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Child Product Safety Guide: potentially dangerous products

1. walkers How are baby walkers dangerous for children Some parents believe that a baby walker is a safe place for their child keeping their child Safely entertained while they perform other tasks However two features of baby walkers make them particularly dangerous the increased mobility and speed they provide the child and the elevated height and reach the child obtains while seated in a walker Baby walkers are also a fall hazard In a baby walker a child has increased speed mobility and reach This can lead to a fall down a flight of stairs a crash into a hot stove against a table edge or into a glass door They offer limited balance to a child not yet completely able to stand or walk If unstable walkers can easily tip over Most of the Injuries are caused by e Falling down stairs children in baby walkers can quickly move to the edge of the Stairs and fall This kind of incident frequently happens when caregivers do not install a stair gate at the top of the stairs on a landing and can result in serious head Injuries or death e Tipping over baby walkers can tip over when children try to cross uneven surfaces such as door thresholds or carpet edges e Reaching risks Due to the expanded height and range offered by being seated ina baby walker parents must be aware that many more household objects may now be within their baby s reach for example electric cords on kettles that may contain boiling water curtains and object
2. Fireworks In 2011 a 13 year old boy was seriously injured by a self made firework bomb that was ignited by someone else during the New Year s celebrations in the Netherlands The bomb was made of several illegal firework devices put together The boy was taken to the hospital with severe wounds and died a few hours later That same night a second boy aged 17 years also died while making an illegal self made firework bomb The self made bomb exploded prematurely and the fireworks struck his face and head He was taken to the hospital with serious injuries and died later that night Source NOS Twee jongeren dood door vuurwerk 1 January 2011 http nos nl artikel 208 7 70 twee jongeren dood door vuurwerk htm Why can fireworks pose a problem e n the United Kingdom over the past five years over 350 pre school aged children some as young as one year of age have received hospital treatment for fireworks injuries Each year over half of all firework injuries are suffered by children 3 e Estimates using EU Injury Database IDB data Indicate that annually in the EU 28 Member States approximately 2 900 injuries to children O 14 years of age Involving fireworks are serious enough to require a visit to the emergency department e All countries of the European Union have a law controlling the sale of fireworks to children but the laws vary widely and are reported as not well enforced in Bulgaria Greece and Portugal How can fire
3. e High chairs must have a waist strap and a strap that runs between the legs If a high chair is without an integral five point harness have one fitted When buying a separate harness check that it conforms to EN 13210 e Since the restraining straps must be used every time a child is placed tn the chair look for straps that are easy to use and are Independent of the tray If the straps are difficult to use or take too much time to fasten they are less likely to be used A five point integral harness is the safest option 38 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE HIGH CHAIRS e Examine the straps to ensure that the waist belt has a buckle that cannot be fastened unless the crotch strap is also used e Check that the buckle waist strap and the strap that runs between the legs will secure the child safely in place in the high chair and that the high chair is unlikely to tip over should the child start to rock the high chair or attempt to climb out of it e Select a high chair that has a wide base for stability and is heavyweight The most Stable high chairs have a wide metal or wooden frame those made of only plastic are not recommended e Check that the tray locks securely and that caps or plugs on tubing are firmly attached and cannot be pulled off by a child e f buying a folding high chair check that it has an effective locking device e Look for high chair designs with a po
4. check to see in which seating positions they are located e f it is necessary to use a rear facing CRS in the front seat this should only be done if the seat s front airbag can be deactivated and does not impede the sight or movement of the driver Using a rear facing car seat in a seat with a frontal airbag can be fatal and is not permitted Ensure the airbag has been deactivated The CRS It is important to have the retailer assist in trying to fit models into the car before purchasing At the moment with both R44 and R129 approved models being sold their labels and categories can be confusing to the consumer because they use different terms and different categories for age weight height Some guidance on the various terms that might be found on CRS labels includes e CRS models approved under R44 use a weight based classification with different weight ranges up to 36 kilograms These classifications are considered more confusing than the height based classifications used under R129 e CRS models approved under R129 use a height based classification and have an i size symbol indicating it should fit in vehicles that are I size ready which have Isofix anchorage points e All models under both R44 and R129 which are approved for restraining children with special needs will have an S symbol Adaptions should not be made to a CRS as this may compromise the protection of the child in a collision e A R44 Universal mo
5. require a visit to the emergency department e n the United Kingdom for example toy boxes cause nearly 4 000 injuries each year Over 70 of these accidents Involve children between one and four years of age e The U S Consumer Product Safety Commission has reported 45 children in the United States who died when lids of containers used for toy storage fell on their heads or necks and there have been at least three incidents of permanent brain damage These chests include those specifically manufactured for toy storage as well as trunks wicker chests wooden storage chests and other similar items which are also available in Europe How are toy chests dangerous e Toy chests may pose a strangulation suffocation hazard as the child or child s head can become trapped within the chest Fatal suffocation incidents have also happened when children climbed into storage containers such as cedar chests to play sleep or hide and became trapped Because the toy chests were not adequately ventilated the children suffocated in the enclosed space e Toy chests are also a head neck injury hazard Typically these incidents occurred when children use the chest to pull themselves up causing the lid to fall from the upright open position and when young children attempted to open the lids themselves Children were reaching over and into the chest when the lid dropped and either fell on their heads or trapped them at the neck between the lid
6. 159 440 443 22 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE Changing tables In 2011 a 10 month old baby was injured after falling from a changing table The mother started diapering her baby and only then noticed that there were no more diapers on the changing table She turned around to get diapers that were in front of the dresser placing her hand on the baby to ensure the baby would not fall However the baby turned quickly and fell forward despite the mother s grip on her Source The National Center for Children s Safety and Health BETEREM Data from the Israel National Pediatric Injury and Safety Surveillance NAPIS 2013 Why can changing tables pose a problem e Estimates using EU Injury Database IDB data Indicate that annually in the EU 28 Member States approximately 5 500 injuries to children 0 4 years of age involving changing tables are serious enough to require a visit to the emergency department e n the United States an estimated 4 500 emergency department treated injuries involving changing tables occurred in 2009 to children O to 5 years of age How can changing tables be dangerous for children e Most injuries associated with changing tables occur when children fall from the changing table to the floor This occurs when the children are not strapped on the changing table or when the child is unattended because the caregiver has turned away for a brief moment or is answering th
7. D Entrapments and falls occurred due to plastic drop side hardware that had broken i missing or deformed claws connectors tracks or flexible tab stops loose or Before placing a missing metal spring clips stripped screws and or drop sides installed upside down child in the cot This resulted in 2 1 million drop side cots being recalled from the market check the cot e n the United States more children die every year in accidents Involving cots than with any other nursery product Thousands of children are injured seriously enough for ay loose or to require treatment in hospital emergency rooms Since 2011 new safety standards missing parts exist for cribs in the United States to prohibit the traditional drop side design such as screws strengthen crib slats and mattress supports improve the quality of hardware and bolts or mattress require more rigorous testing of cots support hangers How can cots be dangerous for children and make sure e Cot design cot design may be a strangulation suffocation hazard as it can create all screws or openings that can entrap a child If there is more than two fingers width between the mattress and the side of the cot an infant s head could get caught in between bolts are securely and the infant could suffocate tightened e Cot toys cot toys are also a strangulation hazard Remove all cot toys which are strung across the cot or playpen area when a child is beginning to push up on hands or
8. What to look for when buying or prior to using e Purchase a lighter that states on the packaging that it is child resistant i e conforms to EN ISO 9994 This standard forbids the sale or purchase of disposable lighters that do not have a child resistant mechanism and also forbids all child appealing novelty lighters e Remember child resistant lighters are child resistant but not childproof How to use child resistant lighters safely e Keep lighters and matches out of the reach of children e Never use a lighter as a source of amusement for children as this may encourage children to think of lighters as a toy or to try to use a lighter on their own e nstall smoke detectors throughout the house preferably optical photoelectric alarms that are hard wired where possible If battery operated smoke alarms are used select sealed units containing long life batteries to avoid having to frequently change them oe European Association for the Co ordination of Consumer Representation in Standardisation ANEC Three years on from the European Decision millions of lighters are STILL potentially dangerous Press Release 11 March 2011 ANEC PR 2011 PRL O06 41 RoSPA Victim s Mother Backs RoSPA Plea to EU on killer lighters O6 February 2006 http www rospa com news releases detail default aspx id 494 European Commission Decision on lighters http ec europa eu consumers safety prod_legis prod legislation lighters en htm PROSAFE T
9. a short term solution Cutting the cord in the wrong place can make the blind inoperable and it may also lead to one cord becoming a lot longer which increases the risk of entanglement Cut cords can also become tangled up resulting in the reformation of a loop It is recommended that any action taken with respect to the blind cord is a permanent one that ensures the cord is out of the reach of children 73 U S Consumer Product Safety Commission Petition for Rulemaking Eliminating Accessible Cords On Window Covering Products 2013 http www cpsc gov PageFiles 114922 5009a pdf a Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Blind Cord Safety 2010 http www rospa com homesafety Info blind cord safety pdf 65 Austria Belgium Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark England Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland lreland Israel Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Northern Ireland Norway Poland Portugal Romania Scotland Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Wales CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE ALLIANCE MEMBERS European Child Safety Alliance Country Partners full contact details for ECSA country partners can be viewed at http www childsafetyeurope org aboutus member list html Peter Spitzer Grosse schutzen Kleine Safe Kids Austria Rob Buurman CRIOC OIVO and Christine Tierens Kind en Gizen Ivana Brki Bilos Croatian National Insti
10. buying or prior to using Check for the standard EN 71 1 2011 which contains requirements for flexible plastic sheeting toy bags and packaging in Clause 6 Packaging Safety of toys Part 1 Mechanical and physical properties How to use plastic bags safely e Store plastic bags out of the reach of children in a secure storage area or discard them immediately Use cloth or paper bags to make it safer for children and better for the environment e Do not allow children to play with plastic bags e Do NOT use a plastic mattress cover e Never put children to sleep on or near plastic bags e g nappy sacks 45 ANEC Deaths associated with nappy sacks Discussion paper ANEC CHILD 2012 G O02rev1 2 February 2012 46 U S Consumer Product Safety Commission 2001 Children Still Suffocating with Plastic Bags Washington DC U S Consumer Product Safety Commission Available online at http Awww cpsc gov cpscpub pubs 5064 pdft a Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Choking and suffocation risk to babies from nappy sacks http www rospa com homesafety currentcampaigns nappysacks CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT Playground equipment In December 2009 a six year old child in Romania died on a playground due to severe head Injuries The boy was playing with other children on a swing set when due to a lack of proper anchoring the swing set tipped over and trapped the little boy underneath it An emergency te
11. from 1999 to 2003 show that an average of five deaths each year were caused by children playing with lighters e Estimates using EU Injury Database IDB data indicate that annually in the EU 28 Member States approximately 340 injuries to children 5 14 years of age involving lighters are serious enough to require a visit to the emergency department How are non child resistant lighters dangerous for children e The European Commission recognises the danger of cigarette lighters to children and since 2008 has required governments to ensure that common cigarette lighters SAFETY Tl P placed on the EU market are child resistant Also forbidden are lighters that Keep lighters resemble objects that are particularly attractive to children i e novelty lighters and matches Unfortunately a study conducted by ProSafe in 2011 found that 70 of lighters failed to meet the requirements of EN ISO 9994 due to poor compliance and lack of out of the reach acrea of children e Children as young as two years old are capable of operating lighters but the majority and purchase of the children who start fires by playing with lighters are three or four years old At these ages children are curious about fire but don t understand the danger In only childproof fact sometimes when children start a fire they will hide somewhere in the room lighters under the bed or in a cupboard and suffocate or leave the room without telling anyone about the fire
12. lower anchorage points and an additional top tether or support leg which easily affixes to the car for improved stability This type of anchorage system is referred to as Isofix Not all car models older than 2011 have Isofix anchorage points built in see note below A note on Isofix CRS CRS with Isofix differ from traditional CRS which depend on a seat belt to connect them to the car CRS with Isofix are fastened to the vehicle seat directly through 3 anchorage points that are built into the car Two of the points connect the CRS to the car directly The third point is either a top tether which connects to the top of the car seat and acts as a Stabilising cord or a support leg from the bottom which serves the Same purpose Check to see if the car has such anchorage points installed older car models may not One of the advantages of the Isofix system is that it helps reduce misuse when installing the CRS tn the vehicle It also helps reduce the forces on the child in a collision 26 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS CRS Compatibility between a CRS and a car The vehicle e Check the vehicle s owner manual for any Indications on the type of CRS that will work with the car model e Determine how many seats need to fit in the car and how much space is available in the back seats to achieve this e f the car has Isofix anchorage points
13. mattress support hangers before placing the child in it For cots where the mattress support is suspended by hangers attached to hooks on the end panels check frequently to be sure they have not become disconnected or weakened Open hooks may allow the mattress to fall Never use a cot with broken or missing parts e Check the mattress support frequently to make sure it hasn t become unhooked from the end panels e Whenever the cot is moved be sure all mattress support hangers are secure e Never use a cot that has loose or missing slats Be sure that all slats are securely fastened in place and the space between slats is no more than 4 5 cm to 6 0 cm to avoid head entrapment strangulation e facot Is to be painted or refinished use only high quality household lead free enamel paint and let it dry thoroughly so there are no residual fumes Check the label on the paint can to make sure the manufacturer does not recommend against using the paint on items such as cots U S Consumer Product Safety Commission The U S Consumer Product Safety Commission Warns Parents About Infant Strangulations Caused by Failure of Crib Hardware Washington DC U S Consumer Product Safety Commission http www cpsc gov cpscpub pubs 5025 html CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE FIREWORKS SAFETY TIP Supervise children keeping them within eye distance when fireworks are being used and do not wear flammable clothing when near fireworks
14. parts a problem Estimates using EU Injury Database IDB data indicate that annually in the EU 28 Member States approximately 7 000 injuries to children O 14 years of age involving marbles alone are serious enough to require a visit to the emergency department In the 2011 Annual Rapid Alert System Report 13 Member States took part in a joint enforcement project looking at the safety of toys Approximately 35 of the toys selected for laboratory testing failed to comply with the mechanical requirements related to small parts and magnets How are small parts dangerous Small parts are a choking suffocation hazard Smooth round objects present the highest risk of choking by lodging in the stomach lung or ear Children between the ages of 4 and 36 months are at risk from suffocation by hollow cylinder objects through suction formation and complete airway obstruction Shallow containers with dimensions ranging from approximately 6 0 to 11 0 mm have been reported to be especially hazardous as they increase the risk of suction type suffocation Of all children s products balloons are the leading cause of suffocation death in the United States A child can suck an un inflated balloon into the mouth while trying to inflate the balloon This can occur when a child who is blowing up the balloon inhales or takes a breath to prepare for the next blow and draws the balloon back into the mouth and throat A child may also swallow an un infl
15. products are required and allowed to bear CE Marking and the problem of falsely affixed CE Marking ANEC the European consumer voice in standardisation stresses that although CE Marking is not intended as a mark of safety or quality for consumers its appearance on many consumer products or their packaging is misleading to consumers The table on page 8 9 provides the latest European standard for the products in this Guide EU law and the balance of competences A short guide and glossary https www gov uk eu law and the balance of competences a short guide and gloss ANEC the European Association for the Co ordination of Consumer Representation in Standardisation 2013 ANEC leaflet on CE Marking _http www anec org attachments CE 20Marking 2O0Leaflet 2Ofinal pdf CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE Product Adult bed Baby walker Bath seat or rings Bicycles Bunk beds Changing tables Child car seats Child gate Safety barriers Child sleep wear Cots baby infant beds Fireworks Goals for soccer football or handball High chairs Lighters non child resistant Pacifiers soothers 8 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE Standard EN 1725 1998 Domestic furniture Beds and mattresses Safety requirements and test methods EN 1273 2005 Child use and care articles Baby walking frames Safety requirements and test methods Decision 2010 9 EU Safety requirements t
