Children's

Superfood Recipes From Pediatric Dietitians

Easy 5-Minute Salmon Salad
Superfood: Salmon
INGREDIENTS:
·      2 (5-6 oz) cans of salmon, drained
·      1/3 cup mayonnaise
·      1 medium stalk celery, finely chopped
·      3 Tablespoons red onion, finely chopped
·      1 Tablespoon fresh dill (or 1 teaspoon dried dill)
·      1-3 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (option, add for taste)
·      Black pepper

DIRECTIONS:
1.     In a medium or large bowl, combine the drained salmon, mayonnaise, celery, red onion, dill, lemon juice (if using), and black pepper.
 
2.     Stir until well mixed and add additional mayo to reach desired consistency.
 
3.     Serve the salmon salad as a sandwich, in a lettuce wrap, on a bed or greens, or enjoy with cucumber slices or crackers.
 
4.     Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Chickpea Blondie Bars
Superfood: Chickpeas (legumes)
 
INGREDIENTS:
·      1 (15 oz) can unsalted chickpeas, drained
·      1/2 cup dates (soaked in 1/2 cup water)
·      1/2 cup peanut butter
·      1 Tbsp unsweetened plant milk
·      1 tsp vanilla
·      1/2 tsp baking powder
·      1/4 tsp baking soda
·      1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
 
DIRECTIONS:
1.     To make date syrup (which serves as a natural sweetener), soak 1/2 cup pitted dates in 1/2 cup warm (or boiling) water for at least 10 minutes to soften.
 
2.     Drain the canned chickpeas (and rinse for 1 minute if not using an unsalted version).
 
3.     Add dates and water used for soaking to a food processor/blender along with all the remaining ingredients (except the chocolate chips). Blend until smooth. If the batter is too thick, add more plant milk 1 Tbsp at a time until desired consistency is reached.
 
4.     Pour batter into an 8×8 baking dish either lined with parchment paper or lightly greased. Fold in the chocolate chips, smooth out the batter, and add any remaining chocolate chips for topping.
 
5.     Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350 F on the middle rack.
 
6.    Remove from the oven and let cool. Best when served chilled! Store blondie bars in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Greek Meatballs
Superfoods: Garlic, Parsley, Red Onions, and Mint
 
INGREDIENTS (4 Servings):
• 1 lb 93% lean ground chicken or turkey
• 1 large egg
• ½ cup breadcrumbs
• ¼ cup finely diced red onion
• 3 cloves garlic, minced (or ½ tsp garlic powder)
• 3 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• 3 tbsp fresh mint, chopped
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste 

DIRECTIONS:

1.   Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.

2.   In a bowl, mix all meatball ingredients until just combined.

3.   Form into ~16 meatballs and place on the baking sheet.

4.   Bake 18–22 minutes, until cooked through (165°F internal temp).

5.   Serve meatballs over jasmine rice and drizzled with feta yogurt sauce.

Peanut Butter Power Balls
Superfood: Flax seed
INGREDIENTS:
·      1 ½ cups creamy peanut butter (runny, natural peanut butter works well)
·      ¼ cup honey
·      1 teaspoon vanilla
·      1/8 tsp salt
·      1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
·      1/3 cup ground flax seed
·      ½ cup PB2 powder (could sub another protein powder)
·      ½ cup chocolate chips (or mini chocolate chips)- OPTIONAL
·      ½ cup dry coconut flakes – OPTIONAL
 
DIRECTIONS:
1.     Combine the creamy peanut butter, honey, vanilla, and salt and whisk together until well combined
 
2.     In a separate bowl, combine the oats, ground flax seed, and PB2 powder
 
3.     Combine the wet and dry ingredients
 
4.     Mix in the optional mix ins – chocolate chips and coconut flakes. May need to fold and mix by hand
 
5.     Roll into tablespoon balls. Consistency may vary depending on the type of peanut butter used. If too sticky, add a handful of oats. If too dry, add a tbsp of water at a time. This should make about 28 balls. Put on a parchment paper lined tray or baking dish and put in the fridge for about 30 minutes, then store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Protein Bagels
Superfood: Green Yogurt
INGREDIENTS:
·      2 cups flour
·      2 cups Greek yogurt
·      1 tsp baking power
·      1 tsp salt
 
 
DIRECTIONS:
1.     Mix all ingredients together and knead until combined. Then split into balls and form bagel by pinching a hole in the middle. Paint Egg wash on top and add whatever seasoning you want! Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes then broil on high for 5 minutes. Makes 4-6 bagels.

