Hanging By a Thread

5 Things You Should Know {Before You Start Your Summer}

I have a memory of a summer day in south Texas. My brother and I spent the day at a family friend's house. I don't know why this memory stands out so much, but it is always easily retrieved from my mental files when I think of summer and sun and swimming.

They had big above ground pool and deck. We were in the pool almost the whole day. We got out for lunch. We had bologna and mayo sandwiches on white bread. I remember this because we never ate bologna at home. After lunch we got back in the pool and swam the afternoon away.

The sun was hot and bright and my skin was pale. I can still feel and taste and smell that day in my mind.

It wasn't until later in the evening when I had gone home and gotten out of the sun and out of my swim suit that my skin turned red and hot and tender. I looked like a lobster. I don't think I'd had sunscreen on at all that day. It certainly wasn't the only time I was sunburned; it was the mid-80s, we weren't so cautious of the damage that sun can cause, but for some reason that day stands out.

Summer means fun and pools and hot sun soaking into our pale-of-a -vampire skin and sprinklers and baseball games and lakes and lemonade and sand and concerts by the lake and picnics and golf and these things warrant a quick summer safety reminder course.

Over the past three years, I've written a number of posts on summer safety, including pool hazards, sunburns and sunscreens, water safety, bike helmets and more.

Life happens in an instant, and my philosophy is that it's better to be prepared when it does. So, before you go out and start your summer, please do read through these posts and visit ewg.org to check your sunscreen too.

5 Things You Should Read Before You Start Your Summer:

1. Pool Safety: The Overly Cautious Traveler: Must Read Pool Safety Tips. Good tips, and you'll get a kick out of my paranoid side too; Distracted Vigilance: Tips for Preventing Drownings. Don't use your phone {for any purpose} while you're supposed to be watching kids in the water....
2. Sun: Sunburn...I Mean Summer Memories: Tips for Playing it Safe in the Sun. We definitely need some sun for Vitamin D, but too much is not a good thing; What's Your SPF? The Dangers of Sunscreen {be sure to check your brand at www.ewg.org.
3. Bikes: Spring Fling: Getting the Properly Fitting Bike Helmet {with Video}. This is important, folks! ; Blessed Bikes: Rules of the Road. Do you know the bike laws when it comes to being a biker and being a driver?
4. Heat: Not Even for a Minute: Children Left Unattended in Vehicles.This is also serious, folks! And another take on this subject: Soapbox: Hot Cars and Free-Range Parenting.
5. Travel: Flying with Kids? Great; it can be a wonderful adventure, but be sure you are prepared: The Well Packed Bag: Regulations Regarding Air Travel with Kids; Control Freak: Tips for Safe and Happy Traveling with Kids. Have fun!

You have now completed Summer 2013 Orientation....GO OUT AND ADVENTURE! Over and out....

Anna

Blessed Bikes: Rules of the Road

Blessings

Yesterday was the Blessing of the Bikes at our church. We hauled Darling 1's new early birthday gift from Grandma and Grandpa; a two-wheeled red Lightning McQueen beauty with training wheels and Darling 2's new from Craigslist bike; a smaller two-wheeled Space "Rock-it" number with training wheels to church for the donuts and lemonade, bike procession, prayers, blessings and ride, and we came home with two bottles of blessed bike oil, I'm Blessed stickers and added peace of mind.

Silly? Maybe. Groundless? Well, I suppose that depends on your religious beliefs. But the point is safety, and you know I'm all about that. What's the harm in praying for those who ride bikes, are learning to ride bikes and all those on all roadways, whether a bicyclist or a motorist? Any extra help from above can only be a good thing, especially in a city with so many regular bike riders; or anywhere, for that matter.

Commuter Rules

In 2010, Minneapolis was named America's Best Bike City. While I am not a cyclist, nor have I been since 8^th grade, I can appreciate all of the bike trails, the city's bike-rental program and the large numbers of people who take advantage of the ease of commuting, exercising and tooling around town on bikes in the Twin Cities. I know it's a wonderful way to save money on gas, contribute to preserving our environment and stay fit.

What I have noticed in the last several months is that many bikers do not follow the rules of the road; both kids and adults alike. As a motorist, I find this very disturbing. At four-way stops, I don't know whether the cyclist will stop, yield or go right through the intersection without even slowing down {which is most often the case}; I see youngsters riding down the middle of the street who either don't move or swerve over to the edge at the last second; and I've noticed a number of adults on bikes who swerve in and out of traffic regardless of lanes and traffic flow, making it very difficult to predict their actions.

BikeLaws

So, this got me wondering about what the bike laws say about abiding by road rules. Based on my random sampling of states, the laws, both state and local, define bikes as vehicles and require bicyclists to follow the same laws as motorists. This means cyclists must stop at four-way stops, yield at marked intersections and signal when turning or changing lanes, etc.

There are some differences. Each state I examined listed prohibited highways, explained what it means to be slow-moving traffic and how to negotiate certain situations encountered on the roadway. Clearly, a bike is not the same as a motor vehicle, even if they are statutorily defined as a vehicle. Even still, bikers who fail to follow the laws will be ticketed.

Of course, children ride on sidewalks and shoulders of the road and don't ride along with the flow of traffic, etc. And in that case, they must follow the rules of pedestrians, in most instances. Almost every state surveyed had basically the same language regarding minors on bikes: "The parent or guardian of any child shall not authorize or knowingly permit any such child to violate any of this article." As has been seen in New York with the Menagh v. Breitman case, kids on bikes colliding with pedestrians can lead to lawsuits.

One website, http://bikelaws.org, complained that bike laws are not uniform from state to state or city to city, making it impossible for cyclists to know the law as they ride from place to place, increasing the risk of injury for bikers. However, in my survey of bike laws, I found the language to be quite uniform. There were, of course, differences regarding particular highways, trails or other city or state specific issues. It's true there are no federal laws regarding bikes or bicyclists, which could provide even more uniformity, but there would still have to be some variation as not all cities are built for bikes as Minneapolis is, for instance.

Know the Law

If you are a cyclist, then you should be knowledgeable about the laws in your state and/or city regarding bikes on the road. This is not only for other's safety, but for your own, as well. If all bicyclists followed the laws and operated in a predictable manner, I would hope that fewer cyclists would be involved in accidents that often end in tragedy. Of course, the onus is not only on the shoulders of the bikers. We must all be clear on what the laws require of us, as motorists, pedestrians and cyclists. You can find your state and/or city laws by running a quick Internet search.

The Scoop

I will leave you with this, The Sending Forth from our Blessing of the Bikes Program:

Go forth journeying souls

On your travel in this world

In the name of God Who is guiding you home.

