News

9.5.08 Infants Strangled to Death in Simplicity Bassinets: CPSC Urges Consumers To Stop Using Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 Convertible “Close-Sleeper” Models

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging parents and caregivers to stop using convertible “close-sleeper/bedside sleeper” bassinets manufactured by Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pa. CPSC has learned that on August 21, 2008, a 5-month-old girl from Shawnee, Kan. was strangled to death when she became entrapped between the bassinet’s metal bars. This is the second strangulation death CPSC has learned of in the close-sleeper bassinets. On September 29, 2007, a 4-month-old girl from Noel, Mo. became entrapped in the metal bars of the bassinet and died.

CPSC is issuing this safety alert because SFCA Inc., the company which purchased all of Simplicity Inc.’s assets at public auction in April 2008, has refused to cooperate with the government and recall the products. SFCA maintains that it is not responsible for products previously manufactured by Simplicity Inc.

The Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible bassinets contain metal bars spaced farther apart than 2 3/8 inches, which is the maximum distance allowed under the federal crib safety standard. The metal bars are covered by an adjustable fabric flap which is attached by velcro. The fabric is folded down when the bassinet is converted into a bed-side co-sleeping position. If the velcro is not properly re-secured when the flap is adjusted, an infant can slip through the opening and become entrapped in the metal bars and suffocate. This warning does not cover bassinets produced in recent months that have fabric permanently attached over the lower bar.

Due to the serious hazard these bassinets pose to babies, CPSC urges all consumers to share this safety warning with day care centers, consignment stores, family and friends to ensure that no child is placed to sleep in a Simplicity convertible bassinet covered by this warning.

The Commission voted, using its new authorities in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, to release this warning upon making a finding that the health and safety of the public require immediate notice.

 

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $800 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

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8.22.08 Twenty Georgia State Patrol Troopers become certified as Child Passenger Safety Technicians.

The Lanier Child Passenger Safety Task Force (Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County, the Hall County Sheriff's Department, the Gainesville Police Department, the Forsyth County Fire Department and Northeast Georgia Rural Roads Initiative, funded by GOHS) recently held a 4-day child passenger safety technician certification training class for the Georgia State Patrol.  Twenty state troopers from five posts including Cumming, Gainesville, Athens, Toccoa and Blue Ridge became certified child passenger safety technicians.

The certification will allow them to better educate Georgia's families about child passenger safety and more effectively enforce Georgia's Child Restraint Law. 

Georgia State Patrol
Troup B

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6.1.08 Safe Kids Provides Free Lifejacket Loaner Stations at Van Pugh and Old Federal Parks

Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County participates in launch of national program to reduce drownings and educate kids about water safety

Van Pugh North Park on Lake Lanier

This week, Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County participated in the launch of Kids Don’t Float, a water safety program of Safe Kids USA that is designed to decrease drownings – the second leading cause of injury-related death to kids ages 1-14 – by providing loaner lifejackets at Van Pugh and Old Federal parks on Lake Lanier, and educating kids on open water safety.

“Because drowning is so prevalent in the United States, we were delighted to host a launch of the national Kids Don’t Float program,” says Kim Martin, coalition coordinator for Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County.

As part of the program, Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County has set up two lifejacket loaner stations at Lake Lanier, one at Van Pugh North Park on Gaines Ferry Road and one at Old Federal Park on Jim Crow Road.  Each station holds eight loaner lifejackets, ranging in size from small child to adult.  The lifejackets are available for use at no charge, to be returned to the unmanned stations at the end of the day.  Each station also provides education tips from “PFD Otter” on the importance of wearing lifejackets as well as instructions on how to properly fit a lifejacket.

 “As children grow older, the drowning risk increases for them in open water settings, in part because they are less apt to wear a lifejacket,” says Martin.  “Through the support and resources of Safe Kids USA, Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County hopes that by providing loaner lifejackets and educating our children and caregivers, we can reduce drowning fatalities and increase child safety in open water settings.”

