April 2017

Safe Kids News

Issue

Safe Kids Day Reaches Thousands!

Thanks to our wonderful Safe Kids Day partners and sponsors!

Over 7,500 children and adults attended the Safe and Sound Saturday event hosted by KY3 and KSPR at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds last weekend to learn safety tips, lessons and information on how Ozark families can live healthy, safer lives. Over 100 vendors were present to offer their expertise on all topics. Participants could get free health screenings by Mercy Hospital, learn about CPR from CoxHealth, free bike helmets from Aaron Sachs and Associates, and Lowe’s vouchers for 1/2 price fire extinguishers, just to name a few of the options for families. In addition, families learned about storm shelters, outdoor safety from Bass Pro and Springfield Park Board, fire safety from Springfield Fire Department, financial safety and safeguarding credit, and the importance of staying out of the No-Zone and traveling safely around trucks by FedEx Freight. Safe Kids Springfield focused on pedestrian safety, medication and laundry safety, car seat safety, teen driving, fire prevention, and all kinds of child safety topics. A total of 50 lucky booth visitors won a free Clifford Takes a Swim storybook too! Overall, this was a wonderful event to reach parents in a fun, interactive way while learning valuable safety messages!

Coordinator’s

corner

Dear Safe Kids Friends & Partners: We had a wonderful time last weekend for our Safe Kids Day event. Over 7,500 family members came through the KY3/KSPR Safe and Sound Saturday event to learn how to keep their family safe. A huge shout-out to our partners from Kohls, Taney & Stone County Health Departments and FedEX for sending volunteers to help us! I wanted you to know about the great story one of our families shared with us at the event. The little guys to the right were woke up the morning of our event (April 1st) hearing the smoke alarm and shouts about a fire in the home. THANKFULLY it was just a drill by their fun-loving safety-minded family on April Fools Day, but it was a good reminder that kids and adults need to be prepared on what to do when the smoke alarm goes off. The boys told me they went to the meeting place and waited like they had practiced!. These parents are doing safety right!!! We love to hear these prevention stories from families. Do you have one you would like to share? If so, send us an email at info@safekidsspringfield.org and tell us how you stay safe! Daphne Greenlee, Coordinator

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Kids & Medication Safety

Bike to Work Week

Partner Spotlight

Safe Kids Boot Camp

Car Seat Spotlight

Home Safe Home Exhibit

Cruisin’ for Cribs

Latest Recalls

Next Safe Kids Meeting

Wednesday, April 19th

10:00 am

Mercy Home Health

1570 W. Battlefield, Suite 110

Springfield, MO 65807

Safety Related Questions to Ask Your Child Care Provider

Safety in child care settings is crucial and covers many areas. Below are only a handful of suggested safety questions you should be asking: Are children watched at all times, including when they are sleeping?

Is there an open door policy for families? Can I drop in unannounced?

Is the outdoor area a safe place for children to play?

What is your child to staff ratio? Are there enough adults to provide care and supervision for the number and ages of children? (Missouri Regulations to find appropriate child to staff ratio: http://health.mo.gov/safety/childcare/lawsregs.php)

Are medicines labeled and out of children’s reach?

Are cleaning supplies and other poisonous materials locked up and out of children’s reach?

Is there a plan to follow if a child is injured or sick?

Are first aid kits readily available and emergency numbers posted?

Is there always someone present who has current CPR and first aid training?

Have satisfactory criminal and child abuse/neglect screenings been performed on each adult present?

Do you and/or your staff receive yearly training in safety related topics?

Do you and/or your staff receive training related to safe sleep practices and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)?

Do you have an emergency preparedness plan for disasters that are likely to occur in our area? How often is your plan practiced?

How do you stay current on children’s product recalls from the Consumer Product Safety

Commission?

This article brought to you by our partners at:

One of Safe Kids Springfield’s founding members is the Springfield Fire Department. Together, the organizations have made big strides toward protecting our most vulnerable residents –kids–from fires and other risks. The two groups share curriculum and resources to ensure children are hearing appropriate fire safety messages. Additionally, Safe Kids and SFD have partnered to promote safe sleep practices and car seat safety. The Springfield Fire Department has hosted several car seat technician classes as well as car seat installation events for the community.

Fire & Life Safety Educator, Cara Erwin and Assistant Chief of Prevention, Randy Villines, Springfield Fire Dept.

Member

Agency

Spotlight:

Springfield

Fire Dept.

Car Seat Spotlight: Mifold Grab-N-Go Booster

The Mifold Grab-and-Go booster provides the safety of a traditional booster seat, while its compact design makes your family more mobile.

