Updated: April 25/2010
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/index.html
http://69.7.225.164/parent/firstaid_safe/index.html
http://life.familyeducation.com/parenting/safety/34470.html?detoured=1
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/carseat/choose.htm#infants
How Can We Monitor the Internet to Prevent Crimes?
LifeLock: Protect
Your Identity
"My name is Todd Davis, CEO of LifeLock. This is my social security number
457-55-5462. Yes, that really is my social security number. No I'm not crazy.
I'm just sure our system works. Just like we have with mine, LifeLock helps
protect your personal information. And it's GUARANTEED."
http://www.barbarafeldman.com/recommends/lifelock/
15 after-school safety tips (http://slideshow.ivillage.com/parenting/child_safety/15_afterschool_safety_tips/post_1.html?nlcid=tk|04-07-2008| )
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Parent's Guide to Internet Safety |
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Should You Let Your Child Blog? |
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Parent's Guide to MySpace Safety |
Fire Safety
http://www.firesafety.gov/
Child Abduction: It Could Happen to You
Picture this: You tuck in your baby for the night--and when you return to check
on her, she's gone. New research says this is more common than you think. Here's
how to protect your infant.
Click here to Read the Full Article
http://www.momlogic.com/2008/09/baby_abductions.php
This is a video a woman made for her sister/niece about the important of rf. It has some great quotes and a few crash test footages http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRP7ynNI8mI
Fire Safety http://www.firesafety.gov/
http://www.hotelfun4kids.com/travelsafetytips/wintersafety.htm
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/cons/toy_safe-jouet_secur-eng.php
http://www.torontoems.ca/main-site/careers/safety-tips.html
http://www.safetyauthority.ca/?q=safetyinformation_publicsafetytips
16 Halloween Safety Tips Don't be scared to let your little ghost or goblin out this Halloween. Check out 16 safety tips that will let you rest in peace.
Index
another site about online safety. March 19/10
are cyber teens in danger March 28/08
Are Your Kids Safe and Sound at School/Preschool March 26/08
Auto Safety June 28/07
Avoid identity theft with these 5 tips March 20/09
Avoiding Child Abuse in Times of Stress April 7/08
Babyproofing Your Hotel Room July 12/08
Back-to-School Safety Tips Aug 26/08
Backyard Playground Safety March 28/08
Be Prepared April 16/08
Be Stricter on Safety Jan 1/09
Before Disaster Strikes Oct 22/07
Before You Buy a Baby Safety Gate June 27/08
Before You Buy a Christmas Tree Stand Dec 10/07
Before You Entertain Kids: Make Sure Your Home Passes These Safety Checks Nov 26/07
Bike Safety - How Parents and Kids Should Pedal Their Way To Bike Safety Jan 21/08
Bullies Why they do and how to stop them Feb 3/10
Calling 911 July 27/07
Can cats and Christmas trees make it in the same house Dec 14/07
Can Your Kitchen Pass the Food Safety Test March 13/09
Car safety quiz Sept 9/09
Car Seat Safety July 18/07
Car Seat Safety Check: 8 Common Mistakes You Must Avoid March 6/09
car seat safety tips Nov 6/08
Child Safety June 28/07
Child Safety Basics: Learn to Prevent Food Poisoning July 17/08
Child Safety Checklist Sept 2/08
Child Safety: Keeping Kids Safe at Amusement Parks Aug 18/08
Child Safety In Today's World Jan 7/08
Child Safety links Oct 23/07
Child Safety Travel Tips May 22/09
Childproofing Your Home June 27/08
Children and water safety-a 2 minute video June 11/08
Childproofing and Preventing Household Accidents June 28/07
Choking and Choking Hazards Jan 28/09
Could You Handle an Emergency What to Do in 12 Scary Situations Oct 10/08
Could you survive a major disaster Dec 3/07
Create your own travel first aid kit Oct 8/09
Crime Prevention for Mobile Workers July 30/08
Danger of losing your wallet and how to protect yourself July 8/08
dangers of sexual text messages March 20/09
Dating Violence: What Can a Parent Do Oct 11/07
Dealing with disasters: a brief guide to emergency preparedness Oct 10/08
Dealing with emergencies October 5/07
Deaths Rise of Kids Accidentally Left in Car June 23/08
determine if a mirror is 2-way or not Jan 22/08
DONT BE THE MAIN MOSQUITO ATTRACTION April 20/10
Drivers Should Be Extra Cautious During School Year Jan 21/08
Driving to Stay Safe and Alive May 29/09
Drowning Dangers: Keeping Kids Safe Near Water May 6/08
Drug Safety Is Partly the Patients Responsibility June 19/08
Emergency preparedness for your freezer June 27/08
EMERGENCY SHELTERS Nov 21/07
(The) Essence of the Belly Brain June 30/08
Facebook safe Safety tips for teens Dec 18/08
Family Helplines Oct 8/07
Few Things Everyone Should Know About Online Credit Card Applications May 22/09
Fire safety for kids in the Summer July 22/08'
Fire Safety for your Family Oct 14/08
Fireplace Safety Tips Jan 6/09
Fireworks Safety July 2/07
For Safer Teen Drivers, Read this Before Handing Over the Keys July 27/07
Fun Activities for Teaching Fire Safety for Kids March 26/08
FUN AT THE BEACH SURVIVAL KIT May 14/08
Getting ready for bad things March 6/08
GOOD VISION IN A DOWNPOUR Feb 10/10
Great ideas for escape Feb 25/08
Guidelines to follow during a winter storm Nov 26/07
Halloween Candy Oct 17/07
Halloween Costume Safety October 1/07
Help Guide for Child Abuse Feb 23/10
Hidden Household Dangers July 30/08
Hidden Summer Dangers June 11/08
High-Risk Clutter Hazards Jan 21/08
Holiday Safety July 12/08
Hotel Drinking Glasses Video Gains Global Attention Jan 7/08
How Can I Help Kids Feel Safe During a Hurricane, Typhoon, or Tornado August 9/07
How many things can you plug into an electrical outlet before it catches fire Nov 19/07
How Parents and Kids Should Pedal Their Way To Bike Safety March 26/098
How safe are your kids online August 22/07
How to Handle Playground Bullies May 8/09
How To Apply Sunscreen on Your Kids Aug 7/08
How To Assemble a Disaster Supply Kit - Disaster Preparedness Sept 5/08
How To Have a Fun and Safe Halloween Oct 17/07
How to Prepare for Power Outages Dec 18/08
How to prevent identity theft-deter, detect ,defend March 10/08
How to protect your property from wildfire Aug 25/08
How To Start A Neighborhood Watch Program Feb 16/10
How to survive an earthquake May 1/09
How to Tell If Your Child Is Being Bullied Aug 25/10
how-to-use-parental-controls-in-windows7 Feb 12/10
Identity Theft and the Holidays
Important Tips To Keep Your Home Safe Dec 18/09
Injury Report Shows All-terrain Vehicles Not Childs Play Dec 10/07
Internet Safety Tips for Parents Feb 4/09
Is Nonstick Cookware Safe Dec 5/07
Is Your College Student Safe at School Feb 20/08
Keep Kids Safe During Breaks From School Routine Jan 21/08
Keep Teens Safe On Facebook Aug 25/08
Keep your children safe online May 16/08
Keep Your Identity (And Your Bank Account) Safe from Thieves April 10/08
Keeping Kids Safe Dec 10/07
Keeping Kids Safe Around Cars July 22/08
Keeping Kids Safe from the Predators May 15/09
Keeping Kids Safe in the Sun April 10/08
Keeping online scammers running in circles March 6/08
Keeping Toddlers Safe and Sound March 26/08
Keeping Your Kids Safe for Summer June 23/08
Learn about all types of disasters July10/09
Learn About Chemicals Around Your House Oct 8/07
Lifesaving technologies March 18/09
Make Sure Your Baby Safety Products Are Really Safe June 6/08
More Toys Recalled -- The List Gets Longer Oct 5/07
Mosquito Repelling Essential Oil Blends May 16/08
New Toy Safety Law Oct 10/08
Ozone Action: Are Kids Safe Outside July 30/08
Parent's Guide to Cyberbullying Aug 25/08
Parents Guide to Internet Safety March 1/08
Parents Guide to MySpace Safety Jan 22/08
Picnics, Barbecues and Food Safety June 14/08
Play-It-Cool Pointers June 6/08
Playground rules to live by June 14/08
Playground Safety June 28/07
Practical and Frugal Home Security June 27/08
Prescription Pills May Be Putting Kids Safety at Risk by Accidental Poisonings Nov 3/08
Prevent back-over accidents Nov 6/08
Prevent chocking by avoiding these food with small children Oct 12/07
Preventing Children From Drowning in Hotel Swimming Pools July 12/08
Preventing Kitchen Fires Oct 22/07
Protect Your Child From Drowning June 23/08
Protecting Your Home from Fire and Carbon Monoxide March 13/09
Protect Your Home From Crime Jan 23/09
Protect yourself from scammers
Protecting Your Child from Sexual Abuse April 7/08
Protecting Yourself from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Feb 6/09
Protecting Yourself from Date Rape Drugs Feb 7/08
Ranking the Worst Consumer Privacy Infringers
Recalls and Product Safety News
Roadside Emergency Kit: What to Carry With You June 19/08
Safe Browsing April 22/10
Safe Nursery Oct 10/08
Safe Playpens, Portable Cribs, High Chairs… Oct 22/07
(A) Safe Summer Means More Fun for Kids August 15/07
Safety at home website March 1/10
Safety Fix-Ups in a Flash March 21/08
Safety on the Side for Emergency Responders March 1/10
Safety tips for your swimming pool Feb 25/09
Sherlock Holmes guide to recovering your stolen identity Oct 14/08
Shopping Cart Safety Jan 21/08
Shredding - What, Why And How Oct 4/08
Signs of Physical Abuse April 7/08
Silent Killer: Carbon Monoxide Oct 22/07
Smoke Alarms: How to Install and Maintain Them Oct 22/07
Social media data harvesting Feb 12/10
Stay Safe-online security site May 3/08
Staying Healthy While You Travel Dec 18/07
Staying Safe in the Water July 30/07
Staying Sun-Smart July 12/08
Steps to Summer Safety July 12/08
Stocking Your Emergency Kit Oct 26/07
Stop cyberbullying Feb 18/10
Stopping Fires Before They Start Oct 22/07
Struck by lightning July 25/07
Summer Baby Products for the Pool or Beach June 27/08
Summer safety made simple July 12/08
Sun Safety Facts June 3/09
Surprising Facts about Kids and Car Safety March 6/09
Surviving a Bear Encounter Dec 5/07
Surviving a Shark Attack Dec 5/07
Swimming Pool Safety Feb 16/10
Swimming Pool Safety: 7 Layers of Protection for Swimming Pool Safety June 23/08
Swimming Rules June 28/07
Taking Your Kitchen Up a Notch Oct 22/07
Teaching Fire Safety for Kids Oct 12/07
Teaching Kids About Stranger Danger July 30/08
Teaching Phone Numbers at Young Age for Added Safety March 26/08
Teaching Kids About Fire Safety Oct 11/07
Teen Drivers at Risk Aug 7/08
Teen Guide to MySpace and Online Safety Jan 22/08
Things Your Can Do To Protect Your Child At Summer Camp June 11/08
Through a Rapists Eyes Feb 5/08
Tips for Buying a Playpen Jan 31/08
tips for surviving emergencies Sept 5/08
Tips for Teaching Kids About Fire Safety Oct 14/08
Tornado Safety Tips Dec 5/07
Toy Safety - Choosing Safe Toys Nov 15/07
Toy Safety Tips Feb 6/09
Troubleshooting a Gas Furnace Jan 18/08
Troubleshooting a Hot Water Boiler Jan 18/08
USE A DAMP TOWEL AND COVER FIRE March 6/08
UV Eye Safety March 6/09
Warning Signs of a Bad Babysitter Jan 7/08
Ways to Make Your Bathroom Safer Oct 5/07
Wear Your Bike Helmet! July 12/08
What Are Date Rape Drugs March 8/10
What's Inside Your Family Survival Kit Oct 26/07
What to do if the police stop you May 20/08
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO KEEP KIDS SHARP OVER THE SUMMER May 20/08
When Can You Relax on Safety Rules June 6/08
Winter Coats and Car Seats - Check for Safety! Sept 26/08
Winter Driving Tips Jan 23/08
Winter Weather Safety Guide March 6/09
Wired safety March 3/10
You Need to Know in an Emergency June 28/07
Your Home Passes These Safety Checks Aug 18/08
How to Tell If Your Child Is Being Bullied
Learn to recognize the signs and find out what to do about it
Karen Springen ON May 3, 2010 at 1:04PM
Getty Images
The findings may not come as much of a surprise to anyone who’s been through grade school. Still, the numbers are depressing. A new study to be published in the June issue of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ journal Pediatrics reports that obese grade-school kids are 63 percent more likely to be bullied than those of average or below average weight, regardless of their gender, race, or social skills.
Of course, bullying isn’t limited to overweight children, as the tragic case of Phoebe Prince proved: The slim teen committed suicide earlier this year in South Hadley, Mass. after enduring repeated taunts by a group of female classmates. But overweight and obese kids are a particularly vulnerable population to bullies, and a growing one. Obesity rates among kids continue to climb, to more than 16 percent of 10- to 17-year-olds, according to the most recent government estimates. Yet it’s often difficult for parents to recognize the problem, as victims may remain mum about bullying because they’re ashamed or because they think they deserve it, say experts. (The Pediatrics study, which involved 821 boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 11, found a quarter of the study kids reported being bullied, while mothers reported 45 percent of them had been bullied.) “The victim of bullying typically experiences intense shame,” says child psychiatrist Elizabeth Berger, author of Raising Kids with Character.
So how can you spot the warning signs and prevent long-term damage? Here’s how to tell if your child is a victim— and how to best respond.
The Signs
Disliking school. Something is going on if your kid suddenly doesn’t want to go to class. She may want to avoid a bully. “Children, when they feel humiliated, try to run away from the situation—which is human nature,” says Berger.
Bullying others. Have you noticed you child teasing other kids? Bullies and victims can be the same person (think Columbine.) “A man is yelled at by his boss at work, and he is afraid to yell back at the boss. What does he do? He comes home and yells at his wife. The wife is afraid to yell at her husband, so what does she do? She yells at the child. It flows downhill,” says Berger.
Appearing listless, withdrawn and irritable. Understandably, victims don’t feel lively and sociable. “It’s a self-esteem issue,” says Berger. “Wanting to withdraw and zone out might be a typical way of a child responding.”
Overeating. Some kids may seek solace in food. “It’s a reliable way of making you feel good—in the short term,” says Berger. But it may make the problem worse over the long term.
The Solutions
Don’t brush it off. Bullying can make kids feel tense, afraid, lonely, anxious, depressed—and even suicidal. “Blowing it off as normal childhood behavior is not the answer,” says Dr. Joseph Wright, author of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ policy on bullying prevention. Explain that bullying is not normal or acceptable. “Assure the child that the bullying is outrageous, that it is not the child’s fault, and that naturally the child deserves to be treated with respect at all times by everyone,” says Berger.
Treat “fat” as an off-limits “F” word. “The word ‘fat’ has so many negative connotations,” says pediatrician Julie Lumeng, lead author of this week’s Pediatrics study. “It’s not appropriate to use that word to criticize other kids.” Unfortunately, she says, “People view overweight or obese people as lazy, not having willpower.” Explain to kids that genetics plays a role: some people are born with a lower metabolism and a greater predisposition to eat when they’re not hungry; that doesn’t make them lazy.
Closely monitor (or even nix) email and Facebook accounts. Cyber bullying is a growing problem. According to i-SAFE, a non-profit foundation, 42 percent of kids have been bullied while online and 35 percent of kids have been threatened online (1 in 5 have had it happen more than once). Lumeng says school administrators have begun warning parents about the dangers of social networking.
Devote more time to your child. “If you are trying to get your child to be more complete and truthful about what’s happening at school, that isn’t going to happen out of the blue,” says Berger. “And a child who feels secure and appreciated and confident because they know that they’re the apple of the parent’s eye is often less likely to be persistently bullied.”
Encourage zero tolerance in your school. Sometimes kids remain silent because they see that teachers and principals don’t take action. Schools need awareness and prevention programs “supported by consequences,” says Wright. Tell school administrators about the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Stop Bullying Now program.
Tell the teacher. Unless school officials know about the bullying, a child will continue to be victimized, says Wright. Don’t immediately go over the teacher’s head to the principal. “I would go at it in a stepwise manner,” says Berger. “If this is something that happened among fifth graders in Mrs. Green’s class, I would go to Mrs. Green first. If Mrs. Green isn’t up to the task, then you can go to the principal.” But if the bullying involves a legal matter, go to the police.
