Are we witnessing the death of common sense in the world? I recently read about two separate child related issues that got my fingers itching, nay, burning to write again.
A letter to the editor was written in to the newspaper I work at, regarding safety issues and concerns with our river channel in town, which is a popular local and tourist attraction. Floating down the channel has been a summer past-time here since long before I was born, there is never a summer where it is not speckled with brightly colored air mattresses, and the faces of happy floaters. This woman/mother wrote in concerned that they were not informed of the speed and depth of the channel this year, that they would have never gone down if they'd have been told, and that they had to ask if their children should wear life jackets. Well, as far as I am concerned, you'd have to have been living under a rock to not know that water levels are at a record high for this time of year, to not have heard of the countless water related incidents have happened in our BC water bodies this year alone. If you have to think about whether your child should be wearing a life jacket then my dear, put one on them. Here's another thought, watch them closely while they are in the water. These are rivers and lakes you are messing with, natures wonders, and as beautiful as they are, they can become deadly in the blink of an eye. So take precautions. It is your job to take the initiative to keep your family safe.
On another note, related but different. Lets talk about The Bumbo. I remember when it first came out, I wanted one. So colorful, fun, and seemingly convenient. I never did bite the bullet and buy one, a combination of cost, and rumors I had heard of it being bad for babies backs, and abdomen. Now it is being recalled, and not to be used without a warning label, and after market restraint strap. Babies can maneuver out of it, and or flip it over. Babies move people, this is not a new scientific discovery! There are reports of babies suffering skull fractures after falling in a Bumbo seat that was used on a high table/counter. The parents placing their wriggling, squirmy, and inquisitive babies in one of these on a high surface (anywhere that is NOT the floor, where it should be) should be the ones equipped with an after market warning label. "Warning: The person you are looking at needs to be reminded that it is unsafe to put a baby on a table unattended."
Common friggin' sense. Have we become so bubble wrapped and sheltered
that the real world becomes impossible to navigate safely without the
help of notices, warnings, laws that force us to wear safety gear... And do we think that the lack of such things
is a guarantee of safety. Use your head, if you have to ask, you probably already know the answer...
