In the News
Posted on Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
The following is a story from NBC Action News today about pool drains and the danger they pose to children. The CPSC recently made it a federal requirement for new drain covers to be installed that make it less likely for a child to be sucked down by the pool drain. This requirement is for public pools and not home pools, but parents should still know the suction of their pool drain and consider changing the drain cover.
Safe Kids has also launched a Pool Safety Pledge - to take the pledge and learn more about how to keep your children safe, click on http://sk.convio.net/site/Survey?ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&SURVEY_ID=5502
Here is a link to the NBC news story and the text below. http://www.nbcactionnews.com/news/local/story/Will-the-Public-Pools-Be-Ready-Under-New-Law/VCq6nU3KikyUB_MFl_-7Nw.cspx
Will the Public Pools Be Ready Under New Law?
LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. - A new federal law requires all public pools and spas to replace old drain covers to reduce suction power. The goal is to keep swimmers from being trapped underwater.
A flat cover is the wrong type of cover to have.
NBC Action News was there Tuesday as a diver from Olympic Pool Management made a neighborhood pool safer for swimmers this summer.
He replaced the drain cover, so the pool will comply with a new federal law that could save lives by keeping children from being trapped.
One worker explained that sometimes kids would go down to the bottom of pool, sit on the flat drain cover and be trapped by the suction. The new grate is an improvement.
With the dome shape, you can’t block all of the vents, and the suction can’t build up.
At another pool nearby, Bryan Bumgarner shows us a drain cover he invented.
It converts a single drain to a double. The new drains are 36 inches apart. The separation decreases the suction power. And it’s far enough that a child can’t block both.
“So if a child would fall on this one, it’s sucking off this one. So that’s the safety part about it, it’s a dual safety system,” said Bumgarner, of Crystal Mountain Specialties.
Bumgarner’s crews are working around the clock to get ready. But he says many pools won’t be in compliance when they open this weekend.
“Hundreds of them. There’s no way. There’s not enough parts. We can’t get parts in fast enough,” Bumgarner said.
The retrofit cost the Canterbury Homes Association in Lee’s Summit $500. Bigger pools can cost thousands of dollars.
The Homes Association president, Linda Marshall, said they’ve never had a problem at this neighborhood pool.
“I think it’s probably overkill, but if it saves the life of one kid, I suppose it’s probably worth it.”
Marshall said parents usually keep a very close eye on their children.
Parents should ask their pools manager whether the pool is in compliance. And you can look at the drain cover yourself. If it’s flat, it’s old and illegal. Safer ones have a curve or dome shape.
But to make things more complicated, the danger level really depends on the suction force, and every pool is different.
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Posted on Tuesday, May 5th, 2009
A new report out by Clinical Pediatrics highlights the dangers of tip-prone furniture. According to a press release by the Nationwide Children’s Hospital, “nearly 15,000 children younger than 18 years of age visited emergency departments annually for injuries received from furniture tip-overs”.
The Today Show on NBC highlighted the report, showed how to safely secure tip-prone furniture including, bookcases, dressers, TVs and pictures, and interviewed families who have had children injured or killed by tip-prone furniture. The Horn Family, which sit on our board, and whose son the house is named after, were included in the feature.
Here is a link to the Today Show news item: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/#30558115
And below is the press release, as well as a link: http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/gd/applications/controller.cfm?page=204&id=630&type=new
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Nearly 15,000 children visit emergency departments each year for furniture tip-over-related injuries
COLUMBUS, OH, May 04, 2009 —Although most parents do not consider furniture and televisions to be dangerous, children are often injured when these items tip over. A recent study conducted by the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that from 1990-2007 an average of nearly 15,000 children younger than 18 years of age visited emergency departments annually for injuries received from furniture tip-overs.
According to the study, published in the online issue of Clinical Pediatrics in May, most furniture tip-over-related injuries occurred among children younger than 7 years of age and resulted from televisions tipping over. More than one quarter of the injuries occurred when children pulled over or climbed on furniture. Children ages 10-17 years were more likely to suffer injuries from desks, cabinets or bookshelves tipping over. Head and neck injuries were most common among younger children, while children older than 9 years were more likely to suffer injuries to the lower body.
Despite warnings from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the number of injuries involving televisions and other furniture tipping over onto children has increased in this country since the early 1990s.
