The Forgotten Children The forgotten children. Sounds like the beginning of a great story or fairy tale, but it isn’t. It’s about a group of children we don’t talk about much - children between the ages of eight and 14.
trucks and older vehicles. Teens tend not to wear seat belts at night, don’t buckle up when they’re passengers, and often take a lot of friends along for the ride - sometimes more kids than there are seat belts.
For years we’ve read and heard advice on how to safely transport newborns and infants in car seats. And we’ve listened: More than 90% of Utah children under age 4 are now riding in car seats. As children graduate to boosters (seats for kids who weigh between 40 and 80 pounds and aren’t tall enough to fit an adult seat belt yet), we’re again given plenty of information to safely make the change.
As parents, we need to make sure our kids develop good safety habits and are buckled up on every ride. And we need to ask questions. This is the age group of children who will be traveling with other people to games, practices and other events. When they ride with their friends, are all passengers buckled up? Do you ask the other parents who transport your kids if they make sure they buckle up?
According to research by Safe Kids Worldwide, child safety seats reduce the risk of death in a crash by up to 71 percent when they’re installed and used correctly. Booster seats reduce the risk of injury by 59 percent compared to seat belts used alone.
Remember this deadly equation, and teach it to your children: A 50-pound child will generate 1,000 pounds of force in a 20 m.p.h. crash. That’s a lot of force on a young body, so it’s up to parents to make sure that children ALWAYS buckle up when they ride with you and anyone else.
But what about those children in the middle? The Utah Department of Public Safety’s 2005 Crash Summary shows that children ages 10-19 have the lowest seat belt use in Utah. Let’s talk about these kids. Teen boys are notoriously lax about buckling up, as are those who drive pickup
Don’t forget this very special group of children. Teach them well and keep them around for many happy endings.
COALITION CONTACTS
Box 142106, SLC, UT 84114-2106 (801) 538-6852
Safe Kids Utah
Spokesperson Derek Parra Olympic Gold Medal Skater
Sharon Hines-Stringer (801) 538-6852 Janet B. Brooks (801) 662-6585
Honorary Chair
Local Safe Kids Coalitions
Bob Evans KSTU Fox 13 Anchor
Lead Organization Violence and Injury Prevention Program
Proud Partners Utah Department of Health Primary Children’s Medical Center State Farm Insurance Utah Student Nurses Association Utah State Office of Education Utah Safety Council Utah Department of Public Safety AAA Utah Utah Poison Control Center Utah PTA American Academy of Pediatrics, Utah Chapter Larry H. Miller Chevrolet Chevron KSTU Fox 13
Safe Kids Utah thanks Anchor Printing, Zellerbach Paper, Intermountain Healthcare, the Utah Highway Safety Office, Utah Department of Health Traumatic Brain Injury Surveillance Project, State Farm Insurance Company and Primary Children’s Medical Center for their generous contributions which allowed us to produce this newsletter.
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Local Safe Kids Chapters Safe Kids Central Utah Safe Kids Wasatch County Safe Kids Tri-County Safe Kids Utah County Safe Kids Great Basin Safe Kids Summit County Safe Kids Tooele County Safe Kids Weber-Morgan Safe Kids Southeast Utah Safe Kids Washington County Safe Kids Iron County
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Terry Smith Amber Peterson Jeramie Tubbs Andrea Miller Dean Shields Geri Essen Brenda Nelson Jann Fawcett Georgina Nowak Penny Cluff VaLynne Nicholes
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(435) 896-5451 x. 41 (435) 657-3259 (435) 722-6306 (801) 851-7035 (435) 743-6530 (435) 615-3912 (435) 843-2338 (801) 399-7186 (435) 637-3671 (435) 986-2564 (435) 868-5810
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SENTINEL
Fall 2006
P r e v e n t i n g
HANDS OFF!
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Home Paper Shredders a New Injury Threat Every day we hear stories about identity theft and the importance of shredding personal documents. Now, shredders that were once only for offices are common in homes and doctors are seeing a corresponding increase in shredder injuries among children. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received at least 50 reports of shredder injuries since 2000. More than half were to children ages 3 and under. Injuries include cuts and amputations. Many shredders have an ‘autostart’ feature that allows a child to operate the machine when no adult is present. A child’s small fingers can be easily pulled in. If you have a home shredder, the CPSC recommends: Continued on page 2
inside... Shopping Carts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Crib Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Forgotten Children . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Spot the Tot is Keeping Children Safe Around Cars etween 1997 and 2005, 24 Utah children were killed and more than 261 were seriously hurt by vehicles in home driveways. On average, one Utah child under the age of 10 is injured or killed in a driveway rollover every two weeks.
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In 2005, Safe Kids Utah and its partners united with Primary Children’s Medical Center with the goal of reducing drieway deaths and injuries. SM The Spot the Tot slogan was chosen for its ability to quickly remind drivers of the program’s purpose and their role in keeping kids safe around cars. It’s an easy, low-cost way to teach drivers and children how not to get hurt. Most driveway rollover incidents in Utah involve: • Children under five years of age. • Large, high-profile vehicles like trucks, vans and SUVs. However, all vehicles, large or small, have blind spots where children can be out of the driver’s sight. • Vehicles traveling in reverse. • A child’s family member as the driver. • Rushed and distracted drivers. Safety window clings that drivers can attach to car windows are available through the campaign to remind adults to “spot the tot” and perform all of the safety tactics they’ve learned before starting and moving their vehicles. Preventive measures around the car to remember are: • Walk completely around your vehicle before getting in. • Know where children are. Have children stand in a place where they are in full view while moving your vehicle. • Never leave your children unattended in or around vehicles. Continued on page 2
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Attention Shoppers: Carts Aren’t Kids’ Play Ready or not, the holiday shopping season is upon us. Many of us will be taking our children along as we browse the aisles looking for that perfect gift.
