OnSafety is the Official Blog Site of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Here you'll find the latest safety information as well as important messages that will keep you and your family safe. We hope you'll visit often!
|
By CPSC Blogger on July 17, 2013
Blog in Spanish
Do you live in military housing with your family? Take a look at your window blinds or other type of window coverings, including Roman shades. If you can see any dangling or accessible cords, your child is at risk.
Window coverings with exposed cords are one of the top hidden home hazards. Kids can easily and quickly wrap the cords around their necks or become entangled in the cord loops.
In fact, one child strangles in window cords nearly every month and another child is hurt. This can happen quickly and silently. Sadly, some of the incidents occurred in military housing. We want to help you and your family to be safe and secure in your home.
So, on Military Consumer Protection Day (July 17 this year), examine your window blinds, curtains and shades closely. Look for exposed, looped cords. What you find may surprise you. What you do about it can save your child’s life.
Here is how you can safeguard your windows.
- Use cordless blinds or go with blinds or shades that have inaccessible cords. Many stores have these products available for purchase right now.
- Move cribs, beds, and furniture away from windows, because children can climb on them and reach the cords on the window coverings.
- Make loose cords inaccessible, if you are unable to replace older blinds and shades.
In the past, many consumers have used free repair kits from the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) to fix their blinds that were made before November 2000. Keep in mind that these kits do not get rid of the dangling pull cord hazard with many common window blinds.
Kids and cords are a dangerous combination. So, if you have young children in your house, your safest approach is to go cordless or buy blinds with inaccessible cords.
This address for this post is: http://www.cpsc.gov/onsafety/2013/07/kids-can-strangle-in-window-cords/
By CPSC Blogger on July 9, 2013
Blog en español
This infographic is also posted on CPSC’s Flickr page for easy sharing.
This address for this post is: http://www.cpsc.gov/onsafety/2013/07/cpsc-infographic-big-real-rough-tough-deadly-atv-statistics/
By CPSC Blogger on July 2, 2013
Blog en español
Now that you found the perfect summer camp that meets your expectations, accreditation standards, and your child’s appetite for fun, wait before you exhale. Sunscreen and labeling your child’s clothes aren’t the only final items on your to-do list. Add some time to review safety with your happy campers before you send them on their adventure.
A good place to start is by looking at a list of the camp’s planned activities. If sports are involved, remember that many sports aren’t complete without helmets. Safety equipment and athletics go hand in hand. Therefore, if you don’t plan to pack a helmet, ask the camp if it supplies the right helmet for each activity. Here’s a helmet guide that gives you more information.
In addition, here are safety tips on different sports:
Given the hot days of summer, it’s likely that your camp will include swimming or some other water play. As you pack bathing suits, take a moment to go over pool and water safety with your child.
- If your child does not know how to swim, alert the camp. Find out if the camp gives swim lessons and register your child to take them. Learning to swim is a key first step in drowning prevention.
- Check to see if the camp has life jackets for activities on docks or boats. CDC calls them a “must.” They aren’t a substitute for supervision, but they do act as another barrier against drowning.
- For kids who already know how to swim, brush up on swim safety.
- Tell your child NOT to go to the pool without supervision from a camp counselor or an adult.
Are you packing a hoodie for some cool nights of outdoor camping? Look at the neck and waist for drawstrings and remove them. Drawstrings can catch or become tangled with objects, such as a car door or playground slide, causing an injury.
Enjoy your child’s camp send off with hugs, kisses and safety.
This address for this post is: http://www.cpsc.gov/onsafety/2013/07/tips-to-keep-your-happy-camper-safe/
By CPSC Blogger on June 26, 2013
Blog en español
Back after high demand last year, we have an updated version of our Fireworks Injuries infographic. The risks are the same. The only change is in the numbers. We also post these infographics on Flickr for easy sharing.
This address for this post is: http://www.cpsc.gov/onsafety/2013/06/cpsc-science-fireworks-injuries-2013-update/
By CPSC Blogger on May 14, 2013
Blog en español
Tune up your bikes, and get riding!
Around the country this month, organizations are sponsoring Bike to School and Bike to Work days. It’s a great time to remind yourselves and your kids about bike safety.
Step 1: “Strap It On, Save a Life.” Having a helmet head is cool—and it protects your brain. Nearly 70 percent of all fatal bicycle crashes involve head injuries. Wearing a properly fitted bicycle helmet can reduce the risk of a brain and head injury by as much as 85 percent. Follow these tips to make sure your helmet is doing its job:
- When buying a helmet look for the label that reads “Complies with U.S. CPSC Safety Standards for Bicycle Helmets.”
- Tighten chin straps and adjust padding so the helmet feels snug, forms a V around the ears, and does not move up and down or side to side. Watch this video from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on how to put a helmet on correctly.
Step 2: Check your family’s bikes for safety.
- Make sure the tires have the proper amount of air.
- Adjust and tighten the seat and handlebars. Remember, kids grow!
- Check and adjust the brakes so your family’s riders can stop quickly.
- Consider taking bikes to a local bike shop for a tune up periodically.
Step 3: Be alert when riding.
- Ride on the right side of the road in a straight, predictable path.
- Children younger than 9 should not ride on roads. They don’t yet have the skills to identify and avoid dangerous situations.
Want to know more? This bicycle safety page has brochures and posters to guide you to better bike riding safety.
This address for this post is: http://www.cpsc.gov/onsafety/2013/05/bicycle-safety-its-no-accident/
|
|