16. spring loaded lid support device can keep a lid from falling on a child s neck or from closing and trapping a child playing inside the chest This device should be used on all chests Once a support is installed it is important to check it frequently to make certain that it is working properly Some supports may need to be adjusted or tightened periodically so that they continue to hold the lid open 67 Child Accident Prevention Trust 2002 Factsheet Toys and Accidents London Child Accident Prevention Trust http www capt org uk FAQ default htm 68 U S Consumer Product Safety Commission 2004 The U S Consumer Product Safety Commission Warns Consumers of Dangers With Toy Chest Lids Washington DC U S Consumer Product Safety Commission 58 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE TOYS Toys A 2 year old boy in Austria placed a toy block in his mouth and Started to run around in the living room The boy lost his balance and fell against the door frame The toy caused deep cuts on the roof of his mouth and the wounds had to be sutured by a doctor under anaesthetic Source Graz University Clinic for Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery Data from the Department for Injury Research and Prevention 2013 Why can toys be a problem e The rapid alert system of the European Commission RAPEX reported that the second most frequently identified category of serious risk notificat
17. 0 injuries to children O 4 years of age involving strollers are serious enough to require a visit to the emergency department e n the United States 23 incidents of fingertip amputations involving strollers among young children under the age of 5 years were reported between 2008 and April 2012 In many cases children 3 years or younger suffered full or partial amputations when their fingers got caught in a hinge The company Maclaren recalled 1 million strollers in 2010 as the stroller s hinge mechanism posed a SAFETY Tl P fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to children when untolding opening the Always use the Stroller Another company Graco Children s Products Inc recalled approximately h h 1 5 million strollers in the same year due to amputation laceration hazard when arness eac opening or closing the canopy feature time a child e One RAPEX notification in 2011 concerned a stroller parasol that exposed a child to is placed ina a superficial abrasion stroller How are strollers dangerous e Strollers may pose a strangulation suffocation hazard Deaths have resulted when infants were left to sleep in strollers with the backrest reclined to the carriage position The infants moved wriggled feet first towards the front of the stroller and when their bodies passed through the opening between the hand rest grab bar and front edge of the seat their head became entrapped and they strangled Children have also strangled in
18. 1 2012 e Guardrails Make sure guardrails are on both sides of the top bunk Bunk beds are usually used with one side against a wall and are often sold with only one guardrail e Mattress foundation The mattress foundation on some bunk beds merely rests on small ledges attached to the bed frame They can dislodge particularly if a child underneath the bunk pushes or kicks upwards on the mattress Check that the mattress foundation is secured through a series of slats cross ties or lattices e Correct mattress size Make sure there is no opening between the mattress and headboard or footboard Strangulation deaths have occurred when children fell through openings created between the mattress and headboard or footboard when a regular length mattress was used in an extra long bed frame Choose bunk beds that have e Guardrails on all sides that are screwed bolted or otherwise firmly attached to the bed structure to prevent falls e Spacing between bed frame and bottom of guardrails that is no greater than 7 5 cm and distance between rails that is no greater than 7 cm e Guardrails that extend to a minimum of 16 cm above the mattress surface to prevent a child from rolling off e Cross ties under the mattress foundation that can be securely attached e A ladder that is secured to the long side of the bed frame and will not slip when a child climbs on it e A feature that permits the beds to be separated to form two single beds if childre
19. 28 Member States approximately 137 000 injuries to children 0 14 years of age first installed and involving playground equipment are serious enough to require a visit to the that foundations emergency department or anchorages How can playground equipment be dangerous for children are periodically e Deaths have occurred when a child s head is caught in an opening or net mesh inspected and in playground equipment either because of bad design incorrect installation lack of maintenance or because the child was wearing a helmet or had drawstrings on maintained to their clothing e g jacket hoods maintain safety e Approximately 50 of playground equipment related injuries are caused directly by conditions the equipment e Lack of regular inspections and maintenance has resulted in equipment collapsing and killing or severely injuring children equipment supported by one post has a higher risk of collapsing e Approximately 50 of playground injuries occur when a child falls from the equipment onto a surface e Surfacing in the falling area of equipment can lose its impact absorption properties over time in particular if poorly installed or maintained e n hot weather conditions there have been cases of children getting 2 degree burns on their bare feet from hot rubber or on their thighs from the metal surface of slides exposed to the sun 44 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY G
20. BEDS Adult Beds In 2012 a six month old baby was fatally strangled when her head became trapped between the mattress and her parent s bed The baby was sleeping in her parent s bed and it is unclear how her head became caught between the mattress and the bed The parents noticed that their daughter was unconscious and removed her from the bed She was taken to the hospital and was declared dead after three days of medical care Source The National Center for Children s Safety and Health BETEREM Data from the Israel National Pediatric Injury and Safety Surveillance NAPIS 2013 Why can adult beds pose a problem e Estimates using EU Injury Database IDB data Indicate that annually in the EU 28 Member States approximately 10 000 injuries to children O 14 years of age involving adult beds are serious enough to require a visit to the emergency department e The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission has reports of more than 100 deaths of children under age 2 associated with adult beds over a three year SAFETY TI p time period mostly from suffocation These deaths involved an entrapment a fall The safest place or a situation in which bedding or the position of the child was related to the death for a baby to Nearly all of the children 98 were babies under 1 year old 3 sleep IS In an How can adult beds be dangerous for children appropriate cot Many parents and caregivers are unaware that there are hidden hazards wh
21. HILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT How to use playground equipment safely Playground users should do the following e Remove clothing strings necklaces earrings and all loose items in pockets before the child enters the playground Loose hanging strings and jewellery can get caught in play equipment e Remove bike or skate helmets before climbing on nets and other playground equipment e Check that children are using good shoes for climbing and running e On hot days check for hot surfaces on the tops of rubber and metal playground equipment before allowing young children to play on it Ensure children have shade and plenty of water during peak heat hours of 11 00 to 15 00 e f any sharp edges broken parts or other damage is found when playing on the equipment inform the operator or owner of the playground e Do not attach or allow children to attach ropes jump ropes clotheslines or pet leashes to play equipment as these Items can result in strangulation e Carefully supervise young children on play equipment to make sure they do not get in the way of moving equipment e Children s plastic climbing equipment should not be used indoors on wood or cement floors even if covered with a carpet Carpets do not provide adequate protection to prevent injuries such as fractures e Regularly check play equipment surfacing and anchorages to make sure all pieces are still in good condition for safe usage For more infor
22. Promotion 2 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE Table of Contents Introduction 4 What is the EU doing to make products safer for children European standards for products in this guide 8 OD Adult beds 12 Baby walkers 14 Bath seats or rings 16 Bicycles 18 Bunk beds 20 Changing tables 23 Child car seats 24 Child gates Safety barriers 29 Child sleepwear 30 Cots baby infant beds 31 Fireworks 34 Goals for soccer and handball 36 High chairs 38 Lighters non child resistant 40 Pacifiers soothers and rattles 41 Plastic bags 43 Playground equipment 44 Playpens 47 Small Parts e g balloons batteries magnets marbles 49 Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors 51 Strings cords and children s jewellery 53 Strollers oushchairs 55 Toy chests 57 Toys 59 Trampolines 62 Window blind or drapery cords 64 Alliance Members 66 Acknowledgements 6 7 CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE Introduction Every day children are hurt when interacting with products in their daily environments even with products made especially for children For example annually in the EU 28 Member States approximately 19 000 injuries to children O 14 years of age Involve bunk beds and are serious enough to require a visit to the emergency department The purpose of this guide is to explore children s interactions with products and Specifically to e inform consumers and pro
23. SAFETY TI P and least expensive means of providing an early warning of a potentially deadly fire Have a working and could reduce the risk of dying from a fire in the home by almost half carbon monoxide e Carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer because it cannot be seen heard smelled or tasted Typical symptoms are headache nausea dizziness vomiting detector placed chest pain and confusion There are approximately 50 accidental deaths per year in on each level in the United Kingdom from carbon monoxide poisoning and over 1 100 cases of the home recorded admissions to hospital Children under 14 years are most at risk e n the United States there are an estimated 10 unintentional non fire carbon monoxide poisoning deaths each year amongst children O to 14 years with 80 occurring in the home How can smoke and carbon monoxide detectors be dangerous e Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors can be dangerous if not properly installed or maintained What to look for when buying or prior to using e Check that smoke detectors meet standard EN 54 12 2002 Fire detection and fire alarm systems Part 12 Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors meet Standard EN 50291 e Buy and install interconnected detectors so that when one sounds all sound throughout the home these are also available with wireless connection e Buy detectors powered by house wiring that also have a battery back up In case of a power outage e Buy a
24. Trading Standards UK Carol Ainge Kid Rapt Ltd Magnus Bjork IKEA Jeremy Opperer Intertek Eveline Domini Laboratoire national de m trologie et d essais LNE Claire Weber CSC Stephen Russell ANEC Helena Menezes Risk Vision Peter Spitzer Safe Kids Austria and Herdis Storgaard Icelandic Safety House for their contributions and thorough review We would also like to acknowledge Steven Macey of Swansea University for data analyses on child injury data from the EU Injury Database and Sharon Marie Mavko for the publication design and layout Additionally we acknowledge and thank the European Child Safety Alliance country partners for providing case scenarios and input during meeting discussions to move this publication forward Finally we would like to acknowledge the funding support that has made this resource possible Thanks go to Underwriters Laboratories UL Kid Rapt Ltd in the United Kingdom and the Consumer Safety Commission CSC in France UL is a premier global independent safety science company that has championed progress for 120 years Its more than 10 000 professionals are guided by the UL mission to promote safe working and living environments for all people UL uses research and Standards to continually advance and meet ever evolving safety needs We partner with businesses manufacturers trade associations and international regulatory authorities to bring solutions to a more complex global supply chain For more info
25. UIDE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT What to look for when buying or prior to using e For public playgrounds playground equipment must conform to the European Standard on playgrounds EN11 76 2008 Part 1 General safety requirements and test methods Part 2 to 6 and 11 additional requirements for specific types of equipment and Part 7 Guidance on Installation Inspection maintenance and operation e For playgrounds in domestic use in a home garden playground equipment must comply with the toy safety standards EN 1 8 e Check that the playground equipment is age appropriate e Check that there is enough space to safely install the playground equipment taking Into account the extension of the falling space and impact area Check installation instructions before buying e For elevated play structures ensure there is enough room for a falling space free from obstacles of at least 1 5 metres all around the equipment for equipment with a fall height more than 1 5 metres this space increases gradually up to a minimum of 2 5 metres e When choosing the playground surface material e g rubberised wood chips sand check that the material matches the free fall height of the equipment in terms of impact absorption performance It is acceptable to have grass as the surface material for play equipment up to one metre in height as long as the grass is maintained in good condition How to use playground equipment safely Operators owners are respon
26. a gate is open How to use child gates safely e A pressure gate can be used at the bottom of stairs and in doorways A wall fixed gate Should be used for the top of the stairs e Check to make sure that gates are always closed when the child is in the home e Make a habit of inspecting all locking mechanisms and the stability of the gate at each use Including that it is securely anchored in the doorway or stairway it Is blocking Children have pushed gates over and fallen down stairs e Do not repair damages to a gate Have a professional repair damages or discontinue usage and buy a new gate e Discontinue using the gate when the child is 24 months old as a child this age may be able to climb over or dislodge the gate and injure themselves lee CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILDREN S SLEEPWEAR Children s sleepwear Why can children s sleepwear be a problem e n the United Kingdom there are an estimated 750 clothing flammability accidents each year 11 are fatal and 30 require in patient treatment Girls are at higher risk group due to the greater chance of loose fitting flowing garments coming in contact with flames This is why the United Kingdom has set a national safety Standard for children s sleepwear flammability specifically designed to protect children from burn injuries caused by contact with an open flame such as a match or stove burner A flame resistant garment does not continue burning when removed f
27. ace the trampoline on a hard surface i e concrete hard packed mud without some form of crash matting or safety netting e Springs or spaces should be covered so they do not pinch fingers toes or skin e Access to a trampoline should be via a fenced gate that is locked when no adult Is present to supervise in order to prevent children using the trampoline unattended e Do not allow children to use a ladder to get on the trampoline because it provides unsupervised access to small children Before using the trampoline e Set and discuss rules for using the trampoline with children who will use it Tell them about the risks of not using the trampoline properly e Have children remove necklaces and any clothing that may catch in the trampoline or safety net e Inspect the trampoline before each use to make there are no holes and that the frame has not become damaged Also check the padding is correctly and securely positioned and the leg braces are locked Using the trampoline e Never allow more than one person on the trampoline at a time to reduce the risk of injuries Instead encourage them to take turns e Do not allow children to attempt somersaults because landing on the head or neck can cause paralysis paraplegia and spine fractures e Do not use the trampoline without shock absorbing pads that completely cover its Springs hooks and frame e Children under 6 years of age should only use trampolines designed for their age range and s
28. afe Child Product Safety Guide Potentially dangerous products Each day children are hurt when interacting with products in their everyday environment even with products made especially for children This guide was written in order to reduce child injuries related to products that are in regular use by children and their caregivers by providing comprehensive information on 26 products that child safety experts in Europe identified as posing injury risks to children This guide is meant to raise awareness and education consumers and professionals to recognise the hidden hazards that a child encounters with products in their daily life and ways to prevent injuries with these products For each product the reader learns why the product may pose a safety problem why it can be dangerous for children what to look for when buying or prior to using the product and lastly advice on how to use the product safely By enhancing the awareness and knowledge of consumers and professionals on safe interaction with products children in Europe may lead safer lives European Child Safety Alliance RoSPA House 28 Calthorpe Road Edgbaston Birmingham B15 1RP UK E mail secretariat childsafetyeurope org Website www childsafetyeurope org Tel 44 121 248 2000 Fax 44 121 248 2001 In partnership with
29. am tried to resuscitate the boy but the head injuries he suffered were too severe The doctor on site stated We found the boy in cardiopulmonary arrest and tried to resuscitate him for at least 30 minutes but we failed to notice any cardiac activity Source Mediafax ro Un copil de sase ani a murit dupa ce un leagan s a prabusit peste el 2 December 2009 Available online http www mediafax ro social un copil de sase anl a murit dupa ce un leagan s a prabusit peste el 5148995 Why can playground equipment be a problem e Serious playground related head injuries have decreased due to increases in impact absorbing surfacing of playgrounds but arm fractures have remained constant at approximately 30 of all playground injuries e A survey performed in 2004 in the Netherlands of 149 kindergartens found defects SAFETY Tl P or examples of non compliance in 41 of all inspected playground equipment and To avoid playground activity toys In many cases the problems were due to a lack T f of maintenance collapsing o e n the United Kingdom it is estimated that there are 40 000 injuries to children on equipment playgrounds each year that result in a hospital visit Approximately 40 ensure it has of those injuries are related to playground equipment One of the most dangerous items on playgrounds is rotating overhead bars been properly e Estimates using EU Injury Database IDB data Indicate that annually in the anchored when EU
30. and the edge of the toy chest e Children s fingers can also be injured from heavy lids dropping on their fingers while opening or closing the lid When buying prior to using what to look for e Check that the toy chest conforms to standard EN 1 1 2011 Safety of toys Part 1 Mechanical and physical properties e The use of a toy chest or other container that has a hinged lid that can fall freely is not recommended e Look for a toy chest that has a support that will hold the hinged lid open in any position in which it is placed or buy one with a detached lid or doors e Look for a toy chest with ventilation holes that will not be blocked if the chest Is placed against the wall or a chest which when closed has a gap between the lid and the sides of the chest Many chests are ventilated by a space between the underside of the lid and sides or front of the box to prevent suffocation e Make certain that the lid of the toy chest does not have a latch e Look for a lid that is lightweight and if intended for children choose one that Is easy to open for children e507 A CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE TOY CHESTS How to use toy chests safely e f it is a toy chest or trunk with a freely falling lid it is recommended that the LID be REMOVED to avoid possible injury e Alternately install a lid support device designed to hold the lid open in any position Buy a spring loaded lid support that will not require periodic adjustment A
