The National Weather Service previously warned of widespread freezing rain and sleet across North and Central Texas, which left roadways wet and slick.

Going into the weekend and early next week, temperature highs will range in the teens up into the 30s, and some areas are expected to see 2-7 inches of snow. If you don’t have a reason to leave home, please stay inside, stay safe and stay warm. If you have to go out, have a plan in place and rid yourself of any distractions so you can focus on the road.

Proper car seat use is one of the most critical ways parents can keep their young children safe when driving during inclement weather conditions.

“The injuries we see from car wrecks are because parents are making the same mistakes over and over with car seats,” explains Sharon Evans, trauma injury prevention coordinator at Cook Children’s.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents keep their children rear-facing as long as they fit within the height and weight requirements printed on their car seats. Evans says another prevalent issue is the lack of transitioning children into booster seats.

“Children should be in a booster seat until they’re 4-foot-9. We often see parents letting them go into a seat belt too early,” Evans explained.

She reminds parents to keep children calm and quiet when traveling, whether that means playing their favorite music, letting them bring a safe toy, or talking with them before leaving home. “Children can read your emotions,” she said. “If you’re uptight, they will be able to sense it.”

Here are more tips for parents to consider before getting behind the wheel:

1. Leave enough time for your commute. Give yourself extra time to get your children to school and yourself to work, accounting for other drivers on the road.
2. Don’t strap your children into their car seats with their heavy coats on. In a crash, padding from a coat or thick layers will flatten out, leaving room under the car seat harness. This increases the risk of a child slipping through the straps and being thrown from the car seat. Instead, dress your child in thin layers. Once buckled up, slip the coat on backward with the sleeves on the child’s arms. This way, the coat acts as a blanket and doesn’t affect the fit of the harness.
3. Pack an emergency bag for your car. It’s a good idea to have blankets, warm clothing, hats, and gloves available in case you become stuck in winter weather. You’ll also want to have nonperishable snacks packed away.
4. Avoid overpasses if possible. Plan out alternate routes to your destination and avoid high traffic areas when possible.
5. Give yourself enough space from the car in front of you to gradually brake. When weather conditions are poor, give yourself double the time it normally takes to come to a complete stop.

What they didn't do was make sure they had secured their furniture so it wouldn't tip over on their little boys. A home surveillance video shows Bowdy working for almost two minutes to free Brock Shoff in their home in Orem, Utah. 

The video has made the rounds nationally because the twins' parents want people to know it could happen to anyone.

"We were hesitant to post this video initially, Ricky Shoff, the twins' father told CNN, "but a lot of parents have probably made the same mistake that we made, (they) don't have their furniture secure or bolted to a wall."

Sharon Evans, RN, BSN, CPN trauma/injury prevention coordinator at Cook Children’s, hopes this serves as a reminder of the dangers of TV and furniture tip-overs, especially during this time of year.

"People are getting furniture for the holidays and TVs for the Super Bowl," Evans said. "If those aren't anchored, we have seen injuries and even death at Cook Children's due to these items being unanchored. Parents often times get the new TVs or furniture and then put the old ones in the bedrooms for the kids. Every piece of furniture in the house should be secured. 

Since 2009, Cook Children's has seen 137 furniture-related injuries. One child even died in 2014 as a result of furniture tip-over.

The Consumer Products Safety Commission says a child dies every two weeks in the United States from a TV, a piece of furniture, or a combination of the two tipping over in this country. And, a child is admitted to the emergency room every 24 minutes because of a tip-over.

“In the last decade, the number of children seen at our facility for injuries from dressers and television falls has steadily increased,” Evans said. “All the families that bring in children with these injuries say the same thing: ‘I didn’t think this would ever happen.’ Sadly, it does happen, and people need to be aware so they can prevent it.”

The Consumer Product Safety Comission provides these safety tips in any home where children live or visit:

Anchor furniture to the wall or the floor. 

