Latest news with #childsafety
Daily Mail
36 minutes ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Urgent warning to parents over toxic kids' toys sold at Walmart
The Pennsylvania Department of Health has urged parents to look over their children's bikes following a recall over fears of injury or death from lead poisoning. Around 200 units of SPPTTY Kids 14- and 18-inch bicycles were recalled on July 10 after lead levels exceeded the federal lead content ban. The bicycles are pink with brown seat covers, brown handlebars, brown pedals and brown baskets. Each of them also have 'SPPTTY' and 'New Sport Bike' printed on downtubes. The affected products were sold on Walmart 's website from August 2024 through December 2024 for around $85. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has advised consumers to stop using the bikes immediately and contact Shenzhen Yihuachuang Technology for a refund. Owners of the bikes are requested to disassemble them, take a photo, and send it to lishkjie@ before disposing of the pieces. As of now, no injuries or deaths related to the recalled bikes have been reported. The bikes were sold on Walmart's website from August 2024 through December 2024 for around $85 'This recall serves as an important reminder to parents and caregivers to ensure that young children have routine screening for lead exposure,' said Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Debra Bogen. 'Early identification of elevated lead levels can reduce the harms from lead exposure, including its harm to children's behavior and development.' Experts suggest parents and caregivers bring children to health care providers to discuss the possibility of blood lead testing. Children under age six have the greatest risk of health problems from lead exposure, which could lead to brain or nervous system damage. While lead-related recalls are typically uncommon, there have already been multiple products recalled from dangerous exposure. More than 25,000 containers of baby food sold at Target were recalled in April over a lead contamination. Publix voluntarily recalled baby food a month later over the same fear, after the products were distributed to all eight states of operation. Walmart has grappled with a string of product recalls by officials this year. Several products sold at Walmart stores nationwide have already been recalled this year A customer shops for toys at a Walmart Supercenter in Denver, Colorado One of the company's first recalls of the year was for over 12,000 units of chicken broth sold nationwide following concerns of deadly bacteria contamination. Duda Farm Fresh Foods pulled its Marketside celery sticks from Walmart stores in 29 states in April due to a potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Other recalled products sold at Walmart include popular iron supplements, water bottles that left shoppers with permanent vision loss, and Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettucine pasta, which resulted in three deaths from listeria contamination. A listeria infection usually causes fever, headache and diarrhea in most people, but it can be deadly for pregnant women, newborns, the elderly and those with weak immune systems.
ABC News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- ABC News
'Urgent' demand to outlaw AI tools being used to generate child sexual abuse material
Former Australian of the year Grace Tame says there is an urgent national need to act to prevent AI tools being used to create child abuse material, and that the country must criminalise the possession of freely available child exploitation apps. Child safety advocates including Ms Tame will meet at Parliament House today ahead of a new term of parliament to address the rise of AI being used to sexually exploit children, as well as opportunities to use AI to detect grooming behaviour and child sexual abuse material. The meeting comes as a spotlight has turned on what governments are doing to protect children in the week of another horrific alleged case of abuse at a Melbourne child care centre. Ms Tame, who rose to prominence campaigning for the right to speak under her own name about her abuse, says the government is moving too slowly. "I don't think previous governments and, unfortunately, the current government, have acted swiftly enough when it comes to child safety online," Ms Tame said. The International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, which is convening the parliament round table, has advocated for Australia to make it an offence to possess or distribute custom-built AI tools designed to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Similar legislation has been introduced in the United Kingdom, which the government has said it is following closely. Intelligence company Graphika reported late in 2023 that non-consensual explicit generative AI tools had moved from being available on niche internet forums into a "scaled" online and monetised business. It found there had been more than 24 million unique visits to the websites of 34 of these tools, and links to access them had risen sharply across platforms like Reddit, X and Telegram. Worse still, the spread of AI-generated exploitation material is diverting police resources from investigations involving real victims. While possession of CSAM is a criminal offence, advocates say Australia should be following other nations, including the United Kingdom and European Union, in outlawing the AI tools themselves. "The reason why this round table is really important … is because when we look at the national framework for child protection that was drafted in 2021, it's a ten-year framework and the presence of AI and the harms being