Safe Kids Upstate NY Coalition

10/12/2026

The Tip-Over Prevention Checklist offers important steps you can take to reduce the risk of furniture tipping over and injuring a child – including storing heavier items in bottom drawers. Check it out here:https://www.alliance4safety.org/downloads/2024-Furniture-Week/toolkit/AHFA%20FSW%20Furniture%20Safety%20Checklist.pdf

10/06/2026

Tomorrow is International Walk to School Day - a reminder that we share our streets and neighborhoods with our most vulnerable road users, kids! Take some time today to talk to the children in your life about being safe while walking to and from school. Whether your planning to take part in a Walk to School Day event tomorrow or not, remind them to look left, right, and left again before crossing the street. Always walk on sidewalks or paths, cross at street corners, and use traffic signals and crosswalks.

10/05/2026

October is SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) Awareness Month! We'll be highlighting the issue of sleep-related death and working to educate parents and caregivers about safe sleep environments. Unintentional suffocation is the leading cause of injury-related death among children under 1 year old. Our Safe Sleep Checklist makes it easy for families to prioritize the top 5 infant sleep safety tips. Help us spread the word by sharing this potentially life-saving information!

09/29/2026

09/23/2026

We asked over 1,000 parents and caregivers about situations in which they don’t buckle their child for every ride. We found out that men were more likely than women to report sometimes or often riding with their child unrestrained, regardless of the situation asked about.

Buckling up on every ride is the single most important thing a family can do to stay safe in the car. No trip is too short to buckle up. In a crash, correctly used child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71 percent. Keep your kids safe on the road this Child Passenger Safety Week and make sure they’re safe and secure for every ride.

Check out our Ultimate Car Seat Guide to learn more about keeping your child safe in cars: https://ucsg.safekids.org/

09/21/2026

To all the new and expecting moms and dads, congratulations. You’re going to be amazing parents, and we’ll be right here with you so you’re not alone.

This Child Passenger Safety Week, one of the most important steps you can take is making sure your car seat is installed correctly. Using a properly installed car seat is the best way to keep your child safe in the car, and our Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians are here to help you at our car seat check events.

Remember: your baby should ride rear-facing as long as possible. Infants and toddlers have larger heads and more delicate necks and spines, which makes them especially vulnerable in a crash. A rear-facing car seat provides the best protection, keeping your child’s head, neck, and spine supported.

Learn more and find an event near you: https://events.safekids.org/

09/20/2026

🚗👶 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬–𝟮𝟲! 👶🚗

There’s no better time to make sure your child’s car seat is installed correctly and being used properly. Even small adjustments can make a big difference when it comes to protecting our youngest passengers.

📅 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟯
⏰ 𝟯:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠–𝟳:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠
📍 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗹𝗶𝘂𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
𝟭 𝗔𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝘃𝗲.

Our trained personnel will check your child’s car seat for proper installation and provide guidance to help make sure your little passenger is riding as safely as possible. No appointment is needed!

𝘼 𝙛𝙚𝙬 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨:
🔹 Keep children rear-facing as long as possible, until they reach the height or weight limit of their seat.
🔹 Once forward-facing, use the harness and tether according to the car seat manufacturer’s instructions.
🔹 Children should use a booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly—typically when the lap belt sits across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt crosses the chest and shoulder.
🔹 Children under 13 should ride in the back seat whenever possible.
🔹 Avoid bulky coats or clothing under the harness. They can prevent the harness from fitting snugly.
🔹 Make sure your car seat is installed tightly and check the manufacturer’s instructions for proper use.

Not sure if your child’s seat is installed correctly? Let us help! Stop by on September 23 - free checks, no appointment necessary!

09/10/2026

Before placing your child in the bath, take a moment to check the water temperature by testing it on the inside of your wrist. It should feel warm, not hot. This simple step helps prevent scalds and keeps your little one safe and comfortable during bath time!

08/31/2026

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?