31. andard is a technical document designed to be used as a rule guideline or definition It is a consensus bullt repeatable way of doing something Standards are created by bringing together all interested parties such as manufacturers consumers and regulators of a particular material product process or service All parties benefit from Standardisation through increased product safety and quality as well as lower transaction costs and prices Standards play an important role in the regulation of consumer safety in Europe A European Standard EN automatically becomes a national standard in all National Members The European Committee for Standardisation CEN facilitates this process at the European level For more information about European standardisation please visit www cen eu cen CE marking According to the European Commission CE marking signifies a marking by which the manufacturer indicates that the product is in conformity with the applicable requirements set out in Community harmonisation legislation providing for its affixing Source Article 2 20 of Regulation EC No 765 2008 9 July 2008 Thus CE marking is a legal requirement It is a message from the manufacturer that a product such as a toy for example conforms to the essential requirements of the Toy Safety Directive Yet there is no obligation requiring manufacturers to ensure Independent verification Two other 4 issues involved in CE marking are that only certain
32. andra Nascimento APSI Portuguese Association for Child Safety Promotion Razvan Chereches and Diana Rus Center for Health Policy and Public Health Babes Bolyai University Elizabeth Lumsden Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents ROSPA Katarina Halzlova Department of Environment amp Health Public Health Authority of the Slovak Republic Mateja Rok Simon Institute of Public Health of the Republic of Slovenia Vicenta Lizarbe Alonso and Maria Antonia Astorga Ministerio de Sanidad Servicios Sociales e Igualdad and Maria Jesus Esparza Spanish Pediatrics Association and Primary Care Spanish Pediatrics Association Daniel Carlsson Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency MSB and Asa Olsson Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency MSB Safety of the Individual Section Barbara Pfenninger Swiss Council for Accident Prevention bfu Karen McFarlane Children in Wales 66 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE Acknowledgements We would like to acknowledge the team that has developed this guide The initial research for this work was undertaken in 2006 as part of an EU funded report written by Mathilde Sengdlge and Joanne Vincenten of the European Child Safety Alliance The update and expansion for the current guide was undertaken by Mathilde Sengdlge and Joanne Vincenten with technical assistance from Natalie Norman Olivia Heller and Morag MacKay of the European Child Safety Alliance We are grateful to Adam Gaunt
33. anec ecsa euroncap child safety in cars pdf 23World Health Organization World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention World Health Organisation Geneva 2004 21 24 International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles ESV Safety Benefits of the new ECE Regulation for the Homologation of CRS an estimation by the EC Casper project consortium http www nrd nhtsa dot gow pdf esv esv23 23ESV 000431 pdf 25 Lesire P Johannsen H Priorities for the protection of children in cars available data from the field GRSP 49 25 49th GRSP 16 20 May 2011 http www unece org fileadmin DAM trans doc 201 1 wp29grsp GRSP 49 25e pdf 28 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD GATES SAFETY BARRIERS Child gates safety barriers Why can child gates pose a problem e Child gates are designed to be used at the top and bottom of stairs or in open doorways to prevent toddlers from falling down stairs or entering unsafe areas However due to design or unsafe installation some child gates themselves are dangerous e Estimates using EU Injury Database IDB data indicate that annually in the EU 28 Member States approximately 75 injuries to children O 4 years of age involving child gates safety barriers are serious enough to require a visit to the emergency department How can child gates be dangerous for children e An entrapment and strangulation hazard exists with acc
34. at with an active airbag Some models incorporate the infant seat into a larger CRS not appropriate for premature or newborn babies that can be used up to 4 years of age making purchase of a second stage seat unnecessary Stage 2 Rearward or forward facing child seat Rearward or forward facing child seats have a 5 point harness and are designed to be used between 15 months and 4 years of age While both rearward and forward facing car seats are available for this age span rear facing seats are up to five times safer than forward facing seats Rear facing seats reduces the risk of neck spinal and abdominal injuries that could occur in a forward facing seat We strongly recommend the use of a rear facing Seat for children up to 4 years of age 25 CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS CRS SAFETY TIP Rear facing seats must be used for children younger than 15 months of age and are further recommended for children up to four years of age Stage 3 Forward facing booster seat with back and side wings Once a child has outgrown the infant and child seats a forward facing booster seat with a back and side wings can be used for a child up to the height of 150 cm Some new models have a base to click the seat into in addition to the seat belt while others rely solely on the seat belt to secure the child Stage 4 Booster seat or booster cushion A booster cushion a booster seat without a back and side
35. atapulted off of the trampoline and fell onto the hard stone floor of the terrace She broke her elbow which required two operations and several weeks of her arm in a cast Source Graz University Clinic for Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery Data from the Department for Injury Research and Prevention 2013 Why are trampolines dangerous e Estimates using EU Injury Database IDB data indicate that annually in the EU 28 Member States approximately 51 000 Injuries to children O 14 years of age involving trampolines are serious enough to require a visit to the emergency department e n the United Kingdom a report 2005 indicated that 4 200 children under the age of 15 went to hospital after an incident involving the use of a home trampoline How are trampolines dangerous for children e njuries and deaths due to trampoline use are caused by colliding with another person landing improperly while jumping or doing stunts on the trampoline or falling or jumping off the trampoline springs or frame e Most of the trampolines associated with injuries occur at private homes e Approximately 75 of trampoline injuries occur when more than one person is on the trampoline The person weighing less Is five times more likely to be Injured e Children under six years old are particularly vulnerable to injury when using a trampoline e Injuries can occur to all parts of the body including the neck arms legs face and head Head and neck injuries are
36. ated balloon or balloon pieces lying on the ground after the balloon has exploded while sucking or chewing on it Small toy magnets have caused serious Injuries and fatalities to young children when swallowed These toys are made of powerful magnetic pieces If more than one piece is swallowed the pieces can be pulled toward each other inside the child s body causing twisted knotted intestines intestinal perforation or blockage which can ultimately lead to death Check the size of any surprise toys in food packages for children as these toys may result in airway obstruction and suffocation Look for age appropriate labels when purchasing items How to use small parts safely Keep small parts such as batteries and smooth round objects such as toys marbles magnets small balls and coins off the floor and out of reach of children under 3 years of age as that age group has the tendency to put such objects in their mouths Separate toys that are for children less than 3 years old from those for older children and store them apart Check the eyes and noses of stuffed animals the wheels or tires of cars and trucks to ensure they are properly secured Regularly inspect toys and children s play areas for missing or dislodged magnets Supervise children playing with balloons Collect the pieces of broken balloons immediately and dispose of them out of the reach of young childr
37. ave been introduced to try to make baby walkers safer by having a wider base and caster blocks to prevent falling down stairs It is too early to establish whether the EN 1273 2005 Baby walking frames standard has led to a reduction in the number or severity of baby walker injuries 8 If despite this recommendation a baby walker is purchased it is important to buy one that has safety features to help prevent falls down stairs and other injuries e Check that the baby walker conforms to European Standard EN 1273 2005 Baby walking frames Safety requirements and test methods e Check that the baby walker is too wide to fit through doorways to prevent the baby roaming room to room e Check that it has a gripping mechanism to stop the walker at the edge of a step How to use safely e Buy a gate and make certain It is in use at the top of the stairs Close all doors e Do not use a baby walker in the kitchen Keep children away from hot surfaces and containers Keep hot containers away from table and countertop edges e Beware of dangling appliance cords and other objects a baby can grab onto while in a baby walker e Do not use baby walkers in rooms with open fireplaces or other exposed heating systems e Keep the child in a walker away from toilets swimming pools and other sources of water e Stay with the child when he or she is in the walker and use a walker only on smooth Surfaces Assist the child over thresholds or carp
38. ce html ixzz2fu9uEAl Why can plastic bags pose a problem e Nappy sacks are disposable often perfumed plastic bags into which soiled nappies diapers are placed after use and prior to permanent disposal Nappy sacks are bags made from thin plastic that can cling to a baby s face Babies are unable to pull them away again as their instinct is to go rigid In the United Kingdom 14 deaths have been associated with nappy sacks in the past 10 years Each case was thought to be an isolated one time incident e n the United States an average of 25 deaths of children who suffocated due to plastic bags are reported each year Almost 90 of them occurred in children under one year of age How are plastic bags dangerous for children Plastic bags are a suffocation hazard Children have suffocated when plastic bags dry cleaning garbage or trash bags and bags from packaging of toys or produce shopping have blocked the nose and mouth and prevented breathing Cases reported include e Child pulled plastic dry cleaning bag over face while lying on adult bed e Plastic garbage bag filled with clothes fell over child s face and mouth while the victim was on an adult bed e Child crawled into plastic garbage bag e Child rolled off mattress onto plastic bag filled with clothes e Child slept on mattress covered by plastic bag e Child suffocation due to a nappy sack that was stored within the baby s reach What to look for when
39. combined smoke alarm detector that has both ionization and photoelectric optical sensors lonization detectors may respond slightly faster to flaming fires and are therefore best suited for rooms that contain highly combustible materials that can create flaming fires such as flammable liquids paint cleaning solutions and newspapers Photoelectric optical models may respond slightly faster to smouldering fires and are thus best suited for living rooms bedrooms and kitchens as these rooms often contain large pieces of furniture sofas chairs mattresses etc which burn slowly and create more smouldering smoke than flames CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS Buy a detector that gives a warning when it needs to be completely replaced Many detectors do not provide a warning when they reach the end of their lives giving a false sense of protection Yet most carbon monoxide detectors currently on the market only last between 5 and years How to use smoke and carbon monoxide detectors safely e nstall smoke or carbon monoxide detectors by screwing them into the ceilings and as close to the center of the room as possible but at least 30 cm away from any wall or light fitting e Detectors may be installed into a plug in receptacle or high on the wall Avoid locations that are near heating vents or that could be covered by furniture or draperies e Install audible detectors near each of the separate sle
40. covered by specific legislation e g toys Products must comply with the definition of a safe product to ensure that only safe products are available on the market In addition to this basic requirement producers must inform consumers of the risks associated with the products they supply take measures to prevent such risks and be able to trace dangerous products The Directive provides for an alert system the RAPEX system between Member States and the Commission in order to ensure national authorities in the Member States are informed quickly of dangerous products shared across markets A weekly report of dangerous product notifications and recalls is published through the RAPEX system To view the reports or to report an unsafe product please visit the Europa website http ec europa eu consumers safety rapex alerts main index cfm event main search Regarding toys specifically the Toy Safety Directive 2009 48 EC was implemented into national legislation in 2011 and the parts of the Directive relating to chemical content came into force in July 2013 According to the Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry the Directive achieves high levels of health and safety standards in particular related to the amounts of certain chemicals that may be contained in materials used for toys In addition it improves the existing rules for the marketing of toys that are produced in and imported into the EU It is essential that the European Commi
41. d provide a night light for children structures that have entrapped children and resulted in suffocation or strangulation to see at night if deaths they need to get How can bunk beds be dangerous out of bed e The leading causes of bunk bed injuries are falls from the top bed while sleeping or playing and falls off the ladder while climbing Slipping from the ladder can result in severe falls or even death due to strangulation especially for smaller children Children have died from strangulation when entrapped in the guardrail and trom collapse of the mattress foundation Guardrails that are attached to the bed by hooks and remain in place only by their own weight can dislodge allowing a child to become entrapped under the guardrail or fall e Deaths have also occurred when very young children rolled off the bed and became entrapped between the wall and the side of the bed not having a guardrail This hazard is not unique to bunk beds Regular beds can present the same hazard Bunk beds are also a collapse hazard Suffocation deaths have occurred when mattress foundations fell on children playing on the floor or occupying the lower bunk e Children have also been hung when playing with ropes on the upper bunk 20 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE BUNK BEDS What to look for when buying or prior to using e Check that the bunk bed conforms to the European Standard EN 747
42. d If the cot has knobs the knobs should be unscrewed or sawed off flush with the headboard or footboard Sand off splinters and sharp corners How to use cots safely Make sure there are no gaps larger than two fingers between the sides of the crib and the mattress Keep the cot away from any object that could pose strangulation risk such as window curtain blind cords and baby monitor cord When the child reaches 89 cm he she has outgrown the crib and should sleep in a bed Remove all soft bedding and pillow like items quilts comforters bumper pads Sheepskin blankets etc from the cot as they may cause suffocation Bumper pads cause additional risks not only due to suffocation risks but they also could be used to climb on once the baby is crawling Increasing the risk of the baby falling from the cot Only use the mattress pad provided do not add extra padding Always lock the side rail in its raised position whenever the child is placed in the cot Once the baby is able to sit up by him herself move the baby mattress to a lower position When the baby can stand be sure to lower the mattress to Its lowest position then when she he is 90 cm or higher or when the side rail is up to the level of the nipples move the child to a child bed SZ EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE 31 Maintenance of cots e Check the cot and replace or repair any missing or loose parts such as screws bolts or
43. d with footbrakes since a child s hand muscles and coordination are not developed enough to control hand brakes e Check that reflectors are located on the front and rear of the bicycle In order to increase visibility consider adding reflectors to the tires as well 18 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE BICYCLES How to use bicycles safely 13 14 15 16 e Adjust the Bicycle to Fit The child should stand over the bicycle and there should be 2 5 to 5 cm between the child and the top bar if using a road bike and 7 to 10 cm if a mountain bicycle The seat should be level front to back The seat height should be adjusted to allow a slight bend at the knee when the leg Is fully extended The handlebar height should be at the same level with the seat e Check Equipment Before riding inflate tires properly and check that the brakes work e See and Be Seen Whether daytime dawn dusk foul weather or at night a child needs to be seen by others Wearing white has not been shown to make one more visible Rather children should always wear neon fluorescent or other bright colours when riding day or night Also they should wear something that reflects light such as reflective tape or markings or flashing lights e Control of Bicycle Children should always ride with at least one hand on the handlebars Books and other items should be carried separately in a bicycle carr
44. del should tn principle fit in all cars that have a 3 point seat belt e A semi universal restricted or vehicle specific model will not fit in every car and its compatibility should be checked prior to purchase and use e An Isofix Universal forward facing CRS will only fit in cars which have Isofix anchorage and top tether points installed e Isofix semi universal CRS are forward or rear facing CRS equipped with either a top tether or a support leg but may not fit every car e Isofix semi universal CRS are also available for use in the front seat if necessary These CRS are only compatible with vehicles that have an Isofix front seat anchorage point in the passenger side of the dashboard These CRS may NOT be used with a frontal airbag and whenever possible the back seat Is the safer location for a CRS Second hand CRS If a second hand CRS is being considered ensure that It e is labelled as conforming to safety standard regulation UN ECE R44 04 or R129 e comes with the original instructions e has no visible damage or missing parts e has never been in a crash if the car seat s history is not known then it should not be bought or used 27 CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS CRS How to use a CRS safely Fastening a child in a CRS e For rearward facing CRS check that the harness Is snug over the child s body and that for infants the harness is slightly below or at shoulder he
45. ds EN 749 2004 Playing field equipment Handball goals Functional and safety requirements test methods EN 15 312 is EN 15312 2007 Free access multi sports equipment Requirements including safety and test methods EN 14988 1 2006 A1 2012 Children s high chairs EN 13869 2002 A1 2011 Lighters Child resistance for lighters Safety requirements and test methods EN 1400 1 2002 Child use and care articles EN 1400 2 2002 Child use and care articles Soothers for babies and young children Part 2 Mechanical requirements and tests CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE Product Plastic bags Playground equipment Playpens Rattles Small Parts magnets marbles small balls batteries etc Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors Strings cords and children s jewellery Strollers pushchairs Toy chests Toys Trampolines Window blind or drapery cords Standard EN 71 1 2011 Clause 6 Packaging Safety of toys Part 1 Mechanical and physical properties EN 1176 1 2008 Playground equipment and surfacing Part 1 General safety requirements and test methods EN 1176 7 2008 Playground equipment and surfacing Part 7 Guidance on installation inspection maintenance and operation EN 1177 2008 Impact attenuating playground surfacing Determination of critical fall height EN 12227 2010 Playpens for domestic use Safety requirements and test methods EN 71 1 2011 Safety of toys Part 1 Mechanical and phys
