Keep Your Baby Safe with Stroller Safety Tips

Strollers have been used for decades due to the fact that they offer convenience to parents on the move. As with many products on the market that are designed for infants and toddlers, many safety alerts and red flags have been raised.

While it is unfortunate to hear of a baby and/or toddler to be subjected to strollers that may cause injury, and potential death, this information has been used to compile data that will allow parents to know and understand what safety enhancements are most important when selecting baby strollers.

When purchasing a unit for your child and/or children, it is absolutely essential that you take the time to determine if the product is safe. Here, you will be provided with information regarding the dangers that are associated with these devices, as well as some basic safety features that are important to the health and life of your child.

Dangers Associated With Stroller Use

According to Pediatric Emergency Care, there were a number of stroller related injuries responded to in the year of 2004 to the year of 2007 by the 911 Response Team in just one community. The statistics of this particular study indicated the following:

The study was conducted for approximately three and a half years. During this time, 241 different incidents occurred that were specific to those involving shopping carts and strollers. The amount of stroller related injuries came to a number of 121.

The ages of the children that were involved in the stroller related injuries averaged between 0 months and 6 months of age.

Falls resulted in a percentage of 47.5% of all the cases, the largest number of the injuries reported.

59% of the injuries that were connected to stroller related injuries were attributed to the head area.

At least 18% of the children monitored also sustained an injury directly related to the facial area.

At least 77% of the children evaluated were transported to the local emergency treatment center by the use of an ambulance.

While there were no deaths, it is estimated that a little over 8% of all the children involved were hospitalized for further treatment and evaluation of their injuries.

Based on the information obtained from this study, medical professionals determined that education should be an emphasis when it comes to parents who implement the use of baby strollers. It is believed that if parents are aware of the steps to keep their children safe in strollers, there will be less likelihood that injury and even death may occur while using this type of device.

Safety Measures for Stroller Use

The following details some of the safety measures for stroller use. If you have purchased a stroller, or you are considering purchasing a stroller, it is important that you know and understand the basic safety measures that you can take in this situation. Below are some effective strategies that have been found to enhance the safe use of strollers.

1. Strollers that are narrow tend to have the most complications when it comes to leaning and tipping over. As a parent, it is essential to ensure that you purchase strollers that have a base that is actually relatively wide. This way, there is a reduced opportunity for tipping and accidental falls.

2. It is often tempting for an adult to hang things on the stroller handles, such as purses and diaper bags. It is important to understand though, that by doing so you are providing the possibility of causing a stroller to begin tipping over, and this can result in injury.

3. It will add security to the stroller for the child when you use the seatbelt attached to the stroller at all times.

4. Take the time to use the device that locks the stroller into place every single time that you are using the stroller. It is equally important to use the wheel locking devices when the stroller is not in movement.

5. Since it is when a child is left unattended that the most injuries occur, be careful to never leave the baby stroller unattended.

6. Thoroughly check the stroller before and after each use to ensure that the parts are all secure – especially the seat area and the wheel area. If you find that any parts are loose, do not place your child in the unit prior to fixing these components; or purchase a new unit altogether.

7. Product recalls are issued on a regular basis due to safety issues, hence is is wise to always evaluate the product that you have to compare it to the product recalls. If you find that your stroller is listed, simply discard it or follow the appropriate instructions on the recall list.

Conclusion

It is imperative to ensure that you learn as much as you can regarding what can happen, and how to prevent these situations from occurring. If you do this, it is almost a guarantee that your child and/or children will remain safe as both parent and child enjoy the use of these convenient forms of transport.

Most people have good intentions when it comes to having regular maintenance done on their appliances. The clothes dryer is often neglected as people are not aware of the problems that can be lurking here. It is important that your dryer exhaust and vent system be up to code.

Underwriters Laboratories

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is the trusted source across the US for product compliance. The UL rating will be printed somewhere on all your appliances or in the owner’s manual. If your appliance is a newer model, it will most likely be UL approved, but that doesn’t mean the dryer vent system meets their approval. Most people do not think to install new dryer ducts when the get a new dryer. An old dryer exhaust system may not be UL compliant today.

Vent Tube Length

How long is the duct that leads from the back of your clothes dryer to the vent outside? The longer it is, the harder your dryer works to carry hot, moist air and lint from your home. A longer vent also increases the chance of lint sticking to the sides instead of making its way out through the vent. As the lint accumulates, air flow is restricted; lint clogged vents are a fire hazard and they reduce the efficiency of your clothes dryer, increasing your energy bills.

Bends and Elbows

What does the route of your dryer vent tube look like? Does it make several turns before getting to the vent outside? These turns also restrict air flow and increase the chance of lint being caught up within the exhaust system. This reduces the performance of your clothes dryer, increases drying time, uses more energy and can be a fire hazard.

Duct Material

It has been discovered that screws and fasteners holding sections of dryer ducts together can cause problems. Lint catches on the protruding screws and builds up to form a clog and restrict air flow. Sections should be fastened so that there are no protrusions on the inside of the ducts.

The pieces and parts that make up the exhaust system for your clothes dryer are very important aspects of the entire system that gets your clothes dry at the end of the day. If you don’t know what makes up the rest of the system, it’s time to find out, or call in a professional to inspect and evaluate your dryer vent system.

How often do you have your appliances professionally inspected for safety? Most people have the furnace checked every year, but how often do you have your clothes dryer inspected? Sadly, most people never even think about this unless they have experienced a dryer fire. Like furnaces, clothes dryers also must be properly maintained. The dryer exhaust system should be inspected to be sure it is up to code.

Underwriters Laboratories

First, you need to know the rating of the products you are using. The UL rating should be printed somewhere on the information about the parts that make up your dryer vent system. While most of the more recent clothes dryers that have been installed are UL approved, there are many people using clothes dryers that have been in place for many years, or they have just changed out the dryer, but not the vent system. That means it’s time to pull your dryer out, or have a professional do it for you, and make sure the parts of the vent system are up to the newer standards.

Shortest Distance

Just like so many other things in life, the shortest distance to the destination is the best plan of action for your clothes dryer. The vent system has to carry hot air and lint out of your home and the more piping it has to work through the harder it has to work. Additionally, the more line there is to make it through the more chance that lint will get caught up in the line and start to clog up the pipes which can cause a fire hazard and reduce the efficiency of your dryer.

Twists and Turns

What does the route of your dryer vent tube look like? Does it make several turns before getting to the vent outside? These turns also restrict air flow and increase the chance of lint being caught up within the exhaust system. This reduces the performance of your clothes dryer, increases drying time, uses more energy and can be a fire hazard.

Rough Inside

Is your dryer exhaust tube smooth on the inside or are there screws for the lint to get caught on? The pipe should be smooth to allow easy air flow and less chance of lint getting caught and clogging the system. A newer vent system will be pieced together so that there are no screws protruding to the inside.

The pieces and parts that make up the exhaust system for your clothes dryer are very important aspects of the entire system that gets your clothes dry at the end of the day. If you don’t know what makes up the rest of the system, it’s time to find out, or call in a professional to inspect and evaluate your dryer vent system.