Be Child Safe

Author: Marianne Halterman

  • Flu Deaths in Children Exceed 100 for 2016-2017

    This is not a statistic I like to relate to readers of this blog: 101 deaths in children from flu-related causes have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 2016-2017–and these are the deaths which have been reported.

    There may have been some deaths where causes were not readily discernible or were more complicated, or possibly not diagnosed and not reported as flu-related deaths. Flu shots, according to a recent study, are still the best deterrent to kids getting the flu and bringing it to school or bringing it home from school and spreading the flu. We are now less than two months away from the new school year’s start, and while we don’t offer medical advice in this blog, we encourage parents to get the facts on the flu and consider having their children receive whatever current flu vaccine shots are available when the time comes to help retard the spread of the flu and keep kids and families safe. “CDC recommends an annual flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older. Influenza vaccination rates among children (6 months to 17 years) have been around 60% for the past several seasons.” 1

    According to the CDC, during the 2012-2013 and 2014-2015 flu seasons, the Influenza A (H3N2) virus predominated. That strain of the virus is generally associated with more difficult outcomes in children and the elderly. A recent CDC study (published in Pediatrics) has confirmed that flu vaccine can prevent flu-related deaths in children and “can reduce the risk…by 51%” 2

    This is impressive and makes it a no-brainer for me that it’s important to get a shot and be protected.

    ___________________

    1 https://www.CDC.gov/flu/news/reported-flu-deaths-children.htm,
    June 23, 2017, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD),
    1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA
    30329-4027 USA

    2 Ibid.

  • If A Child Is Missing, What Should You Do?

    Children playing hide and seek is nothing new, but when your child disappears whether it’s from your home, your yard, their school, or in a store or a public place, like a park or shopping center, then it’s an urgent concern. The first thing to do if you are sure your child is missing–and it’s difficult for any parent or responsible person caring for a child when you become aware your child is actually missing–is to KEEP CALM! But you can’t think in a turmoil and you must think, about where and when you saw your child last. The next thing is ASK FOR HELP, from a neighbor, close friend, store manager or other authority present, and CALL 911.

    If you are at home, check areas of greatest concern first, areas where a child could run into big trouble: closets, old appliances such as a basement refrigerator or freezer, under beds, in an automobile trunk or down in the seat well or backseat of a car. Check bathtubs, “hot” tubs, shower stalls, hampers, blanket boxes–anywhere your young child could fit or climb in to hide. Check the attic and/or the basement, if you have one, garage and storage areas as well.

    If your child is missing from out of doors, after checking around the outside of the home, including shrubbery, outbuildings if any, and the street, call any possible playmates’ parents or babysitter(s) immediately. If you come up empty after a few minutes’ initial checks, then contact your local police department immediately: CALL 911.
    Don’t wait. Minutes matter! Finding your child is often best left to professionals, they are trained to know where to look.

    When reporting your child missing, provide a recent photo of your child to the authorities, so they know what the child they are looking for looks like. Make sure to provide them your child’s gender, height, weight, hair color and age on their last birthday and what your child was wearing when you saw them last, and if he or she has any particular noticeable physical traits or birthmarks or missing teeth. Provide any important information about health conditions, such as autism, Down syndrome, ADHD, or any current health issues. Provide the police with names of playmates, favorite outdoor play areas and your child’s habits and hobbies. If they ride their bikes, skateboards or scooters, where? Do they play in a wooded area or a school or community playground, or a vacant building lot? Are there ponds or swimming pools, rivers, lakes or any other bodies of water nearby, where they might go? It is very important that areas that could create extreme danger for a child be checked immediately. If you live in the city, nearby busy streets, abandoned buildings or vacant lots, public parks, school yards in or close to your neighborhood are such areas.

    In a store or shopping center if your child is missing, immediately contact the store’s manager, inform them where you saw your child last and provide vital information and a recent photo of your child. The store manager will initiate a check of the immediate area and contact the police if the child is not found within a few minutes. With many people having cell phones and taking photos, it’s good to keep that recent photo of your child on your cell phone so you can download and send it easily to security and police personnel looking for your child.

  • Toddler suffers serious burns to his feet at splash pad

    On a very hot day in a Greenwood, IN, public park, a young toddler walked away from his mother onto the “splashpad” made of an asphalt like material.  The child began screaming and the mother ultimately put his shoes back on and took him to the doctor’s. He suffered 2nd Degree burns on the bottoms of his feet.​  Park officials are now warning parents that on hot days, ground surfaces will heat up!

