Holidays | Safety at Home

Summer safety tips

July 1st, 2011

I just saw a headline online that promised “Parenting tips to keep your kids safer this summer.” I clicked through and read the first tip which was a description of how many injuries are caused by trampolines, concluding with the suggestion that kids don’t use trampolines.

Humph! No trampolines? That doesn’t seem like a useful tip. Surely there are actions we can take to mitigate risks. What’s next? Swimming certainly results in the most tragic summer accidents. Should we make a rule: No swimming?

With summer upon us, I thought I’d round up a list of useful, actionable safety tips for the activities that many of us will be doing this summer. I hope you find them helpful, and not restrictive:

Hanging out in the backyard: Staycation safety tips from UL
Lounging at the pool: Sun protection for babies means hats and shade, not sunscreen.
Joining the crowds at a thrilling destination: Tips for visiting a theme park
Boarding a watercraft: Before you go boating
Exploring by foot: Hiking safety tips

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Click It or Ticket campaign

June 30th, 2011

When I was about thirteen years old, I got my first moving violation in a car. No, I wasn’t joy-riding in the family station wagon, but I got a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt. In order to expunge my record, I went to an afternoon traffic safety course and have been a law-abiding seatbelt wearer ever since.

The “Click It or Ticket” campaign is a nationwide effort to remind all of us to wear our seatbelts. Per the National Highway Safety Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

Click It or Ticket (CIOT) is the most successful seat belt enforcement campaign ever, helping create the highest national seat belt usage rate of 85 percent. Coast to coast, day or night, the message is simple – Click It or Ticket.

While the consequences of not wearing a seatbelt (whether it be life endangerment during a car accident or learning about safety in a classroom setting) are in force year-round, the beginning of summer is a time to get out the message.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and disability for Americans between the ages of 4 and 34.

Men age 18 to 34 are the least likely to wear seatbelts. I bet you know someone in that age range. Remind them to Click It or Ticket!

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Safer Father’s Day gifts

June 17th, 2011

By Heather

With only moments left until Father’s Day, I’d like to offer you a few quick and safe gift ideas!

Barbecue Set: Outfit your patio daddy-o with a new grill brush, flipping tools, a heat-resistant mitt and a gentle reminder to keep the grill a safe distance from all structures. The Barbecue Bible is a great companion book.

Dangerous projects made safer: My favorite thing about The Dangerous Book for Boys is how it helps parents and sons take intelligent risks in the name of fun. It’s a great resource for project inspiration and safety tips.

Time to himself: I heard a funny statistic last week that, right behind a new car, dads want time to themselves. I like it; I relate to it; and I can afford it.

There was a great discussion on our facebook page recently that listed a few other great ideas for safety-oriented gifts for Dad. Readers suggested golf gloves to prevent blisters or a shiny new motorcycle helmet. Excellent!

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The year in review, according to the kids

December 28th, 2010

By Whitney

Older parents always say that the days are long but the years are short. When our children are young, and we think 12 months back, it’s hard to believe the person we knew early in the calendar year is the same one standing before us at the year’s end.

An idea that circulated on mommy blogs a while back was to interview your children. They do say the funniest things, after all. Especially when you ask them questions about what they think you do for a living. (“Type on the computer” is rapidly becoming the profession of many parents, I’d guess!)

I think an interview with a child is a lovely year-end tradition. It’s an opportunity to capture who they are at this moment in their history, and can serve as a time capsule to be enjoyed each year. Save them all in a book to share during the holiday season, and everyone can enjoy the memories.

As I now have one child who is old enough to read and write, I am particularly appreciating the ability to capture that development.

Some suggested questions for preschoolers:

- Who lives with you?

- Where do you live?

- What is your favorite thing to eat?

- What is your favorite thing to do?

- What is Mommy’s favorite thing to do?

- What do you want to be when you grow up?

- What is your favorite place to go with Mommy and Daddy?

- What are you really good at?

- If you could change your name, what would you choose?

For gradeschoolers:

- What was the best thing about 2010?

- What do you think will be the best thing about being 2011?

- What do you want to be when you grow up?

- What is your favorite toy?

- What is your favorite book?

- What is your favorite TV show?

- What is your favorite song?

- What is your favorite movie?

- What is your favorite restaurant?

- What is your favorite food?

What do you think your children will remember most from this year?

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Extension cords matter too

December 23rd, 2010

By Heather

This season as we put up our UL-certified outdoor lights, I encourage you to remember to check the ratings on your extension cord too! Did you know that UL tests and certifies extension cords to be safe for outdoor use? When winter weather (hail, sleet, snow, rain, and huge gusts of wind) arrives at your home during the holidays, you do not want your weakest link to be a flimsy indoor-only extension cord.

Does it really matter?

Extension cords that can be used outdoors will be clearly marked “Suitable for Use with Outdoor Appliances.” Never use an indoor extension cord outdoors; it could result in an electric shock or fire hazard. Or worse.

Decking the halls with lights, safely

Extension cord safety, what you might not know (even more tips!)

