Some states tomorrow are recognizing the 13th anniversary of the Amber Alert program, and Alabama is one of them. WTVY out of Dothan, Alabama has all of the details about the acknowledgement of the day:
In Alabama, 14 AMBER Alerts have been issued through the state’s Emergency Alert System since the state’s AMBER Alert program became operational in May 2003. Alabama’s AMBER program is conducted in partnership with the Alabama Broadcasters Association, the Department of Public Safety, participating local law enforcement agencies and the Alabama Department of Transportation.
“The AMBER program has proven time and again to be an invaluable tool in the safe recovery of abducted and endangered children,” said Col. J. Christopher Murphy, Department of Public Safety director. “When circumstances indicate a child has been abducted and is in harm’s way, time is of the essence,” said Murphy. “Key to this program’s success in Alabama and nationwide is its capacity to get identifying information out quickly and to as many people as possible.”
Murphy repeated the five criteria that must be met before an AMBER Alert may be issued: law enforcement confirms that a child has been abducted; the child must be younger than 18; circumstances indicate to law enforcement that the child is endangered; there is enough available descriptive information about the child, abductor, or suspect’s vehicle to believe an immediate broadcast alert will help in locating the child; and the child’s information is entered into the National Crime Information Center Database.
A Wisconsin man is being charged after causing a false Amber Alert to be issued. WISN.com out of Milwaukee reports the following:
Glendale police said Willie Johnson called to report his ex-girlfriend and her 11-month-old daughter had been kidnapped by the baby’s father, Wesley Vann. Vann is one of Milwaukee’s 10 most wanted criminals.
Police issued an Amber Alert after talking with Johnson Sunday morning. The mother and daughter were found in a hotel a short time later. The mother told police they had never been kidnapped. Police said Johnson lied to them because he wanted his ex found quickly. Johnson is now charged with obstructing an officer.
Police said they are taking the case very seriously because they don’t want anyone abusing the Amber Alert system.
Another child safety recall this month, this time regarding the Evenflo Majestic High Chair. Forbes.com reports on the recall:
Almost 100,000 Evenflo Majestic High Chairs are being recalled because plastic caps and metal screws on both sides of the chairs can fall off, causing the back of the seat to collapse, the government and the product maker said Thursday.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Evenflo Co. Inc. announced the recall of about 95,000 high chairs sold at juvenile product stores and mass merchants nationwide, including Toys "R" Us, Babies "R" Us, Burlington Coat Factory and other stores.
Evenflo said it had received more than 1,000 reports of plastic caps and screws falling off of the high chairs and 140 reports of the seatbacks reclining or detaching.
The malfunctioning seats resulted in 47 reports of bumps and bruises, 2 reports of broken bones and at least 45 reports of other injuries, Evenflo said.
If you happen to have one of these chairs, contact Evenflo for a free repair kit.
If you are an educator or just want to educate yourself and your children on the hazards of child predators, KidsandStrangers.org has produced a dvd to help you and your family and friends learn about child safety. The dvd includes the following categories:
-Empowering Children: Going to School, The Playground, Home Alone, Who is a Stranger?, Early Internet Safety, Kid Escape, The “Grip, Dip & Spin” technique for breaking free from an abductor.
-Texting , Talking and Internet Predators: Actual teen experiences, 911 calls operator interviews.
-Parent Tips, Family Talk and Walk: What parents need to know and do.
With decorating for the holidays in full swing, remembering to keep certain items away from small children that pose a child safety hazard is very important. Certain Christmas tree decorations, party supplies, and other seasonal plants that aren’t normally in the house might appear to be a new toy to a small, curious child.
Safe Kids Kansas Inc. reminds parents to put ornaments that have small parts or metal hooks on higher branches that are out of reach of children. Also, keep alcohol, including baking extracts, out of reach and do not leave alcoholic beverages unattended.
Holly berries, mistletoe berries and poinsettias are potentially harmful if eaten. If a child eats any part of a nonfood plant, call the Poison Control Center at (800) 222-1222.
