Volume 21 Issue 44.                                                                                    Summer 2022

Thank you for being part of the Safety Source family!

Summer Safety Edition

 It is National Safety Month! Our June monthly newsletter highlights Firearm safety, Summer travel safety, ATV Safety, Motorcycle safety, CPR and AED awareness, and Home safety. There are interactive tools for your children to learn the importance of home safety, as well as a maze activity for you and your child about fire safety at home.

 There is also a summer craft! We hope this is a fun way to start your summer as a family. Let us know if we can be a resource to you in any way!

Firearms require respect, careful handling, and thorough gun safety education. However, research shows that more than 5 million American children live in homes with improperly stored guns. The American Academy of Pediatrics defines proper storage as locked and unloaded with the ammunition stored separately. Easy access to unsecured firearms is a factor in most unintentional child gun deaths. Access to a gun is also a risk factor for teenage suicide, which has been steadily rising over the last decade. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports that 40 percent of suicides among teens aged 10 to 17 in 2015 involved guns.

A recent study in the Journal of Pediatrics showed that an average of 5,790 children age 0-17 in the United States receive emergency room treatment for gun-related injuries each year. The study said that about 21 percent of those injuries are unintentional. Additionally, data from the CDC show that 3,390 children and teens died in 2019 from gun-related injuries, with firearms bypassing motor vehicles as the leading cause of death for children in America. There are evidence-based solutions to prevent these tragedies.

If adults keep guns, or if children are using BB, cap or paintball guns, here’s what families should keep in mind to ensure everyone’s safety:

Store guns and ammunition safely

• Keep guns in a locked location, unloaded, out of reach and sight of children.
• Store ammunition in a separate locked location, out of reach and sight of children.
• Keep the keys and combinations hidden.
• Make sure to equip all guns with effective child-resistant gun locks.
• Lock up gun-cleaning supplies, which are often poisonous. (If you think your child has touched or ingested these supplies, call the Tennessee Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.)
• When handling or cleaning a gun, never leave the gun unattended.

Talk to children and their caregivers about gun safety

• It is important to remember that talking to children about guns is a respected precaution but is not a guarantee of safety.
• Make sure they understand that any situation where there’s an unsupervised gun is a dangerous situation.
• For young children, keep the language simple. For example: “If you see a gun, don’t touch it. Tell an adult right away.”
• When talking to adolescents about guns, include it in your regular safety conversations about topics like drugs, alcohol and safe driving. Give your teen strategies to remove themselves from a situation where an unsecured gun in present such as “My mom just texted that I need to come home right away.”
• Talk to grandparents and the parents of friends your children visit about safe gun storage practices.

Dispose of guns you do not need.

If you decide that you no longer need to have a gun in your home, dispose of it in a safe way. Consult with law enforcement in your community on how to do so.

BB and non-powder guns are also dangerous.

• Non-powder guns, such as ball-bearing (BB) guns, pellet guns and paintball guns, are not regulated by the government but can cause serious injury and death.
• The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says that children younger than 16 should not use high-velocity BB guns or pellet guns. And these guns should only be used under the supervision of an adult.
• Paintball guns are known to cause traumatic eye injuries, so kids need to wear protective eye gear when handling paintball guns.
• Kids should not put caps for toy guns in their pockets, because these can ignite due to friction and cause burns, not to mention loud noises that can damage hearing.

Keep your home safe and practice these gun safety rules. Educating those you love about firearms can prevent unintentional injuries from happening. For more injury prevention tips click here

Many children and their parents will spend Memorial Day weekend and the rest of the summer outside enjoying warmer weather and riding their ATV’s. But as temperatures go up, the reported number of all-terrain vehicle (ATV)-related incidents and deaths also increases. With many ATV trails opening on Memorial Day weekend, we would like to offer a reminder that safety comes first.

CPSC’s 2021 Report of Deaths and Injuries Involving Off-Highway Vehicles with More than Two Wheels finds there is an annual average of 101,100 ATV-related emergency department-treated injuries from 2016-2020. More than a quarter of those injuries were sustained by children under 16 years old, the highest of any age group. ATVs become more dangerous when children drive adult-sized vehicles, or when passengers ride on ATVs built for only one rider.

