On this episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan recap their recent trip to Colorado Springs, CO where they spoke at the 2023 National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA) conference—which, for the first time, was held jointly with the Association of Aquatic Professionals’ (AOAP) annual conference. The joint conference allowed The ZAC Foundation to reach more individuals and raise greater awareness for water safety, a community-based approach towards engagement on drowning prevention. Parents and caregivers will really appreciate the progress being made and the goals for the future, all of which will result in children being safer around water.
To learn more about The ZAC Foundation, visit: https://thezacfoundation.org
On this episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan welcome Peter Kerin, owner of Foresight Childproofing. Peter is a father of three and is considered a leading expert in his field with over a decade of experience in professionally childproofing homes.
During the conversation, Peter explains how parents can take minor home precautions that ultimately make their home significantly safer for newborn babies and small children. What are the top recommendations for a safer, child-friendly home? And what are some commonly overlooked dangers that every parent needs to be aware of?
On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan are joined by Dr. Melissa Dvorsky—Assistant Professor of pediatrics, psychiatry and behavioral sciences at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She also serves as the Director of the ADHD & Learning Differences Program at Children’s National.
During the conversation, Dr. Dvorsky explains that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an incredibly common neurodevelopmental disorder in children. What are the most common symptoms of ADHD? And how, as a parent, can you guarantee academic success for a child who struggles with inattention and impulsivity? This is an incredibly helpful and powerful episode that will help every caregiver who has a child with ADHD.
On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan discuss the upcoming holiday season! Everyone is excited for Christmas! Well, sort of…
Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, or New Years, the holiday season is typically accompanied by a seemingly endless series of chores, obligations, and activities—it’s easy to get overwhelmed. We all want to spend more time enjoying the festivities and less time worrying. So, what tricks and tips are Karen and Megan using to simplify otherwise time-consuming tasks? PLUS: chimney safety tips, Christmas tree precautions, and the horrors of forgetting to move the elf on the shelf!
Happy Holidays!
On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan are joined by Donna Fishman, the Director of the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness. Correlating to the holiday season, December has been declared National Toy Safety Month—is it safe for kids to play with Nerf guns or other toys with projectile components?
Alarmingly, eye injuries are the most common cause of vision loss in children under the age of five. What can you do, as a parent, to ensure your children have a happy—and safe—holiday?
On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan talk about Thanksgiving—spending time with family, the near impossibility of creating a menu that will appease everyone at the table, and the joys of playing host during the holiday season!
PLUS, is it actually “stuffing” if it was cooked on a stove top? Let the debate begin!
On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan speak with Amber Rollins, the Director of Kids and Car Safety—an organization dedicated to raising awareness of “the dangerous social practice of leaving children unattended in or around vehicles.” Astoundingly, Kids and Car Safety is the only organization in the country collecting data on child fatalities resulting from accidental, in-car abonnement. But the phenomenon of children being forgotten in vehicles doesn’t seem to predate 1990. What was the change that led to this crisis and what action needs to be taken to reduce risk? This is a must listen to episode for anyone who has children or grandchildren in car seats, or knows anyone who does.
Kids and Car Safety is a non-profit organization. You can learn more at:
On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan discuss Halloween safety tips, fun costumes, and the complexities of Halloween falling on a Monday this year! During the conversation, Megan provides a unique, helpful candy inspection tip she and her husband use while trick-or-treating with the kids.
PLUS- Do people still carve pumpkins? Of course! But don’t waste the pumpkin seeds!
On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan are joined by Paul DelPonte, the Executive Director of the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC). Paul’s work has focused on expanding the NCPC’s impact nationally—specifically via the introduction of McGruff the Crime Dog to a new generation of American children. October is National Crime Prevention month, and to commemorate the occasion the NCPC and McGruff the Crime Dog made an appearance at Capitol Hill!
Karen, Megan, and Paul discuss several tips and strategies to enhance your safety and the safety of your community, the fentanyl crisis, and—with Halloween right around the corner—how to keep your kids safe while trick-or-treating. How can you ensure your home and your neighborhood are safe? What is the best way to protect your children from cyberbullying? How can you raise children who balance the dangers of "stranger danger" with being polite and friendly young people? Get answers to these questions and more as we recognize National Crime Prevention Month.
On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan welcome Assemblyman Sean Kean—who has served in the New Jersey State Legislature since 2002. Assemblyman Kean discusses the importance of water safety and drowning prevention —specifically his proposed bipartisan legislation that would provide students from kindergarten through 8th grade with water safety instruction as a requirement of their public-school education.
Karen, Megan, and Assemblyman Kean acknowledge the alarming trend of preventable drowning deaths that annually plague the state of New Jersey, our region, and the nation. What can be done to prevent these repeated tragedies? How much would such an education requirement cost? What about schools that don't have access to water? Let's give all students the tools they need to enjoy water safely and support A-618, the water safety in education act.
On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan are joined by the co-founder of The ZAC Foundation (and Karen’s husband!) Brain Cohn. During the conversation Brian discusses the New York Mets organization holding "ZAC Foundation Day" at Citi Field during the team’s August 31st game against the Los Angeles Dodgers—where Brian had the opportunity to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
The ZAC Foundation was able to share valuable water safety tips via several video PSAs that played on the jumbotron throughout the game—but why didn’t everyone want a free rally towel? Hear that hilarious story and more as The ZAC Foundation meets the NY Mets to advance water safety.
