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A new study links in-home smoking bans with parental understanding of the negative effects of thirdhand smoke – the residual tobacco contamination that remains after a cigarette is extinguished, according to a study in the journal Pediatrics.

For the study, researchers conducted phone surveys of more than 1,500 households to assess the level of agreement with the statements that breathing air in a room today where people smoked yesterday could harm the health of children.

Overall, 95.4 percent of nonsmokers versus 84.1 percent of smokers agreed that secondhand smoke harms the health of children, and 65.2 percent of nonsmokers versus 43.3 percent of smokers, that thirdhand smoke harms children. Strict rules prohibiting smoking in the home were more prevalent among nonsmokers – 88.4 percent versus 26.7 percent. Belief that thirdhand smoke harms the health of children was independently associated with rules prohibiting smoking in the home. Health messages about thirdhand smoke contamination should be incorporated into tobacco control campaigns, programs and routine clinical practice.

(12-30-08)

As you draw up a list of your New Year's resolutions, keep your pets in mind, says Lorraine Corriveau, a wellness veterinarian at Purdue University's School of Veterinary Medicine. Here's her top 10 list of New Year's resolution for pets:

1. Spay or neuter your pets, adding more years to their lives and improving their behavior.

2. Provide them age-appropriate health care so that you develop a good idea about their health and build a relationship with your veterinarian.

3. Give them a diet suited to their age and medical condition. Pets kept at their ideal body weight live longer. Look for foods designed for different stages of life and medical conditions.

4. Give them medicines regularly to prevent heartworm and fleas.

5. Groom them at home, especially the minor grooming procedures, because it causes less stress.

6. Exercise and play with them more often, each day if possible.

7. Ask your veterinarian or seek expert advice on behavior problems. A basic training class might be useful, especially for a new puppy.

8. Socialize pets with other animals and people by enrolling them in a dog park, an agility/training class or socialization classes.

9. Donate time, effort or resources to a local animal welfare group.

10. If your pet is especially social, patient and people-oriented, consider certifying it as a therapy animal. Studies have confirmed that pets increase a person's life span, help speed recovery in case of young and old patients, and are a great moral booster to people in various psychiatric and medical programs.

(12-30-08)

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently joined Target, of Minneapolis, Minn., in announcing a new notification system for communicating product recalls in Target stores nationwide. Target's innovative safety and recall notification program involves posting signs throughout its stores that direct guests to gift registry kiosks near the Guest Service desk to learn about recalled products.

Through the kiosk system, guests in Target stores will have easy access to notices of new or past recalls for all product categories and can print copies of safety and recall notices to take with them.

Target will continue to post safety and recall information at Target.com, provide links to the CPSC and related Web sites and send e-mails to guests who have purchased recalled products online. To further increase awareness of recalls, Target has introduced a new process for eligible Target REDcard account holders, which provides recorded phone messages for guests who purchase an item that has been recalled.

CPSC would also like to urge consumers to sign up to receive automatic e-mail updates on recalls. "We have several subscription lists so consumers have more choices in the types of messages they can receive to ensure their families are safe," says Acting Chairman Nancy Nord.

By logging on to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx consumers can tailor the type of e-mail notification they prefer, based on product type. Subscription lists include the following:

• All CPSC press releases, including recalls
• All recalls only
• Only those recalls involving infant/child products
• Only those recalls involving products used for sports and recreation
• Only those recalls involving products used outdoors
• Only those recalls involving household products
• Only those recalls involving specialty products

At the gift registry kiosk or at www.target.com, Target guests can also search for recall information based on specific product categories.

(12-23-08)

Despite dramatic decreases in the number of fatal child poisonings over the past several decades, approximately 86,000 U.S. children were treated in hospital emergency departments in 2004 after ingesting drugs, cleaning products and/or other poisonous substances, according to a new study in the journal Pediatrics.

For the study, researchers reviewed data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, related to unintentional poisonings in children, ages 4 and younger, who were treated in hospital emergency rooms.

The review found that about 70 percent of the poisonings involved children ages 1 or 2; more than half involved boys; and 13.3 percent resulted in hospital admission. Nearly 60 percent of the poisonings involved oral prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs or supplements.

The study authors state that child poisoning remains a "serious health concern," and that additional research is needed to better understand the circumstances surrounding unintentional poisonings, and improvements made to child resistant packaging.

(12-23-08)

Nearly half of all children in the United States are still exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS) each week, according to a new survey from the American Legacy Foundation®, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence and researchers from Mississippi State University.

The groups say that while America has come a long way in changing the social perception of smoking in the past 10 years, children are still exposed to secondhand smoke at alarming rates, and they are encouraging parents who smoke to quit for good.