ATV injuries are a leading cause of trauma-related admissions to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Injuries to the head, face and abdomen, as well as orthopedic injuries, are among the most common trauma seen. “We need to remember that ATVs are powerful machines,” said Purnima Unni, MPH, CHES, Pediatric Trauma Injury Prevention Program Coordinator at Children’s Hospital. “The common causes of ATV-related admissions to our hospital are because the child was riding on an adult-sized ATV or was riding with a friend or behind a friend on the same ATV and was not wearing their helmet.”

Children are more prone to ATV injuries because of their lack of experience operating motorized vehicles, lack of psychomotor control and coordination, and lack of judgment that can result in risk-taking behavior and poor decision-making skills.

“It is important to remember that if you and your child plan on riding four-wheelers, it is crucial that you take the appropriate safety precautions and wear your helmets at all time,” Unni added.

Children’s Hospital fully supports the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Surgeons (ACS) recommendations that children 16 and under should not ride ATVs due to the high risk of serious injuries. However, if parents plan to allow their child to ride an ATV despite the known risk that these vehicles pose to children, the following safety measures are strongly recommended:

• Children younger than 16 should not ride on adult-sized ATVs because they are twice as likely to be injured compared to those who ride on youth-sized ATVs. Please refer to manufacturer recommendations for the appropriate size ATV.

• Always wear protective gear – especially a helmet – when riding ATVs. Head injuries are by far the leading cause of death and disability related to ATV crashes — helmets are known to reduce head injuries by 85 percent. Wear a motorcycle or motorized sports helmet and make sure it is certified by the U.S. Department of Transportation or the Snell Memorial Foundation.
• Remember, ATVs are meant for a single rider. They are not meant to carry passengers.

• ATVs are not meant to be driven on the road. Traveling on the road decreases the stability of the vehicle.

• Do not drive an ATV while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• Take a hands-on safety training course.

To learn more visit https://atvsafety.org/

Is your family going on a trip this summer? Will you drive or fly? While you prepare for summer fun and family time, do not forget that child passenger safety does not just apply in your car. It is important every ride, every time. That means you need to take into consideration how your child will stay safe during each part of your travels this summer.

Keep these travel safety tips in mind as you head to your summer vacation destination:

If you are driving-

• Before you leave, use this quick, 15-minute check list to ensure your car seat is installed correctly and ready to for your trip₍₁₎.
• In an SUV or van where the luggage and other items are in trunk space not separated from the cabin area of the vehicle, secure all loose items so that they do not fall during the drive (and impact children) or become projectiles in a crash ₍₂₎.
  • Stacked items become unsteady and can fall during travel or interfere with the driver’s field of vision in their mirrors which poses additional dangers ₍₂₎.
  • Consider shipping some items to avoid an overcrowded cabin.
  • Be sure heavy items are low in the load space of the vehicle to avoid falling or becoming a projectile in the event of emergency braking ₍₂₎.
  • Before you go, quickly check that the load is secure in your vehicle by slowly moving forward and punching the brake while in your driveway. If it remains secure, it’s ready to go ₍₂₎.

If you are flying-

• Use your car seat for your child in their own airplane seat if it’s FAA approved and check your car seat at the gate (most airlines this is free or reimbursable) if it is a booster seat ₍₃₎.
• If you are planning to use rental, taxi, or ride-share services once at your destination:
  • Plan to have your child’s seat with you to use in the rental or ride-share vehicle. Children should be properly restrained every ride, every time.
  • Re-familiarize yourself with proper install of your child’s car seat if it’s been a while since you’ve had to do it and prepare yourself with enough time to install and un-install each time you travel in a vehicle during your trip.
  • If your rental car company offers car seats to use, be sure to look it over when you receive it and be sure they have the instruction manual offered with it as well prior to accepting it. If it appears in good working order, is not out-of-date, and you can install it correctly in the rented vehicle based off of instructions, it should be safe to use ₍₃₎.