1. Place TVs on sturdy, low bases. 
2. Anchor the furniture and the TV on top of it, and push the TV as far back on top of the furniture as possible.
3. Keep remote controls, toys, and other items that might be attractive to children off TV stands or furniture. 
4. Keep TV and/or cable cords out of reach of children. 
5. Make sure freestanding kitchen ranges and stoves are installed with anti-tip brackets. 
6. Supervise children in rooms where these safety tips have not been followed.

Learn more about the Anchor It! campaign to secure furniture and TVs here.

In 2015, five children were seen at Cook Children’s for lawn mower related injuries. Ages ranged from toddlers to teens and all five were run over by the lawn mower. Already in 2016, two kids have been involved in lawn mower accidents.

Each year approximately 10,000 children are seen with injuries caused by power mowers are treated in emergency departments across the nation.

Lawn mowing injuries can be severe, including amputations, broken and dislocated bones, burns and eye injuries.

“Lawn mower injuries are easy to stop, just don’t let children be outside if the mower is on, said Sharon Evans, Cook Children’s Trauma Injury Prevention/Outreach coordinator. “If the child is young there needs to be an adult inside the house supervising them. If the child and/or adult has to go outside there should be the rule that they signal, call or whatever to get the rider’s attention and then the rider turns off the mower as soon as possible before anyone approaches it. The rule should be the same for older children too.”

To prevent lawn mower injuries to children, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following:

1. Use a mower with a control that stops the mower from moving forward if the handle is let go.
2. Children younger than 16 years should not be allowed to use ride-on mowers. Children younger than 12 years should not use walk-behind mowers.
3. Make sure that sturdy shoes (not sandals or sneakers) are worn while mowing.
4. Prevent injuries from flying objects, such as stones or toys, by picking up objects from the lawn before mowing begins. Use a collection bag for grass clippings or a plate that covers the opening where cut grass is released. Have anyone who uses a mower wear hearing and eye protection.
5. If the lawn mower is on, make sure all children are not outside and are safely inside.
6. Start and refuel mowers outdoors, not in a garage or shed. Mowers should be refueled with the motor turned off and cool.
7. Make sure that blade settings (to set the wheel height or dislodge debris) are done by an adult, with the mower off and the spark plug removed or disconnected.
8. Do not pull the mower backward or mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary, and carefully look for children behind you when you mow in reverse.
9. Always turn off the mower and wait for the blades to stop completely before removing the grass catcher, unclogging the discharge chute, or crossing gravel paths, roads, or other areas.
10. Do not allow children to ride as passengers on ride-on mowers.

Distracted driving is becoming increasingly common and dangerous, causing traffic crashes and fatalities. In 2015, 463 people were killed in distracted driving crashes in Texas and 3,000 more were seriously hurt.

This month, the Texas Department of Transportation begins it's annual "Talk. Text. Crash." distracted driving campaign. According to TxDot:

"In 2015, 38 percent of Texas drivers admitted to talking on their mobile phone while driving at least some of the time, according to a survey conducted by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, and more than one-fifth (21.2 percent) of drivers said they read or send text messages or emails when behind the wheel."

Teens may even be aware of the danger, but in the teenage mind, the need to stay in touch often outweighs the need to stay safe. ‘Kids who are learning to drive right now have grown up with cell phones, so it seems natural to stay connected to their friends all the time,” said Sam McCage, Ph.D., LMFT, LPC, manager of Behavioral Health Services at Cook Children’s. “When teenagers do not respond immediately to texts, they might feel that they’re being very rude or will miss out on something important.”

The most dangerous time of the year for teens to drive, is the first year after they receive their driver license. Drivers between the ages of 16 and 17 have a higher crash rate than those drivers between the ages of 18 and 19. Sixteen –year-old drivers are less experienced and haven’t developed the skills necessary to handle distractions, road hazards and poor traffic situations.

Parents can help their teen drivers by riding in the car with them, even after they obtain their license. The only way teens learn to drive is by driving, and they will get better at driving when coached by an experienced older driver. Please don’t assume that just because your teen has passed their driving test, that they know everything about driving.

Corwin Warmink, M.D., medical director of the Emergency Department at Cook Children’s, knows that guns will be a popular gift this holiday season for not only children, but for adults too.