Call a doctor. Typically psychiatrists advise getting help from a therapist after two weeks of symptoms. But if you are worried your child might attempt suicide, call a doctor immediately. (Signs include losing interest in activities he used to like, changing moods dramatically, behaving recklessly, talking about suicide and expressing feelings of worthlessness.)
Bike, walk or play tennis together. “Exercise is a helpful antidepressant,” says Berger. “It can’t hurt to get a kid out moving.” Doing a sport together is a healthy way to spend more quality time together and strengthen family bonds, too.
Encourage your child to speak up. Explain that by doing so, he may help prevent other kids from being bullied in the future, says Berger. “This helps a victim psychologically to know they can do something public spirited.”
Address what the child is being bullied about. If kids are teasing your daughter about her weight, exercise together and serve healthier meals. And if kids are teasing your son about being a nerd, track down a math group where your numbers whiz can shine, says Berger. Or sign a child up for a volunteer activity so he will feel useful and appreciated.
Read about different kinds of kids. Curl up with books that celebrate kids with special qualities—whether if they have buck teeth (Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon, by Patty Lovell) or unusual names and habits (Odd Velvet, by Mary Whitcomb and Gooney Bird Greene, by Lois Lowry). Help your child recognize what’s special about him or her, and celebrate it.
Finally: Let your child know he, or she, is loved. It’s the best medicine of all.
Read more:
http://www.ivillage.com/how-tell-if-your-child-being-bullied/4-a-155368?nlcid=cd|05-20-2010|#ixzz0oZCPYBzB
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Safe Browsing
I always say you shouldn't go
to Web sites you don't trust, but what if you're not sure if you can trust a
certain site or not? What do you do then? This type of problem is pretty common
and in the past, it has left me wondering what to do. Well, today, I have a very
easy answer to that question!
The answer is a service by Google called
Google Safe Browsing Diagnostic.
With this tool, you can type a Web address into your browser's address bar and
get a report from Google, telling you whether the site is safe or not.
Here's how you do it:
First, you will need this address: http://www.google.com/safebrowsing/diagnostic?site=www.worldstart.com
The address above is what you can use to get a report. If you copy the exact
address from above and paste it into your Web browser, you will get a report
about
www.worldstart.com that looks like this:
Pretty neat, huh?! Now, that's great for seeing a report about WorldStart, but
you already know we're safe, so what about a report for another Web site?
To see a report about any other site, simply use the exact same address as
above, but change the end of it. See the part at the end that says “www.worldstart.com?”
Just erase that and type in any other Web address. For example, if you changed
it to: http://www.google.com/safebrowsing/diagnostic?site=www.aol.com, you would
get a report for AOL's safety rating.
The Google Safe Browsing Diagnostic is very nice to use for checking a Web site
before you visit it. If you want, you can bookmark it and use it whenever you
need it. Until next time, stay safe out there, my friends!
~Gary
DON'T BE THE MAIN "MOSQUITO" ATTRACTION
Copyright 2003 Deborah Taylor-Hough
Used with permission. All rights reserved.
http://simplemom.com
One of the best ways to keep mosquitoes from getting the bite on you is to avoid
being the main attraction at your local mosquito theme park in the first place.
Understanding a bit about mosquito behavior can help avoid calling unnecessary
attention to yourself.
Mosquitoes identify their targets by sight, heat and smell. Avoid physically
active movement (exercise, ball games, yard work, etc.) during peak mosquito
hours to keep them from noticing you from a distance.
Peak mosquito times tend to be right around dusk and dawn. Reduce outside lights
in the evening hours (use yellow bulbs, if possible).
Wear light colors during the daytime -- dark clothing during daylight hours
actually attracts the little buggers. According to one report, mosquitoes
prefer blue and green so you're better off wearing yellows, reds and oranges.
Mosquitoes are attracted to perspiration, heat, carbon dioxide, and lactic
acid. All of these are produced after exercising, so avoid outdoor exercise
during peak mosquito hours (at dawn and dusk). Our bodies also release lactic
acid after eating certain foods, so avoiding outdoor dining during those hours
is helpful, as well. Commonly believed mosquito- attracting foods include
bananas (or other potassium-rich food items), and salty foods.
Avoid perfumes when outside. Using hand creams and lotions with a sweet scent
can also increase your risk of attracting mosquitoes, so go for the unscented
varieties during mosquito season. Try using unscented soaps when showering,
too. Even though they're rinsed off, the scent remains on your skin and
attracts bugs.
Keeping a barrier between yourself and mosquitoes is a simple and natural way to
avoid bites. Be sure to wear long sleeves and long pants when outdoors at dusk,
or in areas with an especially high concentration of mosquitoes (woods, swamps,
hiking trails). And use screens in all your home's doors and windows during
summer months.
Several gardeners assured me that planting marigolds, scented geraniums (rub the
leaves on your skin too), rosemary, catnip, peppermint, spearmint, daisies,
verbena, spike lavender (not the sweet French variety), basil, thyme, garlic,
allspice, cedar, and lemon grass around the yard naturally repels insects.
Decorating with eucalyptus is also rumored to be helpful. You can make your own
insect-repelling sachets by drying the flowers and leaves from the above plants
and placing them into small, hand-sewn cotton bags.
Eliminate Their Breeding Grounds
The first step in avoiding the bite is to eliminate the local mosquito
population at its source. Mosquitoes use stagnant water for their breeding
grounds, so drain any collections of stagnant water found in your yard,
neighborhood or workplace.
Also keep your eye out for these sources of standing water: Discarded tires,
roof gutters clogged with leaves or other debris, rain barrels, wading pools,
drainage ditches, paint buckets, tin cans, paper cups or other discarded trash,
trash containers, infrequently used yard equipment, plant containers, bird
baths, broken toys, pet water bowls, and holes in tree stumps.
If your kids want to play in their wading pool, be sure to dump the water out at
least once a week and turn the pool upside down when not in use so rain doesn't
collect in it. And if you want to keep your birdbath and pet's outdoor watering
bowl, be sure to clean out the water at least two times each week. If you have
an outdoor fishpond with goldfish or amphibians, the mosquito larva will be
eaten by the fish so you won't need to drain the fishpond.
For tips on natural and homemade mosquito repellents, send a blank email to:
shoofly@sendfree.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
--Deborah Taylor-Hough (wife and mother of three) is the author of the new book,
Frugal Living For Dummies(r), and Frozen Assets: Cook for a Day, Eat for a
Month.
Copyright (C) 2010 www.savingdinner.com Leanne Ely, CNC All rights reserved.
5922 Weddington Monroe Road
Suite A5-116
Wesley Chapel, NC 28104
Wired Safety
I wanted to bring you another site
about online safety. I chose this one to go with the previous one because it
covers more than cyber bullying.
Here you can learn all about the various cyber crimes that exist and the laws
surrounding them. Most importantly this site has a great section on identity
theft. Identity theft can truly happen to anyone, I mean it even happened to me
a few years ago, so you need to make yourself educated on how to stay safe! Not
only will they teach you to be safer, if you have had you identity stolen they
will give you information on how to report and what to do.
Navigation here is simple; just click topics on the side menu to get more
information. If you have a teen gamer I highly recommend you check out the
Online Gaming Safety. You’ll learn ways to help your child stay safe, and even
about an organization of teens that are helping teach other teens to be safe
online.
Another good section was the one about Cyberstalking and Harassment. I think
that this is important for anyone who uses the internet to read. You need to
know what qualifies as harassment and when that goes over the line into
cyberstalking. Did you know it is a crime? Well it is! Learn what counts as
cyberstalking and what you should do about it.
I just want you all to be safe as you browse the net, so check this one out
today!
http://www.wiredsafety.org/
~Amanda
By Kaylen Jackson · Leave a Comment
http://www.askdanandjennifer.com/sex-intimacy/sex-tips-advice/what-are-date-rape-drugs/
for centuries – but date rape drugs haven’t. Recently, date rape drugs have become more popular among rapists and even seemingly regular guys, because it allows them to silently slip a drug into a girl’s drink to incapacitate them. Many girls who have been given date rape drugs are completely knocked out, with no memory of being raped at all. Date rape drugs are dangerous – here’s what you need to know about them.
Various forms of date rape drugs are widely available on the street and aren’t often expensive. Drugs such as ketamine, rohypnol and gamma hydroxy butyrate (GHB) are all used to render a woman incapacitated, without the ability to say “no” to sex and often knock her out completely. These drugs are very popular among rapists because they don’t change the flavor, consistency or color of a drink and can easily be disguised. Other drugs can be used to create a similar effect, including over the counter cold medicines and sleeping pills, but these are more difficult to hide and can often be detected quickly. While women are more often the victims of date rape drugs, men can be targeted as well and these drugs have a similar effect on them.
Date rape drugs can often make a woman feel very passive, and open or willing to do anything, like having sex. It may make her feel giddy, and she might make choices that she wouldn’t ordinarily make under different circumstances. Some women pass out, although not all of them do. Since date rape drugs often “erase” the memory of what happened while the drugs were in effect, it can be difficult to tell if a date rape drug was ever used on you. However, a severely “hung over” feeling will occur the morning after, but can often be confused with a normal alcohol related hangover. Unfortunately, there truly is no way of being sure whether you were given a date rape drug or not without a doctor’s test. Most of these drugs leave the body very quickly, often within just 48 or 72 hours, so it can be difficult to determine the use of a date rape drug unless the test is performed shortly after the suspected incident.
Never take a drink from someone you don’t know very well, whether it is in a bottle or a glass. Watch your bartender make your drinks and take them yourself. Don’t allow a waiter or waitress or someone you don’t know well get your drinks for you. Always keep an eye – or a hand – on your drink. Never drink out of punchbowls and when you’re at a party, only accept drinks that are closed such as cans or bottles. If you suspect you or a friend have been given a date rape drug, or if you seem very intoxicated if you haven’t drank a lot of alcohol or any at all, leave immediately. There is technology that is available now called Drink Safe Technology, which uses test strips to test a drink for date rape drugs. Similar to pH testing strips that are available for pools, the test strip will turn a dark blue color if the drink is positive for a date rape drug.
Date rape doesn’t always happen in bars – check out What Is Date Rape to find out more about date rape and when it can happen.
*******************
Wired
Safety
I wanted to bring you another site about online safety. I chose this one to go
with the previous one because it covers more than cyber bullying.
Here you can learn all about the various cyber crimes that exist and the laws
surrounding them. Most importantly this site has a great section on identity
theft. Identity theft can truly happen to anyone, I mean it even happened to me
a few years ago, so you need to make yourself educated on how to stay safe! Not
only will they teach you to be safer, if you have had you identity stolen they
will give you information on how to report and what to do.
Navigation here is simple; just click topics on the side menu to get more
information. If you have a teen gamer I highly recommend you check out the
Online Gaming Safety. You’ll learn ways to help your child stay safe, and even
about an organization of teens that are helping teach other teens to be safe
online.
Another good section was the one about Cyberstalking and Harassment. I think
that this is important for anyone who uses the internet to read. You need to
know what qualifies as harassment and when that goes over the line into
cyberstalking. Did you know it is a crime? Well it is! Learn what counts as
cyberstalking and what you should do about it.
I just want you all to be safe as you browse the net, so check this one out
today!
http://www.wiredsafety.org/
~Amanda
Safety at Home
Home Safety is an important, if often overlooked, issue to be looked at. Today
I’m bringing you the Home Safety Check List. What you’ll find here is a list of
things that you should do around your home to provide a safe environment.
You’ll also find the Chronology of Safety which is an amazing timeline that lets
you know what changes you need to make to your home as your child grows up. It
starts with pregnancy and goes up until 8 to 9 years old.
Another thing to check out while you’re here is the Daily Safety Tip. Often the
tip is common sense but there have been one or two that were great ideas that
didn’t occur to me at all.
There are also Home Safety Articles that you can check out. They cover
everything from using things properly to preventing accidents to hidden dangers
you may not automatically think of when you’re childproofing your house.
And last but not least is the Virtual Home Safety Tour. Click the image of the
house and another window will open; in that window click Start Now. Select
either the kitchen or the living room to begin. You’ll have to search the rooms
to see where there are safety hazards and once you find them you’ll need to
select the correct violation for what you’re being shown. As you answer
correctly you will collect ornaments. Can you collect them all?
This is a great site that will help you improve safety around your house!
http://safetyathome.com/home-safety/?fbid=pDAJYlpuEBs
~Amanda
Safety on the Side for Emergency Responders
Roadside Hazards
Lights are flashing, traffic slows to a snail's pace and you can see the stretcher being loaded into the ambulance. Police stand on the side of the road directing traffic around the accident and the firefighters load their equipment back onto the truck. This is a scene many of us have witnessed on our streets, roads and highways. What we don't see are the injuries and deaths that result from emergency responders being struck by passing vehicles.
SAFE Work Manitoba has issued a bulletin to raise awareness of the hazard faced by emergency workers - police, fire and paramedic services - providing emergency roadside assistance, who are at risk of being struck by vehicles traveling in nearby traffic lanes.
Safe work procedures
To minimize the risk associated with working near moving traffic, employers must
establish and implement safe work procedures. The procedures must provide
effective means of traffic control for emergency responders who are providing
roadside assistance. Safe work procedures must be appropriate to the task, for
example, rescuing a trapped individual from their car, stabilizing a victim
before they are transported by ambulance, responding to an emergency call and
parking on the side of the road, and other unusual circumstances. Emergency
response workers must be trained to follow these procedures and be provided with
tools and resources needed for protection.
Worker protection
In addition to implementing safe work procedures, there are other precautionary
measures that can be taken to protect workers providing emergency roadside
assistance:
Learn about CAN/CSA Standard Z96, High-Visibility Safety Apparel, SAFE Work Manitoba
Read the full bulletin from SAFE Work Manitoba
Help
Guide – Child Abuse
It seems like lately I have heard a ton of tragic child abuse stories, so I
thought I’d go looking for more information on how I could help and I ran across
this site that I wanted to share with you all.
What this guide does is break down the different forms of child abuse and deals
with them category: mental or emotional abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse.
They also cover child neglect.
They also discuss the effects of child abuse, the myths surrounding child abuse,
how to tell if you are abusive, and how to break the cycle of child abuse.
I like that they have a section devoted to explaining the difference between
discipline and abuse. This is an important issue for people to understand.
Parents shouldn’t feel that they cannot discipline their children for fear of
abuse reports, but they should also learn the difference between genuine
discipline and what goes over the line.
The important section to me was Helping an Abused or Neglected Child. This
section covers how best to interact with a child who has been abused or
neglected and get them help. More importantly it makes you aware of what
reactions you should avoid and how you should reassure the child that the
situation was not their fault.
It then goes onto tell you how you can report child abuse to the appropriate
authorities and get those children the hope they need. They have strong counter
arguments for why you would think you shouldn’t get involved. A lot of the help
lines are completely anonymous so there is very little risk of your help coming
back on you in a negative fashion.
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/child_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual_neglect.htm
~Amanda
Prevent child abuse! Rate or add to this tip
here!
**************
Stop Cyberbullying
Did you know
that Cyberbullying is a crime? It is a cyber crime that is perpetuated by
children on other children. Sadly, it can lead to the death of the children
involved if it is escalated. Like most things in life the best defense you have
against cyberbullying is to be knowledgeable about how it works, why it happens,
and what you can do to prevent it.
Navigation will take you through the following sections:
What is it? – Here you can learn all about what cyberbullying consists of, and
why schools can’t prevent it successfully.
How it works – this category divides up into two categories: direct attacks and
cyberbullying by proxy. They are completely different scenarios so make sure you
check both out.
Why Cyberbully? – This has to be a question that has plagued many a parents
mind. Why do children cyberbully each other? Here you can find out what some of
the reasons might be.
Prevention – now that you know a little more about the beast that is
cyberbullying you have to be wondering, how do you prevent it from happening to
your child? This section will give you ideas on how to do just that.
Take Action – what do you do when your child has been attacked by a cyberbully?
What recourses do you have? This section explains to you how you can take action
against the cyberbullies.
Age Categories - along the bottom of the page by the giant question mark (that
will take you to the about page btw) you’ll see a listing of age groups. Each of
those is a category that is for children in those age groups. It asks if they
are a cyberbully teaches them to recognize what one is and gives them advice on
how not to be a bully.
Cyberbullying isn’t a trend that is going to go away. Now that kids have access
to the internet and mobile phones just about everywhere it is going to get worse
unless we start teaching them the way they should behave and to treat each other
with respect. A lot of cities and states are passing cyberbullying laws, so not
only are they behaving in an ugly manner they may be committing crimes without
knowing it that they have serious repercussions.
http://stopcyberbullying.org/
~Amanda
Starting a neighborhood watch program is an effective, proactive way to fight crime and protect your home, family, and possessions. Neighbors who join forces to monitor activity in their area typically experience a lower rate of crime and a higher instance of convictions when crimes do occur. By working together with police and other law enforcement officials, communities with neighborhood watch programs create a safer, more closely-knit place to live for families in their area. Starting a new watch program is easier than you may think; police departments often have programs in place to help communities institute such programs more easily.
