Volume 29  Issue 52                                                                                   Spring 2023

Safety Source

Thank you for being part of the Safety Source family!

Spring Safety Edition

 Our March monthly newsletter highlights train track safety, poison prevention, TBI prevention, tips for cleaning your car seat, sports safety and more!  Check out our safety tips and interactive tools for kids!

 Let us know if we can be a resource to you in any way!

Trains have been a vital mode of transportation for the last two hundred years. People are fascinated by their history, speed, sounds, and rhythm. Tracks are often found in picturesque settings that make for beautiful photography backdrops. Walking on or near tracks is compelling because they signify adventure and rebellion, but the truth is, doing so is illegal and has deadly consequences. Every year, railroad deaths claim the lives of hundreds of people, and thousands more are injured. As parents and caregivers, it is our responsibility to instill track safety into our children. Use the opportunity when you're stopped by a train to talk about how to prevent death or injury with these fantastic tips from Operation Lifesaver:

1. Trains run on varied schedules and are unpredictable.
2. Never walk on tracks; it's illegal trespass and highly dangerous. It takes the average freight train traveling at 55 mph more than a mile to stop. Also, all train tracks are private property.
3. The average locomotive weighs from 400,000 to 12,000,000 pounds ; it can weigh up to 6,000 tons.
4. Trains have the right of way 100% of the time over emergency vehicles, cars, the police and pedestrians.
5. A train can extend three feet or more beyond the steel rail, putting the safety zone for pedestrians well beyond the three foot mark. If there are rails on the railroad ties, always assume the track is in use.
6. Trains can move in either direction at any time. Sometimes its cars are pushed by locomotives instead of being pulled.
7. Today's trains are quieter than ever, producing no telltale "clackety-clack." Any approaching train is always closer and moving faster than you think.
8. Remember to cross train tracks ONLY at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings, and obey all warning signs and signals posted there.
9. Stay alert around railroad tracks. Refrain from texting, headphones or other distractions that would prevent you from hearing an approaching train.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability among children and adolescents in the United States. Understanding the importance of preventing traumatic brain injuries can help educate parents and caregivers on safety measures to keep children safe. A TBI is caused by a blow or jolt to the head which disrupts normal brain function or by a foreign object penetrating the skull. Studies have found that falls, car accidents, impact while playing sports, and objects piercing the skull are the most common causes of TBIs. A TBI can range from mild, sometimes called a concussion, to serious, which can cause long-term problems. Below are some safety tips to ensure parents and caregivers are taking the necessary steps in preventing TBIs among children and adolescents.

Strategies for preventing TBIs include:

• Ensuring that new parents receive education on the prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome;
• Installing safety gates on stairs and guards on windows to prevent falls by young children;
• Practicing proper traffic safety, such as wearing a seatbelt and using child safety seats or booster seats for children;
• Providing a soft landing surface below playground equipment;
• Using appropriate protective equipment while engaging in sports (e.g., wearing a helmet while bicycling or snowboarding);
• Providing training to coaches and officials so that they can take steps to prevent sport-related TBIs and can recognize TBIs and respond appropriately when these injuries do occur; and
• Educating parents and young athletes so that they understand the risks and recognize the signs and symptoms of sport-related TBIs.

Sources:

https://www.childrenssafetynetwork.org/child-safety-topics/traumatic-brain-injuries

https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/tbi

Spring is on the way, but winter illnesses may be lingering on. A proper cleaning routine is one way to help reduce the spread of germs and keep your family healthier. A great place to start your spring cleaning is your child’s safety seat.

Before you remove anything from your car seat, refer to the owner’s manual. Each car seat is different and may have guidelines about specific cleaning details. Take careful note that bleach, chemical solvents, acidic substances, and abrasive cleaners should not be used on any part of your child safety seat, as they can damage and weaken the car seat’s components. The manual is your best resource to know what cleaning supplies you can use and to obtain directions for how to clean your child safety seat. If you cannot locate your manual, the manufacturer’s website will have a digital version available.

After you remove the child safety seat, vacuum the area around the seat to clean up any food crumbs. As you clean the seat, be sure not to remove any labels or instructions, as these are necessary to ensure correct seat usage. Allow time for the car seat and padding to dry thoroughly before reinstalling it.

Your spring child safety seat cleaning is also a good time to check the seat’s expiration date. Locate the manufacturer label on the side or base of the seat. Typically, car seats are only good for six years after the manufacture date. If your car seat has expired, you must buy a new one. Plastic becomes dry and brittle over time, especially under prolonged exposure to heat and sunlight. A new car seat will ensure the greatest safety for your child.

