Month: January 2017

As parents, we know that kids tend to get into everything, but somehow we always end up being surprised when our children find a new way to get themselves hurt.

Believe it or not, there are some unexpected things in your home that are way more dangerous than you ever thought they could be.

Dishwashers

Parents know that kids love to climb, and a dishwasher handle might as well come with an invitation for them to pull on it. Doing so could immediately result in the dishwasher door crashing down on their heads, but there are far worse consequences, too.

Any kids that do manage to get the door open could immediately have access to sharp knives and pointy forks, as well as tons of glass items that could easily break if dropped.

There’s also the danger of dishwasher detergents and powder packs, which could cause severe irritation if they make contact with the skin and eyes, and eat away at the mouth and throat if swallowed.

The solution?

When loading the dishwasher, make sure your forks and knives are pointing down. You should also avoid putting any liquid or powder detergents into the machine until you’re actually ready to run it. 

If you can latch your dishwasher closed when it’s not in use, make sure you do.

Later in this article, you’ll learn about more household appliances that are dangerous in ways you wouldn’t think.

Cribs

You’d think that something meant for a baby to be for extended periods of time would be pretty safe, but that’s not always the case.

For the most part, cribs aren’t usually dangerous on their own unless parents forget to adjust them as their child grows—instead, the real trouble lies in the things parents put into them.

It may seem intuitive to surround your baby in plush, cozy blankets and pillows while they sleep—hey, it’s what we like as adults, right?—but these items can easily form-fit to your baby’s face and cause them to suffocate. In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that at least 900 babies die each year due to suffocation from plush bedding.

The solution?

Babies should sleep on their backs on firm mattresses—use sheets and mattress pads if you want, but only if they’re tight-fitting.

Keep toys, comforters, and pillows out of the crib until they’re at least a year old, and only use bumper pads that aren’t super thick. Any blankets you use should be lightweight, but you can avoid using them at all by putting your baby in a sleeper suit before bed.

Hand-Me-Downs

Hand-me-down clothes and toys can be a lifesaver for any new parent, but using them means you could be inheriting any problems these items have.

Used baby equipment from years past might not be up to current safety standards, and it’s not always easy to tell if something is broken or missing a piece—that is, until it unexpectedly breaks while your baby’s using it. Even something as small as a loose safety strap could allow your baby to wriggle out of their seat or swing and get stuck.

The solution?

Before using any baby items given to you from a friend or family member, look over them carefully to make sure everything is still being held together as it should be and no crucial pieces are missing.

Any cords or straps should be around seven inches or less in length, and any fraying strings should be removed. You should also keep children away from older toys that are painted or made of metal, as the paint could be lead-based.

Bathrooms

There are tons of products out there designed to make it easier to give your baby a bath, but they’re probably not as safe as you’d think they are.

Bath rings and seats are both popular items that help keep babies sitting upright while they’re in the tub, and some parents who use them probably think they can walk away from the tub for a few seconds without anything going wrong.

In reality, though, the suction cups that are often used to hold the seats in please could easily come loose, allowing your baby to tip the seat over in just a few seconds. In fact, the CPSC reported that 106 babies drowned because their bath rings tipped over from 1983 to 2003.

The solution?

Just because your baby is sitting in a bath seat or ring doesn’t mean they’re completely protected from harm. Parents should not leave their babies unattended while they’re in the bathtub, no matter how secure they seem at the time.

You should also make sure any bath products you have are out of your baby’s reach so they don’t accidentally ingest them.

Pets

You might think that your family pet will take no issue with your newest addition, but this isn’t always the case.

In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) has reported that around 100,000 children end up in the emergency room annually due to dog-related injuries.

Young kids don’t know any better when it comes to pulling Fido’s tail or sticking their little hands into his food bowl, and there’s no guarantee he’ll take kindly to either. Not to mention that your baby might find it interesting to eat your pet’s food or chew on its toys, both of which could be a potential choking hazard.

The solution?

Introduce your baby to your pets gradually, and never leave the two alone together. It’s also important to continuously teach your kids to be gentle with animals, including no hitting, no tail pulling, and leaving them alone while eating.

You should also keep toys and pet food off the floor when they’re not being used, and try to avoid buying smaller toys until your child is older.