According to the journal Injury Prevention more than one-third of American adults own a gun. Last year, Cook Children’s saw 10 total injuries related to shootings of a gun (ranging from a BB to rifle). Since 2009, Cook Children’s has seen 104 shootings and three deaths.

Dr. Warmink asks parents to explain to children that BB guns can be dangerous, with harm ranging from severe eye damage to liver and kidney injuries.

Dr. Warmink says it’s important that parents educate their children about gun safety and make sure kids know to leave the area if another child, or someone other than their parent, has a gun.

“We live in Texas and I know many kids are raised hunting and have guns in the home,” Dr. Warmink said. “But if you give your child a gun for the holidays or if the adult in the house is given a gun, it’s important to take the proper precautions. The thing we want parents to remember is to keep guns locked, unloaded and separate from ammunition”

1. Lock the gun and keep it out of reach of kids. Hiding the gun is not enough.

2. Unload your gun. Take all ammunition out of the firearm.

3. Store the keys for the gun in a cabinet or safe different from your household keys. Keep the keys out of the reach of children.

Along with guns and replica firearms, such as airsoft guns that use hydraulics to shoot pellets, Dr. Warmink lists these gifts as dangerous and even life threatening:

• Ripstik Casterboard, Skateboards, roller skates …
• Pull toys with strings over 12 inches
• Trampolines
• Backyard playground equipment
• Hard plastic swords

Sharon Evans, Trauma/Injury Prevention coordinator at Cook Children’s, knows that owning a bike or scooter is part of growing up. But she encourages parents to take the proper precautions before placing wheeled gifts under the tree.

“Parents, please don’t forget a helmet for all riding toys,” Evans said. “Make sure the helmet is on properly and read the instructions.”

For younger children, Dana Walraven, manager of Community Health Outreach at Cook Children's and coordinator of the Safe Kids Tarrant County Coalition, warns parents to be aware of any small parts or potential choking hazards from their own toys or perhaps older siblings.

“The holidays can be an especially dangerous time for the little ones,” Walraven said. “Pick out toys and activities that will be appropriate for their age. On Christmas, designate an adult to supervise the children. It’s surprisingly easy to lose track of small children and with just a little planning we can keep choking hazards away from them. When it comes to young children, preparation is key.”

Last year, the Cook Children's Trauma team saw 22 children, either biking or walking, who were hit by cars from August through the month of October. Eight children were hit by cars in September and 10 in October. 

But with school already started, so are the dangers of kids and cars.

Already, a teen was hit in front of a high school in Crowley. The injuries seem to be minor, but it places an emphasis on how vulnerable children are near or even in front of schools.

More children are hit by cars during September than any other month of the year, according to Safe Kids Worldwide.

“Children do not have the cognitive skills to be crossing streets safely alone until at least age 10,” said Sharon Evans, Trauma/Injury Prevention outreach coordinator at Cook Children’s. “They haven’t yet developed the depth perception or the ability to maturely judge the speed of an object.”

Kids age 10 and younger should not walk or ride bicycles, scooters or skateboards alone to school because they:

• Are easily distracted by friends and toys.
• Can’t determine the direction of sounds. Some children may be listening for sounds and may not realize that some newer model electric/hybrid may not make much of a sound at all.
• Can’t judge the speed or distance of a moving vehicle.
• Don’t understand how long it takes a vehicle to stop.
• Have too narrow a field of vision.

Even when kids reach age 10, it’s still best for parents to accompany them to school whenever possible.

Teaching Your Child Pedestrian Safety

“When I visit children who have suffered pedestrian injuries, the most common thing they tell me is that they thought the driver saw them,” explained Evans. “It’s important to teach your children that just because they see a driver, it doesn’t mean the driver sees them. They need to make eye contact with the driver and wait for the driver to stop and signal to them before attempting to cross the street.”

While teaching your children to ride their bikes or walk to school, don’t forget to tell them to cross only at crosswalks; look left, right and then left again; and to watch for cars that are turning or backing up. The best way to teach your child pedestrian and bike safety is to be a good role model yourself. It’s also a good idea to encourage your children to wear bright clothing and reflectors when they’re walking before dawn or after dusk.

