Carbon Monoxide Alarms Could Prevent Half of All CO Poisoning Deaths

With the arrival of the holiday season comes the arrival of colder weather, as well as an increase in the number of fuel-burning appliances being used in the home. These appliances include ovens, space heaters, generators, indoor grills and fireplaces, and they can cause dangerous levels of carbon monoxide (CO) to build up in the home. “Families today are better at understanding the importance of having working smoke alarms in every sleeping area, but what about carbon monoxide alarms?” says Esther Pendola, Safe Kids New London County coordinator. “Carbon monoxide is so dangerous because it is odorless, invisible, and it can kill. CO can make a child seriously ill in small doses that might not noticeably affect an adult.” Important safety tips to protect families from CO poisoning: � Prevent CO buildup in the first place -

sure heating appliances are in good working order and used only in well-ventilated areas.

� Don’t run a car engine in the garage, even to warm it up; move the car outside first.

� Install a CO alarm outside every sleeping area, on every level of your home and at leastaway from every fuel-burning appliance.

� Never use a stove for heating.

January 2012

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Carbon Monoxide Alarms Could Prevent Half of All CO Poisoning Deaths

With the arrival of the holiday season comes the arrival of colder weather, as well as an increase in the number

used in the home. These appliances include ovens, space heaters, generators, indoor grills and fireplaces, and they can cause dangerous levels of carbon monoxide (CO) to

“Families today are better at understanding the having working smoke alarms in every

sleeping area, but what about carbon monoxide alarms?” says Esther Pendola, Safe Kids New London County coordinator. “Carbon monoxide is so dangerous because it is odorless, invisible, and it can kill. CO can

ild seriously ill in small doses that might not

Important safety tips to protect families from CO

make sure heating appliances are in good working

ventilated areas.

Don’t run a car engine in the garage, even to

Install a CO alarm outside every sleeping area, on every level of your home and at least 15 feet

burning appliance.

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Safety Experts now recommend that children remain rear facing until the age of two! Real crash data tells us that they are 5 times

in the rear facing position!!!!!!!!

� When you check your smoke alarm batteries

each month, check the batteries on alarms at the same time – and replace the batteries twice a year.

� Have all gas, oil or coal burning appliances inspected by a technician every year to ensure they’re working correctly and are properly ventilated.

� If a CO leak is suspected, open windows to allow fresh air into the home. If someone who has been in a poorly ventilated room with a fuel-burning appliance exhibits symptoms including headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, or confusion, move the victim to fresh aircall 911.

If more than one person in the home suddenly feels ill for no apparent reason, or if a CO alarm goes off, get everyone outside immediately and call 911 from a prearranged meeting place. “CO alarms are available at hardware stores for about $20,” adds Pendola. “Tha small price to pay to help detect odorless, poisonous gases in the home before it’s too late.”

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When you check your smoke alarm batteries each month, check the batteries on your CO

and replace the

Have all gas, oil or coal burning appliances inspected by a technician every year to ensure they’re working correctly and are properly

windows to If someone who

has been in a poorly ventilated room with a burning appliance exhibits symptoms

including headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, or confusion, move the victim to fresh air and

than one person in the home suddenly feels ill for no apparent reason, or if a CO alarm goes off, get everyone outside immediately and call 911 from a pre-arranged meeting place. “CO alarms are available at hardware stores for about $20,” adds Pendola. “That is a small price to pay to help detect odorless, poisonous

Preventing Fires & Burns

• Make sure you have working smoke alarms in every level of your home, outside each sleeping area and in every bedroom. Test the alarms every month and replace the batteries once a year.

• Set your water heater at 120 degrees and test the bathwater with your wrist or elbow before putting your child in it.

Around Water

• Always supervise children near water. Never leave young children alone in the bathtub or pool – a child can drown in a matter of seconds.

• Keep toilet lids closed and lock all doors to bathrooms. • Safeguard your pools and hot tubs by making sure your

pool has four-sided fencing and a self-closing, self-latching gate. Hot tubs should be covered and locked when not in use.

