Safe Kids Columbia Coalition

09/05/2026

Make sure you create a when grilling out for . Keep kids at least 3 feet away from the grill and make sure not to hold them while cooking. Prevent burns, injury, and a trip to the ER

09/05/2026

With the continuing heat across Missouri, make sure you ACT (A)void heatstroke by never leaving a child alone in a car, (C)reate a Reminder in the back seat of the vehicle, and (T)ake action immediately if you see a child alone in a car. Call 911 right away. This goes for animals and people with limited mobility as well. Make sure to keep them safe from the heat.

Gary takes to the street with a giant thermometer to measure the te...

09/05/2026

Mark your calendars! This Car Seat Check is just a little over a week away in Centralia at Head Start.

9/14/2026 RESCHEDULE
New date for Centralia CMCA Head Start Car Seat Check is SEPTEMBER 14 from 3-5 p.m.

08/31/2026

is always helped by crosswalks, crossing guards and pedestrian crossing signs. Make sure to look left, right, and left again before crossing, crossing in the crosswalk and, if on duty, the .

A crossing guard can be an important part of a safer school zone. 🚸

Between busy intersections, heavy traffic and the chaos of pick-up and drop-off, getting to and from school can be challenging for young pedestrians. Children are also less capable than adults of judging the speed and distance of oncoming vehicles, making supervision especially important for younger students.

Crossing guards help children safely navigate busy streets and can make it easier for students to walk or bike to school. Research from the CDC found that schools with paid or volunteer crossing guards were more likely to have a greater share of students walking or biking to school.

As kids head back to school, take a moment to thank your local crossing guard for helping keep children safe. And consider your own community: What could change to make walking and biking safer for kids and pedestrians of all ages?

08/28/2026

is important to talk about. Make sure to emphasize ALWAYS wearing your seatbelt, putting the phone down, going the speed limit, and NO impaired driving.

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08/25/2026

Don't pass stopped school buses! Not only is it illegal and unsafe, you'll have monetary and possible driver's license consequences. 🛑 🚌 🛑

A new Missouri law will increase the penalties and fines for drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses. The law goes into effect Aug. 28, right around the start of the new school year.

Read more about the law and bus safety rules you need to know at https://www.komu.com/news/education/new-missouri-law-intensifies-fines-for-illegally-passing-a-school-bus/article_2cbd05f4-3efb-44de-b225-c1f00388795f.html?utm_source=SocialNewsDesk&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=SND_facebook

08/24/2026

With school starting, here's a reminder of how to stay safe around school buses and in school zones. Keep your heads up, your phones down, and buckle up. Also, take a look at this graphic from Missouri State Highway Patrol and make sure you know what to do when you are driving near school busses and when you need to STOP. There are children loading and unloading and they need to stay safe. 🛑🚍👧

08/21/2026

Are the kids riding their bikes, scooters or skateboards to school this year? Make sure they know the rules of the road and have properly fitted helmets.
https://www.safekids.org/tip/bike-safety-tips

08/19/2026

Today we were able to help 9 kids and their families with car seat installation and harnessing. That's 9 more safe kids in the car.
This is a good time to bring up the increase that we have been seeing in counterfeit car seats purchased from non-reputable sources. Purchasing new doesn't mean that it meets the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and can put children at risk in a motor vehicle crash. If the price seems too good to be true, it is most likely not made by a car seat manufacturer. They are required to test car seats for safety and meet standards. BE AWARE and ask questions. There are Child Passenger Safety Technicians and Clinicians that can help you figure out if you are looking at something that will be safe for your child.


Here is a good article by the American Academy of Pediatrics on how to avoid counterfeit car seats.

With low-quality or counterfeit car seats becoming more available to consumers, pediatricians play a key role in ensuring families can keep children safe while riding in a car.