Be Child Safe

Author: Marianne Halterman

  • Virginia’s New Car Seat Law: What You Need to Know

    LAW: This Spring, Virginia’s legislature passed a new, stronger law on child passenger safety, and Governor Northam signed the bill into law. It makes Virginia children safer by requiring them to remain rear-facing in their car seats until they reach age 2 or the minimum weight limit called for by the car seat manufacturer. If your vehicle does not have a back seat, the child may sit in the front passenger seat but only when the passenger seat airbag is deactivated. The law does not apply to taxis, school buses or limousines.The law does not go into effect until 2019, which is why we are providing tips to make it the law in your car now.

    FINE: Break the law and the fine for a first offense is $50.

    WHEN: Virginia’s new car seat law goes into effect on July 1, 2019. But, you can start keeping your toddlers safer TODAY. Keep your small child safer in a rear-facing position.

    WHY: The law is based on current recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Infants and Toddlers are “head heavy,” and the rear-facing car seat does a better job of supporting the head, neck and spine of smaller children as their bodies are still developing.

    OLDER KIDS: Virginia law is unchanged for older kids. Children 7 years and under must be restrained in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat of your vehicle. An adult seat belt is permissible ages 8-17, and seat belts are required for the driver and all passengers.

    GUIDE: Safe Kids created The Ultimate Car Seat Guide, which is your go-to resource for personalized car seat safety tips based on your child’s age and weight. Check it out and learn what type of car seat is best for your child and tips on how to properly install and fit the car seat. The Guide is now also available en Espanol!

    CHECK IT OUT: You can get your child’s car seat inspected by a certified technician. Contact your local Virginia Safe Kids Coalition to find out how. The federal government also has a feature to find car seat technicians.

    RESOURCES:

    THANKS: Virginia Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax) championed the bill with support from Safe Kids Virginia, Children’s National Health System and AAA Mid-Atlantic. Safe Kids’ work on child passenger safety and the Ultimate Car Seat Guide are made possible by General Motors.

    The Law

    This is a link to the new law: https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?181+ful+CHAP0402

  • Kids in Hot Cars: One Child is Too Many

    The National Safety Council has released a groundbreaking report on pediatric vehicular heatstroke (PVH) titled, Kids in Hot Cars; a Legislative Look Across the U.S.

    On average, 37 children die each year due to PVH1; 42 children died during 2017, alone. All of these deaths were preventable.

    In an effort to better understand and document this risk, NSC works with partner experts, including Jan Null, a certified consulting meteorologist and adjunct professor at San Jose State University. Mr. Null has been tracking child deaths resulting from vehicular heatstroke since 19981, and his work provides the basis for data and information in this report.

    The objective of the report is to:

    • Support stronger laws to protect children from being knowingly left unattended in vehicles
    • Increase awareness and understanding of vehicle heating dynamics
    • Increase awareness of the risk of children gaining access to vehicles on their own
    • Encourage policies for childcare providers
    • Recommend study of factors that contribute to unknowingly leaving a child in a vehicle

    The report also features a first-hand account of a father who lost his beloved daughter.

    Dozens of children die needlessly this way every year, and it can happen to anyone. Please read and share this life-saving information.

    Download the Report Today!

    Additional Resources

    Ten minutes. That’s how long it takes for the temperature inside a vehicle to rise 20 degrees. For children in particular, this increase is enough to result in death.

    Safe Kids Worldwide produced a toolkit that includes a printable tip sheet: Everything you need to know to keep your kids safe from heatstroke. Here are five recommendations:

    • Never leave your child alone in a car, not even for a minute
    • Keep your car locked when you are not in it so kids don’t gain access
    • Create reminders by putting something in the back seat next to your child, such as a briefcase, purse, cell phone or your left shoe
    • If you see a child alone in a car, call 911
    • Set a calendar reminder on your electronic device to make sure you dropped your child off at daycare; develop a plan so you will be alerted if your child is late or a no-show

    Technology Can be Part of the Solution

    NSC backs efforts to use technology to prevent children from being forgotten in vehicles. Without offering an endorsement of any vehicle or product, NSC provides the following information to help parents and guardians protect their most precious passengers:

    Rear Seat Reminder: If a rear door is opened and closed within 10 minutes before the vehicle is started, or is opened and closed while the vehicle is running, five chimes will sound and a message will display on the instrument panel when the vehicle shuts off to remind the driver to check the rear seat. This technology is available on several 2017 GM vehicles.

