Keep Your Children Safe This School Year

School just started, so let’s review once again as we did last year on how to help prepare our children to be safe.
Some involve role-playing for kids 5 to 7. Role-playing is a great technique to use with children because of their preference for the visual.

I hope the following will be helpful to you:
Never place your child’s name on any piece of clothing that is visible to anyone. You do not want to make them a target for a stranger to call out to by name.
Make sure your child knows his or her full name, phone number, parents’ full names, address and a work phone number. It is not helpful when officers find children who do not know their full names or addresses.

Through- out the year talk to your child about drugs, strangers and any weapon that they might see or hear about, a bully or any related concerns. Let the child know that such information should be reported to the teacher and to you immediately.

If your child is going into a new school or going to school for the first time, ask her whether there is anything that frightens or makes her uncomfortable. Share that information with the teacher or schools police; officers are well-trained in safety issues.

As a parent, you should check with your child’s school regarding policies and procedures on emergency situations so you are not frightened if there is a lock-down. If you know the policies and procedures, you can calmly pick up your child when it’s appropriate.
If your child rides the school bus, talk to him about how to behave. If your child has to wait alone at a bus stop, stress to him not to accept rides from strangers.

If older kids ride with a friend, make sure that you speak to them about wearing seat belts. Do not assume that your child knows even the basic facts about safety and other risks.
Set up a regular calling time to know when your child arrives at home.

Another good idea is getting your child involved in school organizations and programs.
Parents should get involved in the school PTA -- this will help they foster good relationships with teachers and administrators.

Let’s all start this school year with safety in mind for the sake of our children but let’s not forget other safety issues that adults must heed such as watching the speed in school zones and wearing seat belts at all times.

Remember, adults are the role models for their children. As always, feel free to contact our office for safety literature on various topics or visit our website: www.citizenscrimewatch.com for safety links.

Until next time be safe, be alert and be involved. RL
Carmen Caldwell is executive director of the Citizens’ Crime Watch of Miami-Dade. Send feedback and news for this column to her at cmcwatch@citizens
crimewatch.com, or call her, 305-470-1670.


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All Rights Reserved.
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Spotlight on Electrical Safety

By Patti N. Laird is president of
Safer Kids And Homes, Inc.,
8843 S.W. 132nd Street, Miami, FL 33176.
For more information and free safety checklists, please stop by the store, call 305-854-KIDS or visit www.SaferKidsAndHomes.com.

Electricity is nothing to play around with! Electrical shocks can cause severe burns, brain damage, or death. Protecting your children from electrical shock is one of the first things you need to address when you begin to safety proof your home. Electricity is used everywhere in today’s homes from cell phone chargers to wipe warmers and stereos and it literally takes only a second for your child to be in danger.
A plugged-in lamp or appliance cord is very dangerous in the hands (or mouth) of a small child. If bitten, these cords can allow 120 volts of electricity to pass through your child. All electric cords should be placed out of your child’s reach and sight, if possible. Cords can be hidden and secured behind furniture or covered by various types of cord control devices. It is also very important to check the condition of any cords used, because a damaged or frayed cord is a fire hazard as well.
The primary way to protect little ones from exploring outlets with wet fingers, objects, and even their tongues is to cover the outlets. Traditionally, parents were advised to use small plastic outlet plugs. However, toddlers soon learn to remove these. The plastic device itself can in some cases become a choking hazard and the outlet is left unprotected. There are several safer and more effective devices to cover outlets.
Spring-loaded outlet covers that replace the existing covers are an ideal safety device. An electric plug is inserted into the cover’s slots and the cover will then slide over to match the outlet slots, so the plug can be easily inserted. Remove the plug and the cover automatically slides back into the safe position.
For outlets that have plugs "permanently" used, a cover box can be installed over the outlet and plugs. These covers are designed to be pinched open by an adult-sized hand.
For travel or other "temporary" needs there are one-piece plastic plugs that are designed to be safer if a child got one in his mouth as they are too big to choke on.
Bathroom, kitchen and other "wet" area outlets require the use of GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets. These are designed to stop the flow of electricity if a wet finger or a plugged-in appliance comes in contact with water. Even a turned-off appliance can electrify water if it comes in contact with it, so be sure to always un-plug and store appliances out of reach of small children.
Teach your children at an early age about electrical safety and why electricity is so dangerous. Show them by example how to treat electricity with respect and how to safely use electrical appliances. Also remember that adults can become victims of electrocution, too. Make sure you are well-informed about the hazards in your home, then take the necessary precautions so that your home is safe for the entire family.

Make This A Safer Summer For Your Child

Patti N. Laird is president of
Safer Kids And Homes, Inc.,
8843 S.W. 132nd Street, Miami, FL 33176.
For more information and free safety checklists, please stop by the store, call 305-854-KIDS or visit www.SaferKidsAndHomes.com.


