Visit www.cpsc.gov for information.

Nationwide, nearly 181,500 children (ages 14 and under) were treated in hospital emergency rooms for toy-related injuries last year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Do you know what toys are safe for your child? When evaluating the ones you are considering this year, remember to:

• Consider the child’s age, interests and skill level. Look for quality in design and construction, and follow age and safety recommendations on labels.
• Consider purchasing a small parts tester (also known as a choke tube) to determine whether small toys may present a choking hazard to children under the age of three. Small parts testers or choke tubes can be purchased at toy or baby specialty stores.
• Check the National Safe Kids Campaign web site, www.safekids.org, for updates and information on recent toy recalls.
• Avoid toys with sharp points or edges, toys that produce loud sounds, or projectiles (ie. darts, firing rockets).
• Avoid toys with strings, straps or cords longer than seven inches that may pose a risk for strangulation.
• Avoid electric-powered toys with heating elements for children under the age of eight.
• Avoid cap guns as the caps they use can be ignited by the slightest friction and can cause serious burns.

Article provided by Fire Marshal Alan Perkins, Washington Township Fire Department.

Fire Marshal Alan Perkins, CFPS (Liaison to the Fire Department Community) – Alan’s career in the fire service spans more than 30 years. He is a Certified Fire Protection Specialist through the National Fire Protection Association and a member of numerous similar safety organizations. Alan consults with numerous fire departments throughout Ohio and in 2005 was chosen by the Ohio Department of Health as the fire service member on the Ohio School Inspection Advisory Committee. He was also awarded Ohio Fire Official of the Year in 2009 by the Ohio Building Officials Association. Alan is the Fire Marshal for the Washington Township Fire Department in Dublin, Ohio.

Live Safe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), devoted to making and fire and life safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses.

Visit www.boodabrand.com

The item I was in pursuit of buying is this adorable Booda Brand organic cotton onesie. These adorable onesies caught my attention in Oprah’s magazine this past June as one of her “O Lists”.  I’ve been waiting for the appropriate opportunity to gift one off to a friend. Booda Brand is a unique line of organic gifts that embody WISDOM, WONDER & the WILL to make a difference. The shirts come uniquely packaged and offer a collection of various t-shirt themes: “Dream”, “Love”, “Peace”, “Courage”, “Imagine” and “I will Make A Difference”. What I loved most about the onesie is that for every Booda Brand purchase, the company gifts ONE book to a child in need through the incredible organization Room to Read. It’s the perfect gift and as my friends will tell you, I LOVE BOOKS! My friend will be delighted to know that her baby’s gift also empowers another child with a donated book.

I now have a wonderful feeling of gratitude knowing I purchased something for the greater good. I also am grateful that I took the time after purchasing the onesie to learn more about the inspiration behind the brand. I visited their company blog and felt instantly inspired, uplifted and connected by the words and opinions shared by Founder, Ruchika Sahai in her blog article, “Business is Personal”.

In the spirit of the holidays, I would like to express my gratitude to Ruchika for her genuine contributions. Those who take the time to share thoughts and opinions through articles and blogging hope that the words matter and it’s times like today where an article hits home.

The article is a wonderful reminder about the importance of friendships in business. Some argue it doesn’t have it’s place, but I couldn’t agree more with Ruchika. Over the years, I am amazed by people who place a higher price on getting ahead over pursuing the opportunity for an authentic relationship. What certain people don’t realize is that you can have both a personal and professional relationship and it’s truly a wonderful feeling when you can experience true kindness that is not born out of obligation, self interest, fear or guilt.

To share the voice and opinions of Ruchika Sahai, she writes in her July, 4, 2010 blog entry:

“The world has internalized the famous quote from The Godfather – “It’s not personal, it’s just business”.   However, to me business IS personal.   After all, you are dealing with people everyday in business so how is that not personal?

I cried in a performance feedback session with my boss.   I actually cried because I was so touched by the evaluation.   There’s no crying in baseball or business or so the line goes.   Since when are basic human emotions considered weaknesses?   That boss ended up becoming one of my best friends and we truly, deeply, love each other.

My now husband and I met at our interview for the same company.   Mixing business with pleasure is how I ended up married to an incredible man.

Conversations with Tinna, my partner in Booda Brand adventures, oscillate between work and the latest happening on The Bachelorette!    So it takes an hour instead of 10 minutes, but I actually look forward to conference calls now.

My most favorite “business personal” story is the one I am living right now.   The head of the creative agency I work with signs off work emails to me with “Love, Tania.”   It could be a mundane mail about brochures and I see “Love, Tania” at the end and it makes me smile.   How incredible is that!!!!

