Zeke Cuisine

Learning bus schedules and meeting new teachers. Shopping for super-sweet backpacks and getting overdue haircuts. The smell of fresh notebooks, erasers, and No. 2 pencils. Ah, the joys of back-to-school season! The start of a school year is an exciting time. But when life gets hectic, things get missed, so ask yourself: With all the shopping and prepping and scheduling, have you had time to sit down and discuss back-to-school family safety? A recent U.S. Census report shows 7 million of the nation’s 38 million elementary and middle school-aged children are left home alone regularly. Even if a child isn’t home alone, they may walk alone to and from school, the bus, or an after-school activity. With a few simple instructions and a little bit of practice, children can feel confident being home alone for a few hours outside of the school day. Also, parents will have peace of mind knowing their child is prepared in case of an emergency. So carve out some time during these final days of...

It’s easy to turn a blind eye to dangers you can’t see. After all, we already have so much to do, and so much to worry about. But when it comes to carbon monoxide, what you don’t know can hurt you, and your family. So first, here’s a few facts to put that in perspective: At least 430 people die in the U.S. from accidental CO poisoning, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). If CO is only present at home, you may feel fine while you’re out and about. The signs of CO poisoning make present like common flu symptoms. CO is color, tasteless, and odorless, making it undetectable without equipment. Someone who is sleeping or has been drinking alcohol can die of CO poisoning before experiencing any symptoms. Having a smoke detector will not help protect you from CO poisoning. The very young and the very old are most sensitive to the effects of CO. Scary, right? The more you know about CO, the better off you are. So here’s the basics everyone should know. What is car...