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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 25, 1992                   TAG: 9202250267
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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GUARDING KIDS PARENTAL DUTY, NOT THE FEDS'

AN ARTICLE Jan. 27 was headlined: "Babies can drown in buckets but warnings aren't working."

I have read numerous articles on child safety, but this one tops all! To expect our federal government to spend an exorbitant amount of our tax dollars forcing industries to label five-gallon buckets as a potential hazard to children is pure, unadulterated hogwash!

I have raised three children of my own and never had any of the newfangled gadgets to keep them out of cupboards, toilets and other dangerous places. Yes, I used walkers, although I understand that pediatricians are snubbing their noses at them nowadays because "they are especially dangerous around stairs." I also used an expandable gate that has since been removed from the market because children have been known to strangle themselves.

However, in spite of having lived in such a precarious environment, my three children have managed to survive to the ripe old ages of 11, 11, and 12. The only serious accident we experienced was when my son fell from a tree, breaking his arm. I don't feel that was due cause for me to wage a campaign on tree-labeling or mandatory safety devices on trees.

Where are the parents? Whose responsibility is it to protect our children? I have nothing against safety devices; they can make life a lot easier on the parents. But the responsibility lies with the parent, not our government, not our industries. If you choose to become a parent, take the role and responsibility of parenting. Let's face it, anything is a potential hazard to an unsupervised child! HELEN BRYAN GOODVIEW

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