Be Child Safe

Author: Marianne Halterman

  • Hot Cars Kill Kids

    This is something everyone can do. When you get out of your car at the grocery or shopping center, look around.

    If there is someone, a child, an elderly person, or an animal, alone in a parked vehicle with the windows up…and no a.c. running (and the windows should not be completely rolled up with the a.c. running either… Noxious fumes!), call 911 and head for the mgr of the store. Tell them. It’s their pkg lot. They have to do something immediately!

    A few months ago in a Walmart pkg lot, I saw a young girl nursing her child in the driver’s seat of a car, windows rolled up, a.c. running. I tapped on the window and told her to crack a window or two…she thanked me and I breathed a sigh of relief. At least she responded positively. That won’t always happen. A woman with a special needs child in a car in the food lion parking lot in Timberville, VA., on a hot day with the windows rolled up, yelled at me for telling her. I really wish I had called 911, instead of talking to that “lady”. So calling 911 is probably the safest bet.

    You can’t believe how many “smart” people do these mindless things. There have been 18 heatstroke deaths of young children who have suffocated in hot cars so far this year. Please pass it on, be observant and do what you can.

    Thanks!

    Mind your own business and a child could die

    It’s Time to Shout About It…

    Every 10 days, vehicular heatstroke kills a child in the United States. Every 10 days, a parent loses a child to a preventable death. Since 1998, there have been 684 deaths, 23 of which happened this year. It’s time to stop vehicular heatstroke from killing our children. The time to take action is now!

    On July 31, National Heatstroke Prevention Day, NHTSA will be tweeting every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. to raise awareness about the dangers of heatstroke. Join us in this life-saving conversation with tweets and retweets of your own. Take this message to your friends, families, and followers, and tell them to share it, too.

    Who: NHTSA and YOU!

    What: #HeatstrokeKills Tweet Up

    When: Sunday, July 31, 2016, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET

    Where: www.twitter.com/NHTSAgov

    How: Follow the conversation using the hashtag #HeatstrokeKills. Feel free to mention @NHTSAgov in any of your tweets and we will get back to as many questions and comments as we can! Remember to include #HeatstrokeKills in your comments so others can follow along with the conversation, too.

    Invite your friends and followers to join us and spread this important message.

    Spread the message. Make a difference. Take action. Save a life.

    Follow NHTSA on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with the latest recalls and safety campaigns.

  • Cyber-Security, Kids… and Slender Man?

    Awhile back, I wrote a Child Safety post about detergent soap pods, and my friend Monica said disgustedly, “Oh, now I have something else to worry about!?” We agreed that we never thought that soap pods that look like candy would ever even be placed on the market for moms to bring home–the sight of them in a jar confusing children who promptly accessed them and tried to bite, eat and swallow them with horrific results. But here we have another assault on kids, and this, from the Internet and apparently it’s a myth that has been circulated and its character idolized… it’s “Slender Man.”

    As near as I can understand what I have read about what occurred in Wisconsin in 2014, two young girls age 12, lured one of their friends into the woods, where they stabbed her multiple times. The victim was found along a roadside and taken to the hospital. (Daily News Record, July 28, 2016, “Wisconsin Girls to be Tried As Adults in Slender Man Attack”, Associated Press). The two girls have said this was a kind of “tribute to Slender Man”, a fictional Internet, counter-culture, mythical character. A deviant character called Slender Man created by Erik Knudsen in an Internet forum inspired this “planned out and violent” attempted murder. The only good news is that despite the odds, the young victim survived. Whether the girls will be tried as adults is still being determined. Both young girls’ who apparently committed this crime have been analyzed by physicians, and one has been diagnosed with mental illness(es). But my question is: Where were the parents? How did these girls learn about Slender Man and why did they do obeisance to a fictional character? Obviously, the young girls had unfettered access to everything on the Internet–otherwise they would not know about Slender Man. This is definitely a case of morbidly inspirational fiction gone wrong.