The first step is to determine the area your neighborhood watch group will be responsible for. Subdivisions, city blocks, and apartment complexes can be used as natural delineations for a watch group; typically, no more than twenty to thirty homes should be involved to begin with.
Once you’ve decided on the area to be covered by your new watch group, you should contact your local police department. Generally, the police department will assign a crime prevention officer to serve as a liaison to your group; this officer will help you organize your neighborhood watch, advise you on the best methods and practices for meetings and activities, and take any reports generated by your neighborhood watch program once it is in place. The officer will also help you gather crime statistics and research, and may adjust the size of your proposed neighborhood watch area if it is too small or too large to be effective.
Your crime prevention officer may provide you with a list of homeowners in your proposed watch area; otherwise, you may have to go door-to-door or distribute flyers throughout the area in question. Personal contact is usually the best; by meeting your neighbors directly, you can explain the benefits and purposes of a neighborhood watch and attract more participants. Once your neighborhood watch has attracted a few members, you’ll be surprised at how word-of-mouth can help your small group grow. Registering with the national database for neighborhood watch programs can also give your group more exposure and provide an additional level of publicity that can attract new members.
After you have signed up a number of members, it’s time to plan the first meeting; it can be located at a nearby school, church, community center, or simply in your own home, depending on your preference and available facilities. Members should be invited personally, but general announcements can be placed in local grocery stores, church bulletin boards, and as flyers distributed throughout the neighborhood. Make sure your crime prevention officer will be in attendance at this first meeting; he or she can give valuable information and advice that will help your neighborhood watch group fulfill its purpose.
Typically, neighborhood watch groups have a coordinator (if you started the group, that would be you), a block captain who is responsible for distributing information to watch members, and the members who are the eyes and ears of the organization on a day-to-day basis. All of these individuals report unusual activity to the crime prevention officer at the police department for action and advice. Regular meetings can help keep watch groups on task and on target, and ensure that contact information is kept current and accurate.
Once your neighborhood watch program is established, you’ll want to post signs warning criminals that this neighborhood is protected and monitored. Additionally, scheduling regular meetings can help to educate members on activities to watch for and how to spot suspicious behavior. Guest speakers can even give tips on how to burglar-proof your home and improve security community-wide. Starting a neighborhood watch program can be intimidating, but the rewards are significant not only to you, but to your neighbors and the community as a whole.
By: Joe Cline
All swimming pools need to be kept in a safe condition so that they do not present a hazard to people or animals. Taking a few basic precautions can ensure that injuries do not occur. Here are some basic safety tips that should be considered:
Click here to read this article in a browser
The Parental Controls feature is a valuable tool for controlling the amount of time your children spend on the computer and the programs they’re using. Today we take a look at how to setup and use Parental Controls in Windows 7.
Parental Controls
To access Parental Controls open the Start Menu and type parental controls into the Search box and hit Enter.
Alternatively you can open Control Panel and click on Parental Controls.
When you open Parental Controls, click on the child’s account you want to set up.
Make sure to password protect your Administrator account…otherwise anyone can turn off Parental Controls and use the computer with no restrictions.
If you see a password hasn’t been set when you go into Parental Controls, click on the message and you’ll be prompted and Ensure Administrator Passwords.
Under Parental Controls mark the radio button next to On, enforce current settings. Then you can go through and control their computer time, games, and programs.
Set Time Limits
Click on Time limits to control when your child has access to the computer. If you want to only allow a few hours each day, it’s easiest to left-click and drag the mouse across all of the time slots to block them. Then allow the time blocks when you want to make the computer available.
Control Games
Click on Games to control the type of access your child has to games on the computer. You can completely block all games or select games by ratings and game names. These game ratings are based on the Entertainment Software Rating Board.
You can also select different game rating systems if it’s more appropriate for your location or if you like a certain system better than another.
You can also block games based on the type of content it contains…and it gives you a lot of choices.
Control Programs
If you want to restrict certain programs on the machine, click on Allow and block specified programs then scroll through the list of installed programs and block them.
Additional Controls
Windows 7 doesn’t have a Web Filter included like Vista did. If you want additional controls like Web Filtering and activity reports, you’ll need to install Windows Live Family Safety which is part of the Window Live Essentials suite. With it you can block access to certain sites and also get access to an activity report that shows you what sites your children have been visiting.
Everything can be controlled online which makes it nice if you want to access a report or change settings while at work.
The Parental Controls feature is easy to use and helps you administer how your children use the computer. Of course nothing is perfect or foolproof and the Parental Controls won’t replace good old fashioned “real parenting” but it makes it easier.
Download Windows Live Family Safety
Social media data
harvesting
It seems like everything on the internet these days is "social". Social media
web sites like Facebook, Myspace and Twitter allow you to share interests,
opinions, pictures and many other personal things with your friends on the
Internet. While sharing these things with friends is what these sites are made
for, it's not just friends that can view your personal information.
Social media harvesting is a new way of stealing identities on the internet.
Data harvesters collect your personal data from many locations on the Internet
and combine it. With all of this data combined, they can identify enough about
you to steal your identity. Here's an example.
Let's say you open an account on Facebook. In your settings, you provide your
full name and allow everyone to see it (this is pretty normal since no one would
find you if they couldn't search by your full name). To be safe, you set your
facebook account settings to hide your city and state. Now, after creating your
Facebook account, you decide to create a profile on Twitter. In your twitter
profile, you provide your city and state, but use a screen name for safety.
Lastly, you decide that you want to tell your friends on Facebook about your
twitter account, so you place a link on your public Facebook profile.
The steps listed above are something that nearly anyone could do, but it's a big
mistake. If a Data harvester goes to your Facebook account and gets your full
name, then clicks the link to twitter where they get your city and state, you
have the beginnings of a problem.
Now, just imagine what kind of information a person could collect about you if
you had profiles on 10 different social sites! All of this information combined
could tell the harvester everything about you.
So, what do you do to avoid this?
I'm not going to tell you to go cancel all of your social media accounts; that
would be a little drastic. I will, however, tell you to be careful and put
thought into your actions. When you create an account on any social site, check
to see what they publish publicly and if they have privacy settings. If they do,
make sure your privacy settings are set up to hide un-necessary personal
information.
By simply thinking ahead and keeping on top of your accounts, you can remain
anonymous online.
Until next time, stay safe out there!
~Gary
Just be careful; that's all
we're saying. Rate or add to this tip
here!
How to achieve good vision while driving during a heavy downpour.
We are not sure why it is so effective; just try this method when it rains
heavily.
This method was told by a Police friend who had experienced and confirmed it.
It is useful..even driving at night.
Most of the motorists would turn on HIGH or FASTEST SPEED of the wipers during
heavy downpour, yet the visibility in front of the windshield is still bad......
In the event you face such a situation, just try your
SUN GLASSES
(any model will do), and miracle! All of a sudden, your visibility in front of
your windshield is perfectly clear, as if there is no rain.
Make sure you always have a pair of SUN GLASSES in your car, as you are not only
helping yourself to drive safely with good vision, but also might save your
friend's life by giving him this idea..
Try it yourself and share it with your friends!??? Amazing, you still see the
drops on the windshield, but not the sheet of rain falling.?
You can see where the rain bounces off the road.? It works to eliminate the
"blindness" from passing semi's spraying you too.?
Or the "kickup" if you are following a semi or car in the rain.?
They ought to teach that little tip in driver's training.. It really does work.
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By James Lehman, MSW
Why do some kids turn to bullying? The answer is simple: it solves their social problems. After all, it's easier to bully somebody than to work things out, manage your emotions, and learn to solve problems. Bullying is the easy way out, and sadly, some kids take it.
Look at men who beat or intimidate their wives and scream at their kids. They've never learned to be effective spouses or parents. Instead, they're really bullies. And the other people in those families live in fear - fear that they're going to be yelled at, called names, or hit. Nothing has to be worked out, because the bully always gets his way. The chain of command has been established by force, and the whole mindset becomes, "If you'd only do what I say, there'd be peace around here." So the bully's attitude is, "Give me my way or face my aggression."
Aggression can either take the forms of violence or emotional abuse. Sadly, many families operate this way. I'm not just talking about the adults in the family, either - there are many, many kids who throw tantrums for the same reason: they're saying, "Give me my way or face my behavior." And if you as a parent don't start dealing with those tantrums early, your child may develop larger behavior problems as they grow older.
Ask yourself this question: How many passive bullies do you know? They usually control others through verbal abuse and insults and by making people feel small. They're very negative, critical people. The threat is always in the background that they're going to break something or call somebody names or hit someone if they are disagreed with. Realize that the behavior doesn't start when someone is in their teens - it usually begins when a child is five or six.
Portrait of a Bully
Bullying itself can come from a variety of sources. One source, as I mentioned,
is bullying at home - maybe there are older siblings, extended family members or
parents who use aggression or intimidation to get their way. I also think part
of the development of bullying can stem from some type of undiagnosed or
diagnosed learning disability which inhibits the child's ability to learn both
social and problem-solving skills.
Make no mistake, kids use bullying primarily to replace social skills that they're supposed to develop in grade school, middle school and high school. As children go through their developmental stages, they should be finding ways of working problems out and getting along with other people. This includes learning how to read social situations, make friends, and understand their social environment.
Bullies use aggression, and some use violence and verbal abuse, to supplant those skills. So in effect, they don't have to learn problem solving, because they just threaten the other kids. They don't have to learn how to work things out because they just push their classmates or call them names. They don't have to learn how to get along with other people - they just control them. The way they're solving problems is through brute force and intimidation. So by the time that child reaches ten, bullying is pretty ingrained - it has become their natural response to any situation where they feel socially awkward, insecure, frightened, bored or embarrassed.
Here is what an aggressive bully often looks like: He doesn't know how to get along with other kids, so he's usually not trying to play with them. When you look out on the playground at recess, he's alone. He's not playing soccer or kickball with the other children; he's roaming around the perimeter of all the interactions that take place at school on a daily basis. And whenever he's confronted with a problem or feels insecure, he takes that out on somebody else. He does this by putting somebody else down verbally or physically. A child who bullies might also throw or break things in order to feel better and more powerful about himself. When the bully feels powerless and afraid, he's much more likely to be aggressive, because that makes him feel powerful and in control. That's a very seductive kind of thing for kids; it's very hard for them to let go of that power.
Adolescents and Gang
Mentality
When we talk about adolescent bullying, we're entering into another phenomenon
altogether. The reality is that many adolescents in high school today are very
abusive to each other. There are peer groups that will attack other kids
verbally and emotionally, similar to a gang mentality. When these kids start
calling other students rude names and questioning their sexuality, it is all
done to dominate and bully them. What happens is that if a teen or pre-teen
doesn't want to be a victim, they have to join a group. The kids who don't
socialize very well - the shy or passive types - often become the targets. And
the threat of violence is always behind it. This trend in high school is
prevalent today, and I think very destructive. In my opinion, parents and school
administrators who ignore the way kids abuse each other in high school are
kidding themselves. This behavior is hurtful and harmful, and there needs to be
a lot more accountability.
Make no bones about it, bullying is traumatizing for kids who are the targets. In fact, I think children should be taught about bullying throughout grade school. They need to learn what it means, how to resolve it, and how to deal with a bully. If this is not taught, kids who are targets will think there's something wrong with them, and this vicious cycle - because that is truly what this is - perpetuates itself. Kids should also be learning how to handle their impulses and control themselves when they want to hit, hurt or intimidate others. Unless there's a concerted effort to deal with bullying and bullies in school, nothing will change. It's a challenge, but I firmly believe it can be done.
Then you have to set a standard that says, "We don't do that in our house." Start that culture of accountability early. Teach them what the word means, and say, "You're accountable for that behavior in our house."
I think it's also important that you talk about how to treat others. Ask your child, "How should you treat others?" And the answer is, "You treat others with respect and if they don't respect you back, walk away. Treating someone with respect means not calling them names, threatening them, or hitting them." You can also say, "You listen to others. You accept others. If they don't want to play with your toys or they don't want to share their things, you have to learn how to accept that." This is not easy for kids, but they will learn. I really think kids need to have the concept of bullying explained to them numerous times. That way, when any kind of bullying is going on, they can identify it and stop the behavior, both in themselves and others.
Don't forget, bullies often have cognitive distortions - they see the world in a certain way that justifies their bullying. So you'll frequently hear them blaming others and making excuses for their behavior. Most of the time, they really believe that stuff: they believe what they think, and that's what you've got to challenge. You can say directly, "It sounds like you're blaming Jesse for the fact that you punched him. It is not Jesse's fault that you hit him."
Schools should also have a culture of accountability, and I think that many try. That's what detentions, suspensions and expulsions are all about - if your child breaks the rules, he should be held accountable, and it's very important that you let him deal with the natural consequences and not try to shield him.
Your child has to learn how to resolve conflicts and manage his emotions. He needs to learn the skills of compromise, how to sacrifice, how to share and how to deal with injustice. He should also learn how to check things out, and to ask himself, "Is what I'm seeing really happening? Does Jonathon really hate me, or is he just in a bad mood today?"
Kids have got to learn how to manage their impulses. If their impulse is to hit or to hurt, they have to learn to deal with that in an appropriate way. Many children and adolescents have the impulse to hurt others - they have impulses to do all kinds of things. But they need to learn to handle them, and kids who bully are no exception.
I think the school should handle the process of having your child make amends for his behavior. But remember that bullies don't stop bullying when they get home - they often target younger or weaker siblings. You have to be very clear if your child is bullying - be very black and white; leave no gray areas. Don't forget, your child is bullying because solving problems - talking to people and working things out - is very hard for him. Again, your child is taking the easy way out. We all go through the growing pains of learning how to negotiate in social situations - in fact, we may work on this skill our whole lives. There should be no exceptions for anyone in your family when it comes to these skills. For a child who is using bullying as a shortcut instead of developing these skills, you have to work even harder as a parent to coach them on what to do.
When
Bullies Grow Up
Make no mistake, if a child bullies, that tendency can stay with them their
whole lives. Fortunately, some bullies do mature after they leave school. You'll
see them get into their early twenties and go their own way; they get married,
they go to college, they start a career, and they stop their bullying behavior.
But sadly, you will also see young child bullies who become teenage bullies and then adult bullies. How does this behavior and lack of social skills affect them? These are the people who abuse their wives and kids emotionally and sometimes physically. These are the people who call their spouses and kids names if they don't do things the way they want them to. Bullies may also become criminals. Look at it this way: a bully is somebody who is willing to use aggression, verbal abuse, property destruction or even violence to get his way. An anti-social personality disorder (which is how criminals are classified) is somebody who's willing to use aggression and violence to get his way. The criminal population is literally full of bullies who, among other things, never learned how to resolve conflicts and behave appropriately in social situations.
If you think your child is bullying others, it's very important to start working with him now. This behavior is already hurting his life - and will continue to do so if it's left to fester. If you expect your child to "outgrow" bullying once he reaches adulthood, realize that you're also taking the risk that he may not - and that choice may negatively affect your child for the rest of his life.
Bullies: Why They Do It - and How to Stop Them is reprinted with permission from Empowering Parents magazine. James Lehman is a behavioral therapist and the creator of The Total Transformation Program for parents. This program offers practical, real world solutions for the most challenging problems parents face: defiance, disrespect, back talk, lying, cursing, lack of motivation, acting out in school and more. In this step-by-step program you'll learn the techniques James has used in his private practice to help children take responsibility for their behavior and help parents get back in control of their homes. Transform Your Problem Child will be available through the Empowering Parents site.
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If another person has forwarded this issue to you, and you would like to subscribe yourself, go to the following link:
http://stayincontact.com/sub.asp?Param=a7PBzyM5xsxYHJYkt
It's much more than a physical structure. It's the place where memories are made, where dreams are shared, where lives are lived. And many of your home's contents--the video of your baby's first steps, grandmother's brooch or old family photos, for instance--simply cannot be replaced. That's why it makes good sense to do everything you can to protect your home from fire and theft.
Most fires are preventable. First, let's look at the top causes of home fires.
There are some other simple, common sense precautions you can take to decrease your chances of a home fire:
If your home has one or more fireplaces, special precautions can help to keep home fires burning safely:
Smoke detectors greatly increase the likelihood you'll survive a fire. Place at least one on each floor of your home and outside each sleeping area. Install detectors inside bedrooms for added protection. Mount detectors on the ceiling, at least 4 inches away from the wall. Test detectors monthly and replace batteries once a year. To help you remember, plan to install new batteries on an annual event, such as the Fourth of July. Replace smoke detectors after 10 years.
If a fire does break out, take immediate action. Smoke and flames spread rapidly. Get out of the house right away, then call the fire department from a neighbor's house or a cellular phone. Fumes overcome most victims long before flames reach them. Use your safest exit. If you must escape through smoke, get down and crawl low under the smoke, keeping your head about 12-24 inches off the floor.
