SAFETY SQUAD: Empowing Your Family

Take the poo out of your shampoo. Baby will thank yoo.

Most pregnant women know that what you put in your body is important to the health and well-being of your growing baby. But, do you know that what you put on your body is of equal importance?

When you pick your products for your daily beauty routine, it is important to remember that the chemicals in your hair products pass through your scalp and are absorbed into your body. In fact, your scalp is one of the most porous areas of your body! With a developing or new baby, this is a vital concern. 

Expecting and new moms must remember that everything you eat, apply or make contact with can affect not only you but your growing baby.

"Because some topical ingredients get absorbed into the bloodstream, there are some you want to avoid," notes Leslie Baumann, professor at the University of Miami and author of The Skin Type Solution (Bantam, 2006).

While there are safe options out there, there are two chemical classes that are considered potentially harmful to your baby’s health and development. We've put together quick label lookout guide that gives you the up-to-date knowledge on the chemical ingredients that can put baby at risk. We also know that sometimes labels are a pain to translate. For some great mom-tested products, check out Mom Hair Care Faves. Here, you will find a selection of amazing products including super moisturizing pregnancy shampoo made just for you!...

No "Lawn Storks" allowed........

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children caution parents against giving away 'seemingly" harmless information to the public about their new baby.  Safety Squad encourages parents to take the same precautions with their new baby that they take to protect their own identity.  It is estimated that between 1983 - 2008, 256 infant abductions occured in the US (0-6 months of age).  Although the rate is far from epidemic, the impact is always devastating. Good parenting includes safeguarding your baby's identity through the following measures:

Before you leave the hospital, be sure one of the pictures you take with your digital camera includes a full, front-face view. Have a complete written description of your infant including hair and eye color, length, weight, and specific physical characteristics.

Do not let anyone into your home who claims to be affiliated with the hospital you delivered at, your pediatrician, or state government agencies. Free services are often too good to be true and the "state" does not offer any such free services to the majority of new parents.  Furthermore, if you are one of the few parents entitled to this type of service, you would have been told about it and provided with written instructions from your healthcare team. Never let anyone into your home you do not know  - nurses, lab technicians, photographers, social workers, or the cable TV guy...

Urgent - Another drop-side crib recall

Yesterday, the last of the Simplicity drop-side cribs were recalled (400,000 units).  This is the model that parents were told was a "safe" replacement for earlier Simplicity recalls.  Are you still using a drop-side crib?   Check to be sure that your's was not recalled at www.cpsc.gov.  Are you wondering how to tell if your drop-side crib is safe?  Nancy Cowles, executive director, of Kids in Danger, shared these tips with us:

• check for recalls, not just upon purchase, but periodically.  Sign up for an e-alert process that will keep you informed of recalls (Safety Squad likes the monthly newsletter from Kids in Danger; sign up at www.kidsindanger.org)
• Check your crib against the product manual.  Is is assembled correctly?  Is all the correct hardware in place?  Are all the connections, bolts, nuts, tighted down correctly and not protruding?  This inspection should be performed periodically.  Cribs are not tested for durability and "routine" use can degrade the integrity of the product. If you do not have the owners manual, contact the manufacturer for a replacement.
• Does the drop-side rail lock properly and securely when in raised position?
• Have you ever had problems with your drop side crib, such as the side lowering on its own and feeling loose, or insecure.  If so, do not use the crib.

There is not "always" safety in numbers...

Here's a pool safety tip for you.

Why does a child drown in a residential pool surrounded by 20 adults?  People in a group setting often suffer from role "confusion" and "diffusion", giving them a false sense of security about the situation.  Individuals respond well when they are appointed a responsibility, and clearly understand their role.

We advocate the "pass off" system.  This works well whether at the park or the pool - with 2 people or 10 people. Someone in the group initiates the "pass off" - "You have Tommy watch for the next 60 minutes".  The "watch" person understands the rules - they do not use the rest room, answer their cell phone, or go to the concession stand, while they are on watch.  Depending on the situation.......at a minimum, this means the child is in their visual site at all time. When they need to be relieved, they clearly "pass off" the responsibility to someone else - "you are now on Tommy watch for the next hour".

Dog Restraints Protect Humans, Then Dogs

This week two people died in a Wisconsin Car crash after a dog jumped into the drivers lap. This was avoidable, that's why we don't call them "crashes", not "accidents".  Read Article

This is our post from May 2008.

