FAMILY HEALTH AND SAFETY

Space Heater Safety Tips

It is that time of year, there is a chill in the air and rooms are beginning to feel cold. We are pulling out the sweaters, socks, and room space heaters. An electric space heater is a good way to provide heat in a room. They can also be a dangerous appliance. Follow these tips to have a safe and warm winter.

Keep Cords Visible: To avoid the risk of overheating and fire, do not place the heater cord under a rug or carpet.
Don't Extend: Avoid using an extension cord, if necessary, use a heavy-duty cord.
Give It Space: Keep the unit at least three feet away from flammable materials, including such things as bedding, furniture, and drapes.
Prevent Tipping: Teach eveyone in your home, especially children, to stay away from the heater, and keep pets clear.
Avoid Water: Never place the heater near plumbing fixtures or water.
Use It Wisely: Never dry clothes with the unit, because that can lead to a fire, and don't use it to thaw frozen pipes.
Turn It Off: Never leave a unit running when you're leaving the area or going to bed.
Pull the Plug: Unplug the heater when you're not using it.

Tips taken from the OPPD Energy Advisor Newletter, October 2007.

Child Safety Tips

1. Approach the subject of safety in a non-threatening way. It is important that you do not make your child fearful of dangerous situations or people, but cautious and able to recognize when something is not right.

2. Encourage your child to trust his or her intuition, and to be able to talk to you when something is bothering them. They should know not to keep secrets from you. Open communication is very important. Really listen to your child.

3. Let your child know that their body belongs to them. No one has the right to tough them inappropriately. If someone is making them feel uncomfortable, they should let you know immediately.

4. Inform your child of rules pertaining to strangers. A stranger looks just like any other person and will use several ways to lure a child. The most common ones are: pretending to look for a lost dog, having candy or money if the child goes to their car with them, telling the child that they'll hurt family members if they do not comply, and asking for direction.

5. Let your child know that adults DO NOT ask children for help nor do they threaten them. If they do encounter these situations they should immediately scream, "NO!" and run quickly in the opposite direction and try to find a trusted adult. They should never approach an unknown car or get into a car with an adult that thye do not know. If someone tries to grab them, they should scream, "THIS IS NOT MY PARENT!" to attract attention.

6. Share an easily-remembered secret CODE WORD. Tell your child that if anyone approaches them and says that they are a family friend, they must ask for the code word. If the person really is a friend, they will know it. If they don't, then your child should run away as quickly as possible.

7. Never label clothing, a backpack, or other personal items with your child's name. An abductor could use this information to try to gain trust.

8. Give your child instructions on what to do if they get separated from you in a mall, super marker, or other public place. Tell them to go to a check-out counter or information desk, or to approach a security officer or mother with children, and let them know they are lost and looking for their parent(s).

9. Make sure that your child knows his or her full name, address, and phone number, the place where you work or can be contacted, and how to dial 911, make collect calls, and dial the operator on a pay phone.

10. Know where your child is at all time, and keep a list of their friends, addresses, and phone numbers.

11. Remember to update your chid's records every 6-12 months because of his or her growth.

IF YOUR CHILD IS MISSING:

Try not to panic. First check everywhere in the house, then check with your neighbors and your child's friends. If you still cannot locate them, immediately call the police.

THERE IS NO WAITING PERIOD REQUIRED TO REPORT A MISSING CHILD TO THE POLICE.

Give them a description of your child's clothing, along with any child print ID kit that you may have. Let them know when you last saw him/her. Request that your child's name be entered into the National Crime Information Center MIssing Person File (NCIC), which enables any law enforcement agency in the U.S. to identify them. Call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST to have your child entered into their database. Post signs around your neighborhood and town with your child's photo and vital information. Be persistent in your search efforts and keep hope alive that your child will be found and returned home safely.

This information is provided to you by the ATA Martial Arts in partnership wtih Karate America in partnership with AMBERAlert(.com).

Car Seat Safety Guidelines

Infant Car Seat Tips

By law baby car seats must remain rear facing until one year old and weight 20 pounds.

Models with a 5-point harness and front harness adjuster are preferred.

Straps should be tight enought to allow only one finger between the strap and the child at the shoulder.

Keep chest clip at armpit level, not on the neck or tummy.

Once installed, the child safety seat should not move more than one inch side to side or front and back where it is anchored by the belt or lower anchor (belt path). Be sure to use the correct belt path.

Generally, the center seating position is the safest place for the car seat. Use this first unless you can not get a tight fit but you can get a tight fit in a passenger side seating position.

Remember to register your car seat.

Big Kid Car Seat Tips

Older children should stay in booster seats until they reach 4' 9" in height and are about 8 years old and 80 pounds. Ask the following five questions to determine if your child is ready to graduate from the booster seat.

Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and the arm?
Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

**Make this the family car rule: Everyone in the vehicle is to buckle up every time, every trip - no matter how short!

Safety Tips for Holiday Decorating

There is so much going on during the holidays that safety can be forgotten. There are holiday decorations in the home that will be new and exciting for the family, especially children. The following lighting tips will help keep your family safe during the holidays:

Use lights and other electrical decorations certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or another recognized testing agency.
Avoid old light sets that lack fuses.
Check lights for socket damage, frayed or scorched wires, loose connections or damaged plugs.
On a fresh-cut Christmas tree, the cut can seal over in 15 minutes. Just before setting up the tree, make a new cut about an inch from the bottom.
Keep Christmas trees and other decorations away from candles, fireplaces, heat vents, and direct sunlight. Water frequently and use non-flammable decorations.
Unplug cords when you string lights and don't overload electrical outlets. Too many plugs in one outlet may start a fire.
If other lights in the house dim when the tree is lighted, disconnect other items on the same circuit while the tree lights are on. If a fuse blows, it may mean the circuit is overloaded.
Avoid using extension cords, but if you must, use the shortest cord possible that is labeled for heavy-duty use.
Do not string extension cords together and use no more than three light sets per cord.
Do not place cords under rugs or in high traffic areas.
When decorating outdoors, use only cords labeled for outdoor use and keep ladders away from overhead power lines.
Use insulated staples to hold wires in place. To secure lights around the eaves, use drive rings, available at hardware stores.
Turn off lights and other decorations when you go to bed or leave the house. Lights could short-circuit and cause a fire. Automatic timers are available for indoor and outdoor use.

The contents of this site are intended for parents, grandparents, and other family members who want to spend more time with their children and make memories that last a lifetime. Starting a family fun night and other traditions is simple. It just takes a little organization, ingenuity, and a heart willing to have fun!

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