With your massive snowfall, many Seattle residents will be reaching for dangerous, salt-based de-icers for sidewalks and driveways to get things melted. However, touching or eating these can be quite dangerous and toxic for children who are playing in the outside in winter and for pets who walk on them or also eat and play in the snow and walk on sidewalks and driveways. I’m wondering if you’d consider a story that includes Safe Paw, which is a 100% green, child-safe and pet-safe de-icer that is salt and urea-free (www.safepaw.com). If a child or a pet ingests it or touches it, there's no harm done---important for families to know right now as they start digging out.

When children and pets can come into contact with salt-based pellets, pediatricians say regular de-icers can :

- irritate eyes

- stomach and kidney damage if eaten

- burn skin and paws with direct contact, or cause dermatitis, rashes or blistering (see paw damage photo at right)

I’ve pasted an FAQ below. We’d love to get the word out about this right now so online coverage is probably the easiest route. I can connect you with Safe Paw’s Steven Vernick and facilitate any other interviews you may need. Let me know if you have any questions and thanks again. Audrey

Safe Paw FAQ

What is Safe Paw™ and how is it different than other ice melter products?

Safe Paw is a100% safe ice melter for pets, children, all surfaces, and the environment. It is unique in its compound and benefits without utilizing any salt as an ingredient and gives off no heat to melt ice. Safe Paw is a patented, dual-effect compound, made up of crystalline amide core infused with special glycols. This non-corrosive composition gives Safe Paw a two-way timed-release action. The liquid component starts melting ice instantly, while breaking its surface tension. This allows the crystal-core to quickly penetrate and destabilize the ice and speed up the melting process. Safe Paw actually attracts heat to make it even more effective, but does not give off heat. This "endothermic" reaction takes advantage of solar effect and provides extra melting power during daylight hours. As an added feature, Safe Paw leaves an invisible protective shield that prevents ice from sticking to the surface for up to three days. This makes shoveling easier and saves work. Safe Paw works just as good or even better than salt or salt-based products. In fact, Safe Paw begins working immediately to penetrate ice, while other ice melters work very slowly. While most salt-based products melt ice only down to 24 degrees, Safe Paw works up to 2 degrees below zero.

Why are some ice melters dangerous to pets? Exposure to salt and salt-based ice melting products, a common occurrence, can cause dogs severe dermatitis, inflammation of the paws and serious gastrointestinal problems, including vomiting and internal burns of the mouth and digestive tract. Salt can also burn and irritate children's eyes and skin and cause internal problems if swallowed, according to pediatricians. For dogs, in particular, exposure to salt and salt-based ice melt products can mean an unhealthy winter and unplanned trips to the vets' office or animal hospital. The problem is that when dogs are let out they frolic and eat the snow, and many of the ice melt products sit on the surface of the ice. Dogs either ingest these ice melt pellets or they get frozen into their paws. Later, when they are inside with higher temperatures, the ice melts and dogs begin to lick their paws. The salt can heat up as high as 175 degrees and not only burn their skin, but their mouth and digestive system.

What are the environmental advantages of using Safe Paw? Salt is a corrosive compound and its residue can damage the environment such as lawns, plants, and even contaminate well water and water supplies. Salt can also severely damage and permanently discolor brick pavers, stones, asphalt, concrete and wood decking. When tracked inside, it can also damage rugs, carpets, and wood floors.

Where can Safe Paw be purchased? Safe Paw can be purchased nationally (cold weather states) via hardware stores, veterinarian offices, pet supply stores and grocery/drug chains. Store Locator

Some retailers indicate that the ice melter they sell is the same thing or formula as Safe Paw. Is this true? Some retailers are telling Safe Paw customers that the ice melter they carry is the same formulation as Safe Paw. Safe Paw is protected by patents and includes propriety components that do no exist in other products. There is nothing else like it on the market. It is important to be aware of this distinction as a consumer.

How much does Safe Paw cost? Safe Paw costs generally between $14.95 - $19.95 for the 8 lb jug and $50 - $60 for the 35 lb pail.

Do most consumers know the health dangers of rock salt and ice melters containing salt? No. If fact, a national survey of more than 500 consumers living in cold weather states showed that an alarming nearly two-thirds of the respondents (62% total; 66% of men) were not aware that salt and salt-based ice melting products pose a health danger to pets and children who digest or come into contact with these products. The survey also revealed that 60% of the respondents said they use rock salt or salt-based ice melters in their households.