On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan welcome Charon McNabb, founder of the National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Association (NCOAA). After experiencing innumerable ailments and years of being medically misdiagnosed, Charon eventually learned her rapidly deteriorating health was being caused by carbon monoxide inhalation via home appliance leakages. Charon did everything right when she bought her new home: hired professionals to conduct inspections, repaired old appliances, and even installed a carbon monoxide detector. Yet, there were additional steps that should have been taken. How can you protect your family from the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning? Are the carbon monoxide detectors in your home actually protecting your family? How can you keep your family safe when you are traveling, boating, and staying in hotels? This is a must listen to podcast that can save your family from what is commonly referred to as "The silent killer." For more information please visit NCOAA.us.
On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan discuss the upcoming school year—which is suddenly right around the corner! Have the kids completed their summer reading assignments yet? Not quite…
So, how do you keep kids focused on learning during summer vacation? What is the college application process like? And does a glow-in-the-dark backpack have any real, practical value other than just looking cool? Karen and Megan break it all down.
On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan discuss the return of ZAC Camps—which are designed to instruct children ages 5 to 9 how to stay “safe in any body of water.” Karen talks about the origins of ZAC Camp, which began in 2011, and the development of a community-based approach to drowning prevention which involves first responders, elected officials, and local media in order to spread awareness and encourage access to water safety curriculum. Megan documents the amazing experience her own kids had participating in the program.
You can find additional information about ZAC Camps here: https://thezacfoundation.org/zac-camps/
On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan discuss World Drowning Prevention Day on July 25th—which also happens to be Megan’s birthday! World Drowning Prevention Day, although only recently established, has already proven to be an effective method of bringing world-wide recognition and solidarity to such an incredibly important cause.
Karen recaps a busy schedule which includes commemorating the anniversary of Zachary Archer Cohn’s passing by bringing awareness to the importance of water safety with appearances on Good Morning America, Inside Edition, and writing an opinion editorial featured in The Huffington Post.
PLUS Karen and Megan share exciting news: the return of ZAC Camps! The camps are designed to instruct young children how to stay “safe in any body of water.” You can find additional information about ZAC Camps here:
On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan speak with Alexander Hoehn-Saric—who serves as Chair of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Chairman Hoehn-Saric was nominated to the position by President Joe Biden in July 2021 and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate later that year.
During the conversation Chairman Hoehn-Saric discusses the importance of consumer protection, particularly as it pertains to children—the ones most vulnerable to products that fail to meet basic safety standards. He explains how consumer products and drowning prevention efforts intersect: from recalling faulty self-closing hinges on pool gates, to educating society about the importance of pool safety. Remarkably, the CPSC monitors over 15,000 product categories. Every parent will benefit from learning about the important work of the CPSC.
On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan discuss the 4th of July weekend—a time when, tragically, preventable drownings are traditionally at their peak. Startlingly, both the Philadelphia and New York-areas are already seeing an uptick in annual drownings through June. How can you prepare your kids for a safe trip to the New Jersey shore, pool, or any other open body of water? Karen and Megan provide you with everything you need to know to prepare for a safe, fun-filled summer!
On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan speak with Dr. Miriam Lynch—the Executive Director of Diversity in Aquatics. Dr. Lynch’s organization advocates on behalf of water safety awareness and drowning prevention, particularly in vulnerable populations, while concurrently advancing equity and diversity in aquatic sports and activities.
Dr. Lynch discusses the historical significance of Juneteenth—a day commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Diversity in Aquatics holds an annual event called “Juneteenth for Joy” in which the organization celebrates the holiday by being near the water and teaching underrepresented communities water safety techniques. The event is open to anyone interested in participating, whether it be virtually on social media or in-person in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
As the busy summer travel season gets underway, Karen and Megan welcome Joe Colella, a nationally recognized expert in car seat safety. Joe is the Director of Child Passenger Safety for the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association. How do you ensure your child is in the right car seat based on their weight, height, and age? Did you know that car seats have an expiration date and do you know where that information is located? What is the biggest mistake parents make when it comes to securing their children? Believe it or not, it's not just one! Join us for an incredibly important decision that can help keep your child safe and secure on the road so you can enjoy a family road trip that is memorable for all the right reasons.
What does the data tell us about drowning? One of the key aspects of successful injury prevention is analyzing relevant data and that is why on this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan welcome Dr. Ben Hoffman—a professor of pediatric medicine and the Chair of the Council on Injury Violence and Poison Prevention. Dr. Hoffman announces an exciting partnership with The ZAC Foundation in hopes of decreasing the rate of childhood drowning though data driven analysis.
As a pediatrician practicing medicine for over twenty-five-years, Dr. Hoffman emphasizes the importance of educating parents about water safety. This can be difficult as many insurance companies limit consultations with new parents and this doesn't allow time for pediatricians to stress water safety and drowning prevention—an oversight that must end.
More information can be found at: www.aap.org/drowning