The
Sentinel –
Making Utah
a Safer Place for Kids
Select an article below, or download the
entire issue:
§
Keep It Safe This
Season
§
Does Your Child Know Where Your
Gun Is?
§
Wilderness and Cold
Weather Survival
§
Ski Smart From the
Start
§
Child Safety Seats Still
Usable After Minor Crashes
§
Carbon
Monoxide
THE
SENTINEL – FALL 2004
Keep It Safe This
Season
The holidays are coming up fast. It’s an
exciting time – but it also presents some dangers that don’t occur
other times of the year. Here are a few ways you can celebrate
safely:
Thanksgiving
§
Keep hot food and liquids away
from the edges of counters and tables, where they can be easily
knocked over by a curious young
child.
§
Keep all cooking pot/pan
handles turned toward the back of the
stove.
§
Remember the homes you visit
may not be childproofed. Keep an eye out for danger
spots.
Christmas
§
Never use lighted candles on a
tree or near other evergreens. Always use nonflammable holders, and
place candles where they will not be knocked
down.
§
Avoid decorations that are
sharp or breakable, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of
the reach of children, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or
food that may tempt a child to eat
them.
§
Follow recommended age ranges
on toy packages. Toys that are too advanced could be a safety hazard
for younger children.
§
Be
careful of holiday gift-wrapping, like bags, paper, ribbons and
bows. These items are choking hazards for
children.
top of
page
THE SENTINEL – FALL
2004
Does Your Child Know Where
Your Gun Is?
A recent survey
found that nearly half of all Utah homes have one
or more firearms. Whatever your feelings about guns, it’s a sad fact
that innocent children are killed every year when they find weapons
that aren’t stored safely. Chances are there is a loaded, unlocked
gun in one of your neighbor’s homes. Is there one in
yours?
If you keep
firearms, leave them unloaded and store the ammunition in a separate
place, or keep them locked in a safe. But keep in mind that a child
as young as three or four can use a key to open a safe. In fact,
that very thing happened earlier this year in
Utah and the result
was tragic: a four-year-old boy unlocked the gun safe in his home
and shot his three-year-old brother in the face with a
handgun.
Other
Utah children have
been killed while playing with guns at friends’ homes. As a parent,
your odds of preventing a similar tragedy are much better if you
find out where those guns are. And there’s a very easy way to do it:
just ASK.
ASK stands for “Asking Saves Kids.” It’s
a nationwide safety campaign that offers a remarkably simple way to
find out whether your neighbors have guns in their homes. Include
the question along with other things you might normally discuss
before sending your child to someone’s house – such as seat belts,
animals, or allergies. And if you have any doubts about the safety
of someone’s home, politely invite their children to play at your
house instead. For more information on the ASK Campaign, visit www.askingsaveskids.com.
It’s also important that you teach your
children at a very early age what to do when they see a gun. This
message is simple, too: STOP! DON’T TOUCH! LEAVE THE AREA AND TELL
AN ADULT! Make sure they understand the message is the same anytime
they see a gun.
Finally, remember that it’s nearly
impossible to “hide” a gun from a child. Who doesn’t remember
finding all the places their parents hid the Christmas gifts? If you
could do it, your kids can, too.
top of
page
THE
SENTINEL – FALL 2004
Wilderness and Cold Weather
Survival
Anyone who ventures outdoors for camping,
hiking, or other activities knows there is always the risk of
getting hurt or lost. Once that happens, your survival will depend
on how well you are prepared and how well you handle stress. Being
prepared is probably the most important element in determining how
you will manage until you find your way out or are
rescued.
Before going out, get a current weather
forecast for your destination and dress accordingly. But remember
that the weather can change without warning, and being prepared for
this can mean the difference between life and death. Your outermost
layer of dress should be waterproof for protection from the
elements. Dress with layers of light, natural fibers and don’t
forget to wear a hat. You can lose a lot of body heat from an
exposed head. Tie an extra coat around your waist even if you don’t
think you’re going to need it. It is better to have too much
clothing with you than not
enough.
Always tell a responsible adult where you
are going and how long you plan to be gone. If you don’t, rescuers
won’t know where to look for
you.
As we all learned when we were younger,
the buddy system is still a good idea. It’s better to have someone
with you who can help if you are injured or can go for help if
necessary. Take a cell phone, but remember that you may not have
reception when you need it most.
