Ehrlich on Washington column, July 17, 2000

MEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Second Congressional District of Maryland 1407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 21093 315 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 EHRLICH ON WASHINGTON Week of July 1 7, 2000 By Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Making Your Home A Safe Home As new parents, my wife Kendel and I have learned firsthand what veteran parents have known: Protecting children is the most vital role for a father and mother. Kendel and I try our best to keep our son safe and believe the best place for him is with us in our home. Sadly, the home is not always the safest haven; over two million children are injured or killed by home based hazards each year. Many of these are hidden hazards, tucked away so that an untrained eye might not notice them at first glance. Parents and child-care givers must be made aware of these danger zones in a child's environment. Fortunately there are many simple, widely available, child safety devices. Last week, as part of a nationwide effort to show parents how to "baby proof' their homes, a representative of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), an independent federal agency charged with overseeing the safety of baby products, visited Kendel, our son Drew, and me to conduct a Baby Safety Check. Maryanne McGerty-Sieber, the CPSC representative, recommended ways to make our one year old son’s bedroom, playroom, nursery equipment, and toys, more baby-safe. In addition, she advised us on ways to "baby proof' the kitchen and on what pre-emptive safety changes to make as Drew grows older. Several frequent CPSC recommendations include: • Use doorknob covers and door locks to help prevent children from entering rooms with possible dangers; • Cut window blind cords and use safety tassels to help prevent children from strangling in blind cord loops; and • Use door stops and door holders to help prevent injuries to fingers and hands. The recent Baby Safety Check represents another aspect of my ongoing work with the CPSC to help parents everywhere learn the steps I have learned in order to best protect their children. At