March 23, 2026 by
Children's

The Path to Become a Physician

Working at UAB and Children’s of Alabama inspired Isaac Martinez to pursue a career in medicine.

Not long after graduating from Carleton College in Minnesota in 2018, Isaac Martinez realized his original career plans were no longer the right fit. For some, this might have been an obstacle; for Martinez, it became an opportunity.

Martinez, who graduated with a degree in chemistry, had planned to pursue a Ph.D. in the same field at the University of Delaware. But after finishing his undergraduate studies, he came to see that it would not make him happy. “I kind of took a step back and realized that I’m just doing this to do it,” he said. “I don’t really have a reason as to why I’m getting a Ph.D. in this field specifically.”

So he took some time off and applied for a job as a clinical research coordinator in the Institute for Cancer Outcomes and Survivorship (ICOS) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and Children’s of Alabama. He now says it’s the best decision he’s ever made.

ICOS was founded in 2015 to meet the needs of the growing population of cancer survivors. The program’s mission is to reduce the burden of cancer and its sequelae across all segments of the population through interdisciplinary research, health promotion and education—thus giving cancer survivors the chance at long, healthy lives. At the time Martinez applied, Emily Johnston, M.D., MS, a pediatric oncologist and Carleton College alum, had just moved to Birmingham to join ICOS, where she was working to improve end-of-life care for children with cancer and other complex medical conditions. Martinez was her first hire. Over the next seven years, he would interview more than 100 bereaved parents, asking them about their experience with end-of-life care. “At first, it was really overwhelming,” Martinez said. “But you quickly realize the need.”

There has been a growing understanding that palliative care for children with cancer is critically important. But there are barriers to expanding pediatric palliative care access—not only at UAB and Children’s, but across the country. Although palliative care’s goal is to alleviate suffering—physical, spiritual, emotional and psychosocial—there are some who think palliative care is only about end-of-life care. But Martinez, Johnston and others helped children with high-risk brain tumors at Children’s get palliative care at the time of diagnosis. Martinez interviewed providers and parents about their experiences, which were almost universally positive. This led to early palliative care programs for children with solid tumors.

Additionally, improving end-of-life care for children has been limited by hesitation about doing research with bereaved parents. “I think that it’s hard to talk about those things,” Martinez said. “It’s hard to do research in those areas. There’s a lot of hesitancy about involving parents in this type of research because of bringing up an emotional subject matter. But it turns out that parents are interested in participating, and they want this research to be done. And for a lot of those parents, it’s a way to ensure that their child’s legacy lives on. It’s a way to process what happened.”

The team’s work helped them develop the first end-of-life quality measures for children with cancer and led to the publication of their findings. For Martinez, contributing to this process was “like nothing I’ve ever done in my life,” he said. And it changed the trajectory of his career. Instead of pursuing a Ph.D., he decided to pursue an M.D. He now wants to become a physician so he can help more families like the ones he interviewed. In the fall of 2025, he enrolled in the Heersink School of Medicine at UAB.

“I think [these experiences] were a huge motivator for me to apply to medical school and eventually become a physician and care for these families,” he said.

For Martinez, the overarching goal is to help others, which he already was doing even before he started medical school. And ICOS played a role in that, too. In the early part of 2025, a former oncology nurse in the ICOS Survivorship Clinic told him about bone marrow donation. “As I did more research, I realized that most Hispanic patients don’t get matched because there’s not enough people registered to be donors for those matches to be made.”

So he signed up to donate and was matched with a patient who needed a bone marrow transplant within just a few months—much faster than the typical match. “That speaks to the need of Hispanic donors,” Martinez said. “That speaks to how often these donors are needed.”  

Helping minority communities is a key reason Martinez wants to go into medicine. This desire came into focus during his time at ICOS when he also served as a part-time interpreter at Children’s. Translating for Hispanic patients revealed to him the need for Hispanic physicians. “I saw the faces change as soon as I entered the room,” he said. “I saw the special interactions that I had with some of these patients. That planted a seed in me during those first couple of years. As I got to experience more of what medicine actually is and what physicians do, I quickly realized that’s what I wanted to do.”