“There was a more than 40 percent increase in the number of injuries during the study period, and the injury rate also significantly increased during these years,” said study senior author Gary Smith, MD, DrPH, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “This trend demonstrates the inadequacy of current prevention strategies and underscores the need for increased prevention efforts.”
Parents can minimize risks to children by placing televisions low to the ground and near the back of their stands and strapping televisions and furniture to the wall with safety straps or L-brackets. Purchasing furniture with wide legs or with solid bases, installing drawer stops on chests of drawers and placing heavy items close to the floor on shelves will also help prevent tip-overs. Additionally, parents can reduce a child’s desire to climb furniture by not placing attractive items, such as toys or the remote control, high on top of furniture or the television.
“Pediatricians and child caregivers should be aware that furniture tip-overs are an important source of childhood injury,” said Dr. Smith, also a faculty member of The Ohio State University College of Medicine. “Following a few simple prevention steps will decrease the number of injuries to children associated with furniture tip-overs.”
Data for this study were collected from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), which is operated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The NEISS dataset provides information on consumer product-related and sports and recreation-related injuries treated in hospital emergency departments across the country.
The Center for Injury Research and Policy (CIRP) works globally to reduce injury-related pediatric death and disabilities. With innovative research at its core, CIRP works to continually improve the scientific understanding of the epidemiology, biomechanics, prevention, acute treatment and rehabilitation of injuries. CIRP serves as a pioneer by translating cutting edge injury research into education, advocacy and advances in clinical care. In recognition of CIRP’s valuable research, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently named the Center for Injury Research and Policy as one of only 13 centers in the United States to be designated as an Injury Control Research Center. Learn more about the Center for Injury Research and Policy at http://www.injurycenter.org. |
Posted on Monday, March 2nd, 2009
Just thought I’d share some more stories that have appeared in the news over the past year about children being hurt or by falling furniture from around the US. This by no means includes all the news stories or children that have been injured. Please take the time to purchase and install furniture safety straps!
1) Police rule 3-year-old’s death an accident
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle - Dec. 7, 2008
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6152482.html
Homicide detectives on Sunday investigated the death of a 3-year-old who was killed after a TV fell on the child.
Investigators went to a home in the 6000 block of Reims in West Houston, but officials said the death was reported as accidental.
In 2006, Memorial Hermann doctors and other health officials said that infant deaths because of tipped TVs had become “a public health issue.”
That year, Memorial Hermann Hospital alone treated at least 11 children injured by falling TVs, six of whom died, including a 3-year-old who was crushed after she tried to adjust the TV set.
2) Boy, 23 months, killed when dresser falls
Corey Halpin’s parents said he was a ‘loving’ child.
By TED CZECH
Daily Record/Sunday News
Article Launched: 04/03/2008
Corey Halpin, who died Monday in an accident at his Dover Township home, loved wearing hats so he would always be ready if someone was going outside, his mother said.
The thing Gail Halpin will miss most about her young son Corey is the way he would lie next to her in bed early in the morning, kissing her and saying, “Mommy, Mommy.”
Corey Halpin, just two weeks shy of his second birthday, died Monday at his home in Dover Township in what his mother called a “tragic accident.” Gail Halpin said her son was playing inside a dresser drawer in his room when the dresser fell over
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While reminiscing Tuesday about what she loved about her son, Gail Halpin also said she saw his death as a way to warn others about the dangers of unsecured furniture. “If my dresser had been secured to the wall, he wouldn’t have died,” she said. “If his death can help save other little children, then that’s something good.”
Gail, 31, and husband Jim, 35, described Corey as “loving,” always wanting to be kissed and hugged. Corey spread that love to all of his family members, they said. Sister Annagale, 8, would swing Corey around on her back. Corey and brother Kaden, 3, would move his bed next to Corey’s crib so they could be as close together as possible while they slept.
With his father, Corey would imagine he was on a roller coaster, hopping, twisting and turning on his dad.
He loved to play peek-a-boo. He also wanted his sandals and “Gilligan’s Island”-style hat on at all times because if he thought anyone was going outside, he wanted to go, too, Gail Halpin said.