Kids Don’t Float was developed in Homer, Alaska, to combat the high rate of drownings in Alaska.  The program was then expanded by the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the State of Alaska, Alaska Safe Kids and representatives from different community organizations to be used throughout Alaska.

Thanks to the success of Kids Don’t Float, Safe Kids USA has expanded the program to include 38 lifejacket loner stations at 19 locations nationwide.  The locations include stations in Savannah, Ga.; Marietta, Ga.; Gainesville, Ga.; Holland, Mich.; Richland, Wash; Kelso, Wash.; Yakima, Wash.; Silverdale, Wash.; Tacoma, Wash.; Houston, Texas; Austin, Texas; Lebanon, N.H.; Portland, Ore; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Tulsa, Okla.; Manitowoc, Wis.; Lakewood, Colo.; Topeka, Kansas; and Robbinsdale, Minn.

“We want to educate kids on open water safety and how important it is to always wear a lifejacket in and around open water,” says Martin.  “We want to make this educational learning experience fun for them so the safety messages stay with them for life.  Properly wearing a lifejacket in and around open water is an important safety precaution that can help reduce drownings and save kids’ lives.”

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7.3.08 Fireworks Injure 4,000 Kids Each Year - Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County Offers Fourth of July Safety Tips

In 2006, more than 2000 children ages 14 and under were treated in U.S. emergency rooms for injuries involving fireworks during the fireworks season, which runs from the middle of June until the middle of July. Children ages 10 to 14 have the highest rate of injury from fireworks.

“Don’t let kids play with fireworks, period,” says Kim Martin, Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County coordinator. “They’re intended for use by adults in open spaces, with plenty of active supervision for every child present.”

Fireworks, including sparklers and flares, can cause serious burns as well as blast injuries that can permanently impair vision and hearing. “Teach your children what to do if their clothing catches on fire — ‘stop, drop and roll’ — and how to call 911 in an emergency,” says Martin.

All pyrotechnic devices are illegal in Georgia. Where permitted by law, fireworks should be handled and used in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and all warning labels. In addition, Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County recommends these precautions for adults using fireworks:

Ÿ Light fireworks only on smooth, flat surfaces, and aim them away from buildings, dry leaves, flammable materials and spectators.

Ÿ Do not try to relight fireworks that malfunction.

Ÿ Do not carry fireworks in your pocket or hold them close to your face.

Ÿ Visit www.recalls.gov to make sure the pyrotechnic devices you are using are not subject to any safety recalls. Do not modify fireworks or use homemade fireworks.

Ÿ Keep a phone handy, and know first aid for burns. Also, keep a fire extinguisher handy and know how to use it.

Finally, as in any activity involving hazardous equipment, keep all children under active supervision — in sight and in reach at all times, with your undivided attention focused on them — when they’re near fireworks. “The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to watch them at a community event where professionals handle them,” says Martin.

7.1.08 Leaving Children Unattended in Vehicles Can Be Deadly

ATLANTA (GA) – As temperatures begin to increase, the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR), Division of Public Health, and the Safe Kids of Georgia community partners urge parents not to leave children unsupervised in vehicles for any length of time. It is important to remember that temperatures in your vehicle could spike to 160 degrees Fahrenheit on a hot and humid day within a matter of minutes – even with the windows partly open.

“There are several risks associated with leaving children in unattended vehicles,” said Dr. Sandra Elizabeth Ford, acting director of the Division of Public Health. “They can suffer from heat stroke and hyperthermia and become entrapped in the trunk and other compartments which can set a vehicle in motion and lead to car crashes, or even abduction. Parents need to know that these potentially fatal outcomes can be prevented through awareness, supervision and environmental modifications such as locked doors. We are working alongside Safe Kids coalitions across the state to increase awareness about child safety.”