Be prepared when you leave. A fanny pack
can hold a few basic items – something to start a fire (waterproof
matches or a lighter), first-aid items, a pocketknife, compass
(learn how to use it before you go), a whistle, cell phone, and
snacks. To be really prepared for the unexpected, take a backpack
containing a flashlight with extra batteries, extra clothing
(including rain gear), a tent or a tarp for shelter, emergency food,
and extra water.
If you become lost, the best advice is to
stop where you are and stay put. The rescuers will
have a better chance of locating you if you stay in one
place.
Whether you’re in the mountains or just
playing down the street in the winter, you should be concerned about
exposure to cold temperatures that can result in hypothermia
(cooling of the entire body), and localized cold injuries (frostnip
and frostbite). Dress warmly, in layers, take all measures to remain
safe and have FUN!
top of
page
THE
SENTINEL – FALL 2004
Child Safety Seats Still
Usable After Minor
Crashes
It was once thought that parents should
throw away any child safety seat involved in a crash. The National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) believed that any
impact could damage the seat and make it less safe. Today, though,
NHTSA says the seats are often reusable. Agency officials are
worried that some parents might not have the money to buy a new seat
after a crash, and that they might let their child go without a seat
while they look for a new one.
NHTSA still recommends getting new seats
after any moderate or severe crash, but says parents can keep seats
if all the following items are
true:
§
The
vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash
site;
§
The
vehicle door closest to the safety seat was
undamaged;
§
There were no injuries to
anyone inside the vehicle;
§
The
air bags (if the vehicle has them) did not inflate;
AND
§
There is no visible damage to
the safety seat.
If your seat has been involved in a
crash, even a minor one, it’s a good idea to check with the company
that made the seat to be sure it is okay to
keep.
And remember, no child restraint will
work unless the child is buckled into it – on every
ride.
top of
page
THE SENTINEL – FALL
2004
Ski Smart From the
Start
Every year, more than 40,000 children
ages 5-14 are treated in hospital emergency rooms for skiing and
snowboarding-related injuries. The risk for head injury among
children in this age group is especially high. When skiers and
snowboarders wear helmets, they reduce the risk of head injuries by
about half. So make it a rule: Insist that children put on a ski
helmet every time they hit the slopes. When choosing a ski helmet,
pay attention to the following:
§
Choose a certified helmet made
specifically for snow sports. Look for ASTM F2040, Snell RS-98 or
CEN 1077 standards.
§
The
pads should be flush against the cheeks and
forehead.
§
The
helmet should be snug with the chinstrap
fastened.
§
The
helmet should rest above the eyebrows and not roll forward or
backward.
Other ski and snowboard tips
include:
§
Make sure your ski goggles fit
well. If they don’t, steam can build up inside and make it hard to
see where you’re going.
§
Make sure your boots and
bindings are adjusted to fit right. Poorly-fitting equipment can
make you much more likely to
fall.
§
Children should never ski or
snowboard alone. Consider sending them with a cell phone to call for
help if they become lost.
§
Watch out for other skiers,
especially where trails meet. Ski in-bounds and away from
trees.
§
Enroll your children in a ski
or snowboard class.
top of
page
THE
SENTINEL – FALL 2004
Carbon
Monoxide
The Silent
Killer
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless
gas that’s often called the “silent killer.” It is a poison that
kills hundreds of people each
year.
Children are at greater risk of carbon
monoxide poisoning than adults because the gas builds up in their
bodies faster. The most common sources of carbon monoxide are
furnaces, water heaters, ovens, stoves, gas dryers, clogged
chimneys, unvented heaters and
vehicles.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning
include: headache, nausea, vomiting, and tiredness. Often entire
families become sick and pass the symptoms off as the flu, but don’t
make that mistake: It’s nearly impossible for every member of a
family to get sick at the same time. If you think you or your
children are victims of carbon monoxide poisoning, get out of the
house immediately and call emergency
services.
The good news is carbon monoxide
poisoning is preventable:
§
Install a carbon monoxide
detector in every bedroom of your
home.
§
If
the alarm goes off, leave your home as soon as possible and call the
fire department or your local utility
company.
§
Have all of your gas
appliances checked yearly for possible
leaks.
§
Never leave your car running
in the garage.
§
Never use your oven, or a
charcoal or gas barbecue to heat your
home.
§
Never use a charcoal or gas
barbecue for cooking inside your
home.
§
Never run a generator in an
enclosed space.
Take these extra precautions to keep
yourself and your family safe!
top of
page
