another article from the U.S. Fire Administration
Children and Fire
Children playing with matches or lighters is a leading cause of home fires and one in which the children and others present are often hurt. Children have a natural curiosity about fire and are tempted to play with matches or lighters left within their reach. In many cases, children who start fires have a history of fire setting. Many fire departments offer counseling programs for juveniles who set fires. If your child is setting fires, you should contact your local fire department for information about counseling before the situation gets out of hand and your child gets hurt. Nevertheless, the most important thing you can do is to keep all matches and lighters out of the sight and reach of children. Store them up high, preferably in a locked cabinet.
Even though they have a natural curiosity about fire, children may become frightened and confused in a fire and hide rather than escape to safety; especially if they started the fire. Children are often found hiding in closets or under beds where they feel safe. Therefore, it is crucial for your child's safety that you hold fire drills in the home at least twice a year to let them practice the right things to do in a fire emergency.
Clothing fires are a significant cause of fire injuries to children (and to adults too). They set their clothes on fire by getting too close to heat sources such as open fires or stoves, or when playing with matches or lighters. Here too, the best defense is a respect for fire and training in what to do if their clothes do catch fire. Their natural reaction is to run ' which will make the situation worse. STOP, DROP, and ROLL is taught as the correct action and has saved many lives in clothing fires. The moment clothes start to burn, stop where you are, drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands and roll repeatedly to smother the flames.
Of course, young children should never be left alone in the home. Even if they don't play with fire, unattended children can accidentally start a fire by attempting to cook something or by using a heater or electrical appliance in the wrong way. All too often, tragic fires occur when young children are left unattended, for even short periods.
Children's Sleepwear
In the 1970's, the hazards of accidental ignition of sleepwear on young children were addressed through federal legislation. The Flammable Fabrics Act required that children's sleepwear (sizes 0-6X) be flame retardant. In a short time, this had a dramatic impact on deaths and injuries reducing them by 95%.
Recently, an increase in injuries has been reported among children sleeping in garments classified as "daywear" such as tee shirts and jerseys. These garments look just like sleepwear but are not fire retardant. The only way to tell the difference is by careful examination of the garment label. Therefore, parents should be careful to buy only fire retardant sleepwear for their children in order to enjoy the fire safety benefits of these garments.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Basic Fire Escape Planning
From the NFPA.
Pull together everyone in your household and make a plan. Walk through your home and inspect all possible exits and escape routes. Households with children should consider drawing a floor plan of your home, marking two ways out of each room, including windows and doors. Also, mark the location of each smoke alarm.
Install smoke alarms in every sleeping room, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home.
Everyone in the household must understand the escape plan. When you walk through your plan, check to make sure the escape routes are clear and doors and windows can be opened easily.
Choose an outside meeting place (i.e. neighbor's house, a light post, mailbox, or stop sign) a safe distance in front of your home where everyone can meet after they've escaped. Make sure to mark the location of the meeting place on your escape plan.
Go outside to see if your street number is clearly visible from the road. If not, paint it on the curb or install house numbers to ensure that responding emergency personnel can find your home.
Have everyone memorize the emergency phone number of the fire department. That way any member of the household can call from a neighbor's home or a cellular phone once safely outside.
If there are infants, older adults, or family members with mobility limitations, make sure that someone is assigned to assist them in the fire drill and in the event of an emergency. Assign a backup person too, in case the designee is not home during the emergency.
If windows or doors in your home have security bars, make sure that the bars have emergency release devices inside so that they can be opened immediately in an emergency. Emergency release devices won't compromise your security - but they will increase your chances of safely escaping a home fire.
Tell guests or visitors to your home about your family's fire escape plan. When staying overnight at other people's homes, ask about their escape plan. If they don't have a plan in place, offer to help them make one. This is especially important when children are permitted to attend "sleepovers" at friends' homes. See NFPA's "Sleepover fire safety for kids" fact sheet.
Be fully prepared for a real fire: when a smoke alarm sounds, get out immediately. Residents of high-rise and apartment buildings may be safer "defending in place."
Once you're out, stay out! Under no circumstances should you ever go back into a burning building. If someone is missing, inform the fire department dispatcher when you call. Firefighters have the skills and equipment to perform rescues.
Putting your plan to the test
* Practice your home fire escape plan twice a year, making the drill as realistic as possible.
* Make arrangements in your plan for anyone in your home who has a disability.
