Help your kids succeed in School

Details

Published on Tuesday, 01 September 2015 15:19

Helping your kids succeed in school can mean asking the right questions - of their teachers, principals and counselors. This new parent checklist from the Department of Education recommends "key questions" to set the stage for:

• high learning standards
• effective parent-educator communications
• a safe, engaging environment for the kids

It also has tips from teachers and other places to seek help.

Reduce the Risk of Fire

Details

Published on Tuesday, 01 September 2015 15:11

A Message from your American Red Cross, Andrew County Health Department and the Savannah Fire Department

The American Red Cross of Northwest Missouri, the Andrew County Health Department and the Savannah Fire Department are teaming up to reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by home fires by ensuring all homes in Andrew County have working smoke alarms. 

On average 36 people suffer injuries as a result of home fires every day. Last year, in Northwest Missouri, the Red Cross responded to more than 100 fires. 

Families are encouraged to take these three steps to help minimize their risk:

• Install smoke alarms on every level of the home and check them monthly by pressing the test button
• Create a fire escape plan identifying two escape routes from every room of the home and identifying a meeting place a short distance from the home where family members can meet after escaping
• Practice the escape plan at least twice a year, paying particular attention to children or older adults who many require extra time and care

If you are in a need of a smoke alarm, one will be installed for you free of charge by calling the American Red Cross at 816-232-8439. Installation will be done by members of the Savannah Fire Department.

Heatstroke deaths are 100 percent preventable

Details

Published on Tuesday, 01 September 2015 12:00

With temperatures soaring across the country, the NHTSA urges everyone to remember that heatstroke can be deadly to kids left in hot cars. Heatstroke is the leading cause of death for children under 14 in motor vehicle incidents  (other than crashes) . There have already been 10 deaths in 2015. Follow these tips to prevent heatstroke:

• Never leave an infant or child unattended in a vehicle, even if the windows are partly open, or the engine is running and the air conditioning is on.
• Don't let children play in an unattended vehicle.
• Make a habit of looking in the vehicle before locking the door and walking away.
• Take steps to remember not to leave a child in a vehicle by leaving a note or placing a purse or briefcase in the back seat.
• If you see a child alone in a vehicle, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. If they are in distress due to heat, get them out as quickly as possible.

2015 Text4Baby State Enrollment Contest

Details

Published on Friday, 10 July 2015 14:28

Since the launch of the nationwide Text4baby campaign, over 19,301 pregnant women and new mothers in Missouri have registered to receive free weekly text messages timed to their due date or baby’s date of birth. In Missouri, text messages are customized to provide Missouri-specific telephone numbers and websites. The 2015 Text4baby State Enrollment Contest is now underway to promote this mobile information service that offers critical health and safety information through text messaging. The competition among states continues until October 17, 2015 and is the perfect opportunity to help pregnant and new moms sign up for the service by texting “BABY” (or “BEBE” for Spanish) to 511411. Encourage dads to sign up too. Messages help fathers understand their baby’s development and provide support for their partner. For more information, visit www.text4baby.org or call 800-877-6246. An order form is also available to receive promotional enrollment materials.