Here at the Safety Center, concerned parents are often asking, “how do I teach my child about strangers?” We’ve been offering some helpful tips to families all year long, but these are some of our most important. John Walsh gives some of his best advice to help parents teach kids about who the safe adults in their lives are. Kids need to know how to react when faced with a situation or person that makes them feel uncomfortable. Many of these are common sense rules that you should remind your kids about as often as possible Continue reading Ask John Walsh: How Do I Teach My Child About Strangers? »

Each year, more than 17,602 people are killed by drunk drivers in the United States costing the public over $114 billion. And according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, a disproportionate number of alcohol-related accidents occur around the holidays, especially on New Year’s Eve, a night filled with late partying and celebratory drinking. But even if you don’t drink to get drunk, it’s important to remember this time of year that tipsy driving is still drunk driving. As of 2005, all 50 states have passed laws setting .08 as the legal blood alcohol limit. It seems like an obscure number, but it’s simple to calculate. Jot down these formulas from the University of California and use them whenever you have even one drink and plan to get behind the wheel. Better yet, perform these calculations in reverse to find the amount you can drink while still keeping a responsible BAC level Continue reading Know How To Calculate Your Blood Alcohol Level »

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, research shows that as many as half of children who take medication take it improperly. This statistic becomes more frightening when you take into account the National Safety Council’s data that over 9,000 Americans died in 2003 (most recent data) from poisoning by non-narcotic and non-hallucinogenic drugs. With cases like Arielle Newman, the 17-year-old track star who overdosed on BenGay earlier this year, parents are more concerned than ever with taking the proper precautions when medicating their children. This is especially true when giving medicine to young kids. Continue reading Guidelines for Giving Medication to Children »

There are over 170 million American adults using the internet today, and about a third of those are using online classifieds or dating services. With our busy schedules, the internet certainly makes many things in our lives easier, including meeting new people. But unfortunately for some of us, there are times when the convenience and trust we place in the internet is exploited, and things go terribly wrong. Such as in the tragic case of Katherine Olson who was brutally murdered after answering an ad for a babysitter on internet bulletin board Craigslist, or the story of Jeffrey Marsalis, who has been convicted of raping numerous women he met through online dating websites.

As the experts at WiredSafety point out, it’s very easy to get comfortable with someone you’ve met online. There is a false sense of security we feel when talking to someone online because we are in the comfort of our own homes. But online experts remind us how important it is to remember that the people you are meeting on the web are still strangers, and that you should take the same precautions as you would with meeting a stranger on the street. You know so much about them now, their favorite movies, foods, where they work. These are all things they might have told you, but can you be certain it’s all true? Do you know how to protect yourself against potential danger? Continue reading Is It Ever Safe To Meet People Online? »