Baby Gate Tips
As we talked to those who had been at Christianville, we got news that much of Chrisitianville had been destroyed. The high school, elementary school, dental, eye, and medical clinics, much of the housing, the university, the Academy: all demolished. Dr. Jim Wilkins and his wife, Sandy barely escaped their crumbling apartment by jumping from a 2nd story balcony. The damage was catastrophic, and the injuries were massive and numerous.
Somewhere in this initial craziness, I managed to get my phone and send a text message to my wife, letting her know we were safe and unharmed. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but later we realized that I had the only working cell phone for the 26 Americans at Christianville.
We realized that the injuries coming to Christian were not going to slow down, even as darkness was approaching, so we had to set up some sort of system to see the patients that would keep things calm and organized. We picked a spot in the open area where we were, and began seating patients there, with the non-patients in another area. We closed the gate, and began limiting access to those who injured.
I spoke enough Creole to get me in trouble, so I was assigned to the gate. I knew enough to say, “If you can walk, you can enter by yourself” and “If you can’t walk, you can enter with one person.” I helped support, carry and guide the wounded, crippled, dying and dead to the medical team. It was heart-breaking to have to turn away the un-injured, yet scared and confused people who just wanted to be inside the gates of a place they knew to be a place of comfort, hope and peace. But, order and calm was most important for the sake of the injured.
We saw God’s blessings in so many little things that night. Two massive, battery powered, florescent lights appeared out of nowhere and gave the medical team the light they needed. I am not really sure how many injured people were treated during those next 24 hours, but my guess is 250. All those patients were seen, stitched, bandaged, or splinted by 1 Physician, 1 Physician’s Assistant, 1 Optometrist, 2 Nurses, 1 Dental Assistant, 2 Pre-Med Students, A Mechanic, A Carpenter and a few other non-medical personnel. WOW!
I could tell you so many small stories of gritty hope, grisly death, exuberant relief from those next 24 hours. I will share just a few:
Beni is the normal gate guard at Christianville. He is a fun guy, who I have spent some time talking/connecting with. Tuesday, at lunchtime, I took him a meal, and visit with him and his daughter. We got a good laugh because his daughter’s name is a combination of our names: Beni-Billy. Beni told me he was going to visit some family that afternoon, I think in Carrefour, and I didn’t think much of it. At the time of the earthquake he was there, and separated from his family. I will never forget his voice yelling “Madam Beni, Madam Beni” as he entered the gate. Madam Beni, and Beni-billy were waiting for him. It only took one word from her mouth to drive Beni to his knees, arms stretched to Heaven, weeping and praising. “Madam Beni” turned to “Mesi Jezi!” I wish all the experiences I lived through had great endings.
When a father brought his infant daughter to the gate, the end of that story was already determined. The Haitian’s word for a sick person is “Malad”, and he came saying that and holding his child up to us. There were three of us as the gate then: myself, Bill Hauser, a preacher from Iowa, and Nanee, the local medical clinic administrator. Nanee took one look at the baby and yelled, “Oh my God, I think this baby is dead.” We rushed the tiny, crushed girl to Dr. Jim, but it was too late. I will never forget her precious face, or her father’s moans as he was told the news. But even in the midst of death, we saw life.
The earthquake sent some pregnant women into labor, three of whom had their babies the next morning. But one lady was in a bigger hurry than that. She came to the gate with her husband yelling, “I’m pregnant!” in Creole. She could have been a little more clear by telling us “I’m in active labor, pushing and about to have a baby RIGHT THIS MINUTE.” Which she promptly did, one step inside the gate. She literally stepped inside, squatted and the baby’s head came out. Doug was there with two gloves on, and caught the baby. Mom and baby did just fine. It was a remarkable reminder of new life in the midst of such massive amounts of death and destruction.
We made it to morning. There was pain felt, death seen, blood spilled, life given and hope only glimpsed through the night, but we made it to morning. That dawn is forever imprinted on my mind as a great paradox. As light broke we could see the remnants of the night’s chaos; bloody rags, trash, and sheets littered the area that was still full of people suffering in agony. But dawn also brought a time of praise and worship that I not so much participated in, but really was blown over by. In their darkest hour of despair, fear and uncertainty, the Haitian followers of Christ greeted the morning light with a time of earnest prayer and heartfelt praise. In many times of corporate worship I have seen beauty and excellence, but at that moment, I saw power and confidence. And that is what they had through their “fwa en Jezi”, their faith in Jesus.