    Car Seat Technology: This technology generates a series of tones activated through a “smart” chest clip and wireless receiver to remind the driver that a child is in the rear seat within two seconds of turning off the vehicle.
    _______________

    1National Safety Council: Hot Car Deaths

  • Keeping Foodborne Illness Away This Summer!

    Summer is coming! Barbeques, picnics, fishing and camping trips, days at the beach, family reunions, wedding receptions…and more. There are plenty of activities where you may be served food out of doors! In the heat… The longer perishable food stands out… the quicker it will become less palatable and more dangerous! Yes, dangerous to those who may consume it because bacteria like food too! Observing all the rules of good food safety are even more important when refrigeration might not be at its peak! So what can you do?

    Make sure to have enough ice, ice blocks, keep-cold bags, heavy duty aluminum foil and cold water on hand, for your cooler or to chill the foods you will serve cold. This may take preparation… Every kind of “dollar” store carries ice blocks, so does Walmart. Bags of ice can be purchased at the grocery or convenience store and toted in a cooler!

    Make sure to refrigerate foods as long as possible before serving and when people are done helping themselves at a table, cover and place food in the refrigerator or cooler until it’s time for second helpings–especially in the case of foods containing mayonnaise or mayonnaise-based salad dressings, for instance, potato, chicken, tuna, shrimp or egg salads…or sandwiches made with mayo. The same is true for meat, poultry and fish! Make sure it’s thoroughly cooked and served hot and don’t let it stand out after serving and guests have helped themselves, refrigerate and reheat in the microwave if necessary. Don’t leave it out.

    If you are carrying food in a cooler long distances, check it periodically to make sure the ice or ice blocks are still frozen! Replace with more ice if not! Wrapping foods in foil when you place them in the cooler helps too!

    Make sure not to re-freeze thawed raw meat, poultry or fish. It’s just not a good idea. If you marinate raw (meat, poultry, fish) food, please do place it in the refrigerator while marinating.

    Also, if something is past its sell-by or recommended use-by date, chuck it in the trash! It’s not worth getting sick over it.

    Wash fruit, lettuce and other vegetables, especially those served raw, thoroughly before cooking, serving or consuming! (You can even wash the skin of potatoes, cucumbers and melons.)

    Make sure to wash your hands when you prepare food, before you begin preparing a dish, and in between touching raw eggs, meat, poultry or fish and other foods, utensils that have touched food and counter and prep surfaces. (It might sound like a lot of hand washing, but it’s worth it!) And then, wash your hands afterward before you touch anything else, so you don’t cross-contaminate other food, utensils, etc. (Make sure not to use the same utensils when preparing different meat, poultry and fish or other foods.) Make sure the pots and pans you use are clean and dish towels if you use them as well… Clean paper towels are preferable to dish towels. If your dish sponge is dirty, ditch it! You can even put dish brushes in the dishwasher with the dishes regularly!

    Doing these things will help to reduce the chance of you, your family and your guests getting a foodborne illness! Enjoy your summer!

  • For Safety’s Sake

    Thinking about safety this week because over the weekend there were many… not several… but many… tragedies. Some could not be avoided, but many could have been. I’d like readers to know that there has been a purposeful respite in my writing for this blog during the past nine months, I have only posted the safety recalls, because I wanted to rethink how to get the message across better to parents of young children especially. Do they really read this, I wondered? Does it help them? Or am I simply haranguing into space? But some real tragedies involving safety and especially water safety occurred over this past weekend that have spurred me to make an effort to get the word out in a more timely manner, louder and more frequently. Child water safety is why I began this blog in the first place.