caused by AI are actually not mentioned in that framework," ICMEC Australia chief executive Colm Gannon said. "There has to be regulations put in place to say you need to prevent this from happening, or your platform being used as a gateway to these areas." "This software [has] no societal benefit, they should be regulated and made illegal, and it should be an offence to actually have these models that are generating child sexual abuse material. "It is urgent." Ms Tame said currently, perpetrators were able to purchase AI tools and download them for offline use, where their creation of offending material could not be detected. "It is a wild west, and it doesn't require much sophistication at all," she said. An independent review of the Online Safety Act handed to the government in October last year also recommended "nudify" AI apps used to create non-consensual explicit material should be banned. The government has promised to adopt a recommendation from that review to impose a "duty of care" on platforms to keep children safe, though it is yet to be legislated, and the 66 other recommendations of that review have not been responded to. In a statement, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said the use of AI to facilitate the creation of child sexual abuse was sickening "and cannot continue". "I am committed to working across government to further consider how we can strengthen responses to evolving harms. This includes considering regulatory approaches to AI in high-risk settings," Ms Rowland said. "Australia has a range of laws that regulate AI. These include economy-wide laws on online safety." Advocates are also raising that government can do to remove barriers limiting law enforcement from being able to use AI tools to detect and fight perpetrators of child abuse. Police have limited their use of facial recognition tools to investigate child abuse online since 2021 when the Privacy Commissioner determined Clearview AI breached Australians' privacy by scraping biometric data from the web without consent, and ordered Australian data to be deleted and the app be banned. Mr Gannon, a former specialist investigator who has helped in national and international child sexual exploitation cases, said, however, there were existing tools that could be used by law enforcement while protecting the privacy of Australians. "That's something the government need to actually start looking at: how do we actually provide tools for law enforcement in the identification of victims of child sexual abuse [that are] compliant with privacy laws in Australia? "We shouldn't disregard the idea of using AI to help us identify victims of child sexual abuse. "There are solutions out there that would also have good oversight by government allowing investigators to access those tools." Clearview AI continues to be used overseas by law enforcement to identify child abuse victims and offenders, but Mr Gannon said there were solutions that could allow "good oversight by government" while also enabling investigators to access the tool. He added that Australia should be working with international partners to harmonise its approach to AI safety so that expectations for developers could be clearly set. Advocates have also warned that the spread of unregulated AI tools has enabled child sex offenders to scale up their offending. Ms Tame said the need for a framework to regulate AI tools extended beyond obviously harmful apps, with even mainstream AI chatbots used by offenders to automate grooming behaviour and gain advice on evading justice or speaking with law enforcement. "In my own experience, the man who offended against me, as soon as he was notified that he was suspended from my high school, he checked himself into a psych ward," she said. "We are seeing offenders not only advancing their methods … we're also seeing their sophistication in evading justice." The government acknowledged last year that current regulations did not sufficiently address the risks posed by AI, and would consider "mandatory safeguards". Last month, the eSafety commissioner said technology platforms had an obligation to protect children. "While responsibility must primarily sit with those who choose to perpetrate abuse, we cannot ignore how technology is weaponised. The tech industry must take responsibility to address the weaponisation of their products and platforms," the commissioner wrote.
The Independent
11 hours ago
- The Independent
Over 50% of kids who die in cars were left there unknowingly. Forgetting your own child is easier than you may think
A Texas mother believed she'd gone through her normal routine on Wednesday: deliver her 5-year-old son to school, as always, before heading to work next door. At the end of the school day, she went to pick him up — only for the school to inform her he'd never arrived. In a nightmare twist, he had died after spending hours in the back of her car as the temperature rose, still strapped into his seat. She had completely forgotten to drop him off. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus called it an 'extremely tragic situation.' Since 1990, more than 1,100 children have lost their lives this way. Summer is peak season — so much so that two more children died while reporting this story. Since May, 15 children have died after being left in hot cars, according to Kids and Car Safety, a nonprofit focused on preventing vehicle dangers. The majority of hot car deaths — 52 percent — result from someone simply forgetting their child in the vehicle, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The nonprofit found that figure to be even higher: 55 percent. Often caregivers believe they'd dropped them off already or fail to remember the kid was with them that day. The tragedy may even be becoming more common. In 2009, about 15 to 25 hot car deaths happened each year, the Washington Post reported at the time. Last year it happened 37 times (that's according to the federal government data, Kids and Car Safety recorded 41 incidents). 