• Install protection to prevent entrapment if you own a pool or hot tub, such as protective measures like anti-entrapment drain covers and safety vacuum release systems.

Around the Home

• Prevent serious falls by keeping furniture away from windows, installing guards or stops on windows that are not emergency exits, and installing safety gates at the top and the bottom of stairs if you have small children. Never use baby walkers and always use protective surfaces beneath playground equipment.

• Lay your baby on his or her back to sleep on a crib that meets all current national safety standards. Remove all pillows, comforters, stuffed toys and other soft products from the crib before putting your baby to sleep.

Always supervise children while they’re in the bathroom and follow other important safety guidelines

• Set your water heater at 120 degrees F and test the bathwater with your wrist or elbow before putting your child in it. Keep toilet lids closed and locked, and doors to bathrooms and utility rooms closed. When not in use, put razors, curling irons and hair dryers out of reach. Never leave young children alone in the bathtub – a child can drown in a matter of seconds.

Home Safety • While looking at a room as your child would, ask yourself what looks interesting and what can be reached. Get rid of small items your child can choke on.

• Keep guns locked, unloaded and where kids cannot reach them. Lock up ammunition in a separate place.

Be Prepared for Emergencies

• Be prepared for emergencies and keep emergency numbers by every telephone.

• Call 911 if your child is choking, collapses, can’t breathe or is having a seizure.

• Check your first aid kit to make sure it is fully stocked.

Make sure babysitters and other caregivers know where to find first aid supplies and how to handle an emergency. For more information about home safety, visit www.nlcsafekids.org or call us at (860) 442-0733.

Did you know safety expert recommend that children 13and under remain in the back seat of motor vehicles? Even if the child is a “big” kid, they do not have the bone density to withstand the impact of an airbag!

Recalls RECALL UPDATE

CPSC 7/26/2010 - Baby Matters is voluntarily recalling Nap Nanny Recliners, due to entrapment, suffocation and fall hazards.

NEW

CPSC 12/27/2012 - Meijer is voluntarily recalling Falls Creek Kids Denim Jeans due to choking hazard. The snap on the front of the infant and toddler denim jeans may come loose and pose a choking hazard to young children.

CPSC 12/26/2012 - Honda is voluntarily recalling FourTrax ATV’s due to crash hazard.

FDA 12/26/2012 - GE Healthcare is voluntarily recalling the T-piece circuit used with GE Healthcare’s Giraffe and Panda resuscitation units due to inability to achieve maximum PIP (Peak Inspiratory Pressure), potentially harming patients.

CPSC 12/20/2012 - Sassy Inc. is voluntarily recalling Hug N' Tug Baby Toys due to choking hazard.

DECEMBER 1-18 RECALLS

CPSC 12/18/2012 - Norco voluntarily recalls Havoc bicycles due to risk of injury because the bicycle frame can crack.

CPSC 12/18/2012 - Wilier Triestina voluntarily recalls bicycles due to fall hazard because the fork’s steerer tube can break.

FDA 12/8/2012 - Freshway Foods voluntarily recalls out-of-date sliced apples because of possible health risk.

FDA 12/7/2012 - Sugar Flowers Plus Inc

CPSC 12/17/2012 - Dunecraft voluntarily recalls Water Balz, Skulls, Orbs and Flower Toys due to serious ingestion hazard (See below).

CPSC 12/12/12 - Baby Jogger voluntarily recalls City Versa Strollers due to fall hazard.

NHTSA 12/10/12 - Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) voluntarily recalls Thomas Built school buses due to risk of injury because of overheating.

CPSC 12/10/12 - Reiss Innovators voluntarily recalls high-powered rare earth magnet sets, sold exclusively at Amazon.com.

FDA 12/10/2012 - Mister Snacks, Inc. voluntarily recalls Sunbird Snacks Yogurt Raisins due to undeclared peanuts.

Did you know children in the state of Connecticut are required by state law to wear a bike helmet? Please, try to set a good example by requiring everyone to wear a brain bucket!