Source: KidsHealth Medical Expert

Nothing says Fourth of July like fireworks! But before you head to the store to purchase them, be sure you know all there is to know about handling fireworks.

What Are the Dangers of Fireworks?

If not handled properly, fireworks can cause burns and eye injuries in kids and adults. Additionally, fireworks start an average of 18,500 fires each year, including 1,300 structure fires, 300 vehicle fires and nearly 17,000 other fires.

Fireworks Safety Tips

If consumer fireworks are legal to buy where you live and you choose to use them, be sure to follow the following safety tips:

• Kids should never play with fireworks. Things like firecrackers, rockets, and sparklers can be dangerous to them. If you give kids sparklers, make sure they keep them outside and away from the face, clothing, and hair. Sparklers can reach 1,800°F (982°C) — hot enough to melt gold.
• Buy only legal fireworks (legal fireworks have a label with the manufacturer’s name and directions; illegal ones are unlabeled), and store them in a cool, dry place.
• Never try to make your own fireworks.
• Always use fireworks outside and have a bucket of water and a hose nearby in case of accidents.
• Before lighting a firework make sure everybody has maintained a safe distance away. They can backfire or shoot off in the wrong direction.
• Never throw or point fireworks at someone, even as a joke.
• Don’t hold fireworks in your hand or have any part of your body over them while lighting. Wear eye protection, and don’t carry fireworks in your pocket — the friction could set them off.
• Point fireworks away from homes, and keep away from brush and leaves and flammable substances.
• Light one firework at a time (not in glass or metal containers), and never relight a dud.
• Do not allow kids to pick up pieces of fireworks after an event. Some may still be ignited and can explode at any time.
• Soak all fireworks in a bucket of water before throwing them in the trash can.
• Think about your pet. Animals have sensitive ears and can be very frightened or stressed by the Fourth of July and other big celebrations. Keep pets indoors to reduce the risk that they’ll run loose or get injured.

For more information on firework safety, please visit the National Safety Council website.

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While this school year will certainly look different for many kids, safety should remain to be at the forefront. Whether your child’s school will be conducted in-person or virtually, it is important to keep the following tips in mind to ensure your child is safe when traveling to and from school.

1. Phones down, heads up – When walking near and around cars keep your heads up and be aware of your surroundings. Headphones and phones can distract pedestrians from seeing oncoming traffic and can result in injury. More information at Pedestrian Safety.
2. Cross at an intersection – When crossing the street always be sure to cross at and intersecting instead of the middle of the block. Crossing someplace other than an intersection accounts for more than 70 percent of pedestrian deaths. More information at Pedestrian Safety.
3. Wear a helmet – When biking to school make sure kids always wear a properly fitted helmet. Helmets are the best way to prevent head injuries and death when riding a bike. If you are not sure how to properly fit a helmet you look at the Helmet Fit Test from Safe Kids Worldwide. More information at Bike Safety.
4. Use hand signals– When biking to school make sure kids know the ways of the road and the proper Hand Signals they should use while biking. It is very important to follow the rules of the road while biking to stay safe. Safe Kids also provides a biking hand signal guide if you need help learning them. More information at Bike Safety.
5. Bus Safety – If your child is going to take the bus to school, it’s important to talk to them about basic School Bus Safety to prevent injuries. Teach kids to wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before entering the bus and to keep three giant steps always from the bus until it comes to a complete stop. More information at School Bus Safety.

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It’s Back to School Season!

Although this school year will certainly look very different for all of us, rest assured Teens in the Driver Seat® is ready to continue being your go-to as the teen traffic safety messaging and outreach source. Car crashes are still the leading cause of injury and death for teens and fighting that is still our mission. A focus on social-distancing activities, large messaging, and online resources will keep your team engaged each month as new content and ideas become readily available for use.

Learn more on how your school can get involved this year.

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This month we are recognizing Safe Kids North Fulton to highlight their child passenger safety efforts within the community. With the support of the Fire Marshal Office, Alpharetta Department of Public Safety, and Sandy Springs Fire and Rescue Department, Safe Kids North Fulton conducted a car seat check event to educate parents and caregivers on best practices surrounding child passenger safety. Caregivers received step-by-step demonstrations on how to properly install and secure their child in a car seat. Caregivers were also provided with additional educational materials including CPS guides to reference. The success of events like this is due to invaluable partners that enable Safe Kids coalitions to effectively serve the community.   