'I think the real problem that we have here is this misconception that 'this would never happen to me,'' Amber Rollins-Reis, director of Kids and Car Safety, told The Independent. Keys, wallet or phone are easily forgotten, but forgetting children seems unimaginable. These memory lapses could be explained by a 'clash between memory systems,' Dr. David Diamond, a neuroscientist and professor at the University of South Florida, told The Independent. There's the habit memory system, which allows us to do routine things automatically, like driving to work. Then there's the conscious memory system, which allows us to plan ahead. These systems compete if a routine is disrupted. For example, if a parent, who normally drives straight to work, one day has to take their child to daycare before work, the systems start competing with one another, Diamond said. That's when a child could be forgotten as the habit memory system often takes over. Sometimes small cues, like a cry from the backseat or seeing a diaper, can be the difference between life and death. 'I think that every parent on planet Earth has experienced that type of memory failure involving their child in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat of their car. But the difference is that something triggered them to remember they were back there and nothing happened,' Rollins-Reis said. If a baby is asleep in a car seat, the parent's memory may not be triggered, and they just go about their day. Perhaps that's why 88 percent of children who have died in a hot car are age three and younger, according to the nonprofit. Parents of young children are often stressed and sleep deprived, conditions that make 'it more likely you'll do something out of habit,' Diamond said. There's another issue at play here, too: If someone thinks a situation is unlikely, they aren't going to take measures to prevent it. Caregivers can take steps to prevent potential tragedies. Experts recommended putting an object, like a stuffed animal, in the backseat of the car and putting it on their lap after buckling in the child — the stuffie serving as a visual reminder that a child is in the car. There are other problems beyond memory failure. Child hot car deaths skyrocketed in the 1990s, after the government and safety advocates launched a campaign to encourage children to ride in the backseat of cars due to reports of airbag-related deaths. This new trend paired with rear-facing car seats — making it hard to tell that a child is in the back — led to an uptick in hot car deaths, Rollins-Reis said. A 2021 federal law included a mandate that the Secretary of Transportation issue a rule within two years requiring new passenger vehicles be equipped with an alert system to check the backseat after the car is off. That deadline passed in November 2023. Even without the law in place, several car manufacturers have included features that remind drivers to check the backseat. If they can afford it, caretakers can also buy technology to protect against potential tragedies, like car seats or sensor pads that alerts parents if a child is left in the car. Despite the scientific research, parents are often unfairly maligned when reports of these tragedies surface. About 25 percent of hot car deaths occur after children get into a car on their own while only 15 percent of children are knowingly left in a car, the nonprofit found. These instances are rare, but they happen — and get headlines. California mom Maya Hernandez, 20, called a medical spa last week to see if her two sons, aged one and two, were allowed inside as she underwent a lip filler procedure. An employee said they could sit in the waiting room for the 20-minute appointment, but Hernandez instead left her boys inside her car for two and a half hours, authorities say. She'd left the air conditioning running, but the car's system automaticaly shut it off after an hour. The one-year-old died while the older brother survived and was placed in child protective custody. She's now facing charges of involuntary manslaughter and child cruelty. Hernandez 'admitted that she knew it was irresponsible to leave her kids in the car' and 'thought about it when she got out of the car but had no justification as to why she left them anyway,' her criminal complaint states. Social media users swiftly condemned her. 'Well we definitely see where her priorities were,' one user wrote. Another remarked: 'How can a loving mother do that?' Yet another said: 'She could afford lip filler but not a babysitter. Wtaf??' Others have also been charged with manslaughter or other crimes. State of mind matters when it comes to bringing criminal charges; particularly since research shows most of the time, parents didn't leave their child behind knowingly. 'This is happening to the most loving, responsible parents, the infinitely organized and safety minded people. I think it continues to happen because it's not something that's on people's radar as a concern,' Rollins-Reis said. In the cases of unintentional deaths, Diamond believes charges aren't needed because the driver 'will be in their own personal prison for the rest of their life because they know that their inaction led to the death of their child.' He added: 'This is not a matter of negligence, it's not a matter of lack of love. This is simply being human, and being human means catastrophic memory failures occur.'
