September tagged baby Saftey Month

There's information everywhere on how to keep children safe. From Web sites to magazines, from doctors to grandparents, every new - and not so new - parent has access to a ton of information on what to do to keep their little ones safe. There are even seminars and specialty stores designed around child safety.

So it's no wonder that this month has been designated National Baby Safety Month. Protecting children never has been so important, and with products that keep things such as stoves and toilet seats closed and locked, unused outlets covered and mini-blind cords out of reach, every parent can minimize the risk of danger to their child.

"Many accidents occur because parents and caregivers are not aware of the safety standards that need to be met," said Rene Hopkins, the coordinator of SAFE KIDS of East Central Georgia, which is sponsored by the Medical College of Georgia Children's Medical Center. "The more parents are informed, the safer their children will be."

Hopkins said parents and caregivers should keep a number of things in mind when purchasing juvenile products. The product should be age and weight appropriate for the child; the product should be in good working order; parents should know the product's intended use and look for safety devices that come with the product and use them properly. Parents also should look for product recall information to determine whether the toy was manufactured with a defect that can pose a risk to the child.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission issues hundreds, if not thousands, of product recalls each year. In addition, the CPSC distributes brochures to parents on how to childproof their home, including why it's a good idea to buy a cordless phone, the necessity for anti-scalding devices and why parents should purchase doorknob covers. Recall information can be accessed through the CPSC Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

And, when talking safety, it's vitally important to post all emergency numbers where they can easily be found.

"The refrigerator is the universal place to post emergency numbers in your home," Hopkins said.