meta-dad

School Magnet Kits Riddled with Lead Paint

If your kids’ school has bought any magnet kits in the last ten or eleven years chances are they have massive amounts of lead in them. The manufacturer is Illinois-based, United Scientific. The magnet are manufactured in India and the recall is quite large as you can imagine. The number of magnet kits in question are 2.35 million strong and I would venture to guess that number is just a projection.

Contact your school administrator and have them check the model numbers. The model numbers are located on the magnets packaging. Only painted magnets are included in this recall. The photos above only represent a few different type of kits in the recall. To date there are eleven kits under this recall.

Contact United Scientific to receive a free replacement magnet. For additional information, contact them toll-free at (888) 284-8570 between 9am and 5pm.

Sited Links:
US Consumer Product Safety Commission | United Scientific Recall Magnet due to…

Infants and Drinking Water

Newborns and infants have an intact thirst reflex or a drive to drink. The thing they need most is breast milk or formula. What most of us parents don’t know is that giving them water in excess can be a bad thing. It can cause water intoxication. Water intoxication happens much quicker with newborns than it does with adolescents or adults because of their relative size and their underdeveloped kidneys. Emergency pediatric physicians admit it is a sneaky condition.

Babies’ kidneys aren’t yet mature, giving them excessive amounts of water causes their bodies to flush out sodium with excess water. Losing too much sodium can affect brain activity, so early symptoms of water intoxication can include irritability, drowsiness and other mental changes. Irritability and drowsiness? Could there be more elusive symptoms for a condition that affects babies? Other symptoms may include;

• fluttering eyelids,
• inconsolable crying (swelling of tissues causes a headache),
• difficulty breathing (fluid accumulates in the lungs),
• irregular heartbeat
• low body temperature (generally 97 degrees or less),
• puffiness or swelling in the face,
• seizures

Doctors and specialists agree that water, over-diluted formula and pediatric drinks containing electrolytes should be totally off limits for infants six months old and younger. It’s a fine line though, if your child is over-heated or is suffering from constipation a little water may help them but the best thing to do is check with the pediatrician before doing so.

Sited Links:
Reuters | Drinking Water Can Be Harmful for Small Babies
About.Com | Babies & Water Intoxication

DIY – Cool Mod Kids Table Lamp

This is a cool way to furnish that shady corner of the kids’ room and to have a fun way to show off their best artwork, too boot. Slip a drawing or photos between the double shades to create a one-of-a-kind lamp you can change on a whim.

(Via TheSpottedGoose.Com)

Safe Summer Grilling

Here are some interesting statistics about grilling [compiled by the Underwriter's Laboratories]

• In 2002, gas and charcoal grills caused 900 structure fires and 3,500 outdoor fires in or on home properties, resulting in a combined direct property loss of $30 million.
• The popularity of gas-fueled grills nearly tripled between 1982 and 1993 (up 193 percent from 9.4 million to 27.5 million).
• Gas grills have a higher fire risk than charcoal grills; leaks and breaks are the leading cause, accounting for nearly half of gas grill fires.
• Gas-fueled grills caused an estimated 600 home structure fires and 3,200 home outdoor fires in 2002.
• Charcoal grills have a higher risk than gas grills of death due to fire or unvented carbon monoxide; most of these deaths do not involve fire.
• Charcoal-fueled or other solid-fueled grills caused an estimated 300 home structure fires and 300 home outdoor fires in 2002.
• Placing combustibles too close to heat, and leaving cooking unattended, are the two leading causes for charcoal grill home structure fires.
• Half of all gas grill and charcoal grill home structure fires begin on an exterior balcony or unenclosed porch.
• Gas fuel is the leading item first ignited for home outdoor gas grill fires.
• Structural member or framing, wall coverings, exterior trim, and plants are the leading items first ignited in home structure or outdoor charcoal grill fires.

These grill safety tips come from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Propane Education & Research Council and Underwriters Laboratories Inc.: More »

Barbecue to Go

It’s a compact, folding barbecue that’s designed to be taken anywhere. Here’s how it works: 1. Fold it out. 2. Fill it up. 3. Light it up. And that’s it.

No complex gas bottles, no heavy lifting and no rummaging around for those ‘instant’ types that you can use once and once only. Now the spirit of summer can join you wherever you are, or even sit permanently in the boot of your car, ready for action whenever the mood takes you.

(Via GadgetShop)

And Now for a Moment of Zen…

(Via Noddy @ BrickShelf.Com)