Child Safety in the Home

In the 15-year period from 1982 to 1996, the leading cause of death among young children was accidents, poisoning and violence (external causes) -- these accounted for about 46% of all deaths among Australian children.

Although the death rate from external causes declined, it remained the leading cause of child death during this period. About a third of all child deaths from external causes were due to motor vehicle accidents (on average around 64 deaths per year) and drowning (on average 68 deaths per year).

A number of these deaths were also due to a silent killer found in many thousands of homes -- dangling cords.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission in the US has been working with manufacturers of window blinds and shades to reduce strangulation deaths which occur when young children get caught in the loops of window covering control cords.

Since 1981, over 170 children have died in the US as a result of being entangled in window cords. This is about one death per month. In about half of these cases, children between eight months and four years old were found hanging in the loop of the cords. In other cases, children were found with control cords wrapped around their necks.

The younger children who died, usually between 8 and 23 months old, were in cots that were placed near the window cords. The older children, usually between 2-1/2 and 4 years old, strangled in cords when they climbed on furniture to look out windows.

Blind manufacturers have introduced wand controls on vertical blinds to eliminate this unnecessary risk to children.

MORE SAFETY TIPS

If it's not possible to replace existing curtains or blinds with wand-controlled verticals, there are temporary steps that can be taken to prevent accidental deaths from strangulation:

* Keep all cords out of reach of children
* Move cots and furniture away from cords
* Remove objects from below windows to prevent children from climbing
* Do not tie cords together

The safest, long-term solution is to use wand controls. And of course, you must always be watching your children.

Jennifer Stewart has a degree in English and History and taught senior High School for over twenty years. During that time, she was Head of Department, responsible for devising and implementing teaching programs, and for supervising young teachers. After leaving full-time teaching, she wrote (and now markets) writing courses for students and adults who want to improve their writing skills. Visit her website at http://www.write101.com

Jennifer also offers professional writing services - copy writing, editing and proof reading for your web pages, press releases, technical booklets, newsletters, business proposals, reports or any other writing projects.

---

How to Buy Baby Carrier as Baby Shower Gift

Every year, people may have couple baby shower invitations. Buying baby shower gift may be painful for some people. Here we are going to talk about baby shower gift idea.Taking care baby is... Read More

Stem Cells Taken From A Babys Cord

Stem Cells..An increasing number of parents are storing stem cells from their baby's cord. Hopefully these will not be needed, but if your child develops leukaemia or any other disease requiring a bone... Read More

Baby Stroller and Pushchairs - Out and About

Having a family day out is not exactly stress free, but with some of the new Buggies on the market you can make it a more enjoyable experience for all involved. I am... Read More

Steps To Dealing With Your Autistic Child

It is most unfortunate that many wonderful parents feel that they lack competence in dealing with their autistic child. It can be strange and depressing to feel like your normal maternal or fatherly... Read More

A Daddy Baby Shower - New Twist on the old Baby Shower

Try something new, a Daddy Baby Shower. Even though no one would realistically expect a new daddy-to-be to sit around with his closest buddies, opening baby shower gifts and playing party games while... Read More

Long Distance Baby Shower

A long distance baby shower is for when mothers won't be attending the physical party. Most of the time, baby showers are held around the 7th or 8th month of pregnancy. But for... Read More

Baby Shower Gifts

As a host, you need to consider the people that will be on the invitation list. Sometimes, finances are tight and buying gifts are tough. You have a couple of options. First, you... Read More

The Personality Traits of a Capricorn Baby

Your Capricorn Baby..December 23 - January 19Capricorn babies thrive on routine and order, which gives them the sense of security they need. They are usually even-tempered and self-contained. Capricorns can be strong-willed and... Read More

How Often Should A One-Month Baby Go for Check Up?