If you haven't gotten around to conducting a family fire drill, now's the time to do it. And visit your local hardware store or home center to invest in a few fire extinguishers. Extinguishers are classified according to the type of fire they will put out, and you'll find the classification displayed on an extinguisher. A Class ABC extinguisher is multi-purpose and works well against any small, self-contained fire. Keep one in the kitchen, extras in the basement or garage. Contact your fire department to ask about training. Don't attempt to fight a fire unless you know you have the right extinguisher to handle that type of fire, and be sure to keep your back to a safe exit.
Take this quick quiz to help you assess your family's fire safety plan:
Every year, burglars hit more than five million households, stealing more than $4 billion worth of property. Determined thieves can break into just about any home, but you can take steps to make entry a lot more difficult for them.
For greater peace of mind, consider investing in a professionally installed alarm system. Alarm systems come in many shapes and sizes, at prices that range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Many installers also charge monthly monitoring fees, which should be taken into account when you shop for a system. A home alarm system includes some combination of the following components:
Keep in mind that false alarms can be a problem. In addition to annoying the neighbors and taking the police away from real emergencies, some communities now assess fines for excessive false alarms. The National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association reports that nearly 80 percent of false alarms are caused by user error. Steps to prevent false alarms include regular system maintenance and ensuring that whoever has a key to your house also knows the codes to activate and deactivate your system. Local police are a good source of information and recommendations regarding security systems. They work with the security services in your area and can tell you what types of break-ins are most common in your community.
After you've determined which alarm system is best for you, ask your insurance agent, family or friends for referrals. Get written quotes from at least three companies. Before you obtain an alarm system, investigate a security service's reputation and how long it has been in business. Also ask about warranties and what they cover.
Homeowners or renters insurance provides money to replace possessions after a fire or theft. Remember to keep a good inventory of your property, including serial numbers. A quick way to do this is with snapshots or a camcorder. Store your inventory in a safe-deposit box or other location outside your home, and update it every year.
While you're making an inventory of your valuables, consider engraving them with your name. This makes it easier to trace the goods back to you if they're stolen. Many local police departments will loan etching tools.
Most insurers recommend that you insure your property at replacement cost. This reimburses you for what it would cost to replace items today, instead of paying only for their current, depreciated value. You'll pay a little more in premiums for this extra peace of mind, so shop around for the best policy and the best price. Consider only reputable companies and agents. Get at least three quotes. Some companies provide lower rates if you have more than one type of coverage with them, such as auto and home. Review your insurance coverage annually.
Travel Safely -
Create Your Own Travel First Aid Kit
I often make an hour and a half drive to see my parents in my hometown of
Lorain, and one of the biggest things they have impressed upon me is the need to
have a first aid kit in case of emergencies.
So when I found this site, I really thought it was something that everyone can
benefit from whether you’re making a road trip within your state or province, or
if you’re making a long haul like our eight hour drive to the Upper Peninsula of
Michigan.
This site sets forth for you what a Basic first aid kit should include. This is
a starting point and it is easily customized to suit your own personal travel
needs. You’ll find an article explaining how and what was selected. As well as a
listing of what should typically be in your first aid kit.
Don’t want to build your own first aid kit for travel? Well never fear, they
even offer you an idea of what kind of pre-made kits you can purchase and get a
good quality kit from.
What I really loved was that they even pointed out what type of medications you
should travel with in certain locations. All in all, this article is jam packed
with great information that can make your travels much safer. It’s better to
have a first aid kit and not need it then to be without one!
http://www.gadling.com/2008/01/11/travel-safely-create-your-own-diy-first-aid-kit-for-the-road/
~Amanda
That's good stuff to know for long trips! Rate or add to this Cool Site here:
http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/create-your-own-first-aid-kit
Thousands of people are involved in car crashes each day. There are a number of things you can do to reduce the risks involved with riding in automobiles. Find out if you're a car-safety whiz or a crash test dummy in this quiz. http://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-safety-quiz.htm
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Learn About the Types of Disasters
I want to say one thing before I dive into my review of this site; while it is set in the United States (it’s maintained by FEMA) there is a lot of information here that is useful world wide.
There are seventeen different types of disasters and this page is devoted to teaching you all about them. A few of them of them didn’t even occur to me so I was very happy to learn about them. The disasters are: Chemical Emergencies, Dam Failure, Earthquake, Fire, Flood, Hazardous Material, Heat, Hurricane, Landslide, Nuclear Power Plant Emergency, Terrorism, Thunderstorm, Tornado, Tsunami, Volcano, Wild Fire, and Winter Storm.
I’m going to go over a few of these categories with you:
Chemical Emergencies – this is probably one of the most important to learn about because you probably have several hazardous chemicals in your house right now. Here you’ll find a list of household items that can be hazardous, as well as, how to deal with a chemical emergency if one should occur.
Dam Failure – Did you know there are more than 80,000 dams in United States? I know I sure didn’t. So the possibility of having to go through a dam failure emergency is more wide spread then you would think.
Earthquake – now this is one I expected to see on the list. If you live in an area prone to earthquakes make sure you check this section to make sure you are knowledgeable and prepared if there was an earthquake where you live.
Fire – this one was another no brainer for the list. A fire could happen anywhere, to anyone, at any time. I think this section is a must read for everyone – be prepared, know what to do if you’re faced with fire, and it might just save your life.
Flood – I think this is one of those disasters that most people don’t think about, but honestly a flood could happen just about anywhere if it rained enough, or if a dam broke. Here you will learn flood terminology, what you can do during a flood, and what you can do after a flood. There is also a great link to a flood risk map that shows the entire United States, and what the risk of flood is there at the moment.
Hazardous Material – this ties into the chemical emergency section but on a larger scale. In this section think about factories producing chemicals, chemicals that are being shipped via the highway, or mail, and what disaster could occur if something went wrong.
Heat – this is another one that we don’t give much thought to, but heat can definitely kill you. Especially now that we’re in the summer months here, this section is definitely one that you need to check out. You can learn about treatments for heat induced ailments, as well as, what constitutes a heat emergency.
Hurricane – I think hurricanes are probably one of the natural disasters that a lot of people are prepared for, but what if you’ve just moved to a hurricane prone city or want to teach your kids about hurricane safety. Check out this section to learn about hurricane terminology, links to storm weather reports, and what the different categories assigned to hurricanes mean.
Landslide – another disaster that we don’t think about much, but could happen anywhere. There are many different causes of landslides that you’ll learn about here.
Nuclear Power Plant Emergency – living near several power plants, has definitely made me aware of the possibility of something going wrong there. If you live near a nuclear power plant you should check this section out as it has some great tips for limiting your exposure to radiation should something go wrong.
As you can see, you’ll find a lot of universal need to know information about disasters that could happen anywhere. Check this site out today!
http://www.fema.gov/hazard/types.shtm
~Amanda
Keep yourself and your family safe from those burning rays.
Everyone enjoys a summer in the sun, but some people don't realize the potential dangers. Read on to learn the facts about protecting yourself and your family against the potentially damaging rays of the sun.
1. After applying sunscreen, you should give it 20 to 30 minutes to dry before going outside. It takes this long after application for the chemicals to start working. Letting the sunscreen dry also helps ensure that it stays on your skin.
2. If you've been in the sun or water, you should reapply waterproof sunscreen every two hours. Sunscreen needs to be reapplied regularly if you've been in the sun or water -- even if it claims to be "waterproof."
3. Surfaces such as sand or water reflect up to 85 percent of the sun's damaging rays. It's especially important to protect your skin and eyes around these surfaces.
4. Tightly woven clothing in dark colors provides the best protection from the sun.
5. The sun is strongest -- and most dangerous -- between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises staying out of the sun during these hours.
6. A sunscreen's Sun Protection Factor (SPF) number refers to the factor by which it enhances a person's natural sun protection. If someone normally burns in 20 minutes, then a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 would protect them for 300 minutes (SPF 15 x 20 minutes = 300 minutes).
7. The minimum SPF number recommended by the AAD is 15. The AAD recommends applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with this minimum SPF daily.
8. The American Medical Association (AMA) recommends that you begin applying sunscreen to your baby when he's 6 months old. Infants burn easily because of their thinner skin and undeveloped melanin. But sunscreen should not be applied to babies under 6 months of age. Instead, keep your baby shielded from the sun or have him wear protective clothing if the sun is unavoidable.
9. Clouds and pollution often give a false sense of protection. Even on cloudy or hazy days, unseen ultraviolet sun rays can cause unexpected sunburn and skin damage.
10. Toy sunglasses worn in the sun may be worse for your baby's eyes than nothing at all. Toy sunglasses simply shade baby's eyes, making her pupils larger and actually allowing more damaging rays to reach the inside of the eye.
11. Some babies are sensitive to para aminobenzoic acid (PABA), the active ingredient in many sunscreens. A lotion or milky gel-type sunscreen is preferable to the clear alcohol type, which may irritate baby's skin on application.
Sources: American Academy of Dermatology; American Medical Association
Reviewed 2/02 by Jane Forester, MD
All content here, including advice from doctors and other health professionals, should be considered as opinion only. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.
Driving to Stay Safe and Alive
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http://www.ccohs.ca/newsletters/hsreport/issues/2009/05/ezine.html?id=24397&link=1#inthenews
The Health & Safety Report is produced by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS).
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With vacation season upon us, and people hitting the open roads, it's a perfect time for a reminder of the risk for road accidents - especially for those who drive for work. Whether it's a company car, tractor trailer, construction vehicle or delivery van - if it is driven for work, it's a workplace vehicle. And unlike other workplaces, vehicles are not 'controlled environments', which present challenges when ensuring worker safety.
Although employers can't control road conditions, they can help prevent accidents by having a strategy that combines safe driving principles with safety management practices. The best way is to approach work-related driving in the same manner as they would any other health and safety risks. WHAT EMPLOYERS CAN DO Have a Policy
Take a Planned Approach to Safety
Have Safety Programs
Manage Your Vehicles
Driver Performance
What Drivers Should and Shouldn't Do
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More information: Driving for Work website, Department for Transport, UK Working Safely Behind the Wheel (pdf), Workers' Compensation Board, Alberta Drivers at work, Canada Safety Council RoadSafe.ca - Information for Employers Work-related Roadway Crashes: Prevention Strategies for Employer, NIOSH Driving Tips - Using Cellular Telephones and Other Devices, CCOHS |
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Online credit card applications -- there are hundreds to choose from and it's not always easy to tell which ones you should consider. Before you even think about filling one of these out, there are a few things you need to know.
Never fill out an online credit card application unless it's being done via a secured site. How do you tell if a site is secure? Look at the URL in the address bar. If the beginning of the URL starts with https the site is secure. If, on the other hand, it just starts with http and there is no "s" then the site is not secure and any information you transmit may be at risk.
Just because you can access hundreds of online credit card applications, it doesn't mean you should apply for them all. Every time you apply for a credit card and they check your credit, it shows up as an inquiry on your credit report. Too many inquiries can have a negative impact. Apply for twenty cards and your score can take a hit.
It's not hard to put up a website. A common criminal could create online credit card applications and steal people's information without anyone being the wiser. Because of this, you should really only apply online with credit card companies you are familiar with. For example, applying for a Discover Card online is probably much safer than applying for a credit card being issued by Mom and Pop's South Town Bank.
So yes, online credit card applications are definitely convenient and there's certainly no shortage of them. Just make sure you use them wisely. As with all online industries, there are good and bad within this one. Play it smart and keep the above in mind when using online credit card applications.
The recent alleged abduction, rape and murder of eight-year old Sandra Cantu from Tracy, CA by Sunday School teacher, Melissa Huckaby, is a wake-up call for parents. Recent statistics from the Crimes Against Children Research Center cite that there are between 60,000 - 70,000 arrests for sex crimes against children every year. Although crimes against children are down, it is crucial that parents understand what to do to keep their children safe from child predators.
According to Laura Ramirez, author of the award-winning parenting book Keepers of the Children: Native American Wisdom and Parenting parents need to realize that it's not enough to teach their children to stay away from strangers because the majority of crimes committed against children (rape, abduction and murder) are committed by persons who are known to the family.
Here are some tips for keeping your children safe from child predators:
Rather than frightening parents, these tips should make you more aware, so you can better protect your children. In Ramirez's parenting book, Keepers of the Children: Native American Wisdom and Parenting, she shows parents a unique way to teach children the basics of psychology, using Mother Nature. This allows children to develop discernment skills that will keep them safe from harm.
According to Ramirez, it is wise to teach children about the different types of people in the world while they are still under your protective wing. Kids need to learn how to survive in this world before they can begin to thrive. First, of course, you should learn warning signs for child pedophiles.
Parents need to educate themselves about the child predators among us and then teach their children what to do if they encounter them. According to Ramirez, "The trick is to teach your child to be aware, rather than frightened. The last thing we want to do is to raise good kids who go out into the world unprepared to meet its challenges because they have a naive view of the world."
Laura Ramirez is the author of the award-winning parenting book, Keepers of the Children: Native American Wisdom and Parenting. The book teaches parents how to be raise children to thrive in the world first by surviving in it and learning how to act from integrity and strength. The book won a Nautilus award for "books that encourage conscious living and social change."
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Below is a list of warning signs that can alert you to a child predator. Be careful with the information on this list. Rather than taking each item on the list alone, use it to construct a picture, along with other observations, impressions and your gut feelings about the person in question and how they operate. For instance, a person who is overly nice is less likely to be a pedophile than a person who has just been raised to put others needs before their own.
If your child returns home from an interaction with an adult you are suspicious of and seems different, question your child in a way that does not raise alarm or cause further trauma. Your first priority should be to ensure that your child has no more contact with this individual until you have more information.
While you'll want to be careful about assumptions, your first priority as a parent is to protect your child from child predators and other unsavory characters.
Child Predator - Warning Signs
About the Author: Laura Ramirez is the author of the parenting book, Keepers of the Children: Native American Wisdom and Parenting. The book won a Nautilus Award for "book that promote conscious living and social change." Her book teaches parents how to raise children to act from integrity and strength and learn how to survive in the world, so they can thrive in it.
How to Handle Playground Bullies
• Is Your Child Being Bullied?
• Bullying Is Serious Business
• The Bully—and Hero—in Every Child
If the big one struck, would you be ready? No? Then start reading and stocking up on food, water and other essential supplies. And hurry up. For some of you, it's not "if" but "when."
Avoid Identity Theft With These 5 Tips
Posted: 18 Mar 2009 05:03 AM PDT
by Harvey Warmuth
Identity theft is an always present concern in today’s society, so you really need to do what you can to ensure your identity is safe. Using your common sense is a great first step when it comes to securing your identity. You are the only one that truly suffers when your identity is stolen, so it is up to you to make sure you are safe.
Below are five tips that you should consider following if you want to make sure that your identity is safe. After all, it is up to you to make sure that your information remains secure.
1. Mail security: The mail that you receive can be full of information that an identity theft needs to assume your identity. From credit card applications to bank statements, your mail is full of information that can be used to assume your identity. Try to limit the amount of mail with personal information you receive by getting banking statements online and opting out of credit card applications.
2. Debit card issues: You might want to think twice when you use your debit card as a credit card. Because the money is taken out of your savings or checking account immediately, someone can very easily drain your account before you know what is going on. Use a real credit card instead because you will be better protected.
3. Check writing: Every time you write a check for a purchase, you are putting out your checking account number and routing number for anybody to see. This is sometimes all that a thief needs in order to steal from you. Stop writing checks - pay with a credit card or electronically.
4. Virtual credit card number: Many financial institutions are offering their clients a one-time use, virtual credit card number. Because these credit cards can only be used one-time, they are basically useless if they were to fall in the hands of a criminal.
5. Copy personal information: Keep a record of all of your banking account numbers, including credit card numbers. You should also keep copies of important personal documents like your drivers license and social security card. This information will be necessary if you ever lose any of these documents, or if you ever become a victim of identity theft.
The suggestions listed above are a great way to start making changes in your life to ensure that your identity is secure. Another step that you can take to make sure you never become a victim of identity theft is to make use of an identity theft security plan offered by a reputable company. Take the necessary steps to ensure your identity is safe.
About the Author:
Harvey Warmuth feels strongly that all consumers should use some form of identity protection. Visit his website to see what your options are: LifeLock Review
The dangers of sexual text messages
Sex + Texting
Elizabeth Cullen
In recent weeks, news stories about the sexting phenomenon i.e. sending nude or suggestive photos of yourself via text message have blanketed the media.
While some may argue that is just cheeky fun or another way to digitally flirt,
the consequences of sending pictures of the "Girls Gone Wild" variety are very
real. So should you do it? Below are five things to consider before you bare all
and press 'send.'
Teenagers, especially, are big fans of the sexting trend.
