Safety | She Scribes

National Poison Prevention Week of March 18, 2012

March 18, 2012 By Kimberly

National Poison Prevention week is the week of March 18, 2012. This special week to promote poison prevention was established by the U.S. Congress in 1961 making this it’s 51st year.

The California Poison Control System (CPCS) is the largest single provider of poison control services in the U.S. and California’s primary source for treatment advice and information in case of poison exposure for both consumers and health professionals. CPCS offers a variety of free services to prevent poisoning.

I thought these tips would be great to share with my readers. You do not have to be a resident of California to utilize these tips.

- Fast, free and expert help or information 24/7 for emergencies or questions about poison at 1-800-222-1222. Program that number into all phones.

- Interpreters are available at all times for over 100 languages.

- www.PillsvsCandy.org is an online game and iPhone and Android app that can be played with the whole family. It will help you to see if you can tell the difference between pills and candy.

- Sign up for free weekly home and family safety tips. Text TIPS to 69866.

- Free weekly tips are also available in Spanish by texting PUNTOS to 69866.

- CPCS has an active Facebook page where consumers can get news and share information https://www.facebook.com/pages/California-Poison-Control-System/50673939651. Look for out for cool giveaways.

- CPCS has twitter account @poisoninfo engaging moms and dads, nonprofit organizations and others. CPCS stages intermittent “15 Minutes with an Expert” on Twitter where followers can ask a medical toxicologist anything over a 15 minute period.

- Consumers can share a poison prevention message with a friend by customizing and sending an e-card at www.CalPoisoneCards.org.

- Check out CPCS’s YouTube channel for English and Spanish videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/PoisonInfo?blend=4&ob=0.

- Lead can still be found in new and used children’s products, like toys, backpacks, lunchboxes and jewelry. Find out about product recalls and tested products at www.HealthyStuff.org.

For more information about California Poison Control, visit www.CalPoison.org.

About California Poison Control

CPCS is dedicated to providing residents with the most up-to-date information and 24-hour help in case of poisoning. In case of an accidental poisoning, consumers should immediately call

1-800-222-1222 for advice. Pharmacists, nurses, physician-toxicologists and poison information providers are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help. In most cases, a poison exposure can be safely managed in your home, avoiding a call to 911 or a visit to a crowded hospital emergency room. Many parents think about contacting the poison control services only in case of an emergency, but experts are available to answer questions any time. Weekly tips about home and family safety are available by texting TIPS to 69866. Follow CPCS on Facebook at California Poison Control and on Twitter @poisoninfo.

Kimberly

*I was not compensated for this post. I posted this information for the benefit of my site readers. Any opinions expressed are my own.

Filed Under: Safety Tagged With: Safety, Tips

Super Bowl XLVI: Avoid Penalties by Knowing the Home Safety Playbook

February 3, 2012 By Kimberly

As Super Bowl XLVI is nearly here, and as preparations for game day bashes begin, it’s imperative to think about safety, in addition to snacks. Did you know the average household will bring together more than 17 people-including kids-to watch the Patriots face off against the Giants?

Given the number of residential parties that take place on Super Bowl Sunday, UL (Underwriters Laboratories), the only independent, global safety organization with more than 100 years of expertise, has developed a playbook for the big day to help hosts safely entertain football fans of all ages.

By dividing the home into “safety zones”, households can take precautions to prevent against emergencies common to Super Bowl entertaining, specifically furniture-related tip-overs and home fires. Did you know that nearly 15,000 children visit the ER each year as a result of furniture tip-overs and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that grilling is the cause of more than 8,200 home fires each year? Unlike the big game, there are no instant replays when it comes to playing it safe. Tips on how to prevent party fouls, zone by zone, include:

Living Room

- While UL tests televisions for safety, they also test the wall mounting hardware. Homeowners must mount TVs in accordance with the installation instructions supplied with the product.

- Furniture-mounted TVs may be liable to tip so discourage children from approaching by removing items from the TV top and stand like toys and remote controls that tempt climbing.

