Fool Quiz
Home Safety
March 4, 1998

1) Last year, how many children were hurt in and around their home?

1. 50,000
2. 500,000
3. 1 million
4. 2 million
5. 26 million

2) Between 1981 and 1998, about how many children were strangled in the dangling cords of mini blinds and other window coverings?

1. 70
2. 120
3. 240
4. 320
5. 360

3) Which of the following items of clothing has been found to be a danger to toddlers?

1. Tight underwear
2. Parka hood drawstrings
3. Dark blue socks
4. Hair barrettes
5. Shirts which button in the back

4) What level of water is sufficient to drown a small child?

1. Two inches
2. Six inches
3. One foot
4. Eighteen inches
5. Two feet

5) If a child drinks mouthwash, she can:

1. Fall into an alcohol coma
2. Be unharmed
3. Spit it out
4. Drop the bottle on her foot
5. All of the above

6) The most common cause of burns to young children is:

1. Stove flame
2. Oven flame
3. Candle flame
4. Match flame
5. Hot liquid

7) If you suspect that your child has been poisoned, you should:

1. Administer Ipecac
2. Induce vomiting immediately
3. Call the poison center, or your doctor
4. Gently clap the child on the back
5. Induce the child to drink water

8) Self-closing gates around a pool are:

1. Illegal
2. Required
3. Optional
4. Responsible for 17,000 pinched fingers a year
5. Unavailable at this time

9) The U.S. Public Health Service estimates that one out of every how many children under age 6 has enough lead in his blood to place him in what scientists now consider high risk?

1. Four
2. Six
3. Ten
4. Eighteen
5. Twenty-three

10) Which of the following might be symptoms of lead poisoning?

1. Headaches
2. Vomiting
3. Anemia
4. Weight loss
5. All of the above

* * *

Answers:

1) About 26 million children were hurt in and around their home last year, according to childproofers.com.

2) 359 children, most under age 3, have been strangled since 1981 by mini-blind cords. Be sure that you childproof all your blinds. In general, this means cut the cords above the tassel and remove the little buckle that helps the two cords stay even.

3) Parka hood drawstrings have been found to be a danger to toddlers. If they're looped with a tie string, to keep from disappearing into the fabric tunnel, they can catch on items such as a playground slide. The child's momentum carries him forward; the parka string catches around his neck. You should remove the toggle, undo the knot, or cut the string in order to ensure that the tie can't catch. Shirts with buttons in the back aren't necessarily dangerous; they're just created to make it difficult for fumble-fingered fathers to figure out which way the shirt goes on.

4) Incredibly, two inches of water can drown an infant. If you think about this, though, it isn't so incredible after all. A small child who's incapable of moving her head yet is utterly helpless, even in a very shallow tub. So never leave your baby unattended in a tub or sink.

5) A child who drinks mouthwash can fall into an alcohol coma. The other answers are possible, but the most important one here is the alcohol coma. Mouthwash should be considered to be a medication and should, like all medications, be kept out of the reach of children.

6) Hot liquids are the most common cause of burns in young children. This means that you should keep hot drinks away from the edges of tables, and that you shouldn't hold your child while you're holding a hot drink.

7) The first thing you should do if you suspect that your child has been poisoned is to call your doctor or the local poison center. The poison center's number is often at the front of the phone book under emergency numbers, but you're well advised to make a note of it where you'll find it easily (on your refrigerator, for instance).

8) Self-closing, self-locking gates are required around a swimming pool. The latches must also be high enough to be out of a child's reach, and the pool must be fenced in on all sides.

9) One out of every six children has enough lead in the bloodstream to be considered "high-risk." The only cure for lead poisoning is prevention, so all reasonable steps should be taken to ensure that your home does not provide a threat to your children.

10) Symptoms of lead poisoning, in addition to all those presented in the question, may include irritability, abdominal pain, poor attention span, noticeable learning difficulty, slowed speech development, and hyperactivity.

-- David Wolpe (TMF Dbunk)