While he’s not sure what specialty he’ll pursue, palliative care and oncology are “the obvious choice” since they fit his passion. But he’s keeping an open mind. “In medicine, I don’t think that I can make the wrong choice,” he said. “Bottom line, I want to help patients, I want to work with families, and I want to practice medicine. As long as I can fulfill those three categories, whether it’s oncology or palliative care or psychiatry or emergency medicine—which are kind of the things that I’m leaning towards—I would be happy.”

Whatever direction he goes, his path to becoming a physician began here at Children’s and UAB, where he discovered that his happiness is found in helping others.

October 20, 2025 by
Children's

Sickle Cell Awareness Month

September is designated as National Sickle Cell Awareness Month to increase understanding and support for those living with the blood disorder that affect millions worldwide. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited disease that affects the body’s hemoglobin. Normal hemoglobin red blood cells are round and smooth; in a child with sickle cell disease, red blood cells are hard, sticky and shaped like a crescent, or sickle. Children with SCD may face complications like pain crises, frequent infections, anemia, organ damage, stroke and acute chest syndrome.

The Alabama Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s of Alabama, which is ranked among the best pediatric programs in the nation, cares for more than 1,000 children and young adults with SCD. The center is a partnership between Children’s of Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program, the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB, UAB Lifespan Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center (UAB LCSCC) and national childhood research entities, including the National Cancer Institute and the Children’s Oncology Group. It brings together the care, compassion and facilities of Children’s of Alabama with the research conducted at UAB.

Patients living with SCD require different approaches at different life stages to ensure the continuity of expert care. Comprehensive sickle cell centers provide specialized, coordinated care throughout the patient’s entire lifespan, bringing together pediatric sickle cell specialists, adult hematologists, psychologists, pain management experts, nurse practitioners, social workers, education specialists and child life specialists.

At Children’s, the focus is not only on physical health needs, but also mental health support, pain management, preventive care and family education. These programs provide personalized care for physical and emotional health needs, recognizing that sickle cell disease affects every aspect of life.

Comprehensive care plans include medications to reduce complications from sickle cell disease as well as the latest treatment advances, including hydroxyurea therapy, blood transfusion programs and bone marrow transplantation when appropriate. We also participate in clinical research to bring patients access to cutting-edge treatments. The team is dedicated to working to improve patient’s lives. To learn more about the center and to read patient stories of hope, visit https://www.childrensal.org/services/alabama-center-childhood-cancer-and-blood-disorders/cancer-and-blood-disorders-programs-3

September 12, 2025 by
Children's

Back-to-School Safety Tips Every Parent Should Know

As kids head back to school, families get back into routines, stock up on supplies, and prep for busy mornings. But with the chaos of a new school year also comes some hidden hazards that can sneak into everyday life, especially for children.

It’s important not to let rushed morning routines or busy classrooms get in the way of a child’s safety. Here are four important reminders to keep in mind this school year:

  1. Choose Art Supplies with Safety in Mind
    Whether you’re a teacher or parent, when shopping for school supplies, look for products labeled with the ACMI AP seal (Approved Product by the Art and Creative Materials Institute). This seal means the product is non-toxic and safe for children to use.
  2. Use Hand Sanitizer Safely
    Hand sanitizer is a classroom essential, but it’s important to use it responsibly. Most hand sanitizers contain alcohol, which is effective at killing germs but can be harmful if swallowed or used improperly. Teach children to use just a small amount. Supervise younger kids during use. Store sanitizers out of reach when not in use.
  3. Avoid Medication Mix-Ups in the Morning Rush
    Busy mornings can lead to confusion, especially if more than one adult is involved in giving medications or if more than one child is being given medications. Double doses can accidentally happen when each parent assumes the other has not already given it. Set up a daily medication chart or use a shared phone reminder to track doses. It only takes a few seconds, but it could prevent a serious mistake.
  4. Keep Water Beads Away from Young Children
    Water beads might look like fun toys for the classroom, but they pose a serious risk if swallowed. These tiny beads can swell inside the intestines, potentially leading to dangerous blockages and medical emergencies. If you have younger children or students, it’s best to avoid water beads entirely or store them securely out of reach.