    A word or two about roiling flood waters. Those who paid attention to TV news over this Memorial Day Weekend learned about a National Guardsman, a hero, who in trying to help a woman locate her cat, lost his life in the flash flood in Ellicott City, Maryland. There are others who were stranded in their car on a bridge–I don’t know the outcome of their predicament. Those were situations which perhaps could not have been avoided. But one take-away from the flash flood situation is that if you see roiling waters ahead of you when driving in your car, turn back, back up, but do not drive through the the water. There may be nothing below that water, there could easily be a sinkhole beneath the water, the underlying road may already have washed away. There could be debris carried by the water that could hurt you, including tree branches, downed power lines, etc.

    Next, beach water safety is on the forefront. Beach weather is here! Especially with impending storms, rip tides become stronger and unpredictable even in the shallows. Accidents involving water happen quickly. Again, rushing water currents and big waves can carry floating debris with them and children and adults can be hurt by debris, branches, floating decking, logs, even floating beer cans–and by big waves!

    “Stay away from the Bay on a stormy day!”, one farmer at the Chesapeake Bay told me years ago. If it looks like it’s going to storm any second, no one has any business out on the beach, in a boat or in the water. Storms come fast on big bodies of water, like the Ocean or the Bay. Respect darkening clouds…and lightning! So if you are in a boat with your family and it begins to look like a storm is building, get to shore as quickly as possible. Don’t hesitate! Take shelter! There was a fantastic photo that went viral this weekend of a lifeguard stand on an ocean beach being hit by a bolt of lightning and very fortunately, it was unoccupied!… Lightning frequently strikes the tallest point available… Don’t hide under a tree or under the lifeguard stand! Get off the beach, off the water, and out of the pool if it looks like a storm! If you do these simple things, a tragedy can be avoided. Don’t think it can’t happen to you, it can. And then someone may have to lose their life trying to save yours or your family’s. Think about it, please.

  • CPSC CONSUMER ALERT: CAREGIVERS URGED TO USE RESTRAINTS WITH INCLINED SLEEP PRODUCTS

    U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission – News Release

    Release Date: May 31, 2018

    Release Number: 18-171

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is reminding parents: Always create a safe sleep environment for babies in a crib, bassinet, play yard or inclined sleeper.

    In particular, CPSC is alerting consumers to be aware of hazards when infants are not restrained in inclined sleep products.

    Inclined sleep products are bassinet-like products with an inclined back to elevate the baby’s head and torso. There are many different styles of infant inclined sleep products available for infants and newborns. These can include frame-type, semi-rigid and compact inclined sleep products.

    CPSC is aware of infant deaths associated with inclined sleep products. Babies have died after rolling over in these sleep products.

    CPSC, therefore, urges consumers: Always use restraints and stop using these products as soon as an infant can roll over.

    Parents can be surprised and may not know the exact moment their baby first rolls over. Therefore always use the restraint and adjust it to fit snugly to keep the baby face up, with the baby’s face free to breathe when baby is placed in an inclined sleeper.

    CPSC encourages consumers to practice safe sleep always, and be sure to follow manufacturers’ instructions when using these sleep products.

    Caregivers should follow these simple safety steps every time baby is placed down to sleep:

    · Bare is Best: Do not add blankets, pillows, or other items to the sleep environment.

    · Back to Sleep: Always place infants to sleep on their backs.

    · Check www.cpsc.gov to find out if your crib, bassinet, play yard or inclined sleeper has been recalled.

  • Jané Recalls Strollers Due to Violation of the Federal Stroller and Carriage Safety Standard; Entrapment and Strangulation Hazards

    Recall Date: May 24, 2018

    Recall Number: 18-167

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Jané Muum strollers

    Hazard: The recalled strollers violate the federal Stroller and Carriage standard. An infant can pass through the opening between the stroller armrest and the seat bottom and his/her head and neck can become entrapped by the armrest, posing entrapment and strangulation hazards.