46. e 3 cm screw from the playpen He placed the screw in his mouth and it fell back into his throat and blocked his breathing The emergency doctor revived him upon arrival to the scene and following this event he spent eight months in the hospital The playpen was given to the family used and had no manufacturer information on it Source Personal testimony from the victim s mother BAG Mehr Sicherheit f r Kinder e V Bonn Germany Why can playpens pose a problem e Estimates using EU Injury Database IDB data indicate that annually in the EU 28 Member States approximately 760 Injuries to children O 4 years of age involving playpens are serious enough to require a visit to the emergency department e Since 2013 playpens in the United States must meet new safety standards 1 side rails that do not form a sharp V when the product is folded as this prevents a child from strangling in the side rail 2 stronger corner brackets to prevent sharp edged cracks and to prevent a side rail collapse 3 sturdier mattress attachments to the play yard floor to prevent children from getting trapped or hurt How can playpens be dangerous for children e Mesh sided playpens are a strangulation hazard A child s head may become trapped if the playpen collapses e Some playpens have a hinge at the centre of each top rail with a latching mechanism that locks automatically when the rail is lifted into the normal use position To fold these products a butto
47. e Keep children away from the stroller when folding or unfolding it Children s fingers have been amputated in parts of the folding mechanism Some manufacturers now offer hinge protectors in response to recalls e A stroller is not a toy Never allow children to use one as a plaything and do not allow young children to stand in the stroller as this can cause tipping and result in serious head injuries e Never use a pillow folded quilt or blanket as a mattress in a stroller as they can cause suffocation e f using a ride on platform or kiddie board a product attached to the stroller for a toddler to stand on make sure it is secured properly to the stroller and test that it can take the weight of the child standing on the platform Adult supervision is required and the child should always keep his or her hands on the stroller bar while standing on the platform 65 U S Consumer Product Safety Commission 2011 2011 CPSC Annual Report Washington DC U S Consumer Product Safety Commission a European Commission Keeping European Consumers Safe 2010 Annual Report on the operation of the Rapid Alert System for non food consumer products RAPEX CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE TOY CHESTS Toy chests Why are toy chests a problem e Estimates using EU Injury Database IDB data indicate that annually in the EU 28 Member States approximately 500 Injuries to children O 14 years of age involving toy chests are serious enough to
48. e Portuguese Association for Child Safety Promotion APSI checked the safety of 310 goals selected at random from all over the country They found that 15 were not anchored to the ground during playtime and when they were not in place for a game that 82 of goals were not anchored Of the anchored goals tested for stability 12 of them failed tip over tests 38 This study was the basis for the implementation of a Portuguese law in 2003 that specifies that all goals must be anchored at all times e There are European standards for soccer football goals EN 748 2013 and handball goals EN 749 2004 but they only deal with organised training and competition and not school and leisure use Nevertheless as a result of the work of APSI who brought the issue to the attention of ANEC new standards are being developed for portable and fixed goals used in recreational play and in both indoor or outdoor areas Including educational establishments and public recreational areas One of these new standards will include requirements for lightweight goals less than 10 kg How can goals be dangerous for children e n most cases the serious Injuries and deaths are a result of blunt force trauma to the head neck chest and limbs when the goal tips over and hits or lands on the victim In one case an 8 year old child was fatally injured when the movable goal he was climbing on tipped over and struck him on the head In another case a male died from a massi
49. e entangled in the pull cords or in the inner cords that are used to raise the slats of blinds These entrapments occur when a young child pulls on an inner cord and it forms a loop that a child can hang in The reported deaths included children in cots or playpens placed next to windows In most cases the outer pull cords were placed out of reach but the children still strangled when they pulled on the inner cords of the blinds Children were found hanging by the neck in the loop of the cords 64 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE WINDOW BLIND OR DRAPERY CORDS What to look for when buying or prior to using e Reconsider the window covering options is a blind really necessary If yes buy blinds without a blind cord chain and without a concealed cord e Do not buy looped blind cords It is hoped that a voluntary agreement among manufacturers and retailers in Europe will eventually see an end to looped blind cords altogether How to use window blinds draper cords safely e Examine every blind in the home Discard blinds with looped control chains or cords and install blinds that do not have a cord particularly in a child s bedroom e Keep all blind cords out of the reach of children e Do not place a child s cot bed playpen or highchair near a window as children can climb on top and open the window and or reach the cords e Cutting the cords is not recommended even as
50. e from the baby at all times If it is necessary to leave the room to answer the phone or the door take the child along e Check periodically that the bath seat or ring suction cups are gripping well as suction cups will NOT stick to textured ridged appliqued or factory designed non skid bathtub surfaces Suction cups will also not stick to scratched chipped or repainted tub surfaces Further after repeated use the suction cups can become ineffective e Bath seats and rings are intended for use as bath aids while washing the child they are NOT SAFETY DEVICES The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Product safety Bath seats for babies can give a false sense of security with fatal outcomes Birmingham The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents http www rospa com leisuresafety Info WaterSafety bathseats pdf 10 U S Consumer Product Safety Commission Document reference HP 00 4 Dated 30 03 01 Official Journal of the European Union European Decision 2010 9 EU http eur lex europa eu LexUriServ LexUriServ do uri OJ L 2010 003 0023 0029 EN PDF ANEC newsletter number 100 June 2009 European Commission proposes draft safety requirements for mandates for child care articles and window hasps http www anec org anec asp rd 8626 amp ref 02 01 01 01 amp lang en amp ID 248 CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE BICYCLES Bicycles In 2010 a 14 year old boy in Denmark was riding his bike home from school when he cra
51. e right toy for the age of child Most toys have a Suggested age range on the packaging A warning symbol that a toy is not suitable for children under 36 months is important because it means that the toy may contain parts on which a very young child could choke Any toy for a child under three years of age can become a choking hazard if pieces come apart or break off Be aware of small objects such as buttons or beads that are not suitable for young children Toys intended for children under eight years of age should be free of sharp glass and metal edges In addition to these basic requirements the following issues should be considered If the toy has moving parts ensure fingers will not be trapped in the mechanism If the toy is made out of wood make sure it is smooth and will not cause splinters Will the toy have to bear a child s weight If the toy has paint varnish or other coatings ensure it is nontoxic free of lead and phthalates and designed for use with children If the toy has strings or straps ensure they are not long enough to fit around a young child s neck and pose a strangulation hazard 60 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE TOYS Use of the toy e Check toys regularly Toys that have been broken may have dangerous points or prongs Stuffed toys may have wires inside the toy that could cut or stab a child if exposed e Caregivers should always re instal
52. e scenarios generally include e Switching a toddler to a forward facing CRS too soon New regulations require children to remain rear facing until a minimum of 15 months of age However experts urge continued use of rear facing seats for up to four years of age e Switching to a seat belt alone no booster seat too soon Children under 150 cm height and in some countries 135 cm must still use a booster seat so that the seat belt fits them properly e Not installing the CRS properly in the car or not fastening the child properly in the CRo e The CRS not being compatible with the seat design and seat belts of the car e Making homemade adaptations to the CRS to accommodate special needs children What to look for when buying or prior to using Types of CRS From birth to approximately 12 years of age a child will grow through 4 stages of car seats Depending on the type of model selected this will likely mean the purchase of at least 2 or 3 different types of CRS Stage 1 Rearward facing infant seat Rearward facing seats are portable CRS that use most commonly a 3 point safety harness to help secure the infant There are also bigger rearward facing CRS with a 5 point safety harness Some models click into a car base for safer installation others rely on strapping the CRS into the car with the seat belt A rearward facing seat should be used until the infant is at least 15 months of age Do not use a rear facing CRS in a front se
53. e telephone or the doorbell The majority of these Injuries occur in the child s first year of life What to look for when buying or prior to using e Check that the changing table conforms to the European safety standard EN 12221 1 2008 Changing units for domestic use e Look for a table with a wide base for stability elevated side and front panels and safety straps that are easy to use e Check that the changing table will allow all needed supplies to be positioned nearby How to use changing tables safely e Always use safety straps on a changing table But know that children in secured Straps can wiggle out of the straps over time So have all supplies within arm s reach prior to changing the baby e Keep within arm s reach of the baby on the changing table e Take the baby along if it is necessary to leave the room even for a phone call or to answer the door e Alternative change a child on the floor to prevent falls from heights while changing 19 U S Consumer Product Safety Commission Nursery Product Related Injuries and Deaths Among Children under Age Five 2010 CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS CRS SAFETY TIP Remove bulky clothing before strapping a child into the car restraint Check that the harness or seat belt is snug enough by running one finger under it More than one finger should not fit in the space Child restraint systems CRS In 2013 a 2
54. eatment in the hospital would never have thought that Luca could be so quick in his baby walker he was actually speeding down the hall towards the staircase and all could do was watch it happen the mother said after the injury Source Graz University Clinic for Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery Data from the Department for Injury Research and Prevention 2013 Why are baby walkers a problem e There is a large quantity of emergency data from the EU and the US which shows that baby walkers are the cause of thousands of accidents every year with children e Estimates using EU Injury Database IDB data indicate that annually in the EU 28 Member States approximately 580 injuries to children O 4 years of age involve SAFETY Tl P baby walkers serious enough to require a visit to the emergency department Do not use baby Many parents believe that baby walkers help to teach children to walk En Physiotherapists in the United Kingdom blame baby walkers for 4 000 injuries per year and also claim that baby walkers disrupt the ability of children to develop walking and visual skills and stop them from properly exploring their surroundings e n Canada falls down stairs in baby walkers are the most frequent cause of serious head injuries for children under the age of two From 1990 to 2002 there were 1 935 baby walker injuries reported among children aged 5 14 months For this reason baby walkers have been banned in Canada since 2004
55. echnical Background Report Facts and Figures Significant Improvement in Cigarette Lighter Safety in the EU PROSAFE 2012 42 43 40 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE PACIFIERS SOOTHERS AND RATTLES Pacifiers soothers and rattles In 2013 a one year old girl in Romania died as a result of strangulation with her pacifier cord The little girl tried to reach a toy and the cord tangled around her neck and cut off her air supply The mother called a nearby neighbour who is a nurse to perform resuscitation until emergency services arrived on the scene and transported her to the hospital Resuscitation efforts were performed for almost an hour but the child was in cardiopulmonary arrest upon arrival to the hospital Source Mediafax ro Suceava O fetita de un an a murit strangulata cu snurul de la suzeta 25 February 2013 http www mediafax ro social suceava o fetita de un an a murit strangulata cu Snurul de la suzeta 10598035 Why can pacifiers soothers and rattles pose a problem e The use of pacifiers involves both benefits and risks The benefits are found in shorter hospital stays for preterm infants and a reduction in the risk of sudden infant death syndrome Risks associated with pacifier use particularly with prolonged use include negative effects on breast feeding and dental health In terms of injury risks pacifiers can cause choking or result in suffocation e E
56. eck that the bed has a firm tight fitting mattress e Buy a bed with the head and footboards as one solid piece rather than ones with gaps spaces or bars e Buy a bed with one mattress rather than a bed with two separate mattresses How to use adult beds safely e Never let a child under the age of two years sleep alone in an adult bed and always place the baby to sleep on his or her back not on the stomach e f a caretaker chooses to be in an adult bed with a child make sure to remove soft blankets and pillows as they may cause suffocation Be sure that the mattress is firm e Place a carpet or mattress on each side of the bed in case the child falls off Recommendation The safest place for a baby to sleep is in an appropriate cot in the same room as the parents caregiver 3 U S Consumer Product Safety Commission Document 5091 The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission Cautions Caregivers about Hidden Hazards for Babies on Adult Beds Washington DC U S Consumer Product Safety Commission http www cpsc gov cpscpub pubs cribsafe HTML Pol 35 CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE BABY WALKERS Baby Walkers A six month old boy in Austria was exploring the house with his new baby walker while his mother was cooking in the kitchen Although the mother was trying to supervise her son he moved quickly and fell down the stairs to the basement The baby was admitted to the hospital with a fracture that required a weeklong tr
57. ed in accordance with European standards community technical specifications codes of good practice state of the art and the expectations of consumers Sector specific products such as toys have their own Directive The Toy Safety Directive 2009 48 EC is a new Directive that came into force for Member States on July 20 2011 and refers to toys as products that are used or intended for use in play by children up to the age of 14 years The Directive lays down the safety criteria or essential requirements which toys must meet during manufacture and before being placed on the market The safety criteria cover general risks protection against health hazards or physical injury and particular risks physical and mechanical flammability chemical properties and electrical properties For more information about the Toy Safety Directive we invite you to please visit the website of the European Commission Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry Factsheet Toy Safety at http ec europa eu enterprise sectors toys documents directives CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE What is the European Union doing to make products safer for children For a number of consumer products European standards play a crucial role in defining the level of safety to be found on the market The aim of the European Commission s General Product Safety Directive is to achieve a high level of product safety throughout the EU for consumer products that are not
58. efault aspx Why window blinds drapery cords pose a problem e Estimates using EU Injury Database IDB data indicate that annually in the EU 28 Member States approximately 100 injuries to children O 14 years of age SAFETY TIP involving window blind drapery cord are serious enough to require a visit to the emergency department Buy blinds e The U S Consumer Product Safety Commission CPSC has identified window draperies with no coverings with cords as one of the top five hidden hazards in the home About once loops or cords or a month in the USA achild between 7 months and 10 years old dies from window shorten the cord cord strangulation and another suffers a near Strangulation In recent years CPSC i has recalled over five million window coverings because of safety issues so that a child e n the United Kingdom two children die annually after becoming tangled in blind cannot reach it cords and many more have near misses Research shows that children between 16 and 36 months of age are at highest risk with the majority of injuries occurring around 23 months e The current European safety standard EN13120 2009 Internal blinds Performance requirements including safety is currently being strengthened and its scope broadened A revised standard Is anticipated and will take effect sometime during 2013 2014 How are window blinds drapery cords dangerous e Window blinds drapery cords are a strangulation hazard e Children becom
59. en 2 European Commission Keeping European Consumers Safe 2011 Annual Report on the operation of the Rapid Alert System for non food dangerous products RAPEX 56 Nakamura S Pollack Nelson C Chidekel A Suction type suffocation incidents in infants and toddlers Pediatrics 2003 11 1 e12 e16 57 U S Consumer Product Safety Commission CPSC Warns Consumers of Suffocation Danger Associated with Children s Balloons Pub 5087 012012 CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors In 2012 a family in the United Kingdom was referred to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents ROSPA Be Gas Safe Programme in order to receive carbon monoxide detectors and safety education through a local Safety practitioner One of the detector alarms went off at a later point in time and a gas engineer was called in A leak was detected from the boiler and according to the engineer the family could have died if it had not been for the carbon monoxide detectors Source Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents RoSPA Be Gas Safe Programme 2011 2013 Why can smoke and carbon monoxide detectors pose a problem e While smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are an important safety device about two thirds of house fire deaths occur in homes with either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms e Properly installed and maintained smoke alarms are considered to be one of the best
60. en placing in the same room babies on adult beds Consumers often think that if an adult bed is pushed against a wall J or pillows are placed along the sides of the bed small babies will be safe as they sleep as the parents However research shows hidden hazards for babies on adult beds that include Caregiver e Entrapment between the bed and the wall or between the bed and another object e Entrapment involving the bed frame headboard or footboard e Falls from adult beds onto piles of clothing plastic bags or other soft materials resulting in suffocation e Entrapment of the head thorax or abdomen by the body of a person sharing the bed or a blanket or pillow in the bed e Falls from adult beds onto the floor e Suffocation in soft bedding such as pillows or thick quilts and comforters and In waterbeds Children sink in and if they are lying on their belly they are not able to bring up their head The water mattress covers the whole face so there is a risk of suffocation 12 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE ADULT BEDS What to look for when buying or prior to using e Check that the bed conforms to European Standard EN 1725 1998 Domestic furniture Beds and mattresses This standard defines the mechanical safety requirements and testing for all kinds of fully erected domestic adult beds including all component elements e g bed frame base and mattress e Ch
