Starting the new school year can be a time of great excitement… and anxiety. Help calm your child’s fears (and your own) with these teacher-approved tips.

July is National UV Safety Month -- which makes sense, as it tends to be one of the busiest months for outdoor activities where we expose our skin to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. Take extra precautions to prevent skin cancer and reduce the risk of UV damage. 

Important Safety Resources for you including Fall Safety Checklist from the CDC and an Emergency Supply Kit List from FEMA.

Children are at greater risk for frostbite than adults are. Because of their greater surface area children lose heat from their skin more rapidly than adults do. Parents can help prevent frostbite by dressing their child(ren) in layers and covering all body parts from exposure to the cold by wearing hats, scarves, and mittens.

In normal years, the popularity of online shopping leads to an increase in cyber scams. This year, e-commerce is expected to surge even more than usual —with an accompanying increase in phishing attempts, too.

Cybersecurity experts have already identified an increase in spam emails containing common phrases like “cheap offer” and “holiday sale.”

The Internet touches almost all aspects of everyone’s daily life, whether we realize it or not. Make sure you know who's knocking at your digital door with these tips for protecting your personal information.

Think before you click!

Halloween is an exciting time of year for kids, and to help ensure they have a safe holiday, here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Need to dispose of needles in a home care setting? Here is important information what to do with used sharps in Illinois.

Put used sharps in a strong, plastic container.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 12,500 people are treated in emergency rooms for holiday related injuries each year. A few precautions can help you make it through the season safe and sound.

Speak for Safety Illinois – Firearm Restraining Orders
EMPOWERING FAMILIES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PREVENT GUN TRAGEDIES

What is a firearm restraining order?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is alerting the public about fraud schemes related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Scammers are offering COVID-19 tests to Medicare beneficiaries in exchange for personal details, including Medicare information. However, the services are unapproved and illegitimate.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions are at higher risk for developing more severe complications from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Learn how you can be an effective caregiver while also taking care of yourself during the COVID-19 pandemic. Always follow guidelines from the CDC, and consider the following tips.

Important information from the CDC.

• How to Protect Yourself

• What to do if you think you are sick

• What you need to know

Hypothermia is a condition of abnormally low body temperature. Exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced. Prolonged exposure to cold will eventually use up your body's stored energy. The result is hypothermia.

Important Safety Tips for Bicyclists

Always Ride with Traffic and Follow the Rules of the Road

Don't Ride on the Sidewalk

Be Predictable and Visible

Watch for Turning Traffic

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every four older adults falls every year, and 20 percent of those falls are serious, resulting in a broken bone, head trauma or the similar injury. Seniors who experience a fall double their chance of experiencing another fall in the future. Unfortunately, the risk of falling can’t be completely avoided, so it’s crucial to provide immediate help and assistance if and when a fall happens.

Think of all the places your financial information is stored online—credit card numbers on shopping sites and apps, bank information used for online bill pay, cards stored in your Apple Wallet or Google Pay. Is your list racking up quickly?

These days, many of us never actually see our physical money. We swipe, scan, and autopay. And while convenient, it comes with risks. Hackers are always lurking.

Shopping for babies and toddlers during the holiday season can bring adults a lot of joy. Just remember that not all options are appropriate for the tiniest kids on your list.

As a child, I was an easy mark for playground torments: smart, insufferably rule-abiding, decidedly unpretty. The tormenter I remember most distinctly was not my first bully, nor my last, but his attacks would turn the others into footnotes.

He was in my class for years; his mom was my softball coach, driving me to and from practice when my single mother could not.

The Gurnee Police Department has shared this information to help make individuals more aware of information they need immediately during a phone call to them, especially during in-progress emergencies.