Archive for the ‘Child Safety’ Category

Surprisingly, the majority of injuries to children are not the result of a recalled or dangerous product. Even well designed toys can be hazardous if given to a child in the wrong age range or if not used properly. Injuries from riding toys account for a significant number of incidents and choking incidents are always an ongoing concern.

Make sure toys are suited to the child’s age, abilities, skills and interest level. Review all manufacturer instructions and warnings and pay special attention to the following hazards:

• Magnets - For children under age six, avoid building sets with small magnets. If swallowed, serious injuries and/or death can occur.
• Small Parts and Sharp Edges - For children younger than three, avoid any toys with small parts or points that can cause choking or contact injuries.
• Projectile Toys - Projectile toys such as air rockets, darts and sling shots are for older children. Improper use of these toys can result in serious eye injuries.
• Batteries and Chargers - Make sure battery compartments are secured and childproofed if necessary. Small batteries can be swallowed with serious consequences. Battery charging should be supervised by adults. Improper use can pose shock or burn hazards to children.

Toys aren’t the only items found in a home that children may need protection from. Every year the Consumer Product Safety Commission and Canadian Standards Association issue recall notices and product alerts for products that pose safety risks to children as well as adults. These include:

• Lead and lead-paint hazards with cooking and eating containers
• Choking hazards associated with blinds and Roman shades
• Electric and fire hazards associated with electric space heaters
• Carbon monoxide hazards associated with portable generators

To keep up to date on potential concerns in your home, visit the following websites: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and CSA Product Alerts & Product Recalls. You can also sign up for a subscription service to get regular notices via email of new product safety warnings.

Furniture tip over injuries have increased as the size of furniture and appliances has increased. Tip-over casualties most frequently occur when children climb onto, fall against or pull themselves up on television stands, shelves, bookcases, dressers, desks and chests. In some cases, televisions placed on top of furniture fall and cause a child to suffer traumatic injuries.

Industry standards require that TV stands, chests, bureaus and dressers pass a stability test. If a piece of furniture violates these standards, the product can be subject to a safety recall. But this only provides limited protection. Where the TV or furniture is placed and how it is used is beyond the manufacturer control. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission and Health Canada there are simple steps that parents and caregivers can take to help prevent injury.

To help prevent tip-over hazards, consider the following safety tips:

• Choose storage furniture (bookcases, cabinets, television stands and dressers) with wide and stable bases that sit directly on the floor. Models with legs or wheels are more likely to tip over.
• Attach furniture to the wall using angle braces, anchors or safety straps. If these items come with the product, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation. Secure the anchors directly to wall studs if possible.
• Do not place TVs on dressers. They are not designed to hold them. Place televisions far back on low, stable furniture that is designed to hold the weight and size of the television. Attach the television to a stand if possible.
• Keep electrical cords behind furniture where children cannot reach them.
• Do not place items that may appeal to children — such as toys, plants and remote controls — on top of TVs or tall furniture.
• Children may climb dressers because the drawers can be opened and used as steps. But open drawers make a dresser unstable, increasing the chance of it tipping over. For your children’s safety:
• Open only one drawer at a time and close all drawers when not in use.
• Place heavier items — like books — on lower shelves or in lower drawers.
• Always supervise children in the home and teach them not to climb or hang from furniture.

Tip over protection is also needed for most freestanding and slide-in ranges/ovens. This is a simple bracket that is usually installed at the back base of the unit to prevent it from tipping over if weight is applied to an open door. Most manufacturers have supplied the bracket since the 1990s. It can often be observed by removing the bottom drawer, if one is present. If there is any doubt about whether this tip protection is required for your unit or how it should be installed, contact the manufactures. For extra protection when children are present, a child-resistant door lock can be installed.

For additional tips on home safety go to totsafe.com

(c) DBR Franchising, LLC.

Portable fans are one way to help breeze comfortably through a summer heat wave, but as the season winds down, homeowners should continue to be aware of the potential safety hazards associated with their use. Inexpensive portable fans are not designed to operate long-term. Over time, plastic fan blades can crack or can get out of balance due to heavy dirt buildup. The occasional inadvertent knockover also is likely to cause damage that may not be immediately apparent. Exposed portions of the fan’s cord can be damaged by foot traffic, vacuuming or objects inadvertently placed over the electric cords. Any fan that operates noisily or erratically should be immediately disconnected and repaired or replaced.