According to a study by Teenage Research Unlimited, twenty-two percent of
teenage girls and eighteen percent of boys have taken nude or semi-nude photos
of themselves and sent them to someone or posted them online. And they're not
alone: a third of young adults (20-26 years old) have also admitted to sending
racy pics. For the under 18-set, however, sending risqué photos comes with an
additional risk: you can be arrested for trafficking child porn, even if the
images are of yourself! A 15-year-old Ohio girl was arrested in January on
felony child pornography charges for allegedly sending nude cell phone pictures
of herself to classmates.
Suggestive cell phone images can also ruin your career.
According to the BBC, Elizabeth Wong, a Malaysian politician, was forced to
resign her job this month after nude cell phone pictures of her taken by an
ex-boyfriend circulated around the Internet. Certainly, politicians have much to
lose with this kind of exposure, but teachers and those who work in the
corporate sector also put themselves at risk.
Rarely do private photos stay that way; revealing photos
are often shared, especially after a break-up. According to the TRU study, which
was funded by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and
CosmoGirl.com, over a third of teenage boys and forty-percent of young adult men
reported receiving or seeing private photos.
Even if you trust the person your sending saucy photos to,
either of you could lose your phone. An Arkansas man sued McDonalds last
November after accidentally leaving his cell phone, which contained nude photos
of his wife, at the Golden Arches eatery. The man was incensed when the photos
ended up on the Internet, according to the Associated Press.
Even celebrities are prone to accidents: According to Maxim Radio, Ashton
Kutcher accidentally left his cell phone in a cab while in April 2007,
containing nude photos of Demi Moore. The driver of the cab later demanded a
million dollars ransom for the phone, but it is unclear if Kutcher or Moore paid
it.
Even after you delete any questionable photos, they could still haunt you, for years to come, if they wind up on the Internet or Facebook. So when it comes to personal photos, practice safe sexting and store them somewhere safe, not on your cell phone.
When your camping trip turns life-or-death because you've lost your way in a vast, unpopulated wilderness, you'll want to have these gadgets on your person.
http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/5-lifesaving-technologies.htm
http://sudburyareahomesales.com/gold_newsletter.asp#gold_article1
What comes to mind when you think of a clean kitchen? Shiny waxed floors? Gleaming stainless steel sinks? Spotless counters and neatly arranged cupboards?
They can help, but a truly "clean" kitchen--that is, one that ensures safe food--relies on more than just looks. It also depends on safe food practices.
In the home, food safety concerns revolve around three main functions: food storage, food handling, and cooking. To see how well you're doing in each, take this quiz, and then read on to learn how you can make the meals and snacks from your kitchen the safest possible.
Choose the answer that best describes the practice in your household, whether or not you are the primary food handler.
1. The temperature of the refrigerator in my home
is:
a. 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius)
b. 41 F (5 C)
c. I don't know; I've never measured it.
2. The last time we had leftover cooked stew or other food with meat,
chicken or fish, the food was:
a. cooled to room temperature, then put in the refrigerator
b. put in the refrigerator immediately after the food was served
c. left at room temperature overnight or longer
3. The last time the kitchen sink drain, disposal and connecting pipe in
my home were sanitized was:
a. last night
b. several weeks ago
c. can't remember
4. If a cutting board is used in my home to cut raw meat, poultry or fish
and it is going to be used to chop another food, the board is:
a. reused as is
b. wiped with a damp cloth
c. washed with soap and hot water
d. washed with soap and hot water and then sanitized
5. The last time we had hamburgers in my home, I ate mine:
a. rare
b. medium
c. well-done
6. The last time there was cookie dough in my home, the dough was:
a. made with raw eggs, and I sampled some of it
b. store-bought, and I sampled some of it
c. not sampled until baked
7. I clean my kitchen counters and other surfaces that come in contact
with food with:
a. water
b. hot water and soap
c. hot water and soap, then bleach solution
d. hot water and soap, then commercial sanitizing agent
8. When dishes are washed in my home, they are:
a. cleaned by an automatic dishwasher and then air-dried
b. left to soak in the sink for several hours and then washed with soap in the
same water
c. washed right away with hot water and soap in the sink and then air-dried
d. washed right away with hot water and soap in the sink and immediately
towel-dried
9. The last time I handled raw meat, poultry or fish, I cleaned my hands
afterwards by:
a. wiping them on a towel
b. rinsing them under hot, cold or warm tap water
c. washing with soap and warm water
10. Meat, poultry and fish products are defrosted in my home by:
a. setting them on the counter
b. placing them in the refrigerator
c. microwaving
11. When I buy fresh seafood, I:
a. buy only fish that's refrigerated or well iced
b. take it home immediately and put it in the refrigerator
c. sometimes buy it straight out of a local fisher's creel
12. I realize people, including myself, should be especially careful about
not eating raw seafood, if they have:
a. diabetes
b. HIV infection
c. cancer
d. liver disease
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1. Refrigerators should stay at 41 F (5 C) or less, so if you chose answer B, give yourself two points. If you didn't, you're not alone. Many people overlook the importance of maintaining an appropriate refrigerator temperature.
The refrigerator temperature in many households is above 50 degrees (10 C). Measure the temperature with a thermometer and, if needed, adjust the refrigerator's temperature control dial. A temperature of 41 F (5 C) or less is important because it slows the growth of most bacteria. The temperature won't kill the bacteria, but it will keep them from multiplying, and the fewer there are, the less likely you are to get sick from them. Freezing at zero F (minus 18 C) or less stops bacterial growth (although it won't kill all bacteria already present).
2. Answer B is the best practice; give yourself two points if you picked it.
Hot foods should be refrigerated as soon as possible within two hours after cooking. But don't keep the food if it's been standing out for more than two hours. Don't taste test it, either. Even a small amount of contaminated food can cause illness.
Date leftovers so they can be used within a safe time. Generally, they remain safe when refrigerated for three to five days. If in doubt, throw it out.
3. If answer A best describes your household's practice, give yourself two points. Give yourself one point if you chose B.
The kitchen sink drain, disposal and connecting pipe are often overlooked, but they should be sanitized periodically by pouring down the sink a solution of 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) of chlorine bleach in 1 quart (about 1 liter) of water or a solution of commercial kitchen cleaning agent made according to product directions. Food particles get trapped in the drain and disposal and, along with the moistness, create an ideal environment for bacterial growth.
4. If answer D best describes your household's practice, give yourself two points.
If you picked A, you're violating an important food safety rule: Never allow raw meat, poultry and fish to come in contact with other foods. Answer B isn't good, either. Improper washing, such as with a damp cloth, will not remove bacteria. And washing only with soap and water may not do the job, either.
5. Give yourself two points if you picked answer C.
If you don't have a meat thermometer, there are other ways to determine whether seafood is done:
6. If you answered A, you may be putting yourself at risk for infection with Salmonella enteritidis, a bacterium that can be in shell eggs. Cooking the egg or egg-containing food product to an internal temperature of at least 145 F (63 C) kills the bacteria. So answer C--eating the baked product--will earn you two points.
You'll get two points for answer B, also. Foods containing raw eggs, such as homemade ice cream, cake batter, mayonnaise, and eggnog, carry a Salmonella risk, but their commercial counterparts don't. Commercial products are made with pasteurized eggs; that is, eggs that have been heated sufficiently to kill bacteria, and also may contain an acidifying agent that kills the bacteria. Commercial preparations of cookie dough are not a food hazard.
If you want to sample homemade dough or batter or eat other foods with raw-egg-containing products, consider substituting pasteurized eggs for raw eggs. Pasteurized eggs are usually sold in the grocer's refrigerated dairy case.
Some other tips to ensure egg safety:
7. Answers C or D will earn you two points each; answer B, one point. According to FDA's Guzewich, bleach and commercial kitchen cleaning agents are the best sanitizers--provided they're diluted according to product directions. They're the most effective at getting rid of bacteria. Hot water and soap does a good job, too, but may not kill all strains of bacteria. Water may get rid of visible dirt, but not bacteria.
Also, be sure to keep dishcloths and sponges clean because, when wet, these materials harbor bacteria and may promote their growth.
8. Answers A and C are worth two points each. There are potential problems with B and D. When you let dishes sit in water for a long time, it "creates a soup," FDA's Buchanan said. "The food left on the dish contributes nutrients for bacteria, so the bacteria will multiply." When washing dishes by hand, he said, it's best to wash them all within two hours. Also, it's best to air-dry them so you don't handle them while they're wet.
9. The only correct practice is answer C. Give yourself two points if you picked it.
Wash hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food, especially raw meat, poultry and fish. If you have an infection or cut on your hands, wear rubber or plastic gloves. Wash gloved hands just as often as bare hands because the gloves can pick up bacteria. (However, when washing gloved hands, you don't need to take off your gloves and wash your bare hands, too.)
10. Give yourself two points if you picked B or C. Food safety experts recommend thawing foods in the refrigerator or the microwave oven or putting the package in a water-tight plastic bag submerged in cold water and changing the water every 30 minutes. Gradual defrosting overnight is best because it helps maintain quality.
When microwaving, follow package directions. Leave about 2 inches (about 5 centimeters) between the food and the inside surface of the microwave to allow heat to circulate. Smaller items will defrost more evenly than larger pieces of food. Foods defrosted in the microwave oven should be cooked immediately after thawing.
Do not thaw meat, poultry and fish products on the counter or in the sink without cold water; bacteria can multiply rapidly at room temperature.
Marinate food in the refrigerator, not on the counter. Discard the marinade after use because it contains raw juices, which may harbor bacteria. If you want to use the marinade as a dip or sauce, reserve a portion before adding raw food.
11. A and B are correct. Give yourself two points for either.
When buying fresh seafood, buy only from reputable dealers who keep their products refrigerated or properly iced. Be wary, for example, of vendors selling fish out of their creel (canvas bag) or out of the back of their truck.
Once you buy the seafood, immediately put it on ice, in the refrigerator or in the freezer. Some other tips for choosing safe seafood:
12. If you are under treatment for any of these diseases, as well as several others, you should avoid raw seafood. Give yourself two points for knowing one or more of the risky conditions.
People with certain diseases and conditions need to be especially careful because their diseases or the medicine they take may put them at risk for serious illness or death from contaminated seafood.
These conditions include:
People with these diseases or conditions should never eat raw seafood -- only seafood that has been thoroughly cooked.
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24 points: Feel confident about the safety of foods served in your home.
12 to 23 points: Reexamine food safety practices in your home. Some key rules are being violated.
11 points or below: Take steps immediately to correct food handling, storage and cooking techniques used in your home. Current practices are putting you and other members of your household in danger of food-borne illness.
http://sudburyareahomesales.com/gold_newsletter.asp#gold_article1
Everyone wants to live in a safe and worry free environment with their families, spouse, and children. However, most people are closer to a disaster waiting to happen than they think. Safety may not be an issue that comes to mind as you go about your daily routine. You may feel safe. Yet, lurking in your home are dangers that can take lives and destroy property.
Thousands of people die from fire every year. Most residential fire deaths occur because of inhalation of toxic gas, rather than contact with the flames. The tragedy is that many of these deaths could be prevented by taking a few precautions.
Through education and media campaigns, most people now realize the importance of smoke alarms, and most homes in North America have them.
To guard against small fires or to keep a small fire from developing into a big one, every home should be equipped with a fire extinguisher. Because almost all fires are small at first, they might be contained if a fire extinguisher is handy and used properly. You should take care, however, to select the right kind of fire extinguisher, because there are different ones for different kinds of fires. Install fire extinguishers on every level of the home and include the kitchen, basement and garage.
Extinguishers are classified according to the class of fire for which they are suitable. The four classes of fires are A, B, C, D:
A typical home or office fire extinguisher should have an ABC rating.
One of the greatest threats to your safety is the quality of air within your home. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a subtle yet dangerous threat because the gas is colorless, odorless and tasteless.
Each year, hundreds of people die from carbon monoxide poisoning. Thousands of other people suffer the effects of the gas without realizing it. Because CO symptoms mimic the flu and other common illnesses, CO poisoning can be easily missed during a routine medical examination.
CO is produced when any fuel does not burn completely because of insufficient oxygen. Mild exposure to CO gives most people a slight headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue ("flu-like" symptoms) followed by a throbbing headache, drowsiness, confusion, and fast heart rate. If the entire family becomes ill after a few hours in the home, and feels better when they leave the home, carbon monoxide poisoning should be suspected.
Possible sources of CO include:
Certain clues can indicate a carbon monoxide problem. Check to see if you have any of the following:
CO can be produced and spill into your home without any of the preceding clues present. Heating appliances that appear to be operating correctly can still be sources of CO. Burning charcoal or wood produces CO that can spill into the home. Gasoline engines, when first started, produce large amounts of CO. Autos in attached garages are often sources of CO.
To avoid CO exposure in the home, it is important to:
The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that every residence with fuel burning appliances be equipped with at least one CO alarm. For added protection, place one on every level of the home. Read and follow manufacturers' instructions.
If your alarm indicates high levels of carbon monoxide in your home:
Fires are traumatizing and frightening, as is a carbon monoxide incident. It is essential to fully recognize the hazards of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning and to take preventative action. A regular home inspection, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and an emergency exit plan will help you and your family live more safely.
The winter season is officially here, which means that snow, ice, wind, and cold can start freezing, chapping, and irritating your kids. Use our tips below to keep your children safe all season long.
December 21, 2005 -- While winter can be a season of fun and adventure for children, it can also be very dangerous. Before the temperature gets any lower, consult our winter weather safety guide below for tips from Parents.com and the American Academy of Pediatrics on how to keep your family safe.
Dress your child in layers: It will help keep her warm and dry outside. The rule of thumb for older babies and young children is to dress them in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions. Always be sure to check the windchill (as well as the temperature) before sending her out to play. To be on the safe side, don't let children play outdoors if the windchill is 10�F or lower.
First layer: Thermal underwear, sock liners, wool
socks, and glove liners.
Second layer: Turtleneck, sweater, or a vest, plus
sweatpants or ski pants.
Third layer: Water-resistant jacket, a hat,
mittens, and waterproof boots with gripping surfaces. Instead of a scarf, buy a
neck gaiter. A scarf can get caught on objects, posing a strangulation hazard.
Infants should only be taken out in very cold
weather when absolutely necessary. To prevent overheating, dress your child in
one or two more layers than you are wearing.
Be sure her fingers, toes, ears, nose, and chin
are covered but that she can still breathe easily.
Do not place a blanket or a snowsuit under the car
seat straps. In the event of an accident, extra inches between the harness and
your baby could cause her to slip out of the car seat.
NOTE: Blankets, quilts, pillows, sheepskins, and other loose bedding may contribute to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and should be kept out of an infant's sleeping environment. Sleep clothing like one-piece sleepers is preferred. If a blanket must be used to keep a sleeping infant warm, it should be tucked in around the crib mattress, reaching only as far as your baby's chest, so the infant's face is less likely to become covered by bedding.
The winter season can be the worst for your child's tender skin. Cold, dry air can sap precious moisture, and your little one's rosy cheeks can quickly become leathery and wind-burned. Luckily, there are basic steps you can take to protect your child from seasonal skin hazards.
Spread it on thick. If any areas of your child's
skin look or feel dry, immediately apply a generous amount of baby moisturizing
cream or a thick ointment like petroleum jelly.
Follow your nose. Purchase only perfume-free baby
soaps and lotions, which are less likely to be irritating.
Get misty. "Using a humidifier, especially in your
child's room, can minimize the drying effects of the season," says Anthony J.
Mancini, M.D., an associate professor of pediatrics and dermatology at
Northwestern University, in Chicago. For safety reasons, don't place the
humidifier near or directly over your child.
Be clothes-conscious. Bundling your child in too
many or too heavy layers can make him sweat, leading to blocked glands and skin
irritation, while under-dressing can dry out exposed skin or aggravate a
preexisting condition.
Cut down on daily baths. According to the American
Academy of Pediatrics, infants don't need to be bathed every day. Two or three
times a week is enough for an infant's first year; more baths may dry out the
skin, especially during the winter. If your baby finds a daily bath soothing,
make sure it lasts no longer than 10 minutes and that the water is lukewarm, not
hot.
There are some health troubles that emerge more often in the winter than in other seasons. Nosebleeds: If your child suffers from winter nosebleeds, try using a cold air humidifier in the child's room at night. Saline nose drops may help keep tissues moist. If bleeding is severe or recurrent, contact your pediatrician.
Viruses: The viruses that cause colds and flu tend
to be more common in the winter. Frequent hand washing and teaching your child
to sneeze or cough away from others may help reduce the risk of colds and flu.
The Flu: Children between the ages of six and 23
months should get the influenza vaccine to reduce their risk of getting the flu.
Surprising facts about stomach flu
Hypothermia develops when a child's temperature falls below normal due to exposure to cold, and often happens when a child plays outdoors in extremely cold weather without proper clothing.
