USA.gov news - Vol. 10, No.9, 2010

1. National Preparedness Month

We happen to be in the midst of hurricane season, but natural and man-made disasters can strike without warning. Do you know what to do in case of emergency?

The three main things you can do to help prepare for a disaster are:

1. Get a Kit
2. Make a Plan
3. Be Informed

Hopefully, you’ll never need your kit or your plan, but if a disaster strikes, your preparation could save your life. Visit USA.gov for additional emergency-planning resources.

Prepárese para una emergencia

2. Government Challenges, Contests, and Prizes

Check out Challenge.gov, the new centralized website for federal government contests and challenges.

With the potential to win a variety of prizes (monetary and non-monetary), you may be challenged to solve a problem, make a suggestion, shoot and upload a video, create a logo, build an online game, invent something, and much more. You could have the winning answer, idea, or design!

Even if you don’t have a solution for a specific challenge, you can share challenges with friends or sign up to show support for a challenge.

3. National Day of Service and Remembrance – September 11

As the anniversary of September 11 approaches, consider participating in thisNational Day of Service and Remembrance by volunteering in your community.

Visit USA.gov’s 9/11 Commemorations and Information page for information about memorials, exhibits, and other 9/11-related resources.

4. Constitution Day – September 17

Constitution Day commemorates the signing of the Constitution in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787. Have you ever read the U.S. Constitution?

See if this sounds familiar: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." This opening sentence offers a powerful summary of the Constitution’s goal.

As Constitution Day nears, check out a National Archives transcript of the U.S. Constitution and findteaching activities.

La Constitución de los Estados Unidos

5. Child Passenger Safety Week – September 19-25

Did you know that crashes are the leading cause of death for children aged 3-14? Properly choosing and installing a child safety seat is critical.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows four seating setups, depending on your child’s age:

1. Infants through age 1 (up to 20 pounds): Use rear-facing child safety seats in the back seat.
2. Toddlers, ages 1-4 (20-40 pounds): Use forward-facing child safety seats in the back seat.
3. Children, ages 4-8: Use a booster seat in the back seat.
4. Children, ages 8 and older: Use an adult seat belt in the back seat if it fits properly. A proper fit means that the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest. This usually occurs around age 8, or when the child reaches the height of 4'9".