Another child safety recall this month, this time regarding the Evenflo Majestic High Chair. Forbes.com reports on the recall:
Almost 100,000 Evenflo Majestic High Chairs are being recalled because plastic caps and metal screws on both sides of the chairs can fall off, causing the back of the seat to collapse, the government and the product maker said Thursday.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Evenflo Co. Inc. announced the recall of about 95,000 high chairs sold at juvenile product stores and mass merchants nationwide, including Toys "R" Us, Babies "R" Us, Burlington Coat Factory and other stores.
Evenflo said it had received more than 1,000 reports of plastic caps and screws falling off of the high chairs and 140 reports of the seatbacks reclining or detaching.
The malfunctioning seats resulted in 47 reports of bumps and bruises, 2 reports of broken bones and at least 45 reports of other injuries, Evenflo said.
If you happen to have one of these chairs, contact Evenflo for a free repair kit.
If you are an educator or just want to educate yourself and your children on the hazards of child predators, KidsandStrangers.org has produced a dvd to help you and your family and friends learn about child safety. The dvd includes the following categories:
-Empowering Children: Going to School, The Playground, Home Alone, Who is a Stranger?, Early Internet Safety, Kid Escape, The “Grip, Dip & Spin” technique for breaking free from an abductor.
-Texting , Talking and Internet Predators: Actual teen experiences, 911 calls operator interviews.
-Parent Tips, Family Talk and Walk: What parents need to know and do.
With decorating for the holidays in full swing, remembering to keep certain items away from small children that pose a child safety hazard is very important. Certain Christmas tree decorations, party supplies, and other seasonal plants that aren’t normally in the house might appear to be a new toy to a small, curious child.
Safe Kids Kansas Inc. reminds parents to put ornaments that have small parts or metal hooks on higher branches that are out of reach of children. Also, keep alcohol, including baking extracts, out of reach and do not leave alcoholic beverages unattended.
Holly berries, mistletoe berries and poinsettias are potentially harmful if eaten. If a child eats any part of a nonfood plant, call the Poison Control Center at (800) 222-1222.
And don’t forget that toys can be harmful and even deadly, according to Safe Kids Kansas. Hospital emergency rooms treat about 217,000 toy-related injuries each year, and about 15 children under the age of 14 die. So, if shopping for toys, beware of toy recalls. To stay informed, parents can sign up for e-mail announcements at www.cpsc.gov.
As we rush around this holiday season trying to get everything done, do you consider toys that you are purchasing and how safe they are for your child? While a child might make a wishlist for you that includes toys they really want, it is very important to check the age appropriate levels on the toy to make sure that the toy is 100% safe for your child.
While you shop for toys to stick under the Christmas tree, child safety advocates suggest following this set of rules. First, read the label. Check the age recommendation manufacturers put on the bright colored packaging.
"Even though it may be something they think that a child might like, there is some reason that the manufacturer feels that that toy needs to be in the hands of an older child," said Michael Hughes, Executive Director of Safe Kids Mississippi.
Small parts that can be easily ingested by little children. Tiny button batteries often found in electronics are particularly dangerous.
Hughes said, "You got a two fold problem in that there is a blockage of the gastro intestinal tract. They will also discharge their electrical current into the tissue causing an electrical burn."
Holidays can be a traumatic time for your child with all of the events and traveling, but even more so if you have an autistic child. The News Anchor Mom offers up some great tips for your making sure your autistic child feels safe this holiday season:
-To help your autistic child cope with the holiday from school, you will need to plan several activities to keep them busy.
-Go about your normal routine for a school day as much as possible. This will help your autistic child deal with the time off from school.
-Holidays will bring many visitors to your house. This can make your autistic child feel nervous if they are not used to lots of people coming by. This can also mean a change in their normal daily schedule.
-The holidays can mean many different outings. These can interfere with your autistic child’s normal schedule. This does not mean you have to pass them up. You simply need to plan for them. Tell your autistic child about the outing in advance. Talk with them about what the outing will entail.