Hanging By a Thread

One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure: Tips for Selling on eBay, Craigslist and Amazon

When to Let Go

The dilemma: Whether to get rid of every piece of baby and tot gear, toys and clothes. Yes, the Darlings have outgrown these items; yes, we don't have the room for it in our home; and no, we are NOT having any more kidlets. So, clearly the reasonable answer is, yes.

I'm really not the type to get sentimental over the baby bed {my Darlings rarely slept in their baby beds despite our best efforts} or the pack & play or strollers, etc., but there are a few outfits, blankets, books and toys that I will be putting away for safe keeping. I don't really know why, but for now I'll hold on to a few things from those sweet days of babyhood.

I recently read that people are prone to price items too high for resale whether it's for a garage sale or eBay, Craigslist or other venue because we over value certain items when there's an emotional connection to that item. This is probably very often the case when it comes to baby gear and family heirlooms.

Tips for Great Ads

So, how do you get your online ad to stand out, attract buyers and sell? Here are a few simple tips:

1. Choose the right online classified platform for you: eBay, Craigslist or Amazon, in general. Do a bit of research to learn about the best items to sell on each site, the fees, if any, pricing, additional requirements, etc.;
2. Read the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy of the site you choose to ensure your ad will conform with their policies;
3. Write a detailed headline and use keywords in the title that will help your item reach the top of the list when similar items are searched;
4. Write a detailed and accurate description of the item to be sold. Remember to be honest regarding the amount of use, condition, etc. Be sure to include brand, model, size, color and other such information;
5. Provide a number of good quality and detailed photos of the item(s) to be sold. If there's no photo, many people won't even bother to view the ad {and I'm one of those people};
6. Proofread your ad {several times}. An error regarding a detail in the description, price, payment or shipping could cost you; and
7. If you will be shipping the item(s), offer reduced or free shipping. This will help you stand out among other sellers with similar items.

These few simple tips can help you succeed in selling quickly and making a profit, regardless of which site you choose.

What Not to Sell

But is there anything you should just throw away or donate rather than list online to sell? Yes. Each site has a list of items you are prohibited from selling; for Ebay’s list click here and for Craiglist list click here.

Additionally, this U.S. News and World Report list written by Amy Lu details the items you should never buy {or sell} used:

1. Cribs and children's furniture
2. Car seats
3. Bicycle helmets
4. Tires
5. Laptops
6. Software
7. Plasma and HDTVs
8. DVD Players
9. Digital and video cameras
10. Speakers and microphones
11. Camera lenses
12. Photo light bulbs
13. Mattresses and bedding
14. Swimsuits and undergarments
15. Wet suits
16. Shoes
17. Hats
18. Makeup
19. Pet Supplies
20. Vacuum cleaners

For the details as to why this is a list of no-nos to buy and/or sell used, click here for the whole U.S. News and World Reports article.

The Scoop

Tis the season for spring cleaning...I've found that sometimes it helps to have someone with an independent, unattached opinion on hand when going through a pile of discarded items in the basement and pricing these items for resale. Plus, it takes less time if you recruit a friend or family member to help out. I'm still trying to figure out the best option for our gently used goods. Over an out...

Anna

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The Great Sellout: Legal Tips for Using eBay, Craigslist and Amazon to Sell Goods

Hyper-Consumerism

The words, "We're having a baby" are basically synonymous with "We're about to become hyper consumers." If you have children you understand what I'm saying. If you don't, let me explain.

From the moment it's discovered that a little being is developing and will hatch within 9 months, it becomes a race to the finish line to equip yourselves, the fledgling and the fledgling's dwelling area with every possible, state-of-the-art, convenient, aesthetic, new-fangled, already in every celebrities' tiny offspring's boudoir and highly recommended for optimal development humdinger on the market. Even if you fancy yourself to be a reasonable, under consumer who responsibly practices the 3 R's {reuse, reduce and recycle}, you might be surprised at your response to getting the nest ready for the hatchling.

Yet once this flurry of action to thoroughly prepare for every want, need and whim of your soon-to-be born tiny tot is complete and the babe has finally hatched you will soon find there's more to be bought or altered or rejected altogether. And this cycle continues, as far as I can tell for years into the fledgling's life. I'll call this cycle BUD Infinitas; Buy, Use {for a few months}, Discard and Repeat.

The Relentless Cycle

There are several reasons for this: 1) many of the so-called must-have items just aren't so useful or imperative to caring for a child; 2) the tiny tots grow to be medium-sized tots and then large tots quite fast; growing out of the once well-played with and often worn items; and 3) new and better items are continually popping up in the marketplace.

So, the question becomes what to do when you get to the D in the BUD Infinitas cycle. There are a few options: 1) give it away to friends and family in need of such must-have items; 2) donate it to charitable organizations whose needs abound, yet have limitations on the types of baby/child items they can accept; or 3) sell it.

Selling Online

This third option is highly desirable since the discarded item can then partially fund the new item. Additionally, these days there are myriad options for selling baby/child paraphernalia. The old school and least successful method is a garage sale. The easiest yet least profitable option is to find a baby resale shop. And lastly, the best options for making a good profit with varying degrees of convenience are the online classified options: eBay, Craigslist and Amazon.

We have avoided this last choice by giving away items to friends with kidlets younger than ours and donating to charitable organizations. Yet we have accumulated a good number of larger items over the last year as Darling 2, the last of our hatchlings, has transitioned from baby to toddler and is approaching the preschooler title.

Legal Issues

So many people buy and sell on these online platforms daily. We've made purchases through each of these online classified sites without any hitches. And we're ready to switch sides and start listing items from our ever growing pile of outgrown baby items. This got me to thinking about the legal issues surrounding these transactions, how to avoid scams, etc.

Here are some things I found out when I started digging.

1. Read the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy of the site you choose to list an item to sell. It's important you understand your responsibilities and theirs. You need to know what you are agreeing to by using their site and how they will use the information you provide;
2. There may be tax repercussions and advantages regarding the money you make from selling online. E-business attorney and author of The eBay Seller's Tax and Legal Answer Book, Cliff Ennico, advises, when in doubt, file a Schedule C;
3. Don't sell {or buy} items that have been subject to a recall. Many baby items fall into this category. FYI: drop-side cribs will no longer be legal to sell beginning in June. It's not a good idea to try to sell them now either. Many have been recalled;
4. Posted item descriptions are legally binding warranties. Your description of your item to be sold must be exactly what you are selling and shipping to the buyer. If they are not, the buyer has legal recourse to return it;
5. Be careful regarding how much information you give out regarding your address, phone number, email address, credit card information, etc. whether you are the buyer or seller. Always trust your instinct and err on the side of caution;
6. On eBay it's recommended that you have clear and concise terms and conditions regarding shipping, payment, returns, etc. on your listing;
7. Make sure you are on the correct site and not a scammer's site. FYI: Craigslist's site is Craigslist.org;
8. If you are wheeling and dealing on Craigslist, it's a good idea to sell only to those who are local. That's really the whole idea of Craigslist, and helps in avoiding scams;
9. Report any questionable activity, inquiries or general abuse regarding your account to the site and/or a law enforcement agency; and
10. Don't engage in practices that artificially inflate your bidding price; it's illegal.

The Scoop

Overall, these sites are simple to set up an account and get started selling your unwanted goods. Tomorrow I will post tips for choosing which site is right for you and how to make your listings stand out and sell your items fast. Have you used any of these sites? Which ones have you found to be most convenient, cost and time effective, etc? Over and out...

Anna

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Distracted by Technology: Are Hands-Free Devices in SYNC with Safe Driving?

Meeting with Ford

A few days after I returned from participating in the Distracted Driving Forum in New York, I was invited to talk to Paul Russell, a Ford executive, in town to promote SYNC at the Twin Cities Auto Show. SYNC is Ford's voice-activated system that works with Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones and digital media players to provide hands-free calling, music selection, etc. with the touch of a button.

Interestingly enough, none of the people I met and talked with knew that I had been in New York on Monday discussing distracted driving issues with Consumer Reports and the U.S. Department of Transportation. In fact, they didn't even know I was an attorney until I gave them my business card. All they knew was that I had a blog and I had written about distracted driving in the past.

Multitasking While Driving

Not only have I written about distracted driving and recently participated in a panel discussion on this issue, I have researched and read numerous articles, interviews, statistics and tweets on the topic. I have come down hard saying it's not OK to EVER use your phone, hand-held or hands-free, while driving, regardless of whether the law allows it or not.

Research done at the University of Utah has shown that only 2.5% of us can truly multitask. This means that 97.5% can't do two or more things at one time and give full attention to all of the tasks engaged in at one time, but many of us probably think we can. I know, as a mom who is forced to multitask much of the day, I like to think I'm in that 2.5%, but if I'm being honest about it, I know I'm not.

Hands-Free Disengagement

Based on this research and other studies, I think that even hands-free options are distracting. Yes, it's true; you can keep your eyes on the road while you make a call, answer a call and have a conversation. The problem is that your brain is engaging with the person on the phone and the conversation you are having, not on the road on which you are driving. You can operate your vehicle and stay within your lane, but your reaction time is delayed: you may miss a turn, an exit, a stop sign, a red light, notice a bit too late that a car is swerving into your lane or a dog or child is darting out from a yard.

An argument that I've heard often is that talking hands-free is no different than having a conversation with a passenger in your vehicle, but there is a crucial difference. A person in your vehicle can see when traffic becomes heavy or when driving conditions have worsened due to weather, etc. The passenger will pick up on these social queues and stop talking or aid the driver in noting a red light or another vehicle careening into your vehicle's lane, etc.

Interesting Choice

Since my stance is that any cell phone use while driving is dangerous, I was a bit surprised when I was contacted to talk with Russell about this hands-free product. However, I went with an open mind and a lot of questions. We sat in the lobby of the dramatic and luxurious W Hotel in downtown Minneapolis to discuss this product. I was disappointed that I did not get a demonstration on a vehicle, as I had been told I would.

Yet, having done my research and emailed my friends at Consumer Reports, I had read about this product and watched a video demonstration for SYNC and the MyFord Touch program that works hand-in-hand with SYNC. I also requested tickets to the Twin Cities Auto Show so that I could see a demonstration of this product and check out other vehicles systems too. So, I was able to do a self-guided demonstration in a Ford vehicle set up for that purpose at the Auto Show.

SYNC

SYNC is convenient and seems to be very simple to set up in your vehicle. Your phone, along with contacts, music files, etc. has to be connected and files downloaded only once. After that, the system will recognize your Bluetooth-enabled phone. The SYNC system itself is relatively simple, having to touch one button on the steering wheel to activate SYNC. Then it just a matter of learning the commands, such as: phone, radio, etc. which the system itself tries to help you with if it doesn't understand the command.

According to the SYNC brochure, this system provides: hands-free calling, texts read aloud (although Russell said it does not do this), music searches, automatic 911 calling should the air bag deploy, vehicle health reports, business directory searches, traffic alerts, turn-by-turn directions, and favorite alerts. SYNC works hand-in-hand with MyFord Touch system which is the 8 inch touch-screen navigation, music, climate control and information system located in the center of the dashboard. With SYNC, MyFord Touch does become voice-activated, as well. I was told, but did not see it demonstrated, that a number of touch-screen options are locked unless the vehicle is in park for added safety.

SYNC is different from many voice-activated systems in vehicles because it can connect to a MP3 Player or iPod and it's powered by Microsoft. This means that you can continue to update your system with new downloads as better programs or new maps and other programs become available. SYNC also supports most smart phones.

Russell agrees that texting in any format, even if it's read/dictated, or using hand-held phones is dangerous. Russell noted that while he wasn't sure of any particular distracted driving tests performed with the SYNC and/or MyFord Touch systems, Ford does conduct rigorous simulated tests on their vehicles as a whole. Russell said that Ford tries to balance safety concerns with the conveniences that drivers want in their vehicles. They feel that SYNC is safe and convenient.

