Volume 23 Issue 46                                                                                    Summer 2022

Thank you for being part of the Safety Source family!

Back to School Safety Edition

Our August monthly newsletter highlights how to stay safe as you plan to return back to school and provides you with tips on how to keep your whole family safe this coming school year. Our August newsletter highlights Pedestrian Safety, Back to School Teen Driver Safety, Child Passenger Safety tips for Back to School, Eye Protection, Bike and Skateboard Helmet Safety, and Dog Bite Prevention. There are interactive tools for your children to learn the importance of wearing bicycle safety equipment, as well as an activity sheet. 

 There is also a craft to create a photo keepsake! We hope this is a fun way to start your school year. Let us know if we can be a resource to you in any way!

When walking with your children to school safety is very important to keep on top of mind. Walking next to a busy street can lead to disaster if you lose control of your child and they accidentally step into the road. This summer, take the time to sit your child down and go through some basic safety rules about being a safe pedestrian.

Here are 7 basic rules to teach and follow with them:

1. Teach kids at an early age to look left, right, and left again before crossing the street. Then remind them to continue looking until safely across.
2. It’s always best to walk on sidewalks or paths and cross at street corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
3. Teach kids to make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street.
4. Children under 10 need to cross the street with an adult. Every child is different, but developmentally, most kids are unable to judge the speed and distance of oncoming cars until age 10.
5. Encourage kids to be especially alert for cars that are turning or backing up.
6. Teach kids not to run or dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
7. If kids are walking when it’s dark out, teach them to be especially alert and make sure they are visible to drivers. Have them wear light- or brightly colored clothing and reflective gear.

It is very important to teach your children to be cognizant of how many cars are around or the possibility of cars leaving parking spaces. After teaching you children these rules talk to them about distracted walking, which can be just as deadly as distracted driving.

Here are some pointers to talk to them about:

1. Teach kids to put phones, headphones and devices down when crossing the street. It is particularly important to reinforce the message with teenagers.
2. Pull headphones down or turn off the volume before crossing the street.
3. Be aware of others who may be distracted and speak up when you see someone who is in danger.
4. If kids need to use a cell phone, teach them to stop walking and find a safe area to talk.

After discussing these key points with them, you need to be a role model for you child by following these guidelines to ensure they follow by example and be safe and sound this summer when walking near busy intersections.

Reference: Safekids

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year with the highest risk being those between 5-9 years old. One in five dog bites results in injuries serious enough to require medical attention.

With summer in full force, see below on how you can take precaution in any situation to keep you and your family safe when interacting with your own family dog, your neighbor’s pet, or unfamiliar

dogs in your area.

Before you bring a dog into your household:

• Work with a local animal shelter, rescue organization or reputable breeder. They can often help you find breeds and dogs within those breeds that will be a good fit for your household.
• Choose a veterinarian who can help you identify a reputable trainer for your new family member.
• Be sensitive to cues that a child is fearful or apprehensive about a dog. If a child seems frightened by dogs, wait before bringing a dog into your household. Dogs with histories of aggression are not suitable for households with children.
• Spend time with a dog before buying or adopting it. Use caution when bringing a dog into a household with an infant or toddler.

Once you decide to bring a dog into your home:

• Spay/neuter your dog (this often reduces aggressive tendencies).
• Never leave infants or young children alone with a dog.
• Don’t play aggressive games with your dog (e.g., wrestling).
• Properly socialize and train any dog entering your household. Teach the dog submissive behaviors (e.g., rolling over to expose the abdomen and giving up food without growling).
• Immediately seek professional advice (e.g., from veterinarians, animal behaviorists, or responsible trainers) if the dog develops aggressive or undesirable behaviors.

Teach children basic safety tips and review them regularly:

• Do not approach an unfamiliar dog.
• Do not run from a dog or scream.
• Remain motionless (e.g., “be still like a tree”) when approached by an unfamiliar dog.
• If knocked over by a dog, roll into a ball and be still
• Do not play with a dog unless supervised by an adult.
• Immediately report stray dogs or dogs displaying unusual behavior to an adult.
• Avoid direct eye contact with a dog.
• Do not disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.
• Do not pet a dog without allowing it to see and sniff you first.
• If bitten, immediately report the bite to an adult.

When a dog bite occurs, the American Veterinary Medical Association recommends you take the following actions:

• If your own dog bit you, confine it immediately and call your veterinarian to check your dog’s vaccination records. Consult with your veterinarian about your dog’s aggressive action. Your veterinarian can examine your dog to make sure it is healthy and can help you with information or training that may prevent more bites.
• If someone else’s dog bit you, first seek medical treatment for your wound. Next, contact authorities and tell them everything you can about the dog: the owner’s name, if you know it; the color and size of the dog; where you encountered the dog; and if, where, and when you’ve seen it before. These details may help animal-control officers locate the dog. In addition, consider asking your physician if post exposure rabies prophylaxis is necessary.

