It feels a little funny to be talking about warm-weather safety on another unseasonably rainy, cool day, but summery weather is coming soon. (I really, really hope. Beginning to feel like I live in Seattle again, only without as much great coffee to get me through.)

Warm weather has its own dangers for kids that most of you probably know about, but these warnings bear repeating. In this post and the next, I'll pass along some warnings that have landed in my e-mail box the last few days.

 First: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that 18 children have fallen from windows since April, and two of them died. It's issuing these safety tips:

--Use window guards or window stops. (For windows on the 6th floor and below, install window guards that adults and older children can open easily in case of fire.) Install window stops so that windows open no more than 4 inches.

--Never depend on screens to keep children from falling out of windows.

--Whenever possible, open windows from the top -- not the bottom.

--Keep furniture away from windows to discourage children from climbing near windows.

 (Photo by Carlos Chavez, Los Angeles Times)