MyFord Touch

I tried out the MyFord Touch with SYNC at the Twin Cities Auto Show. I found that with 2 loud, excited, car-crazed boys in the vehicle with me, SYNC did not always recognize what I was asking it to do. It was able to tune the radio to 89.3 the Current for me and understood a few other commands. It wasn't difficult to touch the button and speak commands, but I did find myself looking at the screen more intently when the system didn't recognize my commands.

Vehicle Manufacturers & Distracted Driving

I did talk to several vehicle manufacturers at the Twin Cities Auto Show. Many of the vehicles in addition to Ford also have voice-activated systems that work with your smart phone to some degree. Most that I spoke with did not have connectivity with MP3 players and/or iPods though. None are powered by Microsoft, setting Ford apart in that respect. It appears that most, if not all of the touch-screen systems do go into lockdown when the car is not in park, as well.

I found that on the whole, the vehicle representatives were not well-versed in their vehicle's voice-activation/touch-screen systems, nor did they have much information to contribute regarding their company's stance on distracted driving, other than to say it's dangerous.

On the back of the SYNC brochure in tiny print it does say, "Driving while distracted can result in loss of vehicle control. Only use mobile phones and other devices, even with voice commands, when it is safe to do so." Buick also told me that their touch-screen system does have a distracted driving warning message when the car is turned on.

The Scoop

While I will concede that if you absolutely are not able to put your phone down {yet} a hands-free option is better than taking your eyes off the road to use your phone, but not using your phone, hands-free or hand-held, is safest. Here are links to the Consumer Reports article on the Ford systems. Overall, Consumer Reports found SYNC to be helpful, as far as voice-activated systems go, but they thought the MyFord Touch was overly confusing and complicated. Based on my limited experience with it, I concur.

If you don't agree with me, don't worry the laws are in your corner...for now. I liken this to smoking. You know it's not healthy and it's a nasty, stinky habit {and if you don't know this, just trust me; it is}, but you just can't seem to quit. One day, you finally try to quit, maybe your child had told you she doesn't want you to die from cancer; or maybe a close friend or relative has just been diagnosed with cancer. You try, but you still need the nicotine fix; so, you start using the nicotine patches. Little by little, you reduce the amount you need and ever so gently wean yourself off of this addictive drug.

The same goes for cell phone use while driving. You know it's dangerous to you and others on the road, but it's a habit you can't quit...yet. So, go hands-free for a while. Then, maybe one day you'll be ready to stop using the phone in the car; or the laws won't allow it, regardless of how you feel. Over and out...

Anna

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Driving to Distraction Part II: Why Using Your Cell Phone While Driving is a s Dangerous as Driving Drunk

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Licking the Bowl: Tips for Safe Food Preparation and Storage

Valentine Cupcakes

On Tuesday evening the boys and I made Valentine cupcakes; the kind with sprinkles baked in and covered in pink frosting and red heart-shaped sprinkles....just for fun. And in our kitchen, as was the case in my mom's kitchen, you get to taste the batter or dough and "lick the bowl" {Remember I'm from Texas ya'll & that's what we call it when you use a spoon to scrape all of the batter off the sides of the bowl} and/or spoon when baking. Raw eggs be damned. {Gasp} Can you believe this coming from me, the High Priestess of Paranoia? It's true. I, myself, have always been particularly fond of brownie batter. And to my knowledge, I have never gotten sick from this tradition. {That sound is me knocking on wood right now.}

But when you are talking about two preschoolers in the kitchen on step stools helping make cupcakes, it's not just licking the spoon at the end. Heck, no. They don't have the patience to wait the 10 minutes it takes to whip up the batter and ladle it into cupcake papers, which meant there were lots of little, sticky fingers and spoons dipping in for a taste. Don't worry; we aren't sharing these germ-infested cupcakes with anyone outside our four-member family.

Yet, I did find this totally-breaking-the-rules cupcake preparation party a bit ironic considering I promised tips for safe food preparation in my next post. Any food safety expert would beg you not to let your kids "lick the bowl." I guess this is a case of "do what I say, and not what I do." And for the record, the cupcakes were yummy and festive!

Tips & Resources for Safe Food Preparation and Storage

These tips are things you probably already know and do in your own kitchen, but I think sometimes a refresher course is a good thing; just to make sure you are on your game when it comes to keeping your family safe. Like when I took the refresher child-birth class when pregnant with Darling 2 and all my friends laughed at me because surely I already knew everything I needed to know after giving birth to Darling 1, but I was still glad I took the course.

Food Safety.gov offers these basic words as reminders to those in the kitchen:

• CLEAN:  Wash hands and surfaces often
• SEPARATE:  Don't cross-contaminate! 
• COOK:   Cook to proper temperature
• CHILL:   Refrigerate promptly

FoodSafety.gov has lots of great information that elaborates on each of the above words. I also love the Charts: Food Safety at a Glance feature that give specific preparation and storage information about particular kinds of food.

I found an article on the USDA's site that is quite useful, especially during this winter of crazy weather throughout the country: Keeping Food Safe During a Weather Emergency. We had a 2 day power outage after one of the first big snowfalls of the year, and we did wonder about whether we should get rid of some of the food in our fridge; and to be on the safe side, I did throw out some food. I know many parts of the southern regions of the country have been experiencing extreme winter weather in the past week and bracing for another round too.

The Scoop

There's only so much you can do to protect your family against food-borne illnesses, but being informed and prepared can go a long way in this battle. The rest of this week I'm going to be talking about good fresh food, prepared well. So, make sure to drop back by. Over and out...

Anna

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Gambling at the Grocery Store

As I sit down to write this post, I have just returned from doing our weekly grocery shopping at Super Target. Prior to making the run to Target, I had done the research for this post. You know the feeling you have in a dirty, public restroom? Yeah, that's how I felt.* The information I had quickly absorbed was still on my mind, and I stood there inspecting produce and looking at labels to decipher from whence the product originated a little longer than usual. {I'm sorry to say that the majority of the produce I checked was grown in Mexico, but that's a story for my organic, locally grown, etc. post}.

Target was out of the smaller-sized, locally grown, greenhouse tomatoes that I usually buy, but still had plenty of the smaller-sized tomatoes grown in Mexico. I opted for the larger-sized tomatoes just so that I could still get the local produce. I thought about getting sprouts to make my absolutely delicious hummus and veggie sandwich, and then decided against it due to my research. I bought locally grown ground beef to make chili later this week. I passed by the celery and after VERY careful inspection of the strawberries thought better of buying them. And, in general, I wondered which foods in my cart are truly safe to be consumed and which foods are tainted, even just slightly; it's truly a gamble.

Recalls

Just this past weekend there was a ground beef recall in CA. A thoughtful reader tipped me off to this recall today. According to the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS):

Feb. 5, 2011 - American Food Service, a Pico Rivera, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 3,170 pounds of fresh ground beef patties and other bulk packages of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

FSIS reports that it became aware of the issue when another federal regulated establishment contacted them to report receiving the suspect product. For detailed information on this recall, click here.

Recalls occur due to various issues: contaminants found in food through testing; food-borne illnesses traced back to a particular product; unsanitary conditions or other issues at the processing plant, farm, ranch, animal lots, etc.; or incorrect labels.

Commonly Contaminated Foods

There are a few foods that typically have more recalls issued than other products due to food-borne illnesses. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) these are the top foods associated with food-borne illnesses:

1. Raw Meat
2. Poultry
3. Raw Eggs
4. Raw Shellfish
5. Unpasteurized Milk
6. Fruits, consumed raw
7. Vegetables, consumed raw
8. Sprouts

CDC states that the reasons for these issues with these particular products are:

"filter-feeding shellfish strain microbes from the sea over many months, and are particularly likely to be contaminated if there are any pathogens in the seawater.   Foods that mingle the products of many individual animals, such as bulk raw milk, pooled raw eggs, or ground beef, are particularly hazardous because a pathogen present in any one of the animals may contaminate the whole batch.  A single hamburger may contain meat from hundreds of animals.  A single restaurant omelet may contain eggs from hundreds of chickens.  A glass of raw milk may contain milk from hundreds of cows.   A broiler chicken carcass can be exposed to the drippings and juices of many thousands of other birds that went through the same cold water tank after slaughter."

The issues involving raw fruits and vegetables are different, but just as concerning:

"Washing can decrease but not eliminate contamination, so the consumers can do little to protect themselves.  Recently, a number of outbreaks have been traced to fresh fruits and vegetables that were processed under less than sanitary conditions.  These outbreaks show that the quality of the water used for washing and chilling the produce after it is harvested is critical.  Using water that is not clean can contaminate many boxes of produce.  Fresh manure used to fertilize vegetables can also contaminate them.  Alfalfa sprouts and other raw sprouts pose a particular challenge, as the conditions under which they are sprouted are ideal for growing microbes as well as sprouts, and because they are eaten without further cooking.  That means that a few bacteria present on the seeds can grow to high numbers of pathogens on the sprouts.   Unpasteurized fruit juice can also be contaminated if there are pathogens in or on the fruit that is used to make it."

Source: www.CDC.gov

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), there are 12 fruits and vegetables that contain more pesticides than other produce. They've termed this list of 12 fruits and veggies, the Dirty Dozen. The EWG suggests that if you can't afford to buy all organic products at least buy organic versions of these 12 fruits and veggies:

The 2010 Dirty Dozen

1. Celery
2. Peaches
3. Strawberries
4. Apples
5. Blueberries
6. Nectarines
7. Bell Peppers
8. Spinach
9. Kale
10. Cherries
11. Potatoes
12. Grapes (Imported)

Source: www.EWG.org

Our household consumes a lot of the produce on this list on a regular basis. Eek! Check out the EWG's site for their list of 15 Clean Fruits and Veggies.

Information Sources

If you have questions concerning food-borne illnesses, also referred to as food poisoning, check these site for more information:

• FoodSafety.gov: Detailed information regarding specific causes of food-borne illnesses and how to report any such illness.
• CDC: Answers to many questions regarding food-borne illnesses.
• FDA: Food Safety information and specific information regarding contaminants in food, etc.
• FSIS: Food safety alerts and information regarding meat, poultry and processed eggs products.

The Scoop

Our household has had our fair share of food-borne illnesses over the years, but don't worry I'll spare you the details. Considering the number of reported food-borne illnesses is 48 million Americans per year, all of us have had our fair share of food poisoning. While there have certainly been times that DH and I were sure it was the whipped cream on a slice of cheesecake gone bad or a Swedish smorgasbord or this or that, we have actually never filed a report of any such illnesses. Have you ever formally reported food poisoning? Over and out...

Anna

*You know I'm paranoid like that. Remember my story of air travel after Sept. 11, 2001? Or the Stalking Awareness post? Or... I may sound crazy, but aren't you glad I'm doing this research for you?

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Food Snob

I've been accused of being a food snob. I'm not denying this charge either. I'm not one to dine in a chain restaurant with a few select sandwich-shop exceptions. I'm the offspring of good cooks. My family gets excited about a great meal. And I'll admit it... I love good food.

And by "good food" I don't necessarily mean expensive food. Good food is fresh, well-prepared fare. It could come from an award-winning chef, a street vendor on a busy corner, the kitchen of a friend or family member or a local market. Later this week, I'll be writing more about my favorite places to eat in the Twin Cities as well as other places across the country.

Dangers of Our Food

We have all experienced a food-borne illness of some sort or found a fly congealed in a jello cup {I actually have} or a hair in a sealed bag of chips {once again, true story}, etc. at some point in time. The thing about the food we eat these days is that in many instances it's not locally produced from the farmer or rancher down the road. In fact, it may not even have been grown or produced in the U.S. Many of the foods we buy have traveled hundreds of miles, been processed and packaged in factories, then shipped to our local grocery stores.