Underwriters Laboratories also recommends the following safety precautions:

• Place the fan and cord out of general traffic patterns.
• Position the fan on a stable, level surface.
• Do not use a fan near an open flame or where combustibles could be blown toward a heat source.
• Keep fans from outdoors or damp areas where electric shock could occur.
• Do not attempt to start or move an operating fan in the dark.
• Keep children away from all fans.
• Immediately replace frayed or damaged wires, or dispose of the fan.
• Be aware of fans sold at garage sales; in particular old metal blade units. In addition to possible damage, old units may lack the safety features available with the newer units. Look for a Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Canada Standards Association (CSA) listing indicating manufacturing standards have been meet.

Remember, these tips are only general guidelines. Since each situation is different, contact a professional if you have questions about a specific issue.

(c) DBR Franchising, LLC.

There are many potential outdoor safety hazards around your home. Playground and pool safety are two areas of concern most homeowners are well aware of, but everyone also needs to watch out for hazards associated with gas grills.

Here are some tips to make sure your family and friends have a safe outdoor experience:

1. Regularly check the condition of playground equipment for rusted, rotted, loose or otherwise damaged components or sharp edges.
2. Make sure playground equipment is age appropriate. Provide suitable supervision.
3. Ensure that there is a soft, hazard-free surface under and around all playground equipment. At least 9 inches of a base material extending out six feet is advised.
4. Avoid using swings and other moving components that present a higher risk of injury.
5. Check for entrapment hazards from gaps in the equipment that are either too small or “v-shaped,” which could allow a child or child’s clothing to get trapped or caught, causing strangulation. Also remove any damaged or loose hanging ropes.
6. Make sure rails on elevated areas are secure and not spaced too far apart presenting a fall hazard, or too close together causing an entrapment hazard.
7. Provide constant supervision of children around any pools or other bodies of water; but also be aware of the hazards of adults swimming alone. Keep lifesaving devices readily available.
8. Make sure the pool is surrounded by a suitable fence and gate. Install child-resistant latches and water alarms.
9. Make sure all electrical components are installed to code and in good condition. Do not allow the use of any electric-powered devices around the pool.
10. Gasoline and propane should only be stored outside in approved containers in good condition.
11. Make sure the gas grill is on a level surface and all components are in good condition. Check periodically for loose or damaged burners, grates, handles, and hinges.
12. Separate the grilling area from the eating or play areas and make sure the grill has adequate clearance from trees and shrubs, deck railings and the house. A grill can get hot enough to melt vinyl siding even several feet away.
13. Check the gas lines for leaks each time a new tank is installed. Do not attempt to light burners or strike a match if the odor of gas is present.
14. Turn off the gas valve on the tank after every use.
15. Bugs can take up residence in the gas burner components, especially if the grill has not been used for a while, blocking or upsetting the gas flow and creating a fire and/or burn hazard. Be particularly cautious if there are spider webs and other insect activity in the area of the grill.
16. Do not allow children to use a grill and make sure children are kept away from the grill area until it has cooled down.

For more safety recommendations from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) review Home Playground Safety Guidelines; andGrill Safety Tips.

Each year, the insertion of foreign objects into electric receptacles results in injuries to many children. Nearly 90% of these incidents involved children under 6, with 1st and 2nd degree burns accounting for the vast majority of injuries.

The typical foreign-object insertion situation involves:

• A 2 or 3 year old child (50% of all incidents)
• An incident occurring at home
• Insertion of a hairpin or key
• 1st or 2nd degree burn to fingers
• Emotional trauma to the child and parents
• Treatment required in an emergency room

Besides hairpins or keys, other common objects inserted by children include fingers, pins, wires, screws, nails, paper clips, plugs, tweezers, paper clips, utensils and jewelry.

To help prevent these insertion incidents and injuries, the most widely used electric codes call for a new electric safety feature in all new homes – tamper-resistant receptacles.

This code change primarily affects new construction; however, tamper-resistant receptacles can be added in existing homes as well.

Tamper-resistant receptacle technology uses a built-in system to prevent a foreign object from touching electrically live components when the object is inserted into the receptacle slots. There are several methods to achieve tamper-resistance operation, the most common being the use of a spring-loaded shutter mechanism. When the receptacle is not in use, the shutters are closed, and all electric contacts are covered. Upon insertion of a plug, the blades of the plug simultaneously compress the shutters against the spring. This simultaneous force causes the shutters to slide aside to access to the receptacle contacts, allowing the plug to be fully inserted into the receptacle. When the plug is removed, the shutters instantly close, covering the contact openings.

