Category Archives: Your child’s safety

How I became living proof that carbon monoxide poisoning can happen to anyone, any time

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As the Safe Kids Wisconsin coordinator, I teach children and families how to prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, and I provide CO alarms to homes with children. I tell families to have furnaces, water heaters and other fuel-burning items serviced on a regular basis to make sure they are working properly. Statistics show an increase in CO poisonings in the colder months. However, CO leaks can happen any time of the year — as I found out firsthand.

I awoke to the CO alarm going off in the middle of the night. My first thought was that the …Continue reading →

1,000 ways we’re keeping our kids safer

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Car seat collection event

More than 1,000 car seats were collected and dismantled during the event.

Recently, Safe Kids Wisconsin held its first statewide car seat collection event. Our goal was to remove expired, recalled and damaged seats from circulation to ensure they aren’t used after purchasing at a rummage sale or picked up off the curb. And, it was a great opportunity for families to clean out their basements and garages to get rid of old car seats that were just too hard to throw in the trash. Some seats were older than 30 years old!

Together with local organizations and groups, we dismantled more than 1,000 seats! They were stripped of harnesses, fabric covers, screws, bolts and rivets – …Continue reading →

Teens plus drowsy driving equals a dangerous situation

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Sleepy drivingFor many high school students, summer vacation means late nights out with friends, summer jobs, sports tournaments and overnight camps. Juggling all the summer activities can add up to irregular sleep schedules and too little sleep, putting teens at risk for drowsy driving.

Teen drivers are new to the road and need to be alert and free of distractions when driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, teen drivers are four times more likely to be in a fatal car accident. That statistic would probably be higher if it …Continue reading →

How to avoid burns and bites during the summertime

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Most would agree that summer is the best time of year to be in Wisconsin. Boating, camping, swimming and festivals are definitely a ritual this time of year. Unfortunately, all good comes with some bad and summer is no different. If not prevented adequately, sunburns and bug bites can quickly turn into a roadblock to your summer plans. Luckily, there are safe and easy ways to ensure these issues become nothing more than a minor speed bump during this season. Following these simple preventive measures may even …Continue reading →

Hot cars aren’t cool: Tips to keep your family safe in warm weather

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This weekend’s warm weather reminded me that it’s time for a very important message: Never leave your children alone in the car.

I know why it happens. Your child is sleeping, and you don’t want to wake him or her. You’ll only be in the store a minute. But let’s be realistic. What you think will be a minute usually turns into 10 or 15 minutes. Did you know the temperature in a car can rise nearly 20 degrees in the first 10 minutes? According to the National Highway Transportation and Safety Board (NHTSB), even when the temperature only is 60 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the temperature inside your car can get up to 110 degrees.

Follow these tips to help keep your family safe in warm summer weather: …Continue reading →

Parenting tips to prevent TVs and furniture from tipping over onto your child

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I’ve been told children are born with two fears: loud noises and falling. Objects falling on them, however, isn’t something they fear.

I know that all pieces of free-standing furniture and TVs have the capability of tipping over. As a parent of a 10-month-old and as the Safe Kids Wisconsin coordinator, I am well aware of the potential hazard that poses for my son. After all, my son is curious and into everything just like all other toddlers and kids. …Continue reading this post

Video: The dangers of button batteries in toys

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As parents, we know to keep coins away from children as they could – and do – swallow them. There is another item the size of a coin that could be much more dangerous if swallowed: button batteries. Many of us have them in our car remotes and other small remotes used around the house. …Continue reading this post

Tips to keep your Thing One and Thing Two safe this Halloween

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Did you know twice as many kids are killed while walking on Halloween compared to any other day of the year? That’s a frightening statistic!

I have a 4-year-old daughter and 6-month-old son. My daughter decided she and her brother should go trick-or-treating as Thing One and Thing Two from the children’s book “The Cat in the Hat” by Dr. Seuss. So, I set out on my search, not only for their costumes, but also for a …Continue reading this post

Spot your tot before starting your car

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Just five seconds could save your child’s life. That’s how long it takes to walk around your car to check for children before starting the engine. In a rush to get to the store before it closes or in a frenzy to get to the airport before your flight leaves, the focus often is about what is in the car. With young children …Continue reading this post

Before and after injury, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin helps kids and families

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Having a plan B can be a comfort when trying to navigate through life’s challenges. Children usually are pretty healthy, but when illness or injuries strike, hospitals like Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin are the safety nets for kids and families. Here, we care for kids and do our best to get them …Continue reading this post