Playground Safety – Slide Into Safety

Posted on May 15, 2012 by safekids

Playgrounds are a great gathering place in the back yard or local parks.  Falls from playground equipment is one of the major injury areas seen in the ER at Altru Health System.  To keep your kids better protected on the playground, here are some basic safety tips.

  • Adequate surfacing is the number one way to prevent injuries, broken bones and concussions.  There should be at LEAST 9-12” of proper surfacing material below playground equipment.  Proper surfacing includes sand, pea rock, rubber mulch, or wood chips.  Grass is NOT an acceptable surfacing material.
  • When installing a new playground and surfacing area below the equipment, place a mark on the legs of the equipment at 9” up on the leg.  Cover the ground with the chosen material well above that marking (3-5”).  As the surfacing material wears away and the marker line is exposed, you will know it is time to refill.
  • Be sure that the surfacing extends at least 6 feet beyond all equipment on each side.  This includes 6’ beyond the highest point at which a swing will extend when in the “swing” mode.
  • Remember that surfacing will become displayed in areas such as the bottom of slides or under swings.  These areas need to be periodically filled in with additional surfacing materials.
  • Remove draw strings from children’s clothing before allowing them to play on playground equipment.  Don’t allow back packs on the playground equipment either.
  • Never wear a bike helmet while playing on a playground.  The openings are made large enough to fit a head and shoulders but not if the head size is enlarged due to a helmet.
  • Report any concerns with public playgrounds to the appropriate entities right away.  This may include broken or missing parts, broken glass, debris, or other noted hazards.
  • Playgrounds are generally designed for children of two different age categories, ages 2-5 and ages 5-12.  Children should play on the age appropriate equipment designed for their development level.

Remember, play is a great way to for kids to stay healthy, have fun and engage with other children.  Just remember, playground injuries can be prevented with simple steps that keep injuries from occurring. 

Safe Kids Grand Forks conducts playground safety training as part of our services.  These are designed for schools or child care providers.  For more information on this, contact Safe Kids Grand Forks at safekids@altru.org.

 

This article and many others on summer safety topics  will be appearing in our Safe Kids Grand Forks newsletter that is published 5 times per year.  This is due to come out on 5-24-2012.  To sign up for an automatic notification when the newsletter is published, visit http://www.altru.org/patients-visitors/enewsletter-sign-up-form/ and sign up with your e-mail address. 

 

Altru Health System is proud to serve as the lead agency for Safe Kids Grand Forks.  For more information on playground safety or other injury risk areas, visit www.safekidsgf.com or contact us at 701-780-1489.

Posted in Family, Parents, Safety, Supervision, Trampoline, Unintentional Injury | Leave a comment

50 Years of Preventing Poisoning

Posted on March 28, 2012 by safekids

(This information for this week’s blog is taken from the CPSC’s web site on poison prevention.  We are thankful for their partnership in injury prevention.)

1962 was the year that “The Beverly Hillbillies” first made it onto our TV screens. The Beatles released their first single. A dozen eggs cost 32 cents. And 400 children died each year from accidental poisoning.

Last  week was Poison Prevention Week’s 50th birthday. Like we often do on birthdays, it’s time to reflect on where we are today.

So — where are we?

In the past 50 years, there has been a 92 percent decline in child poisoning deaths. More than 400 children died each year from poisonings 50 years ago. Today, about 36 children die each year.   Poison control centers report that the most common poisons for children are cosmetics and personal care products, pain medicines and cleaning substances. More than 4 million Americans call a Poison Control Center on the national toll-free hotline (800) 222-1222 each year. And a dozen eggs costs about $2.50.

You might not think the price of eggs is worth celebrating, but the progress made in preventing unintentional poisoning definitely is.

Help us to do even better during the next 50 years. Take a look at these easy steps you can take to prevent unintentional child poisoning. Poison prevention starts with you.

 

Three Words for Poison Prevention: Click, Up and Away

CLICK!

That’s the sound you often hear when you close the child-resistant cap on a medicine bottle.

