Connecticut Children’s Community Health

22/07/2025

Amy Watkins from our Injury Prevention Center is sounding the alarm: e-bike injuries among kids are on the rise. In just two months, Connecticut Children's has treated over 24 children with serious e-bike-related injuries.

“All it takes is one crash to be seriously injured or even killed,” warns Watkins.

E-bikes may look like fun, but with speeds up to 28 mph, they require serious safety precautions, not just regular bike helmets. Think motorcycle or multisport helmets, especially for young riders.

⚠️ Key Safety Tips from Watkins:
✅ Kids under 16 shouldn't be riding e-bikes
✅ Proper helmets are a must; regular ones may not be enough
✅ Teach your kids the rules of the road
✅ E-bikes are not toy; they’re powerful machines

📊 Plus: Connecticut bike-related deaths are up 300%.

Watch the full interview with FOX61 here: https://www.fox61.com/article/news/local/connecticut-childrens-medical-center-warns-of-e-bike-hazards/520-ee818f8f-37c8-41fa-a495-791feeecea9d

Connecticut Children's Medical Center reports rising e-bike injuries. Officials there are urging better safety measures for kids.

16/07/2025

We’re proud to share that Elizabeth Sagan, Program Specialist for Safe Kids Connecticut, a program within Connecticut Children’s Injury Prevention Center, was featured on FOX61 News to talk about the growing issue of counterfeit car seats being sold online.

She shared what to look for, why these knockoffs are dangerous, and how our team is helping families stay informed and safe.

Elizabeth recently identified a counterfeit car seat during a clinic and helped the family understand the safety risks and replace it with a federally approved model.

👶 Watch the full FOX 61 story below to learn more and hear directly from Elizabeth.

💺 For help with your own car seat, Safe Kids CT offers free clinics and one-on-one appointments.

📺 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-XajTOGamw

Counterfeit car seats with missing safety features are endangering Connecticut families.---➡️Subscribe to FOX61 for exclusive content: https://www.youtube.co...

11/07/2025

In June, Building for Health hosted a Community Housing Resource Fair in recognition of and . 🏡💚

The event was a collaborative effort with fellow OCCH programs, North Hartford Ascend, Healthy Homes and the Injury Prevention Center, and many incredible community partners. Together, we connected residents of Hartford and surrounding towns with vital housing-related services, safety resources, and wellness programs.

When our programs come together, we create meaningful impact and continue building safer, healthier communities across Hartford. 💪🏽❤️

10/07/2025

📢 Important Update for Newborn Health in Connecticut!

The Connecticut Newborn Screening Network, part of the Office for Community Child Health, is now supporting families affected by congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) through the state’s expanded newborn screening. Since July 1, 2025, Connecticut has been screening all newborns for cCMV, a common viral infection that can lead to hearing loss, developmental delays, or other long-term health challenges if undetected.

Including cCMV in newborn screening helps families and healthcare providers identify and address concerns early. Newborn screening continues to advance, improving outcomes for families across Connecticut.

👉 To learn more about the Connecticut Newborn Screening Network, visit our website! https://www.connecticutchildrens.org/specialties-conditions/connecticut-newborn-screening-network

10/07/2025

09/07/2025

Executive Director of the Injury Prevention Center, Kevin Borrup, is helping shine a much-needed light on the dangers of hot car deaths and how we can prevent them. 🚗☀️

In a recent news segment out of Norwalk, Borrup shared life-saving guidance, reminding parents that “children heat up 3 to 5 times faster than adults” and that “the first 10 minutes in a car is critical”. ⏱️🔥

His voice is part of a growing effort to raise awareness and push for solutions, especially after 2024 marked the deadliest year in two decades, with 52 child deaths. 💔

Watch the full clip to learn how simple actions can save lives. 🙏

https://connecticut.news12.com/2024-was-deadliest-year-in-past-2-decades-for-hot-car-deaths-nsc-says

Over 1,125 children have died in hot cars since 1990 and on average, 38 children die in hot cars each year in the United States, according to data collected by Kids and Car Safety.