Symptoms: Shivering; goosebumps; numb hands
Treatment: Get your child out of the cold, and
remove wet clothing. Have him move about and drink a hot beverage to raise his
body temperature.
Symptoms: Intense shivering; lack of muscle
coordination; lethargy; confusion; drowsiness. In severe cases, the child stops
shivering and becomes incoherent and possibly unconscious.
Treatment: Call 911. If care is unavailable
immediately, get your child inside. Dry her and wrap her in layers. Focus on
warming core areas: chest, neck, head, and groin. Don't treat with direct heat.
Symptoms: Bright-red, cold skin; low energy; lack
of appetite.
Treatment: Call 911 immediately. Move your baby to
a warm room, make sure his clothes are dry, and wrap him in layers.
Frostbite happens when the skin and outer tissues become frozen. This condition tends to happen on extremities like the fingers, toes, ears, and nose. You can avoid it by setting reasonable time limits on outdoor play, and have your children come inside periodically to warm up.
Symptoms: White patches of skin on the ears, nose,
cheeks, fingers, or toes; numbness.
Treatment: Get your child inside. Have him change
clothes and soak affected areas in warm-not hot-water until the skin turns pink.
Warm washcloths may be applied to frostbitten nose, ears, and lips. Do not rub
the frozen areas. After a few minutes, dry and cover him with clothing or
blankets, and give him something warm to drink.
Symptoms: Waxy, hard, white or grayish-yellow
skin; numbness; burning sensation. In severe cases, the skin will turn blue to
purple or splotchy; you should immediately go to the emergency room.
Treatment: Follow treatment for frostnip. Rewarm
skin that can't be soaked in water with blankets, or put feet or hands under
your armpit or between your hands. Apply sterile gauze. Call a doctor. Do not
use direct heat, rub the area, or break blisters.
Many parts of the county will get blanketed with snow and ice when winter storms strike this season. There are things you can do to ahead of time, however, that will help keep your family safe.
It's possible to lose electricity during a bad
winter storm (particularly when there's a lot of ice involved), so make sure to
stock up on batteries for flashlights and a battery-powered radio or television.
Listen for updated emergency information.
Keep your car's gas tank full, which will keep the
fuel line from freezing.
Avoid unnecessary travel. Go to the supermarket
ahead of time and buy enough supplies to feed your family for a few days.
Move animals to sheltered areas.
Understand the hazards of wind chill, which
combines the cooling effect of wind and cold temperature on exposed skin.
Stay inside and dress warmly during the storm.
Layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing will keep you more insulated than
one bulky sweater.
Listen to a battery-powered radio or television
for updated emergency information.
Eat regularly. Food provides the body with energy
so it can produce its own heat.
Keep the body replenished with fluids to prevent
dehydration.
Enjoy the quality time you're getting with your
family!
Safety pointers to help you prevent winter-sports injuries.
Children should be supervised, and younger
children should be separated from older children. Avoid sledding in overcrowded
areas.
Make sure the area is free of trees, posts, and
fences and that the slope ends in a flat, open space-not a street, a parking
lot, or a pond.
Sled slopes should be covered in snow, not ice,
and should not be too steep (slope of less than 30 degrees).
Teach your child to sit facing forward, using his
feet to steer (never headfirst).
Use steerable sleds, not snow disks or inner
tubes. Sleds should be structurally sound and free of sharp objects and
splinters.
Don't let kids sled on plastic sheets or other
materials that could be pierced by objects on the ground.
Have your child wear wrist guards to protect
against breaks and sprains during falls. Consider having him wear a helmet.
Encourage him to skate with the crowd and avoid
darting across the ice.
Advise your child never to skate alone.
Lace skates snugly to make sure they provide firm
ankle support.
Tell your child not to chew gum or eat candy while
skating.
If your child is skating outdoors, don't let him
go out on ice that hasn't been tested by a knowledgeable adult.
Children should be taught to ski or snowboard by a
qualified instructor in a program designed for children.
Make sure equipment fits properly and is in good
condition (have it checked by a qualified ski technician). Consider having your
child wear a helmet.
Have your child wear layers and sunglasses or
goggles. Snowboarders should wear gloves with built-in wrist guards. Apply
sunscreen.
Don't let her ski alone.
Encourage rest breaks every two or three runs
(injuries are more likely when kids are tired).
Slopes should fit the ability and experience of
the skier or snowboarder. Avoid overcrowded slopes.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that
children under age 7 should not snowboard.
Copyright © 2005 Parents.com.
By Troy Bedinghaus, O.D., About.com
Updated: February 3, 2009
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board
We protect our skin with sunscreen, but what about our eyes? Most of us are aware of the dangerous effects ultraviolet (UV) rays have on our skin, but few of us realize the danger imposed on our eyes. UV radiation, whether from natural sunlight or artificial UV rays, can damage the eye's surface tissues as well as the cornea and lens. UV radiation can burn the front surface of the eye, much like a sunburn on the skin.
UV Radiation
UV radiation consists of invisible rays from the sun. There are three types of UV radiation: UVA, UVB and UVC. UVC rays do not pose any threat, as they are absorbed by the ozone layer. However, exposure to UVA and UVB rays can have adverse effects on your eyes and vision. Short- and long-term exposure to these dangerous rays can cause significant damage damage. It is important to note that UV radiation can also be given off by artificial sources like welding machines, tanning beds and lasers.
Short-Term Effects of UV Radiation
If you are exposed, unprotected, to excessive amounts of UV radiation over a short period of time, you are likely to experience an effect called photokeratitis. Photokeratitis is an inflammation of the cornea caused by a brief exposure to UV radiation, usually when combined with cold wind and snow. Like a "sunburn of the eye", it may be painful and may create symptoms including red eyes, a foreign body sensation or gritty feeling in the eyes, extreme sensitivity to light and excessive tearing. Fortunately, this is usually temporary and rarely causes permanent damage to the eyes.
Long-Term Effects of UV Radiation
Long-term exposure to UV radiation can be more serious. Scientific studies and research growing out of the U.S. space program have shown that exposure to small amounts of UV radiation over a period of many years may increase the chance of developing a cataract, and may cause damage to the retina, the nerve-rich lining of the eye that is used for seeing. This damage to the retina is usually not reversible. Cumulative damage of repeated exposure may contribute to chronic eye disease, as well as increase the risk of developing skin cancer around the eyelids. Long-term exposure to UV light is also a risk factor in the development of pterygium (a growth that invades the corner of the eyes) and pinguecula (a yellowish, slightly raised lesion that forms on the surface tissue of the white part of your eye.)
UV Radiation Protection
It is not yet known how much exposure to UV radiation will cause how much damage, but a good recommendation is to wear quality sunglasses that offer good protection and a wide-brimmed hat when working outdoors, participating in outdoor sports, taking a walk, running errands or doing anything in the sun.
To provide protection for your eyes, your sunglasses should:
· block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation
· screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light
· be perfectly matched in color and free of distortion and imperfection
· have lenses that are gray for proper color recognition
If you spend a lot of time in bright sunlight, wrap-around frames can provide additional protection from harmful UV radiation by keeping UV rays from reaching the eyes. Also, remember UV eye protection for children and teenagers. They typically spend more time in the sun than adults. Finally, even if you are wearing contact lenses that have UV protection, you still need to wear sunglasses. UV rays will likely affect the eye tissue that is not covered by the contacts. Your eyes will be more comfortable, too, with most of the bright light blocked.
Source: American Optometric Association. U/V Protection. 14 Jun 2007.
Suggested Reading
Eye Health and SafetyEyes and the SunDefinition of Eye Allergies
Car Seat Safety Check: 8 Common Mistakes You Must Avoid
Take this article take this article and walk out to your driveway now to find out whether your child's car seat is as safe as it should be. You'll be shocked at what you're doing wrong.
Mistake #1
The scary truth is that four out of five safety seats are used incorrectly, with an average of three mistakes per seat, reports the Washington, D.C.-based National Safe Kids Campaign. And mistakes can be deadly. Consider these chilling statistics: In 2001, nearly 500 children under age 5 were killed in car crashes, and more than 200 of those kids were in car seats designed to save their lives. And as many as 31,700 kids were injured--in car seats. Luckily, there's something you can do to make your child safer: Find out whether you're making any of the mistakes detailed in this article--and fix them today. And make sure to tear out our free car-seat installation guide to keep in your glove compartment for easy reference.
Test your seat: With both hands, grasp the car seat at the base, near where the vehicle's safety belt passes through the seat. You shouldn't be able to move the safety seat more than one inch to the left or right, or forward. If you can, it's not tight enough. This is the number-one mistake parents make, according to car-seat inspectors.
The danger: In a collision, a child in a loose seat could crash into the back of the front seat and seriously injure her face or head.
Fast fix: Place your knee in the seat, and put all your weight into it (use your arm for an infant seat), tightening the seat belt as much as possible. Then lock the seat belt--a step that many parents miss. If you have a pre-1996 car, it may not have adequate belt-locking capabilities and you'll need to use a locking clip, says Joseph Colella, Safe Kids' child-passenger-safety training and technical manager. Most safety seats come with one.
Don't forget to engage your car's seat belt lock. Shoulder-belt locks work differently than lap-belt locks do, so check your car manual for instructions. The mechanism shown here is standard on many lap belts.
Mistake #2
Test your seat: "If, after you've tightened your child into his car seat, you can still pinch the fabric of the harness straps between your fingers, the harness is too loose," says Stephanie Tombrello, executive director of SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A., in Torrance, California.
The danger: "A child who's loose in his harness can easily come out of his seat in a crash," Tombrello says. The child could then be severely injured if he hits part of the car's interior or another passenger. The worst-case scenario: the child is ejected from the vehicle altogether.
Fast fix: Tighten the harness. Keep in mind that the straps should be snug and have no slack.
Mistake #3
Test your seat: All children should remain rear-facing at least until they turn 1 year old and weigh 20 pounds, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. But 30 percent of infants are turned around too soon. "Many people mistake the 'and' in this guideline for an 'or,' " says Michael Sachs, M.D., a Los Angeles pediatrician. "Babies need to fulfill both requirements--weight and age--in order to be forward-facing." In other words, no baby should be turned face-forward before his first birthday. If your baby weighs less than 20 pounds on the day he turns 1, keep him rear-facing until he reaches the recommended weight.
The danger: The bones that protect an infant's spinal cord are still forming. When a child is rear-facing, his back--the strongest part of his body--can better absorb the immense forces of a crash. Facing forward, an infant's relatively heavy head can catapult forward, causing his underdeveloped spine to expose his spinal cord and putting him at risk of paralysis or death.
Fast fix: Follow the rules. Keep your baby rear-facing until he's at least 1 year old and 20 pounds.
Mistake #4
Test your seat: Many infant car seats have a built-in level that tells you when your seat is at the wrong angle. More often than not, seats are installed in a position that's too upright. If your seat doesn't have a level, try this: Fold over a square piece of paper to form a triangle, then place the longest part of the triangle up against the back of the car seat--where your infant's back rests--and eyeball the uppermost edge of the triangle. If it's basically parallel to the ground, you're okay. But if it's noticeably tilted in either direction, then you have some adjusting to do.
The danger: An infant's airway is very narrow--about the diameter of a soda straw. If your rear-facing seat leans too far forward, your baby's disproportionately heavy head could fall forward, cutting off her airway so she can't breathe.
Fast fix: While most rear vehicle seats are sloped toward the back of the car for the comfort of adult passengers, safety seats are designed to be installed on a flat surface. However, many safety seats are equipped with an adjustable pedestal to overcome this. If yours doesn't have one, do what technicians do at car-seat checks: "We place sections of a cut-up swimming-pool noodle under the area where the baby's feet rest," says San Diego police officer Mark McCullough, a certified child-passenger-safety instructor. "Tightly rolled-up towels also work well."
Mistake #5
Test your seat: The retainer clip should be at armpit level, resting across your child's breastbone. The clip assures that the harness straps are in the right place.
The danger: When the retainer clip is in the wrong place, the straps can easily slip off a child's shoulders, and the child is at risk of being ejected from her seat in a crash.
Fast fix: Parents often move the clip as they maneuver their child out of the seat, so check the clip's position every time you buckle up.
Mistake #6:
Test your seat: Most convertible safety seats are designed with three sets of harness slots: The lower two sets are for the rear-facing position, and the top set is for the forward-facing position. On most seats, once the seat faces forward, only the uppermost slots have the extra reinforcement necessary to keep the harness secure in a collision. Yet parents often turn the seat around without adjusting the straps.
The danger: When the child faces forward, a harness in the lower slots can break through the seat during a collision.
Fast fix: Always check the instructions that came with your seat to find out which slots are for what.
Mistake #7
Take the test: Any child between 40 and 80 pounds and up to 4'9" tall (generally, kids from 4 to 8 years old) needs to ride in a booster seat, which lifts him up higher so that the car's seat belt fits him properly. (And no child under 13 years old should ever sit in the front seat.)
The danger: An adult seat belt used by itself doesn't properly restrain a child because it crosses her body at the wrong spots: high up on her belly, high up across her shoulder--and sometimes even across the neck. Children often move the shoulder belt behind them because it's uncomfortable. In a crash, a child who's too small for a seat belt can sustain massive internal-organ damage or head and spinal injuries, and can even be ejected.
Fast fix: Go out and buy your child a booster seat today.
Mistake #8
Test your seat: Over the past five years, millions of safety seats have been recalled, but many of them are not repaired or replaced. Check yours against the list of recalled seats maintained by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). You'll need to know your safety seat's model name, model number, and manufacture date, all of which are on the seat.
The danger: Car-seat recalls occur for a variety of reasons, including faulty latches and flammable seat fabric. While some recalled seats don't pose a fatal danger, many do. A faulty buckle could easily lead to disaster.
Fast fix: If you discover that your seat has been recalled, contact the manufacturer for further instructions. And never buy a car seat at a garage sale or a secondhand store, since it may have been recalled or involved in a collision.
01-01-2003
5 Surprising Facts about Kids and Car Safety
1. Most accidents happen near home. The car crashes you hear about on the evening news tend to be gory high-speed wrecks on busy interstates. But most accidents involving kids actually occur on local, residential roads during a routine trip to the day-care center, the grocery store, or the neighborhood park. That's why it's critical to take all the same precautions for a short drive that you'd take for a three-hour ride to Grandma's. "Always buckle your child up, no matter how near or far you're going," says Marilena Amoni, associate administrator for research and program development at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). "And never forget to use your own seat belt. Kids watch everything that you do, so it's important that you set the right example."
2. Kids are more at risk than babies and toddlers. Children between ages 4 and 8 are more likely to be injured in a car than kids under 4. That may be because parents tend to slack off about safety as their children get older. Most moms and dads know to strap infants into a rear-facing car seat, for instance; but only 20 percent of kids between 4 and 8 ride in booster seats, as safety experts recommend. And many parents let children climb into the front seat well before they're 13, the minimum age considered safe for riding shotgun. Children are safest in the backseat, where they're farthest away from the impact point of a frontal crash, and where any surfaces they might bump into (the back of the front seats, for example) are likely to be softer than the dashboard.
3. SUVs don't keep your family safer. You might think that driving a big, high vehicle insulates you from roadway dangers, but in general, test crashes show that SUVs are no safer than ordinary sedans. They're more likely to roll over, especially in a single-vehicle accident where a truck trips over a guardrail or flips during a fast turn. It's hard to make exact comparisons, but larger, lower vehicles (like station wagons) tend to be the safest family cars. Experts say that parents who want an SUV should get one equipped with electronic stability or anti-roll control, designed to help keep the vehicle from flipping over. And don't assume four-wheel drive will keep your kids safer, either. It helps improve traction in snow or mud, but it also encourages people to drive in conditions they otherwise wouldn't (or shouldn't).
4. A car doesn't have to be moving to be dangerous. Your station wagon isn't going to be involved in a pileup while it's in the driveway, but parked cars are also potentially deadly. And as many as 220 children per year are killed in nontraffic automobile accidents: Some are strangled by a window when they're leaning out and they (or someone else) inadvertently lean on a rocker-type power switch. Others, playing alone in the car, somehow release the emergency brake or move the gear-shift lever, setting a car in motion. Still other children climb through fold-down rear seats into the trunk -- then push the seat backs up and get trapped inside. Finally, at least 30 kids die each year when their parents leave them in the car and they suffocate from overheating. "Children should never, ever be left alone in an automobile -- not even for a minute," says Terrill Struttmann, executive director of Kids in Cars, an education and advocacy organization he and his wife started after their 2-year-old son was killed by a car set in motion by two kids playing alone inside.
5. Kids don't need to be inside a car to be hurt by one. Despite long-running campaigns to raise public awareness about pedestrian safety, nearly 400 kids age 15 and under are killed each year when they're hit by an automobile. So it's important to remain vigilant: No matter how many times you've warned your child to stay away from the street and to hold your hand in parking lots, you still need to keep a close eye on him -- even in places where you might assume he's safe. A survey conducted by Safe Kids Worldwide found that a majority of drivers speed in school zones, and that nearly a third violate stop signs in neighborhoods where there are kids.
