Summary Praise from Dr. David Goo
Don Keenan is a well recognized child advocate, both nationally and locally in the Atlanta area. He has brought forth legislation and lawsuits that have contributed greatly to the well being of Georgia's children, and continues to work untiringly on children's issues. His latest endeavor includes a thorough review of safety issues that plague our children. His latest book, 365 WAYS TO KEEP KIDS SAFE, is another effort of his to help prevent childhood injury. This manual discusses basic safety hazards that each year injure or kill many children unnecessarily. It is a wonderful guide for parents to help protect their kids, stressing prevention, and anticipatory guidance.
As a pediatric emergency medicine physician, I see the outcome of so many accidents that devastate children and families. Broken bones because of crib slats which did not meet safety standards, horrible burns from hot water and flammable clothing, children choking to death on small objects, fatal ingestions, and horrific motor vehicle accidents. Most of these accidents are preventable, and thus are that much more tragic. I have worked all of my professional career to help these sick and injured children, and believe that a guide that outlines potential hazards is invaluable. Parents, teachers, and others who provide childcare will find this to be a superb reference to enable them to safety proof the child's world to the best of their abilities. I am sure that this manual will decrease the number of tragedies that we see in the emergency room daily, and will make my job easier.
Don and I are kindred spirits in the area of prevention. We both realize that preventing the injury is the most important part of our jobs as child advocates. Areas that I have worked on myself and with the Georgia Public Interest Research Group(GA PIRG) include toy safety, playground safety, choking hazards, and car locks. I have also worked on putting the message out about the hazards of power windows, skateboards, razor scooters, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Don Keenan's book goes much further and discusses a multitude of topics that cover the home, the neighborhood, the playground and other recreational activities (boating, jet skis, ATV etc), schools, transportation, and community areas (like churches), to name a few.
The best part about this book is that Don outlines strategies to prevent the accidents, and goes a step further to point out where legislative and lobbying efforts need to be placed to achieve real change with manufacturers, builders, and safety regulations. This is not a text that only points out the problems, but one that offers real solutions. That is to goal of every child advocate, to effect meaningful change in a positive direction.
Don Keenan provides us all with an ideal to live up to. He remains a mentor of mine, and certainly has a heart of gold. His book, 365 WAYS TO KEEP KIDS SAFE, will definitely save lives and injuries. I am sure it will make my job in the pediatric emergency room easier and less heartbreaking.
David Goo, MD
Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Emory University
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