June 25, 2019 • Page 12 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Tips to Keep Kids Safe From Hot Car Deaths (StatePoint) Fifty-two children died in hot cars nationwide in 2018 of pediatric vehicular heatstroke -- more than any other year on record in the past 20 years. Experts say that these tragic deaths are entirely preventable. “Even one child dying in a hot car is too many,” says Amy Artuso, senior program manager of advocacy at the National Safety Council (NSC), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to eliminate preventable deaths at work, in homes, in communities and on the road. “The good news is that parents and caregivers can act immediately to end these preventable deaths.” June is National Safety Month and an excellent opportunity to review the facts and learn more about keeping kids safe. Understanding the Causes According to NSC and noheatstroke.org, there are three primary circumstances resulting in deaths of children in hot cars. Knowing what they are can help you avoid them. 1. A caregiver forgetting a child in a vehicle: Leaving a child behind in a parked vehicle is an often-overlooked consequence of distracted driving. NSC advises parents and caregivers to avoid distractions -- such as cell phone use -- when driving and parking, in order to reduce the risk of forgetting a child in the car. A routine that helps you remember to check for your child in the backseat can help, too. Place a purse, briefcase or even a left shoe in the backseat to force you to take one last look before walking away. 2. The child gaining access to the vehicle: Keep car doors locked so children cannot gain access, and teach them that cars are not play areas. Children should never be able to access a vehicle on their own. For example, NSC recently released “Children in Hot Cars,” an online training course providing information about why cars heat up so quickly, why children in particular can succumb to increasing temperatures in cars, and what parents, caregivers and others can do to prevent these needless deaths. The course is interactive, free and can be completed in 15 minutes or less, with a certificate of completion available at the end. It can be found at nsc.org/hotcars. For more information about pediatric vehicular heatstroke, visit noheatstroke.org. 3. Someone knowingly leaving a child in the vehicle: There is no safe amount of time to leave a child in a vehicle, even if you are just running a quick errand. Even on mild or cloudy days, temperatures inside vehicles can reach life-threatening levels. Leaving windows slightly open doesn’t help. Children should never be left unattended in a vehicle. Hot car deaths have claimed the lives of children in almost all states in the U.S. However, these deaths are preventable. Learn more about the causes to help keep your family and loved ones safe. Educate Yourself Acquaint yourself and anyone who cares for your child with free resources providing vital information about vehicular heatstroke. finding the right job is easier than you think when you’ve got the right direction Stop searching. The Help Wanted section of the Missouri Valley Shopper lists many possible new job opportunities. Find a career that’s right for you. MV Shopper MV Shopper M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y Gi ing Back champions for our community Clothing Closet Since March of 2004, thanks to a partnership with the South Dakota Human Services Center (SD HSC), a project called The Clothing Closet has offered community members who are struggling to make ends meet the opportunity to receive free, quality clothing in a dignified, and welcoming space. Since its inception, thousands of individuals of all ages have been served by this critical community service. This past year, due to the increased need in the Yankton community and surrounding areas, a more accessible location for those needing clothing, as well as the manpower required, SD HSC and United Way of Greater Yankton started a conversation on how to better serve the public. Partners gathered to discuss how our community can continue this critical program in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. United Way of Greater Yankton has led this effort, working with community leaders and organizations like Servant Hearts Clinic and Pathway Shelter for the Homeless to relocate The Clothing Closet while maintaining a seamless transition of services. Thanks to a strong partnership with Servant Hearts Clinic, a nonprofit free health care organization located at 3rd & Capital, United Way will now be facilitating The Clothing Closet program within the available storefront space at 203 E 3rd Street within Yankton’s Meridian District. Over the past few months, thanks to generous donations from 100 Women of Yankton and the Yankton Community Foundation - United Way, their Heart Club Committee and several community volunteers have spent many hours renovating the gifted 1,500 square foot space. Renovations have included an ADA accessible ramp, basement and shopping center updates, new sheetrock, flooring, updated electrical, and lots of paint. The Clothing Closet was officially re-opened to families in need of clothing at the new renovated location, on Monday, April 1, 2019 and in that time has provided over 2,300 clothing items to 330 individuals of all ages. Regular Clothing Closet service hours are 2:00pm – 6:00pm each Monday afternoon, overlapping Servant Hearts Clinic’s Monday evening service hours. Vouchers from outside agencies are no longer needed for families to participate, however an initial application process will be conducted asking family demographics and overall need. Family information will also be used to track use of the program. Pathways Shelter for the Homeless will also partner with The Clothing Closet, not only by fulfilling the clothing needs of their clients, but by providing opportunities for those in shelter to assist in the success of the program’s mission. United Way is asking the community for their COX AUTO SUPPLY • Farm Filters • Hydraulic Hoses • Bearings & Seals 1007 Broadway, Yankton 605-665-4494 assistance as well. Community groups are needed to help with sorting and the organization of donations. Please contact United Way for your volunteer group to lend a hand. Also, a reminder that household goods, toys, or used undergarments WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED nor will any clothing donations be accepted at the new Clothing Closet location. To obtain community donations, United Way will be hosting clothing drives every few months, based on the needs of the Clothing Closet. The most recent Spring Clothing Drive was an overwhelming success thanks to the incredible support of Yankton residents! The next Clothing Closet community clothing drive will focus on collecting gently used children’s clothing in preparation for the 2019/2020 school year. Dates for the Back to School Clothing Drive are July 12 – 19, with community drop off locations to be announced. Please refer to United Way’s website, www. yanktonunitedway.org or their facebook page for more information. Once again, United Way of Greater Yankton would like to thank all our community partners, especially the South Dakota Human Services Center staff and volunteers, for their incredible community outreach providing this service for so many years and look forward to our continued partnerships maintaining The Clothing Closet mission. For more information about The Clothing Closet, how to donate or how to volunteer, please contact United Way of Greater Yankton at info@yanktonunitedway.org or call (605)665-6766. Dakota arcHErY & OutdOOr SpOrtS “We’ve Got You Covered” 605-665-8340 2305 E. 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