Although fall is coming, we are still having hot days in the Chicago area. Keep in mind, that heatstroke deaths can happen on 75 degree, sunny days, too. Young children left alone in a hot vehicle can die of heat stroke very quickly, and on average 38 children lose their lives each year – with more than half under the age of two. In just 10 minutes, a car can heat up 20 degrees. Even on mild or cloudy days, temperatures inside vehicles can reach life-threatening levels and l

Here are some facts about the drowning epidemic in the United States. Drowning is the leading cause of injury related death for children ages 1-4. It's possible to drown in as little as an inch of water. 11 Americans die every day from a drowning. 22 are affected by a non-fatal drowning each day. Drowning injuries can cause brain damage or other serious outcomes. Males are at a higher risk than females. African-American children ages 5-19 drown in swimming pools at 5.5 times

Now that the sun has come out, many families are heading to their local park or playground for some fresh air and fun. While playgrounds are great places for children to explore and grow, they can also pose serious safety hazards. Below are some tips on how to protect your children and keep them safe while at the playground. Check the surface of the playground Playground surfaces should not be hard or rocky and should be covered with sand, rubber, or soft wood chips to protec

The weather is heating up and adults are more distracted than ever before. We're also out of our normal routines. All of these issues add up to a perfect recipe for heatstroke related deaths. A few tips to remember Never, ever leave a child alone in a car - not even for a few seconds. If you see a child unattended in a vehicle, call 911 immediately. Lock your car doors when you park your vehicle, even in your own driveway. Kids can some times gain access to the vehicle and n

This article in the Chicago Tribune outlines the dilemma perfectly. It’s a hot summer and we want a way to cool off but beaches and public pools are closed. So, we are turning to some alternative ways to cool off that may present some unintended safety risks. I, too, bought one of those self-set pools referred to in the article. Being the safety-oriented person that I am, I did put a fence around it per our town’s municipal code. But th e fact remains that there is an awful

Whether at the pool, the lake or the ocean, it is extremely important that you know how you can help prevent drowning. Unlike what many people think, drowning happens quickly and quietly with very little waving or yelling for help. When proper water safety is not being practiced, drowning can even go unnoticed. Children can begin drowning for a number of reasons, even if they are strong swimmers. This post describes the common signs of drowning and provides and interactive le

There are many reasons why summer is one of our children's favorite times of the year. It's three months of being outside and having fun everyday, and its the perfect break from school. That being said, summer can also become a dangerous time of year if we are not careful. Activities like swimming, the Fourth of July, and hanging out under the sun, all staples of the summer months, have ways of inflicting injury. The good thing, however, is that many of these injuries are pre