    The Poison Help Hotline is available 24/7, every day of the year. Whether it’s a medication error, accidental ingestion, or a question about a product, trained experts are ready to help for all ages. Save the number in your phone, give it to your child’s teacher, and post it on your fridge for babysitters, grandparents, or older kids to access easily. The Alabama Poison Information Center hotline is 1-800-222-1222.
August 13, 2025 by
Children's

Measles: What Parents Should Know

There is a resurgence of measles cases in the United States, which is causing concern among some families and health experts. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three outbreaks (defined as three or more related cases) have been reported in 2025, and 93% of total cases were outbreak-associated. For comparison, the CDC says 16 outbreaks were reported last year, and 69% of those cases were outbreak-associated.

Pediatricians in the Infectious Disease Division at Children’s of Alabama say measles is an age-old infection. It is highly contagious and can cause serious illness. Some health experts call it one of the most contagious infectious diseases known. They say anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk.

Some signs and symptoms of measles include a cough, runny nose, fever, and red, watery eyes. Children also may have Koplik’s spots (small red spots with blue-white centers) inside the mouth before the rash starts. Health experts say initially, a rash can begin on the face and then spread out to other parts of the body. The rash can break out 3-5 days after the symptoms start, and a child could also develop a very high fever. The fever and the rash can slowly go away after a few days.

So, how does measles spread? It is a respiratory spread that can happen when people breathe it in or have direct contact with virus-infected fluid. It can pass through droplets sprayed into the air when someone with measles sneezes or coughs. This can happen up to two hours after the infected person leaves the room. If a child is exposed to the virus, symptoms appear six to 21 days later.

Health experts advise the best way for parents to protect their children from measles is to vaccinate them. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), CDC, and the American Academy of Family Physicians all recommend children receive the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine at the age of 12-15 months and again at 4 to 6 years. Children can receive the second dose earlier if it is at least 28 days after the first dose. The first vaccine can be given to babies as young as six months old if they travel internationally.  About 95% of people achieve immunity after the first vaccine, and the rest develop it the second time they are vaccinated. Immunity usually lasts a lifetime. If parents have questions about the vaccine or need to check to see if their child is vaccinated, they should talk with their pediatrician.

Health experts continue to stress the importance of widespread immunization. They say 95% of the people who live in the community need to be vaccinated for a community to be immune from it. Over the past few years, vaccination rates have declined. Those who are at the highest risk during a measles outbreak are infants who are not old enough to get the measles vaccine, those who have not gotten two doses of the measles vaccine, pregnant women, and people with poor nutrition or weak immune systems.

For more information on the measles vaccine, click here.

March 11, 2025 by
Children's

Tornadoes: Helping Your Family Be Prepared

Tornadoes can happen anytime and anyplace with little warning, so it’s important to be prepared. Having a plan can make the idea of storms less stressful for your whole family. They’ll know what to do and when to do it. Here are some tips and things to know from ABC 3340’s Chief Meteorologist, James Spann:

  1. Know when your severe weather season is: Although tornadoes can happen during any month, Alabama has a severe weather season to be mindful of. Alabama’s tornado season runs from November through May.
  2. Have a reliable way of hearing severe weather warnings: An outdoor siren is not reliable enough on its own. The baseline is a NOAA Weather Radio for every home and business. Be sure that emergency alerts are enabled on your phone.
  3. Know the safe place in your home: The best space is a small room (hall, closet, bathroom) near the center of the house on the lowest floor with no windows. You do not have to be underground.
  4. Get your safe place ready:
    • Have helmets for everyone in your safe space: A bicycle helmet works fine. Other good choices include football helmets, batting helmets, and motorcycle helmets.Keep hard sole shoes for everyone in your safe place: This is helpful if you have to walk over tornado debris to find help.
    • Have a portable air horn for all as well: Often, first responders have a hard time finding those that have been injured in a tornado; this will let them know your location and that you need help. 
  5. What to do if you live in a mobile home: Do not stay in your mobile home if you are in a tornado warning polygon. Know the location of the nearest shelter that is available 24/7 and how to get there quickly. Be sure you have transportation available on severe weather days.

Even if your family does all the possible prep work, the thought of a tornado can be a lot for kids to handle. Learn how to talk with them about the storm and ease any fears they have. 

