School
Safety or Daycare Safety
Report: Millions of children go to school near toxic sites:
In January 2002, a coalition of environmental groups reported that millions of
children in American schools are exposed daily to potentially dangerous
chemicals from sites that once housed toxic waste dumps. The study, found at the
Center for Health,
Environment and Justice, recommends that, in addition to checking the safety
of their children's schools, parents also should push for better construction
guidelines for new schools.
Pedestrian
injuries rank third in child fatalities, behind traffic accidents and
drownings. The
National SAFE KIDS Campaign says children under the age of 10 should cross the street
only under the supervision of an adult and that children ages 5 to 9 are at greatest risk
for pedestrian death and injury.
Name
tags on clothing: Check to make sure that on outings, caregivers don't
put name tags on the outside of children's clothing, especially with a string or ribbon.
There are several reasons: 1) At pet zoos, some animals enjoy eating string and paper, and
might accidentally choke a child. 2) At fairs and playgrounds, a hanging string might get
caught on machinery and choke a child. 3) On any outing, visible names are an invitation
to a dangerous stranger to use the child's name while approaching the child.
Be alert to signs of carbon
monoxide poisoning: headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea and
dizziness. Because the symptoms are similar to other illnesses, such as the flu, The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
recommends smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors for each level. Low-level
exposure to carbon monoxide over a long period of time can be just as harmful as high
concentrations over a short period of time -- particularly to infants and children.
Other common indoor pollutants: lead, asbestos, toxic art supplies,
fungus and mold, dust, formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds. See
Safer Child Pollution (Indoor) Page.
Go to Top
For More Information:
