FACES NEWSLETTER CHOOSING SAFE TOYS. Family and Consumer Science. November 2010

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1 FACES NEWSLETTER November 2010 Family and Consumer Science CHOOSING SAFE TOYS Robin T. Seitz Extension Agent, Family & Consumer Science Peggie L. Garner County Extension Director Contact Us: NCCE-Onslow County 4024 Richlands Hwy. Jacksonville, NC (910) (910) Fax edu North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University commit themselves to positive action to secure equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status or disability. In addition, the two Universities welcome all persons without regard to sexual orientation. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating. With holiday shopping time right around the corner here are a few tips for buying toys for the children in your life. When choosing toys for kids it s important to check to see if the toys are safe. Any toy can be unsafe if it is played with by a child who is the wrong age for it or if the toy is misused. Avoid toys that: Have sharp corners or edges. Are made of flammable materials. Have parts which can be easily lost or broken. Have toxic paint. Have trims which a child can pull off easily. Are poorly made. Are stuffed with toxic or non- hygenic materials. Do not have tight lids on battery compartments. (child may get an electrical shock.) Have glass for windows instead of plastic. Have parts which can be removed. Are not washable. If toys are broken and cannot be fixed, throw them away. Hand crafted toys do not need to meet safety standards set by the United States Consumer products Safety Commission (CPSC). Check hand-crafted toys carefully. They may have small parts, toxic paint, or were made with sharp screws and nails. Check labels to make sure all art materials (including paint, crayons, markers, play dough, and clay) are non-toxic.

2 Avoid giving children under six years of age balloons because of the danger of choking on broken pieces or deflated balloons. Toys and stuffed animals for infants and toddlers should not have strings or ribbons that are more than ten inches long to prevent strangling accidents. Toys hung above cribs, such as mobiles, must be removed by the time an infant can push up onto hands and knees. When purchasing a toy, read the directions carefully and check for age guidelines Remember, children need to be supervised while playing, even with safe toys. HELPFUL PHONE NUMBER For questions about toy safety: Call the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commissions hotline CPSC American Diabetes Month November is American Diabetes Month, a time to communicate the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of diabetes prevention and control. For years, the American Diabetes Association has used this month as an opportunity to raise awareness of the disease and its serious complications. With nearly 24 million children and adults in the United States living with diabetes, and an additional 57 million Americans at risk, there is no time to waste. One out of every three children born today will face a future with diabetes if current trends continue. Diabetes is not merely a condition. It is disease with deadly consequences. Drastic action is needed. About 60-70% of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nerve damage that could result in pain in the feet or hands, slowed digestion, sexual dysfunction, and other nerve problems. The rate of amputation for people with diabetes is 10 times higher than for people without diabetes. Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure. The death rate from diabetes continues to climb. Since 1987, the death rate due to diabetes has increased by 45%, while the death rates due to cancer, heart disease, and stroke have declined. Two out of three people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke. The American Diabetes Association estimates that the total national cost of diagnosed diabetes in the United States is $174 billion. Direct medical costs reach $116 billion, and the average medical expenditure among people with diabetes is 2.3 times higher than those without the disease. Indirect costs amount to $58 billion (disability, work loss, premature mortality). Further published studies suggest that when additional costs for gestational diabetes, prediabetes, and undiagnosed diabetes are included, the total diabetes-related costs in the U.S. could exceed $218 billion. The cost of caring for someone with diabetes is $1 out of every $5 in total healthcare costs. During American Diabetes Month 2010, the American Diabetes Association

3 wants to know how you will stop diabetes. The future of diabetes is in your hands. Become one of the millions in the movement by going to stopdiabetes.com or by calling DIABETES to see all the ways you can show your support and learn what you can do to get involved in your own community. To NC Senior Consumer Fraud Task Force Members Progress Energy has issued the following warning to the about fraud artists claiming to represent the company: ***ALERT #254*** RALEIGH (Sept. 30, 2010) Progress Energy warns customers to beware of a telephone-based scam that has increased in frequency this week More than a dozen Progress Energy customers have reported since Sept. 28 that they have received telephone calls from one or more people claiming to represent Progress Energy or other electric utilities. The caller, sometimes identified as Dan, claims the customer s account is about to be disconnected for non-payment, and requests credit card information from the customer to avoid the disconnection. In at least one case, credit card information was supplied, and the information was later used illegally. Except in rare instances, Progress Energy representatives do not call customers, asking for credit card information. Other scams in recent years have involved people claiming to be Progress Energy employees or representatives, seeking entry into a customer s home. Other than in emergencies or safetyrelated issues, there are practically no instances when a representative of Progress Energy would show up at a customer s home unannounced and ask to enter to perform work. Progress Energy encourages customers and others not to open their door for utility workers unless they can confirm the person s identity. Progress Energy employees carry company badges with photographs. But since ID badges, vehicle signs and clothing can be fabricated to look authentic, none of these is sufficient to assure a person s identity. If a customer has any doubt about the identity of anyone claiming to be a Progress Energy employee (in person, on the phone or via or other electronic media), that person should call the Progress Energy customer service center at to verify the employee s identity. Sell By, Use By, Dates The milk carton says November 1 and now it s November 4. Is it safe? Should you throw it out? Sell by dates on perishable products are really about quality, not about safety. And they apply only as long as the product is at the supermarket, where storage temperatures are colder (usually around 30 degrees or so, depending on the product) than in home refrigerators. Home refrigerators should be kept at about 40 degrees, so the lettuce doesn t freeze while the meat and milk are kept cold enough to slow bacteria growth. Actually, the only sure thing a sell-by date tells you about a product is whether you should buy it. If the date has passed,

4 don t buy the product otherwise you ll bring home a food that is no longer at peak quality. If the date has not passed, buy it and follow these guidelines in order to ensure peak quality. Use or freeze ground beef within two days of purchase, even if the date is later than that. It won t be at peak freshness after more than two days in a home refrigerator. Beef other than ground beef should be used or frozen within 3-5 days after purchase. Raw poultry should be cooked or frozen within two days of purchase. For most other perishable foods milk, juice and so on quality begins to go down about a week after they re placed in the home refrigerator. Again, that s even if the date on the package will come later than one week after the purchase, because that stamped date is meant for the colder temperatures of the supermarket. Eggs keep fresh for 3-5 weeks after you get them home. Of course everyone has his or her own threshold, making decisions about what state of freshness is acceptable. They open the package or cap and sniff and that s ok. Deteriorating freshness is not about bacteria that cause illness but about bacteria that can impart an off smell or flavor, change texture, and result in a loss of nutrients. The exception is the use by date for processed meat like deli meat. Luncheon meats and such run a chance of being tainted with listeria bacteria, which can cause illness, and these products don t usually get heated so the bacteria remain alive. If the meat spends a lot of time in a home refrigerator, especially if the temperature is higher than 40 degrees, the listeria can multiply to dangerous levels. That s why you should throw out processed meats that aren t used by the use by date. Need more specifics? Call the USDA s Meat and Poultry Hotline at (888) Secret Ingredients for Healthy Holiday Cooking Holiday meals don t have to be heavy and fat-filled. Try these simple secrets for cutting fat and adding more nutrition. Your friends and family won t notice a difference in taste but they may notice a difference in their waistlines. Soups - When making cream soups, substitute an equal amount of evaporated skim milk for cream. To thicken soups, add partially mashed canned beans or a potato that has been grated and microwaved first for 5 minutes. Dips - For lighter dips, use half plain yogurt and half low fat or fat-free sour cream or mayonnaise, then flavor with herbs and tomato paste, pureed spinach or other ingredients. Sauces - Instead of high-fat sauces or gravies for meat and poultry, make simple fruit chutneys by simmering fruit such as mandarin oranges, diced apples or pears with minced onion, sugar, vinegar and raisins. Stuffing - For a nutritious low fat stuffing, use whole wheat bread cubes, dried cranberries, chopped and sautéed onion and celery. Season with dried parsley and sage, then toss with hot, fatfree, reduced-sodium, broth until moistened but not wet. Mix in chopped

5 walnuts and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Place in a shallow pan lightly coated with olive or canola oil spray and cover with aluminum foil; bake at 325 degrees for 10 minutes per cup of stuffing. Baked goods - To lighten baked goods like cakes, quick breads and muffins, substitute applesauce for half the fat. Prune puree works well in chocolate items, like cookies or low fat brownies. You can also blend prune puree with cocoa instead of using higher fat chocolate. CHRISTMAS CHEER TIME IS HERE AGAIN Onslow County 4-H County Council is again participating in the Elder Cheer Program. Since 1996 the Onslow County Adult and Family Services unit at the Department of Social Services has coordinated the Elder cheer program. This program places an emphasis on elderly and disabled population who are in resident care facilities, while giving our community the opportunity to share their holiday spirit. On December 2 nd, join us at 6:00 pm for refreshments and at 6:30 pm the social gathering and assembling of items. Please plan on attending and completing a wonderful community service project. In the meantime, please tell everyone you know that we are collecting the following items. All of these can be dropped off at the Cooperative Extension, 4024 Richlands Hwy. Please remind our staff that they are for the Elder Cheer Holiday Program. Items requested by Onslow County Elder Cheer are: lotion, candy (diabetic), aftershave, fruit baskets, socks, cassette tapes, key chains, watches, blankets, deodorant, electric blankets, combs, perfume, slippers, hair brushes, night gowns, batteries, gospel tapes, holiday novelties, toothbrushes, writing paper, stationery, support hose, powder, pajamas, disposable razors, personal care items (soap, shampoo, etc.), small flashlights, fashion jewelry, live plants, pens, window mounted bird feeders. County Council is also in need of baskets, tins and gift bags to help wrap these items. All of these items are due in the 4-H office by November 29 th for more information, contact Wanda Mills, A Healthy Home is a Pest Free Home Household pests like insects and rodents sometimes find their way into our homes. Common insect pests are cockroaches, flies and fleas. Recently bedbugs have been finding their way into more and more homes. Mice and rats are the most common rodents that invade our homes. If uncontrolled these pests can threaten our health. They are especially threatening to children s health. Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to control pests Integrated pest management (IPM) is a method for controlling pests that focuses on learning about pest behavior and their preferred environments. Once this information is obtained it can be used to eliminate the conditions that attract pests to your home. One of the primary goals of IPM is to eliminate pests as safely as possible. This means using chemical pesticides only as a last resort. There are

