Tag Archive for '9/11'

Warning: Keep Out of Reach of Children

Published on March 28, 2012 in Health & Safety. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

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Every year, U.S. poison centers take over 2 million calls related to poison exposures in people, and over 50% of those calls are for children under the age of 5. The most common substances involved are painkillers, cosmetics and personal care products, and household cleaning products; and overwhelmingly, poison exposures occur in the home (over 90%).

Most incidents are resolved over the phone, but there are occasions where a child may need to be taken to the ER. For instance, more than 60,000 children under age 5 are treated in the ER each year due to accidental medication poisoning.

My little sister was one of those children years ago. Nana was visiting and had put her purse away in the bedroom closet where she’d been staying, but when little sis went down for her nap one afternoon she got into what she thought was Nana’s “candy” instead. My poor little sister ended up in the ER getting charcoal treatment and her stomach pumped. Fortunately, she came away from it unscathed, but I’m sure everyone was terrified and scarred.

This type of occurrence happens more often than you might think, and so often pills are indistinguishable from candy. I came across this cute and catchy little video that may help our kids learn that they should always STOP and ASK FIRST before they want to touch something or put something in their mouths that doesn’t belong to them:

Of course, ultimately, we don’t want our children to ever find themselves in these situations, and so poison-proofing our homes is the best prevention tool. Below are helpful tips for poison prevention as well as treatment if you suspect poisoning has occurred.
 
What are the potential dangers in your home?

Any of these common household products could seriously harm a child if ingested:
  • Bath and kitchen disinfectants and sanitizers, including bleach
  • Household cleaning or maintenance products, such as drain cleaner, paints, or glues
  • Automotive products stored around the home, such as anti-freeze or windshield washer fluid
  • Health or beauty care products such as medicines, mouthwash, hair and nail products
  • Roach sprays and baits
  • Insect repellents
  • Rat and other rodent poisons
  • Weed killers
  • Products used to kill mold or mildew
  • Flea and tick shampoos, powders, and dips for pets
  • Batteries
  • Alcohol
  • Indoor or outdoor plants
  • Swimming pool chemicals

 

What can you do to prevent accidental poisoning?
General
  • Regardless of the item of concern, keep it UP, AWAY, and OUT OF SIGHT. Even if you have items in an upper cabinet, it’s a good idea to use a cabinet lock to keep your little climbers or older children out.
  • Be prepared in case of emergency. Program the Poison Control Help number, 1-800-222-1222, into your home and cell phones. If you suspect your child has ingested something dangerous, contact Poison Help right away.
  • Ensure you have a working carbon monoxide detector in your home.
  • If you live in an older home, particularly a home built before 1978, have your home and children tested for lead.
  • Do not keep poisonous plants in your home or yard.
  • Teach your child to STOP and ASK FIRST before they touch something or put anything in their mouths that does not belong to them.
Medications
  • Put medicines and vitamins away every time, even between dosing.
  • Always relock the safety cap. Twist until you hear the click.
  • Explain to children what medicine is and that only you can give it to them.
  • Never tell a child that medicine tastes like candy in an attempt to get them to take it.
  • Never give a child medicine in the dark. Turn the light on and read the instructions to ensure proper dosing.
  • Ask house guests and visitors to keep their coats and bags out of reach when they are in your home. Don’t put it past kids to get past child-resistant packaging (not child-proof, mind you).
  • Clean out the medicine cabinet periodically, and safely dispose of any medicines such as prescriptions when no longer needed. Check with your locality as many hold take-back events as an alternative to flushing pharmaceuticals down the drain.
  • Don’t throw medications away in open trash containers where a child might be able to get to them.
Pesticides and Household Chemical Products
  • Use the safest possible pesticides and cleaning products. There are many natural and nontoxic alternatives that can be found with a simple search online.
  • Always store them in a locked cabinet, preferably out of reach.
  • Place Mr Yuk stickers on potentially poisonous products to help your kids decipher undesirables. Information to request a free sheet or purchase more is available here.
  • Remember the BEFORE, WHILE, AFTER rule: BEFORE using a product, read the instructions. WHILE using a product, never leave it alone. AFTER using a product, lock it up.
  • If a spillage occurs, clean it up immediately.
  • Do not transfer products to other containers, particularly containers that could be mistaken for food or drink. You will want to have the original label and instructions in the case of accidental poisoning.
  • Remove children, pets, toys, bottles, and pacifiers from the area before applying pesticides inside or outside the home.  Follow label directions to determine when it is safe for children and pets to return to the area.
  • Choose nontoxic art supplies.
  • Keep the dishwasher door closed, and only fill with detergent when ready to use.