* Allow children to master fire escape planning and practice before holding a fire drill at night when they are sleeping. The objective is to practice, not to frighten, so telling children there will be a drill before they go to bed can be as effective as a surprise drill.
* It's important to determine during the drill whether children and others can readily waken to the sound of the smoke alarm. If they fail to awaken, make sure that someone is assigned to wake them up as part of the drill and in a real emergency situation.
* If your home has two floors, every family member (including children) must be able to escape from the second floor rooms. Escape ladders can be placed in or near windows to provide an additional escape route. Review the manufacturer's instructions carefully so you'll be able to use a safety ladder in an emergency. Practice setting up the ladder from a first floor window to make sure you can do it correctly and quickly. Children should only practice with a grown-up, and only from a first-story window. Store the ladder near the window, in an easily accessible location. You don't want to have to search for it during a fire.
* Always choose the escape route that is safest – the one with the least amount of smoke and heat – but be prepared to escape under toxic smoke if necessary. When you do your fire drill, everyone in the family should practice getting low and going under the smoke to your exit.
* Closing doors on your way out slows the spread of fire, giving you more time to safely escape.
* In some cases, smoke or fire may prevent you from exiting your home or apartment building. To prepare for an emergency like this, practice "sealing yourself in for safety" as part of your home fire escape plan. Close all doors between you and the fire. Use duct tape or towels to seal the door cracks and cover air vents to keep smoke from coming in. If possible, open your windows at the top and bottom so fresh air can get in. Call the fire department to report your exact location. Wave a flashlight or light-colored cloth at the window to let the fire department know where you are located.
Encouraging families to prepare
Judy Comoletti, assistant vice president of NFPA's Public Education Division, not only emphasizes the importance of developing and rehearsing home escape plans, but suggests that parents activate their smoke alarms and conduct their drills at night, so they can better gauge the reaction of everyone in the household. Children and the elderly aren't the only ones at risk of sleeping through an alarm, she notes. Sleep-deprived college students, shift workers, teenagers, the hearing impaired, and anyone taking sedating medication, alcohol or drug-impaired individuals, might conceivably be affected, as well.
"Every family should know who will—and won't—wake up at the sound of the alarm so they can accommodate any special needs," she says. If someone is hard to rouse, Comoletti suggests installing additional hard-wired, interconnected alarms in every bedroom. If this doesn't work, she encourages families to design an escape plan that assigns an adult who awakens easily to rouse the sound sleepers.
"We all think we know our kids so well, and we think we know how they will react to A, B or C," says Douglas . "We think they're so smart they'll know just what to do. However, the reality is you don't know at all until it happens. You have to practice. It's like helping your kid prepare for a spelling test. You have to drill them."
Monday, June 28, 2010
Summer safety: Technology can help curb danger
From an on-line article written by María Cortés González of the El Paso Times.
When it comes to summer, children and the outdoors go hand in hand.
And most parents want their children to go outside and get exercise, instead of spending hours inside playing video games.
But before you send your children out to play -- whether on the swings or in a swimming pool -- make sure your backyard is safe.
It's not enough that the backyard fence is closed or that you think your yard is safe. Danger can lurk in the very places your children love to play.
Consider that 2.7 million children end up in the emergency room every summer from accidents in or around their home, according to Underwriters Laboratories. UL is a safety organization that offers information to parents for creating safer home environments.
Each year, more children ages 1 through 14 die in pool drownings than in car accidents. More than 4,000 children are injured or die due to drowning or near-drowning accidents in the United States , according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Unattended grills, broken children's play equipment and unchecked sandboxes can all cause preventable accidents.
John Drengenberg, director of consumer safety for Underwriters Laboratories, said parents try to keep their children safe, but are not safety experts.
"We can't blame parents, but we can talk about the type of hazards that might be in their back yard" and educate them, he said.
Pool safety
Swimming is one of most popular ways for children to enjoy their summer. Unfortunately, swimming pools are one of the leading danger zones for children.
An El Paso city ordinance states that a pools must have a fence around it that is at least 4 feet tall with a self-latching lock.
"Nothing beats adult supervision," Drengenberg said. He added that older children, such as teenagers, are not suitable replacements for an adult.
"The other thing is to follow the 10/20 rule. You should scan the pool every 10 seconds and be able to get to the pool within 20 seconds if there is an emergency," he said.
Drengenberg said when a child is missing for a few minutes, the first place to look is not in bedrooms, closets or neighbors' yards.
"The first place to look is the pool, because the sooner you find the child and get help, the better the chance of the child not sustaining brain injuries or death," he said.