    Read the article at AOL News

  • Police warn that drugs that look like candy may be present

    NEW YORK (FOX5NY) –

    Authorities in a city in upstate New York are concerned that drugs that look like candy may soon hit the community.

    Police in Elmira, a city in the Southern Tier, issued a press release with the subject line “Candy warning- Danger to children” about a narcotic trend that “may be present in the area.”

    Read the details at http://www.fox5ny.com/news/256481631-story

  • Are We Becoming Careless When It Comes to Pedestrian Safety?

    In the past week, three accidents involving pedestrians have come to light via the U.S. newfeeds: A young girl, 10 years old, was hit by a car when she left the sidewalk and tried crossing a busy thoroughfare in Bergen County, NJ; she will live.  A 15-year old in a group of teens was killed trying to cross a busy four-lane expressway, where I-84 meets Route 17 in Wallkill, New York. And a 2-year old toddler in Orlando, Florida, was run over and killed by his 12-year old sister who was starting her parents’ sport utility vehicle in their driveway.  While each of these is a tragic accident, one can recover from the first. But for the other two victims, there is no recovery.  And it points once again to the leading cause of death in kids is unintentional–often preventable–injury.  None of those children should have been where they were, period.

    As parents, role models, family members and caregivers, ought we to sound off longer and louder about kids’ safe travel on foot and about everyone who gets behind the wheel watching out not only for what’s in the traffic lanes ahead, but for pedestrians on the sidewalks, and people, animals and obstacles in our peripheral vision? I am reminded of slogans and parental commands uttered when I was growing up:  Don’t jay-walk, go to the corner, look both ways, cross at the light, stay in the crosswalk, don’t step off the curb until you know the way is completely clear! These instructions would not have helped the toddler, but had the parents of the toddler not allowed their young daughter to start a car for them… who is to say what may not have happened? Yes, it’s tragic and our hearts go out to those parents. We don’t wish these things on anyone.

    It’s up to those of us who drive to pay attention to what’s going on in front of us–and to check back-up cameras and rearview and side mirrors religiously when we back-up our vehicles. We cannot depend on a vehicle’s “system” to do it for us despite the fact that we depend on technology for almost everything else!  We cannot be lackadaisical about safety. It simply doesn’t work in this fast-paced world we live in, accidents happen. But we can avoid many accidents by simply paying attention and being diligent in our driving habits.

    Pedestrians are people–not possums. We have to be careful of people–who are not moving at the speed of light, children and the elderly, especially.  We must not exceed roadway speed limits so we can stop for pedestrians if necessary.  In a perfect world, distracted driving and driving under the influence would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law every time the infractions occur and are cited to deter others from bad behavior that affects the wellbeing–and ultimately the lives– of our children. But as you can see from the numbers of people who use cell phones while driving, bad actors don’t always get caught!

    So today, we ask that you try to remember to be cautious and careful of pedestrians who may enter your roadway unexpectedly, especially if you are driving in neighborhoods where there are children, by schools, busstops, churches, and gathering places, or on narrow streets where there are shops and people like to walk.  It’s springtime and children are out in greater numbers walking and playing out of doors. Be mindful of them and aware of your own ability to react–don’t cloud that ability by eating, smoking, drinking or gabbing on the phone while you are driving!  The life of some child in the cross-walk, on your street or highway, or even in your driveway may depend upon your ability to react to the fact they are there–and you need to stop quickly. Please observe speed limits and drive safely, for kids’ sake!

  • Douglas Recalls Plush Toys Due to Choking Hazard

    Recall Date: May 17, 2017

    Recall Number: 17-155

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Plush toys

    Hazard: The plastic eyes on the plush toys can detach, posing a choking hazard.

    Remedy: Replace, Refund
    Consumers should immediately take the recalled plush toys away from young children and contact the firm to receive a free replacement product or a full refund.

    Consumer Contact: Douglas at 800-276-4029 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at www.douglastoys.com and click on Product Recall for more information.

    Pictures available here: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2017/Douglas-Recalls-Plush-Toys

    Recall Details

    Units: About 25,000

    Description: This recall involves the Oliver™ the Bear, Chewie™ the English Bulldog, and Charlotte™ the Fox model plush toys. Oliver the Bear is a brown and tan stuffed bear, with a blue t-shirt that reads “Oliver the Bear” and a red, removable cape. Chewie is a stuffed, brown and white English Bulldog with a blue patch sewn on the chest that reads “Chewie.” Charlotte is a stuffed, brown, black and white Fox with removable blue cape. Each of these toys has a sewn-in label with the words “DOUGLAS® the cuddle toy.”