Double-check your manual to ensure you have reinstalled the seat correctly. If you need more information about the proper use and installation of your child safety seat, visit Safe Kids.

Sources:

Buckle Up for Life: How to Clean Your Child's Car Seat

Safe Kids Worldwide: Ultimate Car Seat Guide

As temperatures around the country continue to rise and fall, gas-powered generators and heating units can provide wonderful benefits to families when used properly. But they also underscore an important necessity in the home: the need to protect your family from carbon monoxide. According to the CDC, approximately 50,000 people in the U.S. visit the emergency department each year due to accidental CO poisoning.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause serious health risks, especially young children. Carbon monoxide poisoning can result from faulty furnaces or other heating appliances, portable generators, water heaters, clothes dryers, or cars left running in garages.

Here are 3 steps to help you become a CO pro and keep your kids safe.

1. Install a carbon monoxide alarm. A smoke alarm alone will not warn your family if there is a carbon monoxide leak. Install a working carbon monoxide alarm, or a combination smoke and CO alarm, on every level of your home, especially near sleeping areas. If possible, check alarms monthly. At the very least, check twice a year during time changes, as we "spring forward and fall back".  Make sure to replace your detector if it's not working well. 
2. Prevent CO leaks in your home. CO can get into your home through even the smallest of openings, so move generators and outside grills away from doors, windows and vent openings. Have your fuel-burning heating equipment, such as fireplaces, heaters and furnaces inspected every year. Check vents for the dryer, furnace, stove and fireplace on the outside of your home to make sure they are clear of snow and other debris.
3. Warm up vehicles outside of your garage. If you need to warm up a vehicle on those cold winter mornings, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. Don’t leave a car, SUV or motorcycle engine running inside a garage, even if the garage doors are open.

Symptoms of CO poisoning include  breathlessness, dull headaches, nausea or vomiting, fatigue, confusion, and/or blurry vision. Pets can be affected too!

Here’s a bonus tip: If the CO alarm sounds, quickly leave your home immediately and move to a safe location outside where you and your family can breathe in fresh air before you call for help.

Learn more carbon monoxide safety tips and be safe!

Source: Safe Kids Worldwide

As we launch into Spring months, contact sports are coming back in season. Here are some ways for your child to avoid injuries while having fun playing sports:

● Always wear safety items such as helmets, mouthguards, shin and arm protection

● Make sure safety equipment fits correctly; items should not be too loose or too tight

● Stop games when head injuries occur

● Do not play while inclement weather conditions (such as storms or tornadoes) are around

● Stretch or warm up before and after every game to avoid rips and tears in muscles

● Drink plenty of fluids while playing, especially when the sun is out.

● Wear sunscreen and use other preventative measures from the sun, such as long sleeves and sunglasses when playing sports outside

● If your child wears glasses, make sure to get sports glasses or wear your glasses on a string to avoid them falling off.

Teen drivers are new to the road, and it can be scary once they start driving. As a parent and new teen driver it is important to be familiar with a three-stage graduated driver licensing system used in all 50 states. All state’s rules and regulations are different when it comes to GDL laws so you will have to learn about your state individually. Teen drivers ages 16-19 are nearly three times as likely than older drivers to be in fatal crash. These laws are to help reduce the risks associated with new drivers.

The three stages of the GDL system are as follows:

1. Leaner Stage: supervised driving, cumulating with a driving test.
2. Intermediate Stage: limiting unsupervised driving in high-risk situations.
3. Full Privilege Stage: a standard driver’s license.

For those who live in Tennessee the rules and regulations for new drivers are as follows during each stage:

1. Learner Stage

• Minimum age is 15 years old.
• You must be in this stage for a minimum of 6 months. This is what most of us would call a learner’s permit.
• You must have 50 daytime hours and 10 nighttime hours supervised while driving

2. Intermediate Stage:

• Minimum age is 16 years old.
• You have nighttime hours that are restricted. You are not to drive between 11p.m.-6a.m.
• You have passenger restrictions. No more than 1 passenger unless it is family.

3. Full Privilege Stage:

• Minimum age is 17 years old.

Parents are encouraged to use these laws as a guidance to set rules and boundaries for their teen drivers. Teen drivers will listen to their parents and look to them to be their role model. It is important for parents to always demonstrate good driving behaviors for this purpose. If you are not a resident of Tennessee and would like to know you GDL laws visit: https://tinyurl.com/4456xfc6. For more teen driver safety tips you can visit our website at: https://tinyurl.com/5c439xpb.