- Caution adults to stand back from furniture-mounted TVs when they celebrate touchdowns with celebratory dancing to prevent a tip over!

- Older-model second and third-string TVs (often tube-type) that have been traded to other rooms should be placed on sturdy furniture, set back as far as possible from the stand edge.

Kitchen

- Encourage guests to stay away from the cooking area including stoves, ovens and more.

- Turn pot and pan handles toward the center of the cook top to prevent accidental snagging and hot spills.

- Make sure your appliance cords do not hang over counter top edges to prevent snags and spills.

Grilling Area

- Super Bowl is the biggest grilling day of the winter season and all grilling should take place outdoors only, no exceptions!

- Never grill in your garage or carport.

- Keep a spray bottle of water handy and employ to knock grill flare ups down.

- Whether you are cooking in the backyard or tailgating with friends, always look for the UL Mark on cooking equipment such as grills and slow cookers to ensure the product has been tested for safety.

Last but not least, UL recommends getting down on your hands and knees to view all home zones from a child’s eye level to catch and mitigate any lingering safety hazards from stray cords to sharp edges to small objects that can pose a threat to the smallest guests as the final pre-game safety drill. This is a GREAT tip! I would have never thought to do that. I wish I knew about this idea when my kids were little. I think this is a great tip in general, not just for a Super Bowl party.

If you would like more information or Super Bowl safety tips visit http://www.safetyathome.com/home-safety/home-safety-articles/super-bowl-party-safety-game-plan.

Kimberly

*I was not compensated for this post. I posted this information for the benefit of my site readers. Any opinions expressed are my own.

Filed Under: Safety, Uncategorized Tagged With: Household, Safety

Important Home Safety Information

January 21, 2012 By Kimberly

Not too long ago I posted about home safety for the holidays, featuring some amusing videos staring the Muppets.

Did you know December, January and February are the top months for home fire deaths? Don’t assume that your home is safe as soon as you take down the holidays lights and toss out the Christmas tree. You need to think about home safety year round.

This winter, UL (Underwriters Laboratories) is encouraging consumers to keep warm, but stay safe from fires. I’ve always wanted a fireplace, but I do worry about the fire hazards.

Weeks ago, on Christmas morning, Madonna Badger, a fashion industry ad exec, lost her three daughters and both parents in a house fire that was caused by the embers left over from a fire. That is my biggest fear about having a fireplace, not matter how beautiful they are.

Another fire safety hazards are those space heaters. Have are notorious for causing fire.

Here is an interesting fact that actually surprises me a lot. Historically families had approximately 17 minutes to escape a home fire; where as nowadays, that time is just 2-3 minutes! The reason for this is due largely from synthetic furniture and building materials. That is a MASSIVE difference.

Do YOU think you would be able to get your family out of your home during a fire in just 2-3 minutes? That translates to 120-180 SECONDS.

Here are some more alarming fire-related statistics from 2010 alone according to the Department of Homeland Security:

- 362,000 total fires (making that approximately 1,000 per day)

- 46,800 heat-related fires in the US

- 26,400 electric-related fires in the US

- 2,555 total fire-related deaths in 2010

If you think a fire hazard can’t happen in your home – think again! THOUSANDS of people will prove that theory wrong.

Along with home fires, carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless and poisonous gas that also threatens family safety, a risk associated with using alternative methods of winter heating.

Dubbed the “silent killer”, the gas kills 500 people and sends 20,000 more to the hospital each year.

Needless to say having a CO detector, or two, is necessary to keep you and your family safe. Just like with fire alarms make sure to test and replace the batteries twice a year. Also, CO detectors do not last forever. Generally you need to replace the entire unit every 5 years unless the detector specifies another time frame (some can last as long as 7 years). When in doubt replace after 5 years just to be on the safe side. Dust and debris can fill up inside of the detector (no matter how clean you keep your home) making it less effective over time.

Here are a few fire safety tips. There are many more ways you can help keep your family and home safe. These are just a few.

- Make sure you have at least two viable ways of exiting your home, just in case your first escape option is closed off due to a fire. This can be a backdoor or front door, garage exit door, or window. Make sure EVERY family member is aware of them.