And don’t forget that toys can be harmful and even deadly, according to Safe Kids Kansas. Hospital emergency rooms treat about 217,000 toy-related injuries each year, and about 15 children under the age of 14 die. So, if shopping for toys, beware of toy recalls. To stay informed, parents can sign up for e-mail announcements at www.cpsc.gov.
As we rush around this holiday season trying to get everything done, do you consider toys that you are purchasing and how safe they are for your child? While a child might make a wishlist for you that includes toys they really want, it is very important to check the age appropriate levels on the toy to make sure that the toy is 100% safe for your child.
While you shop for toys to stick under the Christmas tree, child safety advocates suggest following this set of rules. First, read the label. Check the age recommendation manufacturers put on the bright colored packaging.
"Even though it may be something they think that a child might like, there is some reason that the manufacturer feels that that toy needs to be in the hands of an older child," said Michael Hughes, Executive Director of Safe Kids Mississippi.
Small parts that can be easily ingested by little children. Tiny button batteries often found in electronics are particularly dangerous.
Hughes said, "You got a two fold problem in that there is a blockage of the gastro intestinal tract. They will also discharge their electrical current into the tissue causing an electrical burn."
Holidays can be a traumatic time for your child with all of the events and traveling, but even more so if you have an autistic child. The News Anchor Mom offers up some great tips for your making sure your autistic child feels safe this holiday season:
-To help your autistic child cope with the holiday from school, you will need to plan several activities to keep them busy.
-Go about your normal routine for a school day as much as possible. This will help your autistic child deal with the time off from school.
-Holidays will bring many visitors to your house. This can make your autistic child feel nervous if they are not used to lots of people coming by. This can also mean a change in their normal daily schedule.
-The holidays can mean many different outings. These can interfere with your autistic child’s normal schedule. This does not mean you have to pass them up. You simply need to plan for them. Tell your autistic child about the outing in advance. Talk with them about what the outing will entail.
Is your child traveling alone for the holidays to visit family? This can be a very nervewracking time for parents who worry about their child’s safety as they travel by themselves. The Houston Chronicle has some great tips for parents about how to handle their child traveling solo for the upcoming holiday season:
If your child is flying solo, make sure you have the names, phone numbers and addresses for those picking up your child at the other end. You’ll need to give that to the airline. Also, give your child a card with that information and make sure they know how to reach you. Ask for a gate pass so that you can wait with your child at the gate. Don’t rely on the airline to entertain or feed the kids either. Pack a sandwich, snacks and plenty to entertain your child. Stash a new toy, CD or book in their backpack along with a favorite treat.
If teens are flying on their own, make sure they understand that they’ve got to speak up if they miss a connection so that airline personnel can make sure they’re not stranded. (Yes, that has happened.) Also make sure they have some money and a cell phone.
Do you have an infant or toddler and are concerned about what you can feed them safely as Thanksgiving approaches? Many times the toddler will try and charm his way into just a bite or two of a good Thanksgiving meal, but it is recommended that you speak with your doctor first on what your child can and cannot safely eat.
Parents of babies under nine months can give their babies the obvious "mushy" stuff, like potatoes and yams, but they can also puree squash, turkey, and other age-appropriate foods.
Babies who are nine months of age and older are usually self-feeding and can be given small pieces of turkey and/or ham and other foods that are easy for them to chew.
What foods should you tell dinner guests to avoid giving to your little one? Most pediatricians would advise parents of children 12 months or younger to steer clear of anything with nuts, berries, corn, or rich seasonings. And what about the pies? Some doctors give the green light on foods containing eggs at this age, but others prefer parents to hold off until a year. It’s best to check with your baby’s pediatrician.
Curious what other parents have to say about not only child safety but other parenting topics? How about from a male perspective? Blog Teens Today dishes out the 50 best dad blogs, and in the process leaves inks for 50 best mom blogs and best mommy blogs part II.
All of my readers know how much I love sharing link love and posting about my favorite other bloggers. All of these blogs are important because they talk about positive family values and are brave enough to share their own experiences–which we are all grateful for.
Thank you Dads for putting out great stuff, please enjoy this research.
Safe Parenting