While all foods sold commercially must be inspected by the United States Agricultural Department (USDA) or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), contaminated foods still make it into our supermarkets and restaurants and on to our tables. Well-prepared food can still be contaminated, as has been the case with sprouts, chives, greens, etc. in recent years where the pollutant was not something that could be washed-off and made safe for eating. One of the latest, wide sweeping recalls was for contaminated eggs; often it's ground beef that's tainted, but it can be anything.

We take a risk every time we dine out; every time we buy food at the grocery store; every time we eat anything we, ourselves, did not grow or raise and butcher. In recent years, we have seen tainted vegetables, peanuts, meats, canned foods, eggs, infant formula, medicines and pet foods pulled from shelves. Millions of people are sickened each year, a hundred thousand are hospitalized and thousands killed by food-borne illnesses.

Who is Responsible for the Safety of Our Food?

In general, the USDA, or more specifically, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), a part of the USDA, is responsible for the inspection of meat, poultry and egg products, and the FDA oversees all other foods. But, in actuality, the exact division of who regulates what is more complicated. For more information check out this great article regarding the tangled web of food safety regulations from Food Safety News dot com published in December.

Food Safety Modernization Act

The good news is that in late December of 2010, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was passed by the U.S. legislature and signed into law by President Obama in early January. The FSMA provides the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) with significant power to execute FDA & FSIS policies. This Act promises to focus on prevention of food-borne illnesses. The White House says the FSMA will "strengthen accountability for prevention throughout the entire food system – domestically and internationally." The FSMA will accomplish this by: requiring processors of food "to evaluate the hazards in their operations, implement and monitor effective measures to prevent contamination, and have a plan in place to take any corrective actions that are necessary"; mandating that "importers verify the safety of food from their suppliers"; and giving the FDA the power to "block foods from facilities or countries that refuse our inspection." The FSMA strives to strengthen the collaboration of all levels of food agencies by improving "training of state, local, territorial and tribal food safety officials and authorizing grants for training, conducting inspections, building capacity of labs and food safety programs, and other food safety activities."

Our existing system, shared between the USDA and FDA, has been more focused on responding to outbreaks rather than preventing such occurrences in the first place. Some agencies are able to perform more inspections than others due to amounts and sources of funding. FSMA should shift this focus and hopefully reduce the frequency of recalls and contaminations, but only time will tell.

The Scoop

In general, the food sold in the U.S. is safe to eat and well-prepared by restaurants and processors, but when such food-borne illness breakouts occur it's scary and can be very serious. To me, it always seems as if these outbreaks could have been prevented through more thorough inspections, testing and reporting. I'm optimistic that the FSMA will aid in reducing the number of food contamination incidents. Tomorrow I'll be discussing food that's most commonly associated with food-borne illnesses. Over and out...

Anna

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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

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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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Dressing Up: Tips for Playing it Safe in Costumes

Hallelujah Day

Early on, my brother and I dressed up as Bible characters and went to the "Hallelujah Festival" at our Christian school instead of trick-or-treating on Halloween. One of the best costumes was my brother's Lazarus costume. For all you "heathens", Lazarus was raised from the dead by Jesus. So, basically it's a Biblical mummy costume. It was a great costume. I still remember it. My mom cut white cloth into small strips and then tied them into a costume on my brother. I think he even got a prize for it.

It wasn't until junior high, after we had moved across the great state of Texas and started attending public school, that we celebrated Halloween. By that age, costumes are really not cool, and you are certainly just in it to be scared by the creepy decorations and haunted houses and get candy. Consequently, personally, I don't have heaps of Halloween costume or trick-or-treating experience. However, Darling 1 has already had some pretty creative costumes; all of his own choosing. At age 2, Darling 1 went as Johnny Cash; his idol. (see photo)

Safe Costumes

I'm sure as parents you are well aware of the potential hazards a costume can pose, but just in case you forgot a few in the midst of putting the finishing touches on Little Cinderella's ball gown or are still looking for just the right space helmet for your mini Buzz Lightyear, here are some tips:

• Purchase or make costumes that are light and bright enough to be clearly visible to motorists.
• For greater visibility during dusk and darkness, decorate or trim costumes with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car's headlights. Bags or sacks should also be light colored or decorated with reflective tape. Reflective tape is usually available in hardware, bicycle and sporting goods stores.
• To easily see and be seen, children should also carry flashlights.
• Costumes should be short enough to prevent children from tripping and falling.
• Children should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes. Mother's high heels are not a good idea for safe walking.
• Hats and scarfs should be tied securely to prevent them from slipping over children's eyes.
• Apply a natural mask of cosmetics rather than have a child wear a loose-fitting mask that might restrict breathing or obscure vision. If a mask is used, however, make sure it fits securely and has eyeholes large enough to allow full vision.
• Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be of soft and flexible material.

Source: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/hallow.html

The Elements

In planning a costume, remember to think about where it will be worn. If going trick-or-treating from door-to-door outside, consider the weather. At this moment, the Weather Channel is calling for chance of rain and some chilly temperatures in the Twin Cities on Halloween.

It's also important to think about the narrow walkways and porches that may be lined with luminaries or lit jack-o-lanterns. Costumes can easily catch on fire if not made of the proper materials or are too loose or billowy. The CPSC warns that when purchasing a costume, masks, beards and wigs, look for the label Flame Resistant. Although this label does not mean these items won't catch fire, it does indicate the items will resist burning and should extinguish quickly once removed from the ignition source.

Childhood Costumes

It doesn't have to be Halloween for a child to dress up. We regularly have singing cowboys (sometimes naked cowboys), roaring lions, Toy Story characters, very realistic astronauts, firemen and other interesting types roving our home.

My brother and I did construct many, many costumes over the years. They just weren't for Halloween. For instance, I once sewed pieces of burlap together into a dress to make a Sacagawea costume; my brother routinely put together Indiana Jones outfits, complete with a bullwhip, and his elaborate spaceman disguises were used for many adventures; we most certainly raided our parents' closet to dress as an "elegant lady and handsome gentleman"; I donned white robes and earmuff buns to do my best to look like Princess Leia; we also wore metal colanders on our heads and carried rolling pins and as we played out battle scenes from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (from the book); and the list goes on and on. We loved to design costumes and dress in character as we played.

The Scoop

Regardless of when your child dresses up whether it's for Halloween, a church or school play, a recital, or just horsing around at home, it's important to make sure the costume is above all safe.

What's your best costume memory? Did you help your kids decide on a costume? Do you buy a costume, make it from scratch or a little of both? Don't forget to find a few "questionable" pieces of your favorite variety when you check your kids' candy loot. On Friday, I'll post a bit of Motherly Advice. Over and out…

Anna

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

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

Bed Diving

"OK, so Brother can go down head first." That was our first clue we should check to see what the Darling Boys were doing in their room. They had been quietly reading books. Reading is about the only thing they slow down for during the day. Darling 1 had piled all the cushions, pillows and blankets at the end of the Darling 2's bed. Darling 1 was having Darling 2 take the inaugural jump, supposedly diving head first, from the footboard into the puffy mound of bedding. Darling 2 happily tried it out. Fortunately he emerged without injury after the first and last time he took the plunge. We quickly stopped this experiment in gravity.

This is not the first time the Darling Boys have tried such a feat. The pieces of furniture commandeered to attempt the daring acts may change, but the general idea is always the same: climb as high as possible, jump over, onto or into something that is intended to cushion the fall. Darling 2 is always the test pilot, and Darling 1 is always the engineer of the plan. So far, no great injuries have befallen the Darling Boys during these daredevil stunts. I am generally nearby in the kitchen preparing a meal, downstairs doing laundry, in the shower, etc., and am able to put a halt to the activities before something other than a bump or bruise occurs.

Safe Home Environment

I take as many precautions as necessary to create a safe environment for them to live, play and sleep. I do the same when buying food for them and preparing meals for them. But the truth is that even if I am careful about what they eat and how it is prepared, i.e. cut in small pieces, cooked to the correct doneness and texture for their ages, they could still choke on something. This could happen even if I am sitting right next to them.

Tips for Preventing Choking

Therefore, it's vital to know not only to how to prevent choking, as much as possible, but also what to do in the event of choking. This risk is highest for kids under 4. They are still getting teeth and developing their biting, chewing and swallowing skills. Babies generally get their first teeth somewhere between the age of 5 to 9 months, which enables them to bite off bits of food, but the first molars don't come in until 15 months or so, and the second set of molars don't come in until much later, around 26 months old. It's the molars that allow the tots to grind the food down, which aids in preventing choking. Additionally, the airways of children younger than 4 are quite small, narrowing to the diameter of a straw at the back of the throat.

If your kiddos are anything like my Darling Boys, they go through a time that they cram as much food as possible into their mouths, thereby increasing their chances of choking. Darling 2 is in that stage right now. When young children chew foods like peanuts, raw carrots and popcorn, some is ground down and some is not, and they tend to swallow unchewed bits of food that can block the airway or be inhaled into the bronchial tubes and lungs.

There are a variety of tips on this topic. Some choking hazards are food, others are small household objects and still others are toys that are inappropriate for the age of the child or made poorly with pieces that can detach and be swallowed by a young child. There are tips on how to avoid each of these hazards.

General Choking Prevention Tips

• Test small objects using a small parts tester or toilet paper tube to find out whether they are choking hazard.
• Avoid giving children small round foods.  Check with your pediatrician about your child's particular needs.
• Keep small items, toys and toy parts away from young children and older children who continue mouthing objects.
• Store toys separately.  Those made for older children may have small parts that put younger children or children that may be developmentally challenged at risk. 
• Learn child CPR.
• Children should be taught to eat at a table, not when walking or playing.

Source: www.safekids.org

Tips for Feeding Babies Safely

• Your baby should sit up while eating, and be supervised at all times.
• Teach babies from an early age to "chew" (or gum) food well.
• Don't hurry your child when eating—allow plenty of time for meals.
• Only put a small amount of food on the tray at a time.
• Avoid peanut butter—it's a greater allergy risk at early ages, anyway.
• Avoid round, firm foods and chunks (hot dogs, nuts, meat/cheese chunks, whole grapes, hard or sticky candy, popcorn, raw carrots, other firm, raw fruit or vegetable chunks).
• Hot dogs are not healthy or safe for babies.  
• Avoid stringy foods like string beans and celery.
• Avoid commercial white bread products—they can form pasty globs in your baby's mouth, and aren't healthy anyway.
• Offer only a few pieces of food at a time.
• Cut meat and poultry across the grain, and into tiny fingertip-sized pieces.
• Food pieces should be no larger than one-half inch in any direction.  If in doubt, cut food into smaller pieces

Source: http://www.med.umich.edu

The New York State Department of Health provides a list of common food and household item choking hazards:

Foods:

• Hot dogs (especially cut into a coin shape), meats, sausages, and fish with bones
• Popcorn, chips, pretzel nuggets, and snack foods
• Candy (especially hard or sticky candy), cough drops, gum, lollipops, marshmallows, caramels, hard candies, and jelly beans
• Whole grapes, raw vegetables, raw peas, fruits, fruits with skins, seeds, carrots, celery, and cherries
• Raisins, dried fruits, sunflower seeds, all nuts, including peanuts
• Peanut butter, (especially in spoonfuls or with soft white bread)
• Ice cubes and cheese cubes
• Foods that clump, are sticky or slippery, or dry and hard textured
• Food size and shape, especially round or a shape that could conform to the shape and size of the trachea (windpipe). A small child's trachea is approximately 1.25 inches diameter
• Combinations of food size, texture, and shape can pose a threat. For example, a slippery hard candy with a round shape about the size of a drinking straw could block an airway (windpipe)

Household Items/Toys:

• Latex balloons, coins, marbles, toys with small parts, small balls, pen or marker caps, button type batteries, medicine syringes, screws, stuffing from a bean bag chair, rings, earrings, crayons, erasers, staples, safety pins, small stones, tiny figures, and holiday decorations including tinsel, or ornaments and lights
• Any toy or other object that is labeled as a potential choking hazard

So, what food is safe for your little one? This list provides some suggestions for safe finger foods:

• O-shaped cereals
• Well-cooked carrots
• Whole-wheat toast (remove crust)
• Scrambled egg yolk
• French toast (without egg white)
• Cooked peas (no pod)
• Very ripe pear chunks
• Well-cooked apple chunks
• Cooked pasta pieces (consider using whole-grain pasta)
• Tofu chunks
• Avocado dip or chunks
• Soft-cooked peas and beans

Source: http://www.med.umich.edu

Here are some great resources for finding additional information on choking hazards, preventing choking and babyproofing your home:

1. American Academy of Pediatrics
   The AAP offers toy safety guidelines for parents which include tips for preventing choking. They also offer a fact sheet on choking prevention and first aid (www.aap.org/family/choking.htm). AAP's phone number is 847-228-5097.
2. Consumer Product Safety Commission
   Visit the CPSC home page (www.cpsc.gov) to search for information about toy safety and choking hazards. Call CPSC at 1-800-638-2772.
3. National Safety Council
   NSC offers a fact sheet on baby-proofing your home (http://www.nsc.org/library/facts/babyprf.htm). Call NSC at 1-800-621- 7619.