Gail Halpin said that, about 6:30 p.m. Monday, she was at her Equestrian Drive home in Dover Township and had just put Corey and Kaden to bed. But the boys stayed up playing, she said. Gail Halpin was in another part of the house when Kaden came to her and said, “Mommy, Corey’s stuck.”
She went right away and found Corey in the bottom drawer of a dresser. He was not moving.
She pulled him out, carried him into her kitchen and called 911. Gail Halpin believes Corey’s weight in the bottom drawer caused the dresser to tip over and that, when it did, it closed on his neck.
She said that, as a tribute to Corey, she plans to dedicate herself to keeping other children safe. A group of her online friends plans to start a Web site where they will offer straps to anchor furniture to walls to prevent them from falling, she said.
3) Chest falls, kills Massillon 18-month-old girl
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
MASSILLON An 18-month-old girl died Saturday after a chest of drawers fell on her at her home on Second Street NE, according to a report with the Stark County Coroner’s office.
The victim, Madelyne Loch, was pronounced dead Saturday morning at Affinity Medical Center in Massillon.
The death was still being investigated by the coroner’s staff Monday, but officials said they believe the child suffocated under the weight of the furniture.
“It looks like she pulled a small chest of drawers,” said Harry Campbell, chief investigator on the coroner’s staff. “Something compressed her chest so she could not inhale. We don’t have anything definite yet. I don’t believe there was any type of head injury.”
The toddler was discovered by one of her parents, who are identified in the coroner’s report as Lindsay Loch and William Dunger.
County and city investigators are reviewing the matter.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
4) Macy Rae Reed (5 years old) - Killed by a falling TV in Idaho Falls, Idaho
Cedar Hill toddler hurt when TV topples
11:56 AM CDT on Monday, March 17, 2008
By ERIN EIDENSHINK / The Dallas Morning News
A two-and-a-half- year-old girl was severely injured Sunday afternoon when a television fell off its stand and struck her upper body and head, the Cedar Hill Fire Department said.
The child was alone in a bedroom when the incident occurred about 12:45 p.m. in the 300 block of Taurus Drive, police said. Officers were told she was unconscious and bleeding from the mouth and the nose.
Paramedics transported her by Careflite to Children’s Medical Center Dallas where treatment was begun for a fractured skull and swelling to the brain.
The child’s father and four brothers were home at the time of the accident. It is unknown why the TV fell on the girl.
In September, a seven-year-old Plano girl died after a large television set fell on her.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission last year listed tipping furniture as one of the top five hidden home hazards. The commission said there were 31 deaths in 2006 related to tipping furniture, including televisions and ranges. The commission estimated that 2,600 children younger than 5 were treated in emergency rooms for tipping-television injuries in 2005.
In the UT Southwestern study, researchers looked at 26 cases handled by the emergency department of Children’s Medical Center Dallas between November 2003 and October 2004. The children injured by the falling TVs ranged in age from 1 to 7 years old. None of the injuries were fatal.
The findings included:
• Nine children were hospitalized, including two in the intensive care unit. Fourteen suffered head injuries, and nine injured an arm or leg. More than one-third of the cases were admitted to the hospital for stays ranging from one to four days.
• Televisions with 20- to 30-inch screens made up two-thirds of the cases; TVs 19 inches and smaller made up less than a fifth of the cases; screens between 30 and 40 inches made up the balance.
• Most of the TVs - 85 percent - were placed between 2 feet and 5 feet off the floor.
• Three out of four parents questioned by researchers said the accident occurred because a child was climbing on the set. The rest said the TV was knocked over by another person.
“Parents should place TVs on furniture that is appropriate for the size of the TV,” the CPSC has said.
Parents should also avoid placing items on TVs, such as toys, that would encourage a child to climb on the TV, she said. TV stands with drawers should also be avoided because the drawers could act as steps for a child to climb.
Posted on Monday, May 19th, 2008
I am very happy to announce that on Friday, during the last day of session the Missouri House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a Senate resolution in Charlie’s honor.
SCR 40 - This resolution urges the U.S. Congress and the Consumer Product Safety Commission to enact regulations that strengthen incentives for use of ASTM International’s furniture safety standard for furniture tip-over hazards, use of warning labels on tip-over risks for certain furniture and appliances, use of wall anchoring devices on certain furniture and appliances, and for promoting public education on furniture tip-over dangers and prevention methods.
