13 Things to Avoid on Friday the 13th

April 29, 2005 -- Don't take chances on Friday the 13th or any other day of the year when it comes your child's safety, warns Debra Holtzman J.D, M.A, a nationally recognized child safety and health expert. "You can prevent injuries associated with household products by becoming educated about their potential danger and by taking the necessary precautions," says Holtzman.

Here's Debra Holtzman's list of 13 common hazards:

1. Balloons. More children have suffocated on uninflated balloons and pieces of balloons than any other type of toy. This is not an issue for just small children. In fact, balloon-related deaths are more common among children ages three and older than among younger children. Keep balloons away from children under eight years of age. Supervise any play with an inflated balloon. Immediately discard deflated and broken balloon pieces. Consider Mylar balloons instead.

2. Storage chests. Suffocation deaths occur in such places when children crawl inside and cannot escape. The best choice is one without a lid or one with a lightweight, removable one. If a chest closes, make sure it has ventilation holes. If you own a chest with a freely falling lid, remove the lid or install a spring-loaded lid support so that it will not fall unexpectedly and injure a child. Remove any automatic latches.

3. Bunkbeds. To prevent entrapment, all spaces between the guard rail and the bed frame and in the head and footboards should be less than three-and-one-half inches and there should be guard rails on both sides. (Beginning, July 2000, all bunk beds manufactured or imported for sale in the United States have to meet these requirements.) Children under the age of six should never sleep on the top bed.

4. Stuffed toys. Be aware that seams can separate and allow stuffing or plastic pellets to be released, presenting a choking hazard to young children. Check also for small detachable parts, security of eyes, nose and mouth of stuffed toys.

5. Art Supplies. Always look for this label: ASTM D-4236. This label means the product has been reviewed by a toxicologist. If it is necessary, cautionary information will be included with this label. Children under age 12 should never be allowed to use hazardous art materials, which can expose them to toxic substances, including lead, cadmium, nickel and organic solvents.

6. Garage Door. Watch out for automatic garage doors--you would not want one to close on your child! If your garage door does not already have one, install a sensor such as an electric eye for the garage door. It signals the door to reverse its motion if anything is in the way. The CPSC requires that all garage door operators manufactured or imported after January 1, 1993, for sale in the United States, be outfitted with an external entrapment protection system. This system can be an electric eye, a door edge sensor, or any other device that provides equivalent protection.

7. Entertainment Center. Use angle braces or anchors to secure larger furniture--which presents a tipping hazard--to the wall. In fact, eight to ten thousand victims are treated in emergency rooms annually for furniture tip over injuries, and some of these injuries are fatal.

8. Baby Walkers. Each year, an average of 2 children die as a result of baby-walker related injuries. In 2002, nearly 4,600 children ages 4 and under were treated in hospital emergency rooms for baby-walker related injuries. Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and National SAFE KIDS Campaign recommend not using wheeled baby walkers at all. Holtzman recommends using a stationary activity center instead.

9. Water faucet. Water at 140 degrees F. will produce a third-degree burn on a child in just 3 seconds! Set hot water heaters no higher than 120 degrees F. A lower water temperature will reduce the chance of scald burns. Always check the water temperature before giving a small child a bath.

10. Mouthwash: Many brands contain alcohol. Children are much more sensitive to the toxic effects of alcohol than adults. Alcohol can cause a child's blood sugar to plunge to a dangerously low level, which can lead to seizures, coma and even death in a young child. (Examples of other household products containing alcohol: perfumes, colognes, and aftershave, vanilla extract, cough and cold medications, and rubbing alcohol.)

11. Window Treatments with hanging cords. Those that were manufactured before 2001 may pose a strangulation risk to small children. Consider replacing them with today's safer products or repairing them. The Window Covering Safety Council provides free retrofit safety devices. Go to WindowCoverings.org or call their toll free number (800) 506-4636.

12. Antifreeze. The main ingredient in many major antifreeze brands is ethylene glycol, which is very toxic. Antifreeze has a sweet taste. Children or pets will drink large amounts of it if it is left out in an open container or if it is spilled on your driveway. In addition, gasoline, motor oil and windshield washer fluid are also very toxic.

13. Plants: As beautiful as they appear, decorative plants may not be as safe as you think. Two common household plants that are frequently ingested by children are Dieffenbachia and Philodendron. Both of these plants can cause very serious symptoms. These plants contain oxalates, small crystals that get released into the mouth when the plant is chewed, causing extreme pain and inflammation.

A popular Flower Garden plant is the beautiful oleander. Everything about this plant is toxic, including the water in which cut flowers are placed and any smoke that results from burning the plant. In fact, a single leaf or berry can kill. Call the poison hotline (1-800 222-1222) or your cooperative extension service agent for a list of common poisonous plants that grow in your geographical region.

Debra Holtzman is the author of the popular new book The Safe Baby: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Home Safety (Sentient Publications), which is full of useful information on eliminating hazards in the home and protecting children from household dangers. She is featured on the TV series "Make Room for Baby" on the Discovery Health Channel. She will be available for interviews May 6 - 13th.




13 Things to Avoid on Friday the 13th



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