61. ent points the two vehicle anchorages which connect the CRS to the car and either a top tether or a support leg Check the vehicle manual if the support leg is compatible with the car floor e When using a booster seat or cushion be sure the lap belt fits low across a child s thigh area the belt should not rest across the abdomen Airbags e Never place a child in the front seat of the vehicle if the airbag Is on If using a CRS in the front seat ensure the airbag is turned off Check the vehicle instructions for how to switch off the airbag and follow the manufacturer s Instructions for safe installation Using the car seat outside the car e When using a Stage 1 infant seat outside the car always place the child car seat on the floor to avoid falls keep the child buckled up at all times when carrying the CRS and remove the child from the CRS when no longer in transport 20 Lesire et al CASPER improvement of child safety in cars Procedia Social and Behavioural Sciences 48 2012 2654 2663 United Nations Economic Commission for Europe UN Regulation 129 Uniform provisions concerning the approval of enhanced Child Restraint Systems used on board of motor vehicles ECRS http www unece org fileadmin DAM trans main wp29 wp2 9regs 2013 R129e pdf 2 ANEC ECSA and EuroNCAP Public Statement Child Safety in Cars ANEC ECSA and EuroNCAP Joint Statement June 2012 http www childsafetyeurope org archives news 20 1 2 info
62. eping areas of the home such as in the hallway outside the bedrooms This doubles the chances of getting out alive if a fire starts at night e Do not Install detectors in kitchens or above fuel burning appliances e Make sure to test detectors periodically according to the manufacturer s instructions A detector with a dead battery provides no protection e Never disconnect batteries from detectors Maintenance 58 59 60 61 e Battery operated detectors should be checked every month to make sure they re working properly Designate one person to test the smoke alarms monthly Test the battery by pushing the test button If there is no button press the centre of the cover e Replace batteries in battery operated detectors according to the manufacturer s instructions once a year every five years and when they chirp indicating low battery e Replace the detectors every 5 years U S Consumer Product Safety Commission Consumer Product Safety Commission Smoke Alarms Why Where and Which CPSC Pub 559 www cpsc gov PageFiles 1 19009 559 pdf Royal Society fort he Prevention of Accidents Carbon monoxide the silent killer http www rospa com homesafety adviceandinformation carbonmonoxide U S Consumer Product Safety Commission Non fire carbon monoxide deaths associated with the use of consumer products 2008 Annual Estimates Dec 2011 http www cpsc gov PageF iles 108308 col 1 pdf UK Fire Service Re
63. es if the cord is caught and slaps back Therefore cords in hoods or around the neck on clothes for children should not be elastic except for shoulder straps and halter necks 53 CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE STRINGS CORDS AND CHILDREN S JEWELLERY What to look for when buying or prior to using Do not buy clothes with cords or drawstrings in hood and the neck area for children O to 7 years of age below the height of 1 34 m Consider other closures such as Snaps buttons or Velcro instead For older children avoid buying clothes with cords longer than 7 5 cm in the hood and neck area as they can quickly be caught In bus or car doors Avoid having tied belts or sashes longer than 36 cm in children s clothes intended to be tied at the front If too long the child can get trapped while playing Long strings in the back of children s clothes also pose risk of Injuries as they can get trapped in doors of buses or other vehicles Avoid cords and drawstrings trailing below the sleeve or hem of the garment Drawstrings and cords at the bottom hem of long legged trousers shall be totally on the inside of the garment Do not buy any toy that has cords or chains with a length exceeding 22 cm This is the length specified as a strangulation hazard in the requirements of EN 71 1 2011 Safety of Toys Do not buy any toy that has electrical cables attached or supplied longer than 30 cm as they could be a strangulatio
64. eting e Be aware of objects within reach of a baby in a baby walker cigarettes ashtrays alcohol medicines 4 PROSAFE the Product Safety Enforcement Forum of Europe Joint Action on Baby Walkers 2009 http www prosafe org default asp item ID 66 amp itemTitle undefined RoSPA Should my child use a baby walker http www rospa com faqs detail aspx fag 217 Health Canada Child and Youth Injury in Review 2009 Edition Spotlight on Consumer Product Safety http www phac aspc gc ca publicat cyi bej 2009 index eng php 7 ECSA ANEC Position Statement on Baby Walkers http www childsafetyeurope org publicationspositionstatements baby walkers htm 8 ANEC Newsletter number 98 Nov 2008 http www anec org anec asp rd 3 73 5 amp ref 02 01 01 01 amp lang en amp lD 236 L5 CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE BATH SEATS OR RINGS Bath seats or rings In the United Kingdom a nine month old girl drowned after slipping out of a bath seat while left unattended A child can drown in a bath very quickly and quietly We have heard of many tragic cases in which a parent or caregiver has gone to get a towel or to answer the door or telephone and their child has drowned in the time they were away In some cases parents had believed a bath seat would hold their child securely while they were out of the room but we cannot overstate the fact that seats must not be used in this way not even for just a moment RoSPA head of le
65. fessionals about the risks that a child encounters with products in and around the home e educate consumers and professionals in the purchase of child products e educate consumers and professionals regarding safe usage of products potentially dangerous to children e provide consumers and professionals with details of the safety standards that have been approved by CEN the European standards organisation that specify the safety requirements tests and test methods for the products referred to in this guide Within this guide information on 26 child related products are detailed to provide comprehensive information to assist parents caregivers and injury prevention professionals with the reduction of child injuries related to these potentially dangerous products How was this information gathered The information in this guide was collected in two ways First we reviewed relevant literature and available data on child injuries involving products Injuries and accidents data in Europe were obtained from the RAPEX system the Rapid Alert System for Non Food Products of the European Commission from European Child Safety Alliance Country partners including non EU Member States such as Israel and Norway and the European Injury Database IDB co funded under the EU Health programme and managed by Eurosafe For more information about the IDB http ec europa eu health data_collection databases idb index_en htm To supplement the limited inj
66. gs and Instructions on purchased fireworks e Be sure all observers are out of range before lighting fireworks e Only light fireworks on a smooth flat surface away from the house dry leaves or other flammable materials e f having a bonfire along with fireworks ensure it is at least 18 metres away from the house surrounding trees and hedges fences or sheds e To light a firework hold the firework at arm s length Be careful of windy conditions e Never try to relight fireworks that have not properly functioned e Keep a bucket of water or sand handy in case of a malfunction or fire e Do not hold fireworks in your hand after lighting unless the instructions specifically allow this e Wear clothes without hoods or cords e Do not carry fireworks in pockets of clothing as friction with the clothes can cause them to explode e After the fireworks display is finished make sure that anyone who Is helping to clear up debris uses tongs or gloves to avoid burning themselves e Never throw used fireworks onto a bonfire 32 33 UK Fire Service Resources Firework Safety http www fireservice co uk safety fireworks Child Safety Report Card 2012 Europe Summary for 31 countries page 36 http www childsafetyeurope org reportcards index html on Foged T Lauritsen J Ipsen T Firework injuries in Denmark in the period 1995 1996 to 2006 2007 Ugeskr Laeger 2007 Dec 3 169 49 4271 5 Hagehaugen S Section on Hazardous Substances a
67. hreads There have been reports of child entanglements in threads stitching that had unravelled Never use a playpen with holes in the mesh sides These could entrap a child s head and result in strangulation Never use a playpen with a hinge in the centre of each of the four top folding rails if the top rails do not automatically lock when the rail Is lifted into the normal use position Do not place objects with cords such as electrical cords for lamps or baby monitors within reach of the playpen Cords can pose a strangulation risk 53 U S Consumer Product Safety Commission CPSC Blogger Play Yards New Safety Rule to Take Effect By on February 19 2013 54 U S Consumer Product Safety Commission Deaths Associated with Playpens 2001 www cpsc gov PageFiles 108029 playpen pdf 48 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE Small Parts e g balloons batteries magnets marbles In 2010 a 2 year old boy in Romania died after he choked on a balloon The child was left unattended for a few minutes at which time he swallowed the balloon and could no longer breathe The child was transported to the hospital and resuscitation efforts were performed for 40 minutes but the child remained in cardiopulmonary arrest Source Gazeta de Sud Copil de doi ani mort dupa ce a inghitit un balon 23 July 2010 http www gds ro Eveniment 20 10 0 7 23 Copil de doi ani mort dupa ce at inghitit un balon Why are small
68. ical properties EN 71 1 2011 Safety of toys Part 1 Mechanical and physical properties EN 54 12 2002 Fire detection and fire alarm systems Part 12 Smoke detectors EN 50291 1 Electrical apparatus for the detection of carbon monoxide in domestic premises EN 14682 2007 Safety of children s clothing Cords and drawstrings on children s clothing specifications EN 1888 2012 Child care articles Wheeled child conveyances Safety requirements and test methods EN 71 1 2011 Safety of toys Part 1 Mechanical and physical properties EN 71 1 14 Safety of toys EN 13219 2008 Gymnastic equipment Trampolines Functional and safety requirements EN 13120 2009 Internal blinds Performance requirements including safety prEN 16433 Internal blinds Protection from strangulation hazards Test methods under approval prEN 16434 Internal blinds Protection from strangulation hazards Requirements and Test methods for safety devices under approval prEN 16433 Internal blinds Protection from strangulation hazards Test methods under approval prEN 16434 Internal blinds Protection from strangulation hazards Requirements and Test methods for safety devices under approval Making life for children 10 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE ls your child safe Bb tentially dangeroug products E A a a Ei Ya VA F f a y CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE ADULT
69. ich become loose such as eyes buttons or pieces of stuffing cause many of these incidents e Toys that fire objects such as toy guns or bows and arrows water pistols or catapults cause over 1 000 accidents each year 59 CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE TOYS Why can toys be dangerous As well as injuries associated with the toys themselves they also happen when children and adults trip over toys The most serious of these Incidents occur when toys are left on stairs or steps For toy related deaths and injuries it is important to note that many of the incidents were associated with a toy but not necessarily caused by the toy Many caregivers fail to adhere to the age range restrictions that are often posted on toys Loose magnets especially super batteries and button batteries found in certain toys can be hazardous if swallowed What to look for when buying or prior to using Toys are required to be CE marked and have to meet the requirements of the Toy Safety Directive 2009 48 EC This Directive strengthened provisions on enforcement and added new safety requirements which in turn has improved the existing rules for the marketing of toys produced in or imported into the EU with a specific aim of reducing toy related injuries The Directive targets apply to products designed or intended for whether or not exclusively use in play by children under 14 years of age It is very Important to choose th
70. ier or backpack e Watch for and Avoid Road Hazards Children have to be on the lookout for hazards such as potholes broken glass gravel puddles leaves and dogs All these hazards can cause a crash If riding with friends the child in the lead should yell out and point to the hazard to alert the other riders e Avoid Riding at Night It is far more dangerous to ride at night than during the day because children are harder for others to see Also night riding requires special skills and special equipment that few young children are equipped with If children have to ride at night they should wear something that makes them more easily seen by others and use a front and back light e Children should be taught the basic safety rules Wear a helmet Ride on the right side with traffic in the UK on the left side with traffic Use appropriate hand signals Respect traffic signals European Transport Safety Council ETSC Bike Pal project Pedalling toward safety Brussels ETSC 2012 ROSPA Cycling Accidents Facts and Figures July 2012 http www rospa com roadsafety adviceandinformation cycling facts figures aspx Thompson DC et al Helmets for Preventing Head and Facial Injuries in Bicyclists Cochrane Review Issue 1 2003 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2012 http www nhtsa gov Bicycles fale CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE BUNK BEDS Bunk Beds In July 2013 an e
71. ight For forward facing CRS the harness should be at or slightly above the shoulder height CRS should have multiple shoulder slots to accommodate a growing infant thus finding the correct height may involve adjusting the CRS harness e Test if the harness is snug enough by running a finger under it at their shoulder or upper leg area not more than one finger should fit Alternately try pinching the harness if it can fold within the fingertips it is too loose e Remove winter coats or bulky items from the child before adjusting the harness or fastening the seat belt Bulky clothes can cause a child to slide out of the restraint in the event of a collision A blanket or jacket can be placed over the child for warmth after fastening e A R44 approved seat which can be used either rear of forward facing will have colour coded guides for where the seat belt straps should go depending on which direction it is facing Rear facing seat belt paths will be coded blue and forward facing will be coded red e f the CRS is secured with a seat belt be sure there is no slack in the belt and that the CRS cannot be shaken e When possible place the CRS in the rear middle seating position which is the Safest seat in the car However only do so If the seat belt or Isofix anchorage points are compatible with the CRS Some older car models only have a lap belt in the rear middle seat e Warning if using a seat with ISOFIX be sure to use all three attachm
72. ight month old baby sleeping in the bottom bunk of a set of bunk beds became wedged between the mattress and the ladder of the bunk bed Her parents had placed a bed brace to ensure that the baby could not fall out of the bottom bunk but she managed to wriggle between the bars of the ladder leading to the top bunk and the mattress The following morning she was found suspended from the bed by her neck The baby was rushed to hospital by ambulance but was pronounced dead despite attempts to revive her Source Daily Mail http www dailymail co uk news article 2381789 EI wedged mattress ladder bunk bed health visitor advised room html ixzz2fvMJbNbu Why can bunk beds pose a problem e Estimates using EU Injury Database IDB data indicate that annually in the EU 28 Member States approximately 19 000 injuries to children O 14 years of age involving bunk beds are serious enough to require a visit to the emergency SAFETY TIP department e n Canada between 1990 and 2007 5 403 cases of Injuries associated with bunk Ensure guardrails beds were identified Children who sustained injuries involving a top bunk were are available on almost twice as likely to be admitted to the hospital 7 the bunk bed and e Many bunk bed related injuries are minor and occur when children fall from the beds Play wrestling frequently contributes to these incidents However there are other less obvious yet potentially very serious risks associated with bunk be
73. ions in 2011 was toys and sixth was childcare articles and children s equipment The main risks with unsafe toys were choking often related to small parts and reactions to chemicals due to significant amounts of chemical substances such as certain phthalates lead and other heavy metals e Estimates using EU Injury Database IDB data Indicate that annually in the EU 28 Member States approximately 52 000 Injuries to children O 14 years of SAFETY TI p age involving toys are serious enough to require a visit to the emergency department 2 Children should For example the following toys are associated with particularly high numbers of injures in the not be allowed United Kingdom to walk or run e Each year there are over 5 500 injuries related to toys that children ride on such as s cars or rocking horses These toys can cause cuts bruises or fractures if children with toys in their fall from them mouth e Toy boxes cause nearly 4 000 unintentional injuries each year Over 70 of these Injuries involve children between one and four years of age e Model cars planes and trains are responsible for nearly 4 000 visits to emergency departments each year Many of these incidents involve children under three and are choking related to the small parts in these toys e Soft toys such as teddies dolls or action figures cause more than 1 500 injuries each year As with other toys children under 3 years of age are most at risk and small parts wh
74. isure safety Source The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents RoSPA Re issues baby bath seat advice following latest tragedy _http www rospa com news releases detail default aspx id 68 Why are bath seats rings a problem e n the United Kingdom between 2003 and 2007 ten children aged two years or SAFETY TI P under drowned accidentally in the bath Four of these incidents involved a bath seat NEVER even e n the United States each year at least 8 babies die as a result of drowning fora moment associated with bath seat use t leave a child e The European Decision 2010 9 EU was developed for these products in 2010 to alone or under set specific safety requirements for bath seats rings bathing aids and stands for l children This indicates that the European Commission has recognised the injury another child s hazard that these products represent supervision in the bath or bathtub How are baths seats rings dangerous to children e Many bath seats rings have a base of three or four legs with suction cups that attach even when the to the bottom of the tub However the suction cups may suddenly release allowing child is in a bath the bath ring and baby to tip over A baby may also slip between the legs of the ring or seat bath ring and become trapped under it or submerged below the water There are also bath seats that are integrated into the bathtub where the danger is of slipping out of the seat e Parents of
75. ize trampolines are not suitable for very young children and toddlers e Never allow the use of bouncing to exit the trampoline e Always supervise children using a trampoline by spotting at the side of the trampoline 71 The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents 2005 Trampoline Safety Factsheet http www rospa com waterandleisuresafety info trampoline safety pdf 72 RoSPA Trampoline Safety http www rospa com leisuresafety adviceandinformation leisuresafety trampoline safety aspx ee CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE WINDOW BLIND OR DRAPERY CORDS Window blind or drapery cords In 2008 a two year old girl died at her home in the United Kingdom after becoming entangled in the looped cord of a window blind It s thought the toddler climbed level with the operating cord of a window blind before becoming caught up in its loop banging her head and falling unconscious She is one of at least 26 children who have died in similar circumstances across the United Kingdom since 1999 with 13 deaths occurring since the beginning of 2010 Many more near misses are suspected The toddler s father said Though nothing will ever bring my beautiful daughter back we can at least try to prevent other families being devastated in the same way by spreading the word about this hidden hazard Source RoSPA Blind Cord Safety Campaign Case Studies Available online http www rospa com about currentcampaigns blindcords d
76. knees or is 5 months of age whichever occurs first e Never hang long strings cords loops or ribbons in cots or playpens Pacifiers should never be attached to strings or ribbons around a baby s neck e n 2010 the European Commission recognised the danger of cots and adopted a decision on setting safety requirements for cot mattresses and bumpers sleeping bags for babies suspended baby beds and duvets a European Transport Safety Council ETSC Bike Pal project Pedalling toward safety Brussels ETSC 2012 29 U S Consumer Product Safety Commission 2013 Crib Information Center Washington DC U S Consumer Product Safety Commission Available online at http www cpsc gov Safety Education Safety Education Centers cribs 30 Official Journal of the European Union 6 7 2010 2010 376 EU http eur lex europa eu LexUriServ LexUriServ do uri OJ L 2010 170 0039 0048 EN PDF I oTa CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE COTS BABY INFANT BEDS What to look for when buying or prior to using SAFETY TIP Regularly check that the fastenings are tight and are working satisfactorily Check that the cot conforms to the European Standard EN 716 1 2008 Children s cots and folding cots for domestic use A safe cot is designed to make sure that the baby cannot easily fall or climb out or get his or her head trapped between the bars Spacing between crib slats should be no more than 6 cm in width If buying a second hand cot o
