Child Safety Source

After spending a decade as an entrepreneur and consultant, Rebecca turned her focus to the hidden global epidemic of drowning in 2007. She developed the concept and the strategy for Make the Minute Matter Inc, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness, providing water safety education and raising funding for skills-based training programs around the world. A talented public speaker, blogger, and active presence on social media, Rebecca is also the author of “Start An Epidemic: Ignite Changes With Social Marketing”.

Mick Nelson is the Senior Director of Facilities Development for USA Swimming. He and his wife Sue formed their own swim club and built their first indoor facility in Danville Illinois in 1973. In 1974 they formed Nelson’s Swim Supply a retail and wholesale pool/spa and aquatic equipment business. In 1982 they formed NSS Inc which offered aquatic facility design, building, and business consultation to the aquatic industry. In 1994 they formed WaterWay Therapy Inc. which was one of the first and only privately owned and operated Medicare approved outpatient Aquatic Physical Therapy centers in the country. In 2002 they formed Poolside Health & Wellness Center which became the home for the Turtles USA Swim Club, WaterWay Therapy, and Swim America learn-to- swim program and a full-service land and water community health and wellness center. Their specialty is aquatic programming, business development, water treatment and aquatic facility design. Since joining USA Swimming in 2004, they have presented at over 90 major national and international aquatic conferences and conventions and conducted over 70 Build and Program a Pool Conferences/workshops. They have been involved in design and programming of 160 new facilities with 12 more currently in the design phase and programming feasibility stages. They serve on over 15 national and international committees and BOD’s that are focused on swimming, aquatic health & wellness, and drowning prevention.

CJ Jones does something really, really cool: she does K9 search and rescue, specifically in the water. We'll be talking to her about her work, the North Alabama Search Dog Association, and more.

RICH SPECHT is a father of four who holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Mary Washington and a master’s degree in liberal studies from Stony Brook University. Prior to embarking on his career as a public speaker and advocate for kindness and water safety, Rich was a science teacher for 15 years at Great Hollow Middle School, in Nesconset, New York. In addition to his speaking, Rich is also the published author of the award winning children’s book A Little Rees Specht Cultivates Kindness and the upcoming A Little Rees Specht Stops a Bully and A Little Rees Specht for Water Safety. Rich and his wife, Samantha, are the co-founders of the ReesSpecht Life Foundation which they formed in the wake of the loss of their only son, Richard Edwin-Ehmer (Rees) Specht at 22 months old. The acts of kindness that the family received after Rees’ passing inspired them to “pay forward” that kindness; which the foundation does in the form of scholarships for High School seniors who demonstrate a commitment to their community, compassion and respect, as well as the distribution of over a half a million ReesSpecht Life “pay it forward” cards. The foundation also provides free water safety school assemblies called “ReesSpecht the Water” which have reached over 50,000 students on Long Island in the past five years. The themes and characters from Rich’s book(s) are currently slated to become an animated children’s television series in production with RC Productions Inc. The book and television adaptations of A Little Rees Specht Cultivates Kindness represents the culmination of Rich’s goal to help make this world a little better, one Rees’ piece at a time. Rich currently resides in Sound Beach, New York with his wife, Samantha, daughters, Abigail, Lorilei and Melina as well as his angel above, Rees.

Here on the Child Safety Source, we always aim to help protect children from harm. Our Child Safety Source series typically sits down to interview pool safety experts. Today, we’re doing something a little bit different. Let’s take a quick step away from the water to discuss oral hygiene with dental hygienist, Jessica Cooper.

For a change of pace, this episode will include both an interview and some live demonstrations. As always, our own Eric Lupton is pleased to join Jessica Cooper for an in-depth conversation about her particular area of expertise. Additionally, viewers will learn an awesome new technique to brush and floss a toddler’s teeth. Along the way, Jessica Cooper will be answering all of our viewers questions.

This was a lot of fun and we’re glad that Jessica took the time to join us. You can watch Eric and Jessica’s conversation and the toddler tooth brushing demonstration right here:

https://youtu.be/OQ1Ob7OhJPI

Rory Antley Sheffield was born a firecracker. He was walking by 9 months and never stopped once he got vertical. He was the joy of his family and Daddy named him his “Little Warrior”. He loved firetrucks and would watch numerous videos of them going out on calls. One of his favorite videos built a firetruck from the tires up and he could name each part. But he was more than that, he was my baby boy, he was my #4. Rory was Momma’s boy but Daddy’s warrior. He had so much love and life to give but tragedy took him too soon. Rory's mom and the founder of Rory the Warrior, Sherry-Dawn Sheffield, is featured on this episode. Listen and find out why every paramedic needs a HERO Bag!

Alan Korn is the executive director of the Abbey’s Hope Charitable Foundation where he assists the organization in its management, public policy, marketing and public relations efforts. Before joining AHCF, he was the executive director and general counsel for Safe Kids USA, a member of Safe Kids Worldwide’s global network of organizations whose mission is to prevent accidental childhood injury, a leading killer of children 14 and under. While at Safe Kids, he led the over 600 coalitions and chapters in the Safe Kids USA network of child injury prevention advocates. He also directed the public policy agenda at the federal level and guided the coalitions in their state advocacy efforts. In addition, he advised the organization on legal issues such as trademark, copyright, contract and liability. Mr. Korn makes presentations around the country on government’s role in child injury prevention and liability issues associated with community-based safety programs. He has testified many times before Congress, federal agencies and state legislatures on issues of injury prevention and has appeared as a child safety expert on the Today Show, Good Morning America, the CBS Early Show, Fox News, CNN and NPR as well as in dozens of magazines and newspapers. Mr. Korn is an attorney and a member of the Missouri and District of Columbia Bar. Prior to his work for non-profits in both Washington, DC and Minneapolis, MN, he practiced law for five years in St. Louis, Missouri, specializing in health law, consumer protection and litigation. Mr. Korn received his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and his J.D. from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis. He is married, has one child and resides in Washington, D.C.

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