Carbon monoxide poisoning is a leading cause of poisonous death in the U.S. The gas is  colorless, odorless and tasteless and can come from your household appliances.  Symptoms often appear to be flu like so often a diagnosis is delayed. Prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide will lead to brain damage and death. People or animals who are sleeping  can die from CO poisoning before waking and experiencing symptoms.

The best way to protect yourself is to have your heating systems and water heaters checked yearly by qualified professionals. Cooling units in refrigerators can also give off carbon monoxide. A battery operated carbon monoxide detector in your home is also a must.  It is good practice to check the batteries twice a year, when you set your clocks back and ahead.

Never burn charcoal inside a closed area. Grilling with charcoal releases CO into the air so you must always BBQ outside. Portable camp gas grills should also ALWAYS be used outdoors, never inside.

Every year, have your car’s exhaust system inspected by a qualified mechanic. Small leaks can lead to a dangerous CO buildup in your car.  Never run your vehicle in an enclosed garage. Always keep the garage door open, and if you have an attached garage, pull the car out onto the drive way to avoid transferring any CO directly into your home.

If you do believe you have been exposed to carbon monoxide, get yourself to fresh air immediately and seek medical attention. Treatment usually requires administering high levels of oxygen to the victim.

How are those New Year’s resolutions going?  Did you set realistic goals?

Many people resolve to begin exercise programs when a new year starts, but unfortunately they lose their momentum before the groundhog has his chance to see his shadow. Most people need somewhere between 21 to 45 days to develop new habits.  So how can you keep yourself going until you reach that mark?

First off, set realistic goals. Start small and add more later. Build towards your goal, adding a few more steps each day. Remember the turtle! Slow and steady wins the race! It is better to make your goals attainable,  remembering  you can always add more to take yourself further.

Reward yourself often! Positive reinforcement will keep you motivated to earn more. Make your rewards something special, a new workout outfit, a new piece of equipment, a new CD.

Hold yourself accountable. Work out with a friend or join a group. This will also give you the support you need to go the distance.

Surround yourself with inspiration. Subscribe to a new fitness magazine and monthly you’ll be introduced to new workouts. Enroll in free online  newsletters and get tips weekly if not daily.

Add variety to keep it fun and fresh. Routines get boring quickly, so plan ahead and be prepared. Try a new class or explore a new sport. Even changing your environment sometimes helps. Walk or run a new route,  or change your music.

Money motivates too. Sign up for a charity run/walk and send in that entry fee. You’ll be less likely to skip it knowing you’ve paid for it already. Join a gym and you won’t want to see that monthly membership fee go to waste.

When set backs arrive, push past them and keep going forward. Make a list of all the excuses you could possibly have for not exercising and then for each one, come up with a plan to counter them. For example, if you tell yourself you don’t have the time, schedule your workouts in. 8:30am is my exercise time, no matter what. Everything else will have to wait. If you think you can’t exercise because you need to care for young children, hire a babysitter or invest in a great jogging stroller.

You may have to get creative, but the fact is, achieving the goal of consistent exercise will bring you a better quality of life.

Tragically, we’ve already had people fall through the ice in and around Madison. Its a mistake made every winter as people misjudge ice thickness. When it comes down to it, no ice is completely safe, and children and pets should be kept off of it.  Its best to enjoy ice skating in designated areas and rinks.

Ice does not freeze uniformly. In one area the ice may be frozen to 12 inches thick, yet 10 feet away, the ice may be only 1 inch thick. Ice formed over moving water is weak, and most lakes and ponds have underwater springs which effect ice thickness. Daily changes in temperature will cause ice to contract and expand, effecting its strength. New ice is stronger than old ice and as the ice ages, the bond between the crystals breaks down, even if melting has not occurred.

Although many feel snow covered ice is safe due to the fact the snow may insulate the ice, the reverse is also true. Snow can hold in warmer air, preventing the ice from freezing very hard. Snow also covers up cracks.