Imagine this scenario: It’s the middle of the night and your sick child needs a dose of fever reducing medicine. You’re only half awake and caring for your child. You give your child the medicine and head back to bed.

CLICK. Did you hear it? Sometimes you won’t. But be sure the cap is closed tightly. Even in your most sleep-deprived hours, check the cap.

Most emergency room visits involving 2-year-olds happen after children find and eat or drink medicines when adults aren’t looking, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And each year, the nation’s poison control centers field more than 2 million calls because of unintentional poisonings.

This is why you need to put the bottles UP and AWAY.

Like many parents, you may think child-resistant caps fully prevent children from opening medications. Wrong. Child-resistant caps simply give you more time to prevent children from getting into medicines.

The regulation that covers child-resistant packaging works. Since the Poison Prevention Packaging Act was passed in 1970, there has been a 40% decline in aspirin poisonings alone with the use of child-resistant closures. That’s hundreds of children’s lives that have been saved.

Your vigilance can prevent the poisonings that continue to happen. Click, Up and Away. [Link will go back to the CDC campaign]

Follow these steps to keep children safe around medicine:

Put the medicine up and away. Layers of protection are best. That means put it up in a cabinet or closet out of sight. Locks or child-resistant latches are recommended.

  • Never call medicine “candy.”
  • Ask for and use child-resistant closures on your medicines.
  • Keep medicines in their original containers. Don’t transfer them to bottles, day-minders, cups or non-child-resistant containers.
  • Take your medicines out of sight of young children, because young children tend to imitate adults.

Remember, young children will eat or drink almost anything. Poison prevention starts with you!

 

For more information on poison prevention or other childhood injury prevention topics, contact Safe Kids Grand Forks at 701-780-1489 or safekids@altru.org.  We also have FREE poison control center stickers and magnets for distribution.  Altru Health system is proud to serve as the lead agency for Safe Kids Grand Forks.

Posted in Parents, Poison, Safety, Supervision, Uncategorized, Unintentional Injury | Leave a comment

Kids’ Party Planning Made Safe

Posted on March 20, 2012 by safekids

Recently, Safe Kids Grand Forks was approached by the following author asking if we would be willing to allow her to write a blog entry for our Safe Kids site.  As with any of our injury risk areas, we welcome the expertise of others in the community and region who have an interest in keeping kids safe.  With that, I granted permission to submit a blog entry that we would submit as part of our Safe Kids weekly blog.  I thank Lisa for her offer to assist us in spreading our injury prevention messages and hope you love her suggestions.  At the end, you will note that Safe Kids has offered a few additional tips as well.  With that, I present 5 Children’s Birthday Party Safety Tips by Lisa (and Safe Kids Grand Forks).

 

Birthday parties are a lot of fun, but when you have several children in one place, safety becomes a major concern. Birthday parties are a time for kids to let loose and have fun. They want to run around, play games, and do all of the things they aren’t allowed to do at school. As a parent who is throwing a birthday party, you shouldn’t make them behave as though they’re going to church, just to make sure everyone stays safe. However, you should do everything in your power to ensure that the kids stay out of harm’s way. Here are five tips to help you do that:

 

1. Get a first aid kit.

 

If you’re throwing the party away from your home, a first aid kit is essential. If you’re throwing the party at your house, you should make sure you have Band-Aids, hydrogen peroxide, and Neosporin on hand. Inevitably, a child at the party will fall and scrape their knee. It’s best to be prepared for this.

 

2. Make sure you can reach parents.

 

If one of the children gets sick, injured, or just wants to leave the party early, you’ll need to be able to get ahold of his or her parents. If the party is large, and you don’t know all of the parents of the children in attendance, you should make an effort to ask them for their phone numbers when they drop their kids off.

 

3. Set some ground rules.

 

You don’t have to rain on the kids’ parade, but you should probably set some ground rules for safety. Let the kids know you don’t want them to climb trees or the fence, and let them know that fighting of any kind is not allowed. If you establish these rules at the beginning of the party, the kids will hopefully be much less likely to get themselves into unsafe situations.

