Preventing Injuries through Smart Budgets

Amidst the polarizing budget talks taking place in Washington, some of the most important issues are seemingly forgotten. Kate Carr, the President and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide, recently wrote the Office of Management and Budget as a reminder of "...the vital role of the federal government in keeping kids safe." In her letter, Carr advocates for the adequate funding of 3 crucial agencies that help prevent childhood injuries: the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC).

With the proper resources, these agencies can continue to successfully protect children and fulfill their missions.

Specifically, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has been instrumental in preventing dangerous toys and children's products from crossing our borders. According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the CPSC, in 2012 the agencies confiscated two million units of products, many of which were children’s toys with toxic amounts of lead.

Second, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has led the charge in reducing childhood injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents. The agency has successfully discouraged distracted and drunk driving through statewide grant initiatives, promoted awareness about the proper use of child safety seats, and established a graduated driver license grant program to better train teenage drivers.

Finally, the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control "...is the only federal entity that focuses on injury and violence prevention in the home, recreational and other non-work settings." One of its main initiatives has been the National Action Plan for Child Injury Prevention which increases awareness about the problem of childhood injury and promotes solutions by uniting the efforts of various organizations under a common vision and strategy.

Clearly, these agencies stand out for their important work in raising awareness and preventing childhood injuries. To make sure that the importance of these organizations stays on politician’s minds this budget season, a simple letter such as Ms. Carr's can go a long way!

Click here to read Kate Carr's letter to Acting Director Jeffrey Zients of the Office of Management and Budget.

"Safe Storage, Safe Dosing, Safe Kids"

While medications are lifesaving and crucial to maintaining our health, we cannot forget the dangers that they can pose to curious children. According to Safe Kids USA, more than 60,000 kids are treated annually in an ER due to unintentional medication poisoning. That’s an astounding 165 children a day. By staying aware of our medications and ensuring that we follow procedures for safe storage, dosing, and disposal, we can help prevent these accidents from occurring.

For medication safety tips and a comprehensive discussion of this problem, check out Safe Kids’s website and 2012 publication “Safe Storage, Safe Dosing, Safe Kids: A Report to the Nation on Safe Medication.” 

Why texting while walking is more dangerous than you thought...

As crazy as it sounds, texting while walking might have been the most dangerous thing you did today. According to Safe Kids Worldwide’s new study, Walking Safely: A Report to the Nation, injuries sustained while walking for kids 16 – 19 years old have increased 25% in the past 5 years. As Kate Carr, the president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide, notes, “We suspect one cause of this disturbing trend is distraction, since the increase in teen injuries seems to correlate with the prevalence of cell phone use, both among walkers and drivers.” Maybe it’s best to take the advice and put the phone down.

See the below links for more...

Safe Kids Press Release: "New Study Finds Teenagers at Greatest Risk for Pedestrian Injuries"

NBC News: "Put the Phone Down and Walk! Teen Pedestrian Injuries on Rise"

Huffington Post: "Texting while Walking: How Distracted Pedestrians are Hurting Themselves"