With a few checklists and simple safety reminders, the whole family can safely travel. Plan for some delays if your flying, and plan to encounter some traffic if you drive. Take a little extra time in your travel to take breaks to stretch, play, and eat well, and do the best you can to stick to your child’s usual schedule ₍₂₎. This will help reduce the frustrations of travel day for children and parents alike. The joys of a family trip can be one of the best parts of parenthood, so we must take the necessary safety precautions to keep everyone safe during all your travel adventures this summer. For more car seat safety information and travel tips, visit the our car seat tip page.

Sources:

https://www.safekids.org/node/4201

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/12/tips-for-keeping-children-safe-during-holiday-travel/index.htm

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/Travel-Safety-Tips.aspx

Summer break may mean trips, outside activities, and water fun for a lot of families, but for most families, the break from school also means a lot more time spent at home. It is a great time for caregivers to re-evaluate the safety of their home for their children. Home should be a safe place for families and their children to play, relax, and enjoy the additional time they can spend together during summer break. If you have older children who may be spending time at home unsupervised during the summer, the beginning of summer break is also a great time to revisit how to stay safe at home.

Babyproofing isn’t just for babies. Follow these tips to keep your children safe in your home:

• Be sure to limit access to stairs for small children.
• Cover electrical outlets and secure cords.
• Keep medications and cleaning supplies secured up and out of sight from children.
• Teach children to stay away from the stove when in use.
• Never leave standing water in the bathtub and monitor bathroom access to prevent small children from accessing the toilet. Remember, that you don’t have to swim to drown. All water is a risk for small children.
• If there is a pool at the home, ensure that there is a safety fence surrounding it.
• Secure perfumes and other bathroom/hygiene products up and out of sight from children.
• Make sure the Poison Help Center phone number is posted in the home so that it can be found quickly in an emergency. 1-800-222-1222
• Make sure the floors stay clear with toys put away, especially near stairs.
• Don’t rely on window screens to keep children in. Screens keep bugs out not children in.
• Secure furniture and TVs to the wall to prevent tip-overs.
• Ensure there are smoke detectors on each floor of the home, in the kitchen, and in all sleeping areas.

For children over 10 years old and for teens, that you may be considering leaving home alone for short periods of time:

• Make sure that they are mature enough to be able to respond in an emergency.
• Go over fire safety plans and emergency preparedness with the child, then practice those plans.
• Keep important safety information, emergency contacts, and any information a child may need on the refrigerator so that they can easily access the information if they need to call for help or dial 9-1-1 in an emergency.
• Do a trial run of leaving them home alone by leaving for a very short time, like to do a grocery store trip, to make sure they are truly ready.
• Discourage them from cooking without an adult present.
• Remind them that the doors should remain closed and locked while they are home alone.
  • Children should never open the door for deliveries or strangers.
  • Children should never share they are home alone, especially on social media.
  • Children should never leave the home while they are home alone.
• Make sure all power tools, knives, and guns are removed or secured and locked up in a safe location.

Summer is a great time to play outside and enjoy the break from school. Most families will inevitably be spending much more time at home while children are on summer break. Use this time to make sure that your home is a safe play space for small children and ensure that any older children who may spend some of their time home alone are prepared. Summer should be fun! Don’t let a preventable injury prevent your family from enjoying the summer break this year. For more safety tips for your family safe click here.

Sources:

https://www.safekids.org/tip/home-safety-tips-pdf

https://www.tncourts.gov/courts/juvenile-family-courts/faqs

https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/Red-Cross-Offers-Safety-Tips-For-When-the-Kids-Are-Home-Alone.html

Travelers on the road have different forms of transportation. One that will become very popular now that the weather has warmed up is motorcycles. Riding a motorcycle is very different than driving a car. Some Challenges faced with motorcycles are the size and visibility which make it harder to be safe. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2020, there were 5,579 motorcyclists killed in traffic crashes, an 11% increase from 2019. [1]. Remember it is always important to share the road with motorcyclist. It takes all drivers being aware and looking twice.

