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Trick Or Treat Safety Tips

October 29, 2011 By 2 Comments

By Ashley

In our house, we’re not quite to the “walking the neighborhood” stage of trick-or-treating. We do have a toddler on the go (with the new ability to run), and so many friends with kids who will be hitting the streets (or the mall, or the shopping center, etc.) on Monday. It reminds me how important it is to be safe on Halloween.

Trick or Treat Safety Tips (brought to you by Duracell)

 

Halloween Duracell

  • It’s easy for a child to become separated from a parent amidst all the excitement. Having your child’s name and phone number attached to their costume is a great safety tip if they are too young to remember them.
  • Make your costume stand out! Remember to carry light producing or reflective devices such as a flashlight equipped with Duracell CopperTop batteries, glow sticks, reflective tape, or flashing Halloween decorations that will make you more noticeable in the dark. You can even add reflective tape to the costume or candy bag your child is carrying for extra visibility in the dark.
  • Remind your child that all treats should be brought home before eating them so you can inspect them. Although the risk that your child’s Halloween candy has been tampered with is extremely low, candy could be unwrapped or spoiled.
  • No one wants an injury while trick-or-treating. Remember to prepare your home for trick-or-treaters by removing obstacles from the front yard, restraining dogs and other animals, and lighting the house well. Keep in mind that artificial lights and battery-operated candles are a safer alternative to real candles with a flame that can pose a fire hazard.
  • Safety first! Instruct your child that they should never go into a stranger’s house or even ring their doorbell for treats unless you are there to say that it is okay. Make sure that they have a fully charged cell phone and Duracell Instant Charger that provides hours of extra battery life on hand to make communicating with you as easy as possible!

As I’m gearing up for our first partial trick-or-treating, I remember how many of these things my parents used to do. We always had flashlights, stayed with our parents, and had the official candy check once we got back home. I still think some of that was so that my dad could pick out a few of his favorites… but it definitely is a must when it comes to Halloween safety.

From all of us here at MomStart, we wish you and your family a spootackularly fun and safe Halloween!

Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this post; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

About Ashley:

Ashley has a background in teaching Kindergarten and working with children K through 8th grade. She is now a SAHM and a very active member of our local MOMS Club chapter. She writes her own blog at Momicles.

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Understanding Helmet Safety & Raskullz Helmet Review

July 5, 2011 By 5 Comments

There is a lot to think about as the summer gets underway. As you think about your child’s protection don’t forget the sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, proper clothing … and their HELMET! Be sure your children are wearing helmets properly and that they’re wearing it every time they ride a scooter, board, bike, etc. “Fo Yo Melon!”

helmet safety

Now you need to choose a helmet, or rather your children need to choose a helmet. I promise you they’ll be thrilled if you purchase them a Raskullz helmet. These are 3D helmets that offer the same protection as other company’s boarding pictures-on helmets. Raskullz come in Brain Bunny (pink, purple plaid, or blue), Buggins (pink, red lady bug, or yellow bee), Cutie Cat (leopard print purple, solid teal, or solid pink), Giddi Yup (black, pink, or purple), Go-Rilla (black, blue, or magenta), McChewsy (blue, pink, or yellow), Mohawk (black, blue, or red), Radgon (green, red, and yellow) and Shark Attax (black & blue, neon yellow, or gray). You can find every style in the Raskullz store and you can find selected assortments in local stores near you.

raskullz helmet assortment

Children are hitting the trails, sidewalks, streets and learning on backyard sports courts and in park lots around the nation … so do it all in STYLE! My son LOVES his Raskullz helmet! He first saw his friend Ian in a black and blue Shark Attax helmet at the park, so it wasn’t surprising to me he wanted one. Raskullz gave us a neon yellow Shark Attax to inspect and review. Both my son and I love the look of the helmet. The 3D construction is sturdy so I feel confident and recommending a purchase like this to parents. As far as the helmet, it has a shock absorbing EPS inner shell, offers aerodynamic cooling vents, and adjustable straps. Raskullz is high quality style and safety.

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If you like the look, peruse the Raskullz store and discover more than their helmets. Raskullz currently offers bike accessories and protective gear as well. Soon the Raskullz store will also offer bikes, scooters, skateboards, backpacks, school supplies, stationary, and other gear. You can Like Raskullz on Facebook [] and tracked them on Twitter @Raskullz to be the first to know about what’s new.

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Disclosure – A product was provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the writing of this review; however, opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

About Summer:

Summer is very active in our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living while cooking up a storm.