 

What if you suspect your child has been poisoned?
If you suspect your child has been poisoned, you need to act quickly.
Signs of Poisoning
  • An open or spilled bottle of pills or cleaning product, or suspicious stains on your child’s mouth or clothing
  • A burn or rash on the lips, mouth or skin
  • Burns, stains, or smell of chemicals on your child or his or her clothing
  • Unexplained nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
  • Inexplicable amounts of drooling
  • An unusual odor on his or her breath
  • Headache, dizziness, confusion, or blurred vision - your child can’t follow you with their eyes
  • Bluish lips, coughing, throat pain, or difficulty breathing
  • Seizures, convulsions, or unconsciousness (in extreme cases)
What to do
If you suspect that your child has been poisoned, do not wait for symptoms to appear. Even if your child has no symptoms, it can’t hurt to call poison control. Better safe than sorry.
If your child is having serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing, seizures, or is unconscious, call 911 immediately.
If your child is awake and stable, take certain measures first and then call the poison control hotline: 1-800-222-1222.
  • Swallowed poison - Do not try to make your child vomit. You may do more harm bringing the poison back up. Sweep your child’s mouth and remove any visible poison. Rinse out and wipe your child’s mouth with a cloth. Call poison control.
  • Poison on the skin - Remove contaminated clothing, while avoiding any more contact with the chemical. Flood the skin with lukewarm running water. Wash gently with soap and water and rinse. Call poison control.
  • Poison in the eye - Wrap your child in a towel with arms placed at his or her sides under the towel, and place them on a flat surface so you can control them safely. Hold the eyelid open, and drip room temperature water or normal saline over the bridge of the nose for 15 minutes. Call poison control.
  • Inhaled poison - Get your child to fresh air. Open doors and windows if safe to do so. Begin artificial respiration if they’re not breathing. Call 911.
  • Stings and bites - Remove the sting if present, and wash the affected area with soap and warm water. Pat dry. Call poison control.
When you speak with poison control or 911, be prepared to provide the following information:
  • your child’s age, height, and weight
  • existing health conditions
  • substance and label information
  • how the substance entered the body
  • first aid given
  • has your child vomited
  • your location and distance to the nearest hospital

For more information:
American Association of Poison Control Centers
Poison Prevention.Org

Weekly Highlights (9/13/2011)

Published on September 13, 2011 in News. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

 

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“Nothing is worth more than this day” - Goethe

May we treasure each moment as we remember those who were lost.

Welcome to “Weekly Highlights”, our weekly post that recaps important child health and safety news, research, and recalls from the previous week and other great reads we’ve come across in our internet travels.

In the News:

Hug Your Children While You Can - The most important lesson we can take away from 9/11.

Parenting While Grieving - About 3,000 children lost a loved one on 9/11. A look at grief support and how families cope. As a friend or family member supporting someone who has lost, the best thing we can do is be there and be understanding.

In Manhattan, Children Still Battle 9/11-Related Illnesses - 10 years after 9/11, children are battling respiratory illnesses as well as acid reflux disease and a variety of behavioral, learning and mental health issues. Families struggle to admit their children are sick and cope with the fact that 9/11 may still be with them.

Head Lice Treatments Worse Than the Pest Itself? - Questioning the safety of pesticide-based treatments for head lice in young children, particularly when misused.

FDA Creating New Nutrition Label - In an attempt to improve the way Americans eat, the FDA is working on a redesign the nutrition label on foods to provide more useful information, such as more accurate serving sizes and a greater emphasis on calories.

Council Bans Sale of Crib Bumper Pads in Chicago - Sending a message to federal regulators, Chicago becomes the first city in the nation to ban the sale of crib bumper pads due to concerns over suffocation risk to babies.

New Research:

Birth Control Pills Affect Memory
A study of women on birth control pills found that it changed the type of information that women were able to recall. Women on the pill were able to recall more clearly the gist of an emotional event while those not on the pill recalled more details. The idea is that contraceptives suppress hormones such as estrogen and progesterone which have been previously linked to a woman’s left brain strong memory.

Fatherhood Lowers Testosterone Levels
A new Northwestern University study provides compelling evidence that men are wired to respond biologically to fatherhood. The study followed a large group of Filipino men who were not fathers and observed whether their hormones changed after becoming fathers. The study found that the men who started with high testosterone were more likely to become fathers, and once they did, their testosterone levels decreased consistent with the level of involvement that they took on in child-rearing.