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face; and until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Over and out...

Anna

You might also like:

Spring Fling: Getting the Proper Fitting Bike Helmet {with Video}

Protecting the Ol' Noggin: Why Your Child Should Wear a Bike Helmet and How to Choose One

A Parent's Credo: Love and Protect

Some Call It Worrying, I call it Accident Prevention

Mommy Brain

As a mom, part of my brain is dedicated to coming up with worse-case scenarios of what might happen to my Darling Boys if.... and then devising plans and solutions to avoid and/or survive such imagined occurrences.

Much has been written, spoken and tweeted about the death of Osama bin Laden this week. I'm thrilled he is out of the picture and that the U.S. has been able to thwart so many terrorist plots over the last 10 years, but interestingly enough, as much as I'm horrified of being caught in a terroristic attack, that's not the kind of scenario that usually pops into my head.

It's the everyday, freakish, what-are-the-odds-of-that-happening kind of catastrophic event that really concerns me.

Here's What Really Scares Me:

I'm scared to death of the day they are old enough to take off on their bikes {wearing well fitting, undamaged bike helmets} on adventures up and down and across streets; streets with no sidewalks or shoulders where drivers recklessly careen about in their vehicles without concern for the well-being of my children.

I'm petrified my Boys will choke on popcorn, marshmallows, tomatoes, small Lego pieces, Star Wars figurine heads {why, oh why do they detach from the body} or a million other items. Darling 2 did choke on a tomato just a few weeks ago. I did not freeze up and was able to perform the Heimlich maneuver on him and get the tomato unstuck. Thank God! I have played this scene over and over and prayed I would be able to do what I needed to do out of instinct; and I did.

I worry that my children won't get the proper servings of veggies per day or enough of the right kind of veggies or that the veggies they do eat will be contaminated with pesticides which will lead to cancer in the prime of their lives.

I contemplate what I will say when they come to me with broken hearts because their true loves don't love them back or kids they thought were their friends did something or said something that was not at all friendly. I fret about whether they will be well liked, well mannered, well accepted, well adjusted and happy as they grow and mature and become young men who never think this world is too much and contemplate their own demise.

I pray that a driver distracted by sending a text, reaching for coffee, putting on makeup, looking for a CD or having an in depth discussion over the phone does not cross into the lane I'm driving in and smash us to smithereens, but should this happen I pray that I will not die or be critically injured and leave my babies; and that the hand of God would protect my precious boys securely and lovingly strapped into their seats behind me.

I hope they never ride their bikes or run while listening to music through earphones that could muffle the sound of a trash truck, train or rabid dog fast approaching.

I take measures to ensure they don't accidentally ingest a poisonous plant or mistake a bleach bottle for a milk bottle or have access to brightly colored pills of medicine that look eerily like candies.

Crazy Lady?

Whew! I said it. Sometimes I even worry that by actually voicing these fears, they could come true. This list is not exhaustive and it changes as they grow, but this is how my heart and brain work; this is how I get through the horrible things that happen all in our world. And then I can focus on the beautiful, wonderful, magical things that also happen every day.

I think through these things; I take precautions; I implement plans; I teach my boys safety; and I pray a lot! Now don't mistake me for saying that I dwell on these things constantly and am all-consumed by tragedy and disaster. I'm not. Intense; paranoid; empathetic; analytical; planner; pray-er: yes.

The Scoop

I cannot always be there. I cannot stop everything from happening to them; and nor would I want to. In the words of a spunky, blue fish named Dory, "Well, you can't never let anything happen to him. Then nothing would ever happen to him. Not much fun for little Harpo. {Nemo}" From Finding Nemo.

I want them to take risks; the kind of risks that lead to innovation, creativity, discovery, love, laughter, success and sometimes failure. After all, it's from good, bad, happy, sad, interesting, boring, small and big happenings that a person learns and grows and experiences. These are good things, but, Please Lord, no shattering events that would break my heart in two forever!

You can tell by the links in this post that I've written posts about many of my motherly fears. What do you worry about? Or maybe you don't! Here's to a safe Thursday! Over and out...

Anna

You might also like:

The Right to Bear Arms in Your Home: McDonald v. City of Chicago

Celebrating the Red, White and Blue: Be Prepared to Follow the Law

Not Even for a Minute: Children Left Unattended in Vehicles

Spring Fling: Getting the Properly Fitting Bike Helmet {with Video}

Bike Riding Season

I realize that for many parts of the country, spring is in full bloom, but here in the Northern regions, we are looking at a forecast full of snow this week. We've had a few glimpses of spring; just enough days to get out for a walk or let the kids play at the park or ride bikes...which brings me to my point; bike helmets.

Last year, we bought cheap helmets at Target and thought we had them fitted properly; maybe we did, but maybe we didn't. Fortunately, nothing happened and we didn't have to find out if we had followed the instructions for a safe fit. This year, we decided we just weren't comfortable with the way the helmets were fitting. We decided to visit our local pros...Erik's Bike Shop.

The Right Fit

Cassandra W., the Assistant Manager of the Bloomington location was quite helpful with finding the best fitting helmet. Cassandra also agreed to allow us to film her demonstrating how to get the proper fit. See the video here:

 

   

 

Follow Directions

Cassandra said that a bike helmet that is not damaged should last 5 years, but children may outgrow their helmets in 3 or 4 years. While it's tempting to buy a used helmet at a garage sale or hand down an outgrown helmet to a sibling, it's simply not safe.

Hot and cold temperatures, normal wear and tear and impacts break down the plastics and padding over time. The same safety concern exists for car seats. It's important to follow the manufacturer's guidelines concerning terms and length of use for any gear, but particularly equipment that is by its very nature intended to protect you or your child.

Helmet Costs

Cost can be an issue when it comes to bike helmets. While you can get cheaper helmets from large discount stores, you won't have anyone who can guide you to the right helmet and ensure a proper fit. Going to a bike shop will give you added confidence that your child is protected while riding his or her bike. Cassandra assured me that people often bring in helmets bought elsewhere for tips on proper fit; and they are glad to help them.

There are a number of programs and organizations across the country that help provide reduced cost or free bike helmets to students and youth. You can find a program near you by searching "free or reduced cost bike helmets" along with your location.

Resources

Erik's also partners with area events and organizations to conduct safety clinics, including how to get a proper fit for a bike helmet. Cassandra said it's still early in the season yet, but you can check Erik's Event Calendar for safety clinics, etc. Additionally, June 5, 2011, is this year's date for the Blessing of the Bikes. Many churches have safety fairs in conjunction with the Blessing event.