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Don’t Sacrifice Fashion for Safety Munchkin Safety Gates

February 16, 2011 By 749 Comments

Debra HoltzmanLast week I had the opportunity to sit in on a webinar with Munchkin’s communication manager Jennifer Campana and Debra Holtzman, author of The Safe Baby and world renowned child safety expert about the launch of Munchkin’s new safety gates and keeping your baby safe. Munchkin is hoping to help families keep the fashion and design in their home décor while adding safety for their children and dogs. Yes, Munchkin is going to market the same gates to dog owners just by putting them in a different box. I think it’s a genius marketing plan, because whenever we’ve used a gate for our dog we always just used the baby gates, but dog owners won’t think to go to the baby section to find a gate will they? I didn’t! In fact, before I had kids I thought the best pet solution was to lock them in the bathroom while I was gone.

The new design in the Safety gates comes from the acquisition of The United Kingdom’s number one baby safety brand Lindam. It is through this partnership, that Munchkin has brought a line of top-selling safety gates to the US market, LOFT ld152 Lifestyleenabling parents to choose both safe and stylish options for their homes. Munchkin safety gates are built to the highest quality standards and rigorously tested to meet or exceed both U.S. and European safety standards. Munchkin infant safety gates are aesthetically pleasing and come in a wide range of measurements, price points, styles and mounting types.

In a report from Safe Kids USA and Munchkin, it was reported that more than half of all nonfatal injuries in children are from falls, many of these falls involve unprotected stairways. My son, is almost three, he’ll be 3 in one month from now and he still falls down the stairs, I even had to take him to the emergency room last month because he landed on one of his toys that he had in his hands has he fell down the stairs. You can’t ever be too careful when it comes to your kids, so I urge you to take proper precautions for your own children. For stairs, it is recommended that you have a gate at the bottom of the stairs and at the top of the stairs.

For more information please visit www.infantgates.com

 

Munchkin Baby Gates

On February 15th Munchkin launched Protect Your Baby’s Every Move contest on their facebook page.

Munchkin will select a weekly Facebook winner (from Feb. 15 – May 15) to win a safety gate and $50 gift card to redo their nursery.  One grand-prize winner will also receive a nursery set from Munchkin (valued at $530) and a $250 American Express gift card to help with their design.  A second winner will receive a $250 American Express gift card to help decorate their child’s room. To Enter to win one of these great prizes in the Protect Your Baby’s Every Move contest upload a funny picture or video of your baby’s first steps, baby dancing or moving. 

Munchkin Auto Close lifestyle shotEnter to Win:

One Deco Safety Gate from Munchkin and 50.00 Gift Card to update your nursery.

To Enter:

Tell me which of the Infant Gates you like the most.

Extra Entries:

Follow Munchkin on Twitter
Become a fan of Munchkin on Facebook
Enter their Protect Your Baby’s Every Move (5 extra entries)
Tweet:

Tweet or RT this post and include the link to the post

Enter to Win 50.00 and a Deco Safety Gate from Munchkin @MomStart #Giveaway http://bit.ly/hndkDG

Subscribe to my blog
List this giveaway on any giveaway site, dig or stumble (or any of the share options listed below)
Blog About this Giveaway (10 extra entries, linking to the giveaway)
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This giveaway ends March 7th. I received a baby gate in exchange for this post. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

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Commit a Minute To Holiday Safety

December 2, 2010 By 294 Comments

Christmas Lights OutsideOh the Holiday Crazies are among us. Family everywhere, frantic shopping, constant traffic, perfectly wrapping, decorating the house, cooking food, cooking desserts, cooking cooking cooking, party planning and need I go on? What aren’t we doing this time of year, oh I know, we’re not getting sleep. As a mom, you know life can get extremely busy while preparing for the holidays. However, sometimes the focus on celebrating can turn fun festivities into injuries and accidents if safety is not a priority for families. Studies show that nearly 230 people will visit the emergency room each day in November and December to be treated for holiday-related injuries.

 

imageUnderwriters Laboratories (UL), a leading independent safety organization, is calling all parents, specifically moms, to set aside time in their schedule to commit at least one minute to safety each day this holiday season. You know who UL is right, they have their label on almost every single cable you can find that goes into an electrical socket, but they do more than that, they are on appliances, always thinking about safety in everything we do.

We’re committing to Holiday Safety as a family and I invite you to as well.

imageMy husband decorated the house last weekend, he let the kids help in ways that were age appropriate.

