Thanksgiving Special!

On this episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan recap their recent trip to Colorado Springs, CO where they spoke at the 2023 National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA) conference—which, for the first time, was held jointly with the Association of Aquatic Professionals’ (AOAP) annual conference. The joint conference allowed The ZAC Foundation to reach more individuals and raise greater awareness for water safety, a community-based approach towards engagement on drowning prevention. Parents and caregivers will really appreciate the progress being made and the goals for the future, all of which will result in children being safer around water.  To learn more about The ZAC Foundation, visit: https://thezacfoundation.org

On this episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan welcome Peter Kerin, owner of Foresight Childproofing. Peter is a father of three and is considered a leading expert in his field with over a decade of experience in professionally childproofing homes. During the conversation, Peter explains how parents can take minor home precautions that ultimately make their home significantly safer for newborn babies and small children. What are the top recommendations for a safer, child-friendly home? And what are some commonly overlooked dangers that every parent needs to be aware of?

On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan are joined by Dr. Melissa Dvorsky—Assistant Professor of pediatrics, psychiatry and behavioral sciences at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She also serves as the Director of the ADHD & Learning Differences Program at Children’s National. During the conversation, Dr. Dvorsky explains that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an incredibly common neurodevelopmental disorder in children. What are the most common symptoms of ADHD? And how, as a parent, can you guarantee academic success for a child who struggles with inattention and impulsivity? This is an incredibly helpful and powerful episode that will help every caregiver who has a child with ADHD.

On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan discuss the upcoming holiday season! Everyone is excited for Christmas! Well, sort of… Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, or New Years, the holiday season is typically accompanied by a seemingly endless series of chores, obligations, and activities—it’s easy to get overwhelmed. We all want to spend more time enjoying the festivities and less time worrying. So, what tricks and tips are Karen and Megan using to simplify otherwise time-consuming tasks? PLUS: chimney safety tips, Christmas tree precautions, and the horrors of forgetting to move the elf on the shelf! Happy Holidays!

On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan are joined by Donna Fishman, the Director of the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness. Correlating to the holiday season, December has been declared National Toy Safety Month—is it safe for kids to play with Nerf guns or other toys with projectile components? Alarmingly, eye injuries are the most common cause of vision loss in children under the age of five. What can you do, as a parent, to ensure your children have a happy—and safe—holiday?

On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan talk about Thanksgiving—spending time with family, the near impossibility of creating a menu that will appease everyone at the table, and the joys of playing host during the holiday season! PLUS, is it actually “stuffing” if it was cooked on a stove top? Let the debate begin!

On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan speak with Amber Rollins, the Director of Kids and Car Safety—an organization dedicated to raising awareness of “the dangerous social practice of leaving children unattended in or around vehicles.” Astoundingly, Kids and Car Safety is the only organization in the country collecting data on child fatalities resulting from accidental, in-car abonnement. But the phenomenon of children being forgotten in vehicles doesn’t seem to predate 1990. What was the change that led to this crisis and what action needs to be taken to reduce risk? This is a must listen to episode for anyone who has children or grandchildren in car seats, or knows anyone who does.  Kids and Car Safety is a non-profit organization. You can learn more at: https://www.kidsandcars.org

On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan discuss Halloween safety tips, fun costumes, and the complexities of Halloween falling on a Monday this year! During the conversation, Megan provides a unique, helpful candy inspection tip she and her husband use while trick-or-treating with the kids. PLUS- Do people still carve pumpkins? Of course! But don’t waste the pumpkin seeds!

On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan  are  joined by Paul DelPonte, the Executive Director of the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC). Paul’s work has focused on expanding the NCPC’s impact nationally—specifically via the introduction of McGruff the Crime Dog to a new generation of American children. October is National Crime Prevention month, and to commemorate the occasion the NCPC and McGruff the Crime Dog made an appearance at Capitol Hill! Karen, Megan, and Paul discuss several tips and strategies to enhance your safety and the safety of your community, the fentanyl crisis, and—with Halloween right around the corner—how to keep your kids safe while trick-or-treating. How can you ensure your home and your neighborhood are safe? What is the best way to protect your children from cyberbullying? How can you raise children who balance the dangers of "stranger danger" with being polite and friendly young people? Get answers to these questions and more as we recognize National Crime Prevention Month. 

On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan welcome Assemblyman Sean Kean—who has served in the New Jersey State Legislature since 2002. Assemblyman Kean discusses the importance of water safety and drowning prevention —specifically his proposed bipartisan legislation that would provide students from kindergarten through 8th grade with water safety instruction as a requirement of their public-school education. Karen, Megan, and Assemblyman Kean acknowledge the alarming trend of preventable drowning deaths that annually plague the state of New Jersey, our region, and the nation. What can be done to prevent these repeated tragedies? How much would such an education requirement cost? What about schools that don't have access to water? Let's give all students the tools they need to enjoy water safely and support A-618, the water safety in education act.