    Incidents/Injuries:
    Douglas has received two reports of the plastic eyes detaching or loosening. No injuries have been reported.

    Sold at: Specialty toy and gift stores nationwide from July 2014 to April 2017 for about $20. Also distributed by UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF) to various individuals and organizations.

    Manufacturer: Douglas Company Inc., of Keene, N.H.

    Importer: Douglas Company Inc., of Keene, N.H.

    Manufactured In: China

  • Rock One Sock

    Rock One Sock

    This May, we’re asking you to Rock One Sock for missing children and their families! The idea is simple – missing children’s issues don’t affect everyone directly, but anyone can show they care. When you Rock One Sock that’s your symbol of support. You can help just by raising awareness with Rock One Sock and by donating to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

    Here’s how it works:
    Wear one sock and take a picture or video to show how you rocked that sock!
    Post it to social media using the hashtag #RockOneSock
    Donate to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to support our work to bring missing children home and challenge your friends to do the same!

    Join Us & Rock One Sock
    during the month of May to show your support in time for
    National Missing Children’s Day on May 25!
    Let’s show missing children and their families that they are not forgotten
    and that people everywhere care about them.

    Donate Here!

  • Graco Recalls Some Graco My Ride 65 Convertible Car Seats

    Recall Date: May 10 2017

    NHTSA Campaign Number: 17C001000

    Potential Number of Units Affected: 25494

    Child Seat Webbing may Tear Under Load/FMVSS 213
    A child that is not adequately restrained in a crash has an increased risk of an injury.
    Manufacturer Graco Children’s Products Inc.

    Summary

    Graco Children’s Products Inc. (Graco) is recalling certain Graco My Ride 65 convertible child restraints, models 1871689, 1908152, 1813074, 1872691, 1853478, 1877535, 1813015, and 1794334. In the event of a crash, the child seat webbing may not adequately restrain the child. As such, these car seats fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 213, “Child Restraint Systems.”

    Remedy: Graco will notify owners, and dealers will provide consumers with a replacement harness, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin July 17, 2017. Owners may contact Graco customer service at 1-800-345-4109.

    Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

  • Vehicle Heatstroke Prevention

    Take Action
    Heatstroke is the leading cause of vehicular non-crash-related deaths for children under 14. In fact, each year, an average of 37 children have died from vehicle heatstroke between 1998-2015.

    While it seems like an impossible mistake to make, every parent or caregiver can potentially become distracted, and distractions often fuel this devastating situation.

    No one is immune. Yet, this tragedy is 100% preventable.

    We each have a role to play to help keep our kids safe. Help us share live-saving tips and resources with as many people as we can.

  • Combi USA Recalls Stroller and Car Seat Combos Due to Fall Hazard

    Recall Date: May 4, 2017

    Recall Number: 17-146

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Combi Shuttle Travel System (stroller and car seat combos)

    Hazard: The car seat can disengage from the stroller’s frame, posing a fall hazard to infants.

    Remedy: Repair
    Consumers should stop using the recalled strollers with the car seats attached and contact Combi for a free repair, which consists of straps to secure the car seat to the stroller. Consumers can continue to use the strollers and car seats separately.

    Consumer Contact: Combi USA toll-free at 844-332-6730 from 8 a.m.
    to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at www.combiusa.com and click on “Safety Notifications” at the bottom of the page for more information. Combi USA will contact consumers who registered their products.

    Pictures available here: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2017/Combi-USA-Recalls-Stroller-and-Car-Seat-Combos

    Recall Details

    Units: About 1,000

    Description: This recall involves Combi Shuttle model strollers and car seats, which when used together are called a travel system. The strollers and car seats have model number 6100027 or 6100100 printed on a label on the base of the car seat and stroller’s leg. The car seat and stroller were sold in titanium (silver) and red chili (red) colors. Combi is printed on the front of the stroller and the car seat. Shuttle is printed above the model number.

    Incidents/Injuries: None reported

    Sold at: Online at Amazon.com, Babies R Us.com, Target.com and other online retailers from June 2015 through September 2016 for between $350 and $400 for the stroller and the car seat when sold together.

    Importer: Combi USA, Charlotte, N.C.

    Manufactured in: China