- Make an escape plan with your family and practice is a few times per year. Even go so far as to wake your family up in the middle of the night for a practice drill to see how much they remember when they are jolted out of a sound sleep. It sounds like a cruel thing to do but it’s something that can potentially save their lives some day. Also, do not make your family aware of the drill. If you do they are going to brush up on it ahead of time. You want to see how they react noting knowing ahead of time.

- Make it a habit to check wires and plugs on a regular basis. Look for plugs near heat sources. Check plugs for breaks or fraying. Replace or remove wires and plugs that could potentially be a fire hazard.

- Check your fire alarms RIGHT NOW. Make sure they are working. Replace the batteries if you have not do so recently. Make sure you have several alarms around the house because a fire can start in any room.

- Check all windows and doors and make sure they open properly. Sometimes windows can stick, especially if they were painted. Make sure you can open each window up fully so that you can use it as an escape route if needed.

- Invest in some fire extinguishers and place them around your home. You should have one in the kitchen but it’s also a good idea to have another one just in case.

- Put valuables in a fire safety box. Is possible keep some extra cash or a spare card in the fire box. In the event of a home fire you’ll have cash to get food and shelter.

- If you use space heaters, a fireplace or a wood burning stove, never leave them unattended. If you must keep it on all night make sure to take every precaution possible so a fire doesn’t break out. If you leave your home for any reason make sure to turn off the heater and put out the fire in the fireplace or wood burning stove.

- Consider using flameless candles instead of traditional candles if you have pets or small children. Most of them are so realistic looking you’ll never know the difference.

These are just a few tips I can think of at the moment. For more safety tips visit www.SafetyatHome.com/CommitaMinute. You can also check out www.SafetyatHome.com.

Kimberly

*I was not compensated for this post. I posted this for the benefit of my site readers. Any opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Filed Under: Safety, Uncategorized Tagged With: Safety, Website

Are YOU ready? (Giveaway)

January 5, 2012 By Kimberly

We’re now officially into the new year. How many people do you know are still sticking with their New Year’s resolutions? How many people have already caved in and returned to their old habits? What about YOU? Are you still sticking to your New Year’s resolutions or goals?

Most people choose resolutions (or “yearly goals” as I like to look at it) that are geared towards personal and lifestyle changes. Some common resolutions/goals include eating healthy, exercising more, committing to being “green” and Earth-friendly, or perhaps kicking an unhealthy habit like smoking. Sadly there is one resolution that is never found on anyone’s list – being prepared in case of an emergency.

I live in the suburbs of New York City. New York is a huge city with millions of residents and vistors. Something is bond to happen from time to time that will force people into emergency situations. Things like fires, blizzards and even a major water main break are things that could happen at anytime, to anyone. Not just in NYC either. These types of emergencies happen even in the smallest towns across the country.

As you are resolving to make changes in your own life this new year, please also consider adding your family’s safety in case of emergencies.

One of my worst fears is my husband. He works on the other side of the river and has to travel through a state park to and from work. There are a lot of black out zones on the parkway that he travels, making it impossible for him to make a phone call. My worst fear is that he’ll slide off the road, or get stuck on the road in a bad snowstorm. He needs to keep an emergency kit in his car and be prepared for any scenario. Things like a shovel, kitty litter (tire traction), rock salt, blankets, gloves, a flashlight, portable radio and food are vital. Now that Winter is fast approaching he needs to gather up all his supplies and keep them handy.

Anyone can create an emergency kit for their car. It’s easy to do. A backpack, duffle bag, tote bag or even a box is all you need to keep your supplies on hand.

You also need to make sure you have an emergency kit handy when you are at home too. You never knew when you will be forced to flee your home on a moments notice. If that happens, will you be prepared? Will you have food and water for your family? What about diapers for your infant, or a change of clothes? These are things that every person needs to think about.

If you have pets you should consider having an emergency kit on hand for them too. Extra blankets, food, water bowl and even a toy or two to provide them with comfort during a stressful situation would be helpful.