Other resources that I have referred to in the past bike helmet posts regarding helmet laws and bike safety:

• www.cpsc.gov
• www.bhsi.org
• www.nhtsa.dot.gov
• www.iihs.org

The Scoop

By all means, get out and soak up the warm sun and beautiful days ahead, but be sure to be safe out there. If you or your child is riding a bike, a scooter, a skateboard or other type of vehicle, wear a helmet that is properly fitted and not worn out; it could save your life.

Anna

You might also like:

Protecting the Ol’ Noggin: Why Your Child Should Wear a Bike Helmet and How to Choose One

A Parent’s Credo: Love and Protect

The Unintended Result: When "Good" Laws Go Awry

Motherly Law Year in Review: Updated Posts

Trial and Error

Parenting is largely trial and error, a learn-as-you-go, kind of job. It's been my experience that many times a well-thought-out plan for dealing with a developing issue or setting a goal or laying down the law may not work or have an unintended consequence and must be re-worked to some degree.

This is also the case with the law. As I have mentioned in the past, the law is ever-changing depending on current trends, new research, new technologies, and old lessons learned. Laws are passed, amended and repealed every year; for better or worse.

Updated Posts

Therefore, due to changes in laws, guidelines and recommendations over the last year, there are several posts that need to be updated. Here are a few words regarding the changes for each one of these posts, plus links to the changed, updated information. The posts themselves have also been updated with new links, etc.

Bisphenal-A {BPA}

My second post on ML was about BPA-free products and the laws banning this chemical in certain items. Most of the state laws in place regulate BPA in baby/child products. GreenBiz.com reports "17 states and the District of Columbia will be looking at new legislation to ban BPA from baby bottles, infant formula packaging, receipt paper or a combination of items." Currently, ME, MA, MN, CT, WA, NY, VT, WI and MD have state laws in place banning such products.

Birth Centers

Many women are turning to alterative choices when it comes to where to have babies and who is delivering babies. One choice that seems to be gaining popularity is a birth center. A birth center provides a homelike, comfortable setting in which to give birth with a midwife overseeing the pregnancy and delivery. Birth Centers are often covered by major health care plans and are an attractive alternative to a home birth or at the opposite spectrum, a hospital birth, for those who feel a hospital is too invasive and uncomfortable. Over the past year, accredited birth centers have been popping up all over the country. Click here for a current list of accredited birth centers.

Bike Helmets

There's been some discussion over whether bike helmet laws and recommendations are causing kids who can't afford helmets or find them "uncool" to simply stop riding bikes. This result, of course, was not what was intended by lawmakers who passed these state laws requiring helmets to ride bikes, scooters, skate boards, etc.

Regardless, 21 states, plus District of Columbia have bike helmet laws, covering various ages. Here is a table and accompanying maps that show what the helmet laws are for each state, whether it's for motorcycles, scooters or other low-power cycles and bikes.  

Pool Drain Safety

Last summer, I wrote about the new mandatory pool drain covers that were meant to ensure that people, and in particular, children could not become trapped under water or disemboweled by broken/malfunctioning pool drains. However, just last week there were reports that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is investigating whether the pool drain covers were improperly tested. After issuing subpoenas to three independent laboratories, the CPSC is reviewing more than 17,000 pages of documents to learn more about their testing methods.

Pool & Spa News reports, "The investigation has revealed that the testing protocols used by some laboratories may have been improper and, as a result, some covers certified by these laboratories may not comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act." This means that some drain covers may not have accurate flow ratings and may not prevent entrapment. CPSC is trying to have finished this investigation by the start of pool season, but warns pool owners to keep children away from drains, especially the shallow areas.

Car Seats

While my posts on car seats have been focused on booster seat laws and finding the car seat that best fits your car, there are new guidelines for rear-facing seats. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now recommends that infants remain in rear facing seats until 2 years of age or until reaching the maximum weight or height allowed for the rear-facing infant, convertible or 3-in-1 seat being used. This recommendation may seem extreme, especially for those who have giant toddlers like I did, but it's based on research that shows this is the safest position for a small child to be in should a crash occur. And as parents, ultimately it's our kids' safety that matters most.

For additional information on this subject click on these links:

www.aap.org

www.heathlychildren.org

www.ghsa.org

The Scoop

It's interesting to watch the progression and/or reversal of laws, regulations, guidelines and recommendations on these and other issues. The great thing about a law or guideline is that it can continually be molded or completely done away with depending on the current school of thought, needs and purposes of our society. Many guidelines or recommendations of organizations like AAP do eventually become law and others retain their status as merely guidelines of a particular organization.

Next week, I will have a guest post on what to look for in finding an attorney to help you with your estate planning needs; how to approach your digital legacy and more. Over and out...

Anna

 

Too Many Toys: Tips for Buying the “Safest” Toys & Checking for Recalls

Child Psychology In Reverse

Two years ago, I bought the book "Too Many Toys" by David Shannon, thinking it would be a good way to start a dialogue on giving away toys that aren't played with anymore. Wrong. I thought we had too many toys then. Wrong again. That was two year ago, Darling 2 was just a few weeks old. He had not even begun to add his own toys to the stash. Now, here we are, two year later, still with too many toys! (Please note this is exclusively the opinion of the parent in this case)

The premise of the book is that the boy, Spencer, has too many toys. Yes, I 'm sure you got that part already, but there's more. He gets toys from everyone, from grandparents to the dentist. Spencer never gets rid of any of them. That is, until one day when his mom has absolutely had enough of stepping on the toys, and then it's much more difficult than she ever imagined because Spencer begins to negotiate what stays and what goes. It's a cute book, and I thought it was a good tool. And it was, but not in the way I had planned.

Darling 1 quickly caught on to what the story was really about and what I was trying to do. And even more quickly memorized the book, and still, after two years, uses Spencer's lines against me. His favorite, "but I LOVE ALLLLLLL my toys" (said with big, sad eyes and in a pleading, drawn out, pitiful voice). This scene is played out every time I ever say anything about all of their toys and how we should go through them to see if there are any toys we could get rid of.

How Many is Too Many?

The thing is, my Darlings do have too many toys, but they do play with them all. And as soon I think there is a toy that they haven't played with in a while, along comes one or the other and plays with that toy for 2 days straight. Mind you, I said, as soon as I think it. It's as if they can read my thoughts (well, actually sometimes I think they can, but that's another story). I have managed to smuggle a few things down to the basement and hide them away until they can be donated, etc.

