Newsletter Summer 06 - Safe Kids Pennsylvania

PERSONAL
FLOATATION
DEVICES
Personal Flotation Devices
(PFDs) can save a life. But they
must fit correctly. Choose a PFD
that is Coast Guard approved
and fits your child’s age, height
and weight.
Young children require
a PFD that
has a crotch
strap to
hold the
jacket down
on the
child’s body. A PFD with a head
support is recommended for this
age group. For all other ages,
make certain that the PFD fits
snugly and is fastened securely
on the child.
PA Regulation states “Children
12 years and younger shall wear
an approved Type I, II, III, or V
PFD while underway on any boat
20 feet or less in length and all
canoes and kayaks.
Safe Kids PA & PA Child
Death Review
Childhood Injury Prevention
Conference:
Understanding & Preventing
Injury
September 26-28, 2006
Liberty Mountain Resort and
Conference Center
Carroll Valley, PA
Mark Your Calendars!
SAFE TRAVEL THIS SUMMER
SUMMER 2006
Summer is the time for family reunions with good food, fond remembrances and games for all ages. To
get to your destination safely, Safe Kids Pennsylvania reminds parents to buckle children up correctly in
the appropriate seat. And keep all children under 13 in the back seat.
Seats are being manufactured for higher weights so that bigger children may be restrained with a fivepoint harness. Here is a list of seats that accommodate larger children.
Infant Seats
Graco Infant SafeSeat (Step 1)
5-30 pounds/up to 32 inches
Convertible Seats
Britax Boulevard Convertible
Britax Decathlon Convertible
Britax Marathon
Up to 65 pounds/49 inches
Up to 65 pounds/49 inches
65 pounds/up to 49 inches
Forward Facing Seats
Britax Regent Forward-facing
Safeguard Forward-facing
22-80 pounds/up to 53 inches
22-65 pounds/up to 57 inches
Combination Seats
Cosco Alpha Omega Elite
Cosco Eddie Bauer Comfort
Cosco Eddie Bauer Deluxe
Cosco Summit Deluxe
Evenflo Bolero
Graco Platinum Cargo
Graco Treasured Cargo
Graco Ultra Cargo
Safety 1st Intera
Safety 1st
Safety 1st Surveyor
30-100 pounds/52 inches
30-100 pounds/29-52 inches
30-100 pounds/29-52 inches
30-100 pounds/29-52 inches
30-100 pounds/37-57 inches
30-100 pounds/35-54 inches
30-100 pounds/35-54 inches
30-100 pounds/35-54 inches
30-100 pounds/29-57 inches
30-100 pounds/29-57 inches
40-100 pounds/43-52 inches
Booster Seats for larger children include:
Britax Parkway
Combi Dakota
Combi Kobak
Compass
Cosco Ambassador
Cosco High Rise
Cosco Protek
Evenflo Big Kid
Graco My Cargo
Graco TurboBooster
LaRoche Grizzly Bear
30-100 pounds/38-60 inches
33-100 pounds/33-57 inches
33-100 pounds/29-57 inches
30-100 pounds/38-57 inches
30-100 pounds/29-57 inches
30-100 pounds/29-57 inches
30-100 pounds/29-57 inches
30-100 pounds/38-57 inches
40-100 pounds/35-54 inches
40-100 pounds/40-57 inches
30-100 pounds/33-54 inches
Remember to read the manufacturers instructions before purchasing a seat to fit your child. Enjoy your
travel this summer.
SUMMER SPORTS AND CHOOSING THE CORRECT HELMET
Summer is here and millions of Americans are heading outdoors to take part in their favorite sports activities. But gearing up for fun also
means wearing the right gear. For CPSC, that means wearing a helmet each time you jump on a bike or skateboard, or put on your in-line
skates.
“Thousands of consumers could reduce the risk of serious head injury or death by wearing a helmet. It’s important to wear the appropriate
helmet for your sport,” said Chairman Hal Stratton.
Not all helmets, however, are created equal. Different activities require different helmets, and there are helmets for every season’s sports.
Each type of helmet is designed to protect your head from the impact that can take place in the particular sport for which it is intended. In a
collision or fall, a helmet absorbs most of the impact energy, instead of your head.
Wearing a bicycle helmet while biking, for example, can reduce your risk of head injury by 85 percent, and reduce the risk of brain injury by
88 percent, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
According to CPSC’s 2004 estimates, bicyclists received about 151,000 head injuries that were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms.
Nearly 11,000 or 7 percent of those emergency room visits resulted in hospitalization.
Skateboarders visited hospital emergency rooms with about 18,000 head injuries, and approximately 760 or 4 percent were hospitalized.
CPSC estimates horseback riders received about 14,000 emergency room-treated head injuries. Approximately 2,400 or 17 percent of those
head injuries required hospitalization.
Many of these injuries could have been prevented through proper helmet usage.
Bicycle helmets manufactured after 1999 must comply with the CPSC bicycle helmet mandatory safety standard. The standard also requires
that chin straps be strong enough to keep the helmet on the head and in the proper position during a fall or collision. Other helmets are subject to other safety standards.
