufacturer(s): Ningbo Younker Fashion Accessory Industrial Corporation, of China

    Importer(s): H.I.S. International Group LLC, of New York

    Distributor(s): H.I.S. International Group LLC, of New York

    Manufactured In: China

  • Mountain Warehouse Recalls Children’s Water Bottles Due to Choking Hazard:

    Recall Date: November 8, 2018

    Recall Number: 19-032

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Children’s water bottles

    Hazard: The water bottle’s spout can detach, exposing a small ring, posing a choking hazard to children.

    Remedy: Refund. Consumers should immediately stop using the water bottles, take them away from young children and contact Mountain Warehouse for a full refund.

    Consumer Contact: Mountain Warehouse toll-free at 866-313-2493 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, email at info@mountainwarehouse.com or online at www.mountainwarehouse.com and click on “product recall” link at the bottom of the homepage for more information.

    Pictures available here: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2019/Mountain-Warehouse-Recalls-Childrens-Water-Bottles-Due-to-Choking-Hazard

    Recall Details

    Units: About 1,000

    Description:
    This recall involves a plastic 350ml children’s water bottle. The water bottles come with a screw on solid color top with a pop up straw and handle. A barcode is printed on the price sticker located at the bottom of it. The water bottles were sold in multiple colors and prints including: tractors, hedgehogs, sharks, fish and horses. Only these water bottles are included in the recall.

    [ultimatetables 22 /]

    Incidents/Injuries: None reported

    Sold At: Mountain Warehouse stores nationwide and online at www.mountainwarehouse.com/us from July 2017 through September 2018 for about $10.

    Manufacturer(s): Dayu Household Products Company, of China

    Importer(s): Mountain Warehouse, of Wilmington, Del.

    Distributor(s): Mountain Warehouse, of London, England

    Manufactured In: China

  • i play Recalls Infant Rattles Due to Choking Hazard:

    Recall Date: October 25, 2018

    Recall Number: 19-024

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Infant rattles

    Hazard: Pieces of the rattle can detach, posing a choking hazard to infants.

    Remedy: Refund. Consumers should immediately take the recalled rattles away from children, stop using them and contact i play for instructions on how to receive a $50.00 coupon code to redeem towards the purchase of new products and shipping costs.

    Consumer Contact: i play at 800-876-1574 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, email at contactus@iplaybaby.com or online at www.iplaybaby.com and click on “Health & Safety” for more information.

    Pictures available here: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2019/i-play-Recalls-Infant-Rattles-Due-to-Choking-Hazard

    Recall Details

    Units: About 6,100 (in addition, about 30 were sold in Canada)

    Description: This recall involves the Green Sprouts brand flower rattle made from wood. The recalled multi-colored rattles are made from natural wood and measure 2.5 inches long by 2.5 inches wide by 4 inches high. Attached to the circular handle are three round wooden balls shaped like flowers, including one that contains a silver metal bell, all attached with an elastic cord. “Green Sprouts,” “Made in Taiwan” and a date code number (14714 or 21815) are printed on the circular rattle handle.

    Incidents/Injuries: i play has received three reports of pieces detaching from the rattle. No injuries have been reported.

    Sold At: Whole Foods Market stores and other stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com and other websites from December 2014 through October 2018 for about $15.

    Manufacturer(s): Gogo Toys Co. LTD, of Taiwan

    Importer(s): i play. inc., of Asheville, N.C.

    Distributor(s): Frontier Natural Products Co-op of Norway, Iowa and Imperial Distributors, of Worcester, Mass.

    Manufactured In: Taiwan

  • Halloween Safety Tips From SafeKids

    Here are some very good tips for parents, caregivers and family members about Halloween Safety for children, from SafeKids. SafeKids, like BeChildSafe.org, is devoted to keeping all children safe.

    Everyone loves a good scare on Halloween, but not when it comes to child safety. There are several easy and effective behaviors that parents can share with kids to help reduce their risk of injury.

    HALLOWEEN SAFETY

    Hard Facts

    On average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year.

    Top Tips

    1. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors. Since masks can sometimes obstruct a child’s vision, try non-toxic face paint and makeup whenever possible.
    2. Have kids use glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
    3. Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, remind them to stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.
    4. Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.
    5. When selecting a costume make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.

    View Safety Flyer from Safe Kids

    Safe Kids Halloween Flyer

  • Safe Sleep for Babies!