Children left in vehicles under extreme heat conditions are especially vulnerable. Heat stroke, a life-threatening emergency, can occur in temperatures as low as 80 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on humidity levels. Body temperatures higher than 105 degrees Fahrenheit can cause permanent brain damage or even death, especially among children.

According to the Center for the Study and Prevention of Injury, Violence and Suicide, during the period 1995-2005 there were 414 heat-related deaths of children in the U.S. – 16 of them in Georgia.  Of the 16 Georgia child fatality cases, two were children who climbed in the trunk of a vehicle; 14 were in the passenger compartment.

More than half of unattended child deaths occurred when adults forgot or were unaware of the child, according to a 2005 study published in Injury Prevention.  To help prevent tragedy, the Division of Public Health urges all parents and caregivers to be conscious of the following safety recommendations: 
 

1. Supervision is key. Even if the windows are down, never leave your child unattended in a car.  Never leave your car keys where children can get them.  Keep car doors and trunks locked at all times, even in the garage or driveway.  Teach children not to play in or around cars.
    

2. Adopt safety-focused behaviors. Place your purse or briefcase in the back seat as a reminder that you have your child in the car. Be sure that all occupants leave the vehicle when you reach your destination. If a child is missing, check the car first, including the trunk. Keep the rear fold-down seats closed to prevent kids from getting into the trunk from inside the car.
    
3. Have a plan that your child’s teacher will call you if your child does not show up for school, or if your child does not arrive when expected.  If you see a child alone in a vehicle, get involved. If they are hot or seem sick, get them out as quickly as possible and call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
    
4. Make your car safer. Contact your auto dealership about getting your vehicle retrofitted with a trunk release mechanism. Make sure the child resistant locks in your vehicle function correctly.
    

For additional information about child safety, please visit http://health.state.ga.us.

6.27.08 Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County offers Camping Safety Tips

Campfires, camping gear and hiking trails present special safety considerations for families with children. While the preparations for a family camping trip should include a review of safety guidelines for outdoor recreation, water and falls, parents should also pay attention to potential hazards specific to camping and hiking.

“Camping is the only situation where a family is purposely starting a fire outdoors a long way from a pressurized water supply or the nearest fire engine,” says Kim Martin, Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County coordinator. “A campfire is a serious responsibility.”

In addition to the danger of starting an uncontrolled brush fire, campfires — as well as portable stoves, heaters and fuel-burning lanterns — produce carbon monoxide, an odorless gas that can poison a child very quickly. “About 30 campers each year die of carbon monoxide poisoning,” says Martin “If someone near a campfire or portable stove seems drowsy, disoriented or sick, move that person away from the fire immediately to get some fresh air.”

In addition, Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County recommends these precautions around campfires and portable heating devices:

·    Always actively supervise children near a campfire or portable stove. Follow posted rules about campfires, and do not light fires in windy or excessively dry conditions.

·    Keep a bucket of water and a shovel near the fire at all times and extinguish the fire completely before going to sleep or leaving the site.

·    Keep matches and lighters out of children’s reach.

·    Never use matches, lighters, candles or any device powered by kerosene, propane or other heating fuel inside a tent or camper.

Also keep these precautions in mind around the campsite and on the trail:

·    Keep first aid supplies and emergency phone numbers handy, and know where the nearest phone is located. Cell phones might not work in remote areas. Let friends and relatives know where you’re going and when you’re coming home.

·    Dress children in layers of clothing to help prevent heat-related illness and hypothermia. A child’s body temperature changes faster than an adult’s.

·    Never let children hike alone.

·    Don’t push kids to go on a longer or more strenuous hike than they can handle. Exhausted children are more likely to fall, wander off or otherwise get injured. Bring plenty of drinking water or sports drinks and high-energy snacks.

·    Kids should wear hiking boots and clothing that offers protection from scrapes, bites and poisonous plants. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, apply insect repellent to a child’s clothing and exposed skin.

Ÿ  Apply sunscreen rated SPF 15 or higher to your child’s exposed skin 15 to 30 minutes before going out, and reapply frequently. (It is possible to get a sunburn in cloudy conditions.)

5.6.08 - Safe Kids Week - April 27 - May 3

3.25.08 -  March 16-22 is National Poison Prevention Week

Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County Reminds Parents to Store Hazardous Goods Safely

Poison control centers in the United States receive 1.2 million calls each year as a result of accidental poisoning of children ages 5 and under. Each year, about 68,000 kids in that age group are treated in emergency rooms for poisoning, and more than 50 die. Nearly 90 percent of these toxic exposures occur in the home, and 60 percent involve non-pharmaceutical products such as cosmetics, cleansers, personal care products, plants, pesticides, art supplies, alcohol and toys.

March 16-22 is National Poison Prevention Week, an annual program established by Congress in 1961 to spread the message that children act fast...so do poisons! “It doesn’t take much to make a small child sick,” said Kim Martin, coordinator of Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County “Kids have faster metabolisms than adults and anything they ingest will be absorbed into the bloodstream very quickly.”

Child-resistant packaging is credited with saving hundreds of children’s lives since its introduction in the 1970s, and childhood lead poisoning declined by 80 percent in the 15 years after unleaded gasoline and paint became industry standards. Still, there is no substitute for active supervision and childproofing. “If a product label says ‘keep out of reach of children,’ there’s a reason,” said Martin. “Keep it up high and in a locked cabinet.”

Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County reminds parents to keep the poison control hotline number handy. “Memorize this toll-free number: 800-222-1222,” Martin said. “Keep it near every phone in your home and program it into your cell phone.” From anywhere in the United States, this number connects to the local poison control center.

“Call 911, not poison control, if a child is choking, having trouble breathing or having a seizure,” said Martin “Follow the 911 operator’s instructions. Do not induce vomiting or give the child any fluid or medication unless directed.”

Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County offers these additional tips:

• Get your home tested for lead. Kids inhale the dust of lead-based paint and can build up enough lead in their blood to affect intelligence, growth and development. In 2002, there were 310,000 children ages 6 and under with elevated blood lead levels. Lead-based paint was used in homes until 1978, so it’s important to have older homes tested.

• Install a carbon monoxide detector in every sleeping area. Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless gas that builds up around fuel-burning appliances — and cars in garages — and is present in tobacco smoke. It can make a child seriously ill in concentrations that would barely affect an adult.

• Stay alert while using cleaning products or other potentially harmful substances. A child can be poisoned in a matter of seconds. Never leave kids alone with an open container of something you wouldn’t want them to ingest.

• Don’t refer to medicine or vitamins as candy. Children should not think of therapeutic substances as treats. And when you are administering medicine to your children, follow dosage directions carefully.

• Store medications and any potentially harmful products in their original containers with their original labeling, out of reach of children.

• Learn which plants are poisonous. Keep poisonous houseplants out of reach, and teach children not to put any part of an outdoor plant in their mouths without adult supervision.  Click here for a list of poisonous plants.

• Discuss these precautions with grandparents and relatives. Grandparents may have medications that can be very dangerous to children, and their homes might not be as well childproofed as yours.

• Learn CPR. In less than three hours, you can learn effective interventions that can give a fighting chance to a child whose breathing and heartbeat have stopped. For information about CPR classes, please call Northeast Georgia Medical Center at 770-535-3357.

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1.29.08 - Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County Wins State Award

Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County was awarded an Outstanding Coalition Award at the 2008 Safe Kids Awards Breakfast held at the Georgia Aquarium on Tuesday, January 29, 2008, at the Safe Kids Georgia Leadership Conference.

Northeast Georgia Medical Center and Health System is the lead agency for Safe Kids, and it is currently funded 100% by The Medical Center Foundation's Healthy Journey II Campaign.  Between Healthy Journey I and II, the Foundation has raised over $1 million for Safe Kids.  A significant portion of funds have been raised by the W.A.T.C.H campaign of the Foundation, which is the employee giving club.