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The painful truth about Christmas ornaments

December 20th, 2010

By Whitney

I bet you know what that is. It’s something on which you really don’t want to step with a bare foot. And you don’t have to.

Here’s an easy holiday resolution for you: go through all your ornaments before you pack them away and replace any sharp hooks with string.

That’s better, isn’t it?

As you open presents and packages this season, keep your eyes peeled for materials that can be reused as ornament hangers.

You can use ribbon and a hot glue gun to attach it.

Or a leather cord.

Anything but those @*$#! hooks! They’re not safe for little kids, animals, or moms who forgot to put on their slippers.

You’re welcome.

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Don’t let your baby slurp the wrapping paper

December 17th, 2010

For my baby’s first Christmas, we pretty much let him skip out. As the first grandchild (on both sides), we could schedule present-opening around his naps and bedtime. I didn’t want him being tempted by tiny ornaments, loose wrapping paper, ribbon, or consumerism. Besides, I figured that a baby of only seven months wasn’t going to get a whole lot out of our traditions.

I recently read (from California Poison Control System) that you should never let babies chew on foil wrapping paper. It may contain lead. Yikes. I never thought of that before when I was warning everyone how to act at the holidays.

Tags: California Poison Control System, lead, wrapping paper
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Living in a material world

December 15th, 2010

By Whitney

It’s the time of year we become obsessed with THINGS. Truthfully, I feel like I’m equally obsessed with PEOPLE and with FOOD when I think about our family gathering at the end of December. (Where will they all sleep? What will I feed them?) But, in the weeks leading up to the Christmas holiday, it seems that what’s being pushed upon me is a steady stream of THINGS.

My family is pretty good about giving experiences and other non-tangibles as gifts, of which I am a huge fan. My in-laws took my son to a concert as a gift. They sponsored the makeover of our garage as a big gift last year. (Never mind that I didn’t hire a handyman and get the job done for 10 months.)

As a blogger, I receive hundreds of suggestions each week from companies who think I might like their products enough to write about them. I am amazed by how many products and services there are in the world. It shouldn’t seem so difficult to select one nice thing for each member of my family. Why is it?

It’s because I don’t want to give them clutter. I hate to think about books that go unread, scarves that just hang in a closet, and gadgets that don’t get used because my mom (not to name names) can’t bother reading the directions. So I go back to the clutter-free gifts: massage certificates, ethnic food walking tours, money for iTunes. But it’s just not as much fun to put these things under the tree.

Picture by 416Style

What’s your approach for gift giving? Do you buy the latest electronic gadget or paint each loved one a picture?

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How to throw a safer holiday party

December 6th, 2010

We had some great parties back when I was single and hosted other single people at my apartment. There was the Thanksgiving potluck where the turkey was raw and had to cook for an extra hour or two past when the side dishes arrived. Oh well. And that Hanukkah potluck where boiling hot latkes and donuts ruled the day without a vegetable in sight. Fun times.

Now that many of my friends have children, the parties are a different kind of fun. You can’t beat the adorable expression on a child’s face when they taste a delicious new food or the fear in a toddler’s eyes when Santa Claus visits unexpectedly. (Seriously, do your kids like that guy or are they terrified of old strangers in costumes like my kids?!

Here are a few tips for hosting a safer holiday party with little kids:

Re-babyproof. Having over a bunch of kids really ups the ante for safety hazards. Do another pass at looking at your home from a baby’s level, a toddler’s level, and a curious older child’s level. What is most enticing and most dangerous? Fix it.
Take a minute. During the party, be your own safety monitor and commit a minute to looking for new hazards. Knives, hot burners, candles, and more. Open your eyes and fix what you find.
Hire a sitter. Seriously? Seriously, can you designate some older cousins to be on kid duty in a playroom or bedroom? Other options include hiring some cool preschool teachers to lead the kids in crafts and games or asking parents to take a few shifts in the kids’ space. Make a fun zone for them and your adult guests can enjoy their space more.

Now that you’re ready to throw a safer inter-generational holiday party, I hope you can have a great time and remember to take lots of pictures!

Tags: holiday, holiday party
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3 tips for a safer Hanukkah

December 3rd, 2010

By Whitney

Though it comes each year at a different time, the traditions are always the same. For American Jews, Hanukkah means eating potato pancakes (called latkes), lighting candles and opening small gifts each night. Here are some things to keep in mind if you’ll be celebrating the Festival of Lights.

Candles. Although the Hanukkah candles must be allowed to burn out on their own, don’t leave them unattended. Set menorahs on a clear and stable surface where little fingers cannot reach them.
Latkes. Frying up food is part of Hanukkah fun. Make sure to keep pans of hot oil on the back burners of the stove rather than the front. This will reduce the chance of someone getting splashed with oil or accidentally catching the pot handle on their clothing.
Presents! Tis the season for new toys and gadgets. Pick age-appropriate items for little kids so that they are kept safe from breakable and/or choking-hazard sized pieces. And, be sure to look for the UL Mark on any electronic gifts.

If you celebrate Hanukkah, we’d love to hear your traditions!

Tags: Hanukkah
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