Source: http://mercyweb.org

Websites for What to Do If Your Child IS Choking

Here is a good site for information about what to do if you, another adult, a child over the age of 1 year old or a pregnant or obese person is choking: http://firstaid.webmd.com/choking-treatment

This site has illustrated information about what to do if you baby under 1 year old is choking: http://www.babycenter.com/0_infant-first-aid-for-choking-and-cpr-an-illustrated-guide_9298.bc

The Scoop

It all comes down to this: You can't shield your child from every danger out in the world, but there are many hazards you can avoid, or at least minimize. The risk of choking can be reduced by childproofing your home; preparing age appropriate foods; teaching your child to eat slowly, thoroughly chewing each bite while sitting down; and knowing how to react should your child (or you) choke. Thanks for sharing your opinions about the AAP calling for the FDA to require choking hazard warning labels on many foods, etc. I always appreciate a good discussion, and love to hear from readers. On Friday, I will post a bit of Motherly Advice. Over and out…

Anna

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The Perils of Feeding a Child: Food-Related Choking Hazard Warnings

New Information or Common Knowledge?

This just in…The following information may come as a shock to you. Hotdogs, hard candy, grapes, popcorn, nuts and other small, hard items of food are choking hazards. Of course, large pieces of food, like hunks of meat, potatoes, bread, a peach pit, carrots, apples and really anything are potential choking hazards.

How can one prevent this would-be accident? Well, one could avoid food that is any larger than a green pea, or you could throw caution to the wind and eat what you would like, chewing each bite carefully and thoroughly before swallowing. You should also teach your kids this life saving measure, and take care to feed your children small pieces of age appropriate foods. Of course, avoiding hotdogs and hard candy is a good idea for many reasons besides the potential to become lodged in your child's throat, but that is another topic altogether. I digress.

An Overloaded Potato

All joking aside, choking is a serious matter, and one I don't take lightly. I ask my Darling Boys and my DH, "Are you choking?" at just about every meal. In fact, this topic reminds me of the time that DH choked on a chunk of baked potato. It was some kind of Texas-sized southern fried chicken and gravy baked potato (if you can imagine such a thing). We were in college, and were eating with my parents who had come to town to see me off at the airport the next day. I was leaving to study abroad in London, and I remember thinking in those split seconds that DH was choking that I wouldn't be able to go if DH died, which sounds petty and callous, but that wasn't my feeling. It was just a matter-of-fact, fleeting thought that I remember going through my head.

DH, then Dear Boyfriend, began choking, indicating he could not breathe. My father, a much shorter man than DH, jumped up from his chair, knocking his chair backwards, grabbed hold of DH, picking him up and plunging his fists up under DH's ribcage dislodging the chunk of baked potato, and thereby saving DH's life, as my mom and I sat silently staring at the scene. Should he have avoided the loaded potato? Probably so, for a variety of reasons, none of which have to do with choking hazards, but truthfully he could have choked on anything. Do we really need labels on everything from grapes to marshmallows to hotdogs warning of the potential choking hazards these foods carry for its youngest clientele?

Choking Hazard Warnings

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), more than 10,000 children under 14 go to the emergency room annually for food-related choking. Each year between 66 and 77 kids under age 10 die due to choking on food. That number might not seem that high unless one of them is your child.

The argument is that toys have choking warnings and age appropriate labels, why not apply the same standards to food? The AAP is asking the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to require warning labels on foods that are known choking hazards. At the same time, the AAP is calling for the redesign of certain foods that are leading choking hazards, such as the hot dog; advocating for the recall of food products with a significant and unacceptable choking hazard; and requesting the establishment of a national surveillance and reporting system warning the public of food-related choking hazards. Is this going too far? The FDA has said "it will review the AAP's recommendations and continue to work with the Consumer Product Safety Commission on assessing choking hazards associated with food."

Exhibit A: The Hot Dog

We have long known that the hot dog is a nutritional death trap full of fat, sodium and other preservatives, but now the "iconic food" is getting a bad rap based on its shape too. The small cylindrical shape of a hot dog is the "perfect" shape and size for getting stuck in a child's throat. While approximately 2/3 of hot dogs do already have choking hazard warning labels advising parents to cut them into small pieces for children, consumer protection groups say that is not enough.

The call to redesign the shape of hot dogs has been scoffed at and has become the butt of many jokes. In fact, the president of the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, Janet Riley has said that she "redesigns" hot dogs herself with a paring knife, cutting it into a smaller, safer size before giving it to toddlers, and says a redesign is "not going to happen."

I think Riley has a point, at some level it becomes the parent's responsibility to ensure that his/her child is eating food that is the appropriate size and texture for that child's age. However, a food designer has come up with a new hot dog design that will be marketed on the East Coast. It's the same shape, but it has deep slits cuts into the sides that open as it cooks, causing the hot dog to break apart as a child eats it.

Exhibit B: Popcorn

After a 23 month old girl choked on popcorn and died her family sued the popcorn company because the warning label was small and printed on the bottom of the box and they were unaware it was a choking hazard. The family settled the lawsuit out of court, but popcorn companies have begun placing more visible warnings.

In this case, there was a label warning of the hazards of small children eating this product. However, the label itself was not enough. It was not large enough or placed in a way that was apparent to the consumer.

Exhibit C: Other Hazardous Foods

It seems that many consumers are unaware of which foods are hazardous to young children, and may need to be warned. Is this the company's responsibility or the parent's responsibility? According to the AAP, other high-risk foods include apples, chewing gum, chunks of peanut butter, hard candy, marshmallows, nuts, raw carrots, sausages, seeds and grapes. And if the AAP get its way, we will begin seeing warning labels on all of these products and perhaps more.

The Scoop

Again, I'm quite paranoid about my Darling Boys choking. Whether the offending object is food, a found object in the yard or a small toy, I am ever watchful and concerned about them choking. I do not take this subject matter lightly. However, I find it hard to believe that a parent or caregiver is not aware of the dangers in feeding a young child a marshmallow or carrot, etc.

Is it not common sense that a child with little experience eating/chewing/swallowing food might not be able to properly eat hard candy or a hot dog or popcorn, for example? Even if it isn't common sense, I have been given these warnings both verbally and in writing from the pediatrician since my Darlings were old enough to eat food of any kind. So, if it's not common sense and a parent either doesn't receive the warnings from the pediatrician or somehow misses that information, will that parent notice and read the warning labels on food packages? Is it necessary and helpful for the FDA to require these choking hazard warning labels on food items?

How do you feel about choking hazard warning labels on food? Do you notice and read warning labels? Drop me a line and tell me your thoughts. On Wednesday, I will post tips on preventing choking and what to do in the event your child does choke. Over and out….

 

Anna

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You might also like:    

The Organic, Sustainable, Grass-Fed, All-Natural, Free-Range, Fair Trade Grocery List: What Do All These Adjectives Mean??

Sippy Cups: BPA-Free or Not. What’s the Big Deal?

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

Jet Lag Excuses: 7 Links Challenge

There's No Place Like Home

This week I am breaking all my rules. Since the hotel I was staying in for a blogging conference was having technical difficulties and their Internet connection was not working (ironic, right), I was not able to post Monday. I am fresh in from New York. It's been a long (& fun) 5 days, and so I am opting for a Challenge I spotted on a really great blogging site for today's post. I had a great trip to the Big Apple, and on Wednesday, I will post the top 10 (or more) things I learned from my trip. On Thursday, I will post a few pictures from my trip. And Friday there will be a bit of Motherly Advice, of course.

I know you are dying to hear about my time in NY, but you will just have to wait one more day. I will say my mom and I both got scolded several times, but for the most part avoided trouble. We met some lovely people who helped us learn about our surroundings and ate stellar food (the highlights of the trip). Did I mention I saw Wicked while in NYC? (hence the subtitle)

The 7 Links Challenge

I recently saw this 7 Links Challenge on ProBlogger's Facebook page. I think it's a good way to see posts in a different light or re-examine these posts. The categories are the same used by ProBlogger. I have given an explanation for each of my choices.

My First Post

This one is pretty self explanatory, and if you haven't read it yet, please do so. It explains who I am and what my purpose is.

Taking the Plunge

The Post I Most Enjoyed Writing

I most enjoyed writing the BPA Free post because it was my first legal issue post. I have written so many posts now, but still think about the process of writing that one.

Sippy Cups: BPA-Free or Not. What’s the Big Deal?

A Post with Great Discussion

This post got lots of comments right away. Everyone seems to have an opinion about this issue. I was glad to bring attention to the dangers of texting while driving.

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

A Post on Someone Else's Blog that I Wish I had Written

Molly of The Snyder 5 posted a great post about Blogher, blogging conference. While I did not have her exact experiences, I did have similar thoughts about the conference. I certainly did gain knowledge and understanding of some blogging techniques and practices, and I enjoyed getting to know Suzi, Molly and Anna better. The part that was disappointing to me was the lack of networking and chatting with bloggers that I don't know. Molly says it well.

BlogHer was … complicated. Or maybe I am just complicated.

My Most Helpful Post

The Wills and Trusts post certainly gets picked up by Google searches quite a bit. So, I feel like this is a helpful one.

Last Will and Testament: Why it’s So Important for a Parent and How to Get One of Your Very Own

A Post with a Title I'm Proud of

I really like my title for my heel stick post. I think it's creative, and I just like it.

Preconceived Notions and Infant Heel Stick Screenings: Privacy Rights v. Early Diagnosis

A Post I Wish More People Had Read

I do think this post on pool safety has important information in it. I think this is an issue that parents and other caretakers need to be aware of before their charges take to the water.

Getting Ready to Dive Into Summer: How Safe is the Pool?"

The Scoop

I hope you enjoy reading these posts for the first time or re-examining some older familiar posts. It was fun to go back and look at all the posts. Please drop me a line and tell me if you would have chosen any other posts for these categories. Over and out…

Anna

If You Play with Fire, You Might Get Burned: Tips and Websites for a Safe Fourth of July

The Fire Storm

Our household is in the midst of those precarious years called "The Toddler to Preschool Stage." It's a stage that's filled with risks. That is, risks to the parents. One of the biggest issues in our household involves naps, or resting, as Darling 1 prefers to call it. On some days, our Darling Boys nap with minimal struggle before they actually nod off to sleep. On other days, the Darling Boys scream, shout, cry, whine, throw books and other objects in protest. It's those days that I know they need to rest the most, and usually after much struggle on my part, they both sleep peacefully for a few hours. But then there are the days that the schedule gets filled to the brim and there's no time for a nap or they simply keep on happily playing, reading and laughing which tricks me into thinking they don't need a nap.

