Carbon Monoxide (CO) is known as the silent killer because it is a colorless, odorless gas and often people don’t realize they are being poisoned.  Take the time to have all of your heating appliances checked this winter by a trained service technician for any leaks, blockages or complications that could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.  A faulty furnace, blocked chimney, fuel-burning heater or portable generator exhaust can result in carbon monoxide poisoning.

Take the following precautions to potentially protect your loved ones from harm:

• Install a carbon monoxide detector outside the bedroom area on each level of your home. Be sure your alarms have a battery backup.
• Carbon monoxide weighs the same as air so detectors should be installed in the middle of the wall or in an area with good circulation.
• Change the batteries annually.
• Carbon monoxide detectors lose their sensitivity generally after five years. Check the back of your detector for the manufacture date to learn when to replace your detector.
• Be aware of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning such as dizziness, headache, nausea, fatigue and irregular breathing. Remember that oftentimes people have no symptoms.
• Never use a portable generator inside your home, garage, shed, or similar area. Carbon monoxide can build up within minutes when a generator is used in a confined or partially enclosed space.
• Check the exhaust pipe on your vehicle to be sure it is free from snow. Snowdrifts can also obstruct the exhaust on your vehicle. If your exhaust pipe is blocked, carbon monoxide can enter your vehicle.
• Never use an oven or gas range for heating.
• If you feel you have a CO leak or have any concerns about possible CO poisoning, go outside immediately, and then call 911.

Help spread the word about carbon monoxide poisoning.  Let others know about the signs of CO poisoning, symptoms and how to prevent it!  The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is sponsoring a nationwide carbon monoxide safety poster contest for middle school students to help warn people about the dangers of CO. Create a poster about the dangers of carbon monoxide.  Your child can save lives and win money at the same time. For more information about this program and for additional safety programs, safety alerts and recalls go to www.thesafetycouncil.org.  Pass it on and save a life!

Jamie Schaefer-Wilson is the Executive Director of The Safety Institute.

Jamie Schaefer-Wilson is the Executive Director of The Safety Institute.

Before you deck the halls this holiday season, take a moment to ensure you are celebrating safely.

• Before using your holiday lights, inspect them carefully looking for loose connections, frayed or bare wires, and broken or cracked sockets. On most holiday lights available at retailers, lights with holographic green UL labels are for indoor use only, while those with holographic red UL labels can be used both in and outdoors.
• Never throw wrapping paper into the fire. Fires started with wrapping paper can ignite suddenly, burn rapidly and intensely, and create a bigger fire.
• A dry Christmas tree can be a potential fire hazard. Add water to your tree every day and keep it away from heat sources such as fireplaces or room heaters.
• Be careful and follow instructions when using artificial snow spray on windows or other surfaces. These sprays can irritate lungs if inhaled.
• Don’t let your child touch holiday lights. In many cases, electrical cords contain lead, which can rub off on your hands and shouldn’t be handled by children. You should also wash your own hands thoroughly after you handle your light sets. Additionally, don’t overload electrical outlets or run extension cords under carpets, across doorways, or near heaters.
• Use precaution with candles. Keep candles, matches and lighters out of your child’s reach. Place them in a non-flammable holder at least a foot away from other materials. Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Check all toys for age appropriateness. Don’t let your toddler play with toys he receives as gifts unless you are sure they are age appropriate. Check them to confirm there aren’t any small parts or pieces that can separate and become a choking hazard.
  

For more information on holiday safety, recalls, safety alerts, and to answers for more of your safety questions visit the National Youth and Consumer Safety Council at www.thesafetycouncil.org

If Thanksgiving’s about anything, it’s food. Whether your holiday table features the traditional turkey-and-mashed-potatoes fare or any one of endless cultural and health-related variations on that theme, American kitchens are busy places on the fourth Thursday in November. Amid the hustle and bustle of chopping and stirring, basting and baking, take time to ensure a safe holiday. According to the National Fire Protection Association, Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires.  But, as the pantheon of holiday disaster stories illustrates, there are plenty of other mishaps we’d all be grateful to avoid. Below are a few simple tips to help you celebrate safely:

1. Never leave any food cooking on the stove unattended even for a moment. Stay in the kitchen and keep an eye on the food on your cooktop.
2. When using your oven continue to check on your food. Your turkey will be cooking for hours, but someone must remain in the home to make these frequent checks.  Keep kids three feet away from the stove.
3. Use the back burners of the stove and turn all pot handles towards the wall.
4. A tip for the littlest ones: Never give your child pots and pans to play with, even if he or she is playing on the floor.  Your child will get confused and may not know the difference between a pan on the hot stove and one she is playing with on the floor.
5. Beware of cross-contamination when cooking. Never thaw a turkey or any meat on your countertop.  Turkey, chicken or meat should be thawed in a refrigerator, inside its original packaging, or on a plate or in a microwave oven.
6. If you thaw turkey in a microwave, you will need to cook it right away. Turkey should also be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
7. Countertops, cutting boards, knives and other utensils should be cleaned thoroughly after use with hot soapy water and be sure to keep all knives and potentially sharp utensils away from kids.
8. Keep a multipurpose dry-chemical fire extinguisher in the kitchen. This is one that can put out both electrical and grease fires.
9. If you haven’t changed the batteries in your smoke detectors, be sure to do so and test them to be sure they are working. Several smoke alarms have been recalled over the past few months.  Check the website for the Consumer Product Safety Commission to see if yours was recalled.
10. Last, enjoy the day with your friends and family!

To learn more about holiday safety along with food and product recalls during this season go to The National Youth and Consumer Safety Council’s website at www.thesafetycouncil.org.

Jamie is currently the Executive Director of The Safety Institute. The Safety Institute examines areas of injury prevention and product safety across a broad spectrum.  The Institute bases its plans and priorities on issues that require greater study and emphasis, as well as those which may be underserved by other organizations and advocates.  Jamie authored two parenting and safety books, The Baby Rules: The Insiders Guide to Raising Your Parents and The Consumer Reports Guide to Childproofing and Safety and successfully fought for safety legislation on Capitol Hill.