What happen during the first month of your newborn, does your baby need check up? In the first weeks after birth, your newborn begins a series of routine check ups. These are called... Read More

The Character Traits of a Scorpio Baby

Your Scorpio Baby..October 23 - November 21 Young Scorpios have strong personalities. They know what they want and will go out and get it. Very loving and loyal to family and friends, Scorpios... Read More

When Your Wee One Goes Wee Wee Well

After reading several books about potty training (my son was a little tyke pre-Internet) and having little success, I found some helpful information tucked way in the back of a woman's magazine's classified... Read More

Honor Grandma with a Baby Shower for Grandma

Throwing a baby shower for grandma could be a great way to commemorate the excitement of becoming a grandmother for the first time. There's nothing like spoiling the little cuties for a day... Read More

Babies Suffering For Colic

About one quarter of babies will suffer from colic from around age 3 weeks - and you will suffer too! All babies cry of course, but those with colic will cry relentlessly for... Read More

Unique Baby Bedding - Because Every Baby is Special

All parents want something absolutely unique for their baby. Be it the baby's nursery or its stroller or its bedding, parents think it should reflect the personality of the baby. And for this,... Read More

Babies Born During The Sign Of Gemini

Your Gemini Baby..May 21 - June 20Gemini children are lively youngsters who can seem to be everywhere at once! They can be precocious and are often chatterboxes. Your Gemini baby will love to... Read More

When to Have a Baby Shower

When to have a baby shower is a personal choice. It can be held anytime 4-6 weeks before or after the birth. Moreover, it can be held any day of the week and... Read More

Make Your Own Baby Food

Those little containers of baby food sure are expensive once you start totaling up how much you use in a day. And now you are probably wondering how you could possibly save money... Read More

Tips for Discreet Breastfeeding in Public

If you're a new Mom who is nursing your baby you may be nervous about doing so in public.Or perhaps you are disturbed by media reports of women who are harassed for breastfeeding... Read More

How Toddlers Can Benefit From Using Computers

It's a fact of life that we live in an electronic age and computers are a bigger part of our lives than ever. It's unlike anything we've seen in the past and kids... Read More

How To Deal With Toddler Temper Tantrums

It's one of the few things your child can do that will make your cringe. A high-pitched, eardrum shattering, teeth grinding scream that goes on and on and on. Sometimes to the accompaniment... Read More

Human Milk Bank Donor Helps Premature and Sick Infants and Children

Lisa Fozo (37), a Fair Oaks resident, wanted to breastfeed so much that when her two sons didn't latch on, she pumped her own milk and bottle fed it to them. With her... Read More

Baby Room Decor Tips & Hints

When you plan for a baby room decor, the best thing would be to give attention to detail. Choose the one which would look eye catching to your guests, pleasing to you and... Read More

First Birthday Party: Game and Activities for Little Guests

Do you want your baby to be thrilled by his or her first Birthday Party? Then you need to come up with interesting ideas for party games and activities. It's not a problem... Read More

Front Packs vs. Baby Back Packs

For ages caring parents have carried their babies with them as they completed errands, chores and daily tasks. In case you haven't heard, there are multiple benefits of carrying your baby with you... Read More

How To Look For Baby Books

Look for Books! The books that you pick to read with your child is very important. If you aren't sure of what books are right for your child, ask a librarian to help... Read More

Using Baby Signing To Communicate With Your Young Child

Baby Signing..Around 20 years ago, two American doctors discovered baby signing and many thousands of mothers are glad they did!There are many reasons why babies cry. You could no doubt come up with... Read More

Yikes! My Child WON?T Share! What Do I Do?

Years ago my husband and I attended a parenting class and one thing that stands out in my mind from that course was something very simplistic that the trainer said. He asked the... Read More

10 Items of the Well-Stocked Diaper Bag

Does your diaper bag have everything you need in it? Of course, you have the basic items: diapers, wipes, bottles, etc. But are you equipped for any "baby situation" that could possibly arise?... Read More

My RAD Child

When I say RAD you may think of a child that is far beyond the normal. Well, mine is in a way. You see, in this case RAD stands for Reactive Attachment Disorder.... Read More