    And impressionable persons, such as these young girls, having access to things deviant on the Internet is just plain wrong. I really don’t understand–and I wonder if these young girls have parents who care or parents who grasp at all what has happened here–or are they like the mother who shepherded her erring child to south of the border after he had committed murder? Not to be in a position to prevent things like this is wrong. This is not free-speech, people! There is something wrong with our understanding of what Internet freedom is if we allow our children to be assaulted by negatively inspirational images, stories, streamed movies that hypnotize, characters mythical or otherwise who do violent and egregious things, and websites on the Internet that inspire hatred, violence and murder. And I believe firmly that people who post such things ought to be held accountable.

    Sensible people who live by common sense rules seem to have left “the buliding” and left what goes on the Internet up to the criminal element in Society and, as such I feel we are teetering on the edge, folks, between sanity and un-reality. It’s midnight, do you know what websites your children are surfing, do you know with whom they are chatting? I think I understand what inspired that other mythical character Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz to bewilderedly state, “Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore!”

  • Things Remembered Recalls Children’s Jewelry Due to Violation of Lead Standard

    Recall Date: July 19, 2016

    Recall Number: 16-228

    Things Remembered Recalls Children’s Jewelry Due to Violation of Lead Standard
    http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2016/Things-Remembered-Recalls-Childrens-Jewelry/

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Silver bracelets and charm necklaces

    Hazard: The clear surface coating on the bracelets and necklaces contain lead in excess of the allowable limit. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health issues.

    Remedy: Refund

    Consumers should immediately take the recalled jewelry away from children and contact Things Remembered for a full refund, including shipping charges, or a replacement gift of equal value.

    Consumer Contact: Things Remembered toll-free at 866-902-4438 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, email at customerservice@thingsremembered.com or online at www.thingsremembered.com and click on “Product Recalls” under “Company Information” at the bottom of the page for more information.

    Recall Details

    Photos Available At: http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2016/Things-Remembered-Recalls-Childrens-Jewelry/

    Units: About 6,700 bracelets and 3,300 necklaces (in addition, 300 bracelets and 100 necklaces sold in Canada)

    Description: This recall involves silver heart bracelets and sweet charm necklaces for children. The 6-inch, silver-plated bracelets have 10 silver hearts and circle links, a lobster claw clasp, and one silver heart-shaped charm. The necklaces are gold plated on a 13-inch box chain with a 2-inch extender, a lobster claw closure and three charms – a pink ice cream cone, a pink crystal cupcake and a gold-plated tag with “SWEET” engraved.

    Incidents/Injuries: None reported

    Sold Exclusively at: Things Remembered stores nationwide and online at www.thingsremembered.com from February 2015 through June 2016 for about $25.

    Distributor/Manufacturer: Things Remembered, Inc., of Highland Heights, Ohio

    Manufactured in: China

    Note: Health Canada’s press release is available at: http://globalrecalls.oecd.org/Search.aspx?lang=en

  • lheine

    Recall Date: July 19, 2016

    Recall Number: 16- 227

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Kids’ insulated water bottles

    Hazard: The lead solder at the exterior base of the bottle contains high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health issues.

    Remedy: Refund

    Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled water bottles and contact L.L.Bean for a full refund.

    Consumer Contact: L.L.Bean at 800-555-9717 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET daily or online at www.llbean.com and click on “Recall & Safety Info” for more information.

    Recall Details

    Photos Available At http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2016/GSI-Outdoors-Recalls-Childrens-Water-Bottles/

    Units: About 6,700

    Description: This recall involves five styles of kids’ insulated water bottles with printed graphics. The bottles are 13.5 ounces capacity with the following color prints: Dino Bones, Flower Power, Orange Grid camo, Purple Tie Dye Butterfly and Robo Shark. The item identification number 297684 is printed on a sticker on the bottom of the bottle. Also printed on the sticker are “PO#844” and “BB2D2-LLB-R45-0413.”

    Incidents/Injuries: None reported

    Sold Exclusively at: L.L.Bean retail stores, online at www.llbean.com and in L.L.Bean catalogues from July 2015 through May 2016 for about $20

    Importer/Distributor: GSI Outdoors, Inc., of Spokane, Wash.