Features: Mifold is more than 10x smaller than a regular booster and it’s just as

safe (meets or exceeds NHTSA standards FMVSS 213).

Mifold is engineered to protect children from the age 4-12.

Mifold can be used by children weighing between 40-100 lbs. and whose height is between 40-57 in.

Mifold is so compact, it can be stored almost anywhere, including a back-pack.

Quick Clip allows quick, easy and accurate adjustment for children of all sizes as well as simple one-handed use, without having to look.

Comfortable seat prevents slipping, stays cool, and is easy to clean.

Mifold can be adjusted to securely restrain all children. Lap belt guides have three adjustments.

Mifold is durable. It’s hard, outer case protects Mifold while keeping the seat cushion clean.

For more information about the Mifold seat, visit www.mifold.com

Child Passenger Safety News

For more information, contact State CPS Coordinator, Carrie Wolken, at MoDOT Office of Highway Safety. 800-800-2358 (BELT)

Information provided by our partners at:

To make an appointment for installation assistance, contact the Safe Kids Springfield office

in the Mercy Injury Prevention Center at 417-820-7233

or visit www.safercar.gov/parents to find an inspection station near you.

Q

CAR SEAT CHECK UP EVENT

Saturday, April 15th

9:00 am—Noon

Remington’s

1655 W. Republic Rd., Springfield

Which is better—a high back or a

backless booster?

When determining which seat to use, you will need to evaluate if vehicle has adequate head support for the child. The goal is to have head & spinal support and seat-belt should fit securely across shoulder and hips. Booster seats should be used with a lap AND shoulder belt.

Should I worry if my rear-facing child’s feet

touch the back of the front seat?

Check to see if your child’s height fits within the seat’s requirements. In a crash, a child’s leg will tuck and bend. This provides less risk for severe injury than if they turn around too soon and suffer a spinal injury.

Is it ok to attach a mirror on the back of

the seat to view my baby when I drive?

Many products are designed for ease are not federally regulated or approved for use with car seats. In a crash, your child’s seat is designed to rock back and forth and may make contact with items placed on the back of the seat.

A &

Travel

Tip

brought

to you

by

Tires are the only point of contact that your vehicle has with the road. And no matter how new or old they are, you’ll want to make sure they are in good working order to ensure your safety and prolong the life of your tires. Check out the following tips to help you get the most out of them.

Watch your speed

Check air pressure

Pay attention to load capacity

If your tween or teen is planning to babysit this summer, now is a great time for them to take a babysitting course to make sure they know all of the latest safety information. A

number of area agencies offer online and in-person classes to help them prepare.

American Red Cross

Babysitting Basics Online Course

Ongoing

Ages 11 and older

Cost: $29

For more information, contact local Red Cross office at

417-832-9500

Citizens Memorial Hospital

SafeSitter Summer Class Series

Options: May 31, June 13, July 11

9:00 am—3:00 pm

Grades 6th-8th

Cost: FREE!

Location: Bolivar Technical Center, Bolivar

For more information, contact Wren Hall at 417-328-6318

CoxHealth Babysitting Basics

Options: April 29, June 3, August 26, October 28

9:00 am—2:00 pm

Ages 11-14

Cost: $30 (includes lunch)

Location: Turner Center, Springfield

For more information, contact Christine Starnes at 417-269-LADY (5239)

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The human race was born with the instinct to learn. Young children learn a large amount of their reasoning skills through their senses; which attune with relevant opportunities to explore the objects and materials around them. At the Discovery Center of Springfield, we take the wonders of science in everyday life and turn them into fun and educational experiences. Throughout our museum, we have hands-on activities that help kids learn through their touch, sight, sound, and yes, even smell!

Our Home Safe Home exhibit in Discovery

Town, designed with the assistance of

Safe Kids Springfield, tackles these

topics in a playful environment. Come take

a look at the importance of smoke alarms,

carbon monoxide detectors, and fire

extinguishers. See what components make

a useful first aid kit and a successful fire

escape plan. Don’t forget important

information like emergency contacts,

phone numbers, and your own address!

With safety themed books and toys

available to practice safe home habits,

Home Safe Home gives you the

encouraging learning environment needed

to teach your little Scientist smart habits for

a lifetime.

Program

Spotlight: Home

Safe

Home

Exhibit

Top Recalls

Juratoys Recalls Toy Trolleys Due to Impact Injury Hazards Recall date. March 29, 2017 Sold at toy stores nationwide and online.

Target Recalls Magnetic Tic-Tac-Toe Games Due to Choking & Ingestion Hazards Recall date. March 29, 2017 Sold at Target.

For additional details, visit

www.recalls.gov