The purpose of a dog restraint is to protect the humans in the car from flying dogs. It may seem strange, but any loose item in the car can become a projectile in a crash. This includes unbuckled people and dogs, not to mention all of the items you need just to get the kids out of the house (stroller, diaper bag, etc.).

Yes, seatbelts can save the dog’s life, too. But keeping Fido from flying around in a crash is going to benefit the human occupants the most. Invest in a dog restraint and maybe even a cargo net to keep all of those loose items in the car from flying around during a crash. For more information: Check out this Consumer Reports article.

I'm falling...

According to the most recent report from the Consumer Products Safety Commission,"falls related to nursery products are a leading cause of injury or death for children from birth to age 5".  In 2006 there were 66,400 emergency room admissions for nursery product fall-related accidents.  The head was the most frequently injured body part in all of the injuries.

The top offenders are:

• Infant carriers (excluding motor vehicle collisions): 14,200 ER admissions
• Cribs: 11,300 ER admissions
• Strollers: 11,100 ER admissions
• High Chairs: 9,900 ER admissions

The primary thing parents can do to protect their child is to educate themselves on the proper and safe use of nursery products. Do not use products in ways that they are not intended to be used. Additionally, never use broken or defective equipment or items that have been recalled.

Rear-facing now even hotter! "Rear-facing until 2" New advice surfaces from the AAP.

Car seat techs usually have a difficult time convincing parents to stay rear-facing longer. When children reach the traditional bare minimum of "20 lbs & 1 year" which the AAP has recommended for years, parents often rush to turn baby forward. There are many reasons why parents want baby to be forward-facing, but few trump being 5x safer.

That AAP's recommendation that starts with "1 & 20" went on "..use the seat rear-facing to the highest weight allowed..". This part was widely ignored by parents.

Furthermore, it wasn't clear that the AAP actually meant the rear-facing max of the convertible seat, not the infant carrier.   The result was that parents using carriers that maxed out at 22 lbs were more likely to move forward-facing sooner, because they had out grown the highest weight of their seat and also reached the 1 & 20 recommendation.

Lifesavers 2009: A Big Thank You from Safety Squad

Safety Squad wants to thank everyone we met at the 2009 Lifesavers Conference in Nashville.  Not only was this event an opportunity to learn and exchange ideas with techs, manufacturers and educators but it continues to validate our mission of child passenger safety. The people we meet at Lifesavers are instrumental in helping shape the message we deliver to parents every day.

Furthermore, we encourage the efforts of the increasing number of private companies that provide on-demand safety services for parents in a variety of fashions.  We are proud to call you our peers and are eager to share experiences for the common goal of protecting children.

We'll see you in Philly!

Every parent should read this.

This recent article from the Washington Post Magazine explores the problem of children being left in hot vehicles.  The story focuses on one family's experience. We often hear chuckles when we speak with parents on this.  Many think that there is absolutely no way that they would let this happen to their children.  This piece may put the issue in a different light for many. Be forewarned that it is long. It is also very sad and a bit graphic. We urge you to read from the original source here as it features additional media.  You need to make a password and login with the Washington Post but it's free and well worth it. We've also included this link to the Washington Post that includes a Q and A with it's author Gene Weingarten.

Fatal Distraction
Forgetting a child in the back seat of a hot, parked car is a horrifying, inexcusable mistake. But is it a crime?

By Gene Weingarten

Washington Post Staff Writer

The defendant was an immense man, well over 300 pounds, but in the gravity of his sorrow and shame he seemed larger still. He hunched forward in the sturdy wooden armchair that barely contained him, sobbing softly into tissue after tissue, a leg bouncing nervously under the table. In the first pew of spectators sat his wife, looking stricken, absently twisting her wedding band.

ODI: The essential online resource for parents!

We placed this link in the same post as the NBC piece but it really needs to be on it's own.  The Office of Defects Investigation is an entity within NHTSA.  Their website is fantastic and they continue to add functionality.

Currently, the site allows you to not only search to see if your child's car seat is recalled but will guide you through registering it with the manufacturer. You can even subscribe to recall alerts via email. Also, use it to see if any safety components of your vehicle might be recalled.