The Social Climate Survey of Tobacco has found that 42 percent of children are exposed to SHS each week, and there are public settings where children could be exposed that are still not smoke-free.

"Children especially deserve smoke-free environments, and all public places where children eat and play should be protected from secondhand smoke," says Dr. Jonathan Klein, director of the American Academy of Pediatrics Julius B. Richmond Center for Excellence. "Adults have the power to make healthier decisions for their children, and there needs to be more done to protect children in homes and cars from the dangers of secondhand smoke."

Other key findings include the following:

• While 75 percent of U.S households prohibit smoking in the home and car, that leaves 25 percent of American homes and cars unprotected.
• More non-smokers prohibit smoking in the home than smokers.
• More than one quarter of smokers report that their child had been exposed to secondhand smoke in their home.
• Among parents who smoke, only 53.5 percent prohibit smoking in the home and even fewer (22.5 percent) prohibit smoking in the family vehicle.
• 8.1 percent of U.S. parents report that their child was exposed to SHS in an indoor public place in the past seven days.

Over the years, studies have concluded that SHS can be just as harmful as cigarette smoking. It is estimated that SHS exposure causes approximately 3,400 lung cancer deaths annually among adult nonsmokers in the United States. Even more disturbing is the fact that young children who are exposed to SHS are at a higher risk of developing asthma, ear infections and cavities. Infants are at a higher risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

"The effects of secondhand smoke are serious and should not be minimized," says Cheryl G. Healton, president and CEO of the American Legacy Foundation, the only national public health foundation solely dedicated to reducing tobacco use in the United States. "Addressing this issue starts with helping adult smokers and parents quit. Most know they are dealing with a tough addiction, so pediatricians and others can provide the tools and resources for parents to re-learn their life without cigarettes."

Today's research coincides with the launch of a new partnership between Parents® magazine and the American Legacy Foundation, Parents Quit for Good. The program provides a free quit plan for moms and dads powered by the foundation's online cessation program, Become an Ex. The program launches just in time to help parents plan their New Year's resolutions to quit smoking.

This new collaborative will be featured in three upcoming issues of Parents starting in January, and includes a new Web site, www.ParentsQuitForGood.com where moms and dads can receive step-by-step assistance in identifying their own smoking triggers, in finding new ways to get through the day without cigarettes, and avoiding weight gain along the way.

(12-23-08)

The holiday season is here and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging consumers to keep safety in mind as they decorate for the holidays. Flickering candles, blinking holiday lights and fragrant evergreens are beautiful staples of the holiday season, but when used improperly, these holiday decorating "must haves" can pose deadly dangers.

Each year, during the 60 days surrounding the winter holiday season, about 11,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms due to decoration-related injuries with falls, cuts, shocks and burns topping the list. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that each year an average of 240 fires involving dried-out Christmas trees result in 16 deaths and $13 million in property damage. An average of 13,000 candle-related fires are estimated by CPSC staff to occur annually, resulting in 170 deaths and $390 million in property damage.

"Deaths, injuries and the millions of dollars in property damage related to holiday-decorating hazards are preventable," says CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord. "Keep the holidays festive, by keeping your family and friends safe from harm."

Use the following safety tips when decorating this year:

Trees and Decorations

• When purchasing an artificial tree, DO look for the label "Fire Resistant." Although this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it does indicate the tree is more resistant to burning.
• When purchasing a live tree, DO check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and do not break when bent between your fingers. The bottom of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
• When setting up a tree at home, DO place it away from fireplaces, vents and radiators. Because heated rooms dry out live trees rapidly, be sure to keep the stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of traffic, and do not block doorways.
• When trimming a tree, DO use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials.
• In homes with small children, DO take special care to avoid sharp or breakable decorations, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children who could swallow or inhale small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.
• To avoid lung irritation, follow container directions carefully while decorating with artificial snow sprays.

Lights

• Indoors or outside, DO use only lights that have been tested for safety by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory, such as UL or ETL/ITSNA. Use only newer lights that have thicker wiring and safety fuses to prevent the wires from overheating.
• Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires or loose connections. Throw out damaged sets.
• If using an extension cord, DO make sure it is rated for the intended use.
• DON'T use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
• When using lights outdoors, DO check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use and only plug them into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protected receptacle or a portable GFCI.
• DO turn off all holiday lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.

Candles

• DO keep burning candles within sight.
• DO keep lighted candles away from items that can catch fire and burn easily, such as trees, other evergreens, decorations, curtains and furniture.
• DO always use non-flammable holders and keep away from children and pets.
• DO extinguish all candles before you go to bed, leave the room or leave the house.