These are the days that will really get you into trouble by dinner time. Everything seems to be going along well; everyone is happy. But then some small thing happens like a wheel coming off of a toy car that Darling 1 is playing with or Darling 2 can't quite get the page turned in the book he is "reading" and it all starts to crumble. It takes only one to get upset about something, the other Darling Boy will soon follow, whining and crying, miserably inconsolable. At that point, you might as well skip dinner and go straight to bed, which is what happens on occasion.

At ages 21 months and 4 years old, and being highly spirited individuals, it isn't just missing a nap that can set them off, it could be too short of a nap, too long of a nap, the wrong part of the day, the wrong side of the bed, the wrong toy, the wrong snack, the wrong book, the wrong week or month. The toddler to preschool years bring lots of angst, independence and exploration. Fortunately, these volatile moods or years don't last long …usually. Yet, right now the fact remains that our household is smack in the middle of it, and if you play with fire, you might get burned. So, we as parents must do everything within our control to play it safe, with naps, or resting time; plenty of breaks to re-group and lots of very parent-sounding lines like, "Don't slap your brother. Use your words! Tell him how that made you feel when he tackled your head." at the ready.

Fireworks Safety Tips

So it is with fireworks. It seems like such a happy, fun, holiday tradition to have a little fireworks display of your own. The problem is that things can go from fine and safe to bad and dangerous very quickly. It's safest to plan to attend a professionally orchestrated city or area-wide fireworks display, but if you insist upon setting off a few of your own, please take the time to read these safety tips and visit these great websites in order to be fully prepared should an accident occur.

The good news is despite the fact that the American fireworks consumption has dramatically increased since 1976 from 29 million pounds to over 265.5 million pounds in 2007 there has been a 90% decrease in fireworks-related injuries since the Consumer Products Safety Commission began to closely monitor the fireworks industry. That said the need to always use precaution and take safety measures when around fireworks remains.

Here are some great tips for staying safe around fireworks:

• If not handled properly, fireworks can cause burn and eye injuries in kids and adults. In 2003, six deaths were linked to fireworks and hospital emergency departments treated 9,300 fireworks injuries.

   

• The best way to protect your family is not to use any fireworks at home — period. Attend public fireworks displays, and leave the lighting to the professionals.

   

• Lighting fireworks at home isn't even legal in many areas, so if you still want to use them, be sure to check with your local police department first. If they're legal where you live, keep these safety tips in mind:
•  
  • Kids should never play with fireworks. Things like firecrackers, rockets, and sparklers are just too dangerous. If you give kids sparklers, make sure they keep them outside and away from the face, clothing, and hair. Sparklers can reach 1,800° Fahrenheit (982° Celsius) — hot enough to melt gold.

     

  • Buy only legal fireworks (legal fireworks have a label with the manufacturer's name and directions; illegal ones are unlabeled), and store them in a cool, dry place. Illegal fireworks usually go by the names M-80, M100, blockbuster, or quarterpounder. These explosives were banned in 1966, but still account for many fireworks injuries.
  • Never try to make your own fireworks.
  • Always use fireworks outside and have a bucket of water and a hose nearby in case of accidents.
  • Steer clear of others — fireworks have been known to backfire or shoot off in the wrong direction. Never throw or point fireworks at someone, even in jest.
  • Don't hold fireworks in your hand or have any part of your body over them while lighting. Wear some sort of eye protection, and avoid carrying fireworks in your pocket — the friction could set them off.
  • Point fireworks away from homes, and keep away from brush and leaves and flammable substances. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that local fire departments respond to more 50,000 fires caused by fireworks each year.
  • Light one firework at a time (not in glass or metal containers), and never relight a dud.
  • Don't allow kids to pick up pieces of fireworks after an event. Some may still be ignited and can explode at any time.
  • Soak all fireworks in a bucket of water before throwing them in the trash can.
  • Think about your pet. Animals have sensitive ears and can be extremely frightened or stressed on the Fourth of July. Keep pets indoors to reduce the risk that they'll run loose or get injured.

• If a child is injured by fireworks, immediately go to a doctor or hospital. If an eye injury occurs, don't allow your child to touch or rub it, as this may cause even more damage. Also, don't flush the eye out with water or attempt to put any ointment on it. Instead, cut out the bottom of a paper cup, place it around the eye, and immediately seek medical attention — your child's eyesight may depend on it. If it's a burn, remove clothing from the burned area and run cool, not cold, water over the burn (do not use ice). Call your doctor immediately.

Websites

This is Phantom Fireworks' website. It has all kinds of information about fireworks from safety tips to how fireworks are made to history and trivia. Check it out at: http://www.fireworks.com/safety/. I think this is a great site with so much information.

Another good website for fireworks safety information is www.Fireworksafety.com. This is the site of the National Council on Fireworks Safety. This site offers information on state laws, injury statistics and safety concerns.

The Scoop

I wish you all a happy, safe, fun-filled 4^th of July weekend. Please do take a few minutes to read these safety tips here and on the websites. It's important and could save a life. On Friday, I will post a bit of Motherly Advice. Over and out…

Anna

Best of Motherly Law Week Part II

According to the survey, the winner of the "Best of Motherly Law" Wednesday Tips and Websites post is: The Overly Cautious Traveler: Must Read Pool Safety Tips. This is a good topic as summer has now officially begun and pools everywhere are at full capacity. Tune in Thursday for the Best legal headlines of the week. I have little tasty tidbits for you all week long. Next week I will be discussing laws applicable to fireworks (the how, when, where and who); and I will provide you with safety tips for having a safe the 4^th of July holiday.

 

The Overly Cautious Traveler: Must Read Pool Safety Tips

The Mug Shots

 

I was a bit nervous about flying after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. So, prior to my first post-attack flight, I printed the mug shots of the FBI's top 10 wanted terrorists and slipped it in my carry-on bag. (Don't laugh.) Once I arrived at my gate, I took the paper out and began my silent interrogation of my fellow passengers. I continued to observe my flight-mates after I boarded the aircraft, with my mug shots in hand, looking for any "strange" behavior. While I no longer carry printed mug shots along on trips, I continue to be hyper-observant in airports and on-board airplanes. I stay alert and never sleep on planes just in case I must thwart the terroristic plans of a wayward soul. (DH attempts to stay awake. This is only because I won't allow him to sleep. He is the one that will have to confront the would-be terrorists. After all, he is much taller than I am.) I am happy and relieved to report that there has not been any illicit behavior on any flight I have been on…yet. If you ever have the pleasure of traveling with me, rest assured, I will be watching out for the safety of everyone on the flight.

 

This safety freakishness carries over into other areas too, especially now that I am a parent. I don't rely on doctors to ask me the right questions or give me all the information: I ask questions and do research too; I don't assume that drivers will notice the mom with a large double stroller walking behind, in front of or around their vehicles: I wait and watch for my turn to stroll by; I don't presume that the lifeguards and other parents will watch my kids in the wading pool or splash pad: I vigilantly keep an eye on them, and those around them. That is how my brain works. I can quickly assess the problem (unsafe) areas of any location that my kids will be loose, running around and exploring, and plan accordingly. It's the analytical side of me.

 

Pool Safety Tips

 

As pool season arrives, there are numerous dangerous situations that play through my head. This year is the first year that I will have two running, jumping, splashing, swimming, exploring Darling Boys to be watching over. In one way, it will be easier for me, since I won't be toting one around on my hip. But Darling 2 is especially keen on anything to do with water, and he is fearless. Fortunately, Darling 1 is more cautious and will be watching out for Darling 2, as well.

 

Pool safety rules may seem like second nature (don't run, don't let your kids go in and around a pool without you, etc.), but it's a good idea to review these tips and keep them fresh in the mind. I found some great tips from the City of Republic, MO's website. The tips are simple and easily implemented:

Use Layers of Protection

To prevent swimming pool drownings, the use of layers of protection is essential. Place barriers completely around the pool, closely supervise young children and be prepared in case of emergency.

In addition:

• If a child is missing, always look first in the pool. Seconds count!
• Knowing how to swim doesn't make a child drown-proof.
• Never use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision.
• Keep rescue equipment, such as a shepherd's hook, and a phone next to the pool.
• Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• Install physical barriers around the pool to limit access.
• Fences and walls should be at least 4-feet high and installed completely around the pool.
• Gates should be self-closing and self-latching.
• The latch should be out of reach of small children.
• If your house forms one side of the barrier for the pool, doors leading from the house to the pool should be protected with alarms that sound when the doors are unexpectedly opened. Or, use a power safety cover, a motor-powered barrier placed over the water area, to prevent access by young children.
•  For above-ground pools, steps and ladders to the pool should be secured or removed when the pool is not in use.

Pool and Spa Entrapment Dangers

• Never use a pool or spa with a missing or broken drain cover. Be sure a newer, safer drain cover is in place. The new drain covers are usually domed-shaped– instead of the old flat drain covers.
• Consider installing a Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS), a device that will automatically shut off a pump if a blockage is detected.
• Have a professional regularly inspect your pool or spa for entrapment or entanglement hazards.
• Plainly mark the location of the electrical cut-off switch for the pool or spa pump.
• If someone is entrapped against a drain, cut off the pump immediately. Instead of trying to pull the person away from the powerful suction, pry a hand between the drain and the person's body to break the seal.

From http://www.republicmo.com/safety-pages/208-swimming-pool-safety

The American Academy of Pediatrics has traditionally stated that swimming lessons for children under the age of 4 years is not recommended. However, the AAP has now issued new safety guidelines stating swimming lessons may help prevent drowning in some children ages 1 to 4, but that it's up to a parent to decide whether his or her child is physically and emotionally ready to learn. The AAP further reminds that teaching a child to swim does not mean a child is "drown-proof." Here are a few additional pool safety tips from the AAP:

A swimming pool can be very dangerous for children. If possible, do not put a swimming pool in your yard until your children are older than 5 years. Help protect your children from drowning by doing the following:

• Never leave your children alone in or near the pool, even for a moment. An adult who knows CPR should actively supervise children at all times.
• Practice touch supervision with children younger than 5 years. This means that the adult is within an arm's length of the child at all times.
• Do not use air-filled "swimming aids" as a substitute for approved life vests.
• Remove all toys from the pool after use so children aren't tempted to reach for them.
• After the children are done swimming, secure the pool so they can't get back into it.

From http://www.aap.org/family/tipppool.htm

Websites

 

These three websites provide a wealth of information on pool safety from how to prevent a child from drowning to chemicals levels in water to swim lessons to anti-entrapment device standards:

1. ABC Pool Safety: http://www.abcpoolsafety.org/
2. Water Quality & Health Council: http://www.waterandhealth.org/pool_spa/index.html
3. Consumer Product Safety Commission: http://www.poolsafety.gov/

 

The Scoop

 

The bottom line is to keep your eyes on your children when they are swimming and stay close. Don't get distracted by your iPhone or Blackberry, chatting with friends, preparing a meal, etc. If you have pool at your home, put up barriers, locking gates and consider having a motorized cover over the pool. Do you have a pool or access to a pool? What precautions have you taken? Do your kids know your rules for being around a pool, whether it is yours, a neighbors or the city's? Please leave on comment here, on Facebook or Twitter. I would love to hear your thoughts. On Friday, I will post a bit of Motherly Advice. Over and out…

 

Anna

The Overly Cautious Traveler: Must Read Pool Safety Tips {Always a Good Reminder}

The Mug Shots

 

I was a bit nervous about flying after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. So, prior to my first post-attack flight, I printed the mug shots of the FBI's top 10 wanted terrorists and slipped it in my carry-on bag. (Don't laugh.)

Once I arrived at my gate, I took the paper out and began my silent interrogation of my fellow passengers. I continued to observe my flight-mates after I boarded the aircraft, with my mug shots in hand, looking for any "strange" behavior.

While I no longer carry printed mug shots along on trips, I continue to be hyper-observant in airports and on-board airplanes. I stay alert and never sleep on planes just in case I must thwart the terroristic plans of a wayward soul. (DH attempts to stay awake. This is only because I won't allow him to sleep. He is the one that will have to confront the would-be terrorists. After all, he is much taller than I am.)