 

4. Ask the kids to wash their hands before eating.

 

Having all the children wash their hands before eating cake and other party food is a good idea, especially if they’ve been playing outside. The chances of them getting sick without doing so are pretty slim, but it’s a good idea to take every precaution.

 

5. Supervise.

 

Supervision is probably the best way to prevent unsafe situations at children’s birthday parties. You may want to ask some other parents to help you chaperone the party. If an adult is around the children at all times, they will be much less likely to take dangerous risks. Additionally, adult chaperones will be able to attend quickly to child injuries and nip unsafe situations in the bud, which can make all the difference.

 

About the Author: Lisa is a mother and guest blogger who writes about parenting, child behavior, and Super Mario party supplies.

 

Safe Kids Grand Forks addendum:  As Lisa mentions, supervision is vital to keeping play safe.  We would suggest that the child to adult ratio of supervision be carefully assessed when planning party activities.  Any time there is water activities involved, it is critical to designate a “Water Watcher” whose sole responsibility it is to watch the pool or swimming area.  If that person has to take on another “job”, the “Water Watcher” role should be turned over to someone else who understands that they are in charge of that responsibility.

 

Here are two others that we consider critical party planning safety tips:

 

-          Avoid latex balloons.  Not only are many people allergic to latex, but these can become choking hazards.  A Mylar-type balloon is a much safer option.

-          Assure that if you will be transporting children to and from birthday party activities that all children are properly restrained in car or booster seats or seat belts, depending on their age and state law. 

 

For more information on childhood injury prevention, contact Safe Kids Grand Forks at safekids@altru.org or 701.780.1489.  Altru Health System is proud to serve as the lead agency for Safe Kids Grand Forks.

Posted in Family, Father, Holidays, Parents, Pool, Safety, Supervision, Uncategorized, Water | Leave a comment

Quick Tips For A Safe Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 13, 2012 by safekids

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and Safe Kids offers these quick tips to keep your celebrating safe:

 Roses and baby’s breath aren’t poisonous to eat, but might cause a rash so wash your hands after arranging them. Flower food isn’t poisonous, but can cause stomach upset if swallowed. Chocolate can make pets vomit, have seizures, or worse.

 Questions? Call the poison center at 1-800-222-1222.  This number is the national poison control center number that can be called from any location in the US.  The call will be routed to the nearest poison control center and your questions will be answered.  Safe Kids Grand Forks suggests entering this number in your cell phone to have handy in case of an emergency.  If you would like a sticker or magnet with the number on it (as shown below), contact us at safekids@altru.org and we would be happy to send some to you.

 

In early March, Safe Kids Grand Forks will be publishing our quarterly newsletter and it will be filled with lots of poison safety tips in recognition of National Poison Prevention Week (March 18 – 24, 2012).  This is the 50 year anniversary of this annual week of recognition and over the years, the number of children dying of poison deaths has decreased but there is still work to do.  Our goal at Safe Kids is to continue to provide education to parents and caregivers so they can stay abreast of poison dangers and prevent them from occurring.   To sign up for the Safe Kids quarterly newsletter, visit www.altru.org and click on the “For Visitors” Tab.  Under that, select “Get Altru E-news”.  Enter your name and e-mail and select the Safe Kids Newsletter.  When it is published, an e-mail will be sent to you with a link to open it up.  You can also “Like” us on Facebook” where we publish safety tips, notices of upcoming events, helpful links and resources and information childhood safety topics.

 Happy Valentine’s Day.  Tell those you care about you “love them” and remember the best gift of all is keeping your loved ones safe from preventable injuries!!

Altru Health System is proud to serve as the lead agency for Safe Kids Grand Forks. 

