ECELS - Healthy Child Care PA

Free Parent Webinar on September 18th! RSV season is approaching, and families with new babies may have questions about how to keep their infants protected. They'll discuss what's new with RSV prevention this season, who should receive RSV immunization and when, RSV vaccination during pregnancy, when to contact a doctor if a baby is sick, and other ways families can help protect their babies. Parents may register here:

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: New Baby, New RSV Season: What Parents Need to Know Now. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. If you have a new baby, are expecting a baby, or know someone who is, you’ve probably heard of RSV. The season lasts from fall into spring, and almost all children get infected with RSV at least once before they are 2 years old. This webinar will present ways you can get ready for this year’s RS...

The new school year is right around the corner, and school buses are the safest way for students to travel. Teach your children school bus safety rules and practice with them:

🚌Go to the bus stop with your child to teach them the proper way to get on and off the bus.

🚌Teach your children to stand 6 feet (or three giant steps) away from the curb.

🚌If your child must cross the street in front of the bus, teach him or her to walk on the side of the road until they are 10 feet ahead of the bus; your child and the bus driver should always be able to see each other.

For more back-to-school safety tips, take a look at this checklist from the National Safety Council:https://www.nsc.org/getmedia/3453c0e1-7004-4ae1-9c10-f56510dd0b5d/back-to-school-safety-checklist.pdf

August is Children's Eye Health and Safety Month! Here are some tips from the American Academy of Ophthalmology to help kids reduce eye strain when using screens, just in time for back-to-school!

Peek-a-boo is cute. Whooping cough? Hard pass. Pertussis can be especially scary for babies, so ask about DTaP and Tdap vaccines to help protect your crew.

Booster seats before belts 🚗By Pennsylvania law, a child must remain in a booster seat until age 8. Best practice recommends children ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until they are 4’9” TALL (57”) and between 8 TO 12 YEARS OLD. Visit https://pakidstravelsafe.org/ to learn more!

Dehydration can occur in anyone who doesn't drink enough water during hot weather, but the condition is more serious for infants and children. If it's too hot to play outside, www.ready.gov/kids offers plenty of games and activities that will help children learn and prepare for emergencies as they play!

Pool days, Splash pads, beach trips: Summer fun and water go hand in hand! Help children enjoy the water safely by combining swim lessons, active supervision, and age-appropriate safety measures. https://ow.ly/NXJK50ZiPAP

DYK? Some E-bikes and E-scooters can reach speeds up to 20 (and even 30) miles per hour! Not every rider is ready - learn more about electric scooter and bike safety before letting your child use one: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DMqtw84x58f/

🚨 Parents, take note: E-bike and E-scooter injuries are rising — especially among kids and teens. Dr. Martin urges families to talk about safety: 
✅ Helmets are a must
✅ E-bikes aren’t toys
✅ Speed and traffic can be dangerous Know the risks. Protect your kids.
#EBikeSafety #ParentTips #InjuryAwareness

Did you know sparklers burn at temperatures hotter than boiling water and even glass melting? For a safe celebration, keep sparklers away from children and pets. Plan for some fun alternative activities instead this holiday! Learn more at nfpa.org/fireworks.

It's officially summertime 😎 Pool days, sports camps, and beach vacations fill the summer months. Did you remember to pack sunscreen? Keep this summer burn-free, pain-free and skin-damage-free by being prepared with a sun safety kit.