I am happy and relieved to report that there has not been any illicit behavior on any flight I have been on…yet. If you ever have the pleasure of traveling with me, rest assured, I will be watching out for the safety of everyone on the flight.

This safety freakishness carries over into other areas too, especially now that I am a parent. I don't rely on doctors to ask me the right questions or give me all the information: I ask questions and do research too; I don't assume that drivers will notice the mom with a large double stroller walking behind, in front of or around their vehicles: I wait and watch for my turn to stroll by; I don't presume that the lifeguards and other parents will watch my kids in the wading pool or splash pad: I vigilantly keep an eye on them, and those around them.

That is how my brain works. I can quickly assess the problem (unsafe) areas of any location that my kids will be loose, running around and exploring, and plan accordingly. It's the analytical side of me.

Pool Safety Tips

As pool season arrives, there are numerous dangerous situations that play through my head. This year is the first year that I will have two running, jumping, splashing, swimming, exploring Darling Boys to be watching over. In one way, it will be easier for me, since I won't be toting one around on my hip. But Darling 2 is especially keen on anything to do with water, and he is fearless. Fortunately, Darling 1 is more cautious and will be watching out for Darling 2, as well.

Pool safety rules may seem like second nature (don't run, don't let your kids go in and around a pool without you, etc.), but it's a good idea to review these tips and keep them fresh in the mind. I found some great tips from the City of Republic, MO's website. The tips are simple and easily implemented:

Use Layers of Protection

To prevent swimming pool drownings, the use of layers of protection is essential. Place barriers completely around the pool, closely supervise young children and be prepared in case of emergency.

In addition:

• If a child is missing, always look first in the pool. Seconds count!
• Knowing how to swim doesn't make a child drown-proof.
• Never use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision.
• Keep rescue equipment, such as a shepherd's hook, and a phone next to the pool.
• Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• Install physical barriers around the pool to limit access.
• Fences and walls should be at least 4-feet high and installed completely around the pool.
• Gates should be self-closing and self-latching.
• The latch should be out of reach of small children.
• If your house forms one side of the barrier for the pool, doors leading from the house to the pool should be protected with alarms that sound when the doors are unexpectedly opened. Or, use a power safety cover, a motor-powered barrier placed over the water area, to prevent access by young children.
•  For above-ground pools, steps and ladders to the pool should be secured or removed when the pool is not in use.

Pool and Spa Entrapment Dangers

• Never use a pool or spa with a missing or broken drain cover. Be sure a newer, safer drain cover is in place. The new drain covers are usually domed-shaped– instead of the old flat drain covers.
• Consider installing a Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS), a device that will automatically shut off a pump if a blockage is detected.
• Have a professional regularly inspect your pool or spa for entrapment or entanglement hazards.
• Plainly mark the location of the electrical cut-off switch for the pool or spa pump.
• If someone is entrapped against a drain, cut off the pump immediately. Instead of trying to pull the person away from the powerful suction, pry a hand between the drain and the person's body to break the seal.

From http://www.republicmo.com/safety-pages/208-swimming-pool-safety

The American Academy of Pediatrics has traditionally stated that swimming lessons for children under the age of 4 years is not recommended. However, the AAP has now issued new safety guidelines stating swimming lessons may help prevent drowning in some children ages 1 to 4, but that it's up to a parent to decide whether his or her child is physically and emotionally ready to learn. The AAP further reminds that teaching a child to swim does not mean a child is "drown-proof." Here are a few additional pool safety tips from the AAP:

A swimming pool can be very dangerous for children. If possible, do not put a swimming pool in your yard until your children are older than 5 years. Help protect your children from drowning by doing the following:

• Never leave your children alone in or near the pool, even for a moment. An adult who knows CPR should actively supervise children at all times.
• Practice touch supervision with children younger than 5 years. This means that the adult is within an arm's length of the child at all times.
• Do not use air-filled "swimming aids" as a substitute for approved life vests.
• Remove all toys from the pool after use so children aren't tempted to reach for them.
• After the children are done swimming, secure the pool so they can't get back into it.

From http://www.aap.org/family/tipppool.htm

Websites

 

These three websites provide a wealth of information on pool safety from how to prevent a child from drowning to chemicals levels in water to swim lessons to anti-entrapment device standards:

1. ABC Pool Safety: http://www.abcpoolsafety.org/
2. Water Quality & Health Council: http://www.waterandhealth.org/pool_spa/index.html
3. Consumer Product Safety Commission: http://www.poolsafety.gov/

The Scoop

The bottom line is to keep your eyes on your children when they are swimming and stay close. Don't get distracted by your iPhone or Blackberry, chatting with friends, preparing a meal, etc. If you have pool at your home, put up barriers, locking gates and consider having a motorized cover over the pool. Do you have a pool or access to a pool? What precautions have you taken? Do your kids know your rules for being around a pool, whether it is yours, a neighbors or the city's? Please leave on comment here, on Facebook or Twitter. I would love to hear your thoughts. On Friday, I will post a bit of Motherly Advice. Over and out…

Anna

Getting Ready to Dive Into Summer: How Safe is the Pool?

It's Sum, Sum, Summertime

Summer is almost here. Time to start slathering on the sunscreen (and bug repellant, for that matter), hooking up the sprinkler, eating meals outside, hanging out at the pool, swatting mosquitoes, firing up the grill, playing at the splash pad, going to baseball games and basically being outside all day, every day. You know, we Minnesotans have to make every warm day count.

 

My summer memories from my Texas childhood are filled with sun and water, and sunburns too. As a child, I didn't worry about cancer caused by too much sun or drowning in pools. I was primarily concerned with having fun and staying cool. OK, well, maybe I worried a little about drowning. I have always been a safety freak, but that didn't stop me from swimming all summer long. I was wary of pool drains though. I never ventured near them. I wouldn't even swim over the drains. I don't know why I was so fearful of the drains, but call it intuition. It turns out that I had good reason to worry.

 

The Hidden Threat of Malfunctioning Pool Drains

Pools will open in a week here in sunny Minnesota. Pools are probably already open in the warmer parts of the country. Have you ever thought to check the drain covers in the pools you and your kids swim in? Probably not. I might not have been aware of this issue if it had not been for little Abigail Taylor who was swimming in a pool at a country club in the twin cities in the summer of 2007. I heard her story on the local news.

 

While splashing around in a wading pool, Abigail inadvertently sat on a malfunctioning drain with no cover. The suction was so strong that it literally disemboweled her. They later found part of her intestinal tract in the pool drainage system. Unfortunately, due to her injuries, Abigail died in March of 2008.

 

The risk of malfunctioning pool and spa drains is two-fold: the powerful suction can trap a child underwater and cause the child to drown or cause a child to be disemboweled, like what happened to Abigail. Abigail wanted to make sure this kind of injury did not happen to anyone else again. In great part because of the efforts of the Taylor family and the U.S. Representatives and Senators from Minnesota, there is now a federal law and some state laws regulating the standards of pool drains and requiring anti-entrapment devices.

 

The Law

The federal law, Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, is named after the daughter of Nancy and James Baker and the granddaughter of former Secretary of State James Baker III. Graeme Baker died in a tragic incident in June 2002 when the suction from a spa drain entrapped her under the water. The federal law went into effect on Dec. 19, 2008, and required all public pools and spas to be equipped with the proper anti-entrapment covers, effective immediately.

 

This law has three major components:

1. to prohibit the manufacture, sale or distribution of suction outlets and covers that are not ASME/ANSIA112.19.8-2007 certified;
2. to require public pools and spas to be fitted with certain equipment that is intended to prevent death or injury caused by entrapment, evisceration or entanglement; and
3. to allow States that have laws with similar requirements for public and residential pools and spas to apply for grants to encourage the use of layers of protection by educating the public on the importance of constant supervision of children in an around water, use of barriers around pools and spas and installation of anti-entrapment devices.

 

ASME/ANSI is a performance standard adopted by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and American National Standards Institute that establishes materials, testing and marking requirements for suction outlet fittings in swimming pools, wading pools, spas, hot tubs and other aquatic facilities.

 

So far, four states: California, Illinois, Maine and Minnesota have also passed anti-entrapment laws that cover public pools and spas.

 

What about Private Pools?

By now, the summer of 2010, all public pools and spas should be compliant with the federal and/or state laws requiring anti-entrapment devices. But what about private pools? Many people have their own pools in their backyards that are frequented by friends, family and neighbors on a regular basis. While there are currently no laws that require private pool owners to comply with the pool and spa safety act, beginning in late 2008, it was unlawful for residential drain covers to be made or marketed that do not comply with the anti-entrapment standards. So, it is up to the pool owners to retrofit the drain covers with safer parts, and to incorporate other layers of protection to safeguard against kids' drowning or becoming terribly injured while using the pool.

 

The Scoop

The private, residential pools, unregulated as to drain covers and anti-entanglement devices, are what scare me. It is up to you as parents to check with the owner/operator of a private, residential pool as to whether the pool has been retrofitted to be compliant with the federal law. If not, you may want to think twice about allowing your child to swim in that pool. On Wednesday, I will post tips for what dangers to watch for in pools and how to incorporate the layers of protection as you and your kids get ready to head to the pool this summer. Have you had any experiences with defective, malfunctioning pool drains? Did you know about the pool and spa safety act, federal or state? Over and out…

 

Anna

The Hope of Evolving: Laws Concerning Booster Car Seats

The Evolution of Beings

I love the fact that I am constantly evolving as an individual. If I don't like who I am or where I am at this moment in life, I can change it in a month, a year or 5 years from now. This applies to careers, relationships, weight, outlook on life, hairstyles, finances, habits and number of other factors; some important, life-changing issues and others mundane and superficial. From the time a person is born to the time a person passes on he or she is developing in one way or another. I find this to be an exciting perspective. To think about life in this way means that there is always opportunity, always a chance for something new, something different, something better. There are limitless possibilities.

 

A child's evolution is more obvious as he or she develops and grows through various stages. Each stage bringing renewed exhilaration for the latest tricks he or she has learned and angst for the things he or she realizes he or she cannot yet do. I, for one, am glad to know that soon my Darling Boys will evolve into older, more capable and hopefully more reasonable little beings. While I appreciate each evolution, there are definitely some developmental phases that are more enjoyable than others.

 

The Evolution of Laws

It's not only we, as individuals, that evolve, but we, as a society, as a world. Our knowledge and understanding of how things work and why continues to grow and change with each year. One aspect of our society that keeps evolving is our laws. For instance, 40 years ago, there weren't even seat belts in cars, much less laws regulating who had to be strapped in with seat belts. Much has changed in this area of the law. Safety has become a central issue in product development and law enforcement.

 

When I was a child, there were no laws instructing my parents to strap me into a car seat that was securely fastened in the back seat of the vehicle. There weren't even laws mandating that anyone wear a seat belt of any kind while riding in a vehicle. In this day and age of safety consciousness that seems outrageous. I can't imagine driving along, not wearing a seat belt, one hand on the steering wheel and one hand holding my Darling Infant. Or even more frightening is to picture driving with my climbing, bouncing, wrestling toddler and preschooler loose in the car. Yikes!

 

Fortunately, times have changed. All U.S. jurisdictions now have seat belt laws, including child restraint system laws. In fact, many states even require kids up to 8 years old to ride in booster seats before moving on to seat belts. I have found this area of car seat laws, the time when kids start getting too big for forward-facing car seats yet are still too small to safely use a seat belt, is gray for many parents. Many don't realize that the laws mandate specific age, weight and/or height requirements for booster seats. In most states, using booster car seats is not an option or suggestion, but is the law.

 

Booster Car Seats

Once a child has outgrown his or her forward-facing seat, which is usually around age 4 and 40 pounds, the safest seat is a booster seat in the back seat. A child should then ride in a booster seat until a seat belt fits properly or until state law requirements of age, height and/or weight are met. Seat belts generally fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest. Usually a child is approximately 8 years old or approximately 4'9" tall.

