Safe Kids Columbia Coalition

and tips. Keep kids safe and protect their skin.

Don't forget that babies and young kids have thinner skin than adults, which can make them more prone to serious burns. When you're gearing up for some time out in the sun, remember these tips from :

🧴Apply generously and liberally to all exposed areas, especially the face, nose, ears, feet and hands, and even the backs of the knees

😎 Wear sunglasses with UV protection. Look for child-sized sunglasses with UV protection too.

☀️ Limit sun exposure between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm when UV rays are strongest.

👶 Keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight. Find shade under a tree, an umbrella, or stroller canopy.

⛅ Remember that you can get sunburn even on cloudy days because up to 80% of the sun’s UV rays can get through the clouds and UV rays can bounce back from water, sand, snow, and concrete.

Take a look at the statistics on Kids and Car Safety. They are heartbreaking! 💔We are in the 100 deadliest days of summer and we can all help prevent pediatric injury related fatalities and keep kids safe.

Hot Cars Resources - Kids and Car Safety Information provided by Kids and Car Safety related to hot cars data, education, safety tips, studies, technology, child stories, and more.

Darla and I gave out 62 CHAD Car Seat stickers to families on Saturday at The Baby Expo plus harnessing, installation, car seat advice and educational resources. We also went over , and as well as . There were many new and expecting moms and families figuring out the right seat for their situation.
If you don't know about CHAD stickers for car seats, read this:
"The CHAD safety seat child identification program has been developed as a result of
a traffic crash involving a 13-month-old boy named Chad. The babysitter who was driving was killed. Chad was injured, but no one at the scene knew his identity. Only because an emergency room nurse recognized him could his parents be quickly located and his injuries be treated." They can be filled out and put on the car seat in a location where EMS can find them and people cannot see your information from outside the vehicle. Common locations are under the seat or under the upholstery. Missouri Department of Transportation provides these stickers to us to distribute to the public for safety.

Make sure you know the Boater Education laws in the State of Missouri and follow them. 💦🛟🚤⚓️
https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/WaterPatrol/BoatingLaws_Education/boaterEduLawFAQ.html

Unfortunately, Missouri is on the list for above average in child injury deaths. Let's help keep kids safe from unintentional injury fatalities.

Summer is around the corner. It's an exciting season for families, and often includes outdoor activities, vacations, and time away from school. But it’s also a time known as “summer trauma season” among health professionals because unintentional injuries and deaths increase dramatically among children. Here at Safe Kids, we want to make sure parents and caregivers are aware of potential hazards and provide them with tips that they can use to reduce injury risks. With the right tools, parents and caregivers can feel confident no matter the season.

10 gulps of water for every 20 minutes of play no matter the sport or activity. This will keep kids hydrated and reduce their risk for heat-related illnesses.

Did you know that kids are at a higher risk for dehydration and heat illness compared to adults? It's easy for kids to forget to stop and drink water when they're having a great time playing outside on a hot and humid day. Be sure your kids drink water every 15-20 minutes during play!

The 100 Deadliest Days of Summer. We talk about it every year. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, there are lots of risks. Please be safe. The preliminary reporting from the Missouri State Highway Patrol for the Memorial Day Counting Period (beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, May 22, and ending at 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 26):
8 fatalities
99 injuries
234 traffic crashes
4 boating crashes investigated
This is up from 2025:
3 fatalities (up 5)
92 injuries (up 7)
203 crashes (up 31)

A set of photos from the Roll & Read in Fayette on May 2nd that we missed.

Between May 19th and 20th, 3 children died in hot cars. Please be safe and look before you lock. A change of routine could be all it takes.
1) The inside of a vehicle heats up VERY quickly
2) Even with the windows cracked, the temperature inside a car can reach 125 degrees in minutes.
3) 80% of the increase in inside temperature happens in the first 10 minutes.
4) Cracking the windows does not help slow the heating process OR decrease the maximum temperature.
5) Children have died from heatstroke in cars when outside temperatures were as low as 60 degrees.
https://www.kidsandcars.org/2026-child-hot-car-deaths
Data from Kids and Car Safety

2026 Child Hot Car Deaths - Kids and Car Safety Since 1990, at least 1,177 children have died in hot cars in the United States and at least another 7,500 survived with varying degrees of injury according to data compiled by Kids and Car Safety. Below are the fatalities that have occurred this year.