They won't even get rid of the broken toys. Case in point, Buzz Lightyear, see photo from Monday's post. He is now headless, wingless, missing one hand, wrapped in masking tape and tied up with a yo-yo, but don't you dare for one intergalactic moment think he's headed for the trash. Oh no, Darling 1 is working on making him a new head and thinking of how to give him a new hand. He'll be as good as new very soon, or so I'm told.

Now don't get me wrong. I love to watch the Darlings construct elaborate storylines and play with the hundreds of stuffed animals, hordes of Little People and McDonald Happy Meal Movie Character toys, legions of cars, trucks and planes and every single Pixar character in their play room, um, I mean, my living room, but I have to draw the line somewhere. I just don't know where that line is yet.

The Dangers of Toys

What I do worry about is lead paint covered toys, tiny batteries, magnets and other small ingestible items. I try to watch for recalls and inspect our toys for loose pieces (or broken off heads and hands, etc.), chipping paint and other dangers. There have been so many toys recalled in the last several years. Many of the recalls were due to the level of lead in the paint used.

Fortunately, the U.S. has responded to these recalls and other issues by tightening the standards and has seen promising results.

Tips for Buying Safe Toys

Here are CPSC's Top Safe Shopping Tips for this year:

• Magnets – For children under age six, avoid building sets with small magnets. If swallowed, serious injuries and/or death can occur.
• Small Parts – For children younger than age three, avoid toys with small parts, which can cause choking.
• Ride-on Toys – Riding toys, skateboards and in-line skates go fast and falls could be deadly. Helmets and safety gear should be sized to fit.
• Projectile Toys – Projectile toys such as air rockets, darts and sling shots are for older children. Improper use of these toys can result in serious eye injuries.
• Chargers and Adapters – Charging batteries should be supervised by adults. Chargers and adapters can pose thermal burn hazards to children.

CPSC also recommends using the following tips to help choose appropriate toys for children:

• Be a label reader. Look for toy labels that give age and safety recommendations and use that information as a guide.
• Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Look for sturdy construction, such as tightly-secured eyes, noses and other potential small parts.
• For all children under 8, avoid toys that have sharp edges and points.

Once the gifts are open:

• Immediately discard plastic wrappings on toys before they become dangerous play things.
• Keep toys appropriate for older children away from younger siblings or neighbors.
• Pay attention to instructions and warnings on battery chargers. Some chargers lack any device to prevent overcharging.

Source: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07032.html

Additional tips from CPSC:

To help keep what has been called the most wonderful time of the year happy and incident-free, CPSC is encouraging consumers to adopt a three-pronged safety approach."

1. Which Toy for Which Child – Always choose age appropriate toys.
2. Gear Up for Safety – Include safety gear whenever shopping for sports-related gifts or ride-on toys, including bicycles, skates, and scooters.
3. Location, Location, Location – Be aware of your child's surroundings during play. Young children should avoid playing with ride-on toys near automobile traffic, pools or ponds. They also should avoid playing in indoor areas associated with hazards such as kitchens and bathrooms and in rooms with corded window blinds.

Source: http://cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11042.html

Websites

• Check the CPSC's site for recalls: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/category/toy.html
• Check The Toy Association's site for all kinds of toy information, from safety to top toys to recalls to parent discussions on playing and toys: http://www.toyassociation.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=TINFO_Home
• For Toy Standards from around the world and agency contact information , check the International Council of Toy Industries site: http://www.toy-icti.org/info/toysafetystandards.html

The Scoop

It's trite and often goes unheeded, but CPSC swears by its "small parts regulations" that have been in place for more than three decades. You know, the warning on toy packaging that cautions of small parts and gives the age the toy is inappropriate for. It's a simple warning, and I have to admit, I rarely look at those warnings on packages. However, I do check toys for small pieces and put those away for a time when the Darlings are older. It's difficult with two children of two very different ages on the development spectrum. At age 2, Darling 2 is still likely to "mouth" small objects.

So, be cautious, be vigilant and have fun shopping this holiday season. How do ensure your kids' toys are safe? Do you watch for recalls? Does it matter to you whether a toy is made in the U.S. or China or New Zealand or Timbuktu? I feel like it mattered more to me when the Darlings were babies. Now it seems like it's all about which toys they want – plastic, commercialized, made in China!

Check back tomorrow for the $40 Caribou Coffee Gift Card Giveaway! On Friday, I post a bit of Motherly Advice. Over and out…

Anna

You might also like:

Risk Management: Tips for Preventing Choking and What to Do if Someone is Choking

The Cautious Approach to Life: Tips for Teaching Your Kids Gun Safety

The Days Keep On Rolling: Great Websites for Getting the Best Fit for Your Child’s Car Seat

Black Friday Temptations: U.S. Toy Safety Standards

Late Night Foray

Laugh if you will (and I can almost guarantee you will by the end of this story), but I decided to brave the cold and go out to Toys R Us when it opened at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving night. The sales flyer was enticing; 50% off this and that, buy one, get one free, and on and on. The possible savings were too good to pass up.

I decided that I should arrive by 9 p.m. in case of a line. But if you know me, you know that I'm always running late. So, I arrived at 9:30. I noticed a line, but it didn't look too bad. And the store opened in 30 minutes. No sweat. It turns out the line that I could see was just the part on that side of the building. But still, it wasn't too far around the other side.

And then the cold wind reached me. I knew it was single digit temps, but I decided not to check my handy-dandy weather channel app on my phone to find out the actual temperature and wind chill. That would just make me feel colder. I did know that the wind chill earlier in the day, when the sun was still up, had been below zero. I plunged my gloved-hands deep into my warm coat pockets and did what I do best; I struck up a conversation with the two lovely ladies in front of me and nice couple behind me. We talked; we stomped; we hopped up-and-down in place, waiting, waiting, waiting for those doors to open.

People continued to arrive and get into line. The employees working the line estimated more than a 1000 people were there. I was approximately 250 in line. They let about 5o people in every 5 minutes once 10 p.m. arrived. I finally got inside; I wasn't sure I still had toenails; my face and hands were numb with cold, but that was OK because I was about to start saving money. And THEN, I realized it.

My wallet was at home, not in my purse! (I did, however, think to bring a bottle of water in case I was parched by all of the hard-core shopping.) I thought and thought, trying to figure out a solution. I decided to call DH at home. I noticed that my phone was showing low battery, but I figured I had enough battery remaining to call and discuss my predicament with DH. Uh, wrong. My phone died when DH answered and completely powered off. I walked around, dodging jolly, focused shoppers and their carts full of money-saving deals, until I could feel my extremities again, and then I left. When I started my car to drive home, I noticed my gas tank was on E. Seriously, someone was trying to tell me something. When I got home, we had a big laugh about the whole thing, but it took the rest of the night for me to warm up.

