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Safety Alert: 10 Common Household Items that can Hurt or Kill a Child or Dog
Hollywood, FL
Monday, January 22, 2007
Debra Holtzman, J.D., M.A.
"Don't take chances on when it comes your child or pet's safety," warns Debra Holtzman J.D, M.A, an internationally recognized safety and health expert and author of the best-selling book, The Safe Baby: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Home Safety (Sentient Publications). "You can prevent injuries associated with these products, by becoming educated about their potential danger and by taking the necessary precautions" says Holtzman
Here's Debra Holtzman's Top Ten List:
1. Latex balloons. More children have suffocated on uninflated balloons and pieces of balloons than any other type of toy. Balloon related deaths are more common among children ages three and older than among younger children. Consider Mylar balloons instead.
2. Stuffed toys: Be aware that seams can separate and allow stuffing or plastic pellets to be released, presenting a choking hazard to young children and pets. Check also for small detachable parts, security of eyes, nose and mouth of stuffed toys.
3. Garage Door: Watch out for automatic garage doors. 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.
4. Disc Batteries: They may, if swallowed, stick in the throat or stomach, causing serious burns as the chemical leaks out.
5. Window treatments with hanging cords: Those manufactured before 2001 may pose a strangulation risk to small children and pets. You can replace them with cordless window coverings or repair them. You can obtain free retrofit safety devices from the Window Covering Safety Council, www.windowcoverings.org.
6. Antifreeze: Children or pets could drink large amounts of this sweet-tasting liquid if it is left out in an open container or if spilled on your driveway. The main ingredient in many major antifreeze brands is ethylene glycol, which is extremely toxic. Use antifreeze with propylene glycol, which is considerably less toxic, or use antifreeze that has a bittering agent added to make it taste unpleasant.
7. Large and heavy furniture and appliances: Eight thousand to 10,000 victims are treated in emergency rooms annually for furniture tip-over injuries, and some of these injuries are fatal. Use angle braces or anchors to secure to wall.
8. 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.
9. Storage chests: Suffocation deaths occur in such places when a child or pet 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.
10. Recalled products: These are products that have been found to be unsafe, hazardous or defective. Keep up-to-date on by visiting www.Recalls.gov
Debra Holtzman has been featured on NBC's Today Show, MSNBC and Discovery Health Channel. The Safe Baby: A Do-it-Yourself Guide to Home Safety (Sentient Publications) is in bookstores everywhere.
Interviews may be arranged via: E-mail: safebook@aol.com
Telephone: 954-963-7702
http://thesafetyexpert.com
Here's Debra Holtzman's Top Ten List:
1. Latex balloons. More children have suffocated on uninflated balloons and pieces of balloons than any other type of toy. Balloon related deaths are more common among children ages three and older than among younger children. Consider Mylar balloons instead.
2. Stuffed toys: Be aware that seams can separate and allow stuffing or plastic pellets to be released, presenting a choking hazard to young children and pets. Check also for small detachable parts, security of eyes, nose and mouth of stuffed toys.
3. Garage Door: Watch out for automatic garage doors. 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.
4. Disc Batteries: They may, if swallowed, stick in the throat or stomach, causing serious burns as the chemical leaks out.
5. Window treatments with hanging cords: Those manufactured before 2001 may pose a strangulation risk to small children and pets. You can replace them with cordless window coverings or repair them. You can obtain free retrofit safety devices from the Window Covering Safety Council, www.windowcoverings.org.
6. Antifreeze: Children or pets could drink large amounts of this sweet-tasting liquid if it is left out in an open container or if spilled on your driveway. The main ingredient in many major antifreeze brands is ethylene glycol, which is extremely toxic. Use antifreeze with propylene glycol, which is considerably less toxic, or use antifreeze that has a bittering agent added to make it taste unpleasant.
7. Large and heavy furniture and appliances: Eight thousand to 10,000 victims are treated in emergency rooms annually for furniture tip-over injuries, and some of these injuries are fatal. Use angle braces or anchors to secure to wall.
8. 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.
9. Storage chests: Suffocation deaths occur in such places when a child or pet 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.
10. Recalled products: These are products that have been found to be unsafe, hazardous or defective. Keep up-to-date on by visiting www.Recalls.gov
Debra Holtzman has been featured on NBC's Today Show, MSNBC and Discovery Health Channel. The Safe Baby: A Do-it-Yourself Guide to Home Safety (Sentient Publications) is in bookstores everywhere.
Interviews may be arranged via: E-mail: safebook@aol.com
Telephone: 954-963-7702
http://thesafetyexpert.com
