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This post originally appeared in The Parents Perspective, from Parents Magazine.
Tareka Wheeler, Director of U.S Programs for Safe Kids Worldwide, talks to NBC’s Today Show about never leaving a child alone in a car. Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle-related deaths for children, and it can happen to anyone, anywhere. On average, every 10 days a child dies from heatstroke in a vehicle. These tragedies are 100% preventable.
I spend most of my days at a desk helping people and communities across the county who work to keep kids safe. As fulfilling as that is, my favorite experiences are those that allow me to help in the community hands on.
In 2012, we worked with FedEx to make safety modifications at Treadwell Elementary, a school in Memphis with one of the highest rates of pedestrian injuries. We partnered with Safe Kids Mid-South and other community leaders to make real changes for those students who walk to school. This is what makes my job so rewarding.
My family has a lot of great holiday traditions, and the 4th of July is one of the best. We all gather in a small town on the eastern shore of Maryland – one of those places that make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time to an era when life was simpler.
The day begins with a hometown parade that goes from the volunteer fire station to the community hall. After the parade, everyone gathers for a community-wide barbecue and picnic, followed by an all-ages baseball game. And of course, no 4th of July celebration would be complete without the fireworks!
Summer time usually includes traveling time for so many families across the country. Whether your summer adventures are on the road, in the air, or just preparing for family and friends to visit, here are a few tips to help you travel safely over the summer:
As summer heats up, safety advocates show children and families how to have fun and stay safe
Washington, D.C. – The summer is one of the most exciting times of the year for kids, but it’s also a time when kids can be at risk for injuries.
Hundreds of kids joined Safe Kids staff and volunteers at FedEx Field on Tuesday to have fun and learn a few simple tips for staying safe this summer. Summer Safety Fun Day was co-sponsored by General Motors Foundation, The Links, Inc., Target, and Prince George’s County Kentland Palmer Park Transforming Neighborhoods Initiative.
Camping season is in full gear and America’s parks and wilderness areas are filled with city dwellers trying to get some peace, quiet and fresh air. There is nothing more relaxing than lying in a hammock by a clear lake or watching wildlife on a remote trail. Camping is also a great way to teach kids about nature and can provide bonding time away from the glare of electronic devices and the noise of our everyday lives.
Every 10 days, across the United States, a child dies while unattended in a hot car. It only takes a few minutes for a car to heat up and become deadly to a child inside. As summer temperatures rise, more kids are at risk – the death toll this summer has already exceeded 20.
While perusing the local newspaper during family breakfast last weekend, a headline caught my attention. A teenager had drowned while swimming in a quarry not far from where I live. As soon as I read the headline, and saw the large photograph of the quarry emblazoned across the front page, my heart sank. I knew of the quarry, having been there myself several times before. The swimming hole is a popular destination for local youth, and it shook me to imagine something so tragic happening in a place where I’d once had so much fun.