And the worst or best part of the story, depending upon how you look at it, I went back at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, and got everything on my list, but one crucial, A-listed-by-Darling-1 toy. I'm OK with it though, these are the kinds of things that happen to me. There was a happy, Christmas-y, congenial mood in the line that made it worth standing out in the frigid night. And let's face it, as parents, we will go to great lengths to get the toys our kids really want and get a good deal too.

Which Toy is the Safest?

It's easy to spot a good deal in a newspaper flyer or online, but it's hard to know how well a toy is made or to predict whether, after 50 million have been sold during the holiday season, it will be recalled in the next several months because there's lead in the paint or the tiny magnetic eyeballs fall out and pose a hazard, or the wheels fall off of a bike when a child is coasting down a hill, etc.

Recalls have been prevalent in the U.S. toy industry in recent years. Some of these recalls are so ridiculous that it's hard to imagine that the toy makers did not know of these issues before placing them on store shelves.

The Standard

Toy safety standards for the U.S. are governed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). There have been standards regulating toys and attempting to keep kids safe since the 1970s. The Standards are ever evolving in response to research and reports, new technologies and current trends. ASTM F963 is the general safety standard for toys.

ASTM F963 is cited in the CPSC's Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), which was created in response to the numerous toy recalls in the past several years. ASTM F963 includes guidelines and test methods to prevent injuries from choking, sharp edges and other potential hazards.

The new toy safeguards include: establishing the lowest lead content and lead paint limits in the world; setting limits on the use of certain phthalates; converting the voluntary toy standard into a mandatory standard; and working with Customs and Border Protection data systems to track shipments as they are in transit from other countries thereby increasing our effectiveness in discovering dangerous products coming into U.S. ports.

Source: CPSC Press Release

The Scope of ASTM F963 is as follows:

This specification relates to possible hazards that may not be recognized readily by the public and that may be encountered in the normal use for which a toy is intended or after reasonably foreseeable abuse. It does not purport to cover every conceivable hazard of a particular toy. This specification does not cover product performance or quality, except as related to safety. Except for the labeling requirements pointing out the functional hazards and age range for which the toy is intended, this specification has no requirements for those aspects of a toy that present an inherent and recognized hazard as part of the function of the toy. Such an example is a sharp point necessary for the function of a needle. The needle is an inherent hazard that is well understood by the purchaser of a toy sewing kit, and this hazard is communicated to the user as part of the normal educational process.

Source: http://StandardsForum.com

There is another standard for electric toys: UL-696. And yet another standard that includes Safety of Information Technology Equipment: IEC 60950-1, Second Edition. This includes the hundreds of varieties of electronic child development tools sold as toys: child laptop computers, handheld devices for games and learning, electronic reading toys, etc. ASTM 1148 is the standard for home playground equipment and ANSI Z315.1 is the standard for tricycles. There is even a standard for toy chests: ASTM F834.

All toys sold in the U.S. must conform to these standards. CPSC continues to monitor the effectiveness of the standards and update them as needed. According to Wikipedia, the new standard may be the toughest in the world.

Annual Toy Safety Report

The good news is that toy-related deaths have significantly dropped in the past year. The CPSC recently released its Toy Safety Report for 2009. According to this report, there were only 12 toy-related deaths in the U.S. last year, compared to 24 deaths in 2008 and 24 deaths in 2007. The highest number of deaths was attributed to tricycles. All three deaths occurred when a child fell into a pool while riding a tricycle and was drowned. While the deaths and injuries reported are not necessarily caused by toys, they are related to toys. Even still, the overall number of injuries related to toys is quite high. In 2009, there were an estimated 250,100 toy-related injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments.

CPSC feels that the new standards are making a positive impact and restoring consumer confidence in the toys available. Only time will tell if these new standards are indeed making toys safer.

The Scoop

While these Standards are meant to be followed by toy manufacturers and inspectors, the parents must continually be attentive and do inspections of the toys in the home. It's important to watch for toys that are broken, have missing pieces or loose screws, etc. Parents should remember to watch for small pieces that come with larger toys that might be inappropriate for younger children and pay attention to the warnings given on the toys and their packaging.

On Wednesday, I will post tips for making sure the toys your kids are playing with are safe and how to be sure to spot any toy recalls that may affect you. I do have a Giveaway starting Thursday and ending Friday of this week. I'll post about that soon. Don't forget to weigh in on the Sunday Spotlight article this week. Over and out…

Anna

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Accidents Happen…or Maybe Not: A Child’s Duty of Care; Menagh v. Breitman

The Milestone

One of the things that threatens my autonomous control as a mother most of all is the bike. Learning to ride a bike has got to be one of the first rites of passage from toddler to kid. It's not one I've ever seen written in any parenting books or websites as a 4 or 5 year old milestone, but it's a powerful one; ranked right behind walking, in my book. Both give the child increased mobility, but there's a difference between walking and riding a bike. I was never worried about my kids learning to walk. In fact, I was delighted when they started toddling around. I'm terrified of bike riding.

Let me explain. My Darling Boys riding bikes entails them moving erratically at unpredictable speeds on a street (we have few sidewalks in our neighborhood) near cars. I cannot hold their hands, sweatshirt hoods or coattails; sometimes I can't keep up with them; sometimes they veer left or right without warning; sometimes they stop in the middle of the road. It's a nerve wracking process for me. I'm continually saying things like, "focus on where you are," "get back to the curb," "end of the block coming up," "slow down," "SLOW DOWN," "STOOOOP!"

Letting Go

Eventually, they will perfect their bike riding skills and want to ride to school or to a friend's house or to the store. I will have to let them go; little by little they will be able to go farther and farther from home, without me. And that's part of life, but at this, the early stages of bike riding, I'm not enjoying the letting go part.

I have many fears about bikes and what could happen out on the wide open road, but none of my reservations include lawsuits brought against me and my children. Yet this is exactly what happened to a couple of kids and their moms in New York.

Menagh v. Breitman

Recently, the New York Times ran an article on the interesting case of Menagh v. Breitman. In this case, Juliet Breitman, age 4 years and 9 months and a friend, age 5 years, were racing their training wheels clad bikes down a sidewalk in Manhattan with the mothers trailing behind when the kids ran into 87 year-old Claire Menagh. Ms. Menagh was "seriously and severely injured" breaking her hip and subsequently died three months later of unrelated causes.

Ms. Menagh's estate sued young Miss Breitman, her young friend and both mothers for negligence. Breitman filed a motion to dismiss, claiming failure to state of cause of action, based on the Defendants age of 4 years and 9 months.

