Means many things

CHILD SAFETY

CHILD SAFETYHang on Car Seat

Awareness has increasedCar Seat safety was one of thefirst areas identified by CPSCand supported by AmericanAcademy of Pediatrics1970’s-car accidents were #1cause of death for childrenunder age 3Today-Federal law requires aninfant car seat be in vehiclebefore child leaves hospital

Massive changes in last 20 years

To current generation moms it meansprotecting and training a child in andaround the home

BABY PROOFING

The WoodenSpoon

The way many of us weredisciplined…

BABY PROOFINGOld Methods

The Ping PongPaddle

The Kaiser method…

BABY PROOFINGOld Methods

The Belt

Feared by most children -when ‘their father’s gothome”…

BABY PROOFINGOld Methods

The SwitchThe old man will come a-

runnin' with a hickoryswitch…

that’s gonna leave a mark!

BABY PROOFINGOld Methods

BABY PROOFING

Kitchen

Family/Living Areas

Nursery/Bedrooms

Bath

Containment/Separation

Where parents spend much oftheir time

A lot of dangerous areas:Drawers & Cabinets-stylesvaryAppliances-refrigerators,stoves, dishwashers, etc.Strap locks for situationswhere nothing else seems towork

BABY PROOFINGKitchen

BABY PROOFING Family/Living Areas

Outlet Covers and plugs to keep baby’s fingers and objects out of electricaloutletsRecent publicity about furniture tipping overCorner and edge protectors for furnitureDoor knob covers, lever locks, finger guards, door stops, anti slam devices,etc.Many homes have fireplaces that have the hazards of heat, tools and sharphearth edges to keep a child protected. There are gates, corner protectorsand fireplace door locks

BABY PROOFINGNursery/Bedrooms

Bedrooms need emergency escape and falls from second stories and

higher have been well publicized

All Bedrooms have electrical outlets to cover

Another common thing is to use a child proof night light to protect fromburns

Homes with looped window blind cords have been the cause of manychoking deaths

BABY PROOFINGBATH

Toilet Locks keep baby out of

unsanitary areas

Spout Covers to cushion a baby’s

fall

Safety Rail to help child get in and

out of the bathtub

FIRST METAL GATE

PRESSURE MOUNTED GATES

Keep a child from room toroom

Also good for the bottomof the stairs

WALL MOUNTED GATES

Most dangerous are

stairways in multi-story

homes

Recommended use of

wall mounted gate for

extra security

AREA ENCLOSURES

Build your own

gate to fit odd-

shaped or irregular

openings that do

not have mounting

points in a straight

line.

GATE SAFETYSTANDARDS

USA Federal Laws

American Voluntary Standards

Foreign Standards

GATE SAFETY STANDARDS

USA Federal Laws

16 CFR 1303 – Bans Lead Containing Paint

16 CFR 1500.48 – Sharp Points

16 CFR 1500.49 – Sharp Edges

16 CFR 1501 – Small Parts

GATE SAFETY STANDARDSASTM Standard F1004 (JPMA)

Reputable manufacturers pass ASTM. Check your supplier to make sure incase of future product liability in the case of an injury

ASTM is voluntary and only covers gate specifically made for use withchildren and excludes pet gates that are flooding the market

Originally formed in 1982 written to address entrapment and strangulationfrom V-shaped and diamond-shaped openings in accordion-style gates.Also of concern was the tendency of children to climb up and over gates

Intended age is 6 to 24 months since a 24 month old generally can be trustedalone on stairs

General Requirements - F1004

No sharp edges, points or small parts before or after testing – FederalLaws

Hardware cannot be used that needs to be removed during dailyoperation

Openings – if hole or slot admits a .210 (5.33 mm) diameter rod than italso has to admit a .375 (9.53 mm) rod

Push-out Test: If the average (tested in five places) push out forceexceeds 10 lbs it passes the test, but needs a “warning not to be used atthe top of the stairs.”

Performance Requirements -F1004

Completely bound openings not to allow passage of Small Torso Template A. Meansbar spacing needs to be less than 3 inches.

Height of sides only needs to be 22” which is 80% of average 24 month old height

Vertical strength is pushing on top rail with 45 lbf so top does not go below 22”

Partially bound openings 1 ” wide X 5/8” deep are tested with Template B so no twoside surfaces of B, C or corner of BC or CC contact

Removal of Protective Components uses a clamp with 15 lbf to remove any caps, plugsor sleeves

Warning labels are tested so they are printed on the product or use a paper label. Lots ofthem, like on ladders. Almost 50 % of the standard addresses warnings

GATE SAFETY STANDARDSHealth Canada follows F1004

Canada acknowledges the ASTM Standard.

Main difference is packaging, instructions and

labels

Must be bilingual with English and French

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN1930Performance Requirements

Minimum gate height of 28” – recognize gates are used up to 3 yearsold

Foothold tests to prevent a child from climbing over the gate

Snagging and protruding parts – a chain with disk is used tosimulate clothing being snagged

Durability testing of hardware – uses a clamp at top of gate with 30lbf going forward and backward for 10,000 cycles vs. 5 times inASTM Standard. Compare this to the “push out test” of 10 times

Impact test to simulate child bashing into the gate. Basketball onpendulum with a total weight of 10 kg ( 22 lbs)

THE TEST!!

Don’t use any gate not passing ASTM standards. If for no otherreason, think of product liability

Baby Proofers are the best experts with the most experience inpractical use and observation of what people buy, install and use inregards to child safety products

Get involved and take a leadership role in safety standardsmeetings, twice a year in W. Conshohocken, PA