BlogHer - safety - Comments

A few tips for those of us

InkAndPixelClub — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:45:54 -0500

A few tips for those of us who will be handing out the candy:

- Light the jack-o-lanterns with something other than a candle. There are plenty of other options to create a good spooky glow without using potentially dangerous fire. Glow sticks and colored lights can light up your pumpkin with all manner of colors. When I was little, we used battery powered lights that could be set to glow steadily or blink between orange and white.

- Make sure the path to your door is free of debris that could trip up trick-or-treaters. Keep the decorations as far off to the side as possible. If you live in a cold climate, make sure your stairs and walkway are free of ice.

- Lights and some kind of decorations will let kids and parents know that you're handing out candy. You don't have to go nuts; just a simple door decoration and leaving the light on will do.

- While it's not a safety issue. it's a good idea to have some spare change on hand in case any kids in your neighborhood are trick-or-treating for UNICEF.

Sara

www.inkandpixelclub.com

I think part of the issue is

greenlagirl — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:56:14 -0500

I think part of the issue is that motorists just aren't educated about watching out for cyclists in drivers' ed. Yes, they def. should always watch out, but if drilling the need for that -- and some tips on how to share the road with cyclists -- were part of our general drivers' education requirement for getting a license, the road would be safer :)

I think often drivers are "accidentally" inconsiderate -- Meaning that they sometimes do rude, inconvenient things, like cutting bicyclists off, but that their actions were just due to not knowing how to share the road / watch out for cyclists than like a deliberate attempt to make life harder for cyclists (though there are certainly deliberately mean drivers out there too). I try to cut drivers some slack because of this -- though I'm better at it some days than others :)

green LA girl

Thank You!

laurelleaf — Sat, 30 May 2009 17:37:15 -0500

Awesome tips, I bike to and from work everyday as you said a lot of the tips should be obvious but unfortunately a lot of people are still not aware of basic bike saftey. Here in NB Canada helmets, lights and bells are all mandatory however you still see a lot of folks without these things. Riding out further in the lane does seem a bit scary but does make sense, also I feel a bit stupid but I've never gone around to the left of a vehicle to pass it, that definitely seems daring but does make sense when a vehicle could turn right at anytime without warning. The biggest issue is motorists who have little regard for those of us who have chosen an alternative mode of transportation, but awareness is growing and with the cost of insurance and gas as well as more folks caring about the enviroment I've definitely seen the number of bikers grow in the past few years around here. Its a rewarding past time and in a city you'll find you get to your destination almost as fast (if not faster in certain cases) than in a car.

Yes, so sad

Houseonahill — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:27:50 -0500

It has been some years, but I recall when I purchased a treadmill my guy was about 4 or 5. The cord always concerned me but I wasnt sure why. I was even nervous that the dog would somehow manipulate it and I would come in the room to find boy and dog mangled in some unspeakable mess, so I always took it and wrapped it up safely. It only took a second. Stories such as this are so upsetting, but you handled this subject beautifully.

It is always that one lapse in judgement! Raising these tiny bundles of ours is so many things, isn't it? Maybe this story and post will save a life...

Houseonahill

www.Houseonahillorg.blogspot.com

Thank you

Candelaria Silva — Thu, 28 May 2009 10:38:16 -0500

This is an important contest and I will spread the word to youth media programs and some young filmmakers I know in Boston.

http://blog.candelarisilva.com

http://examiner.com/x-2478-Boston-Domestic-Issues_Examiner

Good and plenty!

So sad

fittothefinish — Thu, 28 May 2009 06:55:51 -0500

This is just tragic. We have a treadmill, and I am always so careful to keep the kids away from it. This is a reminder to me to never let down my vigilence.

Diane

I write about my 150 pound weight loss at:

www.fittothefinish.com/blog

Wow.. what a reminder.

AtomicMommy — Thu, 28 May 2009 06:49:01 -0500

As a mother to a four-year-old this comes as a shock. My son is an only child, and at times I feel as though he is more grown up than he actually is. I give him quite a bit of responsibility, and probably treat him more like an adult than I should. This is a big reminder for me that he's not an adult, and the things that don't seem dangerous to me actually can be for him.

I'm very sad to hear about this accident. Warm thoughts for Tyson and his family. Rest in peace dear baby Exodus.

Katherine

You can find me at:

http://atomicmom.typepad.com/

@theatomicmommy on Twitter

Wakeup

EclecticBird — Wed, 27 May 2009 21:19:07 -0500

When I heard about this accident I was very sad for the little girl and her family but it was also a wakeup call for me. One of the news stories I heard talked about the frequency of accidental strangulation of small children and that was something I hadn't really thought of. I also hadn't thought about how potentially dangerous exercise equipment could be. I feel a new home safety inspection coming on. :(

Disturbed and speechless

Denise — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:53:30 -0500

Both things I felt as well. ;-(

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings

No worries

Denise — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:49:02 -0500

I didn't blog this yesterday because it felt too sensational to me. Today, it didn't feel quite that way. It felt like something I wanted to say and wanted to remind people of.

All sorts of accidents can be prevented. That doesn't mean that I am naive enough to believe that all accidents will be prevented. Or that Exodus Tyson's parents should be blamed for this. I don't feel that way at all.

That doesn't mean that I'm going to hold back from pointing out that this... this accident was preventable. Because it was. It really was.

I'm so very sad for the Tyson family and for any family who has lost a child in a preventable accident or a non-preventable accident. No personal blame is intended.

I'm very glad you shared your comment. I totally understand where you're coming from.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings

Very true

Denise — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:44:13 -0500

The older they get, the more mobile they are and the more likely they are to end up where they shouldn't be.

Hug that four year old for me.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings

Ouch

Denise — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:42:56 -0500

Good point regarding kids and dog parks. Honestly, I've never thought about it before. (I'm not a dog park kind of person.)

Excellent reminder.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings

Cannot think about motorcycles and hot tubs

Denise — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:41:43 -0500

Now you've got me thinking we need an entire series. I have a family story about hot tubs, too. (Not kidding!)

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings

The cord

Denise — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:40:00 -0500

Exactly. I never dreamed it would be the cord either. I assumed the belt, as with our child.

I don't believe parents should throw out their exercise equipment. I just want to encourage them not to leave kids of any age unattended around that equipment.

Keep exercising, just remember those are potentially dangerous machines to kids.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings

It's sad but celebrity accidents can help us all

Denise — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:35:44 -0500

There are things in our world that we just never stop to think about - until something horrible happens to a celebrity or to someone close to us.

~Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

Flamingo House Happenings