SAFETY

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.

Consumer Reports uses state-of-the-art science and testing to rate and recommend the safest car seats for different budgets.

Consumer Reports is sounding the alarm about a popular product for kids that can hurt or even kill younger children.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says some of the most popular minivans on the market are lacking in rear-seat safety.

Only one mid-size car received a "good" rating for rear seat safety in recent crash tests.

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.

Parents often aren’t up to date on apps and other chat websites.

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.

With the very real dangers at the beach, it’s understandable that first responders would be seeing red over the theft of warning flags meant to keep beachgoers safe.

In 2022, more than 20 thousand people died from firearm deaths, excluding suicides.

In the past few weeks, there have been multiple black bear sightings in places like Tampa, Orlando and here in Jacksonville.

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.

National Safe Boating Week begins this weekend, and boating experts are sharing some simple rules to keep you safe -- and alive.

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 Alyssa’s Law.

Florida lawmakers are considering a series of changes to bring state car seat requirements more in line with national guidelines.

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.

New data shows that March is the deadliest month to drive in the Sunshine State, and Jacksonville tops the list of deadly crashes statewide.

There is a 46 percent greater chance of someone in the backseat being fatally injured in a crash.

TikTok is under fire as the Biden Administration pushes to ban the app nationwide. The app’s parent company Bytedance is Chinese-owned, and lawmakers fear the company could turn over users' data to the Chinese government.

Car seats have changed over the years, and Consumer Reports says today’s seats are no doubt safer.

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 Year’s 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.

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.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, emergency rooms treated over 224,000 toy-related injuries last year.

It’s the holiday season, and we want to ensure that the gifts you buy get to the people who deserve them.

House fires are most likely to happen in December -- between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Electrical injuries have been reported as well, which is why homeowners need to be careful with wiring.

While posting pictures of little ones can be a convenient way to share milestones with friends and family, there are some dangers parents should be aware of.

Unless you keep track of every recall ever issued, there's a chance a recalled toy could end up in your house.

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.

News4JAX breaks down the dangers of lead in toys and what you can do to keep your children safe.

From EMTs to Road Rangers, first responders help keep traffic moving and try their best to keep people out of harm’s way, sometimes getting hurt themselves.

More than 130 reports of broken strollers that led to eight children being injured have led to a recall of 149,000 units.

It’s a good idea for parents to have conversations with their little ones about safety.

Both the CDC and FDA say Delta products are potentially dangerous drugs that have resulted in thousands of accidental poisonings.

Around Halloween, many parents worry about trick-or-treating safety, sugar crashes and ruined bedtimes. But there’s something you might not be thinking about but should be: toxic ingredients in your kids’ face paints and powders

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said this could be the scariest Halloween of her lifetime -- that is why she’s warning families to watch out for candy tainted with the deadly drug fentanyl.

Have your little ghoul or goblin change into their costumes after they get to the party.

Doctors with Cleveland Clinic Children’s are doing their part to raise awareness in an effort to help prevent childhood exposure to lead.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is reminding people to be careful when getting ready for Halloween.

Temperatures are dipping into the 40′s for the first time this season.

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 school’s campus.

The local sheriff is speaking straight to the smallest of students -- elementary schoolers.

Armoured One builds special glass to slow down an attacker and provide more time for students and teachers to get to safety.

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 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.

Eight members of Recruit Class 2022-11 are now members of Camden County Fire Rescue.

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.

There were more than 41,000 traffic deaths in 2021 alone, but experts are creating solutions. Don’t miss the innovations keeping drivers and pedestrians safe.

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."

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.

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.

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.

Parents with young children should check their child's playroom to see if they have a book that was recalled due to a choking hazard.

How many of you at home dread fireworks or thunderstorms because of what it does to your pets?

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.

A child can drown in just 20 seconds in less than two inches of 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.

Save the Manatee Club is a proud partner of National Safe Boating Week, which runs from May 21-27, 2022 and promotes recreational boating safety.

The U.S. Coast Guard is making sure vessel operators stay safe on the water with vessel checks.

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.

The American Red Cross is offering free smoke alarms to residents in 35 counties, including all of Northeast Florida, to help prevent fire deaths.

Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is still investigating a shooting that happened in the early morning hours of March 9 on I-295.

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.

Parents in Clay County told News4JAX they’re worried about ride safety.

