Warning for parents: Transitioning your childโs car seat too soon can be deadly
A new AAA analysis of five years of government crash data reveals a concerning trend: child seat and booster use declines after a child turns 3, despite the continued need for these safety devices.
Firefighters issue warning after dog accidentally sparks lithium-ion battery fire
Firefighters are encouraging people to think twice about where they store rechargeable batteries after a dog in Tulsa got ahold of one, chewed it and set its dog bed on fire.
Safe & affordable: Safety groups reveal best used cars for your teen drivers
Two safety groups -- Consumer Reports and the IIHS -- share their top picks and features so you know what to look for when buying a used car for your young driver.
Leave fireworks to the professionals or plan ahead for safety, experts warn
Many people celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks, but remembering to create a plan before enjoying them is important to prevent injury.
Fourth of July: A busy but dangerous time for boaters in Jacksonville
The Fourth of July is considered one of the busiest and most dangerous times for boating. An increase in boaters on the water means an increased risk for accidents.
Going to the beach for July 4th? Read this first
Max Ervanian, a training and operations officer with Ocean Rescue, said there are three things you need to do before you leave the house to better ensure your safety on the sand and in the water.
Drownings are increasing. Here's how to swim safe this summer
Drownings are increasing, which is why Consumer Reports explains it's critically important to follow basic safety precautions around pools, lakes, and the ocean.
When it roars, go indoors: Lightning safety tips
Lightning strikes the U.S. about 25 million times a year! Your odds of being struck by it is one in 15 thousand. That sounds slim but if you play the lotto, your odds of winning is one in 300 million.
Crime analyst shares safety tips when out at large gatherings after weekend of gun violence across the nation
As temperatures start to warm up across the country and a lot more people are out and about, there are some safety tips to keep in mind when out at large gatherings.
โWe lose awareness...โ Knowing how kids are left behind may prevent more children from dying in a hot car
Two children have died in hot cars so far this year. We're finding out how this type of tragedy can happen and ways to prevent another child from dying.
Latest drowning report shows 12% increase in child deaths
Deadly drownings for children under age 15 increased by 12% in 2021 compared to the previous year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) annual drowning and submersion report.
New beach rules aim to prevent death by umbrella. Injuries more common than you might think
Safety advocates encourage people to weigh down umbrellas if they're headed to the beach this weekend.
When to tell a lie: Survival through deception
Every 68 seconds, someone is sexually assaulted in America, and out of every 10 victims of rape, nine of them are female. Fifteen percent of sexual assaults occur in public places, so itโs imperative to be aware of your surroundings and who you give any information to. Experts say itโs more than ok to tell a lie when it comes to your safety.
How are we doing?: St. Augustine police ask community to fill out a survey, share their biggest concerns
The St. Augustine Police Department (SAPD) is gathering opinions from community members to understand how they could serve them better.
I-TEAM: Former drawbridge employees say long shifts put public at risk
Three whistleblowers are warning of potential danger on Northeast Floridaโs iconic drawbridges: downtown Jacksonvilleโs Main Street Bridge, St. Augustineโs Bridge of Lions, the Crescent Beach Bridge, and the Ortega River Bridge.
I-TEAM: Apartment safety expert weighs in on the law designed to hold landlords accountable
Following our I-TEAM investigation on apartment safety, the director of a company who conducts safety assessments shared his thoughts on the law that's designed to make apartments safer.
Tragedy drives family to help protect others with first-of-its-kind safety demonstration home
Charlieโs House is the nationโs first safety demonstration home -- designed from the ground up -- and dedicated to reducing at-home accidents and injuries.
4 popular trucks donโt measure up when it comes to back seat safety, crash tests find
Four popular, large pick-up trucks fell short in front-end crash tests measuring back seat safety, according to a new report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Scary toxic Halloween hazards to watch out for
Halloween is right around the corner, and with over 44 million children gearing up to transform into witches, wizards, pirates, and princesses, it's important for parents to be aware of some crucial safety measures. Here are some tips to ensure a safe and happy Halloween.
Law enforcement preparing for busy Florida-Georgia weekend in Jacksonville
Friday at noon, festivities kick off for the Florida-Georgia game, which draws in tens of thousands of visitors to the city. To help keep everyone safe and ease the minds of attendees, the Jacksonville Sheriffโs Office will have safety measures in place.
Biometric gun safes recalled after lawsuit claims 12-year-old boy killed by firearm taken from malfunctioning model
More than 60,000 biometric gun safes are being recalled because of a serious safety hazard and risk of death caused by a programming feature that can allow unauthorized access to the safes.
SnapJAX Stories: Clay firefighterโs wife witnesses JFRD rescue, shares lesson with video
In this week's SnapJAX Stories, a first-time snapper saw a fire truck with the lights on at a Southside gas station and knew it was an emergency. She pulled out her phone and started recording. Luckily, this story had a happy ending.
โThey are not safeโ: Consumer Reports warns parents to dump water beads immediately
Consumer Reports is sounding the alarm about a popular product for kids that can hurt or even kill younger children.
โNot only preventable, theyโre predictableโ: Safety experts explain reasons children are left in hot cars
Approximately 87% of children who die in hot cars are age 3 or younger and the majority (56%) were unknowingly left by an otherwise loving, responsible parent or caregiver.
Planning to light fireworks at home for the 4th? Read this first
The Consumer Product Safety Commission said serious injuries related to fireworks that end with a trip to the emergency room remain high. Here's how to celebrate safely.
