SAFETY SQUAD BLOG

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.