Summer is fast approaching, a time when your children will be spending more time outdoors and in or around the water. Here in South Florida, water safety and sun protection need to be year-round concerns.
During the summer, however – with children out of school and engaged in more outdoor activities – you have to be even more vigilant. Here are some important sun and water safety tips to keep in mind this summer… and all year long.

Sun Safety
Skin cancer in both children and adults is on the rise, especially in Florida, but it can be prevented by following the American Academy of Dermatology’s ABC’s of Sun Protection.

The ABC’s Of Sun Protection

1. Away – Stay away from the sun in the middle of the day.
2. Block – Use SPF 15 or higher sunscreen.
3. Cover Up – Wear sun protective clothing, sunglasses and a hat.

Remember, just one bad sunburn as a child can dramatically increase your chances of developing skin cancer later in life. So make sure you’re doing everything you can now to keep your child from getting too much sun exposure.

Water Safety
In South Florida, drowning is the number one cause of death for children under the age of five. Yet, with proper knowledge, supervision and layers of protection, it is entirely preventable.
Teaching children to swim is valuable, yet not enough to prevent tragedies. Consider the following statistic: 75 percent of young drowning victims were in backyard swimming pools or other "friendly" bodies of water. They typically were under the supervision of one or both parents at the time, they were missing less than 10 minutes, and they were not expected to be in the pool area.

Prevent Drowning’s With Three Layers of Protection:

1. Adult Supervision: The first layer of protection to prevent drowning is constant and proper adult supervision. Do not rely on other children for supervision, or adults distracted by visitors, phone calls or other activities.
2. Door Devices: The second layer of protection is at the doors of your house. Child safety devices, high locks, or alarms should always be used on any doors leading to a pool, spa, pond or any other body of water.
3. Pool Fence: The third layer of protection – in addition to door devices – must be a barrier that completely surrounds the pool or spa, such as a 4-foot-high mesh pool fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate.
   

Sometimes, an installed pool alarm that extends down into the water can provide an additional layer of protection, but NOT as a substitute for all three primary layers detailed above.

Lastly, everyone who supervises children needs to know how to perform CPR, a skill that should be practiced regularly. In addition to the initial CPR classes available at most local hospitals, there are now good home training mannequins that parents and caregivers can practice on regularly. One is the CPR Teddy that provides vocal feedback on pressure and technique as you are practicing.
Whether you’re at home or away on vacation, indoors or outside, remember to follow these simple but important steps for sun and water safety.
Have a great – and safer – summer!

Is your child safety seat properly installed?

Child Passenger Safety Month focuses public awareness on preventing accidental injuries to child passengers riding in cars and other types of transportation. But for one local businesswoman, child safety is top-of-mind every single day.

As the owner and president of Safer Kids And Homes, professional childproofer Patti Norton Laird dedicates herself to helping parents and caregivers make their homes and cars safer for babies, toddlers and young children.
"The average home is not designed, constructed or furnished with the safety needs of a child in mind," Laird noted. "And with car seats – while they may provide peace of mind to the parent – many are improperly installed, and children may still be at risk for serious injury in an accident."

Safer Kids And Homes carries top rated child safety seats by Britax, Radian and SafeGuard, as well as a number of auto safety accessories. And Laird, a certified child passenger safety technician, can also make sure your new child safety seat is properly installed. For a free copy of Safer Kids And Homes’ Child Passenger Safety Checklist, call 305-854-KIDS or e-mail SaferKids@aol.com.

Laird, a mother of two and a former teacher and preschool director, started Safer Kids And Homes in 1994. Her expertise, professionalism and customer focus led to numerous referrals from satisfied clients, and with help from Laird’s business partner, Janice Pruett, the company grew quickly.

In 2005, leveraging the experience they gained childproofing thousands of homes throughout South Florida, Laird and Pruett opened Florida’s first and only store dedicated entirely to child safety. Laird describes the store, located at 8843 S.W. 132nd Street in The Shops by The Falls, as a "one-stop child safety shop" where parents can find all the products and services they need to make their homes and cars safe for their little ones.
In addition to child safety seats, Safer Kids And Homes carries the same hard-tofind, field-tested safety products that Laird and her team use every day in their childproofing business. Customers can also find high-quality furnishings and accessories such as Svan high chairs, Bumbo baby seats and Joovy strollers, plus Kettler trikes and a wide selection of unique, kid-safe toys.

"The awareness created by Child Passenger Safety Month is invaluable and no doubt has helped save many lives," Laird said. "For all of us at Safer Kids And Homes, however, every day is an opportunity to help prevent a tragedy at home or on the road."

Safer Kids And Homes is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information,
call 305-854-KIDS or visit
www.resourceliving.com