1. https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/teen-driving
2. https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/publications/topic/gdl.html

Warm weather is approaching, and sunny days are the perfect reason to take your children outside to play! With possibilities of play dates on the playground, it’s essential to recognize the potential risks of falls and injury on playgrounds in order to keep our children safe while staying active. Playground injuries often result in visits to the ER, creating anxiety in our children as they return to play once they’ve healed.

Below are some key steps to preventing playground-related injuries to create a safer environment. Check out safety tips regarding different kinds of playground equipment.

General Tips:

• Adult supervision is key. Keep an eye on those kiddos!

• Avoid playgrounds with concrete.

• Set some rules for your children, such as:  
  • Never push other children on other equipment
  • Land on both feet with knees slightly bent.
  • Leave bikes, backpacks, and bags away from equipment and play area to prevent tripping.
  • Leave the playground equipment if it is wet. It is most likely slippery.
  • Wear sunscreen!

Swing Safety:

• Make sure the space in front of and behind a swing is clear.

• Walls, fences, and other objects should be at least 6 feet away from either side.

• Make sure swing seats are made of soft materials.

• Double check that open or “S” hooks on swing chains are closed.

• Educate your children on why they should not swing on their tummies or jump off.

Slide Safety:

• If slide is very hot, avoid using it and look for a slide in the shade. This will prevent burns.

• Make sure there are no rocks, glass, sticks, toys, debris, or other children on slide.

• Teach your children to go down slide feet first to avoid head injuries.

• Avoid putting the child on your lap if going down the slide. Research shows this can cause injury in children’s legs.

Climbing Equipment Safety:

• Be sure that platforms higher than 30 inches above the ground have guardrails or barriers to prevent falls.

• Check for sharp points or edges.

• Avoid climbing structures that have nails or screws sticking out. Metal structures should also not have rust or peeling paint.

• Avoid letting your child wear or play with anything that could get caught on equipment and become a hazard for strangulation.

• Avoid sweatshirts with drawstrings or necklaces.

• Double check that your child has taken off their helmet before playing on playground.

Sources:

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/playground.html

healthychildren.org.

Have you ever noticed that some medications look like candy? Some medications are even made into gummies and lollipops, which can be very appealing to children. It is important for children to know the difference between the two—and to treat them differently. Parents can support this difference by not using the word “candy” when talking about medications—even when trying to convince a child to take medication. Using the word “candy” in this way can be a dangerous practice resulting in severe injury or death.

• Never call medication “candy”. If children believe that a medication is a type of candy, they may take it on their own. Teach children to always ask an adult before eating or drinking anything.
• Keep all medications and natural health products, including vitamins and mineral supplements (e.g., iron, calcium, magnesium), out of the reach of children. Do not rely on “child-resistant” caps to keep children safe from medications.
• Children can sometimes open prescription bottles with this type of cap. Consider using cabinets with safety locks, or even a locked box, to store your medications.

Practice your knowledge: https://pillsvscandy.com/ (Click the link to and test your knowledge on which is candy and which is medication!)

Sunnier days present more opportunities for families to open our windows and enjoy the sounds of nature, as well as keep our houses cool. While this can be relaxing, this can pose safety risks if your children are curious to what lies outside. Falls from windows can lead to serious injuries, such as brain injury and broken bones, as well as death. This spring season, it’s vital to double check our windows in our homes to maintain a safe space for our children and prevent visits to the ED.

Listed below are some tips and tricks to keeping our children safe around open windows.

• Place furniture in areas that children can’t climb on to get to open windows.
• Please note that window and sliding door screens do not prevent kids from falling.
• Choose to open windows that are out of children’s reach and avoid opening windows that are easily accessible to them.
• There are several items designed to limit opening of windows:
  • Building-code compliant devices can limit how far a window opens, preventing children from falling through.
  • Window guards and stops are also designed to limit windows from opening more than 4 inches.
• Educate your children on the danger of open windows if you choose to open them. Continue to monitor their activity around them and do not leave them unattended around one if possible.
• In the case of a fall from a window:
  • Shrubs, soft edging, and other appropriate landscaping around the outside of windows can help blunt the impact.
  • Call 911 immediately in case of any internal bleeding, serious injury, and/or unconsciousness.
• If there is a window by your children’s bed, be sure those windows are locked and unable to be unlocked by your children. Educate them on the importance of this.
• In case of a fire:
  • Teach your child how to safely use a window to escape in case of an emergency.

Our team will be participating in these upcoming events and meetings:

• March 1: Car Seat Check at Cordell Insurance Agency from 10-2; 4331 Old Hickory Blvd, Old Hickory, TN 37138
• March 25: Nashville Strong Baby Shower