Senator Luann Ridgeway & Representative Bryan Pratt led this initiative by sponsoring companion resolutions in the Senate & House of Representatives. Their hope is that this resolution may help prevent other families from encountering a tragedy similar to the one which took Charlie’s life. Once signed by the Governor this will be the first piece of legislation of its kind in the U.S. on the state or federal level.
Jenny & I would especially like to thank our personal friend Lynne Schlosser whose hard work and insight into the state government made this all possible. Lynne, I can’t express how grateful we are.
This resolution can be an important tool in asking the furniture industry, ASTM, & CPSC to make important changes regarding tip over standards. Even more importantly we can utilize this as a means to continue educating parents of this hidden in home danger.
Lynne & Senator Ridgeway have informed me that they will be planning a signing ceremony with the Governor in June, I believe in the Kansas City area.
Obviously this resolution is important to my family, and I am asking for all your help to make sure that the hard work of our state legislators is not wasted. I have sent this e-mail to only a few people who have mentioned to me in the past that you may have local & national media contacts or federal governmental contacts. Please contact me or Jenny if you can help and we will try to work with the state officials to develop a public awareness campaign.
Thank you again to all who have helped!
Brett & Jenny Horn
Furniture Legislation Passes in Missouri
Posted on Monday, March 24th, 2008
Press Release from the U.S. Department of Transportation
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, D.C.
www.dot.gov/affairs/briefing.htm <http://www.dot.gov/affairs/briefing.htm>
March 24 2008
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters Launches New Service to Automatically E-mail, Instant Message Safety Recall Information;
Consumers Now Able to Sign Up for Safety Seat and Tire Recall Information
Consumers will be able to get important safety updates about child seats and tire recalls automatically e-mailed or sent to their PDA devices as part of a new federal government notification service, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters announced today.
“Signing up for this service is one of the easiest things you can do to help protect yourself and the lives of your children,” said Secretary Peters. “We can’t afford to let safety get lost in the mail.”
The Secretary noted that the new system focuses on safety seat and tire recall information because fewer consumers have historically responded to these important safety updates. For example, less than one-third of affected consumers respond to the tire recalls, while less than half of affected consumers respond to child seat recalls.
“When a product is defective, we want to do everything to get those unsafe products off the market,” said National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Deputy Administrator James F. Ports, Jr.
Ports urged consumers to visit www.safercar.gov and click on the “E-mail” or “RSS” option to register for the new notification service. However, he also reminded consumers that they should continue to register their safety seats and tires with manufacturers, even if they sign up for the new notification service. Ports explained that registering child seats and tires helps manufacturers contact purchasers about recalls in a timely fashion and allows them to provide additional details and instructions about the recalls.
Ports added that the Department has even added a feature to its “safecar.gov” website to make it easier for consumers to register safety seats directly with manufacturers. Consumers should click on the “Register your child restraint online” link and take advantage of this service.
Posted on Friday, February 29th, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
Story last updated at 2/29/2008 - 12:50 pm
Parents hoping to ensure that no one else has to endure the death of a child
By Debbie Coleman-topi | deborah.topi@examiner.net
A former Blue Springs man and his wife have been pierced by a heartache that most parents experience only in their nightmares.
Brett and Jenny Horn know all to well the sleepless nights and deep depression that continue to plague them three months after one of their 2-year-old triplets died. Charlie Horn was killed in November when a dresser fell onto him in the bedroom of the family’s home in Kansas City. There were no witnesses to the accident. Another of the couple’s triplets was asleep in the bedroom at the time of the accident.
The dresser apparently tipped over while Charlie was climbing on its drawers. Emergency personnel said the boy was already dead when they arrived on the scene.
Brett said the family never thought of securing the dresser because it stood only 30 inches high. The couple had secured to the wall other, taller pieces of furniture to prevent them from tipping. “It didn’t even cross our minds that it would tip or fall or harm anyone,” he said.
Brett described the tremendous grief. “It’s been unbearable at times, and the family is just taking things one day at a time, still,” he said.
Especially challenging is that the couple is trying to cope with the loss while continuing to raise and console their other children, Charlie’s 2-year-old triplet siblings, Will and Brigit, and older brother, Jack, who’s now 5. “The one saving grace it’s good that we have three other children to occupy our time and keep us busy and continue with life,” he said. “At the same time, when we look at his brother and sister, we see Charlie. When I look at Jack, I see Charlie’s smile…I see certain aspects of Charlie in each one of his other siblings.”