Checking to see if your vehicle is free of recalls is an often overlooked aspect of child passenger safety. Imagine confidently installing a car seat using LATCH only to find out that the lower anchors were defective. Perhaps the seat belts or braking systems in your vehicle have been recalled by the manufacturer. Generally, if you've kept up with the scheduled maintenance of your car this is not an issue. But, it never hurts to check.

It's pretty simple but leave a comment if you need some help navigating their site. 

Click away!

JPMA Responds to the Chicago Tribune Article

In an effort to keep readers informed as to the various responses around the industry here's a link to the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association's response to the Tribune article.  It's a PDF file so you may need to download Adobe Reader to view it. We've including the content below. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 2, 2009
JPMA Responds to Chicago Tribune Article on Infant Child Restraints

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. – The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), which represents the leading manufacturers of infant child restraints in North America, disputes the recent findings of the Chicago Tribune about the performance of infant child restraints in New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) tests. In the real world, no product is more effective at reducing fatalities and injuries to our precious children.

“Child restraints are highly effective safety devices that have saved thousands of children’s lives in car crashes,” said Robert Waller, Jr., CAE, JPMA President. “Their use is required throughout the nation, because they are so effective at reducing injury to children. It is irresponsible to suggest that infant child restraints may not perform well in crashes.”

Thoughts from a concerned reader or "What should parents do now?"

We received the following reaction from a reader this morning.  We feel it’s probably indicative of many parents’ feelings so we decided to give it its own post with our response.

From a concerned reader

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems that you are advising parents to do nothing until the manufacturers see fit to issue a recall. This is not acceptable to me. If I had a child in an infant seat I would move that child to a convertible seat after watching these crash test videos. Why should I put my child at risk, not to mention the risk to my other children and other passengers in the car if the seat becomes a projectile, when there is an alternative (a convertible seat) that has not been shown to become detached in a crash? Frankly, I don't care if the type of crash simulated is rare.

I also don't like the assumption that the seats were installed incorrectly. I think this is just an excuse on the part of the manufacturers. If a technician preparing a crash test can't pop an infant seat into its base correctly then how on earth can we expect that a parent will do so each and every time multiple times a day? If it is so difficult to put these infants seats in that the technicians managed to mess up for multiple crash tests then the seats need to be recalled simply because they are too difficult for any normal human being to use. Please don't insult our intelligence.

Lastly, just for the record, I install all of my own children's seats and each and every time that I have had them checked by a CPST they have found them to be installed correctly.

-Indie

Safety Squad’s response

Thanks for the comments Indie. You seem like a concerned parent and someone who considers their children's safety paramount. This is an opportunity to not only address your concerns, which I'm sure many parents share, but also reinforce what we think parents should do...

"Room-sharing” instead of “bed-sharing” is safest for newborns and infants

75% - 80% of babies who die from SIDS are not sleeping in cribs (www.sidsillinois.org). Providing a baby-friendly sleep environment is one of the best ways to protect your baby from SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).  A safe sleep environment for an infant consists of a safety-approved crib, a new, firm mattress, and a tight-fitting sheet.  No toys, bumpers, feather beds, sheep skins, blankets, or covers.

Adult beds were not meant for babies.  Babies are not only at an increased risk for SIDS in the adult bed, they are also 40 times more likely to die from accidentally suffocation or entrapment. This can happen from blankets, pillows, quilts, as well as other family members in the bed.  The newer memory foam, or Tempur-pedic mattresses, can be especially dangerous because...

NHTSA's Statement in the Wake of the Chicago Tribune Article

Although this came out a couple days ago we thought it would be useful to post. Click here for the source. The link for additional information on child safety seats at the bottom is directly from the NHTSA statement.-safety squad NHTSA Statement on Review of Federal Standards for Child Safety Seats

March 2, 2009. At the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the safety of infants and children is vitally important. That is why parents and caregivers alike can be assured that correctly placing your child in a safety seat in the rear of the vehicle is absolutely the best protection against serious or fatal injury in a crash. Every single child seat on the market today meets our rigorous safety standards, without exception...

New Recaro Signo Recall: Feb-September 2008

We are receiving this information from a NHTSA Alert. It should be said that while NHTSA needs an overhaul in many of its operations, alerts like this work well. 

As of 8 a.m., there is no information on the Recaro website regarding this recall. There were two previous notifications on the Recaro site: one "Consumer Advisory" and one previos recall. It is not clear yet what action will be taken to correct this issue.

