Pools, kids and drowning: A Big Reminder!

Did everyone hear the recent U.S. study that found a child drowns in a backyard portable pool once every five days in the summer?  (original study is in the Journal of Paediatrics).

From inflatable pools to wading pools even to in-ground pools - this is a big parent reminder - children should be closely supervised around water.

I learnt this the hard way.

A few years ago, the kids were swimming at a friend's house.  I got out of the water (they were at the edge in the shallow end) to get them towels.  (back up - they were 6 & 8 and had water noodles keeping them up - I wouldn't leave a toddler or baby ever in water).  So I turned just for a minute to get them a towel.

I was right there.

And I turned to see both kids under water - eyes open - near-drowning.  (Thing 2 had lost her noodle - grabbed Thing 1 - who at that exact moment lost her footing and went under with the weight of her sister holding her). 

And I froze.  You would think Mother instinct would set it.  I would jump to save my babies.  And I was just frozen for seconds.  Precious seconds.  I will never forget freezing.  Ever.

Our friend jumped in.  Propped the girls up.  And they were fine. 

The saying "water is a silent killer" is true - because kids don't scream while they go under.  I was right there and I didn't hear a sound.

Keep your kids in arms reach while they enjoy water play this summer.  Take a CPR course (I really need to do this myself). 

Pools should be fun for kids...not deathly.

MapsGirls Safe Car Seat

From May 30 to to June 5th, My friend @mapsgirl will be writing many posts about car seats, car seat installation and passenger safety as part of Safe Kids Canada's Safe Kids Week 2011.

Wanted to share with Parent Club readers to surf over her Funny Things Are Everywhere blog to read about car seat safety (a hot topic in my house as you know we are in the infant car seat stage again).

She's also giving away a True Fit Convertible Car Seat.  I might enter that myself ;-)

Car Seat Debate

Thank you to the Parent Club reader who sent this in...

"I have many car seats for my boys...8 in total - two in each of my cars and two for my parents car who watch the boys for us two days a week and two expired convertible booster seats, replaced just this week (and that is only counting the ones I currently have, not the two infant car seats I have already gotten rid of or or the three in one alpha omega I have long since passed on).

My issue is that these seats "expire", I believe they are only supposed to be used for 5 years...and then they should be disposed of...(another major issue I have...disposal of these items is disgusting...

option 1 - land fill

option 2 - ??? I don't actually know of any other option

My real problem here is that the seats are sold with the obvious intention of being used for two stages of a childs car seats needs, but you can't actually use them for the entire time they are needed if you don't want to use them past the expiration date. And also that there seems to be no real way to recycle the seats.

I found the following quote online "Dorel has been considering a car seat recycling program, Leckner says, but added that there has been no real demand from consumers for such a program.".

How can there not be a real demand from consumers for such a program?? I think we should demand it, in fact we insist on it!! I am so tired of all the work I do at home and work and in my community to make sure each piece of TRASH goes in the right bin, and then there just does not seem to be a right bin for these items...granted maybe I do have too many of them...but I would not need so many if they did not expire!!!

OK so that is the end of my rant...anything you think we can do about it? I found the statement from dorel to be both surprising and disappointing, in this age of green companies I am surprised any large organization would make such a statement and then to let it be posted on the Internet...how is it that this is not causing uproar among all of us green living parents!!!

The Transport Canada website presents their stand on car seat expiry dates HERE along with Canadian car seat manufacturers and 'useful life' expectancies.

Apparently, to dispose of a car seat one should "remove all harnessing, all padding, and place the shell and car seat parts in separate dark coloured garbage bags."

Parent Club - what do you think of car seats in Canada? - chime in through the comments...

When Kids Almost Drown - Water Safety

This week we were invited to a friend's pool. They have a shallow end. Thing 1 didn't want to wear a life jacket (and following suite - neither did Thing 2) - however there were noodles to keep them afloat and they had taken a few swimming lessons in the past year. There were the only kids in the pool and I was right there. I was right there.

Towards the end of our swim...I sat on the edge of the pool to dry off and prepare their towels. For some reason - perhaps it was the sudden quiet - or the lack of splashing - or a mother's instinct, I looked at the children...

Both heads were underwater, no noodle in sight, Thing 1 had her mouth open and was screaming but only bubbles were coming out. I stood up and froze for just a second. I couldn't believe my eyes.

Our friend (who was in front of me) jumped in and pulled them up. Thing 2 had lost the noodle - had grabbed on to Thing 1 - Thing 1 couldn't hold up the weight of Thing 2 and was just far enough that she was on her tip toes in the shallow end (and a bit more than an arms's reach from the ledge).

