Sexting is sending nude or semi-nude pictures of yourself to your friends. It is a problem on so many levels.

1.  A teen may send a picture to a friend but can’t control who that friend sends the picture to, or who that person sends it to — and on and on.

2.  The more mature person the young teen grows into may have some explaining to do when s/he applies for a job or security clearance, which would be a problem because it’s embarrassing. But it could also be a problem because . . .

3.  It’s illegal. Virginia law currently defines child pornography as possessing such pictures of minors, so if your child has such a picture on his/her phone, he could be charged with felony child pornography! Although many prosecutors are not charging felony child pornography but are charging misdemeanor obscenity, the fact remains that children could face some sort of criminal penalty for having these pictures.

4.  Teens are feeling pressured into giving girl/boyfriends nude and semi-nude pictures — which means it’s just another form of controlling and bullying.

5.  Sexting can be dangerous. Your teen never really knows who they are dealing with on the other end of the sexting.

Our website has an article in its Library, EXCUSES, EXCUSES, that is the transcript of a radio spot produced by the Ad Council. It’s a list of excuses a teen can use when she (or he) is being pressured into sexting.

Here’s a link to a website with tips to prevent sexting. Read it with your child — even if s/he doesn’t want to.

An adult pushing on a screen may conclude it would keep a child from falling out the window. Don’t count on it. Children have an amazing way of getting past barriers in ways beyond our imagination.

And, don’t think your child is too short to reach the window sill. Even a very young child figures out early on how to move a chair and climb up on it to get where she wants.

Here are some tips from Safe Kids USA about preventing falls from windows:

Top Tips to Prevent Window Falls

* Install window guards to prevent children from falling out of windows. For windows above the first floor, install window guards with an emergency release device in case of fire.

* Install window stops so that windows open no more than four inches.

* Keep windows locked and closed when they are not being used.

* Keep furniture away from windows so kids cannot climb to the ledge.

* If you have double-hung windows — the kind that can open down from the top as well as up from the bottom — it is generally safer to open the top pane, but growing kids may have enough strength, dexterity and curiosity to open the bottom pane.

* Do not rely on window screens to prevent falls.

* Keep windows locked when they are closed.

* Supervise children at all times, especially around open windows.

Sometimes, though, even when a parent does everything right, a young child falls out of a screened window because the screen was in poor repair or installed incorrectly or faulty in its design.  If your child or a child you know was injured from a fall through a window screen, consult a Virginia child injury lawyer who can give you accurate information about whether your child has a claim for her injuries. Not every fall from a window is the fault of someone else, but some are. A Virginia child injury lawyer can evaluate the facts and advise you whether there is an at-fault person who could accountable for your child’s injuries.

I will be happy to answer your questions. Call me at 703-260-6070, send me an email at Sandra@RohrstaffLaw.com, or a fax to 703-260-6305. You can also contact me through our website, www.RohrstaffLaw.com. There is no charge for the consultation.

Sure, we had seatbelts and car seats in our cars when we were kids, but how many times did you double buckle with your friends or siblings or ride backwards in the back of the station wagon?  Attempts to reduce the number of preventable highway deaths have prompted authorities to pass more stringent guidelines on the safety measures required for children riding in automobiles.

These guidelines are based on the height, weight, and age of the child in order to best secure the child in case of a collision. However, all of these new rules can be confusing.

• When do I use the next sized seat?

• How long does my child have to ride in the back seat?

• What is the difference between the different types of seats and belts?

Although you have to work at finding them, there are fairly clear guidelines about which type of seat you should use for your child based on their age, height and weight.  Here are a few tips to get you started.

•• The first step is a rear-facing, 5-point harness child safety seat for newborns and infants.

•• At about one year of age, your child will “age up” to forward-facing child safety seats.  These maintain the 5-point harness, but allow the child to sit in an upright position.  These are the two safest seats and children should stay in them as long as possible.

••  School age children should use booster seats to position them correctly in the seat belt until they reach a height of 4’9”.

We’ll explore each stage in the process of moving your child from one seat to another in more depth, because each one has slight nuances that can be confusing. I’ll publish several more postings with additional information in the next few days. In the meantime, I’d love to hear from anyone who has experiences, good or bad, with buying, installing and using car seats for their children.

Car Safety Seats Information – Detailed guidelines for children based on age and weight with illustrations sponsored by Healthychildren.org

Kids And Cars –This website helps prevent accidental vehicular injuries by offering educational information, technological devices, and a breadth of news stories.

International Society for Burn Injuries – hosts conferences and supports organizations in burn research

Camp Susquehanna – A camp for survivors of burn injuries of all ages in Lancaster, PA

Burn Resource Centre – Provides information and links to resources for burn survivors

American Burn Association – Information about advocacy, prevention and other aspects of burn injuries and survival

Childhelp USA: (800)-4-A-CHILD A hotline provides crisis counseling and literature about child abuse.

National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse: 800-Children This organization provides information and referrals about child abuse.

National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome, 1-888-273-007 The National Center for Shaken Baby Syndrome is a private, nonprofit organization that provides information to professionals and parents about SBS.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides general information about health and safety issues, including links to child abuse information and topics.

Lead Poisoning Information from the Center for Disease Control – An all encompassing website on lead poisoning in children.  Covers all topics from prevention to advocacy to making your sure your home is safe.

Home and Recreational Safety Information from the Center for Disease Control – Information and Fact Sheets on a variety of dangers in the home including falls, playground safety, poisoning, etc.

National Program for Playground Safety – Playground safety information for all age groups and playground locations including early childhood, home playset safety, and school safety.

Injury Free Coalition for Kids – An information hub on a variety of injury prevention topics

Because she’s read so much about the dangers of strangulation injury and death from the cords on Roman shades and roll up blinds, she’s already thinking about arranging the furniture so the cribs are nowhere near the window.

Most of the shades and blinds have recently been recalled for repair. Here’s the link to the Consumer Product Safety Commission recall article. Check out your child’s caregiver’s house, too. The Window Covering Safety Council is offering a free repair kit to retrofit shades or blinds with clips.You can either go to the website or call 800-506-4636 to get the kit.

You hear about lead poisoning regularly in news reports about unhealthy levels in water and paint.  We are told to check our paint supply to make sure that it is unleaded.  Did you know that gasoline used to have lead in it, which is why it is now called “unleaded gasoline?”  A recent recall reminds us that lead can be found in an array of products, not just in those we might suspect.

MacPherson’s Children’s Art Easels sold between June 2004 and July 2009 have been recalled by the manufacturer.

These easels, which were sold online and in art stores, have one chalkboard side and one dry erase side.  Upon testing, high levels of lead were found in the chalkboard side of the easel.  The recall affects easels with the item number AA13301.

If you or your child’s caregiver has this easel, STOP USING IT IMMEDIATELY.

If you child is in preschool or at a day care center, ask to look at the easels to see whether they are among the recalled items. If you buy a second-hand easel, check to make sure it is not one of these easels.

You should contact MacPherson’s to receive a free replacement.  Further information about getting your replacement can be found at http://www.art-alternatives.com/recall.