If you see someone fall through the ice, never go to them! Remember to REACH AND THROW DON’T GO! Use a tree branch, a jacket, a scarf, jumper cables, a snow brush, anything that allows you to stay on solid ground. If you cannot reach the person, go for help immediately. Call for medical assistance.

If you fall through the ice, don’t panic. Turn towards the direction you came from, place your arms on the unbroken surface, and use your legs to kick yourself out of the water. Once you’re back on the ice, DO NOT STAND UP. Roll away from the hole, keeping your weight more evenly distributed.

After last week’s blizzard we have been enjoying the benefits of all that snow. Sledding, skiing, skating, snow shoeing, winter doesn’t have to mean we’re stuck indoors.  All that exercise and fresh air can really benefit our health, as long as we take precautions.

Hypothermia occurs when your body temperature falls below 98.6. Symptoms include shivering, becoming lethargic  or clumsy, and your speech may be slurred. Prolonged outdoor exposure in cold temperatures without proper clothing puts you at risk. Its best to layer up your clothing starting with a cotton layer first. In extreme cold temperatures, limit your time outdoors and take warming breaks.

Keep all extremities covered! Frostbite occurs when the skin and outer tissues become frozen, cutting off the blood flow. Symptoms of frostbite include a numbing or burning sensation, and pale, gray or blistered skin. If you think you do have frostbite, place the skin in warm, not hot, water or use a warm washcloth pressed gently against the skin. Never rub the skin! If the numbness continues for more than a few minutes, seek medical attention.

Remember that wind chills often create much colder conditions than you may expect. Play it safe and wear your hat, scarves and mittens!

50% of the nearly 3 billion toys bought in the United States are being purchased now, during the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. With so much to choose from, its easy to be distracted, but choosing toys that will be safe for your child is very important.

You should always consider toys that are appropriate for your child’s age and skill level, keeping in mind if there are younger children in the home, some sharing may occur. My Ted is quite the builder, but with a new baby on the way, its best if we stick to Duplos and save the regular Legos for later.

It can be tempting to buy gently used toys, but do so only after checking for recalls at recalls.gov. To avoid the risk of lead, I’d only choose newly manufactured toys.

Our congress has passed the CPSIA law which bans the sale of unsafe toys containing certain hazardous materials, but here are some other things you may want to consider avoiding. Toys with magnets can pose a danger if the magnets become dislodged and swallowed. Noisy toys can cause hearing damage over time. You could try using tape to cover up the speaker, but there’s no substitute for supervision.

There are bigger ticket toys the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests avoiding as well. First on that list, trampolines. Its best to save trampoline fun for gymnastic lessons. The American Academy of Pediatrics also warns children are at great risk of being injured from non-powder guns such as BB guns, pellet and paintball guns and air rifles. Sorry, Ralphie. You will shoot your eye out!

For many families the holidays are approaching and as you bring out all the decorations,  take a few moments to think safety first!

Think fire prevention! Keep trees watered and away from heat sources.  Always use UL listed lights, inspect cords for fraying and replace  broken bulbs.  Never load an extension cord with more than 3 strands of lights and turn off the lights when you go to bed.

Ornaments and decorations can pose choking risks so its best to keep these out of your child’s reach. Keep in mind when you are visiting friends and relatives, their homes may not be child proofed.

Many seasonal plants such as holly, mistletoe and poinsettia are toxic, so keep these out of your home or be prepared to keep an eagle eye on your children and pets.

Take care not to bring any decorations into your home which contain lead. Christmas lights may have traces of lead dust on them, so be sure to wash your hands after stringing them up, and never allow children to touch them.

Candles should be used with great care! Keep wicks trimmed or better yet, use new flame-less candles.

If you have a fireplace, make sure it is properly cleaned and the flue is open. Fireplace screens should be used to keep sparks contained. Never burn wrapping paper or ribbons because a flash or chimney fire could result. Many wrapping papers are recyclable now, so use this safer option for disposing of paper waste.