RECARO North America, Inc. is recalling certain Signo child restraint assemblies manufactured from February through September 2008. The central front adjuster strap on some seats may slip within the metal adjuster (A-Lock) that controls tightness of the harness, thereby preventing the harness from being properly tightened. If this condition existed and a vehicle crash occurred, the child would not be properly secured in their child restraint system and may sustain injury. RECARO will notify owners and replace any defective child restraint system free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during March 2009. Owners can contact RECARO customer service toll-free at 1-888-473-2290.

We are in the process of notifying all Safety Squad clients.

Safety Squad on NBC: More reaction to the Chicago Tribune article

Here are some points we need to make relating to the NBC piece.

1. They needed to pack a lot into a very small time frame.

2. The SafeSeat did not "fail" their tests. It detached from the base one time in their tests. Investigators were unable to replicate it again.

3. All car seats currently available in stores pass NHTSA's mandated tests. This includes most of the seats from the suspect tests. Check out our helpful links below to see if your seat is recalled.

4. Although we mention the basic difference between the sled test and the crash test being investigated, it's important to note that the NHTSA sled test is designed to be more severe than 95% of real-world crashes.

5. Many entities, including some car seat manufacturers, are questioning the validity of these new crash tests. They argue that the car seats may not be installed properly.

6. Since these new tests are still being investigated it is unclear what will come out of them. If they lead to improved car seat tests that's a good thing for parents.

7. In the meantime, unless your car seat is recalled, correct use of it based on quality instruction from a child passenger safety tech remains the best way to keep your baby safe on the road.

Here is a great online resource to help you get your seat registered and check it for recalls. We use it a lot. You can check your car for recalls there as well.

Safe Kids Response to the Tribune Article

Make sure you check out NHTSA's statement linked at the end.-safety squad

An article in the March 1, 2009 edition of the Chicago Tribune suggested that unpublicized government crash tests from 2008 may have revealed "flaws" in car seats. While the details of the tests are still unclear, one thing remains undisputed: car seats save children's lives every day. It is critical that parents and caregivers continue to use car seats for their children.

Correctly used car seats and booster seats are extremely effective, reducing the risk of death in a crash by as much as 71 percent. And the number of children killed in crashes over the past 30 years has dropped significantly, mostly due to the widespread use of car seats and enhanced child passenger safety laws.

Safe Kids USA always puts children and their safety first. Despite the report in the Tribune, the car seats on the market today are still the best, proven way to protect children in the event of a crash. Parents should continue to buckle their children in the right car seat or booster seat on every ride.

Safe Kids believes that more testing for car seats and vehicles can only continue to advance the child passenger safety field and improve the level of protection we can offer children when they ride. The more we know about car seats and how they react in crashes, the better equipped we will be to push for new technology and improvements that will keep children safer.

But there are a few important things a parent can do today to make sure their child is getting the best protection when using a car seat or booster seat:

• Always use the right restraint for your child’s height, weight and developmental age.
• Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions that came with the car seat.
• Make sure your car seat and vehicle work together. For example, the largest car seat on the market may not fit in a compact car as well as a smaller car seat. Remember all seats meet the same Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
• Get help installing your seat the right way. Find a Safe Kids car seat checkup event at http://www.safekidsweb.org/events/events.asp. A certified car seat technician will guide you to the right seat for your child and vehicle and teach you how to install it correctly.
• All children under 13 should ride in a backseat.

NHTSA Statement on Review of Federal Standards for Child Safety Seat

Tribune Article reveals flaws in testing. (Courtesy of CarSeatBlog.com)

Why reinvent the wheel! Our friends at carseatblog.com have done a great job summing up the basics of this issue. We will be following with points more specific to you in the coming days.