 

Posted in Family, Holidays, Parents, Poison, Safety, Supervision, Uncategorized, Unintentional Injury | 1 Comment

Saying “I Love You” With Safety

Posted on February 8, 2012 by safekids

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and what better way to say “I love you” to your children than to protect them.  Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death to children under age 14.  We at Safe Kids Grand Forks know that understanding and following the best practices as it relates to child passenger safety can be confusing.  We are here to help!!!  We hope that you will take the time to learn how to best protect those that you love when riding in cars.  Here are some of our top tips for kids of all ages:

-          By law, children need to be in a car or booster seat until they are age 7 in North Dakota and age 8 in Minnesota.  The law does not necessarily create the “best practice” standard as it relates to keeping kids safe in a car.  The best way to determine when your child is ready to “advance” to the seat belt is when they meet all the following criteria.  Remember that they may meet these criteria in one vehicle and not another so test in each vehicle before getting rid of the booster seats.

  • Their back is against the back of the seat.
  • Their knees are bent at the edge of the seat.
  • Their feet are FLAT on the floor (not just touching).
  • The shoulder belt crosses at the middle of the collar bone and chest and NOT at the neck.
  • The lap belt lays low across the hips and NOT over the soft tummy tissue.

-          For the safest ride, children should stay rear-facing until they reach age two or the upper limits of their car seat (usually 30, 35, or 40#).  They have better head and neck protection in a rear-facing car seat than when they face forward. 

-          Children should ride in a harnessed car seat until they are AT LEAST 4 years old and AT LEAST 40# (both criteria).  There are now car seats that have harnesses that go to higher weights  than the traditional 40# (50, 65, 70 and 80#)and any time your child can be in a 5-point harness, they are safer than the seat belt.

-          Children ages 12 and under should be in the BACK SEAT and away from the air bags.  While air bags protect adults, they are too forceful for young children and can cause death or severe injury.  Kids 12 and under belong in the back seat!!

-          It is important that all occupants in the vehicle buckle-up.  Everything, including other passengers, become a projectile in a crash and can cause injury and death to those in the vehicle.  Not only is it an injury prevention strategy, but role modeling safe behavior is critical to creating safe behaviors for children.

-          Car seats should not be used if they meet any of the following criteria:

  • Have been in a crash (some exceptions apply).
  • Have missing or broken parts.
  • Are over 6 years of age (again, some exceptions apply.  Check the seat for expiration criteria and if none are listed on the seat, 6 years is the industry standard.)
  • You cannot determine the crash history of the seat (i.e. those purchased at second hand stores, etc.)
  • Are on the recall list (unless the recall has been corrected).  Want to check you seat for recalls?  Visit www.nhtsa.gov

-          If you have a seat that meets one of the above criteria, we would recommend SAFE disposal of the seat.   Safe Kids Grand Forks recycles car seats so they don’t end up in the landfill or on the berm where people often collect and use them.  Simply drop them off at our office at 860 South Columbia Road (enter door B1-7) Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.  They can be left by the Safe Kids office door with a “Please recycle” note on them.

-          4 out of 5 car seats are used incorrectly.  Safe Kids Grand Forks offers car seat check-up events and classes for parents and caregivers to assist with proper use and installation of seats.  To check event dates and times, visit www.safekidsgf.com

Remember, buckling up those you love is a great way to help keep them safe from the number one killer of children, motor vehicle crashes.  So this Valentine’s Day, give the gift of safety – Buckle up!!

For more information on childhood safety topics, contact Safe Kids Grand Forks at safekids@altru.org or call 701-780-1489.  Altru Health System is proud to serve as the lead agency for Safe Kids Grand Forks.

Posted in Car Seat, Family, Parents, Role Model, Safety, Unintentional Injury | Leave a comment

Carbon Monoxide: The Silent Killer

Posted on December 27, 2011 by safekids

Creeping silently through your home, there’s a killer that gives no warning. This killer is carbon monoxide.  An invisible and odorless gas, carbon monoxide (CO) is produced when burning any fuel, such as gasoline, propane, natural gas, oil, wood, or charcoal. It is a silent killer, which causes illness by decreasing the amount of oxygen present in the body.