References: CDC, American Veterinary Medical Association

Purchasing a New Car Seat or Booster Seat:

There are many factors in determining the best car seat for your child. Unfortunately, no specific car seat or brand can be recommended for every family but if you are purchasing a new seat this school year there are three questions to consider when making this choice:

Does this seat fit your vehicle?

Does this seat fit your child?

Can you correctly install this seat every time?

These questions can help you determine the right car seat or booster seat for your family. Once you have chosen your seat, you will want to be sure to register it. This will give you important information on any recalls. You can do this by filling out the registration card that came with your seat, by going online to the manufacturer website, or by visiting the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's website.

When to Switch to a Booster Seat:

Moving from a forward-facing car seat to a booster seat can be an exciting milestone for families but it is important to remember that there is no rush to make this switch. When your child is reaching the preschool and school age years, you will want to carefully assess if they are ready for a booster seat. If your child has not outgrown the highest height or weight limit of their forward-facing car seat, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that they stay in the forward-facing car seat until they reach one of those limits. Keep in mind a forward-facing car seat provides more points of contact to slow down the body in the event of a crash than a seat belt. It has a five-point harness that provides five points of contact to slow down the body while a seat belt only provides three points of contact.

When to Switch out of a Booster Seat:

Switching out of a booster seat to a seat belt is another decision that should be made considering several factors. According to the Tennessee Child Restraint Law children should remain in a booster seat until they are at least 9 years old AND 4 feet 9 inches tall. Even with this height and age requirement, it is still recommended that you do a seat belt test to make sure that the seat belt fits them correctly. Here are some tips Safe Kids Worldwide provides for this test:

• Check knees and feet. Your child’s knees should bend at the edge of the seat when her back and bottom are against the vehicle seat back. Her feet should touch the floor for comfort and stability.

• Check the lap belt. The vehicle lap belt must fit snugly across the hips or upper thighs.

• Check the shoulder belt. The shoulder belt must fit across the shoulder and chest, NOT across the face or neck.

After switching out the booster seat to the seat belt only, children should still ride in the back seat until they are 13 years of age.

Sources:

National Highway Transportation Safety Administration: Car Seat & Booster Seat Safety, Ratings, Guidelines | NHTSA

American Academy of Pediatrics[RE1] : Car Seats: Information for Families - HealthyChildren.org

Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security: Child Restraint Law (tn.gov)

Safe Kids Worldwide: Seat belts | Safe Kids Worldwide

[RE1]

Summer is quickly coming to an end and families are gearing up for school to begin. Things can get crazy on the roads during the busy school year especially for new drivers. It is important for drivers to slow down and pay attention when kids are present, especially before and after school. Follow these safety tips below to keep you and your family safe this school year.

When dropping off at school:

Schools often have specific drop-off procedures for the school year. Make sure you know them for the safety of all kids. More children are hit by cars near schools than at any other location, according to the National Safe Routes to School program (1). The following apply to all school zones:

• Do not double park. It blocks visibility for other children and vehicles.

• Do not load or unload children across the street from the school.

• Carpool to reduce the number of vehicles at the school.

Sharing the Road with Young Pedestrians:

According to research by the National Safety Council, most of the children who lose their lives in bus-related incidents are four to seven years old who are walking (2). They are hit by the bus, or by a motorist illegally passing a stopped bus. A few precautions go a long way toward keeping children safe:

• Do not block the crosswalk when stopped at a red light or waiting to make a turn, forcing pedestrians to go around you; this could put them in the path of moving traffic.

• In a school zone when flashers are blinking, stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection.

• Always stop for a school patrol officer or crossing guard holding up a stop sign.

• Take extra care to look out for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas.

• Do not honk or rev your engine to scare a pedestrian, even if you have the right of way.

• Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians.

• Always use extreme caution to avoid striking pedestrians wherever they may be, no matter who has the right of way.

Sharing the Road with School Buses:

If you are driving behind a bus, allow a greater following distance than if you were driving behind a car. This will give you more time to stop when necessary. It is illegal in all 50 states to pass a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children.

• Never pass a bus from behind, or from either direction if you are on an undivided road, if it is stopped to load or unload children.

• If a bus's yellow or red lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop.

• The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children. Stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus.

• Be alert. Children can be unpredictable and tend to ignore hazards and take risks.