If your home or neighborhood has damage after a tornado, check the CDC’s tips on how to stay safe.

February 18, 2025 by
Children's

Water Safety

Why Is Water Safety Important?

Water safety isn’t just about keeping kids safe in the pool. Bathroom water safety is also important. Things you might not think about — like catchment ponds, drainage ditches, and runoff areas in your neighborhood — can be hazards too.

Drowning Facts

In the U.S.:

  • Drowning is a leading cause of injury-related death in children, especially those younger than 4 and teens.
  • Most kids with nonfatal drowning injuries need emergency room care. Half of them will need further care, often in a hospital.
  • Surviving a drowning can leave someone with severe brain damage — 5%-10% of childhood drowning cases result in long-term disability, such as persistent vegetative state or quadriplegia (the loss of use of all four limbs and torso).

How kids drown varies by age:

  • Under age 1: Babies most often drown in bathtubs, buckets, and toilets.
  • 1–4 years old: Young children most often drown in swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas.
  • Older kids, teens, and young adults: Most drownings in these age groups happen in natural bodies of water, such as lakes and rivers.

So parents need to know how to keep kids safe in and on the water — whether they’re in the bathtub, on a boat, in your backyard pool, or out and about.

Drowning Prevention

These safety steps can protect kids and teens around water:

  • Assign an adult “water watcher”
  • Use pool fences, alarms, and covers
  • Have your children take swim lessons
  • Learn CPR
  • Use Life Jackets
  • No alcohol or drugs
  • Empty all bathtubs, baby pools, and water buckets after use
  • Talk to your children and teens about water safety

Bathroom Water Safety

The most important safety rule is: Never leave a young child unattended in the bathroom. This is especially important during bathing. Even a child who appears to be well-propped in a safety tub or bath ring can slip down and drown. This can happen in seconds. Most bathtub drownings or accidental burns happen when a child is left unattended, even briefly.

Water temperature is also important. Young children have thinner skin than older kids and adults, so they can burn more easily. Just 3 seconds of exposure to tap water that’s 140°F (60°C) can cause a third-degree burn. You can reduce the risk of scalding by setting the water heater thermostat in your home to 120°F (49°C) and by always testing the water with your wrist or elbow before placing your child in the bath.

Pool Safety

Having a pool, pond, spa, or hot tub on your property is a huge responsibility when it comes to safety. Ask yourself these safety questions if you have a backyard pool:

  • Is there climb-proof fencing at least 5 feet (1.5 meters) high on all sides of the pool? 
  • Does the pool fence have a self-closing gate with a childproof lock?
  • If the pool can be accessed through a door to the house, do you have a door alarm installed?
  • Have all ladders been removed from an above-ground pool when not in use?

Outdoor Water Safety

Swimming in an open body of water (like a pond, lake, river, or ocean) is different from swimming in a pool. Even kids who are good swimmers need to take care. Here are some tips:

  • Teach kids to never swim alone.
  • Talk to teens about why they shouldn’t use drugs or alcohol while swimming at lakes, rivers, and ponds.
  • Try to find an area with lifeguards on duty.
  • Teach kids to stay away from weeds and grass in the water.
  • Kids should wear foot protection such as aqua socks or water shoes to protect them from jagged rocks, broken glass, and other sharp objects.
  • In bad weather, especially lightning, everyone should get out of the water right away.
  • If you live or stay near a lake, river, or pond and have kids who can’t swim or are new swimmers, keep all doors locked (even those that don’t face the water).
  • Take a safe boating course. States offer courses and online courses also are available.
  • Children and adults should wear Coast Guard-approved life jackets while on a boat or jet ski, even if they can swim.

November 21, 2024 by
Children's

Disaster Readiness

Being fully equipped and ready for any disaster is crucial for keeping your loved ones safe. Here are some steps to stay prepared for an unexpected disaster or event. 

Plan ahead.

Creating a plan allows you to be prepared in an emergency. Assess exit points in your home, workplace, or places you frequent. Think about ways you can help others or others can help you in a disaster. This also includes creating a first-aid kit for yourself and your family. Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes. It is important to know which types of disasters could affect your area and how you’ll contact one another. You can make a family plan at ready.gov.