The Ad Council and the New York City Office of Emergency Management’s (OEM) Ready New York campaign wants to encourage individuals, families and businesses to Resolve to be Ready in 2012.

Many families do not have a plan in place in the event of an emergency. Ready New York’s latest online tool, the Readiness Challenge, takes users through a real-life emergency situation that forces them to make quick decisions at every turn. Once users have completed all the scenarios, they can refer to various Ready New York resources to create an emergency plan.

In the event of a serious emergency, do you and your loved ones have a special meeting place arranged? Will your spouse and children know where to find you in case of an emergency? Remember, cell phones are not perfect and it’s easy for radio towers to get knocked out causing phones to be useless.

My husband knows in case of an emergency we need to meet upstate at my father’s house. I would get our children and our pets and meet him up there.

If your family doesn’t have a special meeting place set up you should do so right away. If you need assistance the Readiness Challenge also guides users to the My Meeting Place Facebook application and other OEM resources to help users get started on their emergency plans.

I consider myself a smart and knowledgeable person, however when I took the Readiness Challenge I actually learned that there was A LOT I didn’t really know being prepared. The test is a real “eye opener”. Even if you truly believe that you know everything there is to know about being prepared, I challenge you to take the Readiness Challenge. You’ll be surprised.

Even though the Resolve to be Ready 2012 is throught the Ads Council and the New York City Office of Emergency Management, it doesn’t mean that people around the country cannot benefit from this campaign. ANYONE can take the Readiness Challenge.

For more information about the NYC OEM visit www.NYC.gov/OEM. To find an Office of Emergency Management in your home town simply look it up on Google.

You can also find a wealth of information here, http://www.nyc.gov/html/oem/html/get_prepared/ready.shtml.

** If you live in NYC you can go here to find out the order in which the city will plow the streets to help you prepare.

In honor of the Resolve to be Ready 2012 campaign, I have a special emergency preparedness kit to give away to a lucky winner. The kit is valued at around $50 and contains the following…

- Backpack to hold your supplies

- Pocket Radio

- Flashlight

- First Aid Kit

- Batteries

- Workers Gloves

- Light Sticks

- Emergency Blanket and more!

To enter take the Readiness Challenge then leave a comment telling how it helped you get started on your emergency plans - OR – share with my what steps you have taken to prepare for any type of an emergency in the New Year?

For extra entries you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done. Extra entries are optional.

- Subscribe to She Scribes via E-mail or RSS. Both options are found on the right side bar.

- “Like” NY OEM on Facebook, http://www.Facebook.com/NYCEmergencyManagement.

- “Like” the Ad Council on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/AdCouncil.

- “Like” She Scribes on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/SheScribes.

- Follow She Scribes on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/She_Scribes and tweet about this giveaway and/or being prepared in case of an emergency. Please include @She_Scribes in the tweet so I can see it too. This is limited to three tweets per day.

- Share this giveaway with others on Facebook, Digg, Technorati and so forth. Be sure to tell me what you did and please provide a name and/or URL so I can verify.

- Leave a thoughtful comment on a non-giveaway post on She Scribes and tell me which post you commented on. There is a limit of one comment per post, but you can comment on as many posts as you want for an unlimited extra entry option.

- Post about this giveaway and/or the importance of being prepared in case of an emergency on your site and please link back to this post. Please provide the URL.

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on January 14, 2012 at 11:59 PM (EST). The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries. The winner will be notified via e-mail and will have three days to reply with a name and mailing address (no PO Box). Failure to do so will result in a new winner will be chosen in their place.

Other great giveaways can be found on the right side bar under “Win It”.

Kimberly

*I will be receiving a free sample bag. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own. The prize will be provided by the Ads Council and OEM.

Filed Under: Giveaways, New York City (NYC), Safety, Uncategorized Tagged With: Giveaways, Safety, Website

Important Holiday Home Safety (Giveaway)

November 25, 2011 By Kimberly

This time of year everyone’s minds are on the holiday season. There is so much that needs to be done from baking to shopping and from decorating and spending precious time with family and friends. Our minds are cluttered with thoughts of gift giving, charities, gift wrapping and lavish meals. The last thing most people think about is safety.