Sharing the Road with Bicyclists:

On most roads, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as vehicles, but bikes can be harder to see. Children riding bikes create special problems for drivers because they usually are not able to properly determine traffic conditions. The most common cause of collision is a driver turning left in front of a bicyclist.

• When passing a bicyclist, proceed in the same direction slowly. Leave three feet between your car and the cyclist.

• When turning left and a bicyclist is approaching in the opposite direction, wait for the rider to pass.

• If you are turning right and a bicyclist is approaching from behind on the right, let the rider go through the intersection first. Always use your turn signals.

• Watch for bike riders turning in front of you without looking or signaling. Children especially tend to do this.

• Be extra vigilant in school zones and residential neighborhoods.

• Watch for bikes coming from driveways or behind parked cars.

• Check side mirrors before opening your door.

By exercising a little extra care and caution, drivers and pedestrians can co-exist safely in school zones.

1. https://www.saferoutesinfo.org/
2. https://www.nsc.org/community-safety/safety-topics/school-safety/back-to-school-safety-tips-for-drivers

Many children are staying active and engaged this summer by playing sports, engaging in crafts, or participating in home projects for recreation. When children participate in these activities, it is important for them to practice proper eye safety; each year thousands of children sustain eye-related injuries from accidents at home, at play or in the car that may result in permanent eye damage or even blindness. The good news is, more than 90 percent of all eye injuries can be prevented through understanding, safety practices and the use of proper eye protection. Be sure your child is following these tips from the American Academy of Ophthalmology to protect their eyes while enjoying their summer recreation activities:

• Children should wear sports eye protectors made with polycarbonate lenses for baseball, basketball, football, racquet sports, soccer, hockey, lacrosse, and paintball.
• All chemicals and sprays must be kept out of reach of small children.
• Parents and others who provide care and supervision for children need to practice safe use of common items that can cause serious eye injury, such as paper clips, pencils, scissors, bungee cords, wire coat hangers and rubber bands.
• Only purchase age-appropriate toys; avoid projectile toys such as darts, bows and arrows, and missile-firing toys.
• Look for toys marked with "ASTM", which means the product meets the national safety standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials.
• Use safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs. Pad or cushion sharp corners. Put locks on all cabinets and drawers that kids can reach.
• On the road, make sure children are properly secured in baby carriers and child safety seats and that the seat and shoulder belts fit well. Children aged 12 and younger should never ride in the front seat. Store loose items in the trunk or secured on the floor, as any loose object can become a dangerous projectile in a crash.

If an eye-related injury does occur, it is important to act immediately in seeking out first aid from an ophthalmologist, primary care doctor, or school nurse in order to prevent it from becoming more serious. While seeking medical help, follow these tips for care:

• DO NOT touch, rub or apply pressure to the eye.
• DO NOT try to remove any object stuck in the eye. For small debris, lift eye lid and ask child to blink rapidly to see if tears will flush out the particle. If not, close the eye and seek treatment.
• Do not apply ointment or medication to the eye.
• A cut or puncture wound should be gently covered.
• Only in the event of chemical exposure, flush with plenty of water.

As families begin preparing to send children back to school, transportation options are often at the front of their minds. Many children ride bikes, skateboards, and scooters to and from school. Although a great way to get active during the day, these forms of transportation can result in head trauma from injuries due to crashes. Make sure your children are following these bicycle, skateboarding, and scooter safety tips from Safe Kids to protect them from such incidents:

• Children and adults should always wear helmets when riding bicycles, scooters, or skateboarding; according to Safe Kids, bicycle helmets have been shown to reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent.
  • Helmets should be approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Snell Foundation, or the American Society for Testing and Materials.
  • The helmet should fit comfortably and snugly. It should sit on the child’s head in a level position and not rock from side to side.
  • The helmet should have a chin strap and buckle to keep the helmet in place.
  • The helmet should be made from a hard outer shell and an absorbing liner at least one-half inch thick.

• Children should ride on sidewalks until they are at least 10 or 11 years old.
• Look left, right, and left again, before riding into traffic from a sidewalk, driveway, or parking lot.
• When riding on the street, children should be in a straight line near the curb and be alert for car doors opening into traffic lanes. Both children and adults should ride with traffic not against.
• If it is dark outside when a child is riding a bike to school, the bicycle light must be turned on and the child should be wearing light or reflective clothing.
• Make certain the bike has safety reflectors. All bikes should have reflectors on the front, rear, and wheel spokes.
• When riding scooters, do so on smooth, paved surfaces without traffic. Don't ride on streets and surfaces with water, sand, gravel, or dirt.
• When skateboarding, wear protective gear, such as padding for wrists, elbows and knees, and closed-toe and slip-resistant shoes. Make sure you are only allowing 1 person per skateboard.