But the couple isn’t stopping there. They are on a mission to ensure that the nightmare doesn’t become a reality for other families. The Horns are working with parents who’ve faced similar tragedies when a child was killed by falling furniture. The group has garnered Congressional support for a bill that would require mandatory warning labels on home furniture to prevent injury or death to small children. If passed, the bill would require labels on furniture and electronic devices, such as large televisions.
Congressman Sam Graves, R-6th, said he’s one of the bill’s co-sponsors because it’s such an important cause. “The important thing on something like this is to raise awareness” he said. “This will help raise awareness and prevent those types of horrible accidents from happening in the future.”
House Resolution 4266, also known as the Katie Elise & Meghan Agnes Act, is named for children who died in furniture tipping accidents. The bill sets mandates to be enforced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The legislation would require that furniture and electronic appliances “in jeopardy of tipping bear a warning label alerting consumers to the potential dangers of unsecured furniture,” according to a letter the parents drafted to members of the U.S. Congress. The parents have collected 10,000 signatures on a petition they plan to present to Congress during a trip to Washington, D.C. in May, said Brett, a 1989 graduate of Blue Springs High School. The Horns live in Kansas City.
Congressman Ike Skelton, D-4th, another co-sponsor of the bill, issued this written statement:
“I am hopeful that Congress will support this bill, which would help to reduce the number of tragic deaths that occur because products are not completely safe and reliable.”
Posted on Friday, February 15th, 2008
KIDS AND CARS * Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety * Consumers Union * Public Citizen * Center for Auto Safety * Trauma Foundation * Consumer Federation of America *National Consumers League FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, February 14, 2008 Contact: Janette Fennell, KIDS AND CARS, (913) 327-0013Jackie Gillan, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, (202) 408-1711Jennifer Fuson, Consumers Union 202-462-6262 Parents, Consumer and Safety Groups Give a Standing Ovation to the Senate for passing the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act Today Washington, DC — Parents, consumer and safety groups praise the Senate’s unanimous passage today of H.R. 1216, an important child auto safety measure. The bill, the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007, was named after 2-year-old Cameron, who was killed when he was inadvertently backed over by an SUV because the blindzone behind the vehicle made it impossible to see him. Dr. Greg Gulbransen, a Long Island pediatrician expressed gratitude that the long-awaited bill has now been approved by the Senate after having been approved in the House in December. “Today’s action represents the accumulation of hard work, dedication and commitment by everyone affected by these preventable tragedies. When implemented, the provisions of the bill will make vehicles much safer for all American families,” said Dr. Gulbransen. “With today’s Senate passage, the Congress has spoken clearly – the safety of our children is a top priority. We now urge President Bush to sign the bill into law,” said Janette Fennell, president of KIDS AND CARS. “This measure will help prevent the type of tragedies similar to the one that took Cameron’s life and the thousands of serious injuries that happen to children every year. Valentine’s Day of 2008 will never be forgotten by the parents who have suffered the unimaginable and have worked so hard to make the world a safer place for children in and around motor vehicles,” she added. The bill addresses three of the most serious causes of preventable injuries and fatalities to young children in and around motor vehicles: getting caught in an automatically closing power window; being struck by a backing vehicle because of an unacceptable blindzone; and placing a vehicle in gear that results in an uncontrolled roll away without having to depress the brake. “We know what the problems are, we have inexpensive and effective technological solutions available and now we will have a law that includes deadlines for federal government action,” commented Jackie Gillan, vice president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.
