Columbus OH
Print This Page

Safety

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Car Seat Safety Guide

Has information on topics ranging from car safety seats to school buses to teen driving and others related to travel safety.
healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Children & Disasters

Provides information and resources about disaster and terrorism preparedness to meet children’s needs. Example resources include readiness kits and checklists, information on how to help children cope in a disaster, and more.
aap.org/en-us/advocacy-and-policy/aap-health-initiatives/Children-and-Disasters

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Healthy Children

The website has information on a wide range of health topics, including safety, fitness, school issues, dating, substance abuse; emotional wellness, including helping children handle stress, psychiatric medications, grief. It also provides information about healthy living, family life, immunizations, developmental stages and more.
healthychildren.org

American Red Cross Central & Southern Ohio Region

Offers disaster presentations, First Aid, CPR, AED, Basic Life Support (BLS) for health care professionals, babysitting and child care, swimming and water safety and lifeguarding classes/training to the public. Visit their website for a schedule of classes, pricing and registration information.

Central & Southern Ohio Regions:

  • Central Ohio
    995 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205
    (614) 253-2740
  • East Central Ohio
    143 South Thirtieth Street, Newark, Ohio 43058
    (740) 349-9442
  • South Central Ohio
    181 North Bridge Street, Chillicothe, Ohio 45601
    (740) 772-2014
  • Miami Valley
    370 West First Street, Dayton, Ohio 45207
    (937) 222-6711
  • Greater Cincinnati Tri-State
    2111 Dana Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45207
    (513) 579-3000

redcross.org/local/ohio/central-and-southern-ohio.html
redcross.org/take-a-class

Bark

An app that monitors texts, email, chat, YouTube and 24+ social media platforms for signs of cyberbullying, depression, suicidal thoughts, sexual predators, drug use and more.
bark.us

Bed Bugs Resource & Information

Columbus Public Health and the Central Ohio Bed Bug Task Force have information online about bed bugs, including how to spot them and how to get help. They also have information for people living in apartments.
General Information: 2-1-1 or (614) 221-6766
For enforcement of housing code issues, including pest control:

  • City of Columbus: (614) 645-3111
  • Franklin County: (614) 525-3160

columbus.gov/publichealth/programs/Healthy-Homes/Bed-Bugs-Information

Bikes for All People (B4AP)

Provides affordable access to bicycles and cycling-related resources to those who rely on bikes as their sole means of transportation. They offer new and pre-owned bikes, parts, tools and cycling gear, free maintenance classes, an open repair shop and group rides. They also accept donations.
934 Parsons Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43206
(614) 670-8685
bikes4allpeople.com

CDC Emergency Preparedness & Response

Provides information and resources on emergency preparedness to help protect you and your loved ones, as well as resources for emergency health professionals and information recent national incidences. Their website also provides information on how to care for children of various needs in a disaster and how to help them cope after a disaster.
1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
(800) 232-4636 or (888) 232-6348 TTY
emergency.cdc.gov
Caring for Children in a Disaster: cdc.gov/childrenindisasters

Central Ohio Bed Bug Task Force (COBBTF)

Provides information about bed bugs, bed bug prevention, and the best methods of getting rid of the bugs.
(614) 412-1934
centralohiobedbugs.org

Central Ohio Poison Center

Provides poison prevention, assessment and treatment. They are available 24 hours a day and offer free, confidential advice and information.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
700 Children’s Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43205
Poison Emergency Hotline: (800) 222-1222
nationwidechildrens.org/poison-center

Columbus Division of Fire Smoke Detector Hotline

Call to request a free smoke detector/alarm.
3639 Parsons Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43207
(614) 724-0935 or (844) 207-4509
columbus.gov/public-safety/fire/programs-and-training/Smoke-Alarms-Save-Lives

Columbus Public Health (CPH) Foodborne Illness Reporting

CPH investigates cases of foodborne illness to discover and correct problems in the food production and distribution system and prevent future illness. Consumers and business owners can help by reporting illnesses they suspect might be foodborne. The website also as information on identifying food poisoning and foodborne illness.
240 Parsons Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215

  • Reporting Illnesses for Consumers: (614) 645-1791
  • Food-related Complaints: (614) 645-3111

columbus.gov/publichealth/programs/food-protection/foodborne-illness-reporting

Columbus Public Health (CPH) Healthy Homes Program

Provides assistance and advice on creating a safe home environment. This program is for eligible residents in Columbus and Worthington. Services include:

  • Phone consultations
  • Mandatory lead inspections for homes with lead poisoned children
  • Free HEPA vacuum loan for lead hazard clean-up
  • Community presentations and displays of healthy home educational information at fairs and special events
  • Referrals to services for landlords, tenants, and homeowners

111 North Front Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 645-3048
columbus.gov/development/housing-division/healthy-homes-program

Columbus Public Health (CPH) Injury Prevention Program

Provides services related to childhood injury prevention:

  • Low-cost car seats and booster seats to families in need (Ohio Buckles Buckeyes Program)
  • Free car seat checks at fitting stations and events throughout Central Ohio
  • Partner with coalition members on safety programs and outreach (Safe Kids Central Ohio)

240 Parsons Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 645-7748
columbus.gov/publichealth/programs/childhood-injury-prevention

Columbus Public Health (CPH) Office of Emergency Preparedness

Offers free webinars, informational printouts, and other resources that help the community successfully prevent, prepare for, respond to health emergencies. Visit the website for contact information.
240 Parsons Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215
columbus.gov/publichealth/programs