Keep Kids Safe and They Walk and Bike to School

August is Back to School Safety Month. Learn how to keep kids safe as they walk and bike to school. Click on this link to get some safety tips for kids.

Child Health and System Performance Profile

The Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health now provides an online tool for researchers, policymakers, health officials, and others to collect and compare national, regional, and state-level measures of health status and data on a variety of topics relating to child health and well-being.  With access to data from the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health, users may also create custom profiles of children’s health and system performance.  The profile in full is available at:
http://nschdata.org/indicators/Indicator_Report.aspx?rid=4&gid=0

Child Safety Leads to Recall of Window Shades

Smith+Noble has added its name to the retailers joining the voluntary
recall announced in December 2009 of ALL Roman shades and roll-up blinds.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in
cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Roman and Roller shades

Units: About 1.3 million (1,160,000 Roman shades and 115,000 roller
shades)

Distributor: Smith+Noble, of Corona, Calif.

Hazard:

Roman Shades: Strangulations can occur when a child places his/her neck
between the exposed inner cord and the fabric on the backside of the shade
or when a child pulls the cord out and wraps it around his/her neck.

Roller Shades: Strangulation can occur if the shade’s continuous loop cord
is not attached to the wall with the tension device provided and a child’s
neck becomes entangled in the free-standing loop.

Incidents/Injuries:

Roller Shades: CPSC and Smith+Noble have received a report of a 5-year-old boy in Tacoma, Washington who became entangled in an unsecured continuous loop bead cord on a roller shade in May 2009. No medical treatment was required.

Roman Shades: None.

Description: This recall involves all roller shades that do not have a
tension device attached to the continuous loop cord and all custom,
made-to-order Roman shades. Brand names include Smith+Noble, Christopher Lowell by Smith+Noble, Jessitt Gold, Shop Blinds and Window Elements.

Sold exclusively at: Smith+Noble online at www.smithandnoble.com and
through catalog sales nationwide from 1998 through April 2010 for between
$100 and $1,600, depending on custom size and options.

Manufactured In: China, Mexico and United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the Roman shades and
contact the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) for a free repair kit at
(800) 506-4636 anytime or visit www.windowcoverings.org. Consumers should check the roller shades to make sure the tension device provided is
attached to the continuous loop cord and installed into the wall. If not
attached, consumers should attach the tension device securely to the wall.
If they no longer have the tension device, consumers should immediately
stop using the roller shades and contact WCSC to receive a free
replacement tension device.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Smith+Noble
toll-free at (877) 228-7683 between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. PT Monday through
Friday and between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Saturday and Sunday, or visit the
firm’s website at www.smithandnoble.com/productrecallinformation

Note: Examine all shades and blinds in your home. Make sure there are no
accessible cords on the front, side, or back of the product. CPSC
recommends the use of cordless window coverings in all homes where
children live or visit.

To see this recall on CPSC’s web site, including pictures of the recalled
products and their hazards, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10307.html

Brine Recalls VIP Lacrosse Gloves Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

 

 

 

 

When a Child Gets Seriously Hurt

According to researchers when a child gets seriously injured and requires hospitalization, in many instances, other children in the family are at increased risk of injury in the short term.  To read the article on increased risk of injury click here.

Beware of Lithium Batteries

Young children ingesting powerful lithium batteries is becoming a more commom occurance that can cause very serious health hazards.  Click here to read the full story.

Warning Label for Some Foods

According to an article in the NY Times, the American Academy of Pediatricians is recommending a warning label for foods that pose a choking hazard for young children.  Since a warning label is used for toys that can be  choking hazards for young children, why not have one for foods?  Read the full story on choking by clicking on this link.

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