“Is a modern plastic sled or an old fashioned wooden sled safer for snow play?”

To a child, nothing can be more fun than getting out there and enjoying a good sled ride after a winter’s snow. However, you will want to be sure that your child is as safe as possible while they are enjoying their fun in the snow. It’s very important that you choose your child’s sled carefully. There are things that you should know about the sled you choose to purchase. You may also be wondering in what ways the modern plastic sleds differ from the old fashioned wooden ones, and which one you should choose for your child.

When you are looking at the modern sleds made from plastic, you want to make sure that they are geared for children your child’s age. You want to verify that they have all of the safety features of a good sled. You should also get a sled which allows your child to be able to steer or stop the direction of the sled, this can really help to decrease the chances of an accident. One thing you will want to take in consideration is that these sleds can go very fast.

This is why you want to make sure that you know the layout of the entire area they will be sledding in so that you know they won’t get in any dangerous situations. The sled should have easy to grip handholds, allow for your child to sit forward or kneel, and the seat should come with some padding to help absorb shock. The good thing is that a lot of the modern plastic sleds on the market offer these features.

Old fashioned wooden sleds can be a bit safer for your child when it comes to speed. They do tend to go quite a bit slower than the modern ones. However, there are some things to consider when you are thinking of purchasing an old fashioned wooden sled. One thing to realize is that the wooden sleds come with a common danger of their own, these sleds are mounted on metal rails. These metal rails can be dangerous and your child risks injury due to such things as their feet becoming lodged in the space below the seat.

There are many different styles on the market, there are even sleds that will fit two children. These sleds can be a lot of fun for both children, but you want to make sure that the two seater sled is designed in a way that will have both children sitting in a safe manner and that both children will have easy access to easy-to-grip handholds.

It’s up to you to make the final decision on whether a modern plastic sled, or an old fashioned wooden sled is the best choice for your family. When you do make that choice and get a sled, you will want to think about getting some safety equipment that your family member or child can wear to stay safe while they are having fun. A helmet is a very good idea and can really help to lower the chances of a head injury while a person is sledding.Similar Posts:

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Buying a trampoline

The trampoline you purchase should be purchased with a few things in mind. You want to consider the ages and sizes of the people that are going to be using it. Take this information and make sure that the trampoline you get meets the specifications for everyone that will be enjoying time on it. You also want to purchase a trampoline that will fit in an area of your yard that will allow you to be able to view it easily while younger and less experienced children are jumping on it. When you are checking out the different brands, you want to make sure that you don’t purchase one that you have to fit in a less safe area simply because it is cheaper. It is far more important that you get the one that will be the safest regardless of the cost.

Trampoline Safety

Your trampoline should be galvanized, this should include the inside and the outside. This protects against rust which can cause it to lose its durability. It is very important that your trampoline maintains its durability for a long time to come. You also want it to come with the widest trampoline padding as possible, the cheaper ones tend to come with thinner edges that are simply a skirt and this makes them less safe. The more expensive trampolines are also made with more durable mats, these mats won’t sink as low as the cheaper ones and will flex in a way that is healthier on the jumpers joints.

The more expensive trampolines tend to have a more sturdy build and are crafted from higher quality and stronger materials. Cheaper ones tend to use shorter springs, this will cause the jumpers to experience a harsher bounce and that may lead to injuries. More expensive trampolines also have more springs and this makes for better jumps. Cheap trampolines can also break down much faster. This can cause dangerous rips and tears to occur which can result in an accident.

We tend to be programed to budget shop, we like to find those good deals on everything. This can be a good thing and can help us to be financially responsible. However, there are just some things that a person should never compromise on is price versus safety when it comes to a trampoline. You will get what you paid for and you want to make sure that you have the best. You will also want to purchase a trampoline that comes with a good warranty. The more expensive trampolines can come with warranties that will have it covered for three or more years. This helps you to feel confidant, you want to know that the company stands behind the trampoline. Things like the mat and the frame are examples of the things that would be covered.Similar Posts:

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Many ride-on toys are motorized. Whether electric or gas powered, these types of outdoor toys are generally more expensive than a simple wagon or peddle-propelled car. However, electric ride-on toys teach kids many valuable things, including pressure control (how hard they push the peddles), coordination (steering and accelerating at the same time), and many others.

Many parents are hesitant to purchase motorized toys for their children because they think they are dangerous. While certain ride-on toys can present danger to young children, the majority of them are just as safe as many other childhood toys. If you’re worried about your kids hurting themselves with ride-on toys, just make sure you teach them how to use the toy before they even begin. And, unless they are older, I suggest not letting them play unsupervised, at least until they get used to the “vehicle”.

Bikes, tricycles, and scooters are often considered ride-on toys as well. It is a proven fact that learning to ride a bike helps with the overall development of a child’s body as well as mind, so it’s always recommended that you teach your kids to ride bikes as soon as they are ready. If you don’t think your little guy is quite ready for a bicycle, I suggest buying a tricycle so your child can get used to peddling and steering before they have to learn balance. Scooters are generally easier to learn on than bikes, but harder than tricycles, so keep a scooter in mind as well.