Leaving children alone in carts for even a few seconds puts them in danger. More than 80% of parents admit to leaving children unattended at least once during a shopping trip. So keep your eye on your child and your cart, and be aware of what others are doing around you so your child isn’t at risk of being hit by a runaway cart. Other tips include:
If you take your child shopping and use a cart, please remember that they can be dangerous for young children. Every year more than 20,000 children ages 5 and under are treated in U.S. hospitals for falls from shopping carts. Injuries range from minor cuts and scrapes to head injuries, with 74% of cart-related injuries occurring to the head and neck.
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In 2005 Primary Children’s Medical Center’s emergency department reported treating 50 children due to shopping cart injuries. Seven of these were serious enough to activate the trauma team.
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Injuries can occur when children stand up in the child seat or cart basket. Children can fall when they lean out of the cart to reach for something. They can also suffer cuts, bruises, broken bones, concussions and internal injuries when they jump or fall from a cart. Tiny fingers are in danger of being pinched in the folding device of the cart’s child seat, and toes can be caught in the wheels.
Always use safety belts provided to restrain children in shopping cart seats. Consider bringing a harness or safety belt with you when you shop, in case one is not provided. Don’t let children ride or stand in the cart seat or basket. Don’t let children ride or climb on the sides or front of the cart. Never let a child push or steer the shopping cart, especially when another child is inside. Keep your child busy with a favorite toy or book while shopping. Always stay close to the shopping cart.
Finally, try getting your children involved in their own safety. Tell them the cart rules before you get to the store and reward them for good behavior.
HANDS OFF! Continued from page 1
Spot the Tot Continued from page 1
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Never allow children to operate shredders, even wih adult supervision.
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Keep the shredder away from children.
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Unplug the power cord when it’s not being used.
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Don’t operate a shredder while wearing loose-fitting clothing or jewelry that may get caught in the opening.
• Never leave your children unattended in or around vehicles. • Choose safe play areas away from parked or moving vehicles and the street. • Be aware of young children. They are small and hard to see.
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If you buy or are given a used shredder, check the CPSC website at www.cpsc.gov for recalls of that model.
In September, the campaign was adopted by Safe Kids Worldwide and is being launched in major cities across the U.S.
If you’re unsure of the safety of any product or need to report a product-related injury, contact the CPSC.
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For more information, or to get a Spot the Tot window cling for your vehicle, call Primary Children’s Medical Center at (801) 622-6585.
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The Cradle Will Fall
Now to Lay Him Down to Sleep
Of all items in the nursery, cribs, especially older ones,
To reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death
are responsible for the most infant deaths.
Syndrome) and suffocation, remember these important bedtime tips for infants under 12 months of age: •
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Choosing the right crib can be confusing. There are so many things to consider: The color, size, type, and price. But the most important part of the decision should be driven by SAFETY, and these Consumer Product Safety Commission standards can help:
Place baby on his/her back in a crib with a firm, tight-fitting mattress. Never place soft toys or bedding (blankets, fluffy comforters, pillows, plush toys) in baby’s crib. Consider using a sleeper instead of a blanket. Use only a fitted sheet made just for cribs. Never use adult bed sheets for a crib. Babies can become entangled in sheets that have come loose from the mattress.
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CPSC has launched a campaign aimed at reducing deaths associated with placing babies in adult beds. The commission recommends adults never co-sleep with children under 2 years of age, as children are at risk of dying from several hazards, including: • Being trapped between the bed and wall, or between the bed and another object.
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• Being trapped by the headboard, footboard, or bed frame.
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• Suffocating in soft bedding. • Falling from the bed. • Suffocating when a person rolls over onto the child. According to a 2002 CPSC report, at least 515 infant and toddler deaths from 1990 to 1997 were linked to sleeping in adult beds. More than 75% of the victims were infants under 3 months old. Utah Child Fatality Review Committee data show that, of 94 Utah sleep-related infant deaths from 2002 to 2004, 43% involved co-sleeping. Babies are safest when they sleep in their own crib with a firm mattress that fits well and with no pillows, quilts or soft toys in the area.
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Distance between slats must be no more than 2-3/8 inches to keep infants from falling out and toddlers from trapping their heads between the slats. Side rails that lower should have at least two locking devices to prevent older babies from releasing them. When a side rail is lowered, its top should be at least 9 inches above the mattress support. To protect older babies, the top of the raised side must be at least 26 inches above the mattress support at its lowest position. If the crib has corner posts, they must be either flush with the top of the headboard and footboard or very tall - over 16 inches. Anything in between is a potential strangulation hazard. Find the firmest mattress possible. This is extremely important because soft mattresses may play a role in suffocation or the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The mattress must fit snugly in the crib to keep baby from slipping between the mattress and the crib sides. Evaluate a used crib with extra care. Look at the space between slats and for cutouts in the headboard and footboard that can trap a baby’s head. Cribs made before 1978 may have lead-based paint, so a crib that has been in the family for generations is probably not the best for your baby.
Other safety precautions include: • Tighten screws and hardware regularly. • Remove crib gyms and mobiles once your baby starts to pull up. • Remove bumper pads as soon as your baby starts to stand. • Never place a crib near a window, because your child can become tangled in window blind cords. Always keep cords away from children.
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