He checked all of the cords, extension cords, and made sure they were safe to use and the indoor cords were used indoors and the outdoor cords were all outdoors. He carefully checked voltage, and organized the cords where they are not tangled in any way. And we placed one of the cables at our front door under our welcome mat so no one will trip on the cord on their way into our house. (we have smart neighbors, Thanks Robin!)

Here are a few more tips from UL:

Focus on the Fireplace
Move stockings and holiday decorations off the mantle before starting a fire in your fireplace and always use the fireplace screen. Recycle wrapping paper instead of burning it in your fireplace. Burning wrapping paper could produce dangerous sparks or flares of intense heat.
Read more

Stay Warm Safely
Look for the UL Mark on your space heater and read the instructions before using it. Move space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn (e.g., curtains, blankets) and never leave a space heater on when you leave the room or go to sleep. Be sure to teach children (and practice it yourself) to never place anything on top of a space heater to dry.
Read more

Keep Watch in the Kitchen
The kitchen is a busy place from Thanksgiving through the holiday season. Never leave anything cooking unattended, not even for a minute. Turn pot handles inward so that little hands can’t grab them. And keep your kitchen and your cooking area free of clutter to avoid unnecessary accidents.
Read more

Use Candles with Care
Walk around your home and move candles away from anything that can burn. Store matches and lighters away from children and be sure to blow out candles before you leave the room or go to sleep. Never leave a burning candle unattended.

Easy Electrical Safety
Check electrical outlets and make sure they are not overloaded. Look for the UL Mark on all your electrical cords and holiday lights. When decorating, inspect cords for damage and fraying and always keep extension cords away from where children play. Never run an extension cord under a rug or tack it up to a wall with a nail or staple.
Read more

I have to say one other thing that happened today, make sure you watch your children when they are playing. I wasn’t paying attention to my son this morning and he pulled one of our stocking right off the mantle today and I’m lucky that the letter P, the stocking holder, didn’t hit him in the head and knock him off of the fire place. It would have left a nasty bruise. Kids and Christmas do go together but keep it safe!!

Enter to Win:

100.00 Visa Gift Card

To Enter:

Just leave a comment on this post telling me how you plan to commit to safety this Holiday Season!

 

The Gift Card provided for the giveaway is my compensation for this post and I wanted to share it with my readers. By posting this and all of you leaving comments, I will be entered into a contest to win a 250.00 Gift Card from UL. The blogger with the most comments wins! Thank you for your participation!

This giveaway ends December 31st.

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Change Your Clock Change Your Battery Energizer Smoke Alarm Safety

October 22, 2010 By 66 Comments

On November 7th it will be time for all of us to change our close for Daylight Savings Time. Oh boy I’m sure none of us are looking forward to that, but wait am I getting it mixed up. Isn’t it Fall Back and gain an hour and Spring Forward when you lose an hour. Yeah, I think it might not be so bad, but anyways back to the point at hand. Energizer has been working with the International Association of Fire Cheifs (I-A-F-C) and thousands of fire departments nationwide on Change Your Clock Change Your Battery. Change Your Clock Change Your Battery is a life-saving campaign encouraging everyone to be in the habit of changing and testing smoke alarms throughout your home. Having a working smoke alarm in your house and be the difference between life and death so make sure you test those batteries. Even though 96% of American homes have smoke alarms, many do not have one that works because of missing or worn-out batteries.

CYCCYB_logo_400Each year, Energizer donates 200,000 batteries to help local fire departments nationwide through Change Your Clock Change Your Battery.  This year we have the chance to help double the donations, up to 400,000 batteries. Participation in Change Your Clock Change Your Battery is easy. Visit the CYCCYB tab on the Energizer Bunny® Facebook page, , and pledge to change your smoke alarm batteries, share the life-saving Change Your Clock Change Your Battery message with others and create your family’s home escape plan so you have an exit plan in place.  Each action will trigger a donation of batteries.

 

Enter to Win:

A First Alert smoke alarm, along with a 2-pack of 9volt Energizer® Max®

To Enter:

Do One of the Activities on the Energizer Facebook Page and tell me which one you did

Extra Entries:

Tweet: @Energizer and the IAFC remind you to change your smoke alarm batteries when you change your clocks on Nov. 7. #CYCCYB http://goo.gl/FHmC

Tweet: First Alert smoke alarm, and a 2-pack of 9volt Energizer Max #Giveaway http://bit.ly/ai1Dzv

Make the Pledge on The Facebook Page

List this giveaway on any giveaway site, dig or stumble
Blog About this Giveaway (linking to the giveaway)

This giveaway ends November 8th. I was provided a sample in exchange for this post! All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

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How to Create a Safe and Spooktacular Halloween, Thanks Giving and Holiday Season Giveaway

October 5, 2010 By 125 Comments

It’s October and Halloween is going to be here before we know it. I have always loved Halloween because I just love an excuse to dress up. Underwriter’s Laboratory is offering up some steps on how to be safe on Halloween.