Do your part and follow these safety tips to keep yourself and motorcyclist safe this summer.

For motorists on the road:

• Always allow more follow distance — beyond three to four seconds — when behind a motorcycle. This gives them more time to maneuver or stop in an emergency.
• Check all mirrors and blind spots for motorcycles before changing lanes or merging with traffic. Motorcycles are small and it is very hard to know their exact speed and distance in a mirror. It is very easy for motorcycles to be hidden in a vehicles blind spot. Always proceed with caution.
• Avoid distractions that place motorcyclists and other road users at risk. Driving always requires your full attention.
• Always allow a motorcycle the full width of a lane. Yes, there may be plenty of space in the lane but the lane itself should not be shared. Motorcycles need plenty of room and have just as much right to a full lane as a car does.

For motorcyclists on the road:

• Try to make yourself visible. Avoid blind spots. Wear bright clothing and a lighter helmet. [2]
• Always where a Department of Transportation (DOT) compliant helmet and proper gear. The DOT requires that all motorcycle helmets sold in the United States meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 218, which outlines basic helmet safety requirements. [1]
• Complete a rider education course and ride with a current motorcycle license.
• Ride Defensively. Assuming that others cannot see you will make your mindset more aware of your surroundings.

A high traffic day for motorcycles that you should be aware of is the third Monday of June which is Ride to Work Day. This year, Ride to Work occurs on June 20^th. It is important for motorists and motorcyclist to obey the traffic laws and speed limit. Remember share the road and be aware. For more teen driver safety tip please visit our website here

[1] https://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/get-materials/motorcycle-safety/motorcycle-safety-awarenessmonth#:~:text=May%202022%20is%20Motorcycle%20Safety,fatalities%20and%20injuries%20on%20our

[2] https://www.msf-usa.org/SafetyAwarenessMonth.aspx

If you saw a stranger on the street collapse, what would you do? What if it were your child drowning, would you know how to perform CPR to help save their life once pulled out of the water? June 1-7^th is CPR and AED Awareness week bringing attention to how people can help save more lives by knowing CPR and how to operate an AED. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), about 90 percent of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die. [1] Out of those out-of-hospital cardiac arrests about 70 percent happen in homes.

Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating or beats too ineffectively to circulate blood to the brain and other vital organs. [2] It does not matter if you are a healthcare professional or not it is important to act fast if you suspect someone is having a cardiac arrest. Every second counts. You need to follow these 3 steps:

1. Call 911
2. Start CPR
3. Use an AED

If you do not know how to do CPR now is the time to learn. Check with your local American Red Cross for CPR classes. There are even some classes available online. Get the education you need to help save a life.

When performing CPR, you can do it two ways:

• Conventional CPR- includes mouth to mouth resuscitation
• Hands Only CPR- does not include mouth to mouth resuscitation

One is just as effective as the other so if you know the basics of hands only do it. Hands only requires you to push hard and fast in the center of the chest. You want to get 100-120 beats per minute. The best advice given is to listen to music and do compressions to the beat of a famous song such as “Stayin Alive” by the Bee Gees. [1] CPR does get exhausting, so it is important to rotate out if there is someone there to help you. You want compressions to be as strong and effective as they can be.

It is important to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) when available. This is a medical device designed to analyze the heart rhythm and deliver an electric shock to victims of ventricular fibrillation to restore the heart rhythm to normal. [3] There are AEDs that will give you step by step instructions for use but again it is best to take a CPR/AED class so you can receive correct training. Do everything you can on your part to help keep your loved one safe. Less than 46% of people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest receive the immediate help that they need before professional help arrives. You might make the difference in life or death for someone one day.

[1] https://cpr.heart.org/en/training-programs/cpr-and-aed-awareness#:~:text=June%201%2D7%20each%20year,parent%2C%20spouse%2C%20or%20child.

[2] https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/2021/cpr-aed-awareness-week-every-second-counts.html

[3] https://www.osha.gov/aed