6 three basic steps to safely eliminating pests with IPM methods: Find out exactly what pests are in your home and try to find out where they are coming from. All pests need food, water, and shelter. Eliminate those basic requirements and you also often eliminate the pest problem. If you cannot eliminate the pest problem with the above environmental controls, then use the least toxic method for eliminating the pests. o o Start by using traps and bait first. The bait should be in a container designed to allow entry of only the pest you are targeting. If you must use pesticides, read and follow directions on the label, and do so with extreme care. Health Problems Related to Insects, Dust Mites, and Rodents in Your Home Insects: Cockroaches Exposure to both cockroaches and rodents is a severe heath risk to people, and especially children, who have asthma. Cockroach allergens are strong asthma triggers. Cockroach allergens are small pieces of cockroach bodies and feces. These allergens get mixed in with household dust; and whenever that dust is disturbed, allergens get launched into the air where they can be inhaled and cause an allergic reaction. Most people will have some type of allergic reaction when exposed to household dust that contains cockroach allergens, and for people that have asthma this can cause an attack. Asthma attacks can be life threatening. Cockroaches create additional health problems because they live and crawl in filthy places so they often spread bacteria wherever they go. Keeping your home clean and dry are two methods that will help prevent dust mites and cockroaches from coming into your home. Bedbugs Bedbugs are small insects that feed on the blood of warm blooded animals. Adult bedbugs are about ¼-inch in length. Bedbugs are not known to transmit infectious disease; however their bite causes an allergic reaction at the site of the bite. Bedbug bites look and feel similar to flea bites. Bedbugs have no wings. They typically get into homes as stowaways on luggage, clothing, bedding, mattresses, boxes, and other items that are moved between homes, apartments, and hotels. Used furniture, especially bed frames and mattresses, are most likely to harbor bedbugs or their eggs. Bedbugs can live many months without eating so they often hide in the cracks and crevices of vacant apartments until people move in. Then they invade the bed during night hours, bite and drink a few drops of blood before again retreating to their hiding place in the wall or floor. Flies House flies can spread diseases like food poisoning and dysentery. Flies usually feed and lay their eggs on garbage, manure, or animal crcasses. So, when they get into homes they contaminate food preparation areas and food they land on. Also, when flies feed they regurgitate their stomach contents onto

7 the food source to liquefy it and make it easier to eat. Of course, this contaminates any food they land on in your home with the contents of any filthy items they were eating prior to entering your home. They also defecate on food preparation surfaces they land on, further increasing the threat of bacterial contamination Keeping doors and windows closed, or protected by screens is a good method for keeping flies out of the home. Good sanitation practices in and around your home will also help to keep flies out. Fleas Fleas are tiny insects that feed on the blood of household pets and humans. They transmit disease and parasites with their bite. Their bite is also painful and extremely itchy. They often get into homes via household pets. Dust Mites Dust mites are very tiny and invisible to the human eye. They live in bedding, mattresses, carpeting and upholstered furniture in our homes and eat tiny pieces of organic material, primarily pieces of shed human skin cells. It is not the dust mites themselves that people are allergic to, but a protein in their fecal pellets. Dust mite fecal pellets are extremely strong asthma triggers. And constant exposure to this dust mite allergen can cause people to develop an allergy to dust mites and may even cause some people to develop asthma. House dust mite numbers can easily be controlled with good house cleaning practices. humans. Two of those diseases are Hantavirus, and Rat-Bite Fever. Hantavirus This is an uncommon, but often fatal disease carried by deer mice and white footed mice. While these are wild mice, they often invade buildings. Mice shed the virus in urine, feces, and saliva. People contract the virus when they inhale it it after it has found its way into the air from these animal wastes. It is also possible to catch the virus by eating or drinking foods and liquids contaminated by virus-carrying rodents. Most people who have caught Hantavirus have done so by cleaning, living, and working in areas infested by mice that carry the virus. The first signs of illness are fever and muscle aches and appear one to five weeks after initial exposure. Rat-Bite-Fever Rat-bite-fever is a bacterial infection that occurs when humans are bitten or scratched by mice or rats. Symptoms include chills, fever, and vomiting. While rat-bite-fever is a rare disease, rat bites are not. They remain a large problem in the United States; and the highest proportion of victims are children under age 1. Many of the bites occur while an infant is sleeping. Keeping your home clean and dry are good first steps to discourage rodents from entering your home. Mice and Rats Mice and rats, and the parasites they carry can transmit many diseases to

8 North Carolina Cooperative Extension North Carolina State University Onslow County Center 4024 Richlands Hwy Jacksonville, North Carolina NON-PROFIT