Are you risking your pets life?

It’s a common misconception to think that all dogs know how to swim. While dogs drowning in pools rarely make the news, people don’t realize how often this actually happens. It is estimated that over 5,000 family pets drown in backyard pools each year.

While we wouldn’t think to leave our dogs in a hot car, we need to also think we would never leave our dog around an unfenced pool either. Since your dog typically can’t make these decisions not to be left in a hot car or be left around an unfenced pool, the safety actions provided are for you to act upon because chances are your pet(s) can’t read either.

 

Now perhaps you’re saying to yourself “My dog never goes near the pool. He’s afraid of water. He hates baths he definitely doesn’t want to go in the pool.” A dog running by

the pool can slip and fall in. A dog playing with another dog can be pushed in. A dog that never has gone into water just does, and the reason why is never known. So the fact that your pet has yet to drown in the family pool is like rolling the dice. And, maybe your dog will never fall in the pool but as a pet owner you need to be reminded that you are responsible for the care and safety of your pet.

 

Follow the layers of protection:

·       Train your dog to know where your pool steps are and how to find his way out in case he does find himself alone in the pool. Don’t assume your dog knows where they are and due to a dog’s physical build, the ability to find the stairs is their only hope in survival.

·        ALWAYS know where pets and children are. Never leave a child unattended in or near water in a pool, tub, lake, river, canal or ocean, even when lifeguards are present.

·        If a pet or child is missing, always check the pool or spa first.

·       Install “isolation fencing” which completely separates the pool or spa area from the house or other structures. An isolation fence restricts unauthorized access from neighbors’ yards, other nearby buildings, and from inside the house. Isolation fencing is the preferred configuration for pool and spa protection.

·        All fences must be non-climbable, meet all applicable local safety codes, and should be at least 60” tall, with vertical bars set close to one another so that a small pet child cannot squeeze through, consider the Puppy Guard Add On like these offered by American One Fence & Railing.

·       Pool gates should be self-closing and self-latching and accommodate a locking device such as the rust-free MagnaLatch® Top Pull or the MagnaLatch® Vertical Pull (also known as the pet safey latch), along with self-closing hinges like the TruClose®.

·      Gates should open away from the pool and have self-closing hinges, and should never be propped open. Check and adjust your gate regularly to make sure it operates correctly.

·      Keep anything that can be climbed, such as chairs, tables, storage bins, playground equipment, ice chests, etc. inside the fence area.

 

Summer Safety Tips for your Kids (and You)

With summer solstice on the horizon, it seems appropriate to provide a summer safety tip sheet.

 

It’s estimated that every year, one in four kids ages 14 and younger will sustain an injury that requires medical attention. 40% of all injury-related emergency room visits and 42% of all injury deaths happen between May and August. This summer, let’s educate our kids (and ourselves) on safety so we can reduce 90% of these accidents.

Sunburn

Regardless of age and skin type, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends that everyone, adults and kids alike, apply a water-resistant sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays every day of the year (even in winter and on cloudy days). Choose a sunscreen that is at least SPF 30 and apply it 15 to 30 minutes before going outside. (If you're using both sunscreen and insect repellent, apply sunscreen first and then repellent.)

 

Bites

Repellents don’t kill insects, but they can reduce bites from mosquitoes, ticks and other bothersome bugs. There are two type of repellents, those with DEET and those without. While it’s advised that DEET on kids should be used “sparingly” and should NOT be used on infants, it’s probably safe to say let’s not use repellents with DEETS at all. We are trying to avoid accidents right? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends repellents that contain picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus, both are non-toxic and able to reduce mosquito bites just as well as formulas with low levels of DEET.

 

Pool Safety

Never leave kids alone near the pool, no matter what their ages or swim capabilities are. Parents can and should take precautions around home pools, in addition to closely supervising kids while they swim. Installing fencing around pools, at least 5-feet high, all the way around and with a self-closing, self-latching gate, like the MagnaLatch and TruClose adjustable, self-closing gate hinges, can prevent 50 to 90 percent of accidental drowning incidents. For a full list of layers of protection, visit http://www.poolsafely.gov/  

Playground Safety

The CPSC reports over 205,000 kids visit emergency rooms with playground-related injuries each year. Check the playground equipment before letting kids play on it. For example, surfaces that are too hot can cause burns, and loose ropes can cause accidental strangulation. The ground should be covered in a protective surface such as rubber mats, wood or rubber mulch or wood chips, never grass, asphalt or concrete. The right surface materials could reduce the risk of head injury or other severe injury in the event of a fall.

Bike Rides

Over 300,000 kids each year visit the emergency room due to bike-related injuries, some result in death or severe brain injury. Helmets can greatly reduce your child’s risk of that ER visit. The CPSC sets standards for helmets, so look for the seal of approval. Also, as you ride with your child set an example and put a helmet on too.

Overheating & Hydration

Staying hydrated in hot weather can help reduce the risk of heat-related illness. If you’re feeling thirsty, you are already mildly dehydrated. Keep water or sports drinks (with electrolytes) on hand to maintain hydration, and try to stay in a shady or air-conditioned location during the hottest parts of the afternoon. Mild symptoms of heat exhaustion may include feeling thirsty, fatigue and cramps (legs or abdominal). If left untreated, heat exhaustion can progress to heatstroke.