Among other notables mentioned, the presenter highlighted the Lead Poison Prevention Program which our Safe Kids coalition offered in late '07 which garnered positive press coverage from CNN and other local media outlets.

This is the FOURTH state award our Safe Kids Coalition has brought home (2001 Coalition of the Year;  2001 Outstanding Program Award for Helmet Safety; 2000 Joy Maxey Lead Agency Award for NGHS);  not to mention two national awards:  2001 Outstanding Lead Agency from Safe Kids Worldwide and 2003 Coalition of the Year, Safe Kids Worldwide.

Our success is due greatly to the dedication and passion of our members.  Many of whom have been involved with the coalition since its beginning in 1992!  They provide the manpower and brainpower for the coalition so we are able to carry out our mission - to reduce the number of accidental injuries to children ages 14 and under.

1.18.08 - Two Thousand Children Per Year Fatally Injured at Home - Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County urges parents to childproof homes.
Each year in the United States, more than 1,800 children ages 4 and under die from accidental injuries in the home, and more than 3 million children ages 14 and under are treated in emergency rooms for accidental injuries occurring at home. Most fatal injuries at home are caused by suffocation, fire and burns, drowning, choking, falls, poisoning or firearms discharged unintentionally.

Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County urges parents and caregivers to check their homes at least once a year for basic safety precautions. “Make it your New Year’s resolution,” says Kim Martin, Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County coordinator. “It’s easy to eliminate the most obvious hazards — and you don’t need a lot of expensive equipment.”

The first step in childproofing a home is to explore every room at a child’s eye level. “Literally get down on your hands and knees and crawl around. You’ll be surprised at how much you can reach and how many small objects you can pick up,” says Martin “Anything that can fit through a toilet paper tube is a potential choking hazard. Of course, cleaning products, alcohol, firearms, matches, lighters and other potentially harmful products need to be stored out of reach and locked up.”

Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County also recommends these precautions:

Ÿ   Set your water heater no higher than 120 degrees F. At higher temperatures, it only takes three seconds to burn a child’s skin severely enough to require surgery.

Ÿ   Memorize this phone number: 800-222-1222. From anywhere in the United States, this toll-free number will connect you to the local Poison Control Center. Call this hotline if a child has ingested any substance that isn’t food — but if a child is choking or having trouble breathing, call 911.

Ÿ   Test your smoke alarms every month. Make sure you have working smoke alarms in every sleeping area. Also check for fire hazards such as frayed electrical wires or flammable materials near heating appliances.

Ÿ   Install carbon monoxide detectors in every sleeping area and near fuel-burning appliances. This invisible, odorless gas can be fatal.

Ÿ   Put safety gates at the top and bottom of every stairway. Gates installed with hardware are safer than pressure gates.

Ÿ   Cover unused electrical outlets. You can buy plastic outlet covers or just use duct tape.

Ÿ   Keep firearms unloaded and locked out of reach. And lock up ammunition in a separate place.

Ÿ   Post emergency numbers by every phone. In addition to the numbers for fire and emergency medical services, keep numbers for the pediatrician and a neighbor handy.

Ÿ   Check your first aid kit to make sure it is fully stocked. Make sure babysitters know where to find first aid supplies and how to handle an emergency.

 “Safety comes first, even if it means making your home a little less convenient for adults,” says Martin “Safety gates and cabinet locks are a small price to pay to keep a child out of the emergency room.”

12.15.07 - Consumer Reports' 12 Tips for Buying Toys this Holiday Season

1. Do not buy metal jewelry - especially cheap metal jewelry - for young children. About 20 percent of children's metal jewelry has high levels of lead lurking beneath the surface coating. A child who mouths or accidentally swallows a piece of lead-laden jewelry can suffer lead poisoning.

2. You can test toys for lead by using a home lead test kit. Although they may be limited in their use, a positive test result indicates a high likelihood that the product you're testing has lead. Consumer Reports recommends the Lead Check and the Lead Inspector, which performed best in our tests.