Be sure to check out our statewide calendar for upcoming events in North Fulton.

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Whether your a parent of a newborn or have one on the way, it is important that you know all of ways in which you can keep your little one safe around the house. In recognition of National Baby Safety Month, here are 5 simple safety tips to ensure the safety of your baby.

For more information on infant safety, please visit https://safekids.org/baby

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Winter Sports Safety Tips

Winter is officially upon us! Whether your kids are snowboarders, figures skaters or just having fun in the snow, here are a few winter sports safety tips to keep them active, healthy and safe.  

1. Use appropriate and properly-fitted sports gear to prevent or reduce the severity of injuries. For winter sports, this gear may include shin guards, mouth guards and especially helmets when they’re skiing, snowboarding or playing ice hockey. Based upon recommendations made by the CPSC, we recommend using either a skate style helmet approved to ASTM F1492 or a ski/snowboard helmet approved to either ASTM F2040 or EN1077. While we are unaware of any sledding specific helmets, any of these helmets or a CPSC bicycle helmet would be better than no helmet in many sledding accidents
2. Encourage kids to drink plenty of water before, during and after play. Compared to adults, children are at increased risk of dehydration—and yes, it can happen even in cold temperatures.
3. Wear warm clothing and use sunscreen. It’s also a good idea to have kids come indoors periodically to prevent hypothermia or frostbite –hot chocolate and marshmallows is a great way to lure them in.

Source: Safe Kids Worldwide

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This Saturday, February 6th, is National TV Safety Day and it’s the perfect opportunity to make sure you’re keeping your kids safe from a TV or furniture tip-over.

Here are a few helpful tips to protect your children:

TV Safety Tips to Protect Your Kids

1. Secure TVs. Mount flat-panel TVs to the wall. Place older, box-style TVs (CRTs) on low, stable furniture that can hold the weight.
2. Attach furniture to the wall. Use anti-tip brackets, braces or wall straps to secure furniture to the wall. Install stops on dresser drawers to keep them from being pulled all the way out.
3. Rearrange household items. Store heavy objects on lower shelves or in lower drawers. Avoid placing remote controls, toys or other items in places where kids might be tempted to climb up or reach for them.
4. Recycle old TVs. To find a location that safely and easily recycles unwanted TVs, go to  www.GreenerGadgets.org.

Source: Safe Kids Worldwide

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Since young children are still developing, they have thinner skin than adults, which can result in more serious injuries from a burn or scald. One of the ways young, curious kids learn about their surroundings is through their sense of touch. Sometimes their explorations can lead them to reach out and touch hot objects, resulting in an injury. In honor of National Burn Awareness Week, here are a few helpful tips to keep your child safe from potential burns and scalds.

For more information on burn prevention, please visit Safe Kids Worldwide.

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This month we are recognizing Safe Kids Columbus, led by Piedmont Columbus Regional, to highlight their child passenger safety efforts within the community. Caregivers have the opportunity to attend an interactive, virtual car seat education class taught by nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians using current best practice recommendations. This course covers the basics of child passenger safety including proper car seat installation. This 1.5 hour training session is followed by a drive thru car seat pick-up with a visual installation demo that can be viewed from your car. As an added bonus, attendees will also receive helpful online links to reinforce best practices.

For more information on the Safe Kids Columbus Car Seat Education and Distribution program please visit Safe Kids Columbus

Be sure to check out our statewide calendar for upcoming events in Columbus.

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In recognition of Safe Kids Week, Safe Kids Northeast Georgia, led by Northeast Georgia Medical Center, held a Safe Kids Day event on Saturday, May 8^th at the Gainesville Fire Station 1. Many agencies including Amerigroup and Georgia Mountain Food Bank were present at the event to help serve the community and promote child passenger safety. A station was set up for car seat checks and distributions as well as stations for diaper/wipes distribution, meal distribution, and fun activities for children.

There were over 150 attendees including caregivers, children, and volunteers. In total, 68 car seats were distributed and 11 car seats were checked.

A big shoutout goes to Safe Kids Northeast Georgia Coordinator, Elaina Lee, for her part in organizing a great community event!

Be sure to check out our statewide calendar for upcoming events in Northeast GA.

Follow Safe Kids Northeast Georgia on Facebook.

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