There are two kinds of booster seats: a backless child restraint and a high-backed belt positioning booster seat. A backless child restraint system consists of a seating platform that does not extend up to provide a cushion for the child's back or head and has a structural element designed to restrain forward motion of the child's torso in a forward impact. A high-backed belt positioning system positions a child on a vehicle seat to improve the fit of a vehicle Type II belt system on the child and that lacks any component, such as a belt system or a structural element, designed to restrain forward movement of the child's torso in a forward impact.  

 

The State Laws

All of the state laws are based on 49 CFR 571.213, the federal statute specifying requirements for child restraint systems used in motor vehicles and aircraft. The purpose of the federal standard is to reduce the number of children killed or injured in motor vehicle crashes. Clearly, an objective all parents can agree on; keeping kids safe in the event of an accident.

Here is the table of states with the age, weight and/or height requirements for booster car seats. Some states list only the maximum age, weight and/or height mandated to secure your child in a child restraining system in general rather than the precise measurements for using a booster seat.

AL	40 pounds or more and 6 years old or younger
AK	Over 4 years old and less than 8 yrs old and less than 57" in height and weighing 20 or more pounds but less than 65 pounds
AR	5 years and younger and less than 60 pounds
AZ	Under 5 years of age
CA	Until 6 years old and 60 pounds or more
CO	At least 4 years old but less than 6 years old and is less than 55" tall
CT	6 years and under or weighing less than 60 pounds
DE	Until 7 years old and 65 pounds or less
DC	Under 8 years of age
FL	5 years of age or younger
GA	5 years and younger and 57" or less
GU	Less than 4'9" tall and between 4 and 11 years old
HI	4 years or older but less than 8 years old
ID	6 years old or younger
IL	Under the age of 8
IN	Under the age of 8
IA	Over 1 year old and under 11 years old
KS	4 years old to 8 years old, weighing less than 80 pounds and is less than 4'9" tall
KY	Under the age of 7 years old and between 40" and 50" tall
LA	4 through 5 years old and 40 to 60 pounds
ME	A child who weighs at least 40 pounds but less than 80 pounds and who is less than 8 years old
MD	Under 8 years old, unless taller than 4'9" and weighing more than 65 pounds
MA	Under the age of 8 years old and taller than 57"
MI	Younger than 4 years old
MN	Under the age of 8 years old and shorter than 4'9"
MS	At least 4 years old, but less than 7 years old and less than 4'9" tall and weighing less than 65 pounds
MO	At least 4 years old but less than 8 years old, weighing at least 40 pounds, but less than 80 pounds and measuring less than 4'9".
MT	Under 6 years old and weighing less than 60 pounds
NE	Up to 6 years old
NV	Under 6 years old and weighing 60 pounds or less
NH	Under 6 years old and less than 55"
NJ	Under 8 years old and weighing less than 80 pounds
NM	Ages 5 years old through 6 years old, regardless of weight or children weighing less than 60 pounds, regardless of age
NY	Over 40 pounds or 4 years old through 7 years old
NC	Under 8 years old and less than 80 pounds
ND	Under 7 years old, less than 57" tall and weighing less than 80 pounds
OH	Under 8 years old, less than 4'9" tall
OK	5 years old and younger
OR	Over 40 pounds, but under 4'9" tall
PA	4 years old through 7 years old
RI	Under 8 years old, less than 57" tall and less than 80 pounds
SC	At least 1 year old and less than 6 years old, weighing between 40 and 80 pounds
SC	4 years old and less than 40 pounds
SD	4 years old and younger and less than 40 pounds
TN	4 years old through 8 years old, less than 4'9" tall
TX	Over 40 pounds, 4 years old through 8 years old, less than 4'9" tall
UT	Under 8 years old
VA	Up to 8 years old
VT	Over 1 year old and under 8 years old, weighing more than 20 pounds
WA	Up to 8 years old, less than 4'9" tall
WV	Under 8 years old and less then 4'9" tall
WI	4 years old to 8 years old, weighing at least 40 pounds, but no more than 80 pounds and less than 57" tall
WY	Under 9 years old

 

As with all laws, some states have some exceptions. For the particular language and precise requirements, exceptions, penalties for violation, etc. please look up your resident state statute.

 

The Scoop

It is of utmost importance that your child is in the correct car seat for his or her age, weight and height, and that the seat is installed properly. Make sure to read the child seat instruction manual that comes with your child's seat. Each manufacturer provides specific instructions regarding proper use and installation of their child seats.

 

When did you put your child in a booster seat? Do you think it's necessary to keep a child in booster seat until the age of 8 years old? I love to hear your opinions, please leave a comment on the blog, on Facebook or on Twitter. On Wednesday, I will post tips about how to ensure your child is in the correct seat with the correct fit and websites with helpful information. Over and out…

 Updated - March 2011

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

Anna

The Organic, Sustainable, Grass-Fed, All-Natural, Free-Range, Fair Trade Grocery List: What Do All These Adjectives Mean??

The Grocery Shopping Experience

 

When did buying groceries get so complicated? You basically have to have a Ph.D in Food Science and work for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to understand what is meant by all of the labels tossed around these days? My grocery shopping experience goes something like this: "Yes, could I have a pound of the free-range, preservative-free, all-natural turkey breast. And I'll take a ½ pound of the organic, fair trade, sustainable coffee, please. Can you tell me 0n which aisle the all-natural, preservative-free granola bars are located? Oh, are you all out of the hormone-free, locally-produced whole milk? Where is the grass-fed, humanely-treated-until-murdered-to-become-my-dinner beef? The organic, free-range eggs are how much?" I mean, really, does our food have to have this many adjectives? And what does all of this mean anyway?

 

The thing is, I do care. I do read labels. I happen to be horribly offended by any food with high fructose corn syrup in the list of ingredients! I do not buy anything with that irritatingly, evil ingredient

The part that really bothers me is that it's in EVERYTHING. Alright…I'm exaggerating, but not much! I do buy organic, as much as I can afford; I don't feed my kids hot dogs or other highly processed foods, colored-liquid pretending to be juice; or cookies chock-full of trans fats and other hard-to-pronounce, synthetic ingredients; and I am a bit of a food snob. You might have already guessed that though.

 

So, every week I go to Target Superstore (preferably without my two Darling Distractions); read the labels; buy about 60% organic; buy nothing made with the afore-mentioned evil ingredient; load up on fruits and veggies; avoid canned items that are BPA-laden; get to the register and spend enough to feed a football team. The up side is that I feel good about the food I feed my family, especially my rapidly-growing, brain-developing kiddos. The frustrating part is that in order to eat well, I spend a lot of hard-earned mullah.

 

I think it's important to fully comprehend what is meant by these USDA-implemented food adjectives. If you are clear on the official government-regulated definition of organic, fair trade, sustainable, grass-fed, all-natural, free-range products, then you can decide how important each of those items (and the price tags they warrant) is to you and your family.

 

Breaking Down the Adjectives

 

Organic Food/Farming

In 1990, Congress passed the Organic Food Production Act (OFPA) which required the USDA to develop national standards for organically produced agricultural products to assure consumers that agricultural products marketed as organic meet consistent, uniform standards, whether grown in the U.S. or imported from other countries. There are several overall controlling doctrines governing certified organic farming, including biodiversity, integration, sustainability, natural plant nutrition, natural pest management, and integrity.

 

• Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. 
• Organic meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. 
• Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation.  
• Before a product can be labeled 'organic,' a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. 
• Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too."

 

However, organic farming means much more than simply avoiding conventional chemicals in fertilizers, etc. or trading natural fertilizers for synthetic ones. Instead, organic farmers focus on tried and true techniques, using farming practices from thousands of years ago.

Organic products will always have the word "organic" on the package or produce sign and/or have the "UDSA Organic" seal on the package or piece of produce. The seal is voluntary though, so packaging or produce signs don't have to have the seal to be certified organic. It's a crime, with a fine of up to $11,000, to sell food labeled as "organic" when the seller knows the product doesn't meet USDA organic standards.

 Sustainable Agriculture

The term "Sustainable" is one that is often used in conjunction with "organic" products. Sustainable agriculture is a way of raising food that is healthy for consumers and animals, does not harm the environment, is humane for workers, respects animals, provides a fair wage to the farmer and supports and enhances rural communities. Sustainable agriculture integrates three main goals--environmental health, economic profitability and social and economic equity. When a process is sustainable, it can be maintained indefinitely because sustainable farmers do not take more resources to produce food than they give back. Sustainable farmers see nature as an ally rather than an obstacle, and are able to produce more wholesome food while using less fossil fuels (thus lessening the impact on global warming), and without using any synthetic pesticides, artificial hormones, or antibiotics. Here are principles sustainable agriculture farmers adhere to:

• Conservation and Preservation. What is taken out of the environment is put back in, so land and resources such as water, soil and air can be replenished and are available to future generations. The waste from sustainable farming stays within the farm's ecosystem and cannot cause buildup or pollution. In addition, sustainable agriculture seeks to minimize transportation costs and fossil fuel use, and is as locally-based as possible.

   

• Biodiversity. Farms raise different types of plants and animals, which are rotated around the fields to enrich the soil and help prevent disease and pest outbreaks. Chemical pesticides are used minimally and only when necessary; many sustainable farms do not use any form of chemicals.

   

• Animal Welfare. Animals are treated humanely and with respect and are well cared for. They are permitted to carry out their natural behaviors, such as grazing, rooting or pecking and are fed a natural diet appropriate for their species.

   

• Economically Viable. Farmers are paid a fair wage and are not dependent on subsidies from the government. Sustainable farmers help strengthen rural communities.
• Socially Just. Workers are treated fairly and paid competitive wages and benefits. They work in a safe environment and are offered proper living conditions and food.

The confusion with sustainable agriculture is that the definition is more a philosophy or way of life than a strict set of rules, and farmers can interpret the meaning differently. In addition, there is no legal obligation to follow any of the criteria for sustainability, so food can be labeled sustainable when in actuality it isn't. Many terms that describe this type of food, such as natural or cage free, do not have a legal or clear definition (though the USDA is currently working on this). http://www.sustainabletable.org/home.php

It's important to note that "sustainable" and "organic" don't always mean the same thing. For example, an organic tomato might not adhere to sustainable principles if it was grown organically, but then shipped across the country to be sold. And on the flip side, some produce you find at your local farmers' market might not have been grown organically.

The next terms are all related sustainable farming:

• Free-Range: In the U.S., USDA regulations apply only to poultry and indicate that the animal has been allowed access to the outside. However, the USDA regulations do not specify the quality or size of the outside range, nor the amount of time the animal must have access to the outside. Although the USDA regulations may not apply, the term free-range can be applied to eggs, meat or dairy farming. In ranching, free-range livestock are permitted to roam without being fenced in, as opposed to fenced-in pastures.
• Grass-Fed/Open Pasture: "Grass-fed" on a label signifies that the livestock received a diet of natural forage outdoors, but sometimes cows are fed grass while indoors or in a pen or only for the first few months of their lives. So "grass-fed" could mean "pasture-raised" or "open pasture." Pasture-raised animals roam freely outdoors where they can eat the grasses and other plants that their bodies are best suited to digest. Grass-fed meat is low in both overall fat and artery-clogging saturated fat, and it provides a considerably higher amount of healthy Omega-3 fats than corn-fed meat, and host of other health benefits.
• Fair Trade Certified: Fair Trade Certification empowers farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty by investing in their farms and communities, protecting the environment, and developing the business skills necessary to compete in the global marketplace. Fair Trade is much more than a fair price!  Fair Trade principles include:
  • Fair price
  • Fair labor conditions
  • Direct trade
  • Democratic and transparent organizations
  • Community development
  • Environmental sustainability

Fair Trade Certification is currently available in the U.S. for coffee, tea and herbs, cocoa and chocolate, fresh fruit, sugar, rice and vanilla.