Standard plugs can be inserted in and removed from a tamperproof receptacle in the same manner as standard electrical outlets; however, insertion of an object into one slot, or uneven insertion is prevented. The tamper-resistant features, however, don’t provide protection against the simultaneous insertion of two single-pronged items. Determined adults and adolescents could also bypass the tamperproof mechanisms if significant force is applied.

Unlike plastic outlet caps and other add-on childproofing devices, which can be removed, tamper-resistant receptacles provide permanent protection. In addition, some plug-in devices can easily be pulled out by children and have also proven to be a choking hazard due to their small size. Some other types of add-on devices create a risk of arcing or overheating due to a partially exposed plug or reduced plug/receptacle contact surface.

All tamper-resistant receptacles must have either the words “Tamper Resistant” or the letters “TR” on the device in a manner that allows the label to be reviewed with the wall plate removed.

Additional information about tamper-resistant receptacles can be found at the National Electric Manufacturer’s Association Safety website: www.childoutletsafety.org, the Electrical Safety Foundation International website: www.esfi.org, and the Safe Kids Canada website: www.safekidscanada.ca.

Article (c) DBR Franchising, LLC.

Won’t it be nice to have paparazzi take care of your home in your absence? Taking clear shots of every ‘star’ that ventures into your apartment? That certainly won’t be a bad idea especially now that almost everyone is under the limelight of an attack!

Home security cameras are such great paparazzi as they tend to unveil events that happened during one’s absence from home. In some cases, they could even deter intruders depending on their location round the house. They come in many sizes and have unique ways of functioning.  An example is the motion sensor camera. This triggers an alarm when there is a change in the wavelength of two infrared lights, one of the camera and the other of a living being.

Every living being is said to emit infrared energy and humans emit a wavelength of nine to ten micrometers. The motion sensors of such cameras are set to pick up wavelengths of eight to twelve micrometers. Therefore, the difference causes the sensors to react by triggering off an alarm.

Contrary to the function of the motion sensor camera, night, vision, camera, use infrared emissions to reveal images in the dark.

One of the most common ways of recording crime is by the use of hidden cameras examples of which are pin hole cameras, board cameras, which are made of a small PC board with an in-built mini camera, standard surveillance cameras, water-proof hidden cameras and water resistant cameras.

In a real-life story of a man who tried to kill his wife in order to make claims to her property, the woman installed one of such hidden cameras in a flower vase in her kitchen since she believed that the man added some poisonous substance to her drinks any time he opted to serve her. Luckily, he was found out and arrested.

Hidden cameras do not only check intruders but also insiders in the home such as the nurse caring for the old patient or the babysitter seeing to the child.

One major example of hidden cameras is the standard surveillance system with digital video recorder kit. Often, a total number of eight to thirty two cameras make up the surveillance system in addition, to the digital video recorder. The digital video recorder, also known as the DVR contains a hard disk that captures scenes from the various cameras of the system. This allows an elaborate viewing of events. This surveillance system is popular in high-security areas such as banks or military stations. However, it can be used anywhere, in homes, offices, churches, schools or shops.

The choice of a home security camera depends on one’s personal need and the environment (reference from an article on the VFM store). For instance, in a place of low to little light intensity, using a Black and White camera would be most appropriate. Cameras may also be wireless or wired.

Some of the best camera manufacturers are Bosch, Veilux, Axis, and Hikvision.

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As a parent the most important task for you is that you keep your baby safe and secure always. Typical baby safety gates work so good for most of the things, but in some instances the following kinds of childproof safety gates may be useful:

- Tall baby safety gates do not only restrain a child outside of the room; they also aid in keeping a pet animal such as a cat or dog from jumping over the safety gate. Tall baby gates are best option for those parents who just want to keep their pets far from their child.

- Extra wide baby safety gates are best for the big entry ways rooms like kitchens. These safety gates can be used like a transitory wall to keep children from making undesired entry to different rooms of the house.

Before selecting and buying baby safety gates for your child you must keep in mind about the particular works these safety gates are thought to complete. The kind of safety gates your baby requires just depends on where gate will be mounted and also its function.

The next thing you have to keep in mind when purchasing a baby safety gate is size. Most baby safety gates will only have a size of 35 inches. Still, there are also many baby safety gates whose size is more than 20 feet.

The final thing you have to keep in mind when purchasing baby safety gates are a swinging door. These baby gates will also help you to stop worrying about your babies and checking the safety gates again and again. When purchasing child safety gates the height should also be considered. The baby safety gates have to be tall enough so that your baby can not jump over it.

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