“This Senate action today is a valentine to all consumers who support auto safety. We are deeply grateful that both the House and Senate have completed action on this important measure. We hope the President will quickly sign it into law,” said Ellen Bloom of Consumers Union. The legislation directs the U.S. Department of Transportation to issue new safety standards within specific time periods that will lead to the installation of safety technologies as standard equipment in all vehicles to prevent deaths and injuries in and around motor vehicles. These safety technologies are already available as standard equipment, upgrades or optional equipment in many makes and models of vehicles. The bill also requires the department to establish a database of noncrash incidents and develop a program to provide the public with safety information regarding nontraffic dangers to young children. Since 2000, over 1,350 children have died in non-traffic incidents, with at least 227 fatalities already in 2007 according to KIDS AND CARS. Back-over incidents have increased dramatically claiming the lives of 474 children from 2002-2006 compared to 128 from 1997-2001. Backovers now account for half of all non-traffic fatalities involving children. The federal government does not collect data about non-traffic incidents, so the actual fatality numbers are likely much higher. A 2002 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that over 9,100 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms (176 per week) due to non-traffic incidents in a one-year time period. Some of the deadliest months for children killed in noncrash incidents occurred in 2007. In July, 2007 alone, 34 children died in nontraffic incidents, followed by 31 fatalities in August and 26 fatalities in April. Joan Claybrook, president, Public Citizen and former Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration responded to today’s bill passage by commending the bill’s sponsors in both the Senate and House. Passage of this legislation was the result of strong bi-partisan action in both the House and Senate. We are grateful for the leadership of Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and John Sununu (R-NH) and Representatives Janice Schakowsky (D-IL) and Peter King (R-NY).” The Senate bill had 37 Democratic and Republican co-sponsors and the House bill had 43. The following relatives of children who were injured or died in preventable nontraffic auto incidents along with many others have joined the safety and consumer groups in support of the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007: Dr. & Mrs. Greg Gulbransen, in memory of son, Cameron, age 2, who was backed over and killed on October 19, 2002 (Oyster Bay, NY) Bill & Adriann Nelson, in memory of son, Alec, 16 months, who was backed over and killed on April 24, 2004. (Dix Hills, NY) Packy & Brenda Campbell, in memory of son, Ian Joseph, 22 months, who died when a vehicle was inadvertently knocked into gear on April 14, 2004 (Farmington, NH) Mrs. Susan Auriemma, in honor of daughter, Kate age 31/2, who was backed over and injured on May 27, 2005 (Manhasset, NY) Britt Gates, in memory of daughter, Zoie Beth Gates, age 2 1/2, who was killed by a power window on November 3, 2001 (Anthony, KS) Ms. Melissa Feimer, in memory of her niece, Vada Schoon, age 3, who was backed over and killed on June 7, 2006 (Cliffside Park, NJ) Steve & Shannon Campbell, in memory of son, Drew Campbell, 26 months, who was backed over and killed on April 20, 2003 (Cincinnati, OH) Michael & Sharron DiMario, in memory of son, Gino J. DiMario, age 7, who was backed over and killed on February 19, 2005. (Cincinnati, OH) Orin & Arden Rosenfeld, in memory of daughter, Veronica Rosenfeld, age 2, who was backed over and killed on March 27, 2005 (Baca Raton, FL) Mark & Keiko Warschauer, in memory of son, Michael Warschauer, 10 months, who died after being inadvertently left in a hot car on August 8, 2003 (Irvine, CA) Smith & Julie Peck, in memory of son, Jackson Peck, age 4, who was backed over and killed on December 23, 2004 Ms. Amie Duemer, in memory of son, Josef Duemer, 1yr, who died after being inadvertently left in a hot car on August 3, 2005 (Lubbock, TX) Tim & Angela Gridley, in memory of daughter, Aliviah Faith Gridley, 26 months, who was backed over and killed on December 30, 2005 (Cedartown, GA) Travis & Sally Knoll, in memory of son, Davin Knoll, age 4, who was strangled in a power window on June 2, 2004 (Sheboygan, WI) Phil & Cheryl Bransom, in memory of son, Douglas Bransom, age 7, who was struck and killed by an SUV on May 30, 2006 (West Linn, OR) Todd & Melody Costello, in memory of son, Tyler Costello, 8 months, who died after being inadvertently let in a hot vehicle on July 29, 2002 (Medina, OH) Kevin & Bethany Falkner, in memory of son, Steven Matthew Falkner, age 3, who was killed by a power window on January 7, 1998 (West Plains, MO) Ms. Lisa Rice, in memory of son, Craig Rice, age 5, who was backed over and killed on July 13, 2003, (Sacramento. CA) Aaron Chatten, in memory of daughter, Madison Faith Chatten, 15 months, who was backed over and killed on May 3, 2005 (Glasgow, MT) Bob & AnnMarie Pszybylski, in honor of son, Robert Pszybylski, age 2, who was critically injured when struck by a vehicle on April 7, 2006 (St. James, NY) Rodney & Meredyth Bryant, in memory of daughter, Annabelle Riley Bryant, age 2 1/2, who was killed after being backed over on May 4, 2005 (Glen Allen, VA) Matthew & Lisa Cavallaro, in memory of daughter, Agatha, age 2 who was backed over on Father’s Day, June 20, 2004 (Muttontown, NY) ###
Posted on Wednesday, February 6th, 2008
Burns are another common injury for children, and most often it’s not what parents commonly think of that can cause a burn. For instance, take a look at this news story on Fox 4 from 5 February about a hot chocolate that gave this girl 2nd degree burns.