77. l the screw locking the battery container lid on battery operated toys especially for button batteries as these pose a potential choking hazard if swallowed e Teach children to put their toys safely away on shelves or in a toy chest after playing to prevent trips and falls and teach older children to help keep their toys away from younger brothers and sisters e Some toys such as toy caps and some noisemaking guns can produce sounds at noise levels that can damage a child s hearing These toys should not be used within close range of the ear and some should only be used outdoors e Keep potentially flammable soft toys away from stoves fireplaces heaters and other sources of heat e Make sure batteries in toys for young children are installed properly and are not accessible to children e Remember also that children are likely to play with toys in ways that are not expected Watch children playing and see how they use their toys to identify misuse Specific risky toys e Projectiles such as guided missiles and similar flying toys can be turned into weapons and in particular can injure eyes Children should never be permitted to play with adult lawn darts or other hobby or sporting equipment that has sharp points Arrows or darts used by children should have soft cork tips rubber suction cups or other protective tips intended to prevent injury Check to be sure the tips are secure Avoid dart guns or other toys which might be capable of fi
78. loose or partially buckled harness straps and there has been one case of a child suffocating on a stroller rain cover e Strollers are a fall hazard The stroller may fall backwards when the handles are overloaded with parcels or when a child stands in the stroller e Children s fingers have also been amputated in parts of the folding mechanism of folding strollers What to look for when buying or prior to using e Check that the child s pram stroller or pushchair conforms to European safety Standard EN 1888 2012 Child care articles Wheeled child conveyances Safety requirements and test methods e All new strollers come with a five point harness Check the harness to make sure it is strong and durable fits snugly around the child and can be easily fastened and unfastened e f buying or using a second hand stroller it may be necessary to buy a harness separately If so check that the harness conforms to EN 13210 2004 Children s safety harnesses reins amp similar type articles Safety requirements and test methods 55 e Make sure that there is a brake and that it is convenient to operate and actually locks the wheels Brakes on two wheels are obligatory e Check that the stroller cannot fold up when the baby is in it there should be a safety locking device to prevent this from happening e Make sure the baby s feet cannot trail on the ground Guards or shoppi
79. m inherently flame resistant fabrics or are treated with flame retardants and do not continue to burn when removed from a small flame However there are health and environment issues with some flame retardant chemicals It is best is to choose sleepwear which uses non toxic chemicals as flame retardants e Snug fitting sleepwear is made of stretchy cotton or cotton blends that fit closely against a child s body Snug fitting sleepwear is less likely than loose T shirts to come into contact with a flame and does not ignite as easily or burn as rapidly because there is little air under the garment to feed a fire e Do not buy sleepwear with buttons or long strings cords as these present a choking and strangulation hazard How to use children s sleepwear safely e Loose fitting T shirts and other loose fitting clothing made of cotton or cotton blends Should not be used for children s sleepwear as they catch on fire easily Only use child sleepwear that is flame resistant or snug fitting e Supervise children carefully just before bedtime and just after rising in the morning as this is when children are at most risk from burn Injuries that result from playing with a candle a lighter etc while in sleepwear 26 United Kingdom Department of Trade and Industry 1994 Clothing flammability accidents study URN 94 549 London Department of Trade and Industry 27 Consumer Safety Institute The Netherlands EHLASS Data Amsterdam Consumer Safety In
80. mation view http www rospa com leisuresafety adviceandinformation playsafety accidents childrens playgrounds aspx e Assessing Risk on Children s Playgrounds 3rd Edition RoSPA e Guide to the European Playground Equipment and Surfacing Standards 4th Edition 5th Edition coming soon RoSPA e Routine Inspection of Playgrounds RoSPA e Developing the Children s Playground A Basic Management Guide RoSPA me Sibert JR Welsh Paed J 2010 33 14 15 43 van Leent J Wind R Safety of Playground Equipment Developments in the Netherlands between 1993 and 2007 Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority October 2007 Available online http www playgrounds uokik gov pl download en_playgrounds in the netherlands pdf RoSPA Accidents on Children s Playgrounds Available online http www rospa com leisuresafety adviceandinformation playsafety accidents childrens playgrounds aspx Ball D Playgrounds risks benefits and choices HSE Contract Research Report 426 2002 Russold A Children falls last European injury investigations Revision of European playground standards International Conference Playground Fall impacts Are our standards providing adequate safety Vienna 22 October 2013 50 51 52 46 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE PLAYPENS Playpens In 2011 a one year old boy in Germany was playing in his playpen and succeeded in loosening a larg
81. mp Transportation of Dangerous Goods Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning www dsb no 35 European Commission Making fireworks in the EU safer Reference IP 13 448 Event Date 22 05 2013 http europa eu rapid press release_IP 13 448_en htm locale en RoSPA Firework Safety Advice http www rospa com homesafety adviceandinformation fireworks advice aspx 35 37 CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE GOALS FOR SOCCER AND HANDBALL a ee ee ee E SSS See Wy a a E LLIT TTE H SAFETY TIP Securely anchor portable goals at all times and instruct players on the safe handling of and potential dangers associated with portable soccer goals Goals for soccer football and handball In 2012 a 12 year old boy in Portugal died when a goal fell on him as he was playing with a friend in a recreation park The goal had been affixed to the ground but the boy and his friend removed the anchoring and moved the goal to the middle of the field He suffered severe brain and facial injuries that resulted in a coma and death 3 days later Source Di rio de Not cias 26 01 2012 and 27 01 2012 www dn pt arquivo Why can goals pose a problem e Estimates using EU Injury Database IDB data indicate that annually in the EU 28 Member States approximately 7 000 injuries to children 5 14 years of age involving goals are serious enough to require a visit to the emergency department e A survey completed in Portugal by th
82. n are too young to sleep safely on the upper bunk How to use bunk beds safely Use e Always use two side guardrails on the upper bunk Keep guardrails securely in place at all times no matter how old the child is Children move about during sleep and may roll out of bed e Do not permit children less than 6 years of age to sleep in the upper bunk This is because the safety standards for bunk beds are based on average measurements of children of this age The spaces between the bars and around the mattress have been tested to make sure that a six year old could not get trapped in any part of th bed e Be sure cross ties are under the mattress foundation of each bed and that they are secured in place even if bunks are used as twin beds e Instruct children to use the ladder and not chairs or other pieces of furniture to climb onto or off of the top bunk te deal CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE BUNK BEDS e Teach children that it is unsafe to play around and on beds and other furniture Due to the frequency of small children falling when attempting to climb bunk bed ladders it is recommended that they should not be allowed into a room with a bunk bed and ladder e Consider using a night light so that children will be able to see well if they get up during the night e Only use bunk beds on a carpeted floor to reduce the severity of an injury in case of a fall e Make sure that the area at the side of the bunk bed is clear of
83. n hazard Necklaces used by children under the age of 14 are considered to be toys and should both conform to the requirements of EN 71 Safety of Toys and be CE marked Check that a pacifier soother holder conforms to EN 1400 2002 Child use and care articles Soothers for babies and young children Part 2 Mechanical requirements and tests Check that children s clothing with drawstrings conforms to EN 14682 2007 Safety of children s clothing Cords amp drawstrings on children s clothing This standard includes disguise costumes and skiwear for children up to the age of 14 years Purchase children s outerwear with alternative closures to cords or drawstrings such as Snaps buttons or Velcro How to use strings cords necklaces safely 62 Never tie pacifiers or other items around the child s neck Use a pacifier that is hung on a short string and can be clipped to the child s clothing Never leave cords of any kind near an infant If a piece of clothing has cords remove the cords before dressing the child tn this clothing Take off bibs necklaces or other clothing tied around a child s neck before putting the child in a cot or playpen Necklaces are not recommended for young children especially those under 2 years of age due to the strangulation hazard Keep baby monitor cords away from cribs or playpens Babies can and have been strangled by baby monitor cords Use a wireless baby monitor to avoid risk of s
84. n or other release mechanism must be used to release the latch and has been Involved in fatal entrapment incidents e Folding playpens can cause strangulations and other injuries should they accidentally collapse due to improper use or due to a child activating the folding mechanism What to look for when buying or prior to using e Check that the playpen conforms to the European safety standard EN 12227 2010 Playpens for domestic use Safety requirements and test methods e Look for a playpen or travel cot that has top rails that automatically lock when lifted into the normal use position e Look for mesh netting with a very small weave less than 7 mm in order to prevent buttons on a baby s clothing or other small parts from being caught in the netting e Spaces between slats on a wooden playpen should be no more than 6 cm in width e Avoid using playpens that are constructed with hinges at the centre of the top rails if the hinge must be turned toward the inside and into a downward locked position to prevent the cot from folding and collapsing on the child SAFETY TIP Check the playpen prior to each use to ensure there are no loose parts or holes ney CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE PLAYPENS How to use playpens safely Check the playpen prior to each use to ensure that there are no loose parts or holes Never use a pad that does not fit snugly in the bottom of the playpen and never add a second pad mattress o
85. nd discard immediately if a change in texture tears holes or weakening is noticed e Do not use a pacifier soother if the child has suffered a lip injury e Use a teething ring if the baby starts to chew on the pacifier soother e Check that a rattle is large enough so that it cannot enter the child s mouth to prevent the rattle from becoming lodged in the back of the throat e Check all rattles squeeze toys and teethers for small ends that could extend into the back of the child s mouth and be swallowed or inhaled e Take rattles squeeze toys teethers and other small objects out of the cot or playpen when the baby sleeps 44 Sexton S M Natale R Risks and Benefits of Pacifiers American Academy of Family Physicians 2009 Apr 15 79 8 681 5 42 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE SAFETY GUIDE Plastic bags In March 2013 a seven month old baby in the United Kingdom was found dead as a result of suffocating on a nappy sack The nappy sacks were stored within the baby s reach close to the baby s cot The nappy sack was across his mouth and it is assume that this constricted his breathing causing fluid to build up in his lungs Source Daily Mail Online News Baby pulled nappy sack through his cot s railings then suffocated on the bag after putting it on his face 5 July 2013 http www dailymail co uk news article 2356874 Baby pulled nappy sack cots railings suffocated bag putting fa
86. ng tray below the footrest can help prevent this e f astroller has a shopping tray for carrying packages it should be low on the back of the stroller and in front of or directly over the rear wheels for appropriate Stability e f buying or using a second hand stroller check the fabric areas to make sure that no Sharp pieces of metal or plastic have worn through and that the brakes work properly How to use strollers safely e Check the overall condition of the stroller every few months e Do not overload the stroller In particular avoid hanging bags on the handles as this can unbalance the stroller and cause it to tip backwards even when the child is Sitting in it e Use the harness each time the child is placed in the stroller e Do not leave a sleeping child unattended in the stroller If the child falls asleep in the stroller transfer him or her to the cot upon returning home e Regularly test the brakes on a slope as well as on a flat surface and make sure they work well with the weight of the baby in the stroller e To avoid incidents of entrapment ensure that the child s hands and feet are clear when making adjustments to the stroller and never leave a child unattended In a Stroller This is especially important if the stroller seat s backrest Is in the flat carriage position as infants only a few weeks old can creep or move when asleep The youngest victim of entrapment reported was an infant just seven weeks old
87. njuries by 90 4 In a 30 km h crash children who are not properly restrained are thrown forward with a force 30 to 60 times their body weight This is not only dangerous for the child but for all other passengers who might be seriously injured if an unrestrained passenger strikes them An unrestrained child is also more likely to be ejected from the car through one of the windows 2 European police road traffic incident reports showed that 32 of children killed in frontal impact crashes had not been restrained at all and another 23 were restrained incorrectly with the wrong type of CRS or not properly fastened Thus 55 of these child deaths could have been avoided with proper restraints CRS greatly reduce the chance of ejection from the car An unrestrained child has a 49 chance of ejection a child incorrectly fastened in an age appropriate CRS has a 35 chance of ejection a child correctly fastened in the wrong size CRS has a 10 chance but a child properly fastened in the correct size CRS has only a 3 chance of ejection 24 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS CRS How can CRS be dangerous for children The most common problems with CRS are their misuse through either use of the wrong size category of CRS for the child s age and height not installing the CRS properly in the car or failure to properly fasten the child into the CRS Thes
88. o be met by European standards for bath rings bathing aids and bath tubs and stands for infants and young children pursuant to Directive 2001 95 EC of the European Parliament and of the Council EN 14764 for City and Trekking bicycles EN 14766 for Mountain bicycles EN 14781 for Racing bicycles and EN 14872 for Bicycles Accessories for bicycles Luggage carriers EN 14765 2008 06 Safety Standards for Bicycles for Young Children EN 747 1 2012 Furniture Bunk beds and high beds Part l Safety strength and durability requirements EN 12221 1 2008 Changing units for domestic use Safety requirements UNECE Regulation 44 and Regulation 129 restraining devices for child occupants of power driven vehicles Child Restraint Systems EN 1930 2011 Child use and care articles Safety Barriers EN 14878 2007 Textiles Burning behaviour of children s nightwear Specification EN 14682 2007 Safety of children s clothing Cords and drawstrings on children s clothing Specifications EN 716 1 2008 Furniture Children s cots and folding cots for domestic use Part 1 Safety requirements EN 15947 3 2010 Pyrotechnic articles Fireworks Categories 1 2 and 3 Minimum labelling requirements EN 15947 5 2010 Pyrotechnic articles Fireworks Categories 1 2 and 3 Requirements for construction and performance EN 748 2013 Playing field equipment Football goals Functional and safety requirements test metho
89. objects or other furniture in order to minimise the severity of injuries should a fall occur e Be careful to not have any lamps near the bunk bed If needed lamps should be placed high enough that large pillows used cannot touch the lamp and create a fire hazard Alternately use LED lamps which do not produce heat Additionally electrical cords for lamps can be hazardous and should be attached to the wall e Clamp lamps are not suitable for use on bunk beds as they pose a fire hazard if they fall down because children will move them and may not re attach them properly In some instances the lamp may even be placed under the quilt on purpose to create a cosy tent feeling Clamp lamps also have an electrical cord which is dangerous especially in a bunk bed as it is semi loose and can create a loop which is a strangulation hazard e Ropes cords and decorative ribbons create an extra hazard in bunk beds Do not tie any such things to the bunk bed for playing purposes Maintenance or safety repair e Keep guardrails in good repair and securely in place e Replace loose or missing ladder rungs immediately e Repair or replace loose or missing hardware including cross ties immediately 17 Public Health Agency of Canada Child and Youth Injury in Review 2009 Edition Spotlight on Consumer Product Safety 2009 1 RMayr J Seebacher U Lawrenz K et al Bunk beds a still underestimated risk for accidents in childhood Eur J Pediatr 2000
90. ordion style child gates a style with large V shaped openings along the top edge and diamond shaped openings between the slats Though this design is no longer on the market they can be passed down or found in second hand stores Deaths have occurred when children s heads became entrapped in the V shaped or diamond shaped openings while they attempted to crawl through or over the gates What to look for when buying or prior to using e Check that the child safety gate or barrier conforms to the European Standard EN 1930 2011 These gates are only designed to provide protection for children under 24 months old e Do not buy a pressure gate to use at the top of the stairs This type of gate operates by using an expanding pressure bar and is not bolted to the wall so it has a higher risk of tipping over when a child pushes against It allowing the child to fall down the stairs e For installation at the top of stairs buy a gate that fixes to the wall and opens fully without a bar at the base e Follow installation instructions carefully to ensure proper fit If installed too high from the floor a child can get trapped in the space between the floor and the base of the gate barrier Many gates are provided with a fixing template that is placed at floor level to site the gate correctly for this reason e Nonflexible vertical slats or rods should be no more than 6 5 centimetres apart e Check for entrapment points sharp edges and protrusions when
91. prevent finger entrapment e Be sure that the locking device on a folding high chair is locked each time the chair iS set up e Never allow a child to stand up in a high chair as this can cause tipping e f using a table mounted chair be aware that these chairs should not be used on glass or single pedestal tables and should not be attached over a tablecloth e Do not let a child climb into the high chair unassisted e Do not let older children climb on or hang off a high chair while a child is in it as this can result in a tip over 39 Prosafe Joint Follow up Market Surveillance Action on GPSD Products Meeting No 2 Child care articles High Chairs 26 June 2013 E CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE LIGHTERS NON CHILD RESISTANT Lighters non child resistant In 2010 a 5 year old girl in Israel suffered 2nd and 3rd degree burns over her entire body while playing with a lighter The injury occurred on Saturday morning when her family was sleeping The girl woke up early found a lighter and while playing with it ignited her clothes Source The National Center for Children s Safety and Health BETEREM Data from the Israel National Pediatric Injury and Safety Surveillance NAPIS 2013 Why are non child resistant lighters a problem e According to the European Commission up to 40 deaths and 1 900 Injuries are caused by lighters each year in the EU and the victims are often children e Statistics for the United Kingdom
