Wednesday Before Thanksgiving

Be safe today. With travel defining many of our days, this is a day I think about safety every year. Now more than ever because of my kids. Motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death for children in the United States. The CDC statistics on child passenger safety state that child safety seats reduce the risk of death in passenger cars by 71% for infants and 54% of toddlers age 1 to  4 year of age. Car and booster seats are an awesome way to protect our kids.
Wednesday before Thanksgiving was changed for me forever while training in pediatrics.
Wait, a warning: this is a slightly morbid thought. So if it will do you no good, don’t read on. I share this only to show you how and why pediatric training and the profession of caring for ill children shapes how and why we pediatricians believe so strongly in preventing illness and injury. Terrible stories are instructive.
One year in residency, I rotated into the pediatric ICU during November. I was on-call the Wednesday before Thanksgiving until middle of the day Thursday. I was taking care of critically ill patients, some who were on the transplant list waiting for organs. I remember as colleagues left for the day on Wednesday afternoon and evening, one doctor mentioned she wasn’t worried. She knew the patients in the ICU were going to get the organs they needed shortly. It was the biggest travel day of the year, she explained, and organs were going to be much more available.
Entirely morbid, and then entirely hopeful, too. Yes, the organs did arrive over the weekend…
The memory of that conversation really stuck with me. I don’t know if it’s true that more organs are available soon after the Wednesday before Thanksgiving (biggest travel day defined) because of travel related accidents, but it comes into my head every year. Makes me double check the car seats, re-examine the buckles, and drive a bit more slowly.
Be safe today, all. Don’t take risks you don’t need to take, and buckle up. Ensure the carseats are properly installed, particularly if you’re putting a seat in a relative’s or a rented car while you travel away from home.
I like this USA Today article with tips about traveling with infants and children, too.
And here’s my take on why I don’t recommend using Benadryl on the plane if you were thinking about throwing it in the travel bag.
Be well. Enjoy time with friends, family, and your Thanksgiving traditions. I am so thankful for all of you…

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