Fire Safety {Printables}

The American Red Cross has so many great resources. I love this set of fire safety printables (and because I can only seem to find a PDF link, I can't pin{terest} it!) and wanted to keep the link handy. We will work through these over the next few months.

Today we talked about YELLING!

It is OK to yell if there is an emergency, if you smell smoke, or need help. We practiced YELLING INDOORS! (An activity I normal discourage here at daycare.)

Safety on the 4th

A few good ideas when you are celebrating in large crowds this Independence day:

• It will be dark when the show starts – make sure if your kids are wandering around that they are back with you before dark. 
• Put a piece of reflective tape on the back of their clothes to help keep track of them as you’re leaving and always bring two flashlights with you (in case the batteries run out on one.) 
• Be sure your kids know your cell phone number and address in case they get lost on the way out. 
• If your kids are going to a fireworks show with a friend, give the parents a recent photo of your child and memorize what clothes they were wearing so that you can easily describe it to officials. 


from homesecuritysource.com

Fire Safety

If you aren't speaking with your children regularly about fire safety, I encourage it. Even though we talk about it at preschool every month or two, I can tell it isn't frequently enough:

{After brainstorming where a fire should or could be (on a candle, on the stove/pilot light/BBQ, in a fire place) this conversation occurred...}

Me: "Girls, what should we do if we see a fire in a silly spot, like the bathroom?"

Miss Em: "We should laugh!"

I guess calling it a 'silly spot' made her think it would be funny, instead of alarming.

A few ideas we covered this this afternoon:

1. Fires are hot, and the smoke can hurt our bodies.

2. If we see, smell or hear a fire in a 'silly spot' we should tell a big person and go outside right away.

3. The firemen/fire women help us. They have special tools and clothes that help them fight fires without getting hurt. {An important fact to point out to our brave little ones who ask, 'why can't we use our own hose?'}

(Fire safety craft idea courtesy of icanteachmychild.com)

Softie Tree

Feeling badly that I ask the children not to touch or holiday tree, I was glad to find this idea: a large felt tree with ornaments the children can put up and remove whenever they want to.

Fire Safety: Hot, Cold or Silly? and Ice Packs

I was updating our first aid and 72-hour emergency kits. I ordered a box of these cold packs and they were delivered (by the "package man!") one afternoon. The girls loved them!

This Hot, Cold or Silly matching sheet was a great activity to help the children think about what things can be hot and what things only adults should use.

Tattoos for Toddlers

What a clever idea and another great reason to splurge on a Silhouette! These personalized tattoos can be used to help your child be reunited with you in the event of a separation. Great for vacations or trips to busy places (or even a fun party favor for birthdays or celebrations). Beats the ugly sharpie method we may have used in the past.

Check out this article for more details.

Summer Safety: Pools and Water

• Supervision is a must. Follow the 10/20 rule when you’re at the pool. The 10/20 rule states the supervising adult needs to position themselves to be able to scan the pool every 10 seconds, and reach the water within 20 seconds.
• Always have rescue devices, such as UL-LISTED life preservers (ex: life jacket or buoys), nearby.
• Flotation devices, toys and inflatable swimming aids are not safety devices. They are toys and can easily puncture and deflate. They often promote a false sense of security and are NEVER a substitute for proper supervision.
• Always drain wading pools after children are done playing. Infants can drown in just a few inches of water. This is true for water tables or other fun stations that use water.
• Have a telephone nearby and appropriate emergency numbers posted. If you are using a cell phonc
• If you have a pool at home, install a fence. The fence should be at least four feet high and have a self-closing, self-latching gate that has a locking mechanism beyond a child’s reach.
• Cut overhanging tree limbs and remove chairs or ladders from the pool area to prevent children from climbing over the fence that surrounds the pool.
• Keep grates and drain covers in good repair and secured in place. Alert your family and guests to stay away from these devices, as the suction from drain outlets can be strong enough to cause entrapment of hair or body parts, which can potentially cause a person to drown.
• Make sure you know infant and child CPR if you are planning any visits or vacations around water. Your local Red Cross chapter may even have instructors who are willing to come to your home to teach a group of parents.

Updated Car Seat Safety

It is now recommended that your little ones remain rear facing for as long as possible.
Car Seat Poster

Safe Sand

Is Some Sand Safer Than Others?

Ask Us!

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Healthy Child:

With the weather warming up, children will once again be digging into backyard sandboxes and flocking to neighborhood parks. So, it’s a good time to refresh your knowledge about keeping your kids safe when they’re outside playing – especially when it comes to safety risks that are not so obvious – as in the case of sand.

According to our book:

Some play sand used in sandboxes and around swing sets contains tremolite (a form of asbestos) or very fine crystalline silica; the most dangerous of these is made from crushed quarry rock. The kind of sand you want in your box – the safest and most natural – is washed beach or river sand that is fairly granular, not powder-fine. For years, manufacturers of toy sand have successfully lobbied the Consumer Product Safety Commission to keep labeling to indicate its source off of sand, so it’s difficult to gauge safety by looking at the bag. Don’t buy sand unless the manufacturer can assure you that it consists of beach or river sand, and that it’s not quarry rock.

Protect your child’s health by following these easy tips:

1. If you’re buying sand, call the manufacturer to find out the source of the product as mentioned above. Also, look for the California Proposition 65 Warning. The State of California requires a warning label on play sand containing crystalline silica.
2. Call your local park and recreation office to find out where they get their sand. Do the same with your child’s school and/or child care facility.
3. If you’re unsure of the type of sand, be sure to supervise children to make sure they are not putting their hands in their mouths or throwing sand (which kicks up the finest dust particles).
4. Wash your child’s hands after playing in sand.
5. If you have a sandbox, keep it covered when you’re not using it to keep animals out. (You don’t want them “doing their business” where your child plays.)

All in all – just be aware. Dirt is good. Play is good. Exercise is very good. Don’t let worries about sand outweigh the benefits of an afternoon at the park.

Read more: http://healthychild.org/blog/comments/is_some_sand_safer_than_others/#ixzz1KwXkKlpo