Young children are especially vulnerable to the effects of carbon monoxide, because of their smaller bodies. Children process carbon monoxide differently than adults, may be more severely affected by it, and may show symptoms sooner. 

 

You won’t know that you have a carbon monoxide leak, without a working detector.  If you burn any fuels for heat or cooking, be sure that you have a working carbon monoxide detector and deter this silent killer.

Follow some simple safety tips to help protect your family.

Top Tips for Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.

  • The most common symptoms include headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and confusion. In severe cases, the person may lose consciousness or die.
  • CO poisoning can often be mistaken for other illnesses, such as the flu.
  • Often, more than one person in the household will suffer symptoms at the same time.

To decrease risk of CO poisoning the following tips are recommended:

  • Install a CO alarm outside every sleeping area and on every level of your home.  
  • Place CO alarms at least 15 feet away from every fuel-burning appliance to reduce the number of nuisance alarms.
  • Test alarms every month and replace them every five years.
  • Make sure alarms can be heard when you test them and practice an escape plan with your entire family.
  • Have all gas, oil or coal burning appliances inspected by a technician every year to ensure they are working correctly and are properly ventilated.
  • Never use a stove for heating.
  • Do not use a grill, generator or camping stove inside your home, garage or near a window.
  • Never leave a car, SUV, or motorcycle engine running inside a garage, even if the garage door is open.
  • CO can accumulate anywhere in or around your boat, so install a CO alarm on your motorboat.  

If your CO alarm goes off, follow these steps:

  • Get everyone out of the house as quickly as possible into fresh air. Then call for help from a neighbor’s home or a cell phone outside of your home.
  • If someone is experiencing CO poisoning symptoms, call 911 for medical attention.
  • If no one is experiencing symptoms, call the fire department. They will let you know when it is safe to re-enter your home.

 For more childhood safety tips, visit www.safekidsgf.com or call us at 701-780-1489.  Altru Health System is proud to serve as the lead agency for Safe Kids Grand Forks.

Posted in Family, Parents, Role Model, Safety, Supervision, Uncategorized, Unintentional Injury | Leave a comment

Toy Safety Following Santa’s Arrival

Posted on December 22, 2011 by safekids

 With gifts wrapped and under the tree and kids awaiting Santa’s arrival, we offer these toy safety tips to keep your children safe during the holiday season and beyond.

 

Naturally, you want your children to have a safe play environment with safe toys.  Did you know that in 2009, there were an estimated 181,900 toy-related injuries?  And that children under 5 accounted for nearly half of these injuries? 

 

Do your children like small play balls and balloons? These kinds of toys account for many choking deaths.  Do your children like riding toys – unpowered scooters or tricycles?  They are associated with more injuries than any other toy group; in fact half of the toy-related injuries treated in emergency rooms were caused by unpowered riding toys.  In addition to other hazards, any electrical toy is a potential burn hazard. 

 

Make sure your children play safely by following some simple safety tips.

 

Top Toy Safety Tips

  • Be sure your children play with toys that are age-appropriate.  Read the warning labels before buying toys for your children.
  • Look for well-made toys
  • Check toys regularly for damage that could create hazards.  Repair or discard damaged toys immediately.
  • Make sure that discarded toys are out of children’s reach.
  • Watch your children while they play.  Be aware of potential dangers like small parts, cords and strings, moving parts, electrical or battery-powered cords or wheels
  • Do not allow riding toys near stairs, traffic or swimming pools
  • Teach children to put toys away after playing.  Toys intended for younger children should be stored separately from those suitable for older children
  • Make sure toy chests are open (no lid) or have safety hinges.

 

 

Merry Christmas and from Safe Kids Grand Forks, we hope you have a merry and bright holiday season (and SAFE).