Did you know that a third of all home fires occur during the months between December through March? A lot of those fires are due to the holidays including Christmas tree fires, fires caused by candles, fires caused by decroations and kitchen fires.

Do you ever stop and think about what you would if you were cooking your holiday ham and a fire erupts on the stove top? Would you know what to do? It’s amazing how quickly we forget things when we are in panic mode.

Many years ago, when I was a young girl, my mom was cooking in the kitchen. She was cooking french fries in a deep fryer on the stove (basically a pot full of oil). She stepped away for just a moment. When she returned she found that the pot had some how caught on fire. She screamed for my sister and told her to open up the front door. As my sister stood there holding the door open my mom grabbed WITH HER BARE HANDS the pot of flaming oil. She THOUGHT she could throw it outside to prevent a fire from breaking out in the home. As she ran through the hallway the pain was too intense that she threw the pot out the door. Instead of going out the door the pot of oil hit my sister on the back of her legs. Now my sister was on fire – literally! She ran outside and started rolling around in the grass. A neighbor saw what was happening and called 911.

As a result my mom had serious burns on both her hands and arms and couldn’t use them for many weeks. My sister was left with disfiguring scars on the backs of her legs.

My mom didn’t know what to do when faced with a fire in the kitchen. She panicked. If you were put in that same position, what would you have done?

It’s important to have a “game plan” so that you know what to do in the event of a fire. It’s also important to have things in place to prevent fires such as smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. Do you have a fire extinguisher in your kitchen? My parents had a fire extinguisher in our home but it was in the garage, not in the kitchen where it was needed the most.

You don’t need to have a huge extinguisher in your kitchen. A small, lightweight one is all you need to put out a fire.

Cooking and baking are the leading causes of home fires and injuries. Sadly, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), only approximately 25% of U.S. households have a fire extinguisher on hand to help contain or extinguish a small fire. Wow! Only 25%. Are YOU one of that 25%?

Kidde, maker of fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and escape ladders has created a very important and useful survey to help you to determine if your home is at the pinnacle of home safety or if there are a few areas that require attention. The survey only takes a few minutes and it completely anonymous. The information it provides is for YOUR eyes only. I took the survey. Thankfully our home is pretty safe, but there are some areas we could improve which I have ever intention of doing so.

If you have a few minutes I would strongly recommend YOU taking the survey too. Here is the link, http://bit.ly/oQHNlD.

Kidde offers a fire extinguisher that is specifically designed to protect families should a fire start on the stove top. Kidde’s Kitchen Fire Extinguisher is the only unit listed to meet the recently added UL 711A standard that tests the performance of the unit on vegetable and peanut oil, both very common cooking ingredients in American kitchens.

The Kidde Kitchen Fire Extinguisher has a specially designed nozzle that helps to minimize the chance of oil splashing where as a regular fire extinguisher may cause the oil to splash. The chemical ingredient in the fire extinguisher is also non-toxic. It’s similar to baking soda so it won’t damage your stove top and clean up is much easier then other fire extinguishers.

We have one of the Kidde Kitchen Fire Extinguishers. I have not personally tried it yet (knock on wood that I never have a need for it!). I like it’s compact size (it fits nicely in a side cabinet. It’s also lightweight and set up so that you can operate it with just one hand. The extinguisher also has a pressure gauge so you know if the extinguisher is fully charged.

You can see a video of the Kidde Kitchen Fire Extinguisher in action here at this link, http://kidde.com/utcfs/Templates/Pages/Template-66/0,8070,pageId%3D85260%26siteId%3D384,00.html. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the video. It actually gave me chills because it is a scary reminder as to just how easy a stove top fire can occur.

This holiday season as you are cooking a tasty feast for family and friends PLEASE keep your safely in mind. Investing in a Kidde Kitchen Fire Extinguisher will not only help you in event of a fire but it will also provide you with peace of mind. You can find them at Home Depot for around $20.00. (http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202709092/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053). That is a small price to pay for your family’s safety.