  100% All Natural

 

According to the Mintel Global New Products database, which monitors the appearance of new household products, one third of all new U.S. food and beverage products in 2008 highlighted claims of being "natural" or "all natural," or something similar, including "organic," "no additives or preservatives" and "whole grain." The term "Natural" generally refers to food items that are not altered chemically or synthesized in any form. They are products derived from plants and animals. The USDA says those products can be labeled "natural" if they don't contain any artificial ingredients or added color, and are only minimally processed. But if "natural" is used on the label, it must also give an additional explanation, such as "no added colorings or artificial ingredients." When considering purchasing a product with the "Natural" label, keep in mind that there is no "USDA Natural" certification and there is much more wiggle room with this term. Natural does not mean organic, although a certified organic product might also bear the label "Natural." OK, I never claimed this food label system wasn't confusing and mixed up.

 

Why Does Food with Organic, Sustainable, Natural Labels Cost So Much More?

 

Organic, sustainable, natural foods simply costs more to produce than conventional foods. Food prices reflect the costs of growing, harvesting, transportation, storage, processing and packaging. To be certified organic, food must meet stricter regulations that govern all these steps in the process. Organic or sustainable food production also means more labor that is management intensive and happens on a smaller scale.

 

Why Spend the Money for Organic?

While the USDA does not claim that organic foods are safer or more nutritious than those produced conventionally, many people who produce, buy and eat organic foods believe that they are. People are buying more organic foods, with sales rising more than 20% every year in the past decade and the Food Marketing Institute says that more than half of Americans buy organic food at least once a month. Buying organic is a personal decision. I buy organic items when I can and as much as I can afford it. We also shop at our local Farmers' Market from May through October and grow some herbs and vegetables ourselves. Much of it is sustainable, some certified organic, and all very fresh and local.

The Scoop

 

Do you buy organic? Some? Not at all? Please leave a comment here, on Facebook or Twitter and tell me what your thoughts are regarding Organic, Sustainable, Grass-Fed, Free-Range, Natural and/or Fair Trade foods. On Wednesday, I will post tips on how to save when shopping for organic products, finding a local farmers' market and some related websites. Over and out…

 

Anna

To BPA or Not to BPA? That is the Question: Tips for Limiting Your Family’s Exposure

Wow!  My head starts spinning when I sit down and actually tick thru all of the items I have to think about on a daily basis.    It seems that a parent's day never really ends.  All the days and nights just run together into one endless list of chores.  As the mommy in our household my daily tasks include a litany of items.  Here's a peek:

· Checking that our pantry is well stocked for every being in our house which includes me, Dear Husband, Darling 1, Darling 2, 2 Giant Dogs, 3 Small, but always quite hungry at the busiest moment of my day, Cats

· Counting to see if Darling 1 has enough clean underwear for the day (still in the “Oops, I forgot to stop playing and run to the bathroom with enough time to actually pull my pants down” stage)

· Paying bills

· Returning phone calls with two howling boys in the background

· Checking dog and cat water bowls

· Refilling juice/water/milk cups about a million times a day

· Returning emails

· Monitoring work deadlines and my progress towards those ever-approaching deadlines

· Finding time to actually do the work

· Removing booby traps set across the living room floor, otherwise known as blocks, small vehicles, deceivingly gentle looking plastic giraffe with razor sharp ears (trust me on this one – the bottom of my foot bears testimony to what I say), small bouncy balls and  a million other objects that get scattered across the floor and become a death trap to a mommy carrying a very full laundry basket or a screaming, thrashing, fit-throwing toddler

· Starting laundry in the washer, trying to remember to go down and put said load into dryer when washer stops, starting another load, emptying dryer load into awaiting basket that is already filled with two clean loads waiting to be folded at some point in the future and then starting that process over (about a 100 more times that day) before I go back upstairs to remove yet another intricately designed living room booby trap. 

OK, well I’m not finished by a long shot, but you get the idea.  I am not alone in this boat. Everyone is always busy with endless lists.  Believe me, I know it is difficult to stay caught up on the day-to-day roller coaster that is life much less read all the latest FDA reports and environmental group’s findings regarding BPA, etc. But don’t worry, in my research I found a handy, quick to read list of tips for limiting exposure to BPA that will help the whole family to lessen its intake.

Reducing Your Exposure to BPA

· Avoid reusable polycarbonate plastic water and baby bottles. As a general rule, avoid water bottles and baby bottles labeled #7 PC, which tend to be hard and clear. Many reusable water bottles are made of polycarbonate plastic that leaches bisphenol A into the water. Choose glass, stainless steel or BPA-free polypropylene (PP #5) bottles.  Discard old or damaged bottles. (It is now really easy to find BPA-free reusable water bottles.)

· Avoid polycarbonate plastic food containers and table ware. These may be labeled ‘PC’ underneath a plastic code #7 in the recycling triangle on the bottom of the container. (The #7 means ‘other’, so you need to see the ‘PC’ to confirm that the plastic is polycarbonate).

· Minimize the use of canned foods and canned drinks. Until industry reformulates the lacquer lining of metal cans (as is being done in Japan), choose fresh or frozen foods or glass containers or bottles. A recent study by Environmental Working Group found bisphenol A in more than half of 97 cans of brand name fruit, vegetables, soda, and other common canned goods.

· Ask your dentist for BPA-free sealants and composite fillings. Some dental resins are free from or low in BPA. Ask your dentist if they know about BPA and request the MSDS sheet (Material Safety Data Sheet) for the sealants or composite fillings to look for BADGE (a BPA derivative used to make epoxy resins) in the list of ingredients. Make sure your family brushes and flosses regularly to prevent the need for dental work. J

http://www.oeconline.org/our-work/kidshealth/pollutioninpeople/solutions/bpa

Today’s website is  www.EWG.org.  Environmental Working Group is a non-profit organization whose mission it is to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment.  This website has many informative articles and lists on the subject of BPA, as well as any other environmental issues you can imagine.  I found this website both enlightening and easy to use, and I plan to keep going back there for information on other topics.  I hope you find it useful in helping your family be healthy and environmentally friendly.

  

Do you think you will try to follow some or all of these tips to reduce your family’s exposure to BPA?  Are you already doing these things?  Let me know your thoughts on this subject.  I would love some feedback on this first legal topic.  Come back on Friday when I will have a tidbit of Motherly Advice. Over and Out.

Anna

Sippy Cups: BPA-Free or Not. What’s the Big Deal?

I’m the kind of person that reads labels and researches everything.  In fact, as I write this I am realizing that I almost never go anywhere, do anything, eat anywhere or buy anything without looking it up online, reading about it and comparing it to other choices.  My friends will most certainly agree, as my conversations are often peppered with comments like, “I’ve read about that restaurant or toy, book, movie, random and rarely used kitchen item, etc.”   I don’t know how I survived my first twenty plus years of life without the Internet.  Clearly, I am a person who needs lots of information.  I am a Libra through and through, always seeking balance before making a decision.  I like to be informed, darn it!  So, that said, you can imagine all of the research that went into planning for and buying the massive quantities of “necessary” baby equipment for the arrival of Darling 1.  If you have kids, you know what I mean. 

  

 

However, in spite all of my research, I was unaware of BPA, or Bisphenol A, lurking in the plastic baby bottles I bought. At the time, there was virtually no mainstream information on the potential hazards of using products made from plastic containing BPA, which was then in most baby bottles, sippy cups and formula cans, as well as other food and beverage containers.    As soon as I discovered the potential hazards of this chemical, I replaced all of Darling 1’s BPA-laden bottles with BPA-free cups.  Before the arrival of Darling 2, I began once again researching baby equipment for new items that we would surely need.  At this time, (Aug./Sept. 2008), the shelves of Target and Babies R Us were not yet stocked with many BPA-free options, and I spent many hours on the Internet trying to find just the right BPA-free bottle for Darling 2.  But, it is with great delight that I report that the tide is beginning to turn, and it is now quite easy to find BPA-free containers at retailers like Wal-Mart, Target, REI and Babies R Us. Available options include products from Nalgene, Camelbak, Nuby and Evenflo — to name some of our faves.

 

 

So, what is the big deal about BPA? Here’s what I learned from my research:  BPA, or Bisphenol A, is a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to breast cancer, prostate cancer, birth defects, infertility in men, early puberty in girls, diabetes and obesity.  In most cases, people are exposed to BPA through the leaching of BPA from food and beverage containers.  Infants and children are most at risk because their small bodies are still developing.   The ill effects from BPA usually appear much later in life.  BPA is found in polycarbonate plastics, the hard plastic used to make products like baby bottles and sports bottles, not the soft, squeezable plastics such as those used to make mayo or mustard containers. It is also found in the protective lining on the inside of metal-based food and beverage cans.  Plastic containers with BPA typically have the number 7 with a PC beside it in the center of the recycling symbol on the bottom of the containers.  But if the container does not have the recycling symbol, don’t assume it is free from BPA. Since the 1930s, there have been questions and concerns about whether BPA in food and beverage containers was harmful to people, but  it was not until 2008 that studies showing  BPA leaches out of baby bottles into heated liquids began to be reported in the mainstream press.  An investigation by Environmental Working Group (http://www.ewg.org), a nonprofit research organization based in Washington, D.C., found that BPA was used to line nearly all infant formula cans.  BPA levels found in liquid formula packaged in metal cans was far higher than those that leach from bottles under normal use.  Canadian tests show no BPA leaching into powdered formula. 

 

 

Due to much pressure, the marketplace has now begun to regulate itself.  In 2009, all major formula brand manufacturers, including store brands, pledged to eliminate all BPA from their packaging. In that same year, some major retailers like Wal-Mart and Toys R Us announced that they would quickly phase out baby bottles containing BPA. At the same time, six baby bottle manufacturers decided to become BPA-free. In May of 2009, Sunoco became the first chemical manufacturer to acknowledge BPA’s health concerns and announced that it would sell BPA only to companies that promise not to use it to make plastics for children’s food and beverage containers. 

 

 

In 2009, over twenty states introduced bills to ban BPA from children’s food and beverage containers, varying in scope.  All but two of those bills failed.  Minnesota became the first state to ban BPA in children’s containers intended for children 3 and under. (Way to be progressive, Minnesota!)  The law went into effect on Jan. 1, 2010. Connecticut passed similar legislation that will go into effect Oct. 1, 2011. The City of Chicago and three counties in New York also passed BPA bans in 2009. In March of 2010, the Washington State House passed The Safe Baby Bottle Act.  The Washington State Senate is expected to concur, and the governor is expected to sign the bill, which would go into effect in July of 2011.  Maryland and Wisconsin passed bans earlier this year, as well.  A similar bill was presented in the Oregon legislature, but failed in March of this year. In 2009, there were three separate bills on this issue in the federal legislature; all failed.  The FDA has been slow to have a definite and strong reaction to BPA in food and beverage containers, although in Jan. of 2010 the FDA did publish an Update regarding its position on this topic.  Still, this Update lacks conviction and is cautious in condemning BPA, using phrases such as “there is some concern” or “as a precaution.”  Yet the FDA is “supporting the industry’s action to stop producing BPA-containing bottles” and is “facilitating the development of alternatives to BPA for the linings of infant formula cans.”

 

 

I’m curious: how many of you have been using BPA-free bottles/cups for years?  How many of you are going to go check your cabinets right now to find out if your kids’ bottles and cups contain BPA?   And, how many of you think BPA concerns are overblown?  How does this issue rank among your worries and concerns?  If you are concerned about BPA, I encourage you to contact your local, state and federal representatives to share your thoughts on this matter.  I would love to hear from you, as well.  I will continue to monitor the progress of any legislative bills concerning BPA in food and beverage containers and update this information as warranted.

 

 

On Wednesday, I will post tips for avoiding exposure to BPA and a website or two where you can find more information on BPA.   Tune in next Monday to learn everything you ever wanted to know about the importance of a Last Will and Testament and how to get your very own!  Over and out. 

 

Updated - March 2011

 

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.

 

 

Anna