Car Windows

We can all probably remember a time when we were kids and decided that playing with the automatic windows in the car was a good idea. You put your fingers over the glass, seeing how long you could hold them there before chickening out as the window came higher up.

Though daring, it’s definitely not a smart move—it shouldn’t be any surprise that hundreds of kids end up at urgent care each year for crushed arms and fingers. There’s also the immense danger that comes when kids lean out the window and accidentally hit the switch, getting their torsos, necks, and heads stuck.

According to the nonprofit group Kids and Cars, approximately 28 children have reportedly died in this very way.

The solution?

Child locks are there for a reason—use them! The window lock feature has become an increasingly common feature in cars, and they could easily help prevent something tragic from happening.

If you have all of the windows rolled down, make sure you ask your kids to bring their hands, arms, and heads inside before you roll them up.

Purses

Women often joke about the wide range of things you can find in their purses, and that’s exactly why you should keep the prying hands of kids out of them. However, there are many people who wouldn’t think about the harm that could come from a child digging in their bag.

Purses can contain medicine, hard candies, cosmetics, safety pins, pens—all things that could easily cause a child harm within seconds.

Children could even potentially try to grab a purse strap and cause the whole bag to crash down on their heads. Grabbing at a purse hanging off the side of a chair could even send that toppling over in the blink of an eye.

The solution?

Keep your bags in a room your child can’t enter or on some type of hook that they can’t reach. When you have guests over, make sure to keep all of the bags and coats in a separate room and keep the door closed so curious kids stay out.

Kitchen Appliances

We already know that the dishwasher isn’t as innocent as it seems, but what about everything else in your kitchen?

Aside from the basics—you know, keeping your child away from a hot stove and making sure cleaning products are out of sight—there are plenty of things to look out for in this room of your home.

It’s important to prevent your kids from climbing on appliances as they could easily knock something over if it’s not properly secured. When cooking, kids could even make a grab for an exposed pan handle and accidentally douse themselves with hot water, oil, or sauce.

The solution?

In addition to teaching your kids that appliances aren’t for climbing, install anti-tip bracket systems on your appliances if you can so they won’t topple over if your kids decide to briefly experiment with fridge climbing.

You should also keep kids at a safe distance while you’re baking or cooking to prevent spills and burns.

If you’re pro-canine, then you probably know not to give a dog chocolate—that one’s easy. But did you know there are plenty of other ways you might be risking the well-being of man’s four-legged best friend? Here are 18 things that could potentially endanger your pup.

Raw meat

Believe it or not, humans aren’t the only ones that “are susceptible to salmonella and other bacterial poisoning” after consuming uncooked meat. Dogs, as it happens, can also contract it when they eat uncooked meat.

So despite what old films might have you believe, it would be best to not let your dog chew on a piece of uncooked steak or any other type of uncooked meat.

Rawhide dog chews

Despite how much your dog might love chewing on these, they also pose a risk for Salmonella, along with other bacteria. The Daily Treat advises that you be sure to “monitor the storage, handout, use, and life of chews.”

Fabric softener sheets

Did you know that a) there are chemicals in these and b) that the sheets, as a consequence, aren’t good for your pup? Well, despite the inviting smell, which they might enjoy, you shouldn’t risk your dog getting near them, let alone attached to them.

Coffee

While plenty of humans may need a cup of coffee just to endure the long day ahead, you should avoid letting your dog near it at all costs. The caffeine in coffee is just as toxic to canines as chocolate is:“caffeine and theobromine cause toxicosis” and they can lead to your dog not only seizing but going on to Doggy Heaven. No puppuccinos for your furry friend.

Avocados

Though among the trendiest foods of our time, it’s safe to say that really, only humans should be consuming this delicious green fruit (yes, it’s a fruit). Why?

Well, the exact reason why is up for debate a bit, but as the Daily Treat says, “Even if the persin in avocados isn’t harmful to your dog, that big center seed is a choking hazard.” Persin , for the record, “is a fungicidal toxin.”

Though it doesn’t really affect us, it can pose a danger “when consumed by domestic animals in large quantities .”