Even small wading pools can be as deadly as a larger pool.
"Everybody knows a child can drown in one inch of water. When you're done with the pool, empty it and turn it upside down so it doesn't collect rain water," Drengenberg said.
Bob Ferguson, vice president of Water Systems at NSF International, said ill-fitting drain covers have also been known to cause dangerous accidents such as entrapping limbs or hair.
NSF International is a not-for-profit public health and safety organization.
"In the last couple of years, there have been some real changes in the type of equipment used in pools because people have gotten their hair caught in a drain. And people have nearly drowned," he said.
Ferguson said people need to make sure the drain and suction fittings on their pool are certified. And don't allow anyone to play in the pool if a drain cover is missing or broken until it is replaced.
Along with adult supervision, parents can use a variety of technology -- such as security cameras and wristband alarms -- to aid them in watching their children.
The Safety Turtle, for example, allows a parent to put a cute wristband on a child to use with a separate wireless base. If the child were to fall into the pool, the alarm would go off immediately.
Bridget Palmer, a product manager for First Alert, said outside security cameras are weather-resistant and can be used to view everything going on outside.
"You could mount it underneath an awning and have it pointed to a pool," she said.
The cameras, made by First Alert, also feature LED night vision technology.
Some other tips for pool safety:
* Keep toys out of the pool. A child may be tempted to try to get a toy and fall in.
* Keep tricycles or wheeled toys away from the pool, as children playing with these could fall in the water.
* Make sure the fence around the pool has a self-closing and self-latching mechanism to prevent unauthorized entry.
* Never stack any furniture near the pool that can be used as a steppingstone.
* Make sure that an emergency shut-off switch for the pump is installed nearby and that it is easily accessible. Everyone should know where these switches are located and how to use them.
Playgrounds
We all know the weather -- mainly the sun -- in El Paso is bad for our bodies. And it can also put extra wear and tear on items left outdoors.
If you haven't checked your son's playground equipment since you built it, you may be putting your child at risk for an injury.
Ferguson said parents need to maintain their children's play equipment by checking for loose screws.
"Go over the bolts and make sure they have covers so they won't cut their fingers. And the hooks that hold up the swings should be closed nice and tight so there's no chance of the chain slipping and the child hurting themselves," he said.
Also, make sure the playground equipment is away from trees, because children may be inclined to swing from their swing set and climb onto them. A 6-to-12-inch layer of mulch, such as chopped rubber tires or wood chips, also can provide a safe and softer cushion than a lawn.
Sandboxes, another fun place for children, can also appeal to cats and other critters. Make it a routine to check the sand for any sharp objects or other unwanted items before children play.
Spiders, scorpions
Plastic buckets, pieces of wood and boxes could all become toys in the hands of an imaginative child. But they can also be secret hideouts for scorpions and spiders.
It's a good idea to teach children how to safely pick up these items or others that have been lying around for a while.
Before handling any of these, children should always be sure to look at the exposed side of the object and then flip it over with something else to check the underside, according to Associated Content.
Flipping it over a couple of times is even better.
Teach them to get an adult when they see a spider or scorpion instead of trying to kill it. A spider and or scorpion can still bite or sting a person even if it's been smashed.
Mosquitoes, which can carry the West Nile virus, also can be a summer problem, mainly from dusk to dawn.
It's a good idea to use repellent with DEET and wear protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts and pants.
Also, change water in birdbaths, pet water bowls and wading pools regularly to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs.
"The summer is a wonderful time for kids and parents to play together and spend time together," Ferguson said.
Parents just have to take the lead in being careful so their children can enjoy their summer, he added.
When it comes to summer, children and the outdoors go hand in hand.
And most parents want their children to go outside and get exercise, instead of spending hours inside playing video games.
But before you send your children out to play -- whether on the swings or in a swimming pool -- make sure your backyard is safe.
It's not enough that the backyard fence is closed or that you think your yard is safe. Danger can lurk in the very places your children love to play.
Consider that 2.7 million children end up in the emergency room every summer from accidents in or around their home, according to Underwriters Laboratories. UL is a safety organization that offers information to parents for creating safer home environments.
Each year, more children ages 1 through 14 die in pool drownings than in car accidents. More than 4,000 children are injured or die due to drowning or near-drowning accidents in the United States , according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Unattended grills, broken children's play equipment and unchecked sandboxes can all cause preventable accidents.
John Drengenberg, director of consumer safety for Underwriters Laboratories, said parents try to keep their children safe, but are not safety experts.
