Archive for Category: "safety"
ICEdot protects your family
As parents, we take many preventive measures to ensure the safety of our children. We hope that most of these we will never have to use, but when bad events occur, we are happy we have taken careful steps! ICEdot (In Case of Emergency) is a new emergency identification and notification service that Chris [...]
a sad day. but let’s talk about it.
Today marks the funeral for one of the greatest coaches ever to lead the game of football. At the request of Governor Corbett, flags all across the keystone state will fly at half mast for the man remembered by many as a decent, honorable man. But the death of Joe Paterno is sad on many [...]
talking with children about penn state
It’s all over the news, it’s in our state, right in our proverbial backyard. Penn State alums populate our city and our neighborhoods. The story is a national scandal. Children hear snippets of the story when they overhear adult conversations, listen to friends, catch a few minutes of the news, listen to their favorite morning [...]
back to school… are those buses really safe?
It’s here! Or finally here, depending upon your perspective. Many NW Philly kids will don backpacks and plop themselves into those big black school bus seats. For all the time we spend choosing car seats and making sure that they are buckled in safely for each and every trip, it seems grossly counter-intuitive to throw [...]
Summer Safety: Pools
A GAP reader requested that I post this story and information. I was torn, because while I know it’s vital safety information (it’s summertime and drowning is the #1 cause of accidental death in children under the age of 5 and the number two cause in children under 18), it is so tragic that I [...]
Tip of the Week: New AAP Car Seat Recommendations
The American Academy of Pediatricians has increased their recommendations for toddlers in car seats. The old recommendations called for children to ride rear facing until they reached both 1 year and 20 pounds. The new guidelines call for children to remain rear-facing until age two. Both guidelines have the caveat “or until they reach the [...]
Tip of the Week: Fire Safety
So yesterday brought our much needed extra hour of sunlight. Too bad it also stole an hour of sleep… I’ll still take it. But did you do as the firefighters recommend? Did you check, clean, and/or replace your smoke alarms? Recommendations: 1. Make sure you have smoke alarms on every floor and close to sleeping [...]
Booster Seat Recommendations from the IIHS
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently rated popular booster seats as best and worst bets based on how well they fit children. In order for a booster to support a child well in a crash, the belt should go across the child’s lap and mid-shoulder (rather than across the child’s abdomen and neck). http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr090810.html [...]
Tips for Car Seat Safety in PA
Pennsylvania requires all children under the age of four to ride in a certified child restraint, children between ages four and eight to ride in a car seat or booster seat, and children from eight to eighteen to use a seatbelt when riding in a motor vehicle. In addition, it is recommended that children under [...]
Safety Post: Baby Sling Recalls
Disclaimer: I type this as a mom who survived parenting newborns largely because of her baby slings. I type this as a mom who LOVED wearing her babies close to her, loved the way it felt, loved how soothed my babies were by it, and just treasured he experience of “baby wearing” (though I don’t [...]