In this particular order, the only issue before the Court was whether under the law a child of Breitman's age is incapable of negligence. Breitman argued that children under the age of 4 are presumed incapable of negligence. The Court concluded that Breitman was correct in this argument, but Breitman was over the age of 4. She was, in fact, 4 years and 9 months old when this incident occurred. The Court found that for infants above the age of four, there is no bright line rule.

The Court applied a 1928 case, finding if "conflicting inferences may be drawn, the question is one of fact; if only one inference can be drawn the question is one of law." A question of law can be decided by a court, but a question of fact must be decided by a jury after evidence has been presented. The Court further considered the reasonable child standard.

In conclusion, the Court denied the motion to dismiss the lawsuit, finding that the question of Breitman's negligence is a question of fact for a jury to decide.

Standard of Care

One consideration was the standard of care. A standard of care is the degree of prudence and caution a person is required to exercise under a particular circumstance. The standard of care for a child is based on a reasonable and prudent child. In many jurisdictions that means, behavior that is reasonable for a child of similar age, experience, and intelligence under like circumstances.

There are a few exceptions. A child of superior intelligence could be held to a higher standard. A child participating in an "adult activity" such as operating a vehicle, playing golf, etc., is also an exception to the child standard of care. "Children are not held to the same amount and extent of care that adults are judged." Lambert v. Tripp, a 1989 case from Maine.

Proving the Case

I have seen a lot of shock and outrage over the Breitman case in the news, on Twitter, Facebook, email and the like. While it seems surprising that a child, not quite 5 years old, could be sued in court for negligently riding her bike, the important thing to remember here is that the Court has merely allowed the lawsuit to go forward to trial. It remains to be seen whether the Menagh Estate can present evidence to prove that Breitman, her friend and their moms breached the standard of care required of them and were indeed negligent in their actions, which led to Menagh's injuries. This will be something to watch for in the coming months.

The Scoop

We live in a litigious society. If someone thinks he or she has been wronged and someone else could pay the bill, often that person will sue. That's not to say that many such lawsuits are unwarranted, but the knee jerk reaction to bring a lawsuit for any and all "accidents" is also not the answer.

Thanks to all the new and "old" readers for your kind words regarding the Star Tribune article in Sunday's paper. Don't forget to take the ML Survey by Wed, if you don't mind answering just 10 questions about you, the reader. And watch for the 1^st giveaway post this week. I would love to hear from you. On Wednesday,  I will post tips about making sure you are covered if you get sued due to an accident. Over and out…

Anna

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The Unintended Result: When "Good" Laws Go Awry

The Mundane Decisions

As a parent of two young children, I have to make decisions all day every day that will affect not only me but also my little Darlings. Most of the decisions I make will not change the world or make much difference to anyone other than our family, i.e., whether to have PB&J or turkey sandwiches for lunch; whether to go to the zoo or the arboretum in the afternoon; whether to watch Cars or Diego; whether to interrupt Darling 2 while quietly playing trains to change that wet pull-up or wait until he notices and runs to the bathroom, etc. Oh, the important and critical issues a parent must decide.

But in truth, I do make decisions that can affect others, such as whether to vaccinate my children and whether I choose to use my cell phone to make calls or text while driving. However, most decisions I make throughout any given day are rarely given a second thought. It's just part of my everyday life.

A Bigger Impact

Everyone makes good and bad decisions. But what if you had to make a decision that could impact an entire state or the whole country? Our state and federal legislators make these kinds of decisions on a regular basis. Arguably, legislators are influenced by a variety of factors. Some base decisions on how to support, draft and/or vote on legislation on his or her principles, experience, needs and/or views of constituents, etc. Others make choices regarding legislation based on personal gain, whether for campaign purposes, financial incentives from lobbyists, or status, etc. And we accept this as politics.

Unforeseen Results

As one philosopher states, the single universal element of all such statutes, ordinances, codes, taxation provisions, appellate court decisions, prescribed punishments and rules for civil and criminal procedure is the presumed and stated intention of the law to correct some evil, injustice, inequity or promote some important and desirable good for the majority of civil society. Yet regardless of the intended purpose behind certain legislation, some laws, codes, regulations, etc. create unintended consequences. Many times, these inadvertent results have negative, unforeseen effects. I started thinking about this issue after reading an article about a high school football coach in FL. I soon found other good laws that have had unexpected results. Here is a potpourri of such laws, regulations and codes:

The Football Coach

When a FL high school football coach found out that one of his football players was homeless he took him in, allowing him to live in his home. Sounds benevolent, right? Yes, except for that fact that this violates the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) code.

The particular rule violated states: No school employee or representative of the school's athletic department can provide or promise free or reduced-cost housing for a potential athlete in their program. The code is meant to prevent coaches from recruiting players from other cities.

While no one questions the intention of the coach as being anything but kind-hearted, and the high school self-reported this violation to the FHSAA, the player has been sidelined pending the outcome of the investigation by the FHSAA.   Even though the school district reinstated the coach to both his coaching and teaching duties, after having to sit out one game, he may still have to forfeit some or all of his $3,850 annual coaching stipend, depending on the decision of the FHSAA.

It was certainly not the intention of the FHSAA to punish athletes who happen to be homeless. It was merely meant to stop high school coaches and other school district personnel from shopping around for athletes. And yet it's not right that a decent human being can't do something out of the goodness of his heart without violating a rule. Hopefully, this situation will be remedied soon.

Source: rivals.yahoo.com

Bike Helmet Laws Leaving Kids Behind

Several months ago I posted on bike helmet laws and the reasons for such laws. The intent is to protect children, and sometimes adults too, from head injuries if thrown from the bike or hit by a car while riding. While these laws have reduced the number of injuries and fatalities, apparently these laws in over 20 states have also reduced the number of children who bike.

According to the article Intended and Unintended Effects of Youth Bicycle Helmet Laws by Carpenter and Stehr, there are several possibilities as to why this is happening. One likelihood is that the cost of bike helmets is problematic for some. It's speculated that another cause of reduced biking is that it simply is not cool to wear bike helmets, and social acceptance is important to tweens and teens.

The problem is that reduced biking among youth means less exercise, which goes against the current trends of tackling childhood obesity. And as one article suggests, some kids are turning to other less regulated activities, such as skateboarding and in-line skating, which could be just as dangerous as biking without a helmet. Again, it's unfortunate that laws with good intentions are having such negatives effects when the laws were put into place to protect children from injury.

Source: Ideoblog

Sexting and Other Teen Exploits

These days photos, videos and written materials can be easily exchanged and shared with numerous people in a matter of minutes through texts, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Over the past several years I have read many articles about teens who consensually took nude photos of themselves and sent the photos to boyfriends or girlfriends over the Internet or others who willingly took videos of themselves engaged in sexual activities, who then found themselves charged with child pornography crimes and prosecuted.

