Blog: President Obama: Invest in Protecting Our Children

Posted by: Anthony Green at Jan 25, 2012 12:00 AM CST

Keywords: Advocacy, Education

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Last night, President Barack Obama delivered his third State of the Union address. While most of the speech was dedicated to our economic and national security, he also talked about the importance of protecting American children: “I will not back down from protecting our kids from mercury pollution, or making sure that our food is safe and our water is clean.” More importantly, he talked about the role of government. For me, that corresponds with many of Safe Kids’ priorities: whether it’s making sure that baby car seats are safe, or that dangerous products are taken off the market, or that we reduce the dangers from poisoning, lead, carbon monoxide, tainted water and other substances.

When it comes to the most vulnerable people in our society, our children, we must work together to keep them safe. Government, parents and organizations like Safe Kids must work together. We cannot test products for safety alone. We cannot make the air cleaner on our own.

At one point, the President quoted his hero, Abraham Lincoln: “Government should do for people only what they cannot do better by themselves, and no more,” He went on to say “No one built this country on their own. This nation is great because we built it together. This nation is great because we worked as a team.” Safe Kids is proud to be part of that team.

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Comment on this Blog Post:

Posted by sandra Warren at: May 24, 2012

i thought our government was supposed to make sure our children were safe, even from a judge. well a judge in a small town in southern Missouri ripped two little boys away from their mother and brother where they had loved all of their lives, and basically trrew them in to the lions den, which was their biological father and step mom. the judge did not even investigate the background of the father or step mom and they have been physically, mentally and emotionally abused now for the past three years. the hotline has been called and D.C.F.S. has been contacted and everything has been proved and documented, but still nothing has been done to get those boys out of there. Now what i want to know is why isn't the government protecting these boys?????

Posted by Angela Mickalide at: February 2, 2012

I would recommend the following response: Children are always safest sleeping in their own environment. Co-sleeping or bed-sharing increases the risk of SIDS and exposes a child to unnecessary risks of accidental suffocation and strangulation. A child is safest when put to sleep alone on his or her back in a safety-approved crib or bassinet. A firm mattress and fitted sheet should be used, with no loose bedding, soft objects, pillows or toys in the crib. Room-sharing, putting a child’s crib or bassinet in your room and near your bed, is a safe alternative to co-sleeping while enabling you and baby to bond.

Posted by Lorrie Walker at: January 27, 2012

Nice work!

Posted by Rev. Tamara McKay at: January 26, 2012

We at Baskets for babies believe in safe sleep techniques, but have lately gotten bombarded by co sleeping advocates. What do you recommend as a verbal response to their negative comments, against safe sleep practices, and their comments about how "beneficial" co sleeping is?