From the American Academy of Pediatrics:

Babies under 6 months:
•    The two main recommendations from the AAP to prevent sunburn are to avoid sun exposure, and dress infants in lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and brimmed hats that shade the neck to prevent sunburn. However when adequate clothing and shade are not available, parents can apply a minimal amount of sunscreen with at least 15 SPF (sun protection factor) to small areas, such as the infant’s face and the back of the hands. If an infant gets sunburn, apply cold compresses to the affected area.
For All Other Children:
•    The first, and best, line of defense against the sun is covering up. Wear a hat with a three-inch brim or a bill facing forward, sunglasses (look for sunglasses that block 99-100% of ultraviolet rays), and cotton clothing with a tight weave.
•    Stay in the shade whenever possible, and limit sun exposure during the peak intensity hours – between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
•    On both sunny and cloudy days use a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater that protects against UVB and UVA rays.
•    Be sure to apply enough sunscreen – about one ounce per sitting for a young adult.
•    Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.
•    Use extra caution near water and sand (and even snow!) as they reflect UV rays and may result in sunburn more quickly.

The months of December, January & February are when almost half of the home heating equipment fires are reported.  Here are 11 tips to prevent heating related fires from happening.

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More safety news and tips will be available here in the days and weeks to come.  Feel free to share them with your friends and neighbors.  I will be bringing you the latest news of recalls and safety tips for shopping and toys that I become aware of.

Have a safe and healthy holiday season.

Here are some things to practice when walking in public and especially unknown areas.

• Walk several feet away from parked cars, especially vans with sliding doors.
• Walk away from buildings, shrubery, doorways, stairways, or dimly lit areas.
• Walk on the side of the street facing oncoming traffic.  It is much easier to get the attention of drivers if you need to.
• Do not enter a tunnel or corridor without being sure it is safe.  It is much better to go through such things with a group of others.  You never know what may be waiting for you at the other end of a tunnel.
• If you feel like you are being followed; slow down, speed up, then reverse your direction to let your pursuer know that you are aware of them.  Then seek help immediately.

More tips in our next post.

There is a certain amount of space that is our  comfort zone that a stranger can come to, but if they are inside that zone they have invaded our space.  So when you are walking keep your space and do not allow a stranger to invade that space.  If someone is walking towards you, veer away from them to maintain your own safe area.

By doing this you force the stranger to make their intentions known and more obvious.  We do not have to believe that every stranger is a bad guy, but if this one happens to be a bad guy, your veering off and their reaction will tell you that is the case.  This allows you to act evasively faster, and avoid a potential attack earlier, thereby giving you a chance to escape.

If you are in a strange area or lost, and you need assistance, do not stop and just ask anyone.  Try to find a policeman, mailman, service station attendant, store worker, delivery truck driver.  Assailants are looking for someone who is in trouble or unsure of their surroundings.

• Before lighting any fire, remove all greens, boughs, papers, and other decorations from fireplace area.  Check to see that the flue is open.
• Use care with “fire salts,” which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from children.
• Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.

• Clean up immediately after a holiday party.  A toddler could rise early and choke on leftover food or come in contact with alcohol or tobacco.
• Remember that the homes you visit may not be childproofed.  Keep an eye out for danger spots.
• Keep a list with all of the important phone numbers you or a baby-sitter are likely to need in case of an emergency. Include the police and fire department, your pediatrician and the national Poison Help Line, 1-800-222-1222. Laminating the list will prevent it from being torn or damaged by accidental spills.
• Traveling, visiting family members, getting presents, shopping, etc., can all increase your child’s stress levels. Trying to stick to your child’s usual routines, including sleep schedules and timing of naps, can help you and your child enjoy the holidays and reduce stress.

• Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child.
• Toys  too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children.
• Before buying a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy that he has received as a gift, read the instructions carefully.
• To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, don’t give young children (under age ten) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet.  Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated.
• Children under age three can choke on small parts contained in toys or games. Government regulations specify that toys for children under age three cannot have parts less than 1 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/4 inches long.
• Children under age 8 can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Remove strings and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children.
• Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies.

Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree.

Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals.

Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down.

In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable.  Keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to prevent them from swallowing or inhaling small pieces.

Avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a young child to eat them.

Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while decorating with spun glass “angel hair.” Follow container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while decorating with artificial snow sprays.

Remove all wrapping papers, bags, paper, ribbons and bows from tree and fireplace areas after gifts are opened.  These items can pose suffocation and choking hazards to a small child or can cause a fire if near flame.