"It’s important for parents to remember they are the most important models of proper pedestrian behavior for children," said Dana Walraven, Community Health Outreach manager at Cook Children’s and Safe Kids Tarrant County Coordinator. "Parents should also make sure they follow the rules when they are driving in school zones, including going the speed limit at all times through the zone and not texting or talking on the phone."

Safe Kids recommend teaching your kids these safe behaviors:

• Look left, right and left again before crossing the street. Cross when the street is clear, and keep looking both ways while crossing. Walk, don’t run.
• Understand and obey traffic signals and signs.
• Walk facing traffic, on sidewalks or paths, so that you can see oncoming cars. If there are no sidewalks, walk as far to the left as possible.

Practice safe behaviors:

• Don’t allow a child under age 10 to cross streets alone as he may not be able to fully appreciate the speed of cars on the road.
• Require children to carry a flashlight at night, dawn and dusk. Add retro-reflective materials to children’s clothing so that a child can be seen by motorists, even in the dark.
• Don’t let kids play in driveways, unfenced yards, streets or parking lots. Drivers may not see or anticipate children playing.

Interactive Infographic: How to not get hit by a car - Safe Kids Worldwide

With an average of 44 kids getting hit while walking every day in the U.S., it’s time for action. HOW TO NOT GET HIT BY A CAR is a fun new interactive infographic that guides walkers through seven common ways kids get hit by cars, and seven ways to avoid it. Parents and kids alike give it great reviews; not only do they think it’s fun to experience the action, they can usually relate to it. Try it out and see if you make any of the common mistakes when you cross the street.

Try the interactive infographic from Safe Kids

For more information

Whether it is the correct use of a child passenger seat, drowning prevention education in the schools, or providing a better awareness of poison hazards to new moms, we are working to create safe homes and communities for children.

• Bicycle safety
• Car safety
• Safe Kids Tarrant County
• CARE Team
• Drowning prevention
• Human trafficking
• Oral health prevention
• Poison prevention
• Sexting
• TV and furniture tip-overs

• 2 deaths to begin the month of July
• 26 non-fatal drownings from June 1 to July 1, 2015
• 43 non-fatal drownings from Oct. 1, 2014 to July 1, 2015
• 4 fatal drownings during that same time frame

And now we head into the July 4^th weekend where people will be throwing pool parties at their house or apartment or going out to area lakes … and at many of those parties there will be drinking.

So what’s left to say? Sharon Evans, Trauma/Injury Prevention outreach coordinator at Cook Children’s, admits to being tired, frustrated, sad and even a little angry that no matter how much the message is delivered, kids drown.

“I feel like a broken recording at this point,” Evans said. “But I don’t know what else to do. We have to keep telling people. We have to keep getting the word out. Tell your friends. Tell your neighbors. Tell your other family members. Kids are dying.”

And then Evans collects herself to deliver the message again.

“I don’t think people know how quickly it happens,” Evans said. “It’s just seconds and it’s a silent killer. Kids died silently. You can’t just let your kids go. Water is dangerous. It scares me because now we are headed toward the July Fourth weekend.”

If nothing else, Evans wants to make sure everyone reading this gets this point.

“It can happen to you,” Evans said. “I can say it, but I don’t think people really realize it. It can happen to you. Don’t take your eyes off of your child. You have to hold on to his or her hand sometimes. The most important thing is to be there for your child. And my God, whatever you do, you can’t let your kid go swimming or to the water alone. You have to have adult supervision.”

Evans speaks strong, but you can hear the pain and heartbreak in her voice. She’s seen a lot of this in her career and twice the amount of drownings over the last month as she saw last year. And what troubles her the most is that she knows no matter how much she speaks about drowning prevention, she will see more again.

“I wish I had a better line, a better solution,” Evans said. “I don’t know what else to say. I just know it’s preventable, if we take the right precautions.”