    Remedy: Repair. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled strollers and contact Jané for a free repair. The repair consists of a free replacement armrest. Consumers can continue using the recalled strollers if they remove the armrest and harness the child properly until they receive the replacement armrest.

    Consumer Contact: Call Jané toll-free at 844-200-7971 anytime to leave message or from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET Monday through Thursday for a live operator, email at info@jane-usa.com or online at www.jane-usa.com and click on MUUM USA MODEL for more information.

    Pictures available here: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2018/Jane-Recalls-Strollers-Due-to-Violation-of-the-Federal-Stroller-and-Carriage-Safety-Standard-Entrapment-and-Strangulation-Hazards

    Recall Details

    Units: About 800

    Description: This recall involves the US model of Jané Muum strollers. The recalled strollers have a black frame, a reclining seat or hammock that is reversible and a hood. An insert is sold with the stroller for smaller babies. There is a basket for storage underneath the stroller seat. The recalled strollers were sold in: dark gray and black (S85), light grey and black (S49), blue and black (S46) and green and black (S47). “Muum by Jané” is printed on the front bottom frame. “Muum” is printed on the side frame and on the handle. “Jané” and “Muum,” “Jané USA LLC,” “Muum US 5399US/S85” or “S47,” “S49,” “S46” are printed on a label on the leg of the stroller.

    Incidents/Injuries: None reported

    Sold At: Albee Baby, Baby World, Kidsland, Toys R US, Dainty Baby, USA Baby stores and other stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com and other websites from July 2016 through August 2017 for between $300 and $450.

    Importer(s): Jané USA LLC, a division of Jané Group, of Charlotte, N.C.

    Manufactured In: China

  • Porsche Recalls Toy Cars Due to Choking Hazard

    Recall Date: May 22, 2018

    Recall Number: 18-162

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: My First Porsche – Wooden Cars

    Hazard:  The wheels and axles can detach from the wooden toy car, posing a choking hazard to young children.

    Remedy: Refund. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled toy cars, take them away from young children and contact a local authorized Porsche dealer to return the recalled toy car and receive a full refund.

    Consumer Contact: Call Porsche at 800-767-7243 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at shop4.porsche.com/usa/ and click on “Product Recall” at the bottom of the page for more information.

    Pictures available here: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2018/Porsche-Recalls-Toy-Cars-Due-to-Choking-Hazard

    Recall Details

    Units: About 1,700 (In addition, 330 were sold in Canada)

    Description: This recall involves a blue wooden toy Porsche car with tan wheels. The Porsche crest is printed on the front of the recalled toy cars. “PORSCHE” is printed on both sides of the recalled toy cars. They measure about 4 inches long by 2 inches wide by 1 1/2 inches tall. The underside of the toy has “BAJO” and a lot number printed on it. The following lot numbers are included in this recall.

    Lot Number:

    0 1 1 2 1 5
    0209 1 6
    03 1 0 1 7
    0311 1 4
    03 1 1 1 6
    04011 6
    0404 16
    0405 1 6
    04 1 2 1 7
    05 1 0 1 5
    06 1 11 7
    0909 1 5

    Incidents/Injuries: None reported

    Sold At: Porsche dealers nationwide and online at shop4.porsche.com/usa/ and other websites from April 2015 through March 2018 for about $25.

    Importer(s): Porsche Cars North America Inc., of Atlanta, Ga.

    Manufactured In: Poland

  • Michaels Recalls Spin Art Kits Due to Fire and Burn Hazards

    Recall Date: May 17, 2018

    Recall Number: 18-160

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Creatology® Spin Art Kits

    Hazard: The battery compartment in the spin art kit can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards.

