Promote Safe Sharps Disposal This Back-to-School Season

Guidance to help students thrive this school year

(Family Features) Going back to school means new classes, new supplies, new friends and sometimes even new schools – all of which can be overwhelming. The annual back-to-school routine takes on an added layer of complexity for millions of students nationwide managing health conditions that require the use of medical sharps, such as needles, syringes or epinephrine autoinjectors.

Parents and school staff can promote safe disposal of sharps so students, faculty and other staff can focus on a happy and healthy school year with this help from SafetyIsThePoint.org.

Navigating Children’s Needs
Educating children about safe sharps disposal at school starts at home. Parents can use resources to help teach children about sharps, including the different types, with the use of online videos. Inform them on how to manage sharps, like where they should be disposed of, with a clickable map and ZIP code finder that provides local disposal rules and nearby disposal sites.

A school nurse or health services office can be a source of safe sharps disposal information and point to a designated place for used sharps. It is also essential to communicate with these offices about medical needs prior to the school year to ensure they are aware of students’ sharps usage.

Equipping Classrooms and Offices
Teachers and staff play a crucial role in promoting safe sharps disposal among students and colleagues. Educators can download and print posters and fact sheets that can be integrated into lesson plans or displayed in classrooms and offices. These materials not only educate students about household sharps and their proper disposal but can also raise awareness about the various health conditions that require their use.

For school districts with an active social media presence, sample posts can be shared online to educate students and parents alike. By leveraging digital platforms, schools can reinforce the importance of safe sharps disposal even beyond classroom walls.

Ensuring a Safe and Healthy School Year
Millions of children across the country use sharps to manage chronic health conditions like diabetes, allergies and more. Knowing how to properly dispose of used sharps is just as important as knowing how to administer them. Parents, teachers and other school staff play an invaluable role in ensuring students are protecting themselves and others from getting hurt. Students deserve to concentrate on the main point – being students – without being at risk while in the classroom.

Learn more about safe household sharps disposal this back-to-school season at SafetyIsThePoint.org.

Sharps Disposal is as Easy as 1-2-3

Because household sharps disposal rules vary state to state, it’s important to check your area’s requirements as some states prohibit disposing of sharps in household trash or recycling, instead requiring sharps to be transported to a collection center in an approved container. In general, disposal is as easy as these three steps:

1. Place used sharps in a strong, plastic container like an empty laundry detergent or bleach bottle.
2. When the container is 75% full, seal it tightly with duct tape and label it “Do Not Recycle.”
3. Place the sealed container in regular household trash, if permitted in your area.

 

Photos courtesy of Shutterstock

 

SOURCE:
Safety is the Point

Prevent Home Fires: Essential Tips and Advanced Safety Devices to Protect Your Family

 Almost Two-Thirds of Home Fires Are Due to Human Error. Here's How to Prepare

(This post contains affiliate links.)

(StatePoint) The threat of a home fire is greater than most people think. In fact, 40% of people believe they are more likely to win the lottery or get struck by lightning than experience a home fire, yet residential fires are the most common disaster people face in the United States, according to the American Red Cross. Here’s how to help prevent fires, and how to prepare for the worst:

Be Informed

The National Fire Protection Association reports that 60% of home fires are due to human error. It’s important to realize that humans are flawed. We forget things, we mess up, and we’re often distracted. Accepting the fact that a house fire is a real possibility is an important step in the right direction. There are simple actions you can take to help prevent accidents. For starters, cooking is the leading cause of house fires. Never leave cooking unattended. Keep the cooking area free of flammable items such as potholders, towels and packaging, and always maintain a 3-foot safety zone free of pets and kids.

Update Your Smoke Detection Devices

While taking safety precautions is critical, having the latest fire safety technology can provide an extra layer of detection. Pioneers in the home safety field are providing new solutions that give homeowners more control over their safety, and like many technologies, today’s smoke and carbon monoxide detectors have come a long way. In fact, the new Kidde Detect devices provide over 25% faster smoke detection (29% faster average smoke detection based on internal testing of smoldering wood fires for Kidde 9th Edition vs. leading competitor 8th Edition products) that’s three times more precise (in terms of consistency and range of obscuration rate, based on internal testing for Kidde 9th Edition vs. leading competitor 8th Edition products). This is a critical improvement, as statistics show that people have less than 2 minutes to safely escape a house fire, so every second counts.


Tech expert Marc Saltzman explains, “This technology is revolutionary because it features enhanced sensing technology to reduce nuisance alarms.”

“Nuisance alarms,” also known as false alarms, refer to when smoke alarms beep but there is no threat of fire. They are often caused by cooking activities and lead many consumers to disconnect their devices out of frustration. Upgrading your safety devices to Kidde Detect Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors means your alarms are more likely to remain installed, so both you and your home can be as safe as possible. All Kidde Detect devices include a self-testing feature that when combined with routine manual testing and maintenance, ensures the alarm is always operating as expected (self-testing is not a substitute for a manual push test of the alarm), and the devices go above and beyond the latest UL 8th edition standards to meet 9th edition. Once you have your new detectors, be sure to install them on every level of your home, in hallways, and both inside and outside every sleeping area.

Be Prepared:

A working smoke alarm can double the chance of escaping from a home fire safely, but that’s just the first line of defense. It’s also important to create a home fire escape plan. Kidde’s fire safety toolkit is a great resource to help families prepare for a fire emergency.

For more fire safety tips and information on how to upgrade your devices, visit Kidde.com.