    Manufactured in: China

  • Parental Lapses?

    Recently, I’ve read several blog posts by parents about the results of other parents not watching their young children in public places, especially in restaurants and stores and where children are likely to play and get into trouble.  I read that it has become a pet peeve of other young parents (that is good!), because it certainly is an important theme of mine when a parent does not watch their young child.  It makes me want to take them, like the ghost in a Christmas Carol, and show them what can happen if they are not carefully watching, whether in a public place or a private home!

    I continue to write this blog, because I have seen things happen when a parent was not present, physically or mentally–and often what happens to children, especially young children, happens very fast. And damage–that could have been prevented by simply watching–and watching out for–a child is frequently irreparable and long-lasting. I often think about a childhood friend, who while playing on the swings in her backyard fell and hit her head on a rock. She lived her entire life with severe brain damage. A little boy of five, whose mother was tired, found his way out of their lake home, onto their boat dock, fell in the water and was drowned as his mother slept quietly in the house. Things happen but do not have to happen if parents are awake and watching.

    Less than ten days ago, a local child, age 8, riding his bicycle was hit by a car on his street in front of his home on a Friday evening. He “pulled out in front of a car” and the driver didn’t have time to stop.  The child was helicoptered to Charlottesville’s UVA Hospital with fairly significant injuries.  The boy was not wearing a helmet.  Where were his parents?

    What about the parent who unknowingly placed their child in a recalled baby swing, the Century L’il Napper? The swing had been recalled but the news of the recall hadn’t reached the provider. The child probably fell asleep, slouched and was strangled accidentally. But this may not have happened had the parents been watching. This happened to four children in 1997 and happened to a little child in Indiana in 2002. Yet, I still see those recalled baby swings in trees in front yards and at homes… and I still don’t get it. Portable crib rails collapse, window blind pulls still exist and strangle. Children pick up button batteries or grandpa’s medicine and swallow them like candy. One’s home can be a dangerous place to a child, and parents need to make the time to watch.

    But there is no rhyme nor reason for making our homes more dangerous than they already are. The Washington Post’s Peter Holley reported June 26 that on June 25, 2016, a New Jersey boy, age 6, shot his 4-year old brother while playing with his mother’s gun.  What does this say to you?  On beyond whether the mother was watching (which I seriously doubt), why was there a weapon accessible to two young children? Now a child is dead and the family is badly broken.  This type of heart-rending, totally preventable incident is more common than most people realize…  The International Business Times’ Adam Lidgett reported in January 2016 in the U.S. that 265 people were shot in 2015 by children wielding firearms. Eighty-three of those deaths were fatal.  Was anyone watching, the child who found the shotgun in his father’s out-building and shot his childhood friend in the face.  Thankfully, that child survived! But why wasn’t the gun locked up, high where a child could not reach it? “I forgot,” is not acceptable. Please!!!

    Often, I feel as though what I re-report falls on deaf ears.  But, Parents, IF you watch your children, you are way ahead of the game most of the time and these life-long heart-aches will not be a part of your life. If you cannot watch your kids because you work or are ill or tired, make sure you entrust your children’s care to a trusted family member, caregiver or baby-sitter who WILL watch them for you.  No one can ever fault you for watching over your children!

  • Pacific Cycle Recalls Swivel Wheel Jogging Strollers Due to Crash and Fall Hazards

    Recall Date: July 7, 2016

    Recall Number: 16-219

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Instep and Schwinn swivel wheel jogging strollers

    Hazard: The front wheel can become loose and detach, posing crash and fall hazards.

    Remedy: Repair

    Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled jogging strollers and contact Pacific Cycle to obtain a repair kit to secure the front wheel. The repair kit includes a replacement mechanism for securing the front wheel that uses a traditional screw on/off method of attachment instead of the quick release lever method of attachment shipped with the product, as well as new warning labels. Consumers should not return the jogging strollers to retailers where purchased. A repair video is available at www.pacific-cycle.com/safety-notices-recalls/.