    Remedy: Refund. Consumers should immediately take the recalled spin art kits away from children, stop using them and return them to any Michaels store for a full refund.

    Consumer Contact: Contact Michaels at 800-642-4235 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or online at www.michaels.com and click on “Product Recalls” at the bottom of the page for more information.

    Recall Details

    Units: About 110,000

    Description: This recall involves spin art kits sold under the Michaels private brand Creatology®. The 34-piece kit includes one battery operated spin art wheel with cover, paint, paint brushes, and paper. The recalled art kits are blue and have SKU number 197861 and one of the following UPC codes printed on the barcode on the box.

    SKU number: 197861
    UPC codes:
    042409093252
    042409930601
    042409093115
    042409093061
    042409931141
    069545093113
    400100663486

    Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received two reports of battery compartments overheating in the spin art kits. No injuries have been reported.

    Sold At: Exclusively at Michaels stores nationwide and online at www.michaels.com from August 2011 through February 2018 for about $25.

    Distributor: Michaels Stores Procurement Co., Inc. (MSPCI), a subsidiary of The Michaels Companies Inc., of Irving, Texas

    Manufactured in: China

  • Michaels Recalls Pottery Wheel Kits Due to Fire and Burn Hazard

    Recall Date: May 17, 2018

    Recall Number: 18-159

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Creatology® pottery wheel kits

    Hazard: The battery compartment in the pottery wheel kit can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards.

    Remedy: Refund. Consumers should immediately take the recalled pottery wheel kits away from children, stop using them and return them to any Michaels store for a full refund.

    Consumer Contact: Contact Michaels at 800-642-4235 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or online at www.michaels.com and click on “Product Recalls” at the bottom of the page for more information.

    Recall Details

    Units: About 263,000

    Description: This recall involves pottery wheel kits sold under the Michaels private brand Creatology®. The 16-piece kit includes a battery operated pottery wheel, 2 bags of clay, 4 molding tools, 6 paints, 2 paint brushes, and a sponge. The recalled pottery wheel kits are blue and have SKU number 078859 and one of the following UPC codes printed on the barcode on the back of the box.

    SKU Number: 078859
    UPC codes:
    0400100663462
    0042409006603
    0042409006702
    0042409006757
    0069545670017
    0886946767692

    Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received one report of overheating, and one report of a fire in the battery compartment in the pottery wheel kits. No injuries have been reported.

    Sold At: Exclusively at Michaels stores nationwide and online at www.michaels.com from August 2011 through February 2018 for about $25.

    Distributor: Michaels Stores Procurement Co. Inc. (MSPCI), a subsidiary of The Michaels Companies Inc., of Irving, Texas

    Manufactured in: China

  • Munchkin Recalls Waterpede Bath Toys Due to Choking Hazard

    Recall Date: May 10, 2018

    Recall Number: 18-153

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Waterpede™ children’s bath toys

    Hazard: The bath toy can break apart exposing small parts, posing a choking hazard to young children.

    Remedy: Replace

    Consumers should immediately take the bath toy away from young children and contact Munchkin for a free replacement bath toy of comparable value.

    Consumer Contact: Munchkin toll-free at 877-242-3134 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or online at www.munchkin.com, click on Help at the bottom of the page and then Recalls for more information.

    Pictures available here: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2018/Munchkin-Recalls-Waterpede-Bath-Toys-Due-to-Choking-Hazard

    Recall Details

    Units: About 72,000

    Description: This recall involves Munchkin’s Waterpede bath toys. The one piece multi-colored Centipede -shaped toy allows water to be scooped from the top, and flows through the chambers of bottom. The bath toy is 100% plastic and is for children six months and up.

    Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received one report of the toy breaking apart and exposing small beads. No injuries have been reported.

    Sold At: Babies R Us, Target, and other stores nationwide and online at munchkin.com from September 2015 through January 2018 for between $5 and $7.

    Importer(s): Munchkin Inc., of Van Nuys, Calif.

    Manufactured In: China