Week 4: Fire Works Safety
Fireworks-Related Injuries
What is the safest way to prevent fireworks injuries?
- The safest way to prevent fireworks-related injuries is to leave fireworks displays to trained professionals.
How extensive is the problem?
- In 2005, four persons died and an estimated 10,800 were treated in emergency departments for fireworks-related injuries in the United States (Greene & Joholske 2006).
- An estimated 5% of fireworks-related injuries treated in emergency departments required hospitalization (Greene & Joholske 2006).
Who is most likely to be injured?
- About 60% of all fireworks-related injuries in 2005 occurred between June 18 and July 18.
During that time period:
- about 45% of persons injured from fireworks were children ages 14 years and younger;
- males were injured by fireworks more than twice as often as females; and
- children ages 10 to 14 years had the highest injury rate for fireworks-related injuries (Greene & Joholske 2006).
- Persons who are actively participating in fireworks-related activities are more frequently injured, and sustain more severe injuries, than bystanders (Smith et al. 1996).
When do these injuries happen?
- Injuries occur on and around holidays associated with fireworks celebrations, especially July 4th and New Year's Eve.
What kinds of injuries occur?
- Between June 18 and July 18, 2005:
- Fireworks-related injuries most frequently involved hands and fingers (31%), eyes (25%), and the head and face (20%) (Greene & Joholske 2006).
- More than half of the injuries were burns. Burns were the most common injury to all body parts except the eyes. In the eyes, contusions, lacerations and foreign bodies occurred more frequently (Greene & Joholske 2006).
- Fireworks can be associated with serious injuries such as blindness, third degree burns, and permanent scarring (Smith et al. 1996).
- Fireworks also cause life-threatening residential and motor vehicle fires (Greene & Joholske 2006).
What types of fireworks are associated with the most injuries?
- Between June 18 and July 18, 2005:
- Firecrackers (26%), sparklers (17%), and rockets (17%) accounted for most of the injuries seen in emergency departments (Greene & Joholske 2006).
- Sparklers were associated with more than half of the estimated injuries for children under five (Greene & Joholske 2006).
- Between 2000-2005, more than one third of the fireworks-related deaths involved professional devices that were illegally sold to consumers (CPSC 2006a).
How and why do these injuries occur?
- Availability: In spite of federal regulations and varying state prohibitions, many types of fireworks are often accessible by the public. It is not uncommon to find fireworks distributors near state borders, where residents of states with strict fireworks regulations can take advantage of more lenient state laws.
- Fireworks type: Among the various types of fireworks, some of which are sold legally in some states, bottle rockets can fly into one’s face and cause eye injuries; sparklers can ignite one’s clothing (sparklers burn at more than 1,000oF); and firecrackers can injure one’s hands or face if they explode at close range.
- Being too close: Injuries may result from being too close to fireworks when they explode; for example, when someone bends over to look more closely at a firework that has been ignited, or when a misguided bottle rocket hits a nearby person.
- Lack of physical coordination: Younger children often lack the physical coordination to handle fireworks safely.
- Curiosity: Children are often excited and curious around fireworks, which can increase their chances of being injured (for example, when they re-examine a firecracker dud that initially fails to ignite).
- Experimentation: Homemade fireworks (for example, ones made of the powder from several firecrackers) can lead to dangerous explosions (CDC 2004).
How much do these injuries cost each year?
- An estimated 2,200 reported structure or vehicle fires were started by fireworks in 2004. These fires resulted in $21 million in direct property damage (Hall 2007).
What effect do laws have on fireworks injuries?
- Under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission prohibits the sale of the most dangerous types of fireworks and the components intended to make them. The banned fireworks include various large aerial devices, M-80s, quarter-sticks, half-sticks and other large firecrackers. Any firecracker with more than 50 milligrams of explosive powder and any aerial firework with more than 130 milligrams of flash powder is banned under federal law, as are mail order kits and components designed to build these fireworks (U.S. CPSC 2006b).
References:
www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5325a5.htm
http://www.cpsc.gov/LIBRARY/2005fwreport.pdf
http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/pdf/os.fireworks.pdf
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml06/06197.html
http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml06/06105.html
Week 3: Water Safety and Sun Safety
Day 4 It’s a good idea teach children over the age of four how to swim.
Day 4 -ALWAYS supervise children while they are in or around a pool, lake, or other body of water. Never leave them unattended (even if they know how to swim).
-A recommended safety device for children under five is a safety vest with a head support and strap between the legs. Make sure to check the weight requirements for the vest to make sure it fits properly.
-Leave the water immediately if the weather turns bad and it starts to thunder and lightning.
-Don’t allow children to run, push, or rough-house in or around the pool. Also, make sure to only allow diving in areas that are marked for diving.
Day 5 -Educate children about undercurrents and rip tides while at the beach. Tell a child that he or she finds that they can no longer touch the bottom and is getting further and further away from the shore to swim parallel to the shore instead of straight back in. This allows for the child to get out of the rip current and be able to swim safely back to a more shallow area. The child can also tread water and call for a lifeguard or family member’s help.