    Consumer Contact: Pacific Cycle toll-free at 877-564-2261 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, online at www.pacific-cycle.com, www.instep.net or www.schwinnbikes.com and click on “Safety Notices & Recalls” or email customerservice@pacific-cycle.com for more information.

    Recall Details

    Photos Available At: http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2016/Pacific-Cycle-Recalls-Swivel-Wheel-Jogging-Strollers/

    Units: About 217,600

    Description: This recall involves single and double occupant swivel wheel jogging strollers that have a quick release mechanism for removing and re-attaching the front wheel. Instep Safari, Instep Grand Safari, Instep Flight, Schwinn Turismo and Schwinn Discover Single and Double Occupant Swivel jogging strollers with the following model numbers are affected. These models come in a variety of colors. The model number is located on the inside of the metal frame above the rear right wheel.

    [ultimatetables 12 /]

    Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 132 reports of the front wheel becoming loose or unstable, resulting in 215 injuries, including head injuries, sprains, lacerations, bumps, bruises, and abrasions.

    Sold at: Small retailers nationwide and online at Amazon.com, Target.com, Toys-R-Us.com, Walmart.com and other online retailers from January 2010 through June 2016 for between $130 and $350.

    Importer: Pacific Cycle Inc., of Madison, Wis.

    Manufacturer: Lerado (Zhongshan) Industrial Co. Ltd., of China

    Manufactured in: China

  • Kids In Hot Cars: Heatstroke Safety Tips For Parents And Caregivers

    Kids in hot cars are a deadly combination. Whether intentional or accidental, these deaths are preventable, which makes it all the more tragic. Here are some helpful tips to make sure it doesn’t happen to you.

    Remember:

    • Never leave a child alone in a parked car, even with the windows rolled down, or air conditioning on. Children’s body temperature can heat up 3 to 5 times faster than adults’. A core temperature of 107 degrees is lethal.
    • Always look in both the front and back of the vehicle before locking the door and walking way.
    • Heatstroke can occur in temperatures as low as 57 degrees. On an 80-degree day, temperatures inside a vehicle can reach deadly levels in just 10 minutes.
    • Never let children play in an unattended vehicle. Teach them a vehicle is not a play area.
    • Always lock your vehicle doors and trunk and keep the keys out of a child’s reach. If a child is missing, quickly check all vehicles, including the trunk.

    Is dropping off a child not part of your normal routine? Come up with some ways to remind yourself that the child is in the car.

    • Place a briefcase, purse, or cell phone in the back next to the car seat so that you’ll always check the back seat before leaving the car.
    • Call your spouse after you’ve dropped off your child to make sure you didn’t forget.
    • Have daycare call you if your child doesn’t show up.
    • Write a note and place it on the dashboard of the car. Or set a reminder on your cell phone or calendar. You can also download the Baby Reminder App for iPhones.

    If you see a child alone in a hot vehicle:

    • Always make sure the child is okay and responsive. If not, call 911 immediately.
    • If the child appears okay, attempt to locate the parents or have the facility’s security or management page the car owner over the PA system.
    • If the child is not responsive and appears in great distress, attempt to get into the car to assist the child, even if that means breaking a window.

    Remember: kids in hot cars are a deadly combination. Don’t take the chance. Look before you lock.

    Information for this post provided by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

    Additional Resources:

  • Children’s Nightgowns Recalled by Saro Trading Due to Violation of Federal Flammability Standard

    Recall Date: June 29, 2016

    Recall Number: 16-205

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Children’s nightgowns

    Hazard: The nightgowns fail to meet federal flammability standards for children’s sleepwear, posing a risk of burn injuries to children.

    Remedy: Refund

    Consumers should immediately take the recalled nightgowns away from children and contact the firm for instructions on receiving a full refund.

    Consumer Contact: Saro Trading Company at 800-662-7276 from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday PT, email at info@saro.com or online at www.sarostore.com and click on the Product Recall link at the bottom of the page for more information.