92. r design uses a heavy rear framework that folds flat when not in use making the goal much less likely to tip over How to use goals safely e Follow the manufacturer s instructions for assembly installation storage and maintenance If it is not possible to assemble the goal according to the manufacturer s instructions do not use it e Securely anchor portable goals at all times e Never climb on the net or goal frame e Always instruct players on the safe handling of and potential dangers associated with portable soccer goals e Before every use make sure the goals are securely anchored and that there are no signs of deterioration in the goal frame anchorages or net fixings Check all connecting hardware and replace any damaged or missing fasteners immediately e Ensure safety labels are clearly visible e When moving a full sized goal use the assistance of at least four adults to lift the goal clear of the ground Or if wheels are attached be careful to watch for potential toppling When portable goals are not in use e Store goals out of the reach of children in a secure room The majority of the injury incidents to date have not occurred during a match but rather when the goals were unattended Therefore it is imperative that all goals are securely stored when not in use e Place the goal frames face to face and secure them at each goal post with a lock and chain Check that the locks are not easy to remove and that the s
93. r losing control For teenagers Injury incidents are more likely to involve collisions with motor vehicles However about 16 of fatal or serious cyclist incidents reported to the police do not involve a collision with another vehicle but rather are caused by the rider losing control of their bicycle 4 e Cycle helmets decrease the risk of head and brain injury by 65 to 88 and decrease the risk of facial injury by 65 including accidents involving collisions e There are cases of young children suffering death or severe brain damage as a result of hanging by the straps of their bicycle helmets or helmet entrapment while playing on or near bunk beds trees clothes lines play equipment etc Barnehage Medical Tribune Austria The European Standard EN 1080 which uses a weak retention system designed to open under load was published in 1997 to address this problem However It is still recommended that children should remove their bicycle helmets immediately after cycling What to look for when buying or prior to using e Buy a properly fitted cycle helmet to wear at all times when riding a bicycle e Ensure that the bicycle is the right size for the child A child does not have the skills and coordination needed to handle a bike that Is too big for them and may lose control The child should be able to sit on the seat with hands on the handlebars and place the balls of both feet on the ground e Achild s first bike should be equippe
94. r pillow Babies have suffocated when trapped between the playpen side and a pad that was too small or between two mattresses Playpens are intended for brief periods of play and are not designed or intended for sleeping Always show the babysitter caregiver how to properly set up the playpen according to the manufacturer s instructions Improper setup can cause the playpen to collapse resulting in injury or death to the child Check prior to each use that the playpen is securely locked into the open position so it cannot collapse Never leave an infant in a mesh playpen with the drop side down Infants can roll into the space between the mattress and loose mesh side and suffocate Even when a child is not in a playpen leave the drop side up Children may try to climb back into a playpen and cut or pinch their fingers on the unlocked hinge mechanism Remove large toys bumper pads and boxes from inside the playpen They can be used for climbing out Avoid tying any items including toys with strings or cords across the top or corner of the playpen they can be a strangulation hazard Children may try to use the top rail of the playpen for teething Check vinyl or fabric covered rails frequently for holes and tears A teething child can chew off pieces and choke If staples are used to attach the mesh side to the floor plate make sure none are loose or missing Examine the mesh and Its attachment to the top rail and floor frequently for loose t
95. r receiving one from a friend or family member check the following important measurements the cot should be at least 50 cm deep i e from the top of the mattress to the top of the cot rails and the base without the mattress should be at least 60 cm deep To make sure the baby cannot climb out bars should be vertical with spacing of 6 0 cm between them Do not buy or use cribs that are older than 10 years broken or have been modified in some way Infants can strangle to death if their bodies pass through gaps between loose components or broken slats while their heads remain entrapped Cots should have a firm base and any swinging mechanism should be lockable Look for a cot mattress that is smooth firm and fits the cot there should not be a gap of more than 2 fingers width anywhere between the edge of the mattress and the bars of the cot If the gap Is bigger than this the baby s head may become trapped causing suffocation Be sure the mattress conforms to flammability safety Standards Do not purchase or use second hand cots with a drop down mechanism as these are unsafe e Avoid older cots with headboard and footboard designs that may allow an Infant s head to become caught in the openings between the corner post and the top rail or in other openings in the top edge of the headboard structure These openings may lead to strangulation Do not use a cot that has decorative knobs on corner posts as this may pose a strangulation hazar
96. r soother guards or shields must be large enough and firm enough to prevent the pacifier from being drawn entirely into a baby s mouth e Pacifier soother guards or shields must have ventilation holes e Do not buy a pacifier soother with a ribbon string cord or yarn attached as these items present a strangulation risk e Check that rattles are manufactured to the European Standard EN 71 1 2011 Safety of toys e Do not buy rattles squeeze toys teethers and other toys with ball shaped ends or small pieces that might become loose Choose handles too large to lodge in a baby s throat SAFETY TIP Do not buy a pacifier soother with a ribbon string cord or yarn attached as these items present a strangulation danger PEATS CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE PACIFIERS SOOTHERS AND RATTLES e Test the noise the rattle makes as rattles can be too loud for the sensitive ears of small children e Check regularly to ensure the rattle is in good repair e g no small pieces that could be swallowed are coming loose How to use pacifiers soothers and rattles safely e Remember NEVER HANG a pacitier soother AROUND a child s NECK Use pacitiers soothers that have a short string and clip to the child s clothing However be aware that the clips can also detach from the clothing and also pose a choking risk e Pacifiers soothers may deteriorate over time or with exposure to food sunlight etc Inspect them frequently a
97. ring articles not intended for use in the toy such as pencils or nails e Certain toys such as balloons marbles and other small parts can cause suffocation Balloons when not inflated or broken can result in choking and suffocation if young children try to swallow them Infant toys such as rattles squeeze toys and teethers Should be large enough so that they cannot enter and become lodged in an infant s throat e Electric toys that are improperly constructed wired or misused can shock or burn a child Electric toys with heating elements are recommended only for children over eight years of age Children should be taught to use electric toys properly cautiously and under adult supervision European Commission 2012 Keeping Consumers Safe Annual Report on the operation of the Rapid Alert System for non food consumer products RAPEX 2011 Luxembourg European Commission a Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Toy Safety http www rospa com homesafety adviceandinformation product toy safety aspx tei CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE TRAMPOLINES SAFETY TIP Only use an enclosed netted trampoline and place the trampoline on level soft energy absorbing ground Only one child should be on the trampoline at a time Trampolines Two siblings in Austria aged 6 and 11 years were playing on the trampoline at home While trying out new stunts they collided with each other The younger child was c
98. rmation about our certification testing inspection advisory and education services visit www ul com Kid Rapt Ltd are suppliers of child safety equipment direct to local authority schemes and we also support our customer base by the dissemination of information on accidental injury prevention so being a sponsor of this valuable document was important to us We have been Incorporated since 1992 and in that time have been privileged to have been the chosen partner in many schemes within the UK including the pivotal English Home Safety Equipment Scheme which was delivered by RoSPA between 2009 and 2011 Carol Ainge who Is the Managing Director of Kid Rapt is also the Chair of the Institute of Home Safety www childsafety co uk The Consumer Safety Commission CSC is an independent administrative authority in France created in 1983 It has three main missions to give recommendations on hazardous products or services to inform consumers about the potential risks when using certain products or services and to collect information on unintentional injuries Since its creation the CSC has released nearly 450 opinions on various topics such as health and body care housing sports and leisure transportation chemicals and also childcare and toys whether everyday items such as a child car seat a stroller or more specific ones like sunglasses for children www securiteconso org cGy alll EUROPEAN chid SAFETY ALLIANCE EuroS
99. rom an ignition source e n the Netherlands there is voluntary labelling regarding the flammability of clothing however even with this precaution about 10 children aged O 9 years are admitted to hospitals each year after their clothing catches on fire About the same number are treated at the accident and emergency department 30 persons in the age group 0 24 years although the proportion wearing sleepwear at the time of the injury is unknown How can children s sleepwear be dangerous for children e Children are most at risk from burn Injuries that result from playing with fire matches lighters candles burners on stoves while in their sleepwear just before bedtime and just after rising in the morning Children are prone to panic when their sleepwear catches on fire and cannot react as quickly to put out the flames as an adult might In a burn emergency each second counts so this small response lapse increases severity of children s burns compared to adults e n addition sleepwear may have long strings cords which create a potential strangulation hazard along with buttons becoming loose and causing a choking hazard What to look for when buying or prior to using e Check that the sleepwear conforms to European standards EN 1103 2005 and EN 14878 2007 both of which cover issues of textile flammability e Buy children s sleepwear that Is either snug fitting or flame resistant e Flame resistant garments are made fro
100. s due to detachable breakable parts of the high chair in reach of the child and fall risks due to a lack of stability of the high chair non compliant folding locking mechanisms lack of effectiveness of the restraint system or finger entrapment How can high chairs be dangerous for children e High chairs are a fall hazard The majority of the injuries related to high chairs result from falls that occur when restraining straps are not used or are used improperly and children are not closely supervised Children can slip out of a high chair in an instant if not properly strapped in or if the strap between the legs is missing e The most severe cases those resulting in death have occurred when children Slipped down under the tray and were strangled Most often these children were either unrestrained or were restrained only by a waist belt i e strap between the legs was not used e An unstable high chair can tip over with the child in it High chairs may tip leading to head injuries if an active child pushes off from a table or wall stands up in the high chair or rocks it back and forth Tip overs can also occur when children try to climb on it e High chairs with sliding trays can result in injuries to fingers when they are caught when sliding the tray into place What to look for when buying or prior to using e Check that the high chair conforms to European safety standard EN 14988 1 2006 A1 2012 Children s high chairs
101. s on tables 14 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE BABY WALKERS e Burns children in baby walkers can be burned when they touch hot surfaces such as oven doors radiators heaters and fireplaces Children can also be burned when they reach and spill hot liquids such as soup coffee or cooking oil Further a child s upright position in the walker means that many of the scalds are on the face and head e Poisoning Baby walkers have been identified as increasing the risk of polsonings and toxic ingestions As with burns and scalds this is due to the extended reach a child achieves while in a walker resulting In Increased exposure to potentially poisonous products such as plants alcoholic beverages household chemicals and perfumes and cigarettes What to look for when buying or prior to using The European Child Safety Alliance does not recommend buying or using a baby walker due to the high risk of injury they pose to children This is also stated in the joint position statement of the Alliance in collaboration with ANEC the Consumer Voice in Standardization which recommends that parents and caregivers choose safer alternatives to baby walkers and urges health care providers not to promote baby walker use Voluntary Standards have been introduced as well as injury prevention strategies including parent education and warning labels In many countries design modifications h
102. shed into a car The boy was thrown 10 meters into the air and landed on the pavement The boy suffered from bruising a punctured lung spleen haemorrhage and spinal cord injuries The doctor treating him stated that had he not been wearing a helmet he would probably not have survived the crash The boy explained afterwards that he was tired and his thoughts were elsewhere at the time of the crash Source TJEK Store b rn lader cykelhjelmen h nge 4 September 2010 http politiken dk tjek forbrug familieliv ECE 1050832 store boern lader cykelhjelmen haenge Why can bicycles pose a problem e Between 2008 and 2010 there were annually on average 113 children aged 14 and under who died while riding a bicycle in Europe amounting to approximately 1 5 deaths per million child population s e Approximately 25 of cyclists killed or injured in the United Kingdom are children Cycling accidents increase as children get older with 10 to 15 year old riders being SAFETY Tl P more at risk than other age groups Children should e Estimates using EU Injury Database IDB data indicate that annually in the EU always wear a 28 Member States approximately 13 000 Injuries to children aged 5 14 years Involving bicycles are serious enough to require a visit to the emergency department helmet when cycling How can riding bicycles pose a risk e Injuries involving child cyclists are often the result of the child playing doing tricks riding too fast o
103. sible for the following e For public playgrounds a professional design and layout is needed and the equipment should be installed by a professional in accordance with the EN1176 2008 standard These playgrounds should have a programme for improvements and updating on an annual basis An independent specialist who with specific training should carry out the annual inspection Playground inspection and maintenance training courses such as the one offered by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in the United Kingdom are available for training playground Inspectors e Select playground equipment which conforms to the EN11 6 2008 standard e Install and maintain a shock absorbing surface around the play equipment such as rubber sand or wood chips to prevent head injuries Rubberised impact absorbing Surfaces are more effective than bark Use at least 30 cm of wood chips sand or mulch underneath play equipment e Once the playground equipment has been installed perform a post installation inspection e Inspect the playground and equipment on a regular basis weekly quarterly annually e Have an effective maintenance programme in place to repair defects quickly e Ensure swings and equipment with heavy movement is installed away from entrances and with no main paths crossing their falling space e Remove tripping hazards like exposed concrete footings tree stumps and rocks In the equipment impact areas and on paths ease C
104. sources Fire Safety http www fireservice co uk safety 52 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE STRINGS CORDS AND CHILDREN S JEWELLERY Strings cords and children s jewellery The following are typical scenarios Involving strings and cords All have occurred in at least one Member State in the European Union e Achild descends down a slide when the toggle or knot at the end of a hood drawstring is caught in a small space or gap at the top of a slide As the child continues to descend the cord pulls taut strangling the child e Achild alights from a bus when the waist drawstring toggle on their jacket is caught in the doors unobserved by the driver The bus pulls off and the child is dragged along the road and under the wheels of the bus e A child is riding a bike when a drawstring on a trouser leg becomes entangled in the spokes of the bicycle wheel The child is pulled to the ground sustaining head injuries Source EUROPA Press Release Ref MEMO 10 98 Questions and Answers on Cords and drawstrings Brussels 23 March 2010 SAFETY Tl P Do not buy Why are strings cords necklaces a problem e Estimates using EU Injury Database IDB data indicate that annually in the EU clothes with cords 28 Member States approximately 700 injuries to children O 14 years of age involving or drawstrings strings cords necklaces are serious enough to require a visit to the emergenc
105. ssion plays an active role in ensuring that products are safe for children no matter where they live in the EU This equity in product safety requires collaboration between the EC the Member States and the Toy Industry of Europe In order to better understand the different ways that the European Commission ensures safety in products here is an overview of terms that are helpful when looking at product safety Decision A decision is a legal instrument of the European Union which is binding upon those individuals to which it is addressed Decisions can apply to Member States or individuals The Council of the European Union can delegate power to make decisions to the European Commission Regulation A regulation is a legislative act of the European Union that becomes immediately enforceable as law in all Member States simultaneously Regulations are different from directives in that directives are not yet transposed into national law Regulations can be adopted by means of a variety of legislative procedures depending on their subject matter 6 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE Directive A directive is a legislative act of the European Union which requires Member States to achieve a particular result without dictating the means of achieving that result Directives can be adopted by means of a variety of legislative procedures depending on their subject matter Standard A st
106. st between where the child s legs will go This a will help prevent the child from slipping down and becoming trapped under the tray Even with the post always use the safety strap e Do not use high chairs with wheels How to use high chairs safely e Keep the high chair away from walls doors windows blind cords and appliances Do not leave the child unsupervised in the high chair even if safety belts are in use e The crotch strap alone will not be sufficient to hold the child securely Without two straps i e a waist strap and a crotch strap children can stand in the chair seat and topple from the chair or slide under the tray and strangle on the waist strap or when their heads become trapped between the tray and the chair seat e Make sure that all safety belts or straps on the high chair are adjusted to the size of the child and securely fastened and that the tray is properly secured The tray should not be used as a restraining device in place of the straps e Check the condition of straps and their attachments often to make sure they are securely attached and work properly Only safety straps keep the child from climbing out or sliding down and strangling e Make sure there are no sharp edges on the tray and check regularly to see that there are no loose nuts or other small parts Do not use a chair if the plastic has split or if any foam Is exposed e lf the chair is foldable keep children away from the chair while folding to