It’s all personal.

There are times I’ve been burned by being personal in business situations.   And so most of us put up walls and become the no nonsense, tough as nails, pinstriped, hair in a bun, the fun is all in my shoes caricature of a business woman.   We think that’s what will garner the respect of others.   Wrong.   A very nasty label gets stamped on instead.

And so we retort, “It’s not fair, when men are tough and mean they aren’t called names.”   Yes, they aren’t called names, but do we want to aspire to be THAT?

I’ll take being burned 10 times if it means I find a Tania or a Denise or a Tinna or a Brian any day of the week.   And I choose to be authentically me in cowboy boots, hair wild, with a rocking chair and mood lighting my office and free flowing hugs flying off my arms.  And this is when I worked in a conservative German pharmaceutical company!

Here’s the reason why – when you’re good, when you’re really good, there is no need to hide.   Good ideas, no matter how they are packaged always shine.

And if you are a Booda Brand customer or store, you know I choose to seal the deal with a hug over a handshake.   After all who doesn’t prefer a warm and wonderful hug to a cold handshake?”

So, in the spirit of the season, I’m sending out a big warm hug to Ruchika and the folks at Booda Brand for making a difference in my life today and the lives of many others!

For more information, please visit www.boodabrand.com and  www.roomtoread.org.

Live Safe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making and fire and life safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. Live Safe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. Live Safe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.

Is the value of your Valentine’s Day tied up in a gift?

One sure-fire way you can make a difference on Valentine’s Day is to provide your sweetheart a priceless gift that says, “I want you around for a long time”.   You can still have a little fun and throw in something sweet, but don’t forget to include something to “put out the fire” such as these items recommended by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA):

Facts and figures to consider for seasonal safety:

• December, January and February are the deadliest months for fires.
• Cooking and heating are the leading causes of home fires in the months of December through February.
• Candle fires have nearly tripled in the past decade.

And what you might ask, is the hottest Valentines Day gift this year?

LIVESAFE T-Shirts, Caps, Logo Apparel and Gift Items!
Yes, for the person who has *everything*, why not purchase an authentic LIVESAFE T-Shirt, Cap or Apparel Item? It’s a gift you know they will wear with pride, and a gift you can feel good about giving.

Proceeds from apparel sales will support TEAM RISE: Members of Team RISE (Runners Inspired by Survivors Everywhere) are preparing to put their running shoes on this spring to raise money for the Phoenix Society.  On May 2, 2010 for the sixth time the group will be participating in Cincinnati’s Flying Pig marathon.  Team leader and event organizer, Bill Zembrodt, is encouraging other Phoenix Society members to join the team for this year’s event. www.phoenix-society.org.

Please accept our wishes for a joyous, memorable – and safe Valentines Day!

For product information and safety supplies, please visit our Programmatic Partner the National Institute for Fire and Safety Training online web store for product and other fire safety related information.

Photo Chart: Google Images

LiveSafe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making fire safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. LiveSafe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable. LiveSafe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.

Check the National Safe Kids Campaign web site, www.safekids.org, for updates and information on recent toy recalls.

Do you know what toys are safe for your child? When evaluating the ones you are considering this year, remember to:

• Consider the child’s age, interests and skill level. Look for quality in design and construction, and follow age and safety recommendations on labels.
• Consider purchasing a small parts tester (also known as a choke tube) to determine whether small toys may present a choking hazard to children under the age of three. Small parts testers or choke tubes can be purchased at toy or baby specialty stores.
• Avoid toys with sharp points or edges, toys that produce loud sounds, or projectiles (ie. darts, firing rockets).
• Avoid toys with strings, straps or cords longer than seven inches that may pose a risk for strangulation.
• Avoid electric-powered toys with heating elements for children under the age of eight.
• Avoid cap guns as the caps they use can be ignited by the slightest friction and can cause serious burns.

Guest “Line of Duty” Author: Fire Marshal Alan Perkins, CFPS, Washington Township Fire Department, Dublin, Ohio. For more information, contact: Leslie Dybiec, Public Information Officer Phone: (614) 652-3928 Fax: (614) 766-2507 or ldybiec@wtwp.com.

Images provided by Google.

Live Safe Foundation is an Ohio based non-profit organization (501c3), and leading grassroots movement, devoted to making fire safety education, awareness initiatives and life saving tools available on a broad basis to communities, campuses, and institutions in an effort to reduce national fire fatalities and fire losses. Live Safe aims to help finance fire safety education where means are otherwise unavailable.  Live Safe is developing and sponsoring programs to help groups find the resources needed to advance individual and community fire safety.