Holiday parties mean having family and friends over and in some cases small children. Nicole Vesely, Madison-area coordinator for the Safe Kids Coalition, has tips on child-proofing for those who don’t have kids.

She says look around the home to see if there is anything a small child could put in their mouth. She also says look at their eye level to see if there are potential dangers such as electrical outlets.

Vesely has a reminder that just because a toy is sold in the U.S. does not mean it is safe. She says an estimated 217,000 children go to the emergency room each year for toy-related injuries. Some toys pose a danger because of choking hazards; they are too loud for developing ears or are laced with toxic chemicals.

Vesely says if you know a parent whose child is playing with a dangerous toy explain to the adult about the potential harm and encourage them to visit toysafety.mobi.

The Obama administration’s decision to block unrestricted sale of the “morning-after pill” to those under age 17 caught at least one Wisconsin advocate by surprise. “This administration, on these issues, set the stage for following medical evidence and scientific advice,” says Lon Newman, Executive Director of Wausau-based Family Planning Health Services. “That’s what they indicated they were going to do, that’s what all the signals were. So yes, I was astonished like everybody else.”

AUDIO: Lon Newman (4:05) [Read more...]