07/07/2025

The Center for Care Coordination, a program of OCCH, believes that when families are connected to the right resources, children thrive. ✨

Recently, Clinical Care Coordinator, Samantha Calhoon, established a connection with CT Beds, a Connecticut-based nonprofit providing free, handmade bed frames, mattresses, bedding, and pillows to families in need 🛏️

Through this collaboration, care coordinators helped a local family with two young children secure safe, comfortable sleeping arrangements, which were delivered and installed in their home earlier this week. It’s one example of how we work to address not only medical needs, but the full range of social and environmental factors that impact a child’s health and well-being.

We’re proud to work alongside dedicated partners like CT Beds who share in our mission to support families and strengthen communities across Connecticut. ❤️

03/07/2025

🎆 The Fourth of July is a time for family, fun, and fireworks—but for pediatric trauma teams, it’s one of the most heartbreaking weekends of the year. 💔
Listen to the quiet hopes of our Level 1 trauma team as they prepare for what’s often their busiest stretch—when celebrations can turn into tragedies in an instant. 🥺
This weekend, make a plan. Hand over your keys. Protect the kids around you and the ones who count on you to come home. 💗

Because our doctors and nurses never want to say, “We did everything we could.”
Say it with us: Not one more. 🙏

At Connecticut Children’s, our Level I Pediatric Trauma Team is here 24/7—when every second counts. And through our Injury Prevention Center, we’re working every day to stop tragedies before they happen. 💜🩺

https://bit.ly/4kp9YXU

02/07/2025

Partnering with the Community to Unlock Children and Families’ Full Potential We are dedicated to uplifting the community of North Hartford by providing access to resources, support, and opportunities for […]

01/07/2025

Today’s Summer Safety News Conference, held here at Connecticut Children's, focused on preventing the rise in childhood injuries that occurs each summer, often called “trauma season.” 🌅🏖️🍉

Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner, Garrett Eucalitto, spoke about road and work zone safety. Sarah Caro of the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation addressed drowning prevention. Lt. Edward Charlton of the Connecticut State Police discussed the dangers of impaired driving, and Capt. Jose Rivera from the Hartford Fire Department covered firework safety and window falls.

Dr. Steven Rogers of Connecticut Children’s Emergency Department and Youth Su***de Prevention Center discussed youth mental health and common summer emergencies. Amy Watkins from the Injury Prevention Center focused on helmet and pedestrian safety, e-bike and scooter awareness, and the risks of hot cars.

Each speaker shared simple, effective steps families can take to keep kids safe while enjoying summer activities. 🚸🛴🚗

19/06/2025

☀️ With summer officially here, now’s the perfect time for a quick reminder: a few simple habits can help keep kids safe all season long!

🚗 Even when it feels mild outside, cars can heat up fast, but the good news is, hot car tragedies are 100% preventable. Always check the back seat, lock your car, and help spread the word.

Read the blog for easy tips that could save a life ➡️ https://www.connecticutchildrens.org/advancing-kids/keep-kids-safe-cars-all-summer-long

It might feel like a mild day outside, just 75 degrees, but the inside of a parked car can heat up quickly.

18/06/2025

🏆 We won an Emmy! 🏆

Ghost Shoes, the powerful documentary from Watch for Me CT, has officially won a Boston/New England Emmy Award for its compelling message about the urgent need for pedestrian safety.

This short film honors lives lost and raises awareness through the stories behind ghost shoes — memorials placed where pedestrians were killed. It’s a reminder that safer streets save lives.

🎬 Created by Watch For Me CT, an initiative of the Injury Prevention Center, and CashmanKatz, this win is a testament to the power of storytelling in advocacy.

Huge congratulations to everyone who made this important work possible!

📺 Watch the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vQ4nuIRfWI