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As a parent or child care provider, your job is to know where the
dangers are and to eliminate them. Medicines, toxic bleaches,
oven and drain cleaners, paint solvents, polishes, and waxes lead
the list. Look for items packaged in CHILD-RESISTANT containers.
Don't leave them under a sink or in plain view in a garage --
lock them away in a secure place, out of your child's sight and
reach.
A BREATHTAKING TOY
Keep all thin plastic wrapping materials,
such as those used for dry cleaning, groceries, or trash away
from children. NEVER USE THIN PLASTIC MATERIAL TO COVER
MATTRESSES OR PILLOWS -- the plastic film can cling to a child's
face causing suffocation.
HIGH VOLTAGE HAZARD
Guard against electrical shocks. Cover
unused outlets with safety caps. DISCONNECT electric rollers or
hair dryers when not in use; some children have been electrocuted
when hair dryers that were left plugged-in fell into bathroom
sinks or tubs.
GUARD AGAINST FALLS
Keep children away from open windows to
prevent falls. Don't depend on screens to keep the child from
falling out of the window. They are designed to keep insects
out, not children in. Avoid placing furniture near windows to
keep children from climbing to a window seat or sill.
NURSERY EQUIPMENT: PARENTS BEWARE
Many nursery products have a long life and may be stored in
anticipation of future use. When choosing USED or NEW nursery
equipment, check for sturdy construction and stability. Avoid
exposed screws, bolts, or fasteners with sharp edges or points;
avoid scissor-like mechanisms which could crush fingers; and
avoid cutout designs that could entrap a child's head.
BUCKLE UP
Safety straps on high chairs and strollers are a
must. Look for straps that are easy to fasten and unfasten so
that you will be sure to use them properly each time.
KEEP CRIBS CLOSED
Mesh playpens and portable cribs should NEVER
be used with a side left hanging open. They can pose a serious
hazard to newborns and infants because the mesh forms a loose
pocket into which an infant can roll and suffocate. When children
begin to climb and explore, they can become caught in small or
narrow openings. Some have been strangled when they caught their
heads or necks in the open "V" shapes atop expandable wooden
gates or enclosures, or in decorative cutouts in cribs.
HANGING HAZARDS
If cribs or playpens are placed near a window,
make sure there are no drapery or venetian blind cords hanging
within your baby's reach. Don't hang objects with strings or
elastics (toys or laundry bags, for example) around cribs or
playpens where your child might become entangled and choke to
death.
Never Tie Pacifiers or Other Items Around Your Baby's Neck. Cords
and ribbons can become tightly twisted, or can catch on crib
corner posts or other protrusions, causing strangulation.
WHO TO CALL?
In an emergency, call your local physician, hospital or nearest
poison control center.
For further information on safeguarding your family, write to the
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Washington, D.C.
20207 or call: TOLL-FREE HOTLINE (800) 638-CPSC (2772)
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