"We can't blame parents, but we can talk about the type of hazards that might be in their back yard" and educate them, he said.
Pool safety
Swimming is one of most popular ways for children to enjoy their summer. Unfortunately, swimming pools are one of the leading danger zones for children.
An El Paso city ordinance states that a pools must have a fence around it that is at least 4 feet tall with a self-latching lock.
"Nothing beats adult supervision," Drengenberg said. He added that older children, such as teenagers, are not suitable replacements for an adult.
"The other thing is to follow the 10/20 rule. You should scan the pool every 10 seconds and be able to get to the pool within 20 seconds if there is an emergency," he said.
Drengenberg said when a child is missing for a few minutes, the first place to look is not in bedrooms, closets or neighbors' yards.
"The first place to look is the pool, because the sooner you find the child and get help, the better the chance of the child not sustaining brain injuries or death," he said.
Even small wading pools can be as deadly as a larger pool.
"Everybody knows a child can drown in one inch of water. When you're done with the pool, empty it and turn it upside down so it doesn't collect rain water," Drengenberg said.
Bob Ferguson, vice president of Water Systems at NSF International, said ill-fitting drain covers have also been known to cause dangerous accidents such as entrapping limbs or hair.
NSF International is a not-for-profit public health and safety organization.
"In the last couple of years, there have been some real changes in the type of equipment used in pools because people have gotten their hair caught in a drain. And people have nearly drowned," he said.
Ferguson said people need to make sure the drain and suction fittings on their pool are certified. And don't allow anyone to play in the pool if a drain cover is missing or broken until it is replaced.
Along with adult supervision, parents can use a variety of technology -- such as security cameras and wristband alarms -- to aid them in watching their children.
The Safety Turtle, for example, allows a parent to put a cute wristband on a child to use with a separate wireless base. If the child were to fall into the pool, the alarm would go off immediately.
Bridget Palmer, a product manager for First Alert, said outside security cameras are weather-resistant and can be used to view everything going on outside.
"You could mount it underneath an awning and have it pointed to a pool," she said.
The cameras, made by First Alert, also feature LED night vision technology.
Some other tips for pool safety:
* Keep toys out of the pool. A child may be tempted to try to get a toy and fall in.
* Keep tricycles or wheeled toys away from the pool, as children playing with these could fall in the water.
* Make sure the fence around the pool has a self-closing and self-latching mechanism to prevent unauthorized entry.
* Never stack any furniture near the pool that can be used as a steppingstone.
* Make sure that an emergency shut-off switch for the pump is installed nearby and that it is easily accessible. Everyone should know where these switches are located and how to use them.
Playgrounds
We all know the weather -- mainly the sun -- in El Paso is bad for our bodies. And it can also put extra wear and tear on items left outdoors.
If you haven't checked your son's playground equipment since you built it, you may be putting your child at risk for an injury.
Ferguson said parents need to maintain their children's play equipment by checking for loose screws.
"Go over the bolts and make sure they have covers so they won't cut their fingers. And the hooks that hold up the swings should be closed nice and tight so there's no chance of the chain slipping and the child hurting themselves," he said.
Also, make sure the playground equipment is away from trees, because children may be inclined to swing from their swing set and climb onto them. A 6-to-12-inch layer of mulch, such as chopped rubber tires or wood chips, also can provide a safe and softer cushion than a lawn.
Sandboxes, another fun place for children, can also appeal to cats and other critters. Make it a routine to check the sand for any sharp objects or other unwanted items before children play.
Spiders, scorpions
Plastic buckets, pieces of wood and boxes could all become toys in the hands of an imaginative child. But they can also be secret hideouts for scorpions and spiders.
It's a good idea to teach children how to safely pick up these items or others that have been lying around for a while.
Before handling any of these, children should always be sure to look at the exposed side of the object and then flip it over with something else to check the underside, according to Associated Content.
Flipping it over a couple of times is even better.
Teach them to get an adult when they see a spider or scorpion instead of trying to kill it. A spider and or scorpion can still bite or sting a person even if it's been smashed.
Mosquitoes, which can carry the West Nile virus, also can be a summer problem, mainly from dusk to dawn.
It's a good idea to use repellent with DEET and wear protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts and pants.
Also, change water in birdbaths, pet water bowls and wading pools regularly to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs.
"The summer is a wonderful time for kids and parents to play together and spend time together," Ferguson said.
Parents just have to take the lead in being careful so their children can enjoy their summer, he added.
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