It scared the crap out of me. It scared them too. It was a big lesson for all of us.

I know I won't freeze again. The reality that kids drown in seconds hit home (and that they don't make a sound when they do). Water wings will always come to the pool with us. Water is fun - but it is also dangerous. Thank goodness - the grown-ups were right there.

Parent Club: June is safety month

June is Home Safety Month according to the Home Safety Council. Below are a few safety tips all parents should adhere to...

• When children are in the tub, stay close enough to touch them.
  
• Put new batteries in your smoke alarms at least one time each year.
  
• Children can choke on small items, such as buttons, coins, jewelry and smalltoys. If it fits in a toilet paper roll, it is not safe for little children.
  
• Purchase cleaners, household chemicals, medications and other potentially hazardous products with child resistant packaging.

Note the Poison Control Centre's phone number; (Toronto) 416-813-5900 or 1-800-268-9017 near a phone.

The Safety Association of Canada sends out FREE blind safety kits - which includes hardware to ensure your little ones stay safe.

I have always instructed my kids NOT to answer phones or open outside doors unless a parent is present. This was valuable recently, when someone rang the doorbell to the front door - just as I stepped out the backdoor to take out the garbage. The kids came running - someone's at the door!. I applauded them for sticking to the rules -- and let them open the door -- as I stood beside them.

Safe Kids Week 2008

Safe Kids Week kicks off this week. According to Safe Kids Canada over 2,000 Canadian children are injured and another 30 killed due to child pedestrian incidents. The average child pedestrian was killed within 5 km of his home...while crossing the street at an intersection. Pile up 30 t-shirts, 30 pairs of shoes, 30 sunhats...that's a whole class of children killed.

Drivers need to respect the speed limit on residential streets. Slowing down will save a life. Stop multi-tasking while you drive too. Stay focused on the road so that when a child runs out on to the street to retrieve a ball -- you will be ready. According to the Safe Kids Canada media release; "Before the age of 12, children lack the cognitive ability to follow one set of rules and apply them to multiple situations, and their capacity to use information is not fully developed". This means though you teach your child NOT to chase that ball onto the street....they just might do it anyway.

For more information about Safe Kids Week go to their website at; http://www.sickkids.ca/safekidsCanada/

BPA Free

Thanks for the comments regarding the FREE avent sippy cups and BPA. Absolutely, research what you buy (or get for free). Read the Parent Club post which tells you about BPA and where to buy BPA-Free gear HERE.

On this vien of thought...a reader has shared that Zellers and toysrus is taking; bottles pumps, soothers, etc... back no matter the shape. They return full price for the item. Up to last week, these stores were taking items back without a receipt but starting this week -- you do need a receipt.

Disposing of that car seat

Many car seats mark the expiry date on the right hand side of the car seat or booster. Some car seats are safe to use until they are 10 years old; others 6 or 8 years. If you are unsure of your seat's expiry date; call Transport Canada at 1-800-333-0371.

What do you do if your seat has past the expiry date? You should destroy the seat so that no one else may use it. Sounds horribly un-environmentally friendly? According to the experts, plastic breaks down with the heat of summer and the cold of winter. Though your seat may look perfectly good...the plastic may be compromised after extended use.

According to Safe Kids Canada...this is how to dispose of your out-of-date seat.

• Cut off the harness straps


• Remove all the padding


• Damage the seat so that no one else will be able to use it

You may be able to recycle the plastic shell of the car seat or booster seat - call your local recycling centre.

For more information click over to; Kids Safe Canada

Green Light for Car Seats

I have had the misfortune of dropping my child off at her grandparent's home -- only to realize a few hours later (and 150km away) that her car seat was still in my vehicle. Was she big enough to go without?!...
Here's the 411 on car seat information (according to the Canada Safety Council);

• Infants should be rear-facing (from infancy to 22 lbs


• Babies and toddlers should be forward-facing (from 22 lbs to 40 lbs).


• Kids should be in a booster seat (from 40 lbs onward)


• Seat belts are for kids who are 1.45 m (4 ft. 9 in.), or 80 lb., or 8 years of age

Check with your car seat manufacturer for the exact height and weight limitations of your product. Loads of kids don't hit their weight limitation but they do over-reach the height -- so be informed of both limitations.

The Toronto Police and also Toronto Fire Services hold clinics for car seat inspection and installation. You can go to their respective websites and find information on a clinic in your neighbourhood. The great thing about the clinics is that, even if you have already installed your car seat, they will inspect it to make sure that it leaves the parking lot properly installed. These clinics are FREE.

My dd was fine without her car seat. She is borderline seat belt ready. Though I think I'll keep her in the booster a bit longer.