    Today, I received an email from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about a roundtable webinar that will be held in a week for health professionals on Safe Sleep for Babies which BeChildSafe.org will lean in and listen to, but I wanted to share the statistics CDC shared with the public just now about Safe Sleep and why it’s so important to make sure babies have a safe sleep environment:

    “Each year about 3,500 babies in the United States die suddenly and unexpectedly before they reach their first birthday due to sleep-related deaths. These tragedies, called sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), often occur during sleep or in the baby’s sleep area, and include sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed, and other deaths from unknown causes.”

    “In the 1990s, a dramatic reduction in sleep-related infant deaths followed the release of recommendations and campaigns including Back to Sleep (now known as Safe to Sleep®). However, rates of SUIDs have remained relatively flat since 2001 and … disparities persist. Differences in how the causes of these deaths are reported limit our understanding and prevention efforts.” (CDC, Public Health Grand Rounds, will be held October 23, 2018 at 1:00 p.m.)

    Following the Grand Roundtable, we will publish recommendations on Safe Sleep for Babies, some of which are:

    Make sure baby is lying on his/her back.

    If a blanket is necessary, have only one cover in the baby’s bed.

    Remove toys and stuffed animals and anything baby could choke on, from the bed.

    Do not place the crib or baby bed next to a window or where there are window blinds.(if you have window blinds, make sure if there are blind cords, all blind cords are tied up high where baby cannot reach)

    Make sure that there are no pockets between the crib mattress and the crib sides, head and footboards that baby could roll into and become stuck.

    Make sure your crib mattress pad is fitted and will not allow baby to get tangled.

    Make sure crib closures are safely tightened (bolt/nuts/screws) with no gaps.

    Make sure crib slats are not so wide baby can get stuck between them.

    Do not place the baby in bed with you and/or with you and your partner.

  • Gold Recalls Eddie Bauer Infant Carriers Due to Fall Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Target

    Recall Date: October 16, 2018

    Recall Number: 19-010

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Eddie Bauer fabric infant carriers

    Hazard: The buckles on the infant carriers can break, posing a fall hazard to children.

    Remedy: Refund, Replace

    Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled carriers and contact Gold Inc. to verify that the product is subject to this recall. Once the product is verified, consumers will receive replacement products of comparable value or a full refund. Consumers who purchased this recalled product must cut off and return both straps and tag with their name, address, and phone number to receive selected replacement products, free of charge, or a full refund.

    Consumer Contact: Gold Inc. toll free at 866-600-7205 Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. MT or email customerservice@goldbuginc.com or online at www.goldbuginc.com. and click on Recalls for more information..

    Pictures available here: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2019/Gold-Recalls-Eddie-Bauer-Infant-Carriers-Due-to-Fall-Hazard-Sold-Exclusively-at-Target

    Recall Details

    Units: About 22,000

    Description: This recall involves Gold Inc.’s Eddie Bauer fabric infant carriers. They are worn by the parent or caregiver with the baby strapped into the front. The recalled carriers are black with “Eddie Bauer” and “First Adventure” printed in gray lettering on the front, outside of the carrier.

    Incidents/Injuries: The firm is aware of eight reported incidents of broken buckles. No injuries have been reported

    Sold Exclusively At: Target stores nationwide and online between December 2017 and August 2018 for about $70.

    Manufacturer(s): Woodfield Baby Products, Guangdong, China

    Importer(s): Gold Inc., dba Goldbug Inc., of Denver, Colo.

    Manufactured In: China

  • Abond Group Recalls Tubeez Baby Bath Support Seats Due to Drowning Hazard

    Recall Date: October 16, 2018

    Recall Number: 19-011

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Tubeez Baby Bath Support Seats

    Hazard: The bath support seat fails to meet the federal safety standard including the requirements for stability. The bath seat can tip over or an infant can slip underneath the front support, posing a drowning hazard.

    Remedy: Refund

    Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled bath support seats and contact Abond Group for a full refund.

    Consumer Contact: Abond Group at 800-886-7947 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday or online at www.abondcorp.com and click on Safety Alerts and Recalls at the bottom of the page for more information.