3. Be careful of toys with magnets. Many toys have small magnets that can fall out and, if swallowed, can cause serious health problems that are hard to diagnose. Don't buy toys with magnetic parts that are small enough to be swallowed.

4. If you find loose, small magnets anywhere around the house, track down the source. Immediately take the product and any of its other magnetic components away from your child and contact the manufacturer and the Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov.

5. Avoid no-name products and be careful of toys purchased at dollar stores, street fairs, vending machines, thrift stores, or yard sales.

6. Stay away from permanent paints and markers when purchasing arts and crafts materials. Look for water-based paints and glues. For a child under three years old, purchase age-appropriate material that your child can't swallow.

7. Look for the age grading on toy packages and purchase only age-appropriate toys for your child. The age grading not only relates to play value but also to safety.

8. Use common sense; some toys may be inappropriate for your toddlers and babies. Toys labeled for children 3 and over may have small parts that can be a choking hazard for children under 3 years old. If you have children under 3 don't buy a toy with this warning label.

9. Do your own safety check to determine if your child's toys are choking hazards for young children. If his or her toy fits through a toilet-paper tube, it is a potential choking hazard. The government-approved test for choking hazards is done with a smaller tube. The more stringent toilet-paper tube test helps you keep questionable toys out of your child's hands and mouth.

10. Beware of toys that can be broken into smaller pieces such as chalk, crayons, or caps from markers. They can pose choking hazards to toddlers and babies.

11. Use caution when children play with small balls, tricycles, and balloons. These three products are the leading causes of death attributed to toys. Balls less than 1-3/4 inches in diameter can pose a choking hazard to young children. Balloons were associated with more than 110 deaths since 1973. Children can suffocate while trying to blow up a balloon or while chewing on or sucking a balloon.

12. Before you shop, check recent toy recalls at www.notinmycart.org or www.recalls.gov.  You can also sign up for automatic recall notifications at www.cpsc.gov.

For more information, please visit www.consumerreports.org.

12.11.07 - At a recent Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County coalition meeting, Randall Townley, Regional Coordinator, Northeast Georgia Rural Roads Initiative (funded by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety) recognized Sgt. Kiley Sargent of the Hall County's Sheriff Department for his dedication, hard work and commitment to reducing injuries and fatalities on rural roads in Northeast Georgia.  Congratulations Kiley!

12.3.07 - Graco® Children's Products Announces a Voluntary Safety Recall for the Stand Alone SnugRide® Infant Car Seat Manufactured from August 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007. 

Potential Problem

Graco® has determined that the backing of the seat pad on certain stand-alone SnugRide® Infant car seats manufactured in the United States, may be prone to deterioration or tearing, especially after washing. If this occurs, children occupying the car seat may be able to remove the padding material from the back of the seat pad and place it in their mouths, posing a potential choking hazard.

This notice does NOT affect SnugRide® car seats sold with a stroller as part of a Travel System.

This issue does NOT affect the ability of the child restraint system to protect the occupant in the event of a motor vehicle crash.

Models Affected:  8616FOF3, 8643DDH2, 8643DDH3, 8643CDR2, 8643DH03, 8643SUP2, 8643SUP3, 8643JOS2, 8643JOS3, 8643MDW3, 8643PWC3, 8643SFJ3, 8645FMT2, 8645FMT3, 8645GLM3, 8645GLN3, 8645HEM2, 8645HEM3, 8645MYC2, 8646SML3, 8645MYC3, 8645MRG3, 8645PKR2, 8645SNY2, 8646SND2, 8645THR2, 8645THR3, 8646FIE2, 8646FIE3, 8646GRT3, 8646RRY3, 8609FOF3, 8609FOF2, 8616FOF2.

Solution

Check the model number and manufacture date on your car seat to see if your car seat is affected by this notice. If you do not know the model number and date of manufacture of your car seat, you can find it on the label on the back of the car seat. Click here for a sample.