    Recall Details

    Photos Available At: http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2016/Childrens-Nightgowns-Recalled-by-Saro-Trading/

    Units: About 7,800

    Description: This recall involves five styles of children’s nightgowns manufactured by Saro Trading. The 100% white cotton nightgowns have “Taleen” printed on the neck label. These nightgowns are embroidered with either eyelet trimming, ribbons on the chest, or buttons on the center front of the garment.

    Incidents/Injuries: None reported

    Sold at: Francie Hargrove Interior Designs, Georges Girls Luxe Sleep and Nichols stores nationwide, and online at http://www.sarostore.com/ and http://fennco.com/en/ from February 2012 through April 2016 for $25.

    Importer: Saro Trading Company of Burbank, Calif.

    Manufactured in: China

  • IKEA Recalls 29 Million MALM and Other Models of Chests and Dressers Due to Serious Tip-Over Hazard

    Recall Date: June 28, 2016

    Recall Number: 16-204

    Following an Additional Child Fatality, IKEA Recalls 29 Million MALM and Other Models of Chests and Dressers Due to Serious Tip-Over Hazard; Consumers Urged to Anchor Chests and Dressers or Return for Refund

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Children’s and adult chests and dressers

    Hazard: The recalled chests and dressers are unstable if they are not properly anchored to the wall, posing a serious tip-over and entrapment hazard that can result in death or injuries to children.

    Remedy: Refund or Repair

    Consumers should immediately stop using any recalled chest and dresser that is not properly anchored to the wall and place it into an area that children cannot access. Contact IKEA for a choice between two options: refund or a free wall-anchoring repair kit.

    Consumers are entitled to a full refund for chests and dressers manufactured between January 2002 and June 2016. Consumers with chests and dressers manufactured prior to January 2002 will be eligible for a partial store credit.

    Consumers can order a free wall-anchoring repair kit. Consumers can install the kit themselves or IKEA will provide a one-time, free in-home installation service, upon request. Consumers can reorder the kits throughout the life of their chest and dresser.

    Photos Available At http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2016/IKEA-Recalls-29-Million-MALM-and-Other-Models-of-Chests-and-Dressers/

    Units: About 8 million MALM chests and dressers and 21 million additional children’s and adult chests and dressers in the U.S. (In addition, 6.6 million were sold in Canada)

    Consumer Contact: IKEA toll-free at 866-856-4532 anytime or online at www.IKEA-USA.com/recallchestsanddressers or www.IKEA-USA.com and click on Product Recall for more information on how to receive a refund or free wall-anchoring repair kit.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with IKEA North America, of Conshohocken, Pa., is announcing the recall of all chests and dressers that do not comply with the performance requirements of the U.S. voluntary industry standard (ASTM F2057-14). The recalled children’s chests and dressers are taller than 23.5 inches and adult chests and dressers are taller than 29.5 inches. The 29 million units of recalled chests and dressers include: MALM 3-drawer, 4-drawer, 5-drawer and three 6-drawer models and other children＊s and adult chests and dressers. The recalled chests and dressers are unstable if they are not properly anchored to the wall, posing a serious tip-over and entrapment hazard that can result in death or serious injuries to children.

    On July 22, 2015, CPSC and IKEA announced a repair program for the chests and dressers that included a free wall-anchoring repair kit for the MALM chests and dressers and other IKEA chests and dressers. Two tragic fatalities involving MALM chests and dressers occurred prior to the announcement of the repair program:

    • In February 2014, a 2-year-old boy from West Chester, Pa. died after a 6-drawer MALM chest tipped over and fatally pinned him against his bed.
    • In June 2014, a 23-month-old boy from Snohomish, Wash. died after he becametrapped beneath a 3-drawer MALM chest that tipped over.

    Subsequent to the July 2015 announcement, CPSC and IKEA learned of additional tip-over incidents, including a February 2016 incident in which a 22-month-old boy from Apple Valley, Minn. died when a MALM 6-drawer chest fell on top of him.

    None of the chests or dressers in the above-listed incidents had been anchored to the wall. In addition to the three deaths, IKEA received reports of 41 tip-over incidents involving the MALM chests and dressers, resulting in 17 injuries to children between the ages of 19 months and 10 years old.