Grapes

While fruits are great and healthy for us humans to munch on, dogs don’t always have quite the same reactions that we do. This is especially true when it comes to grapes, which, if consumed, could lead to your dog enduring acute renal failure.

In case you’re thinking that raisins might be a suitable alternative that won’t lead to canine kidney failure, think again, because in reality, “they’re just dried up grapes, so they count too.”

Onions

You might very well have never considered feeding your dog an onion (or anything with onions), especially if you’re not a big fan yourself. Regardless, you should avoid feeding any sort of onion—raw or not, even onion powder—to your dog.

As it turns out, this flavorful, and notoriously potent, vegetable has the ability to “kill canine blood cells and resulting Heinz Body Anemia can be life-threatening.” So much for a healthy food, right?

Garlic

While garlic isn’t as detrimental to dogs as its flavor-partner, the onion (and in fact, “small amounts may even appear in some dog foods”), if your dog is going to consume it, it has to be in moderation.

Otherwise, it can actually prove to be just as dangerous to them as onions. So as much as we might want to share the deliciousness of the spice with them, it’s really not worth the risk.

Macadamia nuts

Macadamia nuts may be the perfect—albeit pretty pricey—addition to your trail mix or white chocolate cookies, but dogs shouldn’t be let near them. They are said to be “particularly poisonous” to our innocent barking friends.

According to the ASPCA , they “can cause weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs,” and these symptoms can last anywhere from 12 hours to two days. Ensure that you’ve thoroughly checked the ingredients for any and all food you might want to share with your hungry pup.

Toys

Though your dog might take a liking to Legos and other toys you have lying around the house, did you know that “dog toys are specific so that pieces aren’t swallowed or lodged in the throat?”

As such, if you’re giving your dog something to play with that wasn’t constructed for them or their size, such as “balls and other playtime pieces,” it could risk their lives. As a precaution, anything with tiny pieces should probably be kept away from where your dog could get it.

Plants

While potted plants can prove to be a lovely aesthetic addition to your home, “that beautiful smell or texture may tempt your [dog] to lick or nibble.”

In case you’re determined to have a plant in your home, these are just some of the plants you should have nowhere near your dog, no matter what: Aloe Vera, Jade, Ivy, Elephant Ear, Philodendron, and Corn Plant.

Chicken bones

Of course your dog can eat meat, but you need to ensure that no bones are left in the meat you serve them.

As it happens, “cooked bones of any kind may be brittle and hazardous,” but chicken bones in particular “can splinter and do all sorts of harm.” So be thorough and particular about the quality of meat you’re serving them.

Batteries

While we’re sure you would probably never consider feeding your dog any batteries—at least we hope not—there is a risk of them eating them if they’re lying around on the floor or somewhere else accessible to your dog.

Avoid this at all costs though, as the acid in batteries can cause your dog to be stricken with “mouth ulcers, throat and stomach issues.” Again, anything small can pose a risk to your dog, so think twice the next time you’re about to leave small things on the floor.

Cleaning products

So long as you keep these high up where your dog can’t get to it, you’re probably fine, but if they do get into them, they can pose a real danger to your pup.

Detergents

Similarly to the cleaning products, you should ensure that detergents are kept somewhere up high, as they “may have ulcerous and fatal consequences for your dog.”

Antifreeze

Despite its misleading sweet smell, ensure that you aren’t fooled by antifreeze, as it could pose a truly deadly danger to your dog if consumed.

Heavy metals

In case there weren’t enough warnings about why small objects shouldn’t be left around your house, we have another for you. Did you know that pennies and paint chips, along with other things, could pose issues for your dog?

Specifically, make sure your dog avoids anything containing “lead and zinc [as they] can be toxic,” along with other heavy metals, as they can pose the same risk.

Xylitol

Before you go and let your dog try some of your (non-chocolate) candy, or even something freshly baked, beware of xylitol, which is “used as a sweeter in many products, including gum, candy, baked goods and toothpaste.” Not only can consumption of xylitol trigger an insulin release, which has the potential to actually lead to liver failure, but it could also result in hypoglycemia.

Your dog’s first symptoms of toxicosis could “include vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination.” It might eventually lead to seizures, and “elevated liver enzymes and liver failure can be seen within a few days.”