Graco® will be sending a letter to all registered owners of potentially affected SnugRide® car seats. This letter will explain the replacement kit program and how consumers can order a replacement kit. If you have not registered your car seat, please click here to register online.

Until receipt of a replacement kit, you can continue to use your car seat, but Graco® recommends that you monitor the seat pad on a periodic basis to ensure the integrity of the pad and not unnecessarily wash the pad while you await receipt of the replacement kit. This issue does NOT affect the ability of the child restraint system to protect the occupant in the event of a motor vehicle crash.

11.1.07 - The Lanier Child Passenger Safety Task Force (Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County, the Gainesville Police Department, the Forsyth County Fire Department and Northeast Georgia Rural Roads Initiative) recently sponsored its first Child Passenger Safety Technician Training Class in Gainesville. Eleven people completed the course and are now certified child passenger safety technicians.  To view photos of the class, click here.

Photo (L-R) Robin Krockum, Tony Wooten, Bobbi Jo Corcoran, Montana Thrasher, Dallas Bright, Kevin Holbrook, Brandon Harkins, Eric Harbin, Janet Peluso, Jessica Kirby, Instructor Kim Martin, Teresa Sheffer, Instructor Griggs Wall, Instructor Randall Townley, Instructor Mike Martin and Instructor Nathan Head.

10.15.07 - As colder weather approaches, Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County reminds parents and caregivers that space heaters can cause dangerous levels of carbon monoxide to build up in the home. Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, invisible gas that can build up near fuel-burning appliances such as ovens, generators and supplemental heaters.

“We all know it’s essential to have working smoke alarms in every sleeping area, but what about carbon monoxide detectors?” says Kim Martin, Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County coordinator. “Carbon monoxide can kill, and it can make a child seriously ill in small doses that might not noticeably affect an adult.”

Each year, in the United States, nearly 4,000 children are treated in emergency rooms for CO exposure — not counting fire-related cases — and nine die. “Half of all CO poisoning deaths could be prevented by CO detectors,” says Martin. “CO detectors are available at hardware stores for about $20, a small price to pay to help detect odorless, poisonous gases in the home.”

Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County also recommends these precautions against CO poisoning:

*Prevent CO buildup in the first place — make sure heating appliances are in good working order and used only in well-ventilated areas.

*Don’t run a car engine in the garage, even to warm it up; move the car outside first.

*Install a CO detector approximately 15 feet from every fuel-burning appliance and outside every sleeping area. Check the batteries monthly (when you check your smoke alarm batteries).

*Remember that cigarette smoke is another source of carbon monoxide.

If someone who has been in a poorly ventilated room with a fuel-burning appliance begins to feel nauseous, drowsy or confused, or complains of a headache, move the victim to fresh air and call 911. If more than one person in the home suddenly feels ill for no apparent reason, or if a CO alarm goes off, get everyone outside immediately and call the fire department from a pre-arranged meeting place.

Low-income families with children living in Hall County in need of CO detectors should call Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County at 770-533-8095.

10.10.07 - At a recent Traffic Safety Planning meeting sponsored by Northeast Georgia Rural Roads Initiative (funded by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety), Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County and the Gainesville Police Department were recognized for their dedication, hard work and commitment to reducing injuries and fatalities on rural roads in Northeast Georgia.

10.5.07 - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kolcraft Enterprises Inc., of Chicago, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 425,000 infant play yards following the death of a child.  CPSC received a report of a 10-month old boy who strangled on the changing table's restraint strap that was hanging down into Kolcraft's "Sesame Beginnings" Travel Play Yard where the child was located.  For more information, please visit www.cpsc.gov.