For the sake of our child’s safety let’s be reminded that kids need us to teach them, guide them and protect them.

 

 

 

Don't leave Safety at home this vacation

School’s almost out for the kids and summer vacation plans are in full mode. So whether you’re heading to the beach or to the mountains, plan your family vacation time with safety in mind as diligently as you do while home.

Here are some safety tips to help you plan:

The pool
Risk of drowning is ever-present when you’re near water, but you can dramatically reduce that risk by choosing a hotel, motel or vacation property with a fence around the pool and spa. Also, most community pools will not have a lifeguard on duty, so never leave your children unattended. Even if there is a lifeguard on duty, you can't guarantee they are watching your child over the several others in the pool. Vacation or not, you are never on vacation from your children.

Balconies

Make sure that balconies don’t have wide railings that a youngster could fit through and that they’re high enough to prevent children from climbing over and falling. Even if the balcony looks fine in the brochure, remember that not all rooms are necessarily the same so it’s always best to double check.

Windows and doors
Not all hotels and motels are designed for child safety, so check that windows can only open inches and not entirely allowing a child to fall out. Check that door locks are up out of children’s reach and even check that if there’s a connecting door (to another room) make sure it is locked from your side as well. Report any concerns to your hotel management immediately.

Beds
Poor fitting mattresses and safety rails could present a risk of suffocation or injury to small children, so consider a playpen, renting a crib or with our kids we have them bring their sleeping bags. I’d be upset to sleep on the floor of a hotel room; they actually want to do it. Kids.

Tubs and toilets

Not much is different here than at home, but in a smaller space than your home they seem to be even more exciting to children to invade. First thing I do is check the bathroom when I check into my room. I really did have a room once that had the tub filled with about 4 inches of water (let’s remember, it only takes 1 inch for a child to drown). Thankfully, I was not with my children and it was just poor housekeeping, but ‘accidents happen’ is more than just a saying. It’s hard to keep kids out of the bathroom, so I close the door and truly barricade it with stuff that will create enough noise that alerts me that they are on the move.

Baby monitor
You use them at home, and they’re small enough to pack, so make sure to pack one. It’s worth choosing one with a long range as you may be a bit further away than you’d normally be at home if you’re sitting out on the balcony or terrace. A monitor placed next to your child’s sleeping area will alert you if they stop breathing, start crying or if there’s an intruder. You can even get video monitors for added peace of mind.

Making sure your children are safe when you’re staying in a place you don’t know is just a matter of awareness and planning. You can’t wrap them in bubble wrap, but you can do some upfront checking on the important stuff in advance and take sensible precautions while you’re away. There’s no reason why you can’t relax and enjoy your vacation also.

May is Drowning Prevention Awareness month

Let's be thankful there is an entire month dedicated to drowning prevention awareness. Unfortunately when drowning is the second-leading cause of death to children ages 1-5 in the United States, a month of awareness just doesn't feel like enough.

We need to better understand how we can prevent drowning - don't stop reading if you don't have children and think this doesn't pertain to you. Drowning affects everyone. You, your family, your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers, etc.

While children can drown any time of year, in any place there's a water structure, let's take the next 31 days to make a difference the whole year, and perhaps a lifetime.

Even if you don't have a pool, or a child your voice can make a difference simply by telling someone about simple steps that will help to save lives. The backyard barbecue with children running around, the friend next door with the doggie door big enough for a child to crawl out of, the babysitter that left the room to take a call or return a text.

It only takes a moment for a child to drown, and a moment you will replay in your mind the rest of your life. Let's put an end to this. Together. Join with us and take the Simple Steps Save Lives pledge, to share with someone, anyone, that adding as many proven water safety steps as possible is the best way to assure safety and fun around pools and spas. Take the pledge.

Drowning Prevention Begins with Layers of protection:

• ALWAYS know where children are. Never leave a child unattended in or near water in a pool, tub, lake, river, canal or ocean, even when lifeguards are present.
• ALWAYS be aware of potential dangers in all environments, such as when away from home. Never leave your child in an environment with unprotected water hazards.
•  If a child is missing, always check the pool or spa first.
• Install “isolation fencing” which completely separates the pool or spa area from the house or other structures. An isolation fence restricts unauthorized access from neighbors’ yards, other nearby buildings, and from inside the house. Isolation fencing is the preferred configuration for pool and spa protection.
• All fences must be non-climbable, meet all applicable local safety codes, and should be at least 60” tall, with vertical bars set close to one another so that a small child cannot squeeze through.
• Gates should be self-closing and self-latching and accommodate a locking device such as the rust-free MagnaLatch® Top Pull, along with self-closing hinges like the TruClose®.
• Gates should open away from the pool and have self-closing hinges, and should never be propped open. Check and adjust your gate regularly to make sure it operates correctly.
• The gate latch should be out of the reach of children, at least 54” from the ground. Use a locking latch, and keep it locked when pool is not in use. Store the key out of children’s reached and make sure all adults know where the key is kept.
• Keep anything that can be climbed, such as chairs, tables, storage bins, playground equipment, ice chests, etc. inside the fence area.
• All doors providing direct access from the home to the swimming pool should be equipped with a self-closing, self latching device with a release mechanism placed no lower than 54 inches above the floor.