Copyright © 2003 Hal Karp. Reprinted with permission from the January 2003 issue of Parents Magazine.
Safety Tips For Your Swimming Pool
Posted: 24 Feb 2009 08:00 AM CST
by Matthew Giovanisci
If you want to have a safe swimming pool season this year, just follow these tips to ensure proper pool safety.
Never leave children alone in or near the pool. I can speak from experience. My cousin was only 2 years old and we turned our heads for a second and she was face down in our above ground swimming pool. Thank goodness we caught it in time. Very scary.
If you haven’t taken a CPR class already please do so. It’s a very easy course and you can help save someone’s life with this knowledge.
If you dont have a fence around you swimming pool, it would be wise to get one installed to your local regulations.
Make sure the gates self-close and self-latch at a height children can’t reach.
Include a safety raft, a telephone and a shepherd’s hook around your swimming pool in case they need to be used.
Avoid inflatable swimming aids such as “swimmies.” They are not a substitute for approved life vests and can give children that false sense of security.
Children are not developmentally ready for swim lessons until after their fourth birthday. Swim programs for children under 4 should not be seen as a way to decrease the risk of drowning.
Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult should be within arm’s length, providing “touch supervision.
About the Author:
Learn about The 10 Most Common Swimming Pool Dangers and more at Swim University. SwimUniversity.com is your guide to swimming pool care and hot tub care.
Toy Safety Tips (Pamphlet)
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/cons/toy_safe-jouet_secur-eng.php
Help on accessing alternative formats, such as Portable Document Format (PDF), Microsoft Word and PowerPoint (PPT) files, can be obtained in the alternate format help section.
Toy makers must make sure that they produce safe toys that meet the safety standards set by Health Canada. Sometimes unsafe toys do make their way onto store shelves and into homes. You may also have older toys that are no longer safe, or the way the toys are being used may expose children to hazards.
Here are some tips to help you choose safe toys and to help you keep children safe when they play with toys.
When Buying Toys
Read and follow the age label, warnings, safety messages and assembly
instructions for the toy
Look for sturdy, well-made toys
Remember that toys for older children may not be safe for younger children
Note:
Check home-made toys for all of the same hazards listed on this sheet
Choking Hazards:
Children under three years of age tend to put things in their mouths - small
toys, small balls or small loose toy parts are choking hazards for these
children
Know how the child plays - small toys can be dangerous even for children three
and over who still tend to put things in their mouths
Check squeeze toys for loose or removable squeakers
Check toy cars and trucks for loose or removable wheels, tires or other small
parts
Check the eyes, nose and other small items on stuffed and plush toys to make
sure they cannot be pulled off
Check that infant toys like rattles and teethers are large enough that they
won't get stuck in an infant's throat
Other Hazards:
Avoid toys with cords that are long enough to wrap around a child's neck,
especially stretchy cords - the cords could strangle a child
Avoid loud toys - loud noise can damage a child's sensitive hearing - a toy that
is loud for an adult is likely too loud for a child
Check that the toy does not have sharp points or edges - these could cut a child
After Buying Toys
Always supervise children and teach them how to use toys safely
Promptly remove and discard all toy packaging such as plastic bags and plastic
wrap, foam, staples and ties - these can suffocate or choke a child
Keep all toys, especially plush and soft toys, away from heat sources like
stoves, fireplaces and heaters - they could catch fire and burn a child
Check toys often for hazards like loose parts, broken pieces or sharp edges, and
repair or discard any weak or broken toys
Toy Storage
Store toys and games for older children separate from those for younger children
Use
a toy box without a lid, or one with a lightweight lid that will not fall on a
child
Not
all storage boxes are good for toys, if the box has a lid remove it or check to
make sure:
the
box has air holes for breathing, in case a child climbs inside
the
lid has a hinge that will hold it open in any position and it will stay open
even if a child pushes down on it
there is no latch that could lock the lid and trap a child inside
Remember that children should not have access to airtight storage bins - these
could lead to suffocation if a child climbs inside
Ride-on Toys
Choose a ride-on toy that suits the child's age, size and abilities
Check that the ride-on toy will not tip when the child is using it - check that
it is stable when weight is placed on any riding point
Use
the ride-on toy far away from stairs, traffic, swimming pools and other
dangerous areas
Be
aware that a child on a wheeled ride-on toy can move very quickly - look for
hazards like furniture, lamps, cords, decorations or appliances that could be
knocked or pulled down onto a child, and remove the hazards before play begins
Baby walkers are hazardous - do not use them
Toys with Batteries
Only adults should install batteries
Install batteries properly - improper installation, or mixing different battery
types, can cause batteries to leak or overheat and this could injure a child
Check that young children cannot open a toy's battery compartment
Make sure that a child does not take a battery-operated toy to bed - burns and
other injuries could result from batteries leaking or overheating
Call a doctor or a poison control centre immediately if a child swallows a
battery - batteries can be poisonous
Latex Balloons
Latex balloons have caused a number of deaths - the balloon can be inhaled and
can block a child's airway
Always keep uninflated latex balloons or broken balloon pieces out of reach of
children
Latex balloons are best used for decoration, not for play
Jewellery
Never allow a child to suck or chew on metal jewellery - it may contain lead,
and ingesting even small amounts of lead can be harmful to a child's health and
development
Never place a necklace, string, ribbon or chain around the neck of a child under
three years of age - the jewellery could strangle a child and small attachments
could be a choking hazard
More on Making Play Safe
Keep small household items like broken crayons, coins, paper clips, pen caps,
jewellery, hair clips, screws, buttons, keys, candy, gum, etc. out of the reach
of children under three years of age - these items are common causes of choking
Decorations and collectibles can have loose small parts that could choke, or
sharp parts that could cut - keep them out of children's reach
Check party favours like whistles and blowers for loose parts like small reeds -
these could be inhaled
Health Canada investigates safety related consumer complaints. If you would like more information, or if you think you have a toy that could be dangerous, contact your nearest Health Canada Product Safety Office.
Also see
By: Brie Cadman (View Profile)
It’s silent, odorless, colorless, and deadly. Just this past month, carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning resulted in the death of three young women in California and sent eight others to the emergency room.
Though most are aware of the dangers of excess CO inhalation, it is still the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the United States. Around 400 people die each year and more than 20,000 are sent to the emergency room. The majority of these accidents happen during the winter when we’re cloistered indoors and heating our homes with CO-producing devices.
So how do we stay warm this winter without harming our family and ourselves?
Silent but Deadly
Generated from incomplete combustion, CO is a problem both outside and in.
Vehicle exhaust can present a health danger when it circulates back into the
car; unventilated exhaust was the cause of death for the three young women in
California.
Inside, kerosene and gas space heaters, poorly ventilated chimneys and furnaces, gas water heaters, wood stoves, fireplaces, and generators can leak carbon monoxide. The problem is most acute in winter, when heating appliances are most often in use, and normal routes of ventilation (windows, doors) are sealed.
Exhausted from Exhaust
CO inhalation is dangerous because it essentially starves the body of oxygen.
Red blood cells pick up the inhaled CO, which binds with hemoglobin to form
caboxyhemoglobin. This binding blocks oxygen uptake and leads to cellular and
tissue damage and death.
At low and moderate levels of poisoning, symptoms of CO poisoning may mimic those of the flu and other illnesses. These include:
At higher levels, symptoms become more severe and may occlude a person from seeking help. They include:
At highest risk for CO poisoning are infants, pregnant women, people with heart disease or anemia, and those with respiratory problems. Fatality is highest among people sixty-five and older.
Prevention: A Breath of Fresh Air
One of the easiest ways to prevent CO from leaking into your home is to have
gas, oil, kerosene, or wood burning appliances checked and serviced each year.
Of course, we don’t tend to do this unless something isn’t working properly.
Since you can’t smell CO, an easy way to ensure you’re not being exposed is to
install a detector; these run $20–50 at the hardware store and are plugged into
an outlet or battery operated.
Other ways to prevent CO accumulation:
If high levels of CO are suspected, fresh air is the best remedy. Poisonings that are more serious require treatment and sometimes hospitalization. And although it’s cold outside, when in doubt, throw the window open!
First published December 2008
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/resourcedocs/internet_safe/
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PDF version of this document for printing.
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There are steps parents can take to protect their children who use the
Internet. Some are listed below:
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Educate yourself about the Internet. |
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It’s important to be knowledgeable about the Internet, because even if you don’t have a computer at home, your child can access it at school, at a friend’s house, or at your public library. |
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Create a family agreement for Internet use, including hours of use, which sites can be accessed and which ones shouldn’t be. |
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Place your computer in a central, open location, like the living room, so Internet use can be supervised. |
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Look at the sites your child visits. |
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Look into software or online services that filter out offensive material. Check with your Internet service provider (ISP) for any blocking features they might offer. |
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Consider installing a children’s search engine, like Yahooligans. |
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Create a special folder of “bookmarks,” or “favorites,” for your child on your computer’s browser. |
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If you have a web site, avoid putting your children’s pictures on it. |
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Teach your children to never give out identifying information about any family member. This includes: names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, passwords or credit card numbers. |
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Encourage them to tell you if anyone is pressing for personal information. |
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Teach your children that talking to a stranger on the Internet is no different than talking to a stranger on the street. |
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Talk to your children about potential online dangers such as giving out personal information to strangers. Chat room acquaintances are strangers and your child should never arrange to meet them in the real world unless you give permission and/or know who they are. |
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Better yet, if your children are young, steer them away from chat rooms. Older children should only participate in chat rooms you approve of. |
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If your child starts receiving phone calls from strangers, or places calls to people you don’t know, get to the bottom of it immediately. |
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Tell your children that if someone harasses them on-line, says something inappropriate, or makes them feel uncomfortable in any way they should tell you, their teacher, or a trusted adult. |
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Contact the police immediately if your child receives child pornography, has been sexually solicited or has received sexually explicit images from an adult. |
For more information:
Cyber Safety - Whats That? (LearnNowBC)
Dealing with Internet Abuses and Hazards (Community Learning Network - Open
School BC)
Internet Awareness for Parents (Media Awareness Network)
Libraries and Internet Toolkit for Parents and Children (American Library
Association)
By Vincent Iannelli, M.D., About.com
Updated: January 24, 2009
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board
Safety hazards, whether it is the latest recall, product alert, or warning about a new danger, often worry parents. And that's good, because that hopefully leads them to protect their kids from those hazards.
Unfortunately, choking, one of the biggest child safety hazards often doesn't get much attention.
Choking Hazards
That may be why choking continues to be one of the leading causes of death for children under age four or five. This includes choking on food and non-food items, such as:
· whole grapes
· peanuts and other nuts
· popcorn
· hard candy and chewing gum
· hard foods, including raw vegetables
· soft foods, such as large cubes of cheese, caramels, etc.
· chewy foods, such as thick spoonfuls of peanut butter
· uncut hot dogs
· coins
· marbles and small balls
· small magnets
· small batteries
· balloons, which can be a choking hazard to kids under age eight when they put broken balloon pieces in their mouths or when they inhale intact balloons when trying to blow them up
· safety pins, pen caps, and tacks
· small toy parts, such as Lego building blocks, dice, beads, etc.
· dry pet food
Parents often know to cut up hot dogs and to avoid peanuts and whole grapes, but may forget that popcorn, chewing gum, and hard candy are choking hazards too.
Choking Prevention
Young children put almost everything in their mouth, which makes the main goal of choking prevention to keep any small items that your child might choke on out of his mouth. This may mean occasionally getting on all fours and checking under the kitchen table and other furniture and behind coach cushions.
In addition to regularly checking the floor, your car, and other areas where your child crawls, walks, and plays, other steps to keep kids safe from choking include that you:
· learn CPR and keep emergency numbers by the phone
· learn the Heimlich maneuver
· keep medications and vitamins out of reach in child resistant containers
· childproof cabinets and drawers so that your kids can't get to small items inside them
· supervise kids when they are eating
· cut foods, like grapes and hot dogs, into small, one-half inch pieces
· avoid foods that are not age appropriate for toddlers and preschoolers, like chewing gum, hard candy, and nuts until they are at least four years old
· don't let your kids play with toys that are not recommended for their age, since they may have small parts and could be a choking hazard
· keep your older kids toys out of reach of younger siblings
· regularly inspect toys to make sure that parts aren't going to break off and throw out any broken toys
· supervise kids under age eight if they are playing with a balloon, keep uninflated balloons out of reach, and throw away balloons once they deflate or break
· see your pediatrician if your child seems to have an episode of choking, recovers, but then develops a chronic cough, since that can be a sign that your child aspirated the item and it is still in his lung
Also be sure to supervise your kids when they are outside, at someone else's home that may not be as well childproofed as your own, or at a store, as there may be many choking hazards around that your toddler or preschooler could pick up.
Sources:
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Top 10 Leading Causes of Death, United States 2005.
Kliegman: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 18th ed.
12 ways to make your home safer
(NAPSA)- One of the nation's leading security companies suggests these tips for making your home more secure:
- To reduce the chance of easy entry, cut tree limbs away from second-story windows.
- Secure objects such as ladders or trashcans that could be used to enter a window or scale a fence.
- To prevent hiding places for intruders, trim bushes to expose branch structure.
- To illuminate entries, install motion lights.
- Install easy-to-read and illuminated address numbers so emergency personnel can easily locate your home.
- Be aware of usual and unusual neighborhood activities and report suspicious behavior.
- Secure all windows, including those upstairs.
- Never leave a key hidden outside. Burglars know all the best hiding places.
- Install peepholes and ask to see identification from service and delivery people.
- Install dead bolt locks on exterior entrances.
- Avoid displaying gifts where they can easily be seen through windows.
- Take care when disposing of product packaging so you aren't "advertising" recent, high-dollar purchases.
Follow these steps to help your home appear occupied and to deter burglars if you plan to be away for several days:
- Use timers to operate lights.
- Turn your telephone ringer down so no one outside can hear repeated rings. Review your answering machine message to make sure it does not imply you are away.
- Arrange for continuing yard care.
- Ask a friend to pick up deliveries or have deliveries stopped.
- If your car is parked in the driveway, have a friend move it occasionally. Also, keep the doors locked and do not store garage door openers in vehicles parked outside of a secure garage.
If your home is protected by a security system from a reputable company such as Protection One:
- Ask your alarm provider about wireless backup or Web-enabled security in the event your phone line fails or is tampered with and so that you can receive convenient alerts via your cell phone or other PDA.
- Test your system monthly to ensure it is working properly before an emergency occurs.
- Help prevent false alarms by providing instructions on the operation of your system to houseguests and avoid placing moving ornaments or decorations, such as balloons, in the path of motion detectors.
________________
For a free "Guide to Keeping Your Family and Home Safe and Secure," visit www.ProtectionOne.com or call (800) GET-HELP.
Take the Next Step:
- No- or low-cost security measures can help you and your family enjoy peace of mind.
Keeping that warm glow safe for your family
(NAPSA)-During cool weather, many families look forward to the warmth and ambience of crackling fires in their home fireplace. But before you light a fire, there are some tips to consider:
Get the Fireplace Ready
Past fires may have left soot deposits inside your chimney, so it is always a good idea to have it swept before use. Also, take a look up the flue. Make sure that it is clear of obstructions and debris. If you notice any cracks in the mortar or crumbling cement, this is a warning sign that the chimney may need repair and you should contact a professional. Another area to check is the fireplace damper. Make sure it works properly and fits snugly so that your fireplace won't allow cold air in or heat out.
Choosing Firewood
Be sure to replenish your wood supply. Well-seasoned firewood is easier to start, produces more heat and burns cleaner, reducing the amount of dangerous buildup. There are a few things you can look for to tell if wood is seasoned or not.
Well-seasoned firewood generally has darkened ends with cracks or splits visible, it is relatively lightweight and makes a clear "clunk" when two pieces are knocked together. "Green" wood has a much higher water content, making it harder to start and less efficient when burning.
Buying Firewood
Firewood can harbor insects, such as the Emerald Ash Borer Beetle, a species that feeds on ash trees and has killed millions of trees across the U.S. Because of insects like these, it's important that you not move firewood, and instead purchase it close to where you plan to use it. Also, make sure that the firewood you purchase is from local resources. At the end of the season, be sure to burn all the wood that you have ordered, so that any insects or larvae in the wood do not have the chance to spread.
_________________
For more information about the Emerald Ash Borer Beetle, visit www.StopTheBeetle.info. Infestations of the Emerald Ash Borer Beetle are in IL, IN, MD, MI, MO, OH, PA, VA, WI and WV and all other states are at risk.
NEW! 100s of Toy Recalls to Know
Is Facebook safe? Safety tips for teens
Social
scams?