"The big news story of the moment comes to us courtesy of the Chicago Tribune.  As you have probably seen by now, they ran a story on Saturday, February 28 titled Car Seat Tests Reveal “Flaws”.   
So, is this overblown, sensationalistic journalism meant to sell more newspapers or is this a real ”Houston - we have a problem” issue?  Let’s take a look at what we do know at the moment: 
As part of a research project, infant seats with dummies were secured in the back seats of vehicles that were crash tested as part of the NCAP program.  NCAP stands for New Car Assessment Program. If you’ve heard of “government 5-star ratings,” then you know NCAP. NCAP is part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The purpose of this New Car Assessment Program is to provide consumers with vehicle safety information, primarily front and side crash rating results, to aid consumers in their vehicle purchase decisions. The rating results utilize a star system from 1 to 5 stars, with 5 being the highest.
For frontal crash ratings, dummies representing an average-sized adult are placed in driver and front passenger seats and secured with the vehicle’s seat belts. Vehicles are crashed into a fixed barrier at 35 mph, which is equivalent to a head-on collision between two similar vehicles (vehicles from the same weight class) each moving at 35 mph.  Frontal star ratings indicate the chance of a serious head and chest injury to the driver and right front seat passenger. A serious injury is defined as one requiring immediate hospitalization and may be life threatening...." More 

Why do they sell bumper pads if I’m not supposed to use them?

The simple answer….because we keep buying them. Believe it or not, there is very little legislation that addresses the type of products that can be sold and advertised as “baby products”.  Welcome to the overwhelming world of baby gear – there a lot of products that you will not need.  Some of them helpful, others that are innocuous, some that can be harmful.

Bumper pads no longer have a function in today’s contemporary world of “safety approved” cribs.  Bumper pads were used to prevent baby from escaping through the crib bars, or entrapping a body part between the rails. All newly manufactured cribs have to have corner posts, slats, spindles, or rails that are not more than 2 3/8 inches apart. (Download Federal crib regulations 2001 ) This concept of preventing “escape” or “entrapment” is no longer an issue.
...

Child Passenger Safety Techs: Who's the Best?

All National Certified Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Technicians complete the same basic 32-hour course. Their certification is valid for two years. Each CPS Tech is required to earn continuing education credits, conduct installation training and complete a refresher course to maintain certification.

Here are some questions you should ask a potential CPS Tech:

• Does he/she have a NHTSA/Safe Kids CPS Technician Number and Card?
• How often does the technician receive updates or continuing education?
• Does the technician have an up-to-date recall list?
• Who can the technician call for advice if problems or questions arise during the installation?
• Does he/she use a waiver/checklist during the installation?
• Is he/she insured as a CPS Technician?
   Does he/she utilize the 2007/09 LATCH Manual?

The more positive answers the better. In the best case, they can answer all questions to your satisfaction. The car seat industry changes daily. If your technician takes liability and continuing education seriously, then the instruction you receive will be accurate. You should leave a CPS Tech feeling empowered and educated, if not go someplace else. Sometimes you get what you pay for.

A Unified Car Seat Message: Our Mission

One of the reasons we created Safety Squad was to create an independent voice for parents. We sit in a position to see all facets of the industry and form opinions free of influence. Our only loyalty is to parents. We give them a birds eye view, so that they can make informed decisions regarding safety for their family. This is the first in a series of comments on unifying the car seat message.

Before we talk about what is being said, we must first identify who is talking.
In no particular order:

• NHTSA (National Highway Traffic & Safety Administration)
• Safe Kids (Local, National, Worldwide)
• State legislators (Individual State law)
• Car Seat Manufacturers
• Retailers
• Vehicle Manufacturers
• Public Safety Agencies
• Watchdog Groups
• Non-Profits
• Individual CPS Techs
• JPMA (Juvenile Product Manufactures Association)
• Researchers (Consumer Reports, etc)
• Hospitals and Medical Associations (Specializing in Child Safety)
• Media
• Parents (Forums, Blogs, Websites)

Everyone has their own message. Some are similar, while others are quite different. Either way, the end product is a confusing and conflicted message about how parents should address car seats. It is our mission to create unified message, while allowing individual opinion and enterprise.

Recalls: Britax Frontier

Britax Frontier

CHARLOTTE, NC (December 12, 2008) - Britax Child Safety, Inc. announced today that it is conducting a voluntary safety recall on the FrontierT combination Harness-2-BoosterT child restraints. The recall includes Frontier child restraints manufactured between April 1, 2008 and September 14, 2008 for Model #s E9L54E7, E9L54H6, E9L54H7 and E9L54M6 and between April 1, 2008 and September 17, 2008 on Model # E9L5490.

If the harness straps are repeatedly loosened one strap at a time, then the harness strap(s) may become detached from the metal yoke located on the back of the child seat. If the harness strap(s) becomes loose or detached then the condition can be corrected by inspecting the back of the child seat and reattaching the harness straps. If this condition occurs, the child may not be properly restrained, and in the event of a vehicle crash there could be an increased risk of injury. 