HalloweenSafetyHow to Create a Safe and Spooktacular Halloween

For families across the country, Halloween is the official launch of the holiday and decorating season, which is why it is important for parents to recognize the potential safety hazards that may be associated with many of the season’s celebratory activities.

1. Inspect decorations for loose connections, frayed or bare wires and broken or cracked sockets when using lights to decorate the home for Halloween. When hanging lights, use plastic hooks or clips to reduce the risk of electric shock and fire hazards. Never nail or staple light strings.

2. Keep candles away from items that easily catch fire, such as decorations, window treatments and paper. Halloween is the fifth highest day for reported candle fires. Candles are the cause of approximately 15,000 reported house fires every year.

3. Look for flame resistant labels when purchasing costumes, fabric and accessories. Although this label does not mean these items won’t catch fire, it does indicate the fabric will resist burning and should extinguish quickly once removed from the ignition source.

Then after Halloween it always feels like November and December just fly by with Holidays and things to do. Growing up, I had a huge family. I have two moms and two dads and each of them have four/five siblings so visiting everyone was always a huge ordeal, but still fun. So I know that you will all be very busy this Holiday Season and I wanted to share UL’s tips on staying safe for the rest of the year!

DSC_8616Serve Up a Side of Safety This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the No. One day for home fires, which isn’t surprising  since Americans will roast, bake, brine, grill and even deep fry more than 45 million turkeys on November 26. This Thanksgiving, UL is offering these simple cooking safety tips to help keep cooks safe in the kitchen, regardless of their level of expertise!

1. Stay in the kitchen while food is cooking: Most fires in the kitchen occur because food is left unattended. If you must leave the kitchen briefly, carry an oven mitt with you as a reminder that something is cooking.

2. Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen in case of emergency and know how to use it: Make sure the fire extinguisher is rated for grease fires and electrical fires and read the directions carefully. The acronym P.A.S.S. can help make sure you use it properly.

· Pull the pin; Aim the spray nozzle low at the base of the fire; Squeeze the nozzle to spray the contents; Sweep back and forth as you spray the base of the fire.

3. Do not pour water on a grease fire: Pouring water on a grease fire can cause the fire to spread.

Last but not least is “The Most Wonderful Time Of the Year”, Christmas. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas and all of the festivities around that!

ChristmasLightSafetyWrap Up the Year Safely This Holiday Season

Between finding the perfect gift for loved ones, trimming the tree and sprucing up the house with festive decorations, safety can easily be overlooked during the holiday season. That’s why UL is reminding families to take a few minutes to think about the most precious gift of all when celebrating the holidays – safety.

4. A fresh tree is key:  If the needles are not fresh, it can lead to a greater risk of fire. Remember to ask your tree lot attendant to make a fresh cut to the base of the tree and place it in water as soon as you get home. Place tree in a tree stand that holds at least one gallon of water and check moisture level frequently.

5. Indoor or outdoor? Look for the UL Mark:  Indoor-use only light strings are marked with UL’s green holographic label. Indoor or outdoor-use light strings are marked with UL’s red holographic label.

6. Read manufacturer instructions: When stringing lights together, the general rule is to not connect more than three midget light string sets together. Light strings with screw-in bulbs should never have more than 50 bulbs connected together.

7. Examine packaging: Parents should thoroughly examine new gifts, especially if they have young children at home. Pay particular attention to products in boxes or packages that do not offer the following:

· A brand name

· Manufacturer’s name with contact information for reporting problems with the product

Enter to Win:

P1010278UL picnic basket loaded with UL goodies

To Enter:

Leave a comment telling me which of the tips is most useful to you!

This is not a sponsored giveaway and it ends October 25th.

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Domino’s Pizza Show Your Pizza Giveaway and Smoke Alarm Safety Tips

October 2, 2010 By 467 Comments

Domino’s Pizza is at it again with giveaways with a new campaign, Show Us Your Pizza. The "Show Us Your Pizza" initiative that you may have seen on TV (I Haven’t because I don’t have cable at all), which encourages customers to share photos of their own Domino’s pizza. Just in case you haven’t seen it like me, check out, Domino’s Pizza, Show Us Your Pizza Commercial.

