ARTICLES RELATED TO:
Safety & Prevention

As summer temperatures continue to climb, be careful to keep your kids out of hot cars. If a child does get left in a hot car or is accidentally locked in while playing, the consequences can be severe, and even deadly. Never leave your child in a car alone or leave your car unlocked around children, no matter what the temperature outside might be. Cracking the windows will not keep the car cool and even “just a few minutes” is too long. Although it may seem unimaginable for a child to be forgotten in a car, it occurs far too often. So know the facts and try out a few prevention tips to keep this kind of tragedy from affecting your family. The Facts It happens: On average, a child dies every 10 days from heatstroke after being left in a vehicle, according to Safe Kids Worldwide. Year after year, children are left in […]

Summer is full of opportunity and adventure for kids who like the outdoors. All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are exciting and many kids can’t wait to get off-road and try them out. Although these vehicles may seem like a fun summer activity, they can lead to some serious – even fatal – injuries, especially if you don’t follow ATV safety rules and regulations. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children under 16 not ride ATVs at all. They say this age group lacks the necessary physical strength, coordination, and judgment to drive an ATV safely in all situations and conditions. Still, despite the risks, many kids are legally able to ride ATVs. Each state has different guidelines and laws about age requirements, many of which allow children under 16 to ride ATVs. But before you let your kiddos hop onto an ATV, know the risks and follow these […]

For so many, dogs are our best friends and trusted companions. Despite how warm and loving they can be, all breeds of dogs are capable of biting. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every year, more than 4.5 million people are bitten by dogs in the United States, and more than half of those bites happen at home with a familiar dog. Of those who endure dog bites, more than half are children under the age of 14 and nearly a million require medical attention. Most dogs won’t bite without a reason. A family dog may bite when a new baby is brought home or a child plays too roughly, teases, or startles the dog. A dog you don’t know may bite when approached without taking the proper precautions. Knowing how to prevent dog bites will help keep your family safer this summer — and beyond. […]

Picnics and BBQs are a fantastic time for family and friends to get together. And the food is one of the best parts, right? But foodborne illness (often called food poisoning) can strike when you least expect it — and can be very dangerous. Foodborne illness comes from contaminated food or liquids. The most common foods or beverages that spoil easily are: raw or undercooked poultry, eggs, seafood, beef and pork milk untreated water fresh fruits and vegetables — especially if not washed correctly salads — pasta, egg, potato salad, etc. unpasteurized ciders, milk and cheese Who’s Most at Risk for Food Poisoning? The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that there are 48 million cases of foodborne illness each year. The people affected are both healthy and unwell (i.e., they have other chronic conditions). However, those with compromised immune systems are more highly susceptible to foodborne illness. For example, […]

It’s that time of year again, when kids are (hopefully) outside more than inside. With the warmer weather comes concerns about ticks and Lyme disease. Here’s some information to help you decipher what’s true and false as your family enjoys the great outdoors. Fiction: Lyme disease comes from ticks, so it’s a problem all over the country. Fact: Lyme disease is caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi, which live in certain mammals such as mice, chipmunks and deer. Ticks bite these animals, and then carry the bacteria to humans. Most of the disease is seen in these 13 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin. Your chance of getting Lyme disease in a state other than these is low. Fiction: If I notice a tick on my child, it has probably already transferred Lyme disease to my child. Fact: Actually, ticks […]

The world is a jungle gym to little ones. Anything — and everything — can be a mountain to hike, a vine to swing on, or a river to dive into … at least through their eager eyes. But these fun adventures can quickly turn dangerous, even in your own home. Falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries for children in the United States, according to Safe Kids Worldwide. Although you may joke about keeping your kids in a plastic bubble to keep them from harm, there are more practical ways to make sure they’re safe, inside and outside your home. May is National Trauma Awareness Month, and Safe Kids Worldwide offers these fall prevention tips to keep your kids safe. 1. Inside the Home Use approved safety gates at the tops and bottoms of all staircases. Not all safety gates are intended for use at the tops of stairs, so […]