Stay Informed

Sign up for local news reports on your phone to be notified when to act. Stay up to date with weather forecasts and news alerts. Follow your local National Weather Service on social media to stay informed. If you know bad weather might be coming, stock up on essentials from the grocery store and review an evacuation plan with your family. If there are no other options, you can go to the local storm shelter with your family. 

Talk to your children

Regardless of your child’s age, it is important to have a conversation about being prepared in emergencies. Discuss plans for unexpected events in an age-appropriate way. Show them where you keep the list of emergency contacts and talk about meeting places. 

Get Tech Ready

Have an emergency plan for charging phones and laptops. Utilize email, texting, or social media to keep in contact with family and friends. However, you should also have a backup plan if your cell phone does not work. Keep a charger in your car and invest in a portable charger to carry wherever you go. 

Make a preparedness kit

Having a kit ready at any time helps families be prepared for a disaster at any moment. Your kit could include:

  • Helmets
  • Shoes
  • Flashlight
  • Water bottles 
  • Extra batteries
  • Phone charger
  • Fire extinguisher 
  • Toiletries
  • Non-perishable food
  • First-aid kit

Check out these resources to learn more

Ready.gov

HealthyChildren.org

KidsHealth.org

November 20, 2024 by
Children's

Firearm Safety

Firearms are the leading cause of death for American children and teens. Many families keep firearms in the home, so be sure it is stored safely and that all family members know the rules about handling guns.

What Is the Safest Way to Store a Gun?

If you have a gun at home, be sure to:

  • Keep the gun unloaded and locked up in a cabinet, safe, gun vault, or storage case.
  • Lock the bullets in a place separate from the gun.
  • Use a gun lock (a lock that makes the gun unable to fire).
  • Hide the keys (or passcode) to the locked storage.

Why Is Proper Gun Storage So Important?

Young children are curious. Even if you have talked to them many times about gun safety, they can’t truly understand how dangerous guns are. If they come across a loaded gun, they can accidentally hurt or kill themselves or someone else.

Teens can be emotional and may act without thinking. If they have depression or are feeling down, they may see a gun as an easy way out. In fact, most teens and preteens who kill themselves use a gun from their home or from the house of a relative or friend. Teens should never be able to get to a gun and bullets without an adult being there.

People of any age who are depressed are at increased risk of suicide. If someone in the family has depression, or has had thoughts of suicide, all guns should be removed from the home. If the guns cannot be removed, it is even more important to store the gun unloaded and locked up with the bullets stored separately and keys hidden.

What About Guns in the Homes of Family and Friends?

If your child is going to someone’s house, it’s important to know if there are guns in the home. It may feel awkward to ask, but most people will understand that you’re trying to protect your child.

You might try:

  • “My child is pretty curious. Is there a gun or anything else dangerous he might get into?”
  • “Our doctor recommended that I check to make sure there are no guns where my child plays. Do you have any guns at home?”

It is safest to keep your child away from homes where there is a gun. If you do let your child play in a home where there is a gun, be sure that:

  • The gun is stored unloaded and locked up.
  • The bullets are locked up and stored separately.
  • All keys to the locks are hidden.

What Should Kids Understand About Guns?

It’s not kids’ responsibility to understand guns. This should be the adult’s job. Children and teens are often curious and impulsive. So even when adults give well-meaning warnings, kids often want to explore a gun if they find it. Their young minds are still developing, so it’s the adult’s duty to create “safety barriers” to help protect them. This is why safe gun storage is vital.

If kids ask about guns, tell them guns are very dangerous and they should follow these rules if they see one:

  1. Stop what they’re doing.
  2. Do not touch the gun, or allow anyone else to, even if it looks like a toy.
  3. Leave the area where the gun is.
  4. Tell an adult right away.

If you allow your child or teen to use a gun for recreation with you or another adult, it is very important that you:

  • Store the gun unloaded and locked up. Do not give your child or teen the passcode or keys to get the gun out.
  • Make sure that your child or teen understands that it is never OK to handle a gun without a responsible adult there.
  • Teach your child or teen to assume a gun is loaded and never to point a gun at someone.
  • Set a good example with your own safe gun handling practices.

