Safety

Kids have an amazing ability to get their fingers into just about anything; hinges, jars, plugs, even other kids’ eyes. I’m sure we can all remember being yelled at for pulling apart the doll grandma gave us as a birthday present, or using dad’s hammer to “fix” the fridge, or that time you fed your babysitter a Tabasco-laced peanut butter sandwich just to see what would happen.

Kids are endlessly amused by their own imagination. Even the lowly stick was inducted into the Toy Hall of fame recently as testament to its unfaltering popularity among kids (and animals). 

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After numerous conversations with Beijing expats, I am still struggling to ascertain whether or not China has been hit by the Western world’s financial crisis. On one hand we have luxuries I would have to sell my right arm on the black market to afford back home. Ayis and massages immediately come to mind.

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Researchers at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in California have also announced that their findings indicate “using a fan while a baby is sleeping appears to significantly cut the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)” by as much 94 percent, according to a Wall Street Journal article. Though the exact cause of SIDS remains unknown, the research results are consistent with a theory that the fatal condition might result from babies re-inhaling “ exhaled carbon dioxide trapped near their airways from bedding or sleeping on their stomachs.” Heretofore the primary preventative measure advised by doctors was to always place sleeping infants on their back, but this new advice, along with using a pacifier and keeping windows open now seem to be the most sensible advice for avoiding tragedy.

The New Scientist reports that recent studies on mice suggest "vitamins and supplements that mothers-to-be take to protect their kids from birth defects could predispose children and even grandchildren to asthma" – a phenomenon that could explain the mysterious rise in the rates of asthmatic children in more developed countries.

While these findings may seem alarming, the article points out that although “mice who ate the supplement-rich diet delivered pups with some signs of asthma,” other genetic factors may be at play and more research needs to be conducted on expectant mothers themselves. 

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Reducing Your Carbon Footprint 

Last year’s quality crisis in the toy industry saw babies swallowing magnets, scathing reports of playthings covered in toxic paint and huge shipments of toys being returned to their countries of origin. Since children are renowned for putting anything and everything into their mouths, ensuring that the toys they play with are safe and toxin-free is essential. 

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With all the devastation surrounding Sichuan’s earthquake, once again people are reminded how fragile and precious life is.

While our families have been fortunate enough to escape this terrible tragedy, there are many who have not been so lucky. The despair and loss families are going through right now is hard to contemplate. Those of us safe in Beijing can certainly mourn, pray and help in whatever way we can, but what we can also do is prepare. Prepare ourselves for the possible event of tragedy in our own lives – in ways that can protect our families and ensure the best possible outcome should we face any kind of devastation – from earthquakes to simple accidents in the home.

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As a California native, what to do in the event of an earthquake has been engrained into my head since I could remember. But now that I’ve lived out of California for a few years, those safety precautions have been pushed to the back of my mind. The recent earthquake here in Beijing was a good reminder that it doesn’t matter where you are because earthquakes can happen anywhere at anytime. Therefore, brushing up on general rules for safety can never be a bad idea.

Former United Nations Disaster Mitigation expert Doug Copp and current Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of theAmerican Rescue Team International (ARTI) gives these tips for earthquake safety:

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In wake of the recent earthquake in Sichuan, Beijingers can help victims by donating supplies, money and giving blood. 

Drop off donations (see below list) at the Bookworm Beijing by 4pm on Saturday, May 17th.   The supplies will be sent to The Bookworm Chengdu.

As advised by the Chinese Red Cross, they are collecting emergency donations only of:

TENTS
DRIED FOOD
PRACTICAL CLOTHES
QUILTS
EMERGENCY BLANKETS
MONEY FOR WATER AND MEDICINE

All collected donations will be sent to The Bookworm Chengdu on Saturday 17th May.
For Beijing:
Please drop off all donations by
4pm on SATURDAY 17th MAY
Call Alex or Jenny on 132 6421 746

The Bookworm

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According to local media, Beijing's Municipal Health Bureau announced (original in Chinese here) that between Jan 1 and May 12 this year, there have been 3,606 cases of hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and one case of someone dying from the disease. They stress that the main cause of the fatality is that the child was not taken to a hospital in time to receive medical attention. There was also one other death from HFMD in Beijing, but, because the patient traveled from Hebei to Beijing for treatment, Beijing’s health authorities are not including the death in Beijing’s statistics. Currently Chaoyang, Fengtai and Changping are the three districts with the most cases of the disease.

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When I first arrived in Beijing, the word hua sheng 花生, or peanut, became the most important word in my vocabulary. I am severely allergic to peanuts, and China is a particularly dangerous place for someone who suffers from a peanut allergy. Not only are peanuts prevalent in most dishes, but waiters just don’t seem to grasp the gravity of the situation.  

When I order food I say, “I don’t eat peanuts,” or “I am allergic to peanuts,” but invariably, the dish will still have peanuts lurking inside, although considerably fewer peanuts than usual. I’ve taken to saying in Chinese, “If I eat peanuts, I will die,” and this request, although extreme, seems to get the point across. 

It makes sense that Chinese people are often baffled by my peanut allergy. It’s estimated that three million people in the United States are allergic to peanuts, yet China has virtually no peanut allergy. 

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