Click to read the following information for those precautions:

• Drownings double from a year ago 
• Be a water watcher. Adult supervisions saves lives.
• Is your baby ready for swim lessons?
• Drowning tragedy - 'I can't believe this happened to me.'
• Cook Children's drowning prevention page

Since Oct. 1, 2014 to present, 40 drownings have been seen here and three of them have been fatal.

Those numbers are chilling and once again place an emphasis on water safety in the area.

Dana Walraven, community health outreach manager for Cook Children’s, wants to make sure that parents are prepared for warm weather and children in the water. She said the safety begins with making sure a grownup is watching the kids in the water at all times.

“Active adult supervision and layers of protection such as door alarms and a fence can lower the risk for your child,” Walraven said. “The majority of these water-related incidents happen in the child’s own backyard pools and to children 4 years old and younger. Drowning prevention around the pool starts with adult supervision.”

Children are protected by layers of protection by using these safety techniques whenever children are around the pool:

· Always have adult supervision present when children are swimming or around pools.

· A fence with a locking gate should surround the pool.

· Install door alarms to alert adults when a child is entering the pool area.

· Require life jacket use for non-swimmers.

· Enroll children in swimming lessons.

· Parents and caregivers should undergo CPR training.

In nearly nine out of 10 child drowning –related deaths, the parent or caregiver said the child had been with them in the house or pool within five minutes of the accident. Walraven says she knows it is difficult to supervise children 100 percent of the time. She said the levels of protection provide barriers in case the child should slip out of supervision.

Safe Kids Tarrant County, led by Cook Children’s, also offers Water Watcher tags to anyone or group who will use or distribute them. These are especially helpful at parties around the pool or lake to help designate adults that are watching the water. After 15 minutes, the tag is given to another responsible adult – letting everyone enjoy the party while ensuring that the kids are being properly watched. To receive a Water Watcher Tag, call 682-885-4244.

In large pools, it’s ideal to split up in groups and take sections of the pool.

“If you are somewhere where children are in the pool, insist that an adult be on watch,” Walraven said. “It should be done by a sober adult and that should be his or her only focus during their time watching the kids.”

Aside from supervision, four-sided isolation fencing with self-closing/self-latching gates is the best protection for your child and pets. It could prevent 50-90 percent of childhood drowning and near-drowning incidents. This type of fencing goes beyond the yard, to fencing in the pool itself, preventing direct access from the house.

Door and gate alarms give another signal that a child may have access to the pool area without supervision. The tendency is to disconnect it – especially at parties where people are going in and out. But these are also the times when small children are the most vulnerable for injury because of the confusion.

Learning CPR can save a child’s life by restoring breathing and circulation until advance life support can be given by health care providers.

Swim programs for children should teach good water safety behaviors in and around the pool but should not be seen as the sole way to decrease the risk of drowning.

Use a U.S. Coast Guard approved lifejacket with children who can’t swim. It should fit snugly when the child is buckled in and should not go beyond the top of the ears when lifted at the shoulders. Many air-filled, float-type toys are thought to be lifesavers but are not.

Check your pool and spa for cracked or broken drain covers on a regular basis. The suction around the drain can catch hair or clothing, pinning the child underwater. Anti-entrapment drain covers are available for as low as $40 and serve as another level of protection.

Since beach balls, noodles and other toys are attractive to curious young children – put them away when not at the pool.

For more information

Cook Children's has many resources on drowning prevention, beginning here. Click the links below with downloadable information in both Spanish and English, as well as videos. 

• Drowning prevention tips - English
• Drowning prevention tips - Spanish
• Water safety resources
• Drowning prevention education (English and Spanish)

Videos:

• Pool safety video step 1: Supervision
• Pool safety video step 2: Fencing
• Pool safety video step 3: Pool and spa covers
• Pool safety video step 4: Alarms
• Pool safety video step 5: Safety drain covers
• Pool safety video step 6: Swimming lessons
• Pool safety video step 7: Learning CPR
• Safe Kids Tarrant County Drowning Prevention Tips
• Safe Kids Tarrant County sugerencias de prevención de ahogamientos