The doctors got a touch of rest, and we decided to moved the emergency clinic up the road to the church building, which was damaged, but standing. People who had laid awake all night with their injured relatives were growing impatient and couldn’t understand why their family members weren’t considered more urgent. We needed a place where we could close the doors and the medical team could focus on one patient at a time. I carried children with broken bones and lacerations down the road. I helped load adults onto the back of trucks that were helping to transport. I reassured parents that the church building was safe, while being nervous about it myself. We saw patients till dark, and slept. Outside. There were still tremors.
With most of the urgent medical needs met, the 26 Americans met Thursday morning to set priorities and assign tasks. Our priorities included fixing the big generator so that we had a more stable power source for the remaining building, and to power the water pump. We were concerned about water. Our supply was limited without the well, and we were concerned about whether or not the well had been damaged in the quake. We also needed to get into some of the half-crumbled buildings for supplies, food, keys to other buildings and personal effects of the full-timers. We also had to buy gasoline and diesel for the vehicles and generators, as well as food for ourselves. We went our separate ways and got to work. I helped with unloading apartments, and whatever else they needed me for.
The next few days fog together in my mind. I just remember always being busy, and always having something to do. Whether it was bagging food, going to market, or helping organize the pharmacy, I remember working to leave Christianville better than when we left it. I remember laughing alongside new friends as we worked hard to help those in great need. I remember weeping with those who told stories of great loss. I remember exuberant joy as we met people we had yet to receive contact from. I remember learning and relearning things in ways I never though I would.
I learned that when Jesus calls you to love Him and His mission/call on your life more than yourself or your family, He means it. My family was struggling. They worked every avenue they could to find a way home for me. The information changed moment by moment it seemed. We would hear that the road to Port au Prince were safe, and then that there was massive roadblocks and rioting. We heard that the airport was open and there were flights out, and then that the airport was closed and damaged. We heard that the US Embassy wanted all Americans wishing to leave to stay put, and then they wanted us to get to the airport. But my goal was not to get home, or even to stay. My goal was to be who or what Jesus needed me to be right where I was. And I would keep at it in Haiti until the leaders at Christianville said it was time to go. And I will be that here now that I am back.
I learned that worship and spirituality is in everything we do. Tuesday night, the most spiritual thing we could do was be the hands and feet of Jesus by stitching wounds, and caring for the urgent medical needs that presented themselves. One of the greatest acts of worship and service wasn’t a sermon or a song, but a mechanic fixing a generator to provide power and water. Everything is spiritual. Everything is an act of worship.
I learned the power of prayer in real and dramatic ways. The generator was fixed. The water was clean. The food was found. The roads were clear when we finally went. A rich Nascar dude donated the use of his plane to get us out. We had a phone that worked. We had no causalities among our team. We were praying. You were praying. God was stitching together a magnificent tapestry of grace and power.
I learned that the kingdom of God is unshakable. In the midst of this great terror and disaster, we saw the Church showing God’s love and grace in amazing ways. We began to see the church outside of Haiti flood Haiti we support and aid. In fact, we managed to rally aid for Christianville specifically right after I returned. The whole time we were in Haiti, we saw no foreign aid. But we did receive an unexpected blessing. As we were drifting to sleep one night, Thursday I think, we heard loud honking at the gate. It turns out that another mission further down the coast, which was less affected by the earthquake, loaded up a truck full of clean water, bulk food, sheets and a few medical supplies to help us out at Christianville. We distributed food through the local churches with great joy the next day. We saw one of our team come to Christ, as well as at least 12 Haitians. The kingdom of God cannot be stopped!
So, what’s next? As with any story of brokenness and death, the next chapter is reconstruction and resurrection. In the midst of their most dreadful hour, there is great hope for Haiti, through the power and work of Jesus and His Church. Perhaps He has appointed you for such a time as this.
[The end.] [Or maybe just a beginning.] [Pics/Video soon.]
The wooden baby gate is not only solid and sturdy it is also stylish. Most baby gates are made of plastic which can be possibly be not as stable and certainly not as eye appealing as a beautiful wooden gate. Although safety should be the key factor in choosing a baby gate, the look of the baby gate is also important. Most baby items or baby furniture is made of white plastic or sometimes bright bold colors which stick out like a sore thumb in the home. The wooden baby gate often blends into the decor of the home and actually adds style to the room.
Wooden baby gates come in multiple finishes making it easy to match the trim or furniture already in the home. This is great for consumers who would rather have the baby furniture or kid items in the home coordinate, rather than stick out. Not only will the wooden baby gate blend in with he decor of the home, it will provide a solid barrier between the child and harmful places such as stairs.