Choking is the fourth leading cause of unintentional death in children under the age of 5. When you think about the fact a young child’s windpipe is the size of a drinking straw, its easy to visual how certain foods, as well as toys,  pose a risk.

Children should be taught never to put anything in their mouths other than food, and as parents, we have to be mindful of the types of food we are serving and to supervise all meal and snack times.

Foods associtated with a higher risk of choking are hotdogs, nuts, peanut butter, popcorn, raisins, whole grapes, and hard candies. In addition to small toys, ballons are a dangerous risk,  as are coins, marbles, crayons, erasers and pen caps.

Children should always be in an upright position when eating  and be taught to chew their food throughly.

Some great snacks we enjoy with a low choking risk are fruit smoothy shakes, banana slices drizzled lightly with chocolate syrup, cottage cheese with sliced peaches and turkey and cheese tortillas roll-ups, warmed in the microwave and then sliced into pinwheels.

Every parent needs to  know CPR and first aid. Be prepared for how you would react if your child begins to choke. Take the time to slow down, and enjoy meals together.

If you have children under 80 pounds it is the law in Wisconsin they ride in Child car seats. From birth through about age 8, your child will go through 3 different stages of car seats.

From birth to around 18-24 months, your baby should always use a rear facing seat, in the backseat of your vehicle. Depending on the style of car seat you have, check the label, this should mean your baby sees where you’ve been rather than where you’re going until they reach a weight of about 30-35 pounds.

The second stage car seat is usually a forward facing seat with a harness. Children over the age of 1 and over 20 pounds may begin using these types. Forward facing seats need to be tethered to the back seat.

The third stage seat is a booster seat  that uses the lap shoulder belt from your vehicle. This seat is for children aged 4 or older and up to 80-100 pounds in weight. Booster seats must always be used with the shoulder belt. Never use only a lap belt.

For more information see www.seatcheck.org  or look for a local car seat check at your local fire or police station.

There’s a very good reason why babies are so wiggly. It turns out their brains are waiting for the power of movement. Movement builds neuro pathways, and the more opportunities children have to practice moving their bodies, the more synapses can form. Problem solving, planning and reasoning all occur in the pre frontal cortex and frontal lobe areas of the brain. Children exposed to a variety of movements will develop more synapses resulting in better functioning brains. Swimming lessons, gymnastics, dance class all offer opportunities for children to learn and practice different repetitive motions. They do so much more than just exercise their bodies. They are also exercising their brains!

We need to move our bodies to move our minds forward!

Almost nightly, my nose has been picking up one of the scents of autumn, burning leaves. As nights get cooler, friends and family are gathering around fire pits, and welcoming the warmth and glow. Fire can bring comfort, and fire can serve a purpose, but we must always keep our focus on fire safety.

October is Fire Safety month,  in remembrance of the Great Chicago Fire.  Another devastating fire occurred on that same day, October 9th, 1871, the Peshtigo Fire in Northeastern Wisconsin.

Every home needs functioning smoke detectors. In our home, we change the batteries during every daylight savings switch. Smoke detectors need to be tested weekly. Many models also include a carbon monoxide alarm, another must for every residence.

You should have an escape plan with at least two exits, and this should be practiced with your family. Do you have a meeting spot once you are out of the house?

When I travel, I always count the number of doors to the exit from my hotel room. In a hallway filled with black smoke, you may have to crawl along the floor, and knowing how many doorways you need to pass to find the exit can be lifesaving.

We keep a fire extinguisher in our kitchen and on our boat. Never try to throw water on a grease fire! If you don’t have your extinguisher, use the lid to cut the fire’s oxygen supply, and remove the pan from the burner.

Everyone should know Stop! Drop! and Roll! , and all children told of the danger of playing with matches and lighters. So before you burn or bag up those leaves, make a fun game of practicing your STOP, DROP and ROLL technique!