107. stimates using EU Injury Database IDB data indicate that annually in the EU 28 Member States approximately 44 injuries to children O 4 years of age Involving pacifiers and 850 involving rattles are serious enough to require a visit to the emergency department How can pacifiers soothers and rattles be dangerous for children e Pacifiers soothers are a suffocation strangulation hazard There are reports of infants strangling on pacifiers soothers cords ribbons and key cords tied around their necks Children have caught pacifier soother cords on cot corner posts cot toys and gyms pieces of furniture and even doorknobs e Rattles can be a choking suffocation hazard To date the largest rattle known to have lodged in an infant s mouth throat had an end about the size of a golf ball Squeeze toys and soothers have been involved in similar choking incidents Rattles mini maracas squeeze toys and soothers Involved in incidents had handles or ends small enough to enter a baby s mouth and lodge in the throat blocking the airway What to look for when buying or prior to using e Ensure that the pacifier soother conforms to European Standard EN 1400 2002 Soothers for babies and young children and that pacifier soother holder conforms to EN 12586 2011 Soother holders Safety requirements amp test methods e Pacifiers soothers should be strong enough to not separate into small pieces on which a baby could choke or suffocate e Pacitie
108. stitute 2003 20 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE COTS BABY INFANT BEDS Cots baby infant beds In 2009 a 1 year old boy in Scotland was placed in his new cot at around half past eight in the evening The mother checked on the baby at half past ten and found him no longer breathing The baby boy had pushed the side of the cot causing a gap to occur between the mattress and the side of the cot through which he slipped He became trapped between the drop side and the cot base with his face against the mattress This resulted in death due to asphyxia and mechanical upper airway obstruction The coroner s office stated the death may have been avoided After this accident the manufacturer of the cot made a modification to the cot bed whereby owners are provided with a metal strap that connects the two halves of the foot end of the cot bed in order to remove the dangerous defect which caused this death Source Gaunt A Trading Standards Fife Scotland CUPAR 11 April 2013 http www scotcourts gov uk opinions 2013FAI9 htm Why can cots be a problem e Estimates using EU Injury Database IDB data Indicate that annually in the EU 28 Member States approximately 3 500 Injuries to children O 4 years of age involving cots are serious enough to require a visit to the emergency department e n the United States 110 incidents were reported with cots that had drop sides SAFETY TI
109. suropean D chid SAFETY ALLIANCE EuroSafe KJ f E a gt s P aay F a di i gt J ra C a T2 ey te 1 ia Child Product Safety Guide Potentially dangerous products CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE EUROPEAN chid SAFETY ALLIANCE EuroSafe Text or parts of the text may be copied provided that reference Is made to the authors title of the publication and publisher Suggested citation M Sengd lge J Vincenten Child Safety Product Guide potentially dangerous products Birmingham European Child Safety Alliance EuroSafe 2013 ISBN 978 1 909100 68 8 paperback 978 1 909100 69 5 eBook pdf November 2013 Photos provided by the Austrian Road Safety Board Google Images and the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission CPSC Photostream on flickr istockphoto Bobek Ltd fotolia S Nascimento East Coast Nursery Autokindersitz at and photosandmore at Please contact the Secretariat to receive additional information from this report European Child Safety Alliance RoSPA House 28 Calthorpe Road Edgbaston Birmingham B15 1RP UK E mail secretariat childsafetyeurope org Website www childsafetyeurope org Tel 44 121 248 2000 Fax 44 121 248 2001 The European Child Safety Alliance is hosted by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents ROSPA in Birmingham England and is a programme of EuroSafe the European Association for Injury Prevention and Safety
110. t a high hazard which are intended for use only by persons with specialist knowledge and whose noise level is not harmful to human health 34 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE FIREWORKS What to look for when buying or prior to using e The European Child Safety Alliance does not recommend the use of fireworks for private use due to the risk of Injury and the pollution effect If fireworks are legal only purchase them from commercial stores that reference the standard EN 15947 that outlines requirements for sale of fireworks e Fireworks made illegally including those made using directions found on the internet may not be properly constructed and may explode improperly resulting in a higher risk of injury e After buying store fireworks in a metal box out of the reach of children until ready to use How to use fireworks safely e Be sure to follow these important safety tips when using fireworks e Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks e Have a marker like a rope at a safe distance from the display for the children to Stand behind e Sparklers should not be given to children under the age of five years Should a young child come in contact with a lit sparkler the heat from it is equivalent to the heat from a welding torch e Supervise children and keep them within eye distance when fireworks are being used nearby e Read and follow all warnin
111. ten fill the bath with more water when using a bath seat ring as the baby is slightly raised when placed in the product this increased amount of water in the bath creates a greater drowning hazard if a child were to slip or fall out e n numerous cases the parent caregiver turns away for a moment or leaves to answer the doorbell or telephone and the baby slips off or gets trapped in the seat resulting in death due to drowning 16 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE BATH SEATS OR RINGS What to look for when buying or prior to using The European Child Safety Alliance does not recommend buying or using a bath seat ring If despite this recommendation a bath seat ring is purchased it is important to buy one that has safety features to help prevent drowning and other injuries e n this case safety depends not only on the product design or standard but also on the caregivers and the product information The main hazard drowning cannot be addressed in a standard e f suction cups are part of the seat or ring check that they grip well e Be sure that all caregivers bathing the child are aware that constant touch Is recommended while bathing an infant in a bath seat How to use baths seats rings safely e NEVER even for a moment leave a child alone or under another child s supervision in the bathtub even when the child is in a bath ring or seat e Always be at arm s distanc
112. the most serious Injuries associated with trampoline use e Adult supervision is no guarantee of safety More than half of all trampoline injuries occur while under supervision However a trained spotter can greatly reduce this risk What to look for when buying or prior to using e Check that the trampoline conforms to the European Standard EN 913 2008 and to EN 13219 2008 Gymnastic equipment However there is no similar standard for domestic home and garden trampolines e Look for an enclosed netted trampoline as they can help prevent falls or purchase a safety cage when buying the trampoline to reduce the chance of a child falling off and striking the ground e Check that hard metal frames and poles are padded and that there are no spaces or webbing in the mat where toes or fingers can get caught e Buy safety pads or ensure that the model comes with safety pads that completely cover the springs hooks and the frame The pad should be a contrasting colour to the mat eZ EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE TRAMPOLINES How to use a trampoline safely Positioning the trampoline e Place the trampoline away from structures such as fencing or garden furniture trees concrete surfaces and other play areas e The trampoline should be placed on level soft energy absorbing ground i e soft and springy lawn or bark wood chip sand or cushioning materials e Never pl
113. torage room Is not accessible by children and adolescents e Lock and chain to a suitable fixed structure such as a permanent fence If a secure Storage room is not available e Fully disassemble the goals for seasonal storage or alternately if applicable fold the face of the goal down and lock it to its base 38 Menezes H Goalposts Crushing Children How Effective Are Goalpost Anchorages Proceedings of the 7th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion 2004 June 6 9 Vienna Austria L374 CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE HIGH CHAIRS High Chairs In 2009 a 15 month old baby in Israel managed to stand up in her highchair while eating dinner as she was not strapped in tightly enough Upon standing she lost her balance and fell to the floor hitting her head Source The National Center for Children s Safety and Health BETEREM Data from the Israel National Pediatric Injury and Safety Surveillance NAPIS 2013 Why can high chairs pose a problem e Estimates using EU Injury Database IDB data indicate that annually in the EU 28 Member States approximately 7 700 injuries to children O 4 years of age involving high chairs are serious enough to require a visit to the emergency department e During the period 2008 2013 there were 43 RAPEX alerts related to high chairs from 13 different Member States The risks identified were chemical risks of the surface material where children could place their mouths choking risk
114. trangulation Check to make sure no other cords on lamps nightlights radios and window coverings are near a baby s sleep environment European Commission Keeping European Consumers Safe 2009 Annual Report on the operation of the Rapid Alert System for non food consumer products RAPEX 63 European Commission Questions and Answers on Cords and drawstrings Reference MEMO 10 98 Event Date 23 03 2010 http europa eu rapid press release MEMO 10 98 en htm locale en 64 RoSPA Blind Cord Safety Campaign Case Studies http www rospa com about currentcampaigns blindcords default aspx 54 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE STROLLER PUSHCHAIRS Stroller pushchairs A 3 year old boy in Austria was in his stroller shopping with his parents at a Supermarket As his parents were walking down a grocery aisle he leaned out of his stroller to reach for an interesting product lost his balance and fell on the hard tiled floor and suffered a skull fracture His father reported that Unfortunately we didn t use the buckle up equipment tn the stroller we will never ever forget it again Source Graz University Clinic for Pediatric and Adolescent Surgery Data from the Department for Injury Research and Prevention 2013 Why strollers can be a problem e Estimates using EU Injury Database IDB data indicate that annually in the EU 28 Member States approximately 5 90
115. tute of Public Health Olga Kalakouta Ministry of Health Veronika Benesova Motol University Hospital Henriette Madsen Berneulykkesfonden Sheila Merrill Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents ROSPA Liis Roovali Ministry of Social Affairs of Estonia Jaana Markkula and Ulla Korpilahti National Institute for Health and Welfare THL Claire Weber Commission de la S curit des Consommateurs Martina Abel BAG Mehr Sicherheit fur Kinder e V Safe Kids Germany Eleni Petridou Center for Research and Prevention of Injuries among the Young C E RE PR 1 Dora V rnai and Ildiko Arki National Institute of Child Health Herdis Storgaard The Icelandic Safety House Mary Roche Population Health Children amp Young Peoples Team HSE Shira Kislev Beterem The National Center for Children s Safety amp Health Safe Kids Israel M Giuseppina Lecce Ministry of Labour Health and Social Policies Jana Feldmane Ministry of Health Aida Laukaitien and Diana Mek ri nait Center for Health and Disease Prevention Yolande Wagener and Serge Krippler Ministry of Health Christine Baluci Environment Health Policy Coordination Unit Public Health Regulation Directorate Ministry of Health Ine Buuron Consumer Safety Institute lta McErlean Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents ROSPA Johan Lund and Eva Jakobson Vaagland Norway Safety Forum Marta Malinowska Cieslik Institute of Public Health Jagiellonian University S
116. ury data available in Europe for certain products the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission CPSC and Health Canada were also consulted Second we contacted key stakeholders and experts in Europe who are involved in product safety for children and asked them to advise on the products to be Included and their detailed descriptions see Acknowledgements section for a complete listing of experts consulted Thus the products included in this guide are based on both evidence based research as well as professional expertise This guide chose to highlight products that met the following criteria e products which are highly used by parents and caregivers e products which cause either frequent or severe injuries and e products which are considered safety products for children but are widely misused by consumers 4 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE For each product included we present the following information e Why the product poses a problem e How the product can be dangerous for children e What to look for when buying or prior to using including European standards when applicable e How to use the product safely European safety standards Products detailed in this guide are included within the scope of the European Commission s General Product Safety Directive GPSD 2001 95 EC The Directive provides a generic definition of a safe product which is assess
117. ve head trauma when he pulled a goal down on himself while attempting to do chin ups In a third case a 3 year old child received a fatal head injury when his father caused the goal to tip over when he lifted the back base while attempting to tighten a net to its goal post What to look for when buying or prior to using e Check to see that the goal complies with the European Standard for that specific type of goal example EN 748 for soccer football goals and EN 749 for handball goals for training and competition EN 15 312 for free access multi sports equipment e n addition some countries such as the United Kingdom Ireland and France have national standards for other types of goals not specifically intended for training and competition that can be used for certification of goals while the new standards are under development in CEN 36 EUROPEAN CHILD SAFETY ALLIANCE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE CHILD PRODUCT SAFETY GUIDE GOALS FOR SOCCER AND HANDBALL Buy a stable goal e One effective design alternative uses a counterbalancing strategy by lengthening the overall depth of the goal to effectively place more weight further from the goal s front posts more weight at the back of the goal e A second design uses lightweight materials for the goal s front posts and crossbar and much heavier materials for the rear ground bar and frame This then requires much more force to tip the goal forward making it much safer e Anothe
118. wings can be used with a seat belt however the back and side wings can still offer extra protection against side impacts and seat belt injuries so It is a good idea to use the full booster seat until the child has grown past the height restrictions on the label In most Member States a booster seat or booster cushion is required until the child has reached 150 cm in height however in some use is only required until a height of 135 cm is attained After this stage a child can switch to using a normal Seat belt without additional support Conformity with latest regulations When selecting a CRS check that it meets safety requirements Currently two regulations are In place UNECE R44 and the newer R129 Many CRS on the market are labelled as approved under R44 and are categorised by weight These models are still allowed to be sold and used However the newer CRS regulation R129 which entered into force in 2013 strengthened safety standards and added 4 new provisions e The most important new provision is that children must now be restrained in rear facing CRS from birth until at least 15 months of age e New CRS size classifications referred to as i size categorise a CRS using the height of the child rather than the weight as age or weight categories have been found to be more confusing for consumers e CRS must now be tested for side lateral impacts Previous standards only required frontal impact tests e New CRS will have 2
119. works be dangerous for children e n a study of all firework related injuries around the New Year in Denmark in 2006 2007 it was found that the eyes head neck and hands are the body parts most likely to be injured e n Norway it is forbidden to shoot off fireworks within the central part of the capital Oslo and since 2008 certain forms of fireworks are banned Siri Hagehaugen head of the Section on Hazardous Substances amp Transportation of Dangerous Goods for the Norwegian government stated that since the ban was enacted the number of Injuries to children under the age of 18 years has declined from approximately 50 to 16 during the New Year s celebrations of 2012 13 e n 2013 the European Commission has established a classification system for fireworks in order to require manufacturers to have clearer labels and instructions Category F1 Age limit 12 years fireworks that present a very low hazard and negligible noise level and which are intended for use in confined areas including fireworks that are intended for use inside domestic buildings Category F2 Age limit 16 years fireworks that present a low hazard and low noise level and which are intended for outdoor use in confined areas Category F3 Age limit 18 years fireworks that present a medium hazard which are intended for outdoor use in large open areas and whose noise level is not harmful to human health Category F4 Age limit 18 years fireworks which presen
120. y in hood and the department e Between January and August 2009 the European Commission has received more neck area and do than 250 RAPEX notifications on dangerous children s clothes almost five times not buy toys with more than the same period in the previous year cords or chains e Announced in 2010 11 EU Member States have taken joint action through market surveillance activities to decrease the exposure of children to dangerous cords and drawstrings on children s clothing by removing dangerous clothes from the market In exceeding 22 cm the majority of cases 10 to 20 of children s clothing examined did not meet the safety standard and to date measures have been taken against more than 1 400 garments The most common non compliance accounting for almost 60 of cases was related to cords and drawstrings in the hood and neck area Cords and drawstrings in the chest and waist area accounted for another 20 with a length How are strings cords necklaces dangerous 64 e Strings cords and necklaces are a strangulation hazard Many injuries have been caused when the string cord or necklace got caught on a product such as a cot or playpen In other cases the string or cord became tightly wrapped or twisted around the child s neck while playing on playground equipment leading cause of death playground slides ski lifts or while climbing trees e Elastic cords near the face of a child represent a risk of Injuries to the ey
121. year old boy sustained a serious head Injury in a car crash in Vilnius Lithuania The boy was in a child car seat at the time of the crash but was reported as not being properly restrained by the harness of the car seat Source Alfa Vilniuje susid rus divem automobiliams nukentjo vaikas O1 January 2013 http www alfa t straipsnis 15074896 Vilniuje susidurus dviem automobiliams nukentejo vaikas 2013 O01 12 14 44 Why can a Child restraint system CRS pose a problem Increased use of CRS in most countries has assisted in the reduction of child road deaths over the last decade However misuse of CRS is common whether by using the wrong kind or not fitting it properly into the vehicle Several surveys show that only 33 to 56 of children are correctly restrained Using the wrong size CRS installing it Incorrectly or improperly fastening the child reduces safety One aim of the new EU guidelines for CRS under Directive 2003 20 EU and UN ECE R129 is to make selection and use simpler Included in these requirements is a longer mandatory use of rear facing CRS which are much safer for young children In many Member States drivers have the legal responsibility to ensure that all passengers age 17 and under are properly restrained in the vehicle When installed correctly CRS can reduce child injury by 71 to 82 Compared to using no CRS a forward facing CRS reduces Injuries by 60 Rear facing CRS perform even better reducing i

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