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Teaching Children to Safely Cross the Street

As adults, we have almost an entire lifetime of crossing streets and getting to the other side without incident. As such, it is easy for grown-ups to forget that this skill was not inborn but rather was something that our parents or guardian had to teach us. Therefore it is important for parents to bear in mind that when it comes to their own kids, the same skill needs to be proactively imparted to them the same way it was by their own parents. Properly teaching children to cross the street is a simple process but it requires as much ‘doing’ as it does ‘telling’.

Regardless of what age you decide to teach your children how to properly and safely cross the street, you should always accompany them so that you can show them how it is done. Children under the age of ten years should always have their hand held by a parent or guardian when being taught.

There are four key steps to crossing the street that parents should impart to their kids.

Stop – Stop on the curb or grass rather than in the street.

Look – Look both ways and make sure there is nothing blocking your field of view.

Listen – Listen for vehicles that may not be immediately visible.

Think – Before crossing, ask yourself “is it safe to cross?”

These simple but critical steps can make for a lifetime of safe street crossing.

What not to do in Case of a Grease Fire

Cooking with oil or fat is almost an everyday routine. However, it can bring dangers with it, as once oil overheats it will burst into flames.

Knowing what to do in the event of a grease fire is important, but it is equally important to know what not to do.

If your cooking oil bursts into flames, never ever pour water onto the fire. Firstly, because pouring water onto the pan could cause the oil to splash elsewhere in the kitchen, and so spread the fire. In addition, as the water turns to steam due to the heat, the steam can also carry flaming grease particles in it, which in turn would spread the fire.

Secondly, do not try and move the pot, or run outside into the garden with it. Although the natural reaction may be to get the fire out of the kitchen, when trying to move it you might spill burning oil over you or any part of the home, which again would spread the blaze.

Baking soda is known to put out grease fires, but do not use any other baking product such as flour. You might think it will have the same effect, but only baking soda works to put out grease fires.

If you have been injured in an accident which resulted in serious burns, and would like to best possible attorney team to work on your case, please immediately call Hastings, Cohan, and Walsh, LLP –(888) 244-5480. We are here to help.

How to Keep your Kids Safe around Dogs

If your children are outside and see a strange dog, tell them never to approach it unless it is with its owner and then only if the owner says it is all right to approach and to pet.

If they see a dog alone they should never go near it however cute it looks.

Tell them that if a dog approaches them, not to run but to come inside the house or, if they are not near home, to try and go behind a car or a fence. If the dog still approaches them they should follow three simple rules. One never look the dog in the eye as that can make them mad, two always stay calm and  quiet and three fold their arms and turn sideways. The dog may still sniff them for quite a while, up to three minutes, but they should just keep still and calm.

If the dog seems aggressive and growls or looks like it might bite them, tell them to put something in between them and the dog like their backpack or lunch box or a sweater, and shout for help.

Remind your kids that with their own dog they should always be kind, careful and respectful and never disturb them when they are sleeping or eating as that is when dogs are most likely to bite.

 

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