Do you remember the first time you unpacked a car seat or a high chair? The safety warnings emblazoned on these items are enough to make any soon-to-be parent a nervous wreck. When your kid finally arrives, there is no end to the perpetual danger that you, as a parent, are expected to keep at bay. Since June is National Safety Month, we’ve put together a pile of tips and links to resources to help keep your family safe.
Each area of the country faces different natural threats and the American Red Cross has GREAT information on natural disaster safety.
In addition to the topics listed above, the Red Cross also provides details and information on blackouts, chemical emergencies, drought, heat waves, mud slides, thunderstorms, tsunami, and volcanoes.
The Red Cross also offers information towards kids including:
- "Be Ready 1-2-3" involves puppets who give important safety information to children ages 3-8 about residential fire safety, winter storms, and earthquakes.
- “Disaster Preparedness Coloring Book” for children ages 3-10.
- "Adventures of the Disaster Dudes" video and Presenter's Guide for use by an adult with children in grades 4-6.
- "After the Quake" Coloring Book
The warmer weather means a mass exodus to the outdoors – brush up on your skills to ensure that your camping, swimming, boating outing stay safe with the links below:
- General Summer Safety Tips
Link to: General Summer Safety Tips
- Water Safety
Check out KidsHealth.org for information on swimming, boating, waterpark safety and sun safety.
The American Red Cross has a great FAQ portion of their site on water safety, questions include:
- When should my child learn to swim?
- What water toys are safe?
- How long after eating can I go back in the water?
- What is the recommended age for children in a public pool to be required to have adult supervision when swimming?
- Do you recommend a minimum and maximum number of participants in your learn-to-swim classes?
- What should swimmers do when lightning or thunderstorms occur?
It may not be something we like to think about, but there are people in the world who would do harm to our children, given the chance. Children are abducted every day from their own back yards or right in front of their schools. It is crucial that we as parents give our children the tools to protect themselves from strangers and learn how to stand up for their own safety.
Information for talking to your kids about stranger safety.
A Stranger Danger Quiz – Can Your Kids Recognize Strangers?
Safety is more than knowing CPR and having a 72-hour kit on hand. Women need to be safe – be it in the home or in a parking garage. Check out these links on safety for women:
WomensDefenseCenter.com has some great details on the following topics:
- How to stay safe in your car or cab
- Getting help from strangers
- Targeting vulnerable points
- Somebody’s watching me
Self Defense Tips and Tricks for Women
The Safety.com Center for Women offers insight and advice on how women can feel and be safer.
Are you a traveling woman? WomenTravelTips.com is a great site for women on the go.
Visit the Center for Disease Control website for tips to prevent poisoning. The CDC covers topics such as:
- Drugs and medicines
- Household chemicals
- Carbon monoxide
- Keeping young children safe from poisoning
- What to do if poisoning occurs
- Poison prevention in your community
The American Association of Poison Control Centers is a great resource for finding your local poison control center, teaching your children about poison, facts and myths, and prevention. Check out their Summer Safety Quiz too.