LVRS Community Safety Information

October 2006

Trick-or-Treat Safety Tips

Treats: Warn children not to eat any treats before an adult has carefully examined them for evidence of tampering.

Flame Resistant Costumes: When purchasing a costume, masks, beards, and wigs, look for the label Flame Resistant. Although this label does not mean these items won't catch fire, it does indicate the items will resist burning and should extinguish quickly once removed from the ignition source. To minimize the risk of contact with candles or other sources of ignition, avoid costumes made with flimsy materials and outfits with big, baggy sleeves or billowing skirts.

Costume Designs: Purchase or make costumes that are light and bright enough to be clearly visible to motorists.

For greater visibility during dusk and darkness, decorate or trim costumes with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car's headlights. Bags or sacks should also be light colored or decorated with reflective tape. Reflective tape is usually available in hardware, bicycle, and sporting goods stores.

To easily see and be seen, children should also carry flashlights.

Costumes should be short enough to prevent children from tripping and falling.

Children should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes . Mother' s high heels are not a good idea for safe walking.

Hats and scarfs should be tied securely to prevent them from slipping over children's eyes.

Apply a natural mask of cosmetics rather than have a child wear a loose-fitting mask that might restrict breathing or obscure vision. If a mask is used, however, make sure it fits securely and has eyeholes large enough to allow full vision.

Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be of soft and flexible material.

Pedestrian Safety: Young children should always be accompanied by an adult or an older, responsible child. All children should WALK, not run from house to house and use the sidewalk if available, rather than walk in the street. Children should be cautioned against running out from between parked cars, or across lawns and yards where ornaments, furniture, or clotheslines present dangers.

Choosing Safe Houses: Children should go only to homes where the residents are known and have outside lights on as a sign of welcome.

Children should not enter homes or apartments unless they are accompanied by an adult.

People expecting trick-or-treaters should remove anything that could be an obstacle from lawns, steps and porches. Candlelit jack-o'-lanterns should be kept away from landings and doorsteps where costumes could brush against the flame. Indoor jack-o'-lanterns should be kept away from curtains, decorations, and other furnishings that could be ignited.

These tips are from the Consumer Products Safety Commission and the Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad (LVRS).

Learn more about the Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad at www.laurelrescue.org

Please share this e-mail with friends and colleagues.

The Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad provides fire, and emergency medical services to the Laurel Community and is substantially supported by donations from the community.

Become a volunteer! email membership@laurelrescue.org

September 2006

The Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad (LVRS) would like to introduce its new Community Safety Information. On a regular basis, LVRS will provide you with information you can use to stay safe throughout the year.

At this time of year, children are heading back to school and we encourage parents, teachers and schools to take a few, simple steps to help prevent children from suffering injuries during the school year:

Drawstrings on Children’s Clothing

Drawstrings on children’s clothing can lead to deaths and injuries because they can catch on such items as playground equipment.

·         Only buy upper outerwear without hood and neck drawstrings. Remove the hood and neck drawstrings from all children’s upper outerwear, including jackets and sweatshirts, size 2T through size 12 that are already in your home.

Wear the Right Helmet

Wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of a head injury by up to 85 percent

·         When riding a bike, scooter, or skateboard, children should wear a helmet appropriate to the activity to reduce the risk of serious head injury or death.

Playgrounds

Each year, more than 200,000 children are taken to hospital emergency rooms due to playground-related injuries. Most injuries occur when a child falls onto the playground surface.

·         There should be a layer of safe, shock absorbing surface material around playground equipment and no exposed hardware to catch clothing and no free-hanging ropes attached to the equipment, which could cause strangulation.

Soccer Goals

Movable soccer goals can fall over and kill or injure children who climb on them or hang from the crossbar.

·        Make sure soccer goals are securely anchored when in use and anchor or chain them to a nearby fence post or sturdy framework when not in use. Never allow children to climb on the soccer net or goal framework.

Art Supplies

CPSC has recalled a variety of art materials over the years due to sharp tools; accessible lead in crayons, chalk and paint; and other hazards.

·         Only buy art materials that contain the statement, “CONFORMS TO ASTM D-4236.”

For additional information on these topics, go to: www.cpsc.gov

Learn more about the Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad at www.laurelrescue.org

Please share this e-mail with friends and colleagues.

The Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad provides fire, rescue, and emergency medical services to the Laurel Community and is substantially supported by donations from the community.

Become a volunteer! email membership@laurelrescue.org