Skateboards, pogo sticks, sleds, etc. are other ride-on toys. However, these toys have much more potential to be dangerous and harmful, so they are not recommended for young children. I suggest avoiding all of the more dangerous toys until your child is old enough, and/or they have mastered bike riding and are ready to move on. Now, we all know that children are impressionable and want most of what they see, so it can often be hard to keep dangerous toys out of children’s minds. The best way in my opinion is to simply keep your child sheltered from such toys until they are ready to use them. Also, once they are ready, make sure you instruct them properly. There is a lot of potential for a child to get hurt using ride-on toys, so proper instruction is vital, and parental discretion as far as which toys are appropriate or not is important as well.Similar Posts:

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We’ve all been to a pool where the water strongly smells of chlorine and our eyes were burning and red after going into the water. Many think that this occurs when there is too much chlorine in the water. Ironically, when it comes to above ground pool chemistry, just the opposite is true – there is not enough chlorine in the pool water when it smells strongly of chlorine.

A smelly above ground pool indicates the presence of excess chloramine. Chloramine is produced when there is not sufficient chlorine present in the water to oxidize sweat, body oil, urine and perfumes introduced to the water by swimmers.

“Free” chlorine is what kills bacteria and germs in pool water along with oxidizing natural ammonia waste products from humans – the sweat, body oil and urine. If there is not enough chlorine in the pool, the chlorine actually bonds to the ammonia creating chloramine.

Once enough of the free chlorine bonds with the ammonia waste products to create chloramine, the pool water begins to smell of chlorine and can cause skin irritation.

To prevent chloramine from forming in the first place, above ground pool owners need to maintain a pool chemistry with the proper balance of free available chlorine (FAC) and combined available chlorine (CAC) (the chlorine being used in the chloramine compounds). The amount of combined chlorine, the stuff we have to watch out for, can be calculated once you test for free chlorine and total chlorine.

combined chlorine = total chlorine – free chlorine

Combined chlorine should never exceed 50% of the free chlorine value and ideally should be kept less than 0.2 parts per million.

If your pool water smells of chlorine caused by excess chloramine, you will need to use a “shock treatment” to help destroy the excess ammonia and chloramine compounds. To destroy the chloramine and get the pool chemistry back to where it should be through shock treatment or superchlorination, the amount of free chlorine needs to be about 10
times the combined chlorine.

Don’t forget that above ground pools that are in direct sun may lose more of their free chlorine on particularly warm days and may allow for greater chloramine formation.

It is often said the best offense is a good defense. If you know ahead of time that your pool will see a large increase in use due to a scheduled event, you should take preventative action by shocking the pool prior to their arrival.

Additionally, vacuum and brush your above ground pool daily to remove the dirt chlorine reacts with that hasn’t been removed by the filters.

Indoor pools, pools used for competition, and pools with heavy usage are more likely to have problems with chloramine and the noxious chlorine smell that comes with high amounts of chloramine in pool water. The American Chemistry Council published an article by Tom Griffifths (Dir. Of Aquatics for Penn State University) where he states his belief that the “ideal” ranges for chlorine in public swimming pools is “simply too low and just plain wrong.” He recommends that heavily used pools should maintain 3.0 – 4.0 parts per million of chlorine in order to prevent chloramines.

Properly maintained pool chemistry may not be the best way to deal with pool odor. By enforcing a strict policy that all bathers must shower (preferably a full soap-shower) prior to entering your above ground pool, you can eliminate much of the problem before it starts. There are some who believe if everyone showered before entering pools, the need for chlorine would be reduced by 50%. Explain to your swimmers and bathers that the more they shower off their naturally occurring body oils, the less chlorine will need to be added to the pool. By making toilet facilities more accessible, you will also make the pool, uhm, less convenient.

By maintaining the proper pool chemistry and keeping chloramine to a minimum, you make your above ground pool more attractive and safer for your friends and family. They’ll thank you for it – after all, red and irritated eyes have never made for much of a fashion statement.Similar Posts:

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What can parents do to encourage their kids to get up, go outside and play? Why not consider purchasing a trampoline? With proper supervision and a clear understanding of how and when the trampoline can be used, trampolines offer a fun way to get a full-body workout without ever leaving the backyard. The best part is that the kids will be having fun and won’t even know the’re doing something good for their bodies.

It is true that improper use of trampolines can cause injuries, but by following a few simple safety rules, children and adults can have many hours of safe trampoline use while still having a lot of fun. The key to keeping a trampoline safe is to make sure that everyone who uses it understands there are a few simple rules that must be followed. Create a clear and simple set of safety rules for the use of your trampoline that will allow your children and their friends to bounce their way to fitness, have fun, and be safe. We’ve all seen those written rules for using public pools – why not write your own set of trampoline rules? At our house, everyone must read the rules and agree to abide by them prior to getting onto our trampoline.

Here’s the list of safety rules for trampoline usage we maintain at our house.

House Rules for Safe Trampoline Usage

1. The trampoline shall not be used without adult supervision.
2. The trampoline may not be moved to another location.
3. All toys, bikes, and people must remain at least 2.5 meters (about8 feet) from the trampoline when it is in use.
4. Only one person may use the trampoline at a time.
5. Always jump in the middle of the trampoline.
6. No somersaults or flips.
7. Do not jump exit the trampoline; always climb down.
8. If the trampoline is wet, it may not be used.
9. The safety net and padding may not be removed at any time.
10. All jewelry and hair clips must be removed prior to using the trampoline.

Be sure to post the rules in a public place near the trampoline. You may also wish to include on your rules the penalties if the rules are not followed. Get the children involved and make an art project out of creating your trampoline safety rules poster. Use posterboard, markers, crayons, whatever is available to develop ownership in the rules with your children. After all, it’s a bit hard for a child to say they didn’t know they were prohibited from doing flips on the trampoline when the rule is written in their own handwriting.Similar Posts:

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