Kidde has other great safety products. We have a Kidde Emergency Escape Ladder which is essential for my family since we live on a top floor condo. We only have one door. Other then that we only have windows and a balcony we can escape from but being so far up we need an escape ladder.

We also have the Kidde Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm that TALKS!

I feel so much better knowing that I have so many safety measures in place to help protect me, my family and our home.

For more information about Kidde products please visit www.Kidde.com.

Kidde has generously offered to give a lucky reader one of their Kitchen Fire Extinguishers. Thank you Kidde!

To enter please tell me about what safety products you have in your home, or if there are safety products you really want to have in your home that you don’t have yet but plan on purchasing.

For extra entries you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each that you have done. Extra entries are optional.

- Subscribe to She Scribes (E-mail or RSS). Both options are found on the right side bar.

- “Like” Kidde on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/Kidde.

- “Like” She Scribes on Facebook, www.Facebook.com/SheScribes.

- Follow Kidde on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/KiddeSafety.

- Follow She Scribes on Twitter, www.Twitter.com/She_Scribes

- Tweet about this giveaway. Please include @She_Scribes in the tweet so I can see it too. This is limited to three tweets per day.

- Share information about home fire safety (please link to Kidde.com) and/or this giveaway with others on Facebook, Digg, Technorati and so forth. Be sure to tell me what you did and please provide a name and/or URL so I can verify.

- Post about fire safety (please link to Kidde.com) and/or this giveaway on your site and please link back to this post. Please provide the URL.

This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on December 7, 2011 at 11:59 PM (EST). The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries. The winner will be notified via e-mail and will have three days to reply with a name, mailing address (no PO Box) and phone number (for shipping only). Failure to do so will result in a new winner being chosen.

Other wonderful giveaways can be found on the right side bar under “Win It”.

Kimberly

*I received free product samples in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own. Kidde will be providing the prize.

Filed Under: Giveaways, Holidays, Household, Reviews, Safety Tagged With: Giveaways, Household, Safety, Website

How prepared are YOU in case of emergencies?

November 18, 2011 By Kimberly

I don’t know why, but lately I have been in a “safety” state of mind. Not that it’s a bad thing, I’m just curious as to WHY I am. Maybe it was the freak snow storm that took us by surprise just before Halloween. No one expected THAT much snow, nor did they expect that people would lose power for days, even more then a week in some places. I guess that really got me thinking about our own emergency preparedness.

Ever since the snow storm I’ve been doing things like stocking up on batteries, replacing flashlights, stocking up on non-perishable foods and pet foods. Not that I have a lot of room in my shoebox sized condo for a lot of food storage, I feel that it’s important to have at least enough people and pet food to last 3 or more days. Not only food but also enough warm blankets and outer wear. I don’t want my family to go through what many families went through recently having to go many days without heat and power. I’d buy a power generator too if we had the $$$ an the physical space for it.

I even go so far as to make sure all the phones, iPads and iPods are fully charged. Although we can’t access the Internet on the iPads if we have no power since our router would be out of service too. At least the kids would have some games to pay to occupy their time.

Did you know there is actually a website that sells freeze dried meals, water and prepareness packages? It’s called BuyEmergencyFoods.com. It’s actually a pretty cool site. I’ve been all over it this morning. One of their packages actually has 1,000 servings of food included. WOW! That would be perfect to have for your family, however it does come with a hefty price tag ($1,850.00!). If I had the money I would certainly get it for my family.

Their freeze dried foods also have a shelf life of 25 years!

They even have a food package that has 8,640 servings. That would be a great package for a business, church, school or organization to consider.

They also have portable power generators that can be recharged via a solar panel. Clearly that won’t come in handy in inclement weather, but under normal circumstances there is sunshine during the day. One of their solor powered generators can power up a 1,200 square foot facility. That is MUCH bigger then our condo (900 square feet).

These are all certainly great things to take into consideration.

Now to plan for the Zombie Apocalypse.