Articles By: Jennifer P. Toney
WeMakeItSafer: 2011 Year in Review, A Time for Thanks!
This is our favorite time of the year. It is the time when we get to pause and look back. All year long, we run full speed ahead, working long days, long nights and even longer weekends, to get just one more feature, one more task, one more email and one more blog post completed. [...]
Some Say Re-Gifting is Tacky, but Could it Also be Dangerous?
It’s been in your closet for almost a year – that blender that your husband’s Aunt Hilda thought you’d love. It is a nice blender, but you already have one that happens to be bright red to match your kitchen décor. You’re now exhausted, tired of shopping and need one last thing for your son’s [...]
Carbon Monoxide and Portable Generators; What You Need to Know
Although Carbon Monoxide (CO) is always a concern in every household, the number of deaths caused by CO increase dramatically during winter storms as consumers turn to portable generators for power. According to FEMA, on average approximately 200 Americans die and more than 10,000 more are treated in emergency rooms each year due to inhalation of [...]
Thinking of Deep-frying the Turkey? This Video May Change Your Mind
We’ve heard that fried turkeys can be quite delicious. Unfortunately, many of the special fryers designed to deep-fry a whole turkey can be quite dangerous. Underwriter Laboratories (UL), long recognized as a preeminent independent product safety certification organization, will not certify turkey fryers at all because of their inherent safety hazards. Watch this video on [...]
Surviving a Serious Crash: One Family’s Miraculous Story
If you have not heard this story yet, it is worth the read. We have summarized it below, but you can read the full story and interview with the mom here. Last March, a Phoenix family, Jeff, Ann, Emma (6), Bridget (4) and Maggie (2) were traveling to a get-together in their minivan. Jeff was [...]
The Artificial Colors Debate: Are They Dangerous or Not?
It is Baby Safety Month Day 25, and all week we have been talking about chemical exposure. In today’s post, we are taking a look at artificial colors. A debate has been brewing for some time over artificial colors and these days, it seems almost impossible to keep up with the new findings and recommendations. [...]
Toxic Chemicals in Child Car Seats, What You Need to Know
Week four of WeMakeItSafer’s celebration of Baby Safety Month is focused on chemical exposure, and today, September 24th, is National Car Seat Check Day! To honor both, we are talking about dangerous chemicals found in car seats – probably not something you’ve thought much about. Your baby can spend a lot of time in his [...]
Exposure to Dangerous Chemicals: Baby Safety Month Week 4
Week 4 of Baby Safety Month already? Where does the time go?! This week, we are talking about exposure to dangerous chemicals. It’s a big topic with a lot of important information, so we’re doing things a bit differently this week. Although the To-Dos will continue to be quick, the information will be a bit [...]
Baby Safety Month Week 3 is Play Time! Check These Toy Safety Tips
It’s week 3 of Baby Safety Month, and this week, we’re talking toys! Think you’ve got a good handle on safe entertainment for Baby? Check out this quick list to be sure. As before, our goal is to provide tips and reminders about things you may have forgotten or overlooked. Your quick-tips checklist for this [...]
Baby Safety Month Week 2: Baby-Proofing You May Have Missed
It’s Week 2 of Baby Safety Month, and this week’s quick tips are all about baby proofing. We aren’t talking about stair gates and drawer latches; we bet you have those covered. This week, we’re highlighting some of the less obvious stuff – seven potential dangers you may have put off, forgotten about or overlooked. [...]
Your Safety Checklist for September, National Baby Safety Month – Week 1
For each week of Baby Safety Month, we will highlight simple things you can do to help keep your wee one safe. Please try to take a few moments every day (or over the weekend) to complete the tasks and check them off this handy list. Week 1 With all the confusion over new safety [...]
Baby Sign Language Can Help Keep Children Safe
Sincere thanks to Joann Woolley for her contribution to this post. Communicating with babies before they can talk is a challenge to say the least. We think they understand when we tell them, “don’t touch,” but how can we be sure? Teaching babies and toddlers some simple signs will help them to more fully comprehend [...]
Crib Recalls FAQs, Crib Recall List
New safety standards for cribs went into effect on June 28, 2011. In addition to a ban on the traditional drop-side, there are new requirements for stronger slats, hardware and mattress supports, as well as new rules for more rigorous testing. We previously wrote about what to do if you own a drop-side crib that [...]
Protecting Yourself from Recalled Products – How Much Risk Can You Bear?
Thousands of consumer products, accounting for hundreds-of-millions of items, are recalled each year for safety hazards that put their owners at increased risk of injury or death. Over the past five years alone, we have seen more than 150 million children’s items, 110 million household goods and 9 million pieces of sporting equipment recalled by [...]
CPR has Changed: What you Need to Know
In last week’s guest post on safe swimming , Melina Druga recommended learning CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation). We agree. Learning CPR is a good idea – even if you have already taken a CPR course in the past. Why re-learn? Because what you were taught before may no longer be the best advice. As medical science [...]
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