Save a Life: Check the Backseat

According to Dr. Jan Null, a certified consulting meteorologist at San Francisco State University’s Department of Geosciences, in the first 6 months of 2013, children left unattended in hot cars have resulted in 15 reported incidents of child death. Seven of these deaths have been confirmed to have been caused by heatstroke with the remaining eight deaths believed to have been caused by heatstroke based on what was known of the circumstances surrounding those deaths. At the halfway point of 2013, the number of children who died unattended in hot cars is comparable to the rate of such deaths in the previous year in which a total of 32 children died in this manner.

The average annual number of child deaths due to heatstroke since the year 1998 is 37. This figure is, of course, much too high and the issue is beginning to gain momentum in the mainstream media and among grassroots awareness groups. Most people know about the dangers of drinking and driving, and nonprofits such as the car donation program Kars for Kids have campaigned against teens texting while driving, but leaving children unattended in hot cars is yet another car safety issue we need to address now that summer is officially here.

Mild Weather Too

Here is something you may not know: children can die of hyperthermia (medical term for heatstroke) as a result of being left alone in a vehicle even in mild 70 degree Fahrenheit weather. That’s because cars can heat to unbearable (and life-threatening) temperatures quite quickly.

Did you think this can’t happen to you? That you’d never leave your child alone in your car and just forget about him or her? That’s what most normal parents think. But think again: ever had a senior moment? Some experts believe that several critical events happening all at once and taking up the resources of the brain, can lead to a “perfect storm” memory failure in which a child might be left unattended in a car at length—even by the most responsible of parents.

Obsessive Compulsive?

The smartest thing any parent can do is to check the backseat of the car every time he or she parks. Does this sound a little obsessive compulsive? Like Lady Macbeth’s hand washing or checking 50 times to make sure the gas is off in the house before going to the movies?

The answer: who really cares what the neighbors think? The important things: it’s summer; there is a known phenomenon in which parents leave their children unattended in cars; and kids are dying. So take the extra minute to check your backseat, even if it makes you feel a little silly. It may just save your child’s life.

Kars for Kids Offers Six ways to Motivate Volunteers

Many people may think that volunteering isn’t something done all that often, so why waste your summer vacation doing so? However, many non-profit organizations actually find that volunteering spikes during the summer months. But if you think about it, it makes some sense. Families are taking vacation; children are on summer break... There’s ample free time to spend at least a few hours volunteering.

But then comes the age old question; why should I volunteer if I’m not getting paid? Many organizations face this question on a daily basis and it presents the issue, how do we keep our volunteers coming, and more so, how do we keep them motivated and engaged? Kars for Kids, a national car donation charity, has come up with some clever tips for all the non-profits out there to help them keep their volunteers excited about helping and encourage their helpers and others to continue to come.

Some tips from Kars4Kids include:

• ·         Making your volunteers feel needed and appreciated
• ·         Asking volunteers to help in specific, actionable ways
• ·         Inspiring your volunteers with the cause, not the organization
• ·         Staying connected, and make sure your communication channels go both ways
• ·         Developing a community of volunteers
• ·         Showing your volunteers how they made a difference

There it is: Six ways to motivate and encourage your volunteers so that next time you’re searching for some to come out and help, you can show proclaim that you know how to treat your volunteers and how to make the experience an exciting one and meaningful one.

The Obligation to Give

Even in colonial times, Americans formed groups of volunteers to address community needs. In some cases, those needs were collective, in other cases the need might be that of a single individual in need of temporary assistance. People, both communities and individuals, knew that in times of need, they could turn to these groups for help. More to the point, it was understood that the community was obligated to assist the needy.

On the other hand, never did communities or individuals confuse the obligation to give with the right to receive. In America, at least, that’s just the way things were. Giving was always a one-way street.

Alexis de Tocqueville, in his work, “Democracy in America,” offered an apt description of the creation and purpose of American nonprofits that is still fresh and relevant for our times. “Americans of all ages, all conditions, and all dispositions constantly form associations . . . to give entertainments, to found seminaries, to build inns, to construct churches, to diffuse books, to send missionaries to the antipodes. . . ”

Winter Coat Giveaway

The nature of nonprofits and the needs they fill have not much changed since the time of de Tocqueville. The Kars for Kids car donation program, for instance, distributes thousands of free winter coats to children who would otherwise be without warm winter clothing. This same charity also distributes back-to-school supplies to children from low income homes that would otherwise not have the basic means toward academic (and life) success. This is the perfect case of a nonprofit meeting the observed needs of a particular sector of society.

 Recent government cutbacks in funding to nonprofits, however, have made it hard for nonprofits to fulfill community and individual needs. Some nonprofits are beginning to speak out against this situation.

After all, governments have only one source of spending money: tax dollars, taken from individual Americans. Our taxes are the font from which nonprofit services flow. But when businesses are impeded by local government, tax receipts go down. In such a scenario, those who can’t make it through the month are the ones who lose out, because the economy isn’t healthy enough to support the nonprofits that would help them.

Health Equals Generosity

Back in 1630, the American colonists met a challenge. They sought to build a “city upon the hill,” where the residents would care for one another and in so doing, create a society in which responsibility for the community was a core value. They realized early on that a healthy economy was predicated on being wealthy enough to give generously. Those early colonists believed that in this endeavor, they honored their Creator, a belief we would do well to adopt.  

Philanthropist Daniel Straus Supports Communities in Need

The HealthBridge Nursing and Rehab centers will be holding a special fundraiser in Boston to help those families affected by the tragic events that unfolded during this year’s Boston Marathon.  The “Boston Strong” event will be held in June and will feature a cocktail reception and special guest speakers with music, a silent auction, and raffles. The goal is to raise $500,000 for The One Fund to assist the community and the families and victims of this tragedy in rebuilding their lives.

Daniel Straus, a principal of HealthBridge, is a firm believer in supporting communities affected by tragedy.  Last month, he reached his goal of distributing in excess of $1 million in relief funds to employees of his New Jersey-based company, CareOne, and their families that were impacted by Hurricane Sandy.  The funds provided relief for those otherwise displaced as a result of the storm.

Daniel E. Straus incorporates giving into his life on an ongoing basis.  In addition to his employees and regional and national organizations, he gives to institutions and centers of higher learning so others can learn, succeed and live a fulfilling life.

Kars for Kids Send Tips for the Road on Memorial Day Weekend

With the unofficial kickoff of summer this weekend, there is plenty to look forward to; great weather, the beach, road trips, barbeques. But along with the upcoming months of summer fun, comes some of the most dangerous driving conditions.  In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Memorial Day, July Fourth and Labor Day are the most danger days to be on the road.   Each summer holiday individually has more car fatalities than there are on New Year’s Eve or Thanksgiving.

The summer weather is one aspect of the season that many people look forward to, but this means dangerous driving conditions.  Luckily, Kars for Kids, a national car donation charity, has our back, sharing various tips on how to stay safe on the road. 

A common danger brought on by summer is allergies.  Allergies can cause drowsiness and sneezing can impair a driver’s vision.   Speak to your doctor about what you can do to help your allergies. High temperatures can lead to tire punctures and blow-outs so make sure to check air pressure and check for any cracks in your tires before embarking on long trips. Thunderstorms, which are much more frequent in the summer months, make it harder to see the road and can make the brakes less effective. If you’re caught in a storm then slow down, brake earlier than normal, and if you find yourself uncomfortable driving through the storm, pull over in an open area to avoid falling trees. 

Kars4Kids wishes everyone a happy and safe kickoff to summer!