The intent of these laws is to protect minors from abusive adults who seek to harm them both physically and psychologically. These teens who have been charged with such crimes and found guilty are labeled sex offenders for the rest of their lives. When, in fact, the teens were doing nothing more than exploring their sexuality, not committing a crime.

While I'm not condoning this activity, I believe there are other ways to handle such situations. There is no crime being committed in most of these circumstances. Being found guilty of such a crime means being stuck with a misleading and false label for the rest of one's life and can ruin college, career and family opportunities. This was certainly not the intent of the legislature when these laws were passed.

Source: Wired

Historical Unintended Consequences

Historically, there have been other laws that were intended to stop something or promote something and yet went terribly wrong. Two such instances: prohibition and prohibiting abortions. I know I'm treading on dangerous ground bringing up these two points, but this is my opinion.

                Prohibition

Prohibition was intended to eliminate drunkenness, promote industry and hard work, reinforce the sanctity of the family unit and generally encourage and assure sobriety and adult responsibility in America. The results were contrary to the motivation for the federal and state laws that outlawed the manufacture, sale and transportation of alcoholic beverages. Crime increased, and previously unknown petty criminals and street gangs were quickly transformed into wealthy, powerful and organized crime syndicates. The consumption of alcohol actually increased over pre-Prohibition levels. Agencies and departments intended to enforce the law and keep the peace were on the whole corrupted with bribes. Clearly, this law did not accomplish its intended purpose.

Abortion Laws

Prior to Roe v. Wade, abortions were illegal in almost all circumstances with a few exceptions, such as rape and incest. Instead of stopping abortions from taking place, the law merely forced women to seek out doctors and/or clinics or others who operated outside the law. The result was that many women died or became ill with infections because of the non-sterile equipment, inexperience or lack of expertise of the person performing the abortion. In many circumstances, women were so desperate that they risked their lives to have an abortion. Certainly, it was never the intention of the legislators who deemed it an immoral procedure and banned abortions that women would seek to have an abortion regardless of the repercussions, but that is exactly what happened.

Fortunately, both prohibition and the ban against abortion have been lifted thereby diminishing the unintended impact, although some remnants of those ill effects still linger. There are other such laws written and passed with an intended positive result that, in fact, is never achieved, such as Don't Ask, Don't Tell in the military, certain tax laws and enforced busing of students after desegregation of schools.

The Scoop

How does the Legislature prevent laws created with good intentions from going awry? As they say, hindsight is 20/20. Can you think of other circumstances where an unintended result occurred? On Wednesday, I will post tips on decision making. Over and out…

Anna

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Protecting the Ol’ Noggin: Why Your Child Should Wear a Bike Helmet and How to Choose One

Driving to Distraction: The Hazards of Texting While Driving and the Laws Restricting This Habit

We're Not Gonna Take It: Anti-Bullying Laws Leaving Kids Unprotected

A Parent’s Credo: Love and Protect

I know two families that have lost a child within this last week: one a teenager and one a tiny infant. Both equally heartbreaking stories; both making me want to give my boys an extra snuggle and say an extra prayer of thanks for my healthy kids. A child's death is always sad, but since becoming a parent I find it a thousand times more upsetting. Any time I hear about a child's death I shed tears for that child's parents. I think it is a universal hurt that is felt and understood by parents for parents when a child of any age dies. A hurt that only a parent can truly feel to the core.

I try to shield my kids from injury (emotional or physical), illness and hardship every day, and yet despite this, I know that sometimes my best efforts are not enough. They will have bruised egos, scraped knees, miserable colds, or worse. So, why not take as many precautions as possible to prevent injury? One protective measure that is simple to enforce is to make sure your child (and you) wear a bike helmet every time he or she rides a bike. It is just as important to make sure the helmet fits properly because an ill fitting, old or damaged helmet may not prevent injury. Here are step by step instructions from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for making sure your child's helmet (and yours) fits correctly. For additional information and graphics for each of the steps listed below, please go to the NHTSA Web site at www.nhtsa.dot.gov .

Easy Steps to Properly Fit a Bicycle Helmet Provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

The Proper Helmet Fit Helmets come in various sizes, just like hats. Size can vary between manufacturers. For the most comprehensive list of helmet sizes according to manufacturers, go to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI) site: http://www.danscomp.com/products/charts/helmetchart.htm To select and properly fit a bicycle helmet, follow the helmet fitting instructions below. It may take some time to ensure a proper fit. Step 1 - Size: Measure your head for approximate size. Try the helmet on to ensure it fits snuggly. While it is sitting flat on top of your head, make sure the helmet doesn't rock side to side. Sizing pads come with new helmets; use the pads to securely fit to your head. Mix or match the sizing pads for the greatest comfort. In your child's helmet, remove the padding when your child's head grows. If the helmet has a universal fit ring instead of sizing pads, adjust the ring size to fit the head.   Step 2 - Position: The helmet should sit level on your head and low on your forehead—one or two finger-widths above your eyebrow.   Step 3 - Buckles: Center the left buckle under the chin. On most helmets, the straps can be pulled from the back of the helmet to lengthen or shorten the chin straps. This task is easier if you take the helmet off to make these adjustments.   Step 4 - Side Straps: Adjust the slider on both straps to form a "V" shape under, and slightly in front of, the ears. Lock the slider if possible.   Step 5 - Chin Strap: Buckle your chin strap. Tighten the strap until it is snug, so that no more than one or two fingers fit under the strap.   Step 6 - Final Fitting: Does your helmet fit right? Open your mouth wide…big yawn! The helmet should pull down on the head. If not, refer back to step 5 and tighten the chin strap. Does your helmet rock back more than two fingers above the eyebrows? If so, unbuckle, shorten the front strap by moving the slider forward. Buckle, retighten the chin strap, and test again. Does your helmet rock forward into your eyes? If so, unbuckle, tighten the back strap by moving the slider back toward the ear. Buckle, retighten the chin strap, and test again. Roll the rubber band down to the buckle. All four straps must go through the rubber band and be close to the buckle to prevent the buckle from slipping.

Today's Web site is the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute's site. If you have any questions on this subject, this is the place to go. I found it to be quite comprehensive. Check it out at www.bhsi.org.

One last note on the subject of bike helmets: I just happened to read our church's newsletter this week and noticed that there is a Blessing of the Bicycles in May for all types of bikes complete with bicycle and transportation vendors and a bike tour afterwards. I ran a quick Google search and found that many communities/churches are having a Blessing of the Bikes in the next month or two. This could be a fun experience for your family and one in which you can stress the importance of bike safety and helmets.