A proper fit is as important as wearing the correct helmet in helping prevent head injuries. A helmet should be both comfortable and snug. Be
sure that it is level on your head, not tilted back on the top of the head or pulled too low over the forehead. It should not move in any direction when adjusted properly. Make sure the chin strap is securely buckled so the helmet doesn’t move or fall off during a fall or collision.
Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
SAFE KIDS PA IS GROWING!
We are pleased to welcome two new chapters to the Safe Kids Pennsylvania network
Clarion County has established a chapter as part of the Keystone
Smiles Community. Linda Richardson will serve as coordinator.
The initial meeting of the Safe Kids Clarion County will be held on
June 15. However, the group has already become involved in the
Falls Prevention Project funded by the
Alcoa Foundation. Welcome, Safe Kids
Clarion County. You have hit the ground
running.
Safe Kids Tioga County is headquartered at the Tioga County Partnership for Community Health. Daniel Dillman will serve as coordinator for the group. It is a pleasure to welcome advocates for children’s safety from the northern tier of the state.
Safe Kids Pennsylvania looks forward to collaboration with both
groups to keep Pennsylvania kids safe.
Preventing accidental injury.
FALLS PREVENTION PROGRAM UPDATE
Pennsylvania
Safe Kids Pennsylvania held 6 regional trainings in March with the
help of the Department of Health’s Injury Prevention Coordinators.
By attending one of the trainings, all participants were able to apply
for falls prevention materials. We had twenty-three Safe Kids Chapters or Coalitions who chose to participate in the program. Throughout the last week of April, over 1,500 child safety gates and almost
5,000 window locks were delivered to the participating locations. In
addition, over 30,000 items of printed materials were distributed.
We wish all programs success as they implement the intervention this
summer. A great big thank you to the ALCOA Foundation for taking
an interest in the safety of Pennsylvania’s children.
Traveled more than 15,500 miles throughout the
state distributing equipment and materials
STEWART’S FAREWELL
Press event at the ALCOA Cressona Plant
Stewart definitely left Safe Kids with a
bang. His last week with us was occupied by driving across the state delivering materials for the falls prevention
program. As Jim Carlisle stated, “It
was his farewell tour.” Stewart was a
part of the Safe Kids Pennsylvania
family for three years, his dedication
and commitment showed throughout
that time. Our loss is the Department
of Health’s gain, Stewart will be
missed by Safe Kids.
SAFE KIDS WEEK 2006
Across the nation, Safe Kids Week was celebrated May 613, with the theme of Safe Pools for Safe Kids. Throughout
Pennsylvania, activities were held to stress the importance
of maintaining four-sided barriers around pools and hot
tubs, of installing new drain covers that reduce the risk of
entrapment, and of course, the necessity for active supervision.
Twenty-six chapters and coalitions were selected to receive
Safe Kids Week grants for activities spreading the week’s
theme. Congratulations to all of our members who participated in Safe Kids Week activities.
Many chapters and coalitions will be continuing to focus on
the theme of Safe Pools for Safe Kids during the summer
months. Check with your local Safe Kids organization regarding future activities.
Safe Kids Southeastern PA
Safe Kids PA
CONFERENCES & TRAINING
• PA Department of Health, Public Health Institute
September 20 - 22, 2006 - Harrisburg, PA
• Safe Kids Worldwide Leadership Conference
October 16 - 18, 2006 Pre-Conference
October 19 - 21, 2006 General Conference Sessions
Washington, DC
• Safe Kids Pennsylvania Statewide Meeting
November 9, 2006 - Camp Hill, PA
Safe Kids Armstrong County
MAKE YOUR JULY 4TH SAFE
According to PREVENT BLINDNESS AMERICA, nearly 13,000 fireworks victims keep hospitals busy every year. More than half of those injured are children. Fireworks not only injure
users, but 40 percent of fireworks mishaps injure bystanders.
PRODUCT RECALLS
The three types of fireworks that keep hospital emergency rooms busy during this holiday
period are bottle rockets, firecrackers, and sparklers. Bottle rockets and firecrackers can fly
in any direction prior to exploding and sparklers burn at temperatures hot enough to melt
gold.
Visit U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission for current
product recalls:
One of the reasons fireworks injuries continue to occur is because people just don't consider how dangerous these devices can be. People often don't realize - until they are injured
- that the risk of blindness or injury outweighs the excitement of taking risks with fireworks.
And giving fireworks to young children can mean a trip to the hospital emergency room.
www.cpsc.gov
1-800-638-2772
SAFETY OBSERVANCES
•
June 1 - July 4, 2006
Fireworks Safety Month
•
June 1 - 30, 2006
Home Safety Month
•
June 21, 2006
National ASK Day
•
July 1 - 31, 2006
UV Safety Month
•
September 1 - 30, 2006
Baby Safety Month
•
September 1 - 30, 2006
Farm Safety Month
This publication is supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Preventive Health and
Health Services Block Grant.
CONTACT
Safe Kids Pennsylvania Staff
Anne Franchak
[email protected]
Allyson Fulton
[email protected]
Carmen Gonzalez
[email protected]
www.pasafekids.org
1-800-683-5100 or 717-763-1890
Fax 717-763-2083