A baby gate made of wood is more likely to last longer than a plastic gate. A plastic gate would be more likely to break from a child kicking it or a dog chewing on it. While a wooden gate could still get damaged by such abuse, it seems logical that it would with stain it better.
The durable wooden baby gate is roughly the same price as a plastic baby gate which really makes it a great choice. The wooden baby gate is more solid and definitely more eye appealing. There are multiple finishes to choose from and also many different models. Some models can be swung open with one hand while others are stationary and have to be completely removed to walk through the door way. Whichever model is chosen the interior decor of the home will not be comprised with the addition of a beautiful wooden baby gate.
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Baby Gates For Stairs
In the United States alone, more than a thousand people die each year due to stair related accidents. Most of these are the very old and the very young. The majority of parents have the desire to do whatever they can to minimize the risks their children are exposed to. When it comes to expandable baby safety gates there are so many different ones to choose from. Consider that baby gates for stairs, doorways and even fireplace safety gates average in size from widths of about 20 inches to 36 inches, however there are extra wide baby gates as well for larger doorways and stair openings. Baby gates have an average height of about 30 inches or taller if need be, and come in many different price ranges, a parent might struggle with which one to buy. This article is designed to shed some light on this issue and to help a parent make an informed choice. In this article, you will find which baby safety gate could be right for you, where to install the baby safety gate and how to install the baby gate.
Baby safety gates are designed to prevent accidents, such as falls down the stairs, but also to prevent access to âoff-limitâ areas. Because different gates serve different purposes, just how different child safety cabinet locks work better for different cabinets, determining which one to use on your staircase might be difficult. Pressure mounted baby gates are an example of a gate which is safe to use in other areas of the home, such as to block off a doorway or an opening between rooms, but they should never be used to prevent injuries on the stairs. If enough weight is applied to a pressure mounted safety gate, it can âpop outâ from between the walls. Pressure mounted gates are normally cheaper than other gates and are generally safe to use in areas where the floor on either side of the gate are level with each other. For use on stairs, a person would want to purchase a gate that is hardware mounted. This means the gate is securely applied to the wall or banister with screws or some other piece of hardware. If a person does not want any lasting damage, âno holeâ post mounts can be purchased also.
In high traffic areas, it is better to splurge on a more expensive, but convenient children’s safety gate such as a retractable baby gate, than to buy a gate that is less expensive but more of a hassle to use. Recently, baby gate manufacturers have been developing gate handles than are easier for adults to latch and unlatch. This is important because the more convenient a gate is to use, the more likely an adult will be to use it. A gate can only serve its purpose of protecting a child if it is used every time a child is around.
It is better to install a gate before a child becomes mobile. This allows everyone, including other children, to become accustomed to using the safety gate regularly. But then a person might wonder where he or she will need a gate. Some general âoff-limitâ areas are the top of the stairs, home offices, exercise areas, and even playrooms that might contain toys and objects unsuitable for infants and toddlers. After a person decides which areas in the home need to be partitioned off, it is wise to carefully examine the opening for which a safety gate is needed and to select the safest and most appropriate type of gate. The gate you choose should be selected by which one is the safest for each particular room or opening and not one based on how you want it to operate or look.
Last, a person needs to consider how to install the baby safety gate. Most gates will come with instructions on how to install the baby safety gate. They should be followed exactly the way they are written out for the utmost safety. Also, if the gate should malfunction and an accident occurs, the manufacturer may not be able to be held responsible if the gate was not installed correctly in the first place.
Of course all parents want their children to be safe, but before someone runs out and buys the most expensive safety equipment, stop and consider what it needs to accomplish. The amount spent will not keep kids safe. Only thoughtful planning and consideration will.
I have been getting some phone calls in reference to car seats and when can their children not be required to be in one. The state law says that a child six (6) years of age and who weighs less than sixty pounds (60 lbs.) shall be restrained in a child passenger safety seat properly secured to the vehicle. Some parents tell me that their child weighs more than the sixty pounds but is under six years of age. A lot has do with the child and how the vehicle factory seatbelts fit the child. If the factory seatbelts do not fit the child properly, injury can happen. There are booster seats available that work with your vehicle seatbelts to protect your children. If your child is at least 6 years old or 60 pounds then your vehicle safety belts will be sufficient. If your child meets the 6 or 60, and you are not sure if your vehicle safety belts fit your child feel free to get in contact with me by calling City Hall or come by to see if I am working.