    The MALM chests and dressers are constructed of particleboard or fiberboard and are white, birch (veneer), medium brown, black-brown, white stained oak (veneer), oak (veneer), pink, turquoise, grey, grey-turquoise, lilac, green, brown stained ash (veneer), and black. A 5-digit supplier number, 4-digit date stamp, IKEA logo, country of origin and “MALM” are printed on the underside of the top panel or inside the side panel.

    Since 1996, IKEA chests and dressers have been labeled to identify IKEA, the model name and the manufacturing date.

    The recalled MALM chests were sold from 2002 through June 2016 for between $70 and $200.

    RECALLED MALM CHESTS AND DRESSERS

    [ultimatetables 11 /]

    IKEA also received 41 reports of tip-overs involving chests and dressers other than MALMs, resulting in the deaths of three children and 19 injuries to children:

    • In July 1989, a 20-month-old girl from Mt. Vernon, Va. died after an unanchored GUTE 4-drawer chest tipped over and pinned her against the footboard of a youth bed.
    • In March 2002, a 2 1/2-year-old boy from Cranford, N.J. died after an unanchored RAKKE 5-drawer chest tipped over and fatally pinned him to the floor.
    • In October 2007, a 3-year-old girl from Chula Vista, Calif. died after a KURS 3-drawer chest tipped over and fatally pinned her to the floor. It is unknown as to whether the dresser was anchored or not.

    OTHER RECALLED CHESTS AND DRESSERS

    Most of the non-MALM chests and dressers included in this recall are listed on the IKEA website at www.IKEA-USA.com/recallchestsanddressers.

    Since 1996, IKEA chests and dressers have been labeled to identify IKEA, the model name and the manufacturing date.

    CPSC and IKEA are urging consumers to inspect their recalled IKEA chests and dressers to ensure that they are properly anchored to the wall. Chests and dressers should be properly anchored to the wall whether or not they meet the ASTM standard. Consumers should move any unanchored chests and dressers into storage or other areas where they cannot be accessed by children until the chests and dressers are properly anchored to the wall or removed from the home.

    To receive a refund or free wall-anchoring kit for IKEA chests and dressers listed above, visit an IKEA retail store, go to www.IKEA-USA.com/recallchestsanddressers , or call 866-856-4532 anytime.

    A child dies every two weeks and a child is injured every 24 minutes in the U.S. from furniture or TVs tipping over, according to CPSC data.

    Note: Health Canada’s press release is available at http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2016/59040r-eng.php

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Chairman Kaye’s Statement

  • The Land of Nod Recalls Octopus Rattles Due to Choking Hazard

    Recall Date: June 21, 2016

    Recall Number: 16-200

    Recall Summary

    Name of Product: Octo-rattles

    Hazard: The fabric discs on the tentacles of the octopus rattles can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

    Remedy: Refund

    Consumers should immediately take the recalled rattles away from children and contact The Land of Nod to receive a full refund.

    Consumer Contact: The Land of Nod at 800-933-9904 from 8:30 a. m. to 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or online at www.landofnod.com and click on Product Recalls at the bottom of the page for more information

    Recall Details

    Photos Available At: http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2016/The-Land-of-Nod-Recalls-Octopus-Rattles/

    Units: About 550

    Description: This recall involves The Land of Nod’s Octo-rattles, sold individually or as part of a gift bag set. The knit fabric rattles are yellow and shaped like an octopus with multi-colored felt discs sewn into the tentacles. The rattles measure about 9 inches tall, 4 inches wide and 3 inches deep and can attach to strollers or activity gyms. “The Land of Nod,” “Morton Grove, IL 60053,” “951-3072461,” “Made in India” and SKU number 502882 are printed on a label attached to the underside of the rattle.

    Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received five reports of the rattle’s fabric discs detaching. No injuries have been reported.

    Sold exclusively at: The Land of Nod stores nationwide and online from September 2015 through April 2016 for about $30 for the individual rattle and for $150 as part of a gift bag set.

    Distributor: The Land of Nod, of Morton Grove, Ill.

    Manufactured in: India