http://www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=5689927&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.5.1
The video link is http://www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/MyFox/pages/sidebar_video.jsp?contentId=5689972&version=1&locale=EN-US
One thing to consider is slip proof placemats and rubber mats you can place under cups and mugs. Make sure the drink has had time to cool too.
Posted on Wednesday, February 6th, 2008
From the father of Charlie Horn (May 6, 2005 – November 1, 2007)
Recently my 2 ½ year old son Charlie was killed in a tragic accident at home. As his father, I struggle with the fact that I could have prevented his death.
A dresser merely 30” high fell on him and took his life. He was apparently climbing on the dresser like most inquisitive children will do. Had we secured this dresser to the wall, Charlie would still be with us today & his wonderful smile would still warm my heart.
We are not alone, approximately 20 children die and an estimated 8,000 -10,000 are injured each year from furniture/TV tip over accidents. Most of these are children under 5 years old.
My family’s pain is indescribable…however an opportunity now exists for Charlie’s story to help others.
There is a bill which has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in the 1st session of the 110th Congress, and we need your help.
The Bill: HR 4266 – The Katie Elise & Meghan Agness Bill - Formerly HR Bill 1861, it has been recently re-introduced as HR 4266 by Rep. Allyson Schwartz. This bill would require any furniture or electronic appliances in jeopardy of tipping bear a warning label alerting consumers to the potential dangers of unsecured furniture. In addition, this furniture would be required to come packaged with anchoring devices and simple installation instructions, so it can be safely secured to wall studs.
To read the entire bill, please click here:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.R.4266:
I am pleading for everyone who gets this e-mail forwarded to them to do two things:
1) Sign the petition: http://www.where-to-turn.org/petition_hr1861.php This will take 1 minute of your time and will greatly help. (This is the former bill # but it still is the appropriate place to sign the bill)
2) Contact your congressman, with an e-mail or phone call. Ask them to sign on as a Co-sponsor for HR bill 4266. If you don’t know who your congressman is or how to contact them just click here to find out: http://www.rallycongress.com/letter2congress/698/?gclid=CKCJ2LihkpACFQe0Hgod8l8Qhw
Accidents happen & I don’t expect legislation to completely solve this problem; but it will help, and I am confident that it will save lives of other children.
If you have children or grandchildren – Please secure your furniture & TV’s to the wall. You can fix a hole in the wall…but you can’t fix a hole in your heart.
-Trust me
Brett Horn
Posted on Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008
I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all who worked some incredible hours in order to help us with tonight’s broadcast on NBC Action News - specifically Stephen Doucette, our graphic designer, Katie Schatte of Safe Kids for great ideas, information and the use of her office, Australia’s Kidsafe House for sending us a DVD, all the TV crew at NBC who worked some extra hours pulling together the story, Babies R Us for the use of safety products, Elizabeth Souder our lawyer, the teams at Groundspring and Partners in Public Health, and of course Jenny & Brett Horn. Thanks everyone!
Posted on Friday, December 28th, 2007
While we’ve been talking to friends, families and colleagues, I wanted to let you all know that we will be launching in the public arena through a news cast, due to air on KSHB-TV / NBC Action News on Wednesday, Jan 2 at 10pm. The news cast will talk about our future plans and naming the house after Charlie Horn. If you’re in Kansas City, make sure to tune in. If not, we’ll post a link to the video online after it’s aired!
Posted on Friday, December 28th, 2007
We are officially incorporated! We recived the notice from the Kansas Sectretary of State on November 28 2007!