You can also access more childhood safety information from Safe Kids Grand Forks at www.safekidsgf.com or by e-mailing safekids@altru.org

 

Posted in Family, Holidays, Parents, Safety, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Holiday Safety

Posted on December 6, 2011 by safekids

Thanksgiving has already come and gone, and now Christmas is just days away.  As the season continues, Safe Kids wants to remind parents how to keep kids safe from injury and avoid spending time in the emergency room, away from their family and friends. Some of the many highlights of the holiday season include decorations, toys and the wonderful meals, yet it is important for parents to be aware of the hazards that come along with this time of year.

While candles, Christmas trees, and other decorations are part of the holiday spirit, they can pose fire and poisoning hazards, especially to curious children.  According to the National Fire Protection Association, the top four days for candle fires are around Christmas and New Year’s.   Never leave lit candles unattended and to keep a close eye on both children and the decorations. Here are some other safe decorating tips:

 

  • Decorate with children in mind. Do not put ornaments that have small parts or metal hooks, or look like food or candy, on the lower branches where small children can reach them.
  • Trim protruding branches at or below a child’s eye level, and keep lights out of reach.
  • Natural trees always involve some risk of fire. To minimize the risk, get a fresh tree and keep it watered at all times. Do not put the tree within three feet of a fireplace, space heater, radiator or heat vent.
  • Never leave a lit tree or other decorative lighting display unattended.
  • Inspect lights for exposed or frayed wires, loose connections and broken sockets.
  • Do not overload extension cords or outlets and do not run an electrical cord under a rug.
  • Do not burn tree branches, treated wood or wrapping paper in a home fireplace.  

Top tips to prevent poisoning this holiday season:

  • Keep alcohol, including baking extracts, out of reach and do not leave alcoholic drinks unattended.
  • Color additives used in fireplace fires are a toxic product and should be stored out of reach.
  • Artificial snow can be harmful if inhaled, so use it in a well-vented space.
  • Mistletoe berries, Holly Berry and Jerusalem Cherry can be poisonous. If they are used in decorating, make sure children and pets cannot reach it.
    • In a poison emergency, call the national Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222.

      When it comes to buying toys for children it is not only good to look for age appropriate toys but also to read labels before making any purchases.  You can help your children play safely by following some of our safety topics and watching for important safety recalls.  Our blog entry next week will focus on toy safety so we encourage you to check back for more on that topic.
      Families spend much of their time in and around kitchens during the holidays but did you know that the majority of scald burns to children occur in places where food is prepared?  Children should stay at least three feet away from the stove and to teach children to stay out of this area.  A kitchen is not a playground and in fact, cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires in the United States. 
    You can help keep your family safe by following our safety tips and always keeping an eye out on children.  Safe Kids hopes you have a wonderful holiday season!  

For more information, contact us at safekids@altru.org or call Altru Health System at 1-800-732-4277 (extension 1489).

Posted in Family, Holidays, Parents, Safety, Uncategorized, Unintentional Injury, Winter | Leave a comment

Snowmobiling: Combining winter fun & safety

Posted on November 28, 2011 by safekids

North Dakota and the surrounding area has the joy of experiencing four distinct seasons.  Winter, albeit not some people’s favorite, is welcomed by many who enjoy outdoor activities such as snowmobiling.  As the snow begins to fly and the trails open up for use, Safe Kids offers these tips to keep those who snowmobile safe.  For more information, visit the ND Parks and Rec web site as they have great resources available as well.  To start, here are a few reminders:

 

Snowmobile Safety Classes – ND law requires youth ages 12 and older, who do not have a valid driver’s license or permit, to take a safety certification class. These classes are offered by the North Dakota Parks and Recreation         Department.  To access class dates and times, visit www.parkrec.nd.gov They also provide safety classes to other   government agencies, non-profit organizations and private sector businesses.

 

Snowmobiling is a great way to get outdoors during the winter and have fun. Accidents can happen when inexperienced riders encounter unpredictable terrain or changing weather conditions. When accidents occur, head injuries are the most common type, especially in children (source: National Institute of Health), so “Ride Safe, Ride Smart” by wearing a properly fitted helmet at all times.

