Keeping Kids Safe

On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan speak with one of the inspiring forces behind The ZAC Foundation, Nancy Baker. Nancy is the mother of Virginia Graeme Baker, for whom the national Spa and Safety Act is named.

Joining us from the National Water Safety Conference in Fort Worth, Texas, Nancy shares her powerful, personal story and explains how she has used a family tragedy as motivation to prevent drain entrapment from impacting others. Since the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act of 2007 was signed into law, there have been zero deaths involving children in U.S. public pools and spas due to drain entrapment. This is an incredibly important podcast that shows that even after the most unthinkable tragedy, positive change can occur.

On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan speak with Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz—U.S. representative for Florida’s 23rd Congressional District. Wasserman Schultz authored the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act in 2007 and since its passage, there have been zero drain entrapment deaths in U.S. public pools. Despite the legislation’s remarkable success, accidental drowning remains the most common cause of death for children between ages one and four-years-old—so additional, meaningful work is still necessary.

Rep. Wasserman Schultz documents her tireless efforts to improve pool safety across the country via federal legislation and public education. Throughout the discussion, Megan, Karen, and Debbie emphasize the importance of creating a national dialogue to promote meaningful transformations that benefit children and their families. Future developments may include the introduction of drowning prevention education in public schools—similar to existing programs like stop, drop & roll, recycling, and helmet safety.

On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan speak with longtime friend of The ZAC Foundation, Alan Korn. Alan is the Executive Director of Abbey’s Hope Charitable Foundation—an organization that prioritizes child safety and drowning prevention. Alan talks about his unique experiences practicing law, being a father, becoming an advocate, and the pivotal role he played in lobbying for meaningful water safety legislation.

Karen, Megan, and Alan discuss the complexities of parenthood as well as policing reckless behavior exhibited by the children of other parents. Megan recalls seeing a child riding his bicycle against traffic on a dangerous road without a helmet. Do you have an obligation to intervene? Alan explains that hundreds of municipalities across the country have helmet requirement laws for children. But how do you enforce them? City officials aren’t able to ticket children—sound parenting remains the preeminent solution.

On this week’s episode of Keeping Kids Safe, Karen and Megan review their recent participation in the 2022 California Water Safety Summit where they proudly announced the ZAC Foundation’s partnership with the California Water Safety Coalition and the Ben Carlson Memorial & Scholarship Foundation. It was their first “in-person” conference since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic began—and they are delighted to report that it was well attended!

Karen and Megan also enthusiastically report on the considerable progress The ZAC Foundation is making at the policy level. For example, the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGBA)—which prioritizes water safety, drowning prevention, and the advocation of child supervision near water—has been reauthorized. PLUS, Karen and Megan recap their conversation with U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schulz.

Karen and Megan welcome New York State Assemblywoman Pheffer Amato, a leading voice in the New York State Legislature on water safety and the author of the legislation that created the New York Commission on Childhood Drowning. A national model, the commission will involve key stakeholders from a wide range of community groups. Did you know that formal water safety lessons can reduce drownings by 88%? Are you aware of the steps being taken to ensure our beaches are safe? What can you do as a parent to make your voice heard? Join us for an important discussion and learn what can be done to ensure water safety is treated as a necessity, not a privilege.

Keeping kids safe often starts with keeping our kids healthy. Karen and Megan welcome Karina Heinrich, a top Certified Integrative Nutritionist and Celebrity Health Coach. Karina will help you and your family discover a nutritious way of life and get your kids on a journey to be healthy eaters. Which foods help boost mood and can beat the winter blues? How can you get your kids to eat their vegetables and give up the processed snacks? What is eating for beauty and how does that impact our psychology? Which food should you eat two hours before bed to help you get a great night's sleep? Tune in to learn how you can raise healthy little eaters and how you can be a healthier, happier parent. It all starts with the food we eat!

This week Karen and Megan welcome Tricia Morrow, Safety Engineer with Chevrolet. Tricia provides crucial tips for safe winter driving. What should you do if your car is stuck in ice or snow? Why is it important to know the safety features of the vehicle before you hit the road? What are the critical essentials to bring for the winter outing? Is it really important from a safety perspective to get your car washed on a regular basis? This episode will help your family be safer when roads are icy, snow-covered, and slippery.

Karen and Megan welcome a true expert in teen and pre-teen social media use. Karen's teenage daughter, Sydney. Together they share what parents need to know to keep their kids safe online. Want to learn which social media sites can be harmful to your child's self esteem? Should you limit the amount of time they, and you, are online? How can you ensure your child doesn't go on a social media site without your permission? You'll learn about parental controls, cyberstalking, and the importance of modeling for your children. Join Karen, Megan, and Sydney and learn insider tips that can only be offered by a teenager willing to confess the good, the bad, and the ugly about social media in front of her own mother!

January is National Bath Safety Month and Karen and Megan offer essential tips to keep small children of all ages safe in the tub. Is it ever okay to leave little ones unintended? What is the best way to safely clean newborns? What are some ideas to help tired parents stay awake during bath time? How do you properly exit the bathroom while ensuring no child is left behind? Tune in to a fun and essential conversation that will help you keep little ones in your life clean, fresh, and safe.

Karen and Megan welcome 2022 and reaffirm the mission of The ZAC Foundation for Children's Safety: to help you keep your kids safe. Water safety is critical even in the cold winter months. How do you keep everyone safe around ponds, lakes, and streams? Why is it so important to have an emergency plan for your household? And since we don't have any intention of stopping the celebrations just yet, what are some key components of kitchen safety especially when entertaining? Join us as a new year brings new safety challenges, new safety tips, and a renewed sense of purpose.