Insecticides

While “the bait used in ant and roach traps might not be toxic,” there’s more to worry about, as your dog could be at risk of choking if they happen to swallow any of the traps used. On the other hand though, there are insecticides, such as those intended to get rid of snails, slugs, and flies, which could act as a poison for your dog.

Consider putting up a gate so that your dog can’t go wherever the traps are, or having someone dog-sit elsewhere until everything is safe for your pup again.

We all have a tendency to make a mountain out of a molehill when it comes to self-diagnosing ourselves. Thanks to sites like WebMD, we have turned into full-on hypochondriacs and have probably all thought at one point in time we have a serious illness, when, in fact, it was nothing more than a bad cold or weird bruise.

While we can’t offer legitimate medical advice—that’s what your doctor is for—it may ease your mind to know that those odd aches and pains are most likely something completely benign. With any of these symptoms, we always recommend checking with a medical professional if you are concerned or have any questions.

But if your mild hypochondria is getting the best of you and you’re curious to see the most common self-misdiagnoses, check out this list to find out what those body aches might actually be.

Symptom: An Inability to Focus

Self-Diagnosis: ADD/ADHD

What is probably is: Us no longer having an attention span

In today’s society, we all tend to think we have a little hyperactivity. In truth, however, we just have no attention span.

We are always easily distracted and desperate to know everything so quickly. There is a reason that videos that go viral on social media have incorporated subtitles: it’s because companies know that we are so scared to commit to watching a two-minute video. If they add subtitles then we don’t have to click on the video itself and feel that commitment; we can just stay on the main page and watch music videos without sound while reading the lyrics.

We can go on and on about the lack of attention span but feeling distracted or unable to focus does not necessarily mean you have ADD or ADHD. The next time you’re feeling hyperactive, try cleaning your apartment—you’ll quickly realize that you don’t have that much energy after all. Bring on the Netflix.

Symptom: A Mysterious Lump

Self-Diagnosis: Malignant tumor

What it probably is: Swollen gland

Every single one of us has felt a lump on our bodies at some point and immediately thought, “Okay, this is it, this is how I die.”

Now no one is saying it’s not something to take with caution and get checked out. In fact, we encourage it!

But quiet your mind for a moment by recognizing there is also the possibility that it is nothing more than a swollen gland. We have glands all over our body and when we fight off an infection, they put in overtime so they swell. It’s easy to think that since you’re already sick and your glands in your neck are swollen that it could be serious, but more times than not, it’s simply your body fighting extra hard to kill whatever is making you feel sick.

Give it a couple days and if they’re still incredibly swollen, go to the doctor, but if they’ve decreased, then it’s probably nothing to worry about.

Symptom: A New Mole

Self-Diagnosis: Skin cancer

What it probably is: Well… A new mole

Skin cancer is nothing to joke about. In reality, one in five people in the U.S will get skin cancer at some point in their lives. That is a heavy fact and something we should all take seriously.

However, every time we look in the mirror and find a new freckle or mole, our minds immediately go to melanoma or skin cancer. The fact is, as we age we get spots, colorations, moles, freckles, and more, and it’s nothing more than just that: aging.

There is a lot of research out there which tells us how to prevent getting age spots and also lower any chances for skin cancer. Always be safe and use sunscreen and stay out of the sun when possible, because no one wants to age quicker than they have to.

By protecting yourself from UVA and UVB rays with a broad spectrum sunscreen, you’ll also lower your chances of new freckles (which are caused by a group of cells in the skin making more melanin, a dark pigment, than the surrounding skin) which will then lower your anxiety of thinking you have skin cancer.

Bottom line: always take your skincare seriously and cover up, but don’t give yourself a nervous breakdown when you look in the mirror and find a new spot.

Symptom: Muscle Twitch

Self-Diagnosis: Something very wrong. You don’t know what, but it’s something.

What it probably is: Dehydration

We have all experienced those random, annoying muscle spasms. They can happen out of nowhere and in the most random spots—eyelids, lower back, feet, fingers—nowhere is safe.

When it first happens, it comes at a shock and can easily freak us out as we have no control over the spasm and aren’t quite sure what is happening. It is really nothing to worry about though as these twitches happen with over 90 percent of people and tend to happen at random locations in our body.