Fireplaces

• DO use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that, if eaten, can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting. Keep them away from children.
• DON'T burn wrapping paper or plastic items in the fireplace. These materials can ignite suddenly and burn intensely, resulting in a flash fire.
• DO place a screen around your fireplace to prevent sparks from igniting nearby flammable materials.

Get a free brochure with holiday decorating and toy safety tips at CPSC's Web site, www.cpsc.gov.

(12-23-08)

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is again reminding public pool and spa owners and operators nationwide that the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act becomes effective on December 19, 2008. This law requires installation of anti-entrapment drain covers and other systems as outlined in the Act.

The Pool and Spa Safety Act was enacted by Congress and signed by President Bush on December 19, 2007, and is designed to prevent the tragic and hidden hazard of drain entrapments and eviscerations in pools and spas. Under the law, all public pools and spas must have ASME/ANSI A112.19.8-2007 compliant drain covers installed and a second anti-entrapment system installed, when there is only a single main drain. Congress gave all affected pool and spa operators one year to comply with this law.

Public pools and spas that operate year-round are expected to be in compliance by December 19, 2008. CPSC staff has taken the position that seasonal public pools and spas that are currently closed must be in compliance with the law on the day that they reopen in 2009.

"Our mission at the CPSC is to keep American families safe," says Nancy Nord, CPSC Acting Chairman. "CPSC will enforce the requirements of this pool and spa safety law with a focus on where the greatest risk of drain entrapment to children exists, such as wading pools, pools designed specifically for toddlers and young children, and in-ground spas, particularly where these types of pools and spas have flat drain grates and single main drain systems."

Nord adds, "State health and enforcement agencies share the responsibility to ensure this law is properly enforced. I recommend these agencies take the same approach as CPSC concerning enforcement priorities."

Pool and spa operators are encouraged to continue working as diligently as possible to come into compliance, as the agency and state Attorneys General are empowered to close down any pool or spa that fails to meet the Act's requirements.

For more information about the Pool and Spa Safety Act, how to comply, and which companies have been certified to manufacturer drain covers and safety vacuum release systems, please log on to www.cpsc.gov/whatsnew.html#pool.

(12-16-08)

As you begin pulling down the holiday decorations from the attic this season, doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center have some tips for cutting down allergy risks.

"Carrying items down from dusty attics or pulling them from garages and other storage areas can stir up dust and molds," says Dr. Rebecca Gruchalla, chief of allergy and immunology at UT Southwestern.

If you have fabric decorations, try washing them before putting them up. When selecting decorations, try avoiding fabric, which trap more dust than plastic, metal and glass items.

If the decorations appear dusty, take them outside and wipe them down before putting them up in your home. That can be particularly helpful with artificial trees, which can accumulate dust and mold in the branches.

Other things that may exacerbate symptoms in persons with asthma and allergies during the holiday season include scented candles and wood stored for fireplaces (even the smoke from fires can be a trigger of asthma attacks). If traveling during the holidays, consider taking your own pillow containing a dust-mite-proof encasement.

(12-16-08)

The task of spending hours hanging and then taking down outdoor holiday lights puts us at risk of injury while perched atop a ladder. Almost 550,000 people seek medical attention annually because of ladder-related injuries, including cuts, bruises and fractured bones.

"Knowing how to properly use and set-up a ladder can significantly reduce the possibility of injury," says Dr. Robert Bucholz, chairman of orthopedic surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center. "It's essential that ladders are placed on firm, level surfaces."

Dr. Bucholz, past president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, offers this advice:

• Inspect and properly set up the ladder.
• Remember the one-to-four rule: Ladder's bottom should be 1 foot away from the wall for every 4 feet that the ladder rises.
• Don't use the ladder as a seat between tasks.
• Position the ladder close to the work and move materials with caution.

(12-16-08)

It's a scene right out of an old movie – heading off into the hills with the kids to cut down a Christmas tree for home. Doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center say if you choose the wrong tree, though, you could make the holiday season miserable.

About one in 10 people are allergic to mountain cedar pollen, and these trees release their pollen just at the time you'd be bringing them indoors to decorate. If someone in your home is allergic to mountain cedar pollen, they're in for weeks of sneezing and sniffling.

Fortunately, this is only a risk for people who like to go out into the wild and cut their own trees. The Scotch pines and Douglas firs you find at most Christmas tree lots or cut-it-yourself Christmas tree farms don't pollinate during the winter.

But Dr. Dave Khan, a UT Southwestern allergy expert, says you may still face some allergy issues. "Anything brought in from outdoors is likely to bring mold spores with it," Dr. Khan says. "A lot of people are allergic to mold. You can have a live tree treated with fungicide to kill off the mold spores."

If you have allergy sufferers in your family, Dr. Khan says an artificial tree may be your best bet.

(12-16-08)