Phthalates Affect Child Development
A study of pregnant mothers and their children that began in 1998 finds a significant link between a pregnant woman’s exposure to phthalates and negative impacts on their child’s development. After controlling for a long list of factors, levels of phthalates in the mothers’ urine were compared to several development tests on their children. As the levels went up, the child’s motor development went down significantly.

Mother’s Diet Influences Baby’s Allergies
A possible link between what a mother eats during pregnancy and the risk of her child developing allergies has been identified. The research found that if a mother’s diet contains a certain group of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) — such as those found in fish, walnut oil or flaxseed — the baby’s gut develops differently. The PUFAs are thought to improve how gut immune cells respond to bacteria and foreign substances, making the baby less likely to suffer from allergies. The findings were performed using porcine intestine which is thought to be a good model for the human intestine, but research will continue to see if the results translate to humans.

Kids Who Live With Smokers Have More Ear Infections
A new research paper, which reviewed 61 prior studies, concludes that kids whose parents smoke are more likely to get ear infections and have hearing problems.

Roundup Chemical Found in Water & Air in Two U.S. Farm States
Significant levels of the world’s most-used herbicide have been detected in air and water samples in Mississippi and Iowa. “This is one of the first studies to document the consistent occurrence of the chemical in streams, rain, and air throughout the growing season,” according to one of the researchers on the study, from the U.S. Geological Survey. It was found in every stream sample examined in Mississippi in a two-year period and in most air samples taken. Recent studies have already raised concerns about toxicity to humans and animals, but further research is needed.

Good Reads:

Talking to Your Kids about Tough Topics from Mamapedia Voices - In light of 9/11, a mother who started a news website for children shares tips on discussing tough topics with them.

Mr Printables - Fun resource with free printables for kids crafts and activities

Recalls, September 5 – September 12:

CPSC Child Product Recalls

Child Safety Seat Recalls
No child safety seat recall announcements this week.

USDA/FDA Recalls

We’d love your feedback! If there is anything you’d like us to add or change, we’d love to hear it! If there’s anything you see and think we should feature, please send it our way to purebebeblog@gmail.com. We hope your week is off to a great start!

XOXO,

Jasmine & Heather

Reflections and Gratitude in the Post 9/11 America

Published on May 2, 2011 in Health & Safety. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

Courtesy of BlueSun Photography, Flickr

This morning I was full of emotion with the news of Osama Bin Laden’s death. I couldn’t stop thinking about that dreadful day.

It was beautiful outside in Washington DC, sunny but not too hot that day, a slight breeze in the air. I went to bed the night before with the windows open, smelling the fresh, late-Summer air. I awoke suddenly the next morning, on 9/11. As I was putting my running shoes on, my mom called. She told me to turn the TV on immediately. I watched in horror, as the twin towers smoldered before their collapse. There were reports of a plane that had crashed into the Pentagon, just a few miles from my house.

That was the day that everything changed. Boundless American optimism and psychological freedom gave way to obscure fear.

So when my kids woke up this morning, normally I would have turned on Curious George or Cat in the Hat. But instead, I wanted to watch the media coverage for just a few more minutes.

My 3 year old daughter was curious. She asked me, “mama, who’s that man on TV with the hair on his face? And who are those people jumping in the street?” I told her that man was a very, very bad man who had hurt a lot of people. I also said that the very bad man is “gone” now and that many people are celebrating because he can no longer hurt anyone anymore.

I’m not quite sure she knew what “gone” meant, but either way, she didn’t ask any follow-up questions, and I sure wasn’t going to offer up additional information unprovoked. I mean, how do you explain to a 3 year old that all of the people celebrating on TV were happy because a man had been killed?

Today my thoughts have been with our country and the thousands of Americans who lost their lives on 9/11 and the thousands of men and women of our armed services, and our allies’ armed services, who have since lost their lives while fighting the obscure, widespread, hidden terrorists.

My thoughts are with those babies who lost their mom or dad that day, and have been forced to navigate the “new world” without a parent.

And my thoughts have been with the parents who lost their sons or daughters and have been living with the daily emptiness that no parent should ever have to experience.

Thank you to the men and women of our armed services, for your selfless commitment and dedication that you have made to our country, for our freedom. You are our everyday heroes.

-Heather

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