    Pictures available here: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2019/Abond-Group-Recalls-Tubeez-Baby-Bath-Support-Seats-Due-to-Drowning-Hazard

    Recall Details

    Units: About 80 (in addition, about 5,109 were sold in Canada)

    Description: This recall involves the Tubeez Baby Bath Support Seats. The baby bath support is a rigid plastic seat attached to a foam mat for use in the bathtub. The foam mat is either blue, with the model code B9150BL, or gray, with the model code B9150GY, and features multiple suction cups on the underside. The affected seats have the date codes 1251-0916-enj-nacn or 1434-0617-enj-nacn printed on the underside of the mat.

    Incidents/Injuries: None reported

    Sold At: Bealls Outlets nationwide and La Bebe Boutique in Midland, Texas, from October 2017 through March 2018 for about $40.

    Importer(s): Abond Group, of Canada

    Distributor(s): Bealls Outlet of Bradenton, Fla., and La Bebe Boutique of Midland, Texas

    Manufactured In: China

  • Kaz Recalls Stinger Insect Zappers Due to Shock Hazard

    Recall Date: September 20, 2018

    Recall Number: 18-227

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Stinger Insect Zappers

    Hazard: The insect kill grid can detach inside the housing, posing a shock hazard.

    Remedy: Refund. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Stinger Insect Zappers, unplug them, and contact Kaz to return the product for a full refund.

    Consumer Contact: Kaz toll-free at 888-480-2880 from 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday or online at www.Kaz.com or www.stingerproducts.com and click on “Recall” for more information.

    Pictures available here: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2018/Kaz-Recalls-Stinger-Insect-Zappers-Due-to-Shock-Hazard

    Recall Details

    Units: About 72,000

    Description:
    This recall involves Stinger BK series Insect Zapper electric insect/mosquito zapper including the Stinger Insect Zapper (Model BK 110v3), the Stinger 3-in-1 Insect Zapper (Model BK310v3) and the Stinger 5-in-1 Insect & Mosquito Zapper (Model BK510v3). They are black or gray plastic and stand or hang vertically. The units are about 19 inches high and 6 inches wide and require an extension cord to operate outside. The recalled models have codes ending in YTG and Made in China printed on the silver label on the bottom of the product.

    [ultimatetables 21 /]

    Incidents/Injuries: Kaz has received three reports of units exhibiting internal grid detachment. No injuries have been reported.

    Sold At: Home Depot, Ace Hardware, other stores nationwide, and online from April 2018 through August 2018 for between $30 and $80.

    Manufacturer(s): Foshan Shi Shunde District Yongtong Electronics Co., Ltd., of China

    Importer(s): Kaz USA Inc., Marlborough, Mass.

    Distributor(s): Kaz USA Inc., Marlborough, Mass.

    Manufactured In: China

  • Weeplay Kids Recalls Children’s Coveralls Due to Choking Hazard

    Recall Date: September 20, 2018

    Recall Number: 18-225

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: ED by Ellen DeGeneres coveralls

    Hazard: The bunny applique on the children’s coveralls can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

    Remedy: Refund. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled coveralls and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

    Consumer Contact: Weeplay Kids toll-free at 888-854-6563 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at www.weeplaykids.com and click on Recall Info for more information.

    Pictures available here: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2018/Weeplay-Kids-Recalls-Childrens-Coveralls-Due-to-Choking-Hazard

    Recall Details

    Units: About 2,500 (in addition, about 130 were sold in Canada)

    Description:
    This recall involves infant ED by Ellen DeGeneres coveralls with hat. The pink striped, two-piece, long-sleeve coveralls are 100% cotton. They have a kangaroo pocket and bunny-shaped applique on the left chest, a hat with pompom and snaps in the crotch. Style ED01210 was sold in infant sizes 3M, 6M and 9M; and style ED13210 was sold in 12M, 18M and 24M. The style number and manufacture date code of August 2017 (08/2017) are printed on the inside garment tag located inside the seam of the garment. “ED by Ellen DeGeneres” and the garment sizes are printed on the inside back of the garment.

    Incidents/Injuries:
    The firm has received one report in Canada where the bunny applique detached from the garment, and a young child put it in their mouth. The grandparent removed it before it caused them to choke. No incidents or injuries have been reported in the United States.

    Sold At: Buy Buy Baby and Marshalls stores nationwide and online at www.buybuybaby.com from September 2017 through January 2018 for about $16.

    Manufacturer(s): Dongguan Sureon Trading Limited, of China

    Distributor(s): Weeplay Kids LLC, of N.Y.

    Manufactured In: China