For swimming classes with the local red cross, call (540) 434-8891 or email redcross@planetcomm.net.
For more information, click here.
Day 1 -Getting outside in the sun is a great idea. It allows our bodies to produce Vitamin D to help build strong bones. However, basic safety precautions need to be taken while enjoying the sun’s rays.
Day 2 -Always wear sunscreen —preferably with an SPF of 15 or higher— even if you don’t burn easily. From 10am to 4pm is when the sun is at its strongest and most damaging, so make sure to wear protective clothing and sunscreen if going outside at this time.
Day 3 -SPF stands for Sun Protective Factor. The SPF number tells you how much longer you can stay in the sun without getting a sunburn. Make sure to get a waterproof kind to prevent sweating the sunscreen off or having it come off while swimming. Make sure to reapply frequently.
-Also, make sure to drink a lot of water to avoid dehydration.
-Take breaks when feeling overly hot to avoid heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Week 2 - Backyard Injury Prevention and Safety on Wheels
Backyard Injury Prevention
Day 1: Prevent Accidental Poisonings in Your Backyard:
- Bug spray, antifreeze, lawn products, gasoline or anything that contains chemicals should be locked in a place that's inaccessible to children.
- Children love to pick flowers, explore and taste things, so check existing backyard plants to make sure that they don't contain poisonous parts. If you are planning to add new plants to your yard, make certain that they are not hazardous to children.
Day 2: Prevent Falls in Your Backyard:
- Keep steps, sidewalks, and patios in good repair.
- Don’t leave unraveled hose pipes in the yard - always wind them up so that children will not accidentally trip over them.
- Always provide secure hand rails so that children can maneuver safely up and down the steps.
- Never leave ladders propped against the side of the house, always store them out of the reach of children.
- Make sure the backyard is free of sharp objects, debris, fallen tree branches, and exposed tree roots.
Day 3; Prevent Bug Bites in Your Backyard
- Standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. You want to make certain that all standing water is removed - especially after it rains.
- Use child friendly bug repellent to repel mosquitoes as well as other biting insects.
- Make sure children are inside before dusk when insects are the worst.
- If you live in heavily wooded areas where ticks are a problem, before letting kids go outside, dress them in long pants, shirts with long sleeves, and socks.
- Keep the grass in your backyard properly mowed.
- Check the backyard thoroughly for ant hills and bee hives.
Click here for more information.
Day 4: Grill Safety
When cooking outdoors with a gas grill, check the air tubes that lead into the burner for any blockage from insects, spiders or food grease, and follow these tips to reduce the risk of fire or explosion:
- Check grill hoses for cracking, brittleness, holes and leaks. Make sure there are no sharp bends in the hose or tubing.
- Move gas hoses as far away as possible from hot surfaces and dripping hot grease.
- Always keep propane gas containers upright.
- Never store a spare gas container under or near the grill or indoors.
- Never store or use flammable liquids, like gasoline, near the grill.
- Never keep a filled container in a hot car or car trunk. Heat will cause the gas pressure to increase, which may open the relief valve and allow gas to escape.
Charcoal grill safety tips
Charcoal produces carbon monoxide (CO) when it is burned. CO is a colorless, odorless gas that can accumulate to toxic levels in closed environments. To reduce the risk of CO poisoning:
- Never burn charcoal inside of homes, vehicles, tents or campers.
- Charcoal should never be used indoors, even if ventilation is provided.
- Since charcoal produces CO fumes until the charcoal is completely extinguished, do not store the grill indoors with freshly used coals.
Click here for more information.
Safety on Wheels
Day 5 -When using recreational equipment with wheels (such as: bicycles, roller blades, skateboards, scooters, etc…) ALWAYS wear a helmet.
Parents: Instate a “no helmet, no wheels” rule. Don’t allow your children to use bicycles or other wheeled equipment while not wearing a helmet. Also, make a good role model; make sure to always wear safety gear to not only keep yourself safe, but also to set a good example for your children.
Click here for more information.
Week 1 - Playground Safety
Each year, more than 200,000 kids are treated in hospital ERs for playground-related injuries. Many of these injuries could have been prevented with the proper supervision.
You can make the playground a place that's entertaining and safe for your child by checking equipment for potential hazards and following some simple safety guidelines. In addition, teaching your child how to play safely is important: if your child knows the rules of the playground, it's less likely he or she will get hurt.
Kids should always have adult supervision when they're at the playground. Young children (and sometimes older ones) can't always gauge distances properly and aren't capable of foreseeing dangerous situations by themselves. Older children often love to test their limits on the playground, so it's important for an adult to be there to keep them in check.
Surface:
- The playground surface should be free of standing water and debris that could cause a child to trip and fall, such as rocks, tree stumps, and tree roots.