Learn more about gun safety and locks: https://youtu.be/W0qM3s4bXrs?si=gTUbxlRaDAo5yGZr

November 18, 2024 by
Children's

Car Seat Safety

Ensuring babies and young kids are in a car seat every time they’re in a car can help keep them safe. Use these tips to pick the right seat and use it correctly.

What Are the Types of Car Seats?

Babies start facing the back of the car in infant-only or convertible seats. As they grow, they switch to forward-facing seats and then to a booster seat.

Infant-Only Car Seats

Infant-only seats best fit newborns and smaller infants. They are used only as rear-facing seats (this means the baby faces the back of the car). Infant-only seats are for babies from birth until they reach around 35 pounds (about 16 kilograms), depending on the model. You’ll need to use another seat when the baby outgrows the seat.

Infant-only safety seats are convenient because they also can be used as carriers, chairs, or rockers when not used in the car. Many models hook into a base, and the base can stay in the car. Some can be clicked into strollers.

Some things to remember:

  • If your baby is in the car seat outside of the car, never leave them unattended and never put the seat on a high surface like a kitchen counter, a dresser, or changing table.
  • If your baby falls asleep in the car seat, move them to a safe sleep spot (such as a crib) as soon as possible.
  • Don’t let your baby spend too much time in the car seat at home or at daycare. Babies need to move as part of their healthy growth and development.

Convertible Car Seats

Convertible seats can be used by babies and young children. Most will work from birth up to 65 pounds (30 kilograms). Some will work for even bigger children. They are used rear-facing or forward-facing, depending on the child’s height and weight. Some convertible seats are called “all-in-one” or “3-in-one” because they convert from rear-facing to front-facing to booster with the harness removed.

Convertible seats can save you money because you don’t have to buy an infant-only seat. But they can only be used in the car (not as a carrier or seat outside the car). And babies who are very small will fit better in an infant-only seat.

Forward-Facing-Only Car Seats

Forward-facing-only seats are used for kids who have outgrown the weight or height limit for a rear-facing car seat. They can be used only as facing forward seats. They have a harness with a buckle. Some can convert to a booster seat for older kids and to be used with the car’s seat belt.

Booster Seats

A booster seat is a forward-facing car seat that uses the car’s seat belt. Kids move into a booster seat when they outgrow the height and weight limits of a car seat.

How Do I Pick a Car Seat?

Many kinds of car seats are available, so it can get confusing. When buying a car seat:

  • Get a car seat that fits your child’s weight, height, and age, as well as your vehicle, and use it every time your child is in the car. 
  • Register the seat with the manufacturer so you hear about any recalls.
  • Learn how to install the seat and use the harness before your child’s first ride. 
  • Visit a child car seat inspection station to get help or double-check that you’ve installed it properly. The federal government sets up these stations across the country. Help is also available from many local health departments, public safety groups, hospitals, law enforcement agencies, and fire departments. Be sure to ask for a certified child passenger safety technician.

It’s best not to use a secondhand (used) car seat. It may have been in a crash or been recalled for a problem. 

How Long Should My Child Face the Rear of the Car?

If you use an infant-only car seat, your baby should stay rear-facing at all times. When your child outgrows the infant seat’s height or weight limit, move them to a convertible car seat. They should stay rear-facing until they reach the highest height and weight limits for the convertible car seat. Smaller children can stay rear-facing until they are 3 or 4 years old. It’s best to keep your child rear-facing as long as possible to help protect their head and neck if a crash happens.

After your child outgrows the rear-facing height or weight limit, you can use a forward-facing seat with a harness. They can move to a booster seat when they outgrow the seats’ height or weight limit. 

Where Should I Put the Car Seat?

Even if you have the right car seat, where you put it in the car matters:

The safest place for babies and children is in the back middle seat. If needed, you can also put a car seat in the back window seats.

Do not put any kind of infant or child’s car seat in the front seat of a car with airbags. If the airbag opens, the child can be seriously injured or killed.

If you have no choice and must place a child in the front (that is, if your car is a two-seater or if the car seat will not fit in the back seat), turn off the airbag and push the seat as far back as it will go.

What Else Should I Know?

Using a car seat is the law in every U.S. state. Car seat and booster seat laws vary by state, so check your state’s specific laws.

For more information about keeping kids safe in cars, visit:

November 12, 2024 by