“Walk This Way”… no, I’m not referring to the song by Aerosmith, although it is a great song! I’m talking about Safe Kids Southeast Wisconsin Coalition’s Walk This Way program, which is part of  International Walk Your Child to School Day. The first Wednesday in October, boys, girls, their parents, teachers and others around the world make a special date to walk to school.

This program began back in the ‘90’s for several reasons: to encourage physical activity in children, to raise environmental concerns – and my primary focus – to raise an awareness about how “walkable” a community is.

On the local level, Safe Kids Southeast Wisconsin’s program goes into schools providing classroom education about pedestrian safety. Information goes home asking parents and caregivers to walk with their children to school on this special day to help bring awareness to the community about pedestrian safety issues. Pedestrian injury is the second leading cause of injury-related death in the United States for children ages 5-14. Six hundred kids die every year.

For more information about how to walk with a participating school on International Walk Your Child to School Day, Wednesday, Oct. 7, or to find out how to get your school involved for 2010, call (414) 390-2178 or e-mail Lisa Klindt Simpson at lklindtsimpson@chw.org.

You’ve probably heard or read about teens who have been caught “sexting.” Within the last year, our local news covered several stories where criminal charges were filed against area high school students as a result of sexting. But do you know what it is or what the consequences are if your child is caught?

Sexting involves sending text messages with a picture or a movie of people who are nude or engaged in sexual acts. It also includes possessing, forwarding or posting these images online. Many teens don’t realize that possessing, sending or taking images of a minor that involve nudity or sexual acts is a felony crime. It doesn’t matter how old the offender is or whether they took the picture or video. These images are child pornography and kids who possess or distribute them could be required to be listed on the sex offender registry.

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Ear pain, sore throats, cold and flu, minor burns and cuts. For my own girls, childhood has been marked by more than just a few visits to the local emergency room or urgent care clinic. And, many times, when their injuries and illnesses disrupt our routines, the local doctor’s office is closed. When this happens, most parents are left asking whether to steer the car in the direction of the local emergency room or an urgent care clinic.

Children’s Urgent Care Clinics are for illnesses and injuries that your child normally would receive care for at his or her doctor’s offices. Most often, Children’s Urgent Care locations are open when regular doctor’s offices are closed. In many cases, urgent care clinics will offer lower co-pays and shorter wait times than emergency rooms.

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This week is National Child Passenger Safety Week! It’s a great time to brush up on the laws and best practices that are recommended to keep your child safe. Why should you care? Motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of serious injury and death for children in Wisconsin. Many of these injuries and deaths can be prevented.

What do you need to know?

Wisconsin Law: Children must be in a rear-facing car seat, in the back seat, until they are BOTH 1 year old AND 20 pounds.
Best Practice: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children stay rear-facing until they are at least 2 years old. Research shows children are 75 percent safer when they are rear-facing. We encourage you to follow this guideline.

Wisconsin Law: Children must be in a forward-facing car seat with a harness, in the back seat, until they are BOTH 4 years old AND 40 pounds.
Best Practice: Children are much better protected when restrained in a harness, than in a seat belt alone. New car seats on the market allow for higher harness weights of up to 50-80 pounds, so it is possible to keep them safer longer.

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Children’s Hospital today unveiled a new team of superheroes. The “Children’s Flu Fighters” are eager to spread their germ-fighting messages to kids everywhere. Missy Clean, Captain Cough, Super Sneeze and R & R Kid teach kids four basic ways to prevent the spread of cold and flu viruses:

1. Wash your hands.
2. Cover your cough.
3. Sneeze in your sleeve.
4. Take the day off.

The Flu Fighters were developed as a fun and interactive way to teach kids about staying healthy. Over the coming weeks, Children’s Hospital and Children’s Health Education Center will be reaching out to educators, parents, caregivers and children of all ages on the importance of practicing healthy habits this cold and flu season.

Help us spread the word about not spreading germs! Share the Flu Fighters’ messages with your kids’ teachers by sending them the link to ChildrensFluFighters.com. They can register to receive “Children’s Flu Fighters” information packets that will include posters, stickers and other informational tools (supplies are limited).

Children’s Health Education Center also offers a program for K4 and K5 students called, “Keeping Clean is Good Hygiene.” This has been very popular with teachers this year with all of the concern about the spread of H1N1. If your classroom is interested, please contact us.

And, please let us know what your kids think about the Flu Fighters!

– Bridget Clementi, executive director, Children’s Health Education Center