To address this issue, Britax will provide two rubber caps that can be easily placed on the yoke slots to prevent the harness straps from detaching. The rubber caps have been specifically designed for the Frontier yoke to provide a secure fit and have been tested to verify their effectiveness. 

No later than January 7, 2009, the rubber caps will be mailed with an instruction sheet to all registered Frontier child restraint owners with manufacturing dates prior to September 15 or 18, 2008. Additional caps will be made available to retailers with affected inventory of Frontiers manufactured prior to September 15 or 18, 2008. All Frontier child restraint owners should confirm whether their Frontier is affected by verifying the date of manufacture. Detailed instructions for locating this information can be found at www.FrontierRecall.com

Until consumers receive their remedy kit, they should confirm that their harness system is properly attached to the metal yoke and they may continue to safely use their child restraint.

Owners of the Frontier child restraint who have not registered their product or need to verify existing registration should contact the Britax information line, toll free at 1-800-683-2045 or visit www.FrontierRecall.com

Recall Notice: Graco ComfortSport

This is the second of two Graco Comfort Sport recalls since 2007. Read Carefully.

Synopsis: Graco is recalling 43,994 Comfortsport(TM) convertible car seats, in the Frazier(TM) Fashion, manufactured from November 1, 2006 through October 8, 2007. 

These seats were equipped with a large sized, supplemental pad or body pillow that partially obscures the child airbag warning label which is on the seat pad. The partial obscuring of this label fails to conform with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 213, Child Restraint Systems. Serious injury could occur to the child should the seat be improperly placed in the vehicle. Graco will notify owners and instruct them to discard the supplemental pillows. The pillows are provided for comfort only and do not affect the seat's ability to protect your child in the event of a crash. 

The recall is expected to begin during December 2008. 

Owners may contact Graco at 1-800-345-4109 or by e-mail at consumerservices@gracobaby.com. 

NHTSA Campaign ID Number: 08C009

Safety Notice: Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 30/30 manufactured between 7/07 and 3/08

Peg Perego has issued a safety notice for Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP 30/30 car seats manufactured between July 2007 and March 2008.  The actual notice from the Peg Pergo site can be found here.  All Safety Squad Clients affected by the notice have been emailed.

The following is from their site.

"Peg Perego has taken this voluntary action because mold flash may exist on less than 0.25% of plastic car seat adjuster covers manufactured between July 2007 and March 2008. (Mold flash is a situation where excess plastic leaks from the mold and creates an unintended edge on the component.) Although this part passed the Sharp Edge Test as mandated under federal safety testing procedures, the mold has been redesigned to eliminate the problem on subsequent production runs.

The part in question has scratched the heels of some bare-footed infants. In the reported incidents,   professional medical attention was not required, nor were the children seriously injured.

A new, skin-safe adjuster cover has been sent to all customers whose registered Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP 30/30 car seats fall within the July/March manufacturing window. To ensure no one is missed, Peg Perego will send a skin-safe adjuster cover free of charge to any customer who requests one by calling Peg Perego toll-free at 1-800-671-1701.

Child safety and comfort is Peg Perego's top priority.  To ensure that it remains as such, Peg Perego is providing an Online Associate to facilitate customer interaction on the web. It is Peg Perego's goal to effectively and proactively communicate with the public through this medium."

Fire Safety: Another human dies looking for a dog in a house fire

When we talk with clients about fire safety in the home, we often end up talking about the family pet. In many cases, we are speaking with expectant parents who's first "child" was a dog. We are huge dog lovers, so we get it, they are a huge part of the family.

But, let's be clear.  You are a bigger part of your family, so don't go looking for a dog or cat or whatever in a fire.

In a house fire, you're pet has a better chance of living than you do!  They are fast and low... you are not. They don't need as much oxygen and they recover quickly in many cases. If the intensity of a fire has you flee from your home, don't go back in. It's usually not the fire that gets you, its the smoke.

Let the fire department do its job, when you run back into a fire and go down, firefighters now have to risk more to save you.  If your pet is the only victim, we'll do CPR or give oxygen.

Last night in Cicero, IL, another man tried to save his dog. He died, the dog got out. Sad for sure, but totally avoidable. This is certainly not a judgment. Every circumstance is different, but very often they end the same way.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on the subject.