What happens when the lifeguard gets distracted?

Saturday my children were swimming within 3 feet of each other, and within 5-8 feet of me, it took me a minute to realize my son Jack was under the water struggling to get up. Silently.  Would it surprise you to know we were at their swim lessons?

At the time, there was one lifeguard in the pool with him and about 7 instructors in the pool, including his instructor who had just finished his lesson. While he was so close, and my eyes were on the pool, my daughter was actually the one causing the distraction as she wandered a bit off course and my eyes, the lifeguards and the instructors were glancing at the danger she was putting herself into. Long enough for Jack to lose his footing and thrash. Silently.

This was a great lesson in pool safety that even when you think your child is safe with trained supervisors around them there’s still risk. A parent who lost their child to drowning once told me the safest pool is no pool, however I don’t know if that is reasonable. I don’t want my children to fear the water, but I do want them to be trained to react with skills and knowledge that will keep them safe.

Maybe 5 seconds passed from the moment I saw Jack lose his footing, begin to flail his arms and for me to yell “hey, hey” at the lifeguard by his side, before Jack was scooped up. Quick reaction in my book and I don’t hold resentment to the lifeguard, or anyone else – this is the water. From his lessons Jack was able to maintain his composure and get air while trying to get back on his feet.

We can’t be watching our children every second, but we can’t take things for granted either. If our children are in swim lessons, they don’t know how to swim -- they are there learning. Which means as parents, our eyes need to be on them too, not on our phones and not chatting it up with the other moms. Same goes for the country club, gym, lake, ocean, wherever we take our children this summer. Don’t assume your child is safe because there’s a lifeguard stationed there. They’re human and faced with many distractions in the pool. Just like moms.

Here are some great tips to stay safe in the water, offered by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

You can't be everywhere

When you have a child one of those check boxes all parents cringe at is baby proofing. You fasten baby safe hardware to every single drawer and cabinet in your home, but over time drawers and doors get used, tugged and pulled and the hardware loses its shape and before you know it your toddler is pulling that drawer or cupboard and showing you that bottle of cleaner that you tried so desperately to keep locked up safely.

Child safety hardware can take a
lesson from gate hardware

Thankfully, the hardware you can put on your gate is years ahead of the safety curve in protecting your little children and pets from getting into trouble in your yard, or beyond it. Years ahead only if you choose the right gate hardware, and when it comes to your loved ones, the right choice is the only choice.

While a gate hinge is a necessity to keeping the gate up, it’s important to understand the need for an adjustable, self-closing gate hinge. The ground moves constantly from rain, wind, earthquakes and of course daily opening and closing and this weighs on the gate’s ability to shut. Unless you are standing there shutting the gate yourself, you can’t ensure that gate is going to close each time, and you probably can’t be there every time the gardener finishes his work. Adjusting your gate hinges is quick and simple. TruClose self-closing gate hinges take just a simple twist with a screwdriver and you’re done.  

Increase your peace of mind with a self-latching, magnetic latch like the MagnaLatch or LokkLatch and you’re backyard becomes a greater safety zone for your kids and pets.

Fear for the fearless

I watched my 2-year old daughter, Bella, step into the pool, walk down the stairs and immediately start reaching and walking towards the toys that were floating nearby. A very small part of me thought she will take well to her swimming lessons, but the larger part of me became so much more aware of how easily it is for a child to drown.

Bella always looking her best

When my child entered the pool she didn’t even seem to acknowledge there was water around her. She looked as comfortable in that pool as she does on land. We call her our fearless one because she is determined and intent and while I can’t wait to see where that gets her in her life’s goals, right now providing her the right tools and skills to keep her alive is our ultimate goal. Her twin brother, Jack, didn’t really have this issue – he was the crier – not because he didn’t like the water but because the instructor took him away from mom for a brief moment. Halfway through the lesson he realized he comes back, so the crying stopped and all the attendees at the pool were thankful.

Jack after his breakdown

By lesson two, Bella was blowing bubbles and had her head fully submerged in the water. As the instructor brought her back to the steps, she said “fearless for sure,” and I said the main reason she is here.

Our yard doesn’t have a pool, but grandma does and with frequent visits there I am constantly reminded it only takes a few seconds (avg. 20 seconds), long enough to answer the phone, send a text or run to the bathroom, for a child to drown.

As parents our guard must be up, and we must be prepared. 
Here are some tips to help protect our kids:

·         Supervision is without a doubt the most important rule to pool safety.

·         Get your kids swimming lessons (and if you don’t know how to swim, get them for yourself).

·         Pools should be fenced and gated using self-closing, self latching gates open outward and have latches above the reach of children like the MagnaLatch and TruClose gate hinges from D&D Technologies.

·         Remove items like tables and chairs from the fence, as children will climb on anything.

·         Learn CPR and how to use safety equipment.