Assessing your helmet:

 

  • My helmet fits properly. It should be snug and fasten securely. Improperly fitted helmets can reduce your field of vision and may not provide adequate protection.
  • My helmet is not outdated. Helmets have a shelf life of approximately five to eight years. After that time the protective materials inside begin to breakdown and offer less protection. Also as new technology is developed, helmets become more advanced and provide greater protection. Newer snowmobile helmets will keep your face warm and your vision clear of fog. For your safety, make sure that your helmet has the latest   technology. Also check the helmet for a DOT (Department of Transportation) stamp or sticker which signals the helmet meets all current safety standards.
  • My helmet is not cracked or damaged. A cracked or damaged helmet can allow almost as much damage as no helmet at all. Before using a helmet, give it a quick look over to make sure that it is not cracked or damaged. A helmet can only withstand one serious impact before losing its protective qualities.
  • My helmet provides maximum protection. Many types of helmets are available, but be sure to choose the one for your protection needs. Common injuries also include dental and facial damage, so consider a full face helmet to fully protect yourself.

If you aren’t sure you can answer yes to these statements, visit one of our safety certification courses for a free helmet assessment or check with an expert, such as a snowmobile salesman, when choosing a helmet. They will ensure the helmet fits and protects the rider properly.

(Info provided by the ND Parks and Rec web site.)

 

For readers interested in the North Dakota Laws and Safety Guidelines booklet, please contact Safe Kids Grand Forks and we will provide a copy free to charge.  Send us an e-mail at safekids@altru.org

Posted in Family, Holidays, Safety, Snowmobiling, Supervision, Uncategorized, Unintentional Injury, Winter | Leave a comment

Keeping Cooking Safe

Posted on November 21, 2011 by safekids

Thanksgiving is just a few days away and that will have family and friends gathering around a feast cooked with love.  As we head into the Christmas season as well, cooking is a big part of the holiday celebrations.  Whether cooking for a family gathering, planning for a holiday open house or spending time making time honored family baked goods, the kitchen will most likely be a gathering place.  Did you know that cooking equipment, most often a range or stovetop, is the leading cause of reported home fires and home fire injuries in the United States.  

Cooking equipment is also the leading cause of unreported fires and associated injuries.

Follow some simple safety tips to protect your family and your home.

Top Kitchen Safety Tips

Preventing cooking fires

  • Never leave hot food or appliances unattended while cooking.
  • Always be alert when you are cooking and not under the influence of medication or alcohol.
  • Keep anything that can catch on fire at least 3 feet from the stove, toaster oven, or other heat source.
  • Keep the stovetop, burners, and oven clean.
  • Do not wear loose fitting clothes that can catch fire if you stand too close to a burner.
  • If you are frying, grilling or broiling food stay in the kitchen.  If you are baking or simmering check food frequently.

Preventing burns and scalds

  • To prevent hot food or liquid spills, use the stove’s back burner and/or turn pot handles away from the stove’s edge.
  • All appliance cords should be kept coiled and away from counter edges.
  • Use oven mitts or potholders when moving hot food.
  • Open containers that have been in the microwave slowly and away from the face.
  • Never use a wet oven mitt, as it presents a scald danger if the moisture in the mitt is heated.

Keeping Kids Safe

  • Create a 3 foot Kid Free Zone around the stove.
  • Never hold a child while cooking, drinking, or carrying hot foods or liquids.
  • Young children should be more than 3 feet from any place where there is hot food, drinks, pans, or trays.
  • Hot items should be kept from the edge of counters and tables.
  • Do not use a tablecloth or placemat if very young children are in the home.
  • When children are old enough, teach them to cook safely and always with help from an adult.

 

As the holidays draw near, enjoy your time with friends and family. Cook to your heart’s content, but be safe.  For more injury prevention tips from Safe Kids Grand Forks, visit www.safekidsgf.com or join us on Facebook at Safe Kids Grand Forks.  Happy Thanksgiving!!

Posted in Cooking, Family, Fire, Grilling, Holidays, Parents, Safety, Stove, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized, Unintentional Injury | Leave a comment