Abbi Perets
http://www.sheknows.com/articles/806940.htm
Your teens love their Facebook friends and their MySpace pages and whatever other social networks they've joined. And while once upon a time the fear was that someone would physically hurt them based on an online relationship, now there's a new threat: online identity theft. Is social networking safe?
Identity theft is a serious crime that can wreak havoc on your credit score --
and thus, almost every part of your life. But if you're a teenager who doesn't
have a
credit card and whose cell phone is under Mom and Dad's account, you might
not even realize that your identity has been stolen.
You'd just go on about your life, and then one day, you'd apply for your first
credit card or school loan -- or fill out a job application -- and suddenly find
out that you're a terrible credit risk, not someone employers want to hire, not
someone who can get money for school.
The little details teens share on their social networking profiles are the
nuggets of information an identity thief can quickly grab and use. But you can
help your kids with some relatively simple tips that let them have their online
fun without waving a welcome sign to crooks.
You don't have to shut down your teen's social network. Following these tips can
keep her identity safe, and you can rest easy. For a few minutes.
By Timothy Thiele, About.com
Battery Backup Lights
Tim Thiele
More Images (2)
Introduction
The dog days of summer bring hot, humid days and severe weather right on along with them that often cause power outages. These storms can produce high winds, tornadoes and hurricanes. Severe storms have a way of causing power outages and can leave you in the dark if you’re not prepared. It’s time to plan ahead for the worst case scenario.
Emergency backup power and lighting come in quite handy when the electricity to your home suddenly goes out. Have you ever had the lights go out unexpectedly and had to search high and low for a flashlight in the dark? When you finally found a flashlight, undoubtedly the batteries were dead or nearly dead. If only there was another way to automatically turn a light on when the power goes out. Well, you’re in luck! There is just such a light. With these tips you will be ready for the unexpected.
Be Prepared
Outages happen at the most inopportune times, so be prepared! Don’t wait until the outage actually occurs to know how your generator operates. Learn where to fill the fuel and oil to the unit. Know how to check the dipstick to ensure the oil level is correct. Learn how to start the generator and mark down which breakers will be needed in your electrical panel.
Run your generator once a month for 10 - 15 minutes to ensure that it is running properly. This way, if it does have a problem, you'll be able to get it fixed. That way it will be ready when you need it. Use fuel additives in the gas tank if the unit will be idle for any length of time. Store the unit where it will be easily accessible and out of the weather. Get an ample supply of fuel ready to be able to run the generator for at least 24 hours. There's nothing worse than having a generator and no fuel to run it.
Battery Backup Lights
Battery backup lighting is plugged into an existing outlet in your home. It is fed by a cord or can be hard wired.
The lights are fed with 120 volts and the voltage is transformed to either 6 or 12 volts direct current. When plugged in, the batteries are charged by the transformer, keeping them fresh and ready to use.
With the power on, the 120 volts opens a switch from the batteries to the lights, which leaves them turned off. When you unplug the cord or the power goes out, the switch from electricity to battery is made and the lights turn on automatically!
Placement of the backup lights in your home is critical. Position each light to give the greatest overall coverage for safe walking conditions. Stairways, hallways, basements, utility rooms and exit routes to doorways should be the main focus.
If you’re not sure exactly where you need a light, try turning the lights out and use a flashlight as a guide to placing the backup lights. It’s no fun falling down (or up) stairs.
Generator Safety
Generators can feed houses via either a drop cord or a transfer switch tied into the electric panel. A transfer switch’s purpose is to safely connect to either hook up to the utility company’s power or to the generator’s power supply. The switch generally has three positions; live power, off and generator power.
This prevents power from your generator from being sent back down the line to harm the utility worker who is trying to fix your line. There’s a good chance that you could severely injure or even kill a lineman. If this happens, you can be fined and even jailed. A transfer switch that is installed properly will eliminate this danger.
Remember to have good ventilation wherever you run a generator. Running it inside a closed garage could cause carbon monoxide gas emissions to enter your home, which could be deadly.
When filling the generator with fuel, turn the unit off and use caution not to spill any of it. Fuels are very flammable and the generator may be very hot from running, which could cause a fire.
Being without power isn’t any fun, but being prepared, knowing what to do and having the right items in place will make it a little more bearable.
Rough sledding?
Every year, emergency departments treat children injured in sliding accidents. When minor bruises and bumps give way to broken bones and serious injuries of the head and spinal cord, it's a sign that parents and children should be reminded of safety while playing outside.
There are several precautions you can take that can help protect your child against injuries. The safest tobogganing hills have no trees, fences, rocks, wires, or other objects that may pose a risk of injury. A young child should always be under the watchful eye of a parent or adult. A Canadian Standards Association (CSA)-approved hockey helmet, with a warm hat under it, is recommended for children under 12 years of age. It is dangerous to wear long scarves while sliding, as they can increase the risk of choking. Always make sure that your child's toboggan or sled is in good condition. Remember, certain positions on a sled are better than others at minimizing the risk of injury:
Kneeling provides the most protection.
Lying on the stomach increases the risk of head injury.
Lying flat on the back increases the risk for spine injury.
Teach your child:
to be aware of his or her surroundings
to watch out for other sliders
to avoid sliding down the hill in the direction of a road,
parking lot, river, or pond
to walk to the side and away from the sliding path when walking
up the hill
to go indoors when their clothing is wet and they feel cold to
avoid hypothermia and frostbite
Knowing how to help prevent injuries can make for a fun and enjoyable winter for your child.
Let it snow...
Sing along while you let it snow, let it snow, let it snow - but you know that eventually you'll have to reach for that shovel and start digging out. But this, too, can be fun as long as you keep a few things in mind when shovelling.
Keep warm to avoid hypothermia, which comes from your body's inability to produce more heat than it is losing when exposed to the cold, dropping its internal temperature below 35°C. Always wear a hat, gloves or mitts, and waterproof boots when shovelling. And cover your face, especially if you have blood pressure problems.
Would you know how to recognize and treat hypothermia and frostbite?
The early warning signs of hypothermia are shivering and
slurred speech, usually followed by confusion or lack of coordination. Increase
your body temperature by getting out of the cold if you can as soon as possible.
Knowing what can cause hypothermia is your best defence against it. The main
culprits are windy, wet, and cold conditions. Cold, windy air chills the body,
while wetness absorbs the body heat. Always wear a hat, gloves or mitts, and
waterproof boots when shovelling to protect yourself against hypothermia.
When skin becomes numb and looks white and waxy, you know you
have frostbite. Touch the skin. Is it firm to the touch but soft
underneath? This means that your skin has lost heat. So act fast to avoid more
heat loss. Use the heat of your hands to re-warm the frozen skin by gently
placing your hands on the area. Be careful - tiny ice particles in the frozen
skin can damage the tissue if you rub it, so don't! And if your skin turns
grayfish-blue and becomes hard to the touch, try to warm up and see a doctor
immediately.
Remember, if your skin is not covered, it will freeze if exposed to temperatures
below -25°C. When it's that cold outside, there is an increased risk of
hypothermia and frostbite. If you don't have to go out, stay indoors. But if
staying in is not an option, bundle up!
Don't over-exert yourself.
Pace yourself, especially if you have a heart condition, high
blood pressure, or back problems. Avoid doing all your shovelling at once. By
shovelling frequently, and by preventing the snow from piling up, you can avoid
staying out in the cold for prolonged periods, overexerting yourself, and
lifting heavy snow.
Before going out in the cold, warm up by doing back- and
side-bending exercises, and make sure you drink water before and after
shovelling.
Lift smart! To avoid injuring your back, try not to lift a
shovel full of snow. Instead, using a lightweight, pusher-type shovel, bend your
knees, and hold the shovel close to you as you push the snow to the side. This
will also help reduce twisting or turning movements that could hurt your back.
Give yourself a break! Rest if you get tired. And if you are
experiencing a chest or back pain, put the shovel down. Heart attacks have been
known to occur when heavy lifting was performed in cold weather.
If health concerns keep you from using a snow shovel, you might consider using a snow blower. It's easier to use.
Don't get stuck in the snow
A winter car tune-up can help reduce your worries about winter driving. Take it to a garage for a tune-up and inspection to help prevent problems. Make sure that your brakes work well to prevent skidding. Cooling and electrical systems must be in good working condition. Put fresh anti-freeze in, and make sure that all electrical connections are clean and tight, especially if your car's battery is getting old. Remember, cold weather is hard on batteries.
If you want your car to start every time, make sure your engine is checked for faulty wiring, worn spark plugs, a sticking choke, or emission control devices that need attention.
Don't neglect the exhaust system. To avoid carbon monoxide leaks when the windows are closed, check the muffler and tail pipe system. Heaters, defrosters, and wipers should be in good working condition to keep your windshield clean for good visibility of the road and traffic around you. Make sure oil and filters are clean!
To increase traction in soft snow, consider investing in good snow tires. And check your tire pressure regularly. Keep in mind that for every 5ºC of temperature drop, tire pressure drops one pound.
Don't forget to keep a full gas tank at all times, as it will help reduce condensation and prevent the gas line from freezing. So fuel up!
What's in the trunk? You should have winter equipment to keep you weather-ready:
windshield scraper and snow brush
shovel
sand or kitty litter (in a bag, of course!)
wire traction mat or other abrasive material
box of facial tissues
spare tire
wheel wrench and jack
first aid kit
flashlight
battery jumper cables
And, if you have a long trip ahead, make sure you check the weather forecast and road conditions, and don't forget to pack:
a warm blanket
candles and a lighter or matches
non-perishable food
warm clothing (e.g., winter boots, hat)
Remember to exercise extra caution when driving in the winter.
Buckle up, stay alert, and pay attention to the unsafe actions of
other drivers and poor driving conditions.
Make sure that the snow and ice is cleared from your car.
Slow down and allow more travel time.
Leave a greater distance between you and the car ahead of you, as
an icy road requires double the stopping distance of a dry road.
Be in control of the steering wheel at all times - avoid using
cruise control.
To make your car more visible to other drivers, use your low-beam
headlights. They are brighter than daytime running lights, and having them on
activates the taillights.
Know what to do when road conditions are icy. Remember, you can't
see black ice! If you start skidding, stay calm, steer in the direction where
you want your car to go, don't touch the brakes, and don't accelerate. To
disconnect the driving force on the drive wheels, shift to neutral if you have
an automatic transmission or put your foot on the clutch if you're using a
manual transmission.
If you get stranded in the car during a snowstorm, get off the
road, put your emergency flashers on to make sure you are visible, and stay in
your car until help arrives or the storm subsides. Check the exhaust pipe to
make sure that the snow is not blocking it. To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning,
leave a window slightly open.
Winter skin care
Year-round sun
protection
While seasons change, one thing remains constant: the sun. No matter what season
it is, it's still shining, and you still need a sunscreen to protect your skin
against harmful ultraviolet rays. Wear makeup or a moisturizer with sun
protection factor (SPF)
15 on your face and all exposed areas of skin throughout the winter to help
protect your skin against sun's damaging rays. If you participate in winter
sports, apply sunscreen with high
SPF.
The sunlight-reflecting quality of snow can leave you with a severe sunburn from
a day on the slopes. Apply sunscreen especially if you are using a tretinoin-containing
product, such as Retin-A or Renova, as it makes you more prone to sunburn. And
don't forget your lips. Make sure you wear lip balm or lipstick with sunscreen.
Can't get enough
moisture?
Coming in from the cold and can't wait to take a long, hot shower to warm up?
Not so fast! While hot showers can warm you up, they can have a drying effect on
your skin, as they tend to deplete natural oils from your skin, leaving your
skin warm yet dry. Stick to short, warm showers instead. Pat dry, and while your
skin is still slightly damp, apply a moisturizer. For those super-dry areas such
as hands, elbows, knees, and heels of your feet, use an extra-strength
moisturizer formulated especially for dry skin. Take special care if you have
sensitive skin. Exfoliating scrubs and products that contain alpha-hydroxy acids
may worsen already dry and irritated skin. If you suffer from a severely dry
skin, eczema, or "winter itch," ask your pharmacist for a urea- based cream or
see your doctor about possible treatment options. And, to help keep your skin
from drying out, consider a humidifier to maintain adequate indoor air humidity.
Following these tips throughout the winter months can help keep your skin from the chapping, cracking, and irritation that a harsh winter weather, dry air and wind, can cause.
Mary Fetzer
More than one child every week dies as a result of being struck by their own parents’ car as they run outside to say goodbye. How can we prevent this tragedy from occurring? Find out the simple steps to take to prevent this from happening to you or your family.
In May 2008, the five-year-old daughter of Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman was playing in the family driveway when her brother accidentally struck her with his SUV. Maria Sue later died at the hospital. (See Steven Curtis Chapman and Maria Sue Chapman below.)
In Germantown, Wisconsin, Diane Anthony repeatedly ran over her two-year-old son, thinking he was the landscape timber in her front yard that she had run over before. After being struck four times by the 4,600-pound van, the boy amazingly survived.
On Easter Sunday 2003, Steve Campbell was backing his truck out of the driveway when he struck his two-year-old son, Drew. Drew died on the way to the hospital.
The
federal government says that over 2,400 children each year are treated in
hospital emergency rooms for back-over accidents. More than one child dies this
way every week, according to Janette Fennell, founder of Kids and Cars, a
national organization that monitors child safety issues.
This type of accident has become so common that it’s been labeled the “Bye-Bye Syndrome.” More that 60% of these young victims are struck by their own parents or a close relative. Children run outside to say goodbye or so they won’t be left behind, and their parents never see them coming. Children between 12 months and 23 months old are most often the victims of Bye-Bye Syndrome.
About 60% of back-over accidents involve large vehicles – SUVs, vans, pick-up trucks – with surprisingly large blind spots.
“The bigger the vehicle, the bigger the blind spot,” says David Champion, the auto test director for Consumer Reports. Taller vehicles and vehicles with a greater distance between the driver and the tailgate or rear window have larger invisibility zones.
Most drivers recognize that there are areas behind their vehicle that they cannot see, but many do not realize how big those areas actually are. According to Champion, a child would have to stand quite a distance from any vehicle before the driver could see him: 10 feet for a compact car, 18 feet for a minivan, 25 feet for a large pickup, and over 46 feet for a Suburban-type SUV.
Blind spots are even larger for shorter drivers, in vehicles with small windows, and in cars with high-mounted seats.
According to Fennell, Kids and Cars is pushing Congress to make safety technology – such as backup sensors – mandatory on new vehicles. The auto industry has not yet addressed this safety issue because it’s not cost effective, reports CNN.
Some newer trucks and SUVs have optional equipment that will help. And there are safety devices that drivers can install themselves.
· Sensors added to the back of a vehicle will beep to alert a driver that something is in the way at the rear of the car. (See some of the backup sensors available here.)
· An advanced video system virtually eliminates blind spots to increase visibility.
· Additional and oversize side and review mirrors that lessen blind spots can be added to any vehicle at minimal expense.
Kids and Cars make the following recommendations to keep children safe:
· Walk around and behind a vehicle before moving it.
· Know where your kids are and make sure another adult is properly supervising them before moving your vehicle.
· Make children move away from your vehicle to a place where they are in full view before moving the car.
· Teach children that parked vehicles might move and that just because they can see the vehicle doesn’t mean the driver can see them.
· Keep toys and other sports equipment off the driveway.
·
Teach your children
to never play in, around, or behind a vehicle.
· Never leave children alone in or around cars – not even for a minute.
· Always set the emergency brake.
· Trim landscaping to improve visibility when backing out of the driveway.
· Be especially careful about keeping children safe in and around cars during busy times, schedule changes and holidays or periods of crisis.
"There is nothing worse then burying a child,” says Fennell, “but can you imagine the horror of being the one responsible?”
For more information, visit www.kidsandcars.org.
How complicated can car seat
fitting be? "Well, 90 percent of all car seats are installed incorrectly," said
Nancy Sanchez, Community Relations Manager at Packard Children's Hospital in
Palo Alto. With the wide variety of child restraint systems,
belt
systems and passenger vehicles, correctly installing a child restraint system
can be challenging.
Packard Children's Safely Home Car Seat Fitting Station recently installed its
5000th seat. (Fin
d a child safety seat inspection near your.) The Ironman making all
this happen is community outreach liaison Benjamin Arias, an expert technician
who's become quite legendary for the rapport he builds with families. "I love
the families and I love the kids," said Arias. "It's obvious that what we are
doing is very important to them."
Arias offered the following Top 10 car seat safety tips for parents and their children.
1. Always read your child seat instruction manual and vehicle owner's manual to find the safest location to install the seat.
2. Child seats should not be in front of an airbag. Exceptions are vehicles with front-only seating, which requires placing the child seat as far back as possible and turning off the airbag.
3. The center rear is the safest position for a child restraint system. If vehicle does not allow safe installation in center rear seat, the passenger side seat is safest.
4.