The truth behind them isn’t fully understood but most doctors think it depends on our stress level, caffeine intake, and amount of sleep. They are more common after a workout since you have some lactic acid built up in your muscles. The best thing to do is stay hydrated so your muscles can heal quicker.

Next time you get a series of these annoying twitches, go grab a coconut water that is full of potassium and it should help you out.

Symptom: Headache

Self-Diagnosis: Brain clot

What is probably is: Stress and lack of sleep

First off you’ll be happy to hear that your brain can’t actually feel pain so when you get a headache, it’s not your actual brain, but the area around your head, face, and neck. Now to be safe, of course you should always take precaution, but don’t give yourself more pain by automatically assuming the worst.

There can be a number of reasons you get a headache: too much caffeine (or lack thereof if you’re a habitual coffee drinker), stress, a strained muscle, sinus problems, a fever—the list goes on and on.

The best thing to do is try to relax, maybe take some ibuprofen, and wait it out. If it continues then of course you may want to see a doctor, but try to not over react at first.

There is also a trick to try to relieve some pressure if it’s a sinus headache. Take your thumbs and push them into the part right above your eye but below your eyebrow. You can also push your tongue into the roof of your mouth and then pinch the nerve right between your thumb and pointer finger. Try it next time and see if it helps!

Symptom: Stomach Pain

Self-Diagnosis: Crohn’s, cancer, or internal damage

What it probably is: Constipation, bloating, or gas

Stomach pain can be absolutely debilitating. You can have intense pain or trouble breathing, which leaves you feeling like a beached whale. It’s not uncommon to be keeled over, feeling overly sensitive and in pain.

There are a number of things that run though our heads in these situations and most are very serious, but in truth these symptoms can be caused by nothing more than constipation or gas. It’s not pleasant or pretty, but it can be the truth. A very relieving truth.

A lot of things can affect your body and stomach to create constipation or bloating. For instance, if you’ve just traveled on an airplane, or taken certain pain medications, or eaten your heart out on a charcuterie board, then try taking some Tums or a gentle laxative and see if that relieves the pain you’re feeling.

If it becomes more serious then of course the doctor is the way to go, but it’s worth trying before spending all the money and time waiting at the doctor’s office for him to simply say, “Yeah, you need to poop.”

Symptom: Knee pain

Self-diagnosis: A torn ligament or muscle—something that definitely requires surgery

What it probably is: Soreness

Knees are very sensitive areas and no one wants to have an injury that impacts their daily mobility like a knee injury. Therefore, every time something happens with our knees, we tend to think it is more serious than it really is. Especially if the pain lasts.

There might be a simple cause of this that we tend to overlook. For the majority of people with a job, that job takes place in an office and has us sitting at a desk for nine hours a day. We don’t really get up to walk around but a couple times throughout the day, and then when we leave, we walk to our car, sit in traffic, maybe go to the gym and rush in to make that intense workout class like kickboxing or soul cycle.

If this describes most of your week days, the soreness makes sense. You essentially just sat for nearly 10 hours without using your legs at all and then rush your body into an extreme workout where you extend your knee.

That can create intense pain and soreness and could lead to a serious injury. The next time you have pain in your knee, try scheduling some time to get a good warm-ups in and some stretching before rushing into that yoga class.

Symptom: Back pain

Self-diagnosis: A slipped disc

What it probably is: Sleeping (or sitting) in a bad position

Ever wake up and realize you slept in a funny position and now you can only turn your neck to the right? We know it’s due to sleeping all crammed up and in an odd position. The same rules can apply to our lower back and hips.

The correct way to sleep is on our side with a pillow in between our legs so our spinal cord can lay parallel with our bed in an even position. People who actually sleep like that are lucky. Most of us sleep on our backs, stomachs, or sprawled out like Spider-Man in the middle of our bed.

We wake up the next day and jump in the shower, rush off to work, sit in a chair, and then go home and sit on our couch. Then back to bed and repeat. Needless to say, this leads to soreness and pain.

The next time you incur some lower back pain and you think you’ve slipped a disc, try rearranging your sleeping position, buy a body pillow, and do some gentle stretches upon waking and see if that helps. No need to rush into back surgery just yet.