BBC News
18 hours ago
- BBC News
Southend tree victim Leonna Ruka was killed by falling branch
A seven-year-old girl was killed when a falling branch struck her as she played in a park, a court Ruka, from Dagenham in east London, suffered a fatal head injury while on a day trip to Southend-on-Sea, Essex, with family on 28 other children were injured including Leonna's six-year-old cousin, who remains critically ill in an inquest into Leonna's death, senior coroner Lincoln Brookes said it "can only be described as a truly tragic incident". "My deepest condolences go to the family and loved ones of Leonna," he added."I think that's on behalf of all of Essex and, I'm sure, far beyond as well." Leonna was playing in Chalkwell Park when she was struck by a "falling part of a tree", the court was was taken to Southend Hospital where her death was confirmed at 16:06 BST, having sustained a severe head of floral tributes and teddy bears have been laid in the park since the to 50 people tried to lift the 350-year-old tree when it trapped five children underneath it.A senior councillor went on to claim it had been propped up by supports for decades. The inquest was suspended so Essex Police and the Health and Safety Executive could continue investigating."Our hearts go out to her family and loved ones," Mr Brookes family previously released a tribute, describing her as "funny, kind and full of life"."She was perfect – too perfect for a world that can be so cruel and unfair," they added. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Sun
21 hours ago
- The Sun
Mums bash ‘selfish' trend that's taking over hotel pools but has nothing to do with sunbeds – and it's dangerous too
A MUM has slammed a 'selfish' trend which she has observed on holiday in hotel pools. The parent said that she is currently away with her two kids, and has been left horrified by people leaving their kids alone in the pool. 2 Taking to Mumsnet, she shared her outrage at seeing the 'dangerous' situation at the resort. The mum shared: 'We're on holiday at the moment with our 2 DS [darling sons] (age 3 and 14 months). 'It's a hotel resort with a couple of pools/splash pads areas for kids as well as a bigger pool for adults. 'DH and I have been taking the kids to the pool everyday and every time we're there other families just send their children over or leave them in the pool on their own. 'We then end up feeling like we can't just leave the pool because it's dangerous to leave the other children with no supervision (there's a lifeguard but he also covers the adult pool so isn't constantly watching).' She explained that mostly the kids have been aged between three and eight, and occasionally have been accompanied by other siblings who have then wandered off. The mum said that they hadn't agreed to look after the kids, and often haven't had a clue where the parents are. She said that she would feel 'dreadful' if something happened to the kids, so feel responsible for them. Another issue with the kids being left, she claimed, was when they were misbehaving. The mum continued: 'Their behaviour isn't always great and we've had to say something a couple of times when they've been rough with the younger children (pushing them, pulling them under the water, throwing toys at them etc).' Mess is the reason a quarter of UK parents struggle with kids in the kitchen – as TV chef reveals how to embrace chaos She asked people for their opinion on whether it will be 'unreasonable' for her to leave the other kids when there are no other adults around. She also queried if she should try and track down the other parents before she leaves the pool area, adding: 'I assume they're either in the bar area or in the garden area where all the sunbeds are but I don't actually know who I'm looking for.' PARENTING DEBATE Many other parents were quick to chime in with her views, and many people supported her. One said: 'Tell the lifeguard - it's his job, you are on holiday.' Another added: 'Go and talk to reception and complain. Hopefully they can send a staff member down to figure out who the kids belong to and have some words with their parents.' 2 And a third commented: 'I'd also tell the lifeguard about the misbehavior and ask him to talk to the kids, he has the authority and it's his job to make sure people are safe.' A fourth said: 'Just leave when you want to, it's not your job to police things.' However, one mum said: 'Are the parents not just sat on a sunbed on the side? 'My DD [darling daughter] wants to be in the pool 90 per cent of the time we are on holiday, even if it is freezing. 'She has a float strapped on her and is always in my eyeline but I don't stay in with her. She is 7.' We then end up feeling like we can't just leave the pool because it's dangerous to leave the other children with no supervision (there's a lifeguard but he also covers the adult pool so isn't constantly watching) Mumsnet The mum replied, saying: 'The parents definitely not by the side of the pool watching. 'The kids pool, splash pad and surrounding area are covered by a big shade, and there are just a couple of seats on the side- they're either empty or have adults who are obviously interacting with specific children. 'The big pool has a few more sun loungers but the whole of the kids area isn't visible from there (the lifeguard doesn't have complete visibility either which isn't great). 'I have mentioned it to the lifeguard and he says he looks but parents should be there (which is true, but unhelpful if they're not). 'The suggestion to go to reception and ask to speak to the duty manager is a good idea. I'll let the lifeguard know we're leaving and then go over.' Different parenting styles explained There are four recognised styles of parenting explained below: Authoritarian Parenting What some might describe as "regimental" or "strict" parenting. Parents with this style focus on strict rules, obedience, and discipline. Authoritarian parents take over the decision-making power, rarely giving children any input in the matter. When it comes to rules, you believe it's "my way or the highway". Permissive Parenting Often referred to as "soft parenting" or "yes mums/dads". Permissive parents are lenient, only stepping in when there's a serious problem. They're quite forgiving and they adopt an attitude of "kids will be kids". Oftentimes they act more like friends than authoritative figures. Authoritative Parenting Authoritative parents provide their children with rules and boundaries, but they also give them the freedom to make decisions. With an authoritative parenting style, parents validate their children's feelings while also making it clear that the adults are ultimately in charge. They use positive reinforcement techniques, like praise and reward systems, as opposed to harsh punishments. Neglectful or Uninvolved Parenting Essentially, neglectful parents ignore their children, who receive little guidance, nurturing, and parental attention. They don't set rules or expectations, and they tend to have minimal knowledge about what their children are doing. Uninvolved parents expect children to raise themselves. They don't devote much time or energy to meeting children's basic needs. Uninvolved parents may be neglectful but it's not always intentional. A parent with mental health issues or substance abuse problems, for example, may not be able to care for a child's physical or emotional needs consistently.