10.2.07 - Coverage from the Toy Lead Testing Event. http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2007/10/01/pkg.lead.toys.cnn
 

9.22.07 The Times Article - Get the Lead Out:  Free screening brings parents out to check their children, toys.
 

9.21.07 AccessNorthGa.com Article - Toys and Kids Tested for Lead in Gainesville.

Anil T. Mangla, MS, PhD, MPH, FRIPH, an epidemiologist with the Georgia Department of Human Resources Lead Poisoning Prevention Program tests toys at a recent toy lead testing event held at the Lanier Park Campus.

9.21.07 - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing today a voluntary recall with Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pa., of about 1 million cribs. The drop-side can detach from the crib, which can create a dangerous gap and lead to the entrapment and suffocation of infants. CPSC is aware of two deaths in Simplicity manufactured cribs with older style hardware, including a 9-month-old child and a 6-month-old child, where the drop-side was installed upside down. CPSC is also aware of seven infant entrapments and 55 incidents in these cribs.  For more information, please visit www.cpsc.gov.

9.10.07 - Airbag Danger in Parked Cars - Resource www.wnep.com
Airbag dangers for younger children include mishaps that occur in parked vehicles.  A six-year-old Pennsylvania child was critically injured by an airbag in April 2007.  She and her three-year-old brother were playing in the front seat of the family's parked SUV when the vehicle popped into gear and rolled down a hill into a house, causing the airbag to deploy.  The mother was charged with endangering the welfare of her children and reckless endangerment.

9.7.07 - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a warning about the dangers of televisions and heavy furniture tipping over and killing young children.  The number of TV tip-over deaths reported to the CPSC during the first seven months of 2006 is twice the typical yearly average.  There have already been 10 deaths this year associated with televisions tipping over onto young children.  In addition, there are at least 3,000 injuries involving children and TV tip-overs each year.  The CPSC believes these deaths and injuries occur when children climb onto, fall against or pull themselves up on television stands, shelves, bookcases, dressers, desks and chests. For more information, please visit www.cpsc.gov.

Download the CPSC's new safety alert "Preventing TV and Furniture Tip-Over Deaths"
English version
Spanish version

8.4.07 - Mattel (Fisher-Price) Recalls Licensed Character Toys Due to Lead Poisoning Hazard.  To access color photos of the recalled products, see the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's website at www.cpsc.gov.  To read the full release, click here.  For more information, please visit the National Safety Council at www.nsc.org.

8.3.07 - Safe Kids Community Partner, the Gainesville Police Department was one of the finalists for the Curtis McClung/Motorola Award of Excellence at the recent Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police training conference in Savannah for their participation in community outreach programs such as the Helmet Safety Campaign and Child Passenger Safety initiatives.

8.3.07 - Safe Kids member, Lt. Beverley Walker of Hall County Fire Services was recently named Georgia's Educator of the Year by the Georgia State Firefighter's Association.  Congratulations Beverley!

7.9.07 - Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County received a $15,000 grant from Jackson EMC, which was matched by The Medical Center Foundation, for the purchase of a cargo van.  The van will be used to transport program materials and safety devices (car seats, booster seats, bike helmets and smoke alarms) to the various educational and distribution programs.

Jackson EMC grant funds come from its members who participate in the Operation Round Up program.  Through the charitable program, members' monthly electric bills are rounded up to the next dollar amount and the "spare change" is used to fund the Jackson EMC Foundation.

5.24.07 - Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County celebrated its accomplishments of the past year at its annual awards banquet held at Lakewood Baptist Church.  Awards presented during the banquet included Community Agency of the Year, which was given to the Gainesville Police Department.  Charlene Williams, Assistant Principal of Gainesville Arts Academy, was named Teacher of the Year, Lt. Beverley Walker of Hall County Fire Services received the Volunteer of the Year Award and Debbie Wilburn of the UGA Cooperative Extension Office was honored for 15 years of service.

  2009 Community Agency of the Year Hall County Fire Services

2009 Educator of the Year
Dee Scarpellino, RN
McEver Elementary

2009 Volunteer of the Year
Melinda Smith, RN - Northeast Georgia Medical Center
Emergency Services