Thieves stealing warning flags along Gulf beaches, where 11 have drowned since June 1
With the very real dangers at the beach, itโs understandable that first responders would be seeing red over the theft of warning flags meant to keep beachgoers safe.
Safety First: The unseen cost of speeding in no-wake zones & what to check before renting a boat
Meteorologist Katie Garner got a chance to go out with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to see the issues they deal with firsthand on the St. Johns River.
False alarms hamper new school-based alert system in St. Johns County
The St. Johns County School District said its working to exterminate some bugs from its adoption of a new, remote panic alert system in response to the passage of Alyssaโs Law.
Florida lawmakers consider requiring child restraints in vehicles for children up to 7 years old
Florida lawmakers are considering a series of changes to bring state car seat requirements more in line with national guidelines.
Study finds most dangerous, safest times to drive in Florida
A law office in South Florida took a look at data from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, collected between 2017 to 2021, and came up with the most dangerous days and times to hit the road.
National security at center of bill that would allow ban on TikTok
TikTok is under fire as the Biden Administration pushes to ban the app nationwide. The appโs parent company Bytedance is Chinese-owned, and lawmakers fear the company could turn over users' data to the Chinese government.
Annual warning: Leave celebratory gunfire out of your New Year festivities
Fireworks will ring in the start of the New Year, but firing guns in the air should not. Celebratory gunfire in Florida is illegal and police advise leaving firearms out of New Yearโs festivities.
Officials urge people not to drink and drive ahead of New Yearโs festivities
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said from Christmas to New Year's Day there were 209 drunk driving related deaths nationwide in 2020.
Plan ahead: 55% of serious, deadly crashes involve drugs or alcohol, study finds
A recent report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows more than half of people involved in serious or deadly crashes had drugs or alcohol in their system.
Here are some tips to make sure thieves donโt take advantage of you during the holidays
Itโs the holiday season, and we want to ensure that the gifts you buy get to the people who deserve them.
Frying a turkey? 5 safety reminders before you cook your bird
No one ever thinks it will happen to them, but Jacksonville Fire and Rescue said it receives calls on Thanksgiving day all the time about fires or burns from a turkey frying accident.
Crash Responder Safety Week recognizes Road Rangers while bringing awareness to safety risks
From EMTs to Road Rangers, first responders help keep traffic moving and try their best to keep people out of harmโs way, sometimes getting hurt themselves.
Safety Warning: Halloween face paint can be toxic
Around Halloween, many parents worry about trick-or-treating safety, sugar crashes and ruined bedtimes. But thereโs something you might not be thinking about but should be: toxic ingredients in your kidsโ face paints and powders
Florida Attorney General warns families about Halloween candy tainted with fentanyl
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said this could be the scariest Halloween of her lifetime -- that is why sheโs warning families to watch out for candy tainted with the deadly drug fentanyl.
Duval School Board votes in favor of plan for emergency family reunification
The Duval County School Board on Monday night voted in favor of a critical new plan designed to help students and parents in case of a mass casualty event on a schoolโs campus.
Checking on local school security changes as students head back to class in Uvalde
In Duval County, students have been in school for nearly a month -- and the district is making progress with its own security projects.
Labor Day weekend holiday travel: Staying safe on the road
Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end to summer with millions planning on one final road trip. According to AAA, Thursday and Friday afternoons are expected to be the worst times to hit the road.
AAA shares school zone safety tips to keep drivers, pedestrians, bicyclist safe ahead of school year
With children heading back to school, the highways and byways will become more crowded with buses, bicyclists and pedestrians filling the roads during the morning and afternoon hours.
Free vessel safety checks this Friday, Saturday along Intracoastal Waterway
Auxiliary members of the U.S Coast Guard will be offering free vessel safety checks for boaters along the Intracoastal Waterway at boat ramps in Palm Coast and St. Augustine on Friday and Saturday as part of "Operation Shrimp and Grits."
Advocate warns about using proper safety equipment after teen dies in fall from electric skateboard
After a teenager died Saturday night following a fall from an electric skateboard in Clay County, a child safety advocate offered a warning for parents.
Duval school police, staff train for reuniting parents, students in active shooter situation
Dozens of Duval County school teachers and staff were trained Wednesday on how to help families get back together in the event of a mass shooting or other evacuation emergency.
Families need to be aware of these hidden drowning dangers for kids
More children drown between the months of May and August than any other time of the year. While no parent or relative ever thinks it could happen to their family, Florida has more young children who die from drowning than any other state in the country.
One year later: Surfside collapse spurs law change but safety experts remain concerned
Regardless of the cause, many have said that one of the deadliest collapses in U.S. history could have been prevented. The tragedy sparked some changes to Florida law.
National Safe Boating Week: What you need to know to stay safe on the water
Boating and Florida go hand in hand. With National Safe Boating Week in effect, North Florida Marine Association making sure boaters have what they need before heading out to sea.
Flagler County Fire Rescue hosts FREE water safety event Saturday
Want to learn about water safety in a fun, safe environment for your whole family? Flagler County Fire Rescue is hosting a free event Saturday in Palm Coast that is right up your alley.
โYou could hear a man screaming for helpโ: Witness recounts weekend shooting on I-295
Jacksonville Sheriffโs Office is still investigating a shooting that happened in the early morning hours of March 9 on I-295.
State inspectors, Clay County Fair operators ensure safety of rides before opening day
With the gates of the Clay County fair scheduled to open Thursday afternoon -- one week after a teenager fell to his death from an Orlando thrill ride -- ride safety is on the minds of many.