Dear Supporter,

Back to school can be a crazy time for parents, and I’m proof of it. 

I'll never forget the first day of kindergarten for my oldest daughter, Jenny. Sure summer was coming to an end but it felt like the beginning of something really special. A new chapter in my daughter’s life.

Jenny and I had prepared with the first of many back-to-school shopping sprees. She was all set with new school supplies, her first backpack, and of course, the perfect fall outfit.

After breakfast we took a picture to remember the day, drove Jenny to school and walked her to class. She was so excited. After I gave her a big hug goodbye, I slowly walked back to the car, opened the door, got in and promptly started crying. I wish I could say it got easier on the first day of kindergarten for my other two children, Chris and Ally. But each time, I was right back in that car having myself a good cry.

So if you’re anything like me, please know that I’m sending you a big hug.

Send us a story about the first day of school for your kids. We’ll print the best one in the next An Ounce of Prevention. In the meantime, please enjoy the winner of last month's Kiddo Award.

Kate Carr
President and CEO
Safe Kids Worldwide

Tales from the Back of the Truck

Last month's topic (craziest road trip) was the vehicle for some great stories. Thank you all. Cherie Sage’s story drove us to helpless laughter. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

When I was about 11 years old, my family decided to take a road trip from northeast Kansas to California to visit friends. My father attached plastic chair shells (think school cafeteria) to plywood boards and placed them in the back of our old family pickup truck that had a cap on the bed. We placed another board sideways across the bed of the truck near the front to create “bunk beds” for our sleeping bags. 

With a cooler of snacks and beverages between us, comic books, walkie-talkies to communicate with our parents in the cab, and lots of batteries for the portable radio, my sister and I had our own oasis for the multi-day trip. We had lots of stops along the way, including Vegas and the Grand Canyon. It was a great memory, and knowing what we know now, we are extremely thankful that we survived to tell the tale.

A Dry Run to School

Looking for something fun to do with your kids? How about a nice walk to and from school, without the actual school part? Taking a dry run is a great way to spend time together while finding the best places to cross the street, discussing the importance of making eye contact with drivers before you step into the road, and even experimenting with a few different routes. When you’re done, freeze tag is pretty fun too. Learn More

In a World Filled with Thirst, One Kid Dares to be Different

We could easily tell you all about the importance of keeping your kids hydrated, but instead, we’ll let Brody do the talking – or should we say, rapping. Check out the world premiere of Hydration Nation, a rap written and performed by an 11-year-old boy.

Assault of the Battery

All kids love to explore but it takes a few years before we learn to keep what we find out of our mouths. This can be a problem for little kids when they come across something shiny like a coin-sized button battery. The problem is, when swallowed, these button batteries can cause serious injury. So just take an extra minute to make sure that all button batteries and devices containing them such as remote controls, small calculators, key fobs and singing greeting cards are out of reach of your young children. Learn More

Heatstroke in Cars Can Happen to Anyone

Tragically, in the first week of August, eight children died from heatstroke after being left in a vehicle. You might ask, “What type of parent would let this happen?” Well, very often,they are loving, caring parents like Reggie McKinnon, who shares his story in a new video. We hope you'll share it on Facebook. We need everyone to work together to make sure that we don’t lose another child to heatstroke.

Survey Says:  Walkers Don't Always Feel Safe

In many countries, walking is the only means of getting to and from school, although it isn’t always safe. According to a survey conducted by Safe Kids Thailand, almost half of Thai children indicate they only “sometimes” feel safe while walking near their homes and school. They are often forced to walk in the street when drivers or street peddlers block the sidewalks. Safe Kids Worldwide is working in 23 countries to improve walking environments for children.

We have more than 600 teams of Safe Kids professionals doing some pretty cool events that might be perfect for you.

Here are just a few examples:

• KIDS BLOCK  - Safe Kids Chelan-Doulgas 9/15/2012  A whole city block of family fun and education at the Wenatchee Valley Taste of Harvest Festival.  What could be better than getting your face painted while you're eating a snow cone?

• Child Passenger Safety for Refugees and Immigrants  – Safe Kids Salt Lake County, UT  9/19/2012. If you or one of your friends is new to the U.S. this is a great place to go for important safety information.  Translators and certified technicians will be available to answer your questions.

• Get Car Smart Family Safety Day - Safe Kids New York City-Manhattan- Bronx-Staten Island  9/22/2012. Learn about safety in and around cars. And just to make sure you're having fun, there will be games and prizes for all.  Also, Sept. 22 is Seat Check Saturday.