I will have some Motherly Advice for you on Friday. Next Monday's post is on texting while driving. Over and out…

This post is dedicated to Chase and Evan. Please give your kids a hug today and think of those who cannot do the same. Prayers go out to these families.

Anna

Protecting the Ol’ Noggin: Why Your Child Should Wear a Bike Helmet and How to Choose One

My first thought on this subject is why do kids need helmets for every activity these days. I have never worn a helmet for anything in my life. Of course, having now established in previous posts that I'm a paranoid freak about safety issues, you can imagine that I am no BMX bike rider, white water river rafter, rock climber or bungee jumper. So, my helmet wearing opportunities have been limited to bike riding and downhill skiing. My second thought on this topic is my kids should definitely be wearing helmets for EVERY activity. I certainly don't want my boys getting injured, especially when it can be prevented. And for your information, my kids do have helmets for skiing and biking. Regardless of what my opinion is on whether kids should or should not be wearing helmets for various activities, this subject is widely regulated by state and local laws, specifically on the subject of bike riding. Some states require children to wear helmets while participating in other activities too. For example, a Texas law says that children engaging in bull riding must wear helmets. OK, now see, this law makes a lot of sense to me. Well, assuming that it makes sense to allow your child to ride a bull.

 

Despite whether your state and/or local government requires a child to wear a bike helmet, you should be enforcing this rule in your household. I'll tell you why: According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, medical research shows that a bicycle helmet can prevent or mitigate 85% of cyclists' head injuries, making the use of helmets the single most effective way to reduce head injuries and fatalities resulting from bicycle crashes. More than 700 bike riders are killed in the U.S. every year, almost all in collisions with cars, and 75% of them die of head injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that universal bicycle helmet use by children ages 4 to 15 would prevent 39,000 to 45,000 head injuries and 18,000 to 55,000 scalp and face injuries annually. I think that is pretty amazing.

 

You will find a vast number of shapes, sizes, styles, prices, colors and patterns of children's bike helmets. It can be mind-boggling to figure out which one is right for your child's head. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute provides these tips for choosing a helmet: Look for a helmet with a smooth shell in a bright color to ensure visibility; Check for a pinch-proof buckle and vents for cooling since the foam can hold the heat inside; Put it on your child, adjust the straps and pads or the inner one-size-fits-all ring, and then make sure it will not come off. The helmet should sit level on the child's head, and fit securely with the strap fastened. Many children's helmets come with two or even three sets of foam fitting pads. You can start with thick pads and use the thinner pads as your child's head grows. This means that you won't have to buy a new helmet every year. The fitting pads do not affect the impact protection of the helmet, which is provided by the firmer crushable polystyrene foam. It is important to note that a child of any age needs head protection when riding, but a toddler's neck may not support the weight of a helmet. Therefore, it is not recommended that you ride with a child less than one year old. If you have questions regarding this issue, you should call your pediatrician to discuss it.

 

All helmets sold in the U.S. must meet the US Consumer Product Safety Commission CPSC standard and state that on a sticker inside. In the U.S. there are 3 standards: The CPSC (the U.S. law); ASTM F1447 (most widely used before the CPSC); and Snell (the toughest standard). Each of the standards requires the helmet to pass a lab test where it is placed on an instrumented headform, turned upside down and dropped for a measured distance onto an anvil. The anvil can be flat, round (hemispheric) or another shape like a curbstone, a skate blade or a horse's hoof. Drop distances vary but are generally between one and two meters (3.3 to 6.6 feet). For the helmet to pass, the accelerometer inside the headform must register less than 300 g's during the impact, or in some cases less than 250 or even 200 g's. There is always a strap and buckle strength requirement, and sometimes a positional stability or "rolloff" test to see if the helmet will stay on the headform when yanked. The CPSC standard uses a lab test drop of 2.0 meters on a flat anvil and 1.2 meters on a hemispheric and a curbstone anvil.

Here is a table and accompanying maps that show what the helmet laws are for each state, whether it's for motorcycles, scooters or other low-power cycles and bikes.  

Additionally, some states require minors to wear helmets while engaging in other activities, as well. The table below describes which states necessitate helmet use for which activities.

 

States with Laws Requiring Helmets for Other Activities:

 

CA	Nonmotorized scooter, Skateboard, In-line skates, or Roller skates
DC	Roller skates, Skateboard, Sled, Coaster, Toy vehicle, Sidewalk bicycle, Scooter, or Any similar device
FL	Horseback riding
LA	Motor scooters, age 18 and under
NJ	Skates and skateboards
NM	Skates, Scooter or Skateboard
RI	Skateboard, Roller skates, Scooter, or Inline skates
TX	Bull riding

There are some states that have only local laws. For a table with all of the local and state laws listed go to http://www.helmets.org/mandator.htm.

 

Although there is not legislation stating when you need to replace your child's helmet, you should do so after any crash with impact to the helmet. Impact crushes some of the foam rendering the helmet less protective even if the damage is not readily visible. Other reasons to replace the helmet: cracked buckle; a piece breaks off the helmet; or the helmet no longer fits properly. One note of warning, in order to prevent risk of injury or strangulation, a helmet should never be worn while playing on playground equipment or climbing trees. It is of vital importance that you teach your child to remove his or her helmet before playing. While it may be acceptable to use some bike helmets for other activities, it is a good idea to check the standards to see what kinds of impact that particular helmet has been tested for or what other activities it can be used for before using it for any other purpose. For instance, while there is no standard for a scooter helmet, the CPSC reports that bike helmets, in fact, work well for scooters. On the other hand, bike helmets would not necessarily be a good choice for use with equestrian sports, as equestrian helmets have a specific design meant to protect one's head from a hoof.

 

Should children be the only ones wearing helmets for biking? Absolutely not. Go back and read the stats from the 2^nd paragraph. Those numbers are not just for kids. The numbers represent all people of all ages killed and injured in bike accidents. If you make your kids wear helmets to protect them from injury, you should be wearing a helmet too. Not only will you be shielding yourself from injury, it will also be easier to convince your child to wear his or her helmet if you have one on too.

 

Is your child already wearing a bike helmet while riding? Are you? Does your state have a law regulating this activity? Are you about to rush out to the nearest sporting goods store to buy your child a helmet before he or she gets on his or her bike again? I would love to know what you think about these laws or the lack of such a law in your state/city.

 

On Wednesday, I will post tips for how to properly fit a bike helmet to your child's head and a Web site that can provide all kinds of information on bike helmets. Over and out.

 

Anna