July Newsletter 2024
Teri Ann Cox
Executive Director of The Children’s Center
Dear Center Families,
While July is all about summer fun (and National Ice Cream Month!), The Children’s Center has heightened awareness during this time of year with a variety of safety precautions for your children. Not only are we vigilant about doing our part in preventing the spread of illnesses in our little community, but we are also diligent when it comes to using sunscreen, hydrating, and watching for heat stroke.
Sun safety is crucial with all the time we spend outside. Our teachers apply sunscreen (with your approval) at least two times a day before we go outside. We recognize just a few serious sunburns can increase a child’s risk of skin cancer later in life. We encourage you to send a hat and/or sunglasses for your child to protect their face, scalp, ears, and eyes from UV rays. For more basic sun safety info, go to the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/sun-safety.htm
Each year around this time I am reminded by our Child Care Aware friends that heat stroke continues to be the number one summer killer of children, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. In 2023, 29 children died due to pediatric vehicular heatstroke. In the span of 10 minutes, a car can heat up by 20 degrees, enough to kill a child left alone. Never leave your child in your vehicle unattended, even if the windows are open or the air conditioning is on. If you see a child alone in a locked car, call 911 to get them out immediately. For more important statistics and prevention tips, please see this link that was published May 1: National Heatstroke Prevention Day 2024 | NHTSA.
As we look ahead, I wanted to encourage families to participate in this year’s Color Fun Run/Walk! While it won’t be held until Sunday, August 4, at 9:00 am, the time to register (and secure your preferred t-shirt size!) is now. We had a blast last year and hope to make this year an even bigger fundraiser for the Center through registration fees and pledges that runner/walkers get from family and friends. Please go to the MyFunRun platform link here to participate:
Here’s to a SAFE, HEALTHY, and FUN summer!
With kind regards,
Teri Ann
