Happy Wednesday,

It’s fun trying to think back through all of the things that happen with my daughter on a daily basis. While I can’t recall any one stand out moment from yesterday, I do remember laughing, smiling, taking 30,000 photos, a few videos and being in awe of the fact that this crazy little baby came from us.

Anyone else here constantly upgrading their iCloud storage just to keep up with all the snapshots? Hit reply and tell me I'm not alone!

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One Big Idea

Emergency Room Preparedness for Children

Emergency departments serve as a critical first line of defense in saving lives, especially for the youngest among us. However, a staggering revelation from The Wall Street Journal highlights that only about 14% of emergency departments across the nation are certified to adequately treat children. In fact, the lack of preparedness has cost lives, as research shows. About 1,440 children died from 2012 to 2017 because the emergency rooms that treated them weren’t well prepared. These shortcomings are not a result of a lack of knowledge. In fact, many professionals in the medical field, including policy makers, have been aware of these critical deficiencies for years. Yet, the vast majority of hospitals have yet to take decisive action to address the situation. As a result, many children, facing life-threatening situations, are not receiving the timely and specialized care they desperately need, leading to avoidable tragedies.

New parents need to be especially vigilant about this concerning trend. It's a heart-wrenching fact to consider, but children are four times as likely to die in less-prepared emergency rooms. While no parent wants to think of their child in an emergency situation, it is crucial to be prepared and informed. All emergency departments are not created equal, and as parents, making an informed decision about where to seek emergency care for your child could be the difference between life and death.

Takeaway: To navigate this issue and ensure the best care for your child, consider the following actionable steps:

• Research: Familiarize yourself with nearby hospitals and their pediatric emergency readiness. Make note of those that are certified for pediatric emergencies.

• Advocate: Voice your concerns to your local hospitals and ask about their pediatric emergency preparedness. Consider joining or supporting foundations or organizations pushing for improved emergency care for children.

• Stay Informed: Regularly check any updated lists or rankings on pediatric emergency preparedness. Being informed can help you make a quick, yet educated, decision during a crisis.

Trending Stories & Insights

• I’ll let you be the judge. A man with no kids sparks debate after shaming mom at a park because she is absolutely glued to her phone instead of watching her kid

• I’ve read this new study so you don’t have to. It turns out that childhood verbal abuse (CVA) is as damaging as other forms of maltreatment. It also states that this abuse can create “underlying emotional and psychological repercussions,” which include obesity, increased risks of anger, substance abuse, depression, and self-harm, and should be categorized with other forms of maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect)

• The original Tiger Mom, whose book preached the benefits of super strict parenting talks about her biggest regrets after she had a near death experience

Tip of the Day

• Here’s a list of 12 parenting skills that make you a good parent. How many can you check off?

F**k it, here’s a dad joke

What did the earthquake say when it was done?

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