Babies will sleep safer with new crib safety guidelines set by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) after a unanimous vote to ban traditional drop side cribs. The ban is in response to the many crib recalls and deaths of 30 infants and toddlers over the last 10 years. Noncompliance with the new safety standards will ensure hefty fines and costly lawsuits.

The CPSC has approved standards that maintain fixed sides so children can't climb or fall out. They also issued a ban of the traditional drop side crib (sides move up and down for easy access) that's been in existence for generations.

While the CPSC's new regulations apply to manufacturers, selling, or reselling in any way, they also apply to hotels, day care centers and child care facilities. We strongly recommend that organizations like foster care providers, shelters, and churches that operate nurseries or have infants or toddlers in their direct care consider these safety precautions as well. 

Under the new guidelines cribs will have 

• Tight-fitted firm mattress so a baby cannot get trapped between the mattress and the crib.
• No missing, loose, broken or improperly installed screws, brackets or other hardware on the crib or mattress support (check cribs often to ensure that hardware remains tightly screwed)
• No more than 2 3/8" (about the width of a soda can) between crib slats
• No corner posts over 1/16" high so a baby's clothing cannot catch
• No cutouts in the headboard or foot board so a baby's head cannot get trapped 

All cribs manufactured prior to December 2010 should be removed from inventory and disposed of unless they meet the Consumer Product Safety Commission's new standards. Resale shops will need to remove old cribs from their inventory to meet the guidelines.

Check the CPSC's website at www.cpsc.gov for recalls.

Eight percent of children under 18 have at least one food allergy and many grow out of them by adulthood. The incidence of severe food allergy reactions in children is small and the risk of death is very small but it continues to be the leading cause of anaphylaxis leading to more than 50,000 emergency room visits per year.

Anaphylaxis is a reaction in the body caused by the flood of chemicals released by the immune system when certain foods are ingested. It occurs within seconds or minutes of exposure to the allergic trigger and requires an immediate trip to a hospital emergency department plus an injection of epinephrine. The body may go into immediate shock with a drop in blood pressure, narrowing of the airways, and blockage of normal breathing. Signs and symptoms include a rapid, weak pulse, skin rash, difficulty swallowing, tingling or itching in the mouth or throat, swelling of the lips or tongue, hives, itching, skin rash, wheezing, nasal congestion or trouble breathing.

Eight common foods can trigger an allergic reaction and account for 90% of all food-allergic reactions in the U.S. They are:

• Peanuts
• Milk
• Shellfish
• Eggs
• Wheat
• Tree nuts
• Soy
• Fish

Education and emergency plans will help schools and child care centers prepare and avoid potential emergencies. A coordinated response program should be documented and understood by all staff, volunteers, and individuals involved in the care of a child. Roles and responsibilities should be clearly defined. These include expectations of the parent/guardian of an anaphylactic student as well as the student themselves.

Please Welcom Ryan Bonomo, Territory Manager for the Mid Atlantic Region for First Nonprofit.  Ryan will be working with agents throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Washington D.C. & Northern Virginia.

As a graduate of the Cameron School of Business, University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 2007, Ryan is licensed in Life & Health, Accident, & Long Term Care, and P&C.

"My goal is to develop strong partnerships and improve the services received from First Nonprofit. I'm looking forward to working with you!" Ryan says.