March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Parents alerted to home dangers

Northeast COMBAT, in conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, wants you to know that each year more children die in home accidents than from all childhood diseases combined.

There are many household dangers. Know what and where the dangerous items are — medicines, toxic bleaches, oven and drain cleaners, paint solvents, polishes and waxes. Don’t leave items packaged in child-resistant containers under the sink or in plain sight in a garage. Lock them away in a secure place, out of your child’s sight and reach.

Keep away from children all thin plastic wrapping materials, such as dry cleaning, produce or trash bags. Never use thin plastic material to cover mattresses or pillows. The plastic film can cling to a child’s face causing suffocation.

Guard against electrical shocks. Cover unused outlets with safety caps. Disconnect electric rollers or hair dryers when not in use. Children have been electrocuted when hair dryers that were left plugged in fell into bathroom sinks or tubs.

Keep children away from open windows to prevent falls. Don’t depend on screens to keep the child from falling out a window. They are designed to keep insects out, not children in. Avoid placing furniture near windows to keep children from climbing to a window seat or sill.

Keep small objects out of your child’s reach. Tiny toys and toys with small, removable parts can be swallowed or become lodged in a child’s windpipe, ears or nose. Check to see that toys have not broken or come apart at the seams, exposing small pellets that might be swallowed or inhaled. Even such common items as coins, pins, buttons or small batteries can choke a child.

When choosing toys, look for labels that give age recommendations such as “Recommended for children 3 to 5 years old.” Some toys or games which are safe for older children may contain small parts that are hazardous in a younger child’s hands.

If a toy chest, trunk or other container for storing toys has a free-falling lid, remove the lid. A lid can drop on a child’s head or neck. Some children have been killed or seriously injured. Look for a chest which has supports to hold the lid open in any position or choose one with sliding panels or a lightweight, removable lid.

Many nursery products have a long life and may be stored in anticipation of future use. When choosing used or new nursery equipment, check for sturdy construction and stability. Avoid exposed screws, bolts or fasteners with sharp edges or points. Avoid scissorlike mechanisms that could crush fingers and avoid cut-out designs that could entrap a child’s head.

Safety straps on high chairs and strollers are a must. Look for straps that are easy to fasten and unfasten so that you will be sure to use them properly each time.

Mesh playpens and portable cribs should never be used with a side left down. They can pose a serious hazard to newborns and infants because the mesh forms a loose pocket into which an infant can roll and suffocate.

Use baby walkers only on smooth surfaces. Edges of carpets, throw rugs or raised thresholds can cause a walker to tip over. Remove throw rugs when a walker is in use, and block the tops of stairways. Children have fallen down stairs in walkers.

Never tie pacifiers or other items around your baby’s neck. Cords and ribbons can become tightly twisted or can catch on crib corner posts or other protrusions, causing strangulation.

Above all, watch your children as they play. Nothing can substitute for careful supervision.

Consumer Forum is a collaborative effort of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast COMBAT. Send questions to Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329. COMBAT is a nonprofit organization with annual dues of $10. For membership information write to the above address.


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