Guests should be aware of their surroundings and if they see something, they should say something.

Commissioners will host Community Bus Tours in various neighborhoods.

More than 333,000 silicone pacifiers are being recalled because they pose a potential choking hazard.

More than 25,000 residential fires are associated with the use of space heaters every year.

From celebrating the holidays to celebrating a new year, there are some safety recommendations for those buying fireworks.

The Christmas season has not been the same for Abby Eberwein and her family since the tragic 2018 death of her 6-month-old daughter, Sophie Grace Leon-Friesenhahn.

Whether you swipe right or do it the old-fashioned way, dating is exciting. But dating these days can also be dangerous!

Firefighters respond to an average of 160 house fires started by Christmas trees each year, and many could be easily avoided.

There’s no doubt that seat belts save thousands of lives every single year but those belts can contribute to fetal injury when pregnant women are involved in car crashes.

The July 4 holiday can be thrilling for humans, but it's actually a dangerous time for pets -- and one of the busiest days of the year in animal emergency hospitals.

Clean water is essential to a person's health and well-being.

As the temperatures start to climb, Cleveland Clinic Children’s emergency medicine physician Purva Grover is reminding parents of how quickly life-threatening heat can build up in a parked car.

Water is a fun and cool place for children to enjoy summer but it can be dangerous.

Safety advocates hope new technology will help prevent one of the most tragic accidents -- a child’s death inside a hot car.

Safety is always a key factor when purchasing a new car. It’s also important to the organizers of the 2021 Jacksonville International Auto Show.

Jacksonville Fire-Rescue Department shared a video of flames and heavy smoke pouring out of a New Town Home. JFRD believes the blaze was sparked by a space heater. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, between 2008 and 2010 there were nearly 1,200 fires caused by portable electric heaters each year. The CPSC says the following safety guidelines should always be followed when using space heaters:Never leave the heater on while unattended or while you’re sleeping. Make sure the heater is placed on a stable, level surface where it cannot be knocked over.

We have the details on how to keep you safe during your next free fall. This year, 7.9 million people will go to the emergency room because of a fall. Dante Alvarado is a professional stilt walker. “If you were to fall, don’t catch yourself with your hands because you want to minimize the distance between you and the ground when you fall and try to dissipate the energy. So, when you do fall, try to follow through or keep moving, tuck and roll almost,” said Alvarado, a Stilt Walker for Infinity Percussion 2019.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Transportation will be installing a new barrier wall at the eastern end of the Hart Expressway where it merges with Beach Boulevard. Officials said work on approximately 600 feet of a concrete barrier wall in the existing median will begin this week. There are many businesses and schools on either side of Beach Boulevard in the area, including the River City Science Academy. It came after students were seen running in and out of traffic across Beach Boulevard to reach the school. Officials said the project will also include installing new directional signage for both Beach Boulevard and the Hart Expressway.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office announced Wednesday a need for 20 school crossing guards throughout Duval County. In a post on Facebook, JSO said the positions are in certain ZIP codes across the city, including 32207, 32211, 32216, 32220, 32221, 32224, 32254, 32256, 32257, 32258. With the announcement, police also detailed certain measures community members can take to help get kids to school safely. Slow down to the posted speed during the posted times while driving through a school zone. Learn more and apply to be a crossing guard at: JoinJSO.com

Voters impressed by the safety and precautions during the pandemic. If you need help with WJXT’s or WCWJ's FCC public inspection file, call (904) 393-9801.

Nobody anticipates their home will catch on fire; that’s why it’s important to have a plan, and that plan should include your pets.

As mid-May arrives, tornado season begins to reach its peak, proving to be a big threat, and nearly every state in the United States can experience a tornado. Having said that, do you know the safest things you can do for you and your family should a tornado strike near your home? Because of that, it’s smart to consider what room may be safest for you, in the event of a tornado. Mobile homes are simply not designed to withstand a tornado or strong winds in severe storms. [WATCH: When you see a tornado while driving, here’s what to do]The time to find shelter is when you are under a tornado warning, so while all of this is helpful information, the best thing you can do is know the signs before a tornado hits.

Safety at top of drivers’ minds when crossing Buckman BridgePublished: February 27, 2020, 6:22 pmA crash on the Buckman Bridge has News4Jax looking for answers on whether the artery between Mandarin and Clay County is safe enough for drivers.