 

 

In fact, for every photo submitted, you have a chance to win one of eight $500 Domino’s gift cards and it may even appear in an ad As part of the fall campaign, customers who order from participating Domino’s Pizza stores in October may be surprised when their delivery arrives aboard a fire engine. If all the smoke alarms in the home are working, the pizza is free.  If a smoke alarm is not working, the firefighters will replace the batteries and/or smoke alarm and leave the home with a fully functioning fire safety device.  Sounds pretty cool right?

In addition to the giveaway, Domino’s Pizza and NFPA wanted me to share some Smoke Alarm Safety tips with you!

Smoke Alarm Safety Tips from Domino’s and NFPA

1. An ionization smoke alarm is generally more responsive to flaming fires and a photoelectric smoke alarm is generally more responsive to smoldering fires. For the best protection, both types of alarms or combination ionization and photoelectric alarms are recommended.

2. Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. For the best protection, interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.

3. Test alarms at least monthly by pushing the test button.

4. Smoke rises; install smoke alarms following manufacturer’s instructions high on a wall or on a ceiling. Save manufacturers’ instructions for testing and maintenance.

5. Replace batteries in all smoke alarms at least once a year. If an alarm “chirps,” warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.

6. Replace all smoke alarms, including alarms that use ten year batteries and hard-wired alarms, when they are ten years old or sooner if they do not respond properly when tested.

7. Alarms that are hard-wired (and include battery backup) must be installed by a qualified electrician.

8. If cooking fumes or steam sets off nuisance alarms, replace the alarm with a photoelectric type alarm or an alarm that has a “hush” button. A “hush” button will reduce the alarm’s sensitivity for a short period of time.

9. Smoke alarms are available for people who are deaf. These alarms use strobe lights. Vibration equipment is required with these alarms. This equipment is activated by the sound of the smoke alarm.

10. People with mild to severe hearing loss can use a device that will make a mixed, low-pitched sound. This device is activated by the sound of a traditional smoke alarm.

 

Enter To Win:

20.00 Gift Card to Dominos!

To Enter:

Tell me how many smoke alarms you have in your house?

Extra Entries:

Tweet or RT this post and include the link to the post

Domino’s Pizza Show Your Pizza #Giveaway http://bit.ly/c5LGHS

Follow/Like Mom Start on Facebook
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
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Comment on any other non-giveaway post 
List this giveaway on any giveaway site, dig or stumble
Blog About this Giveaway (5 extra entries, linking to the giveaway)
Add my blog button to your sidebar (3 extra).

This giveaway ends October 18th, I have not been compensated for this post. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

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Safety Tips from Evenflo Drive Safely #giveaway

December 23, 2009 By 459 Comments

Evenflo finds safety to be very important. We all know that so many of us are going to be hitting the road, or already on the road this Holiday Season. With traffic a mess and highways snowy make sure you take every precaution for you and your child. Make sure you child is in a car seat or booster seat and that it is installed correctly. Here are more tips from Evenflo:

 

In addition to just providing safty tips, Evenflo makes safe car seats and booster seats. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released a study yesterday regarding the safety of 60 well-known booster seats just in time for the holiday driving season. IIHS voted Evenlfo’s Big Kid Amp Booster Seat as a “best best” for booster seats.

evenflobooster · Exclusive, thick ComfortTouch® seat padding and Softtouch® armrests for extra comfort on long car rides
· Removable, easy-to-clean seat pad
· Belt clip positions the seat belt to ensure safety
· Flexible-grip cup holders accommodate drinks of various shapes and sizes, while ensuring that the drink is always within reach 
· Available in a variety of colors
· Weight rating from 40 to 100 pounds
· Meets or exceeds all federal safety standards

 

 

Purchase it on-line:

Evenflo is providing one of the Big Kid Amp Booster Seats as a giveaway.

To Enter:

Visit Evenflo and tell me what other products you like from their website. They make a bunch.

Extra Entries:

Add the Baby Event Button to your Blog (5 extra entries)

 

Advertise this giveaway on any giveaway site and tell me where you advertised it. 10 Extra Entries
Subscribe to my blog
Follow me on twitter tell me your twitter ID
Blog or facebook about the giveaway include a link to me and to the sponsor for 10 extra entries
Tweet the giveaway (every time you tweet you get an entry) Link to the giveaway please!!!
Comment on any other non giveaway post and come back and tell me you did
Use any of the Share options at the bottom of this post: (two entries for each one)
Add my button/blog to your blogroll/friend list 3 extra entries

Leave a comment for every entry

The contest will run until January 11th  11:59 pm Pacific. The winner will be selected by www.random.org. All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

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