Another issue that seems to becoming more frequent is smoking in your vehicle with children. Act 13 of 2006 amends the child passenger safety Code Annotated 27-34-104. The following are a summary of Act 13 of 2006 and Arkansas Code Annotated 27-34-104. Summary of Act 13 of 2006
The Arkansas Protection from Secondhand Smoke for Children
Prepared by the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement, April 2006
Act 13 of 2006 amends a section of existing law that requires children who are under the age of 6 and weigh less than 60 pounds to ride in a “safety seat properly secured to the vehicle,” according to Arkansas Code Annotated 27-34-104. Violation of this law may result in a fine between $25 and $100.
The Act bans smoking in all motor vehicles carrying children who are restrained in safety seats as described in Arkansas Code Annotated 27-34-104. The Act authorizes a $25 fine per violation. Fines may be waived if drivers prove they have entered a smoking cessation program.
Violation of Act 13 is classified as a “primary offense,” meaning police may stop and cite an adult motorist for smoking in a vehicle carrying a child in a safety seat.
State Statues
27-34-104. Child Passenger Safety Requirements.(a) Every driver who transports a child under fifteen (15) years of age in a passenger automobile, van, or pickup truck, other than one (1) operated for hire, which is registered in this or any other state, shall provide while the motor vehicle is in motion and operated on a public road, street, or highway of this state for the protection of the child by properly placing, maintaining, and securing the child in a child passenger restraint system properly secured to the vehicle and meeting applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards in effect on January 1, 1995. (b) A child who is less than six (6) years of age and who weighs less than sixty pounds (60 lbs.) shall be restrained in a child passenger safety seat properly secured to the vehicle. (c) If a child is at least six (6) years of age or at least sixty pounds (60 lbs.) in weight, a safety belt properly secured to the vehicle shall be sufficient to meet the requirements of this section.
27-34-103. Penalty. (a) Any person who violates this chapter shall, upon conviction, be fined not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) or more than one hundred dollars ($100). (b) In determining the amount of fine to be assessed under this section, any court hearing the matter shall consider whether, if the offense is for failure to secure the child in a child passenger safety seat properly secured to the vehicle, the child was restrained by some alternative means such as seat safety belts properly secured to the vehicle. (c) Upon satisfactory proof being presented to the court that the defendant has acquired, purchased, or rented an approved child passenger safety seat as described in § 27-34-104, the court shall assess no more than the minimum fine allowed.
While the world of the web opens a world of possibilities for kids, broadening their perspectives along with exposing them to distinct cultures and ways of life, they might be exposed to dangers as they hit the road discovering the information highway.
You will find people that try to sexually exploit youngsters through using on-line services and the World wide web. Such individuals gradually seduce his or her targets through the use of consideration, affection, kindness, and even presents.
These types of persons are normally happy to devote significant amounts of time, dollars, as well as energy with this process. They will listen to and empathize with the problems of youngsters.
They will be aware of the latest music, hobbies, along with interests of kids. These kinds of persons make an effort to progressively reduce kids inhibitions through little by little presenting sexual context along with content within their conversations.
You will find other people, on the other hand, that immediately engage in sexually explicit dialogue with youngsters.
Some offenders primarily collect and trade child-pornographic photos, while others seek face-to-face meetings with kids via on-line contacts.
It can be important for mom and dad to realize that kids might be indirectly victimized through discussion, i.e. “chat,” as well as the transfer of sexually explicit information and material.
Computer-sex offenders could also be evaluating kids they come in contact with on-line with regard to future face-to-face contact and direct victimization.
Mum and dad and children could keep in mind that a computer-sex offender could be any age or sex whomever does not have to fit the caricature of a dirty, old man wearing a raincoat to be someone that might harm a child.
Children, in particular adolescents, are often interested in and curious about sexuality and sexually explicit material.
Since they could be curious, children/adolescents at times use their on-line access to help actively find such materials and also persons. Sex offenders concentrating on youngsters will use and exploit these kinds of qualities and needs.
Some adolescent kids may perhaps in addition become attracted to as well as lured by on-line offenders nearer to their particular age that, though not necessarily technically child molesters, could be dangerous. They can be seduced and manipulated by your smart offender and also usually do not fully understand as well as recognize the possible danger of these contacts.
If you visit this web site you can learn how to block websites so your child cannot visit them. BUT where do you start – there are billions of web pages ?. You can also learn that there is a much better way of ensuring your childrens safety on the net.