- There should be no dangerous materials, like broken glass or twisted metal.
- The surfaces may be loosely filled with materials like wood chips, mulch, sand, pea gravel, or shredded rubber.
- Surfacing mats made of safety-tested rubber or rubber-like materials are also safe
Tell your Kids:
- Never push or roughhouse while on jungle gyms, slides, seesaws, swings, and other equipment.
- Use equipment properly - slide feet first, don't climb outside guardrails, no standing on swings, etc.
- If you jump off equipment, make sure that you check to make sure that there are no other children are in the way. When you jump, land on both feet with knees slightly bent.
For more information, click here.
Backyard injury prevention:
Prevent Accidental Poisonings in Your Backyard:
- Bug spray, antifreeze, lawn products, gasoline or anything that contains chemicals should be locked in a place that's inaccessible to children.
- Children love to pick flowers, explore and taste things, so check existing backyard plants to make sure that they don't contain poisonous parts. If you are planning to add new plants to your yard, make certain that they are not hazardous to children.
Prevent Falls in Your Backyard:
- Keep steps, sidewalks, and patios in good repair.
- Don’t leave unraveled hose pipes in the yard - always wind them up so that children will not accidentally trip over them.
- Always provide secure hand rails so that children can maneuver safely up and down the steps.
- Never leave ladders propped against the side of the house, always store them out of the reach of children.
- Make sure the backyard is free of sharp objects, debris, fallen tree branches, and exposed tree roots.
Prevent Bug Bites in Your Backyard
- Standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. You want to make certain that all standing water is removed - especially after it rains.
- Use child friendly bug repellent to repel mosquitoes as well as other biting insects.
- Make sure children are inside before dusk when insects are the worst.
- If you live in heavily wooded areas where ticks are a problem, before letting kids go outside, dress them in long pants, shirts with long sleeves, and socks.
- Keep the grass in your backyard properly mowed.
- Check the backyard thoroughly for ant hills and bee hives.
For more information, click here.
Grill Safety
When cooking outdoors with a gas grill, check the air tubes that lead into the burner for any blockage from insects, spiders or food grease, and follow these tips to reduce the risk of fire or explosion:
- Check grill hoses for cracking, brittleness, holes and leaks. Make sure there are no sharp bends in the hose or tubing.
- Move gas hoses as far away as possible from hot surfaces and dripping hot grease.
- Always keep propane gas containers upright.
- Never store a spare gas container under or near the grill or indoors.
- Never store or use flammable liquids, like gasoline, near the grill.
- Never keep a filled container in a hot car or car trunk. Heat will cause the gas pressure to increase, which may open the relief valve and allow gas to escape.
Charcoal grill safety tips
Charcoal produces carbon monoxide (CO) when it is burned. CO is a colorless, odorless gas that can accumulate to toxic levels in closed environments. To reduce the risk of CO poisoning:
- Never burn charcoal inside of homes, vehicles, tents or campers.
- Charcoal should never be used indoors, even if ventilation is provided.
- Since charcoal produces CO fumes until the charcoal is completely extinguished, do not store the grill indoors with freshly used coals.
For more information, click here.
Teachers, please share your ideas!
Activities for Teachers
Skin Cancer Grades 6-8 Teaching Guide
Skin Cancer Grades 9-12 Teaching Guide
Lightning Safety Pre-K Teaching Guide
Lightning Safety Slideshow for kids
Other Lightning Safety tools
Sun Safety Activities and Info for Teachers
The Sun Safety Alliance has curricular materials for infants/toddlers and preschool children. Information on the Sun-Safe Childcare Project is also highlighted on their website. Visit their website at www.sunsafetyalliance.org to download materials.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created Sunwise, a sun safety curriculum for grades K-8. Visit their website at www.epa.gov/sunwise to download information and materials.
The American Academy of Dermatology has a grant program to award up to $8,000 per grant to help non-profit organizations buy shade structures. Applications are now being accepted for 2009 grants. Visit the website at www.aad.org/public/sun/grants.html for more information on how to apply for the grant.
Parents, please share your ideas!
First Aid
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe - This site is a great link for all first aid needs. Under “outdoor activities and seasonal safety” there are numerous links for instructions ranging from finding the right bike to tick removal. Also, under “emergencies” and “home safety” most common injuries and illnesses are covered.
http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/quizzes/l/bl_firstaid_qz.htm - A quick quiz to test parents on their first aid knowledge.
For first aid classes at the local Red Cross, call (540) 434-8891 or email redcross@planetcomm.net.
Other Safety Sites
Playground safety
Dehydration
Air quality concerning asthma
Poison ivy/oak/sumac treatment
Camping Basics
Sun-safety coloring sheet/cut-out activity
Dog Days of Summer Quiz (interesting questions about hot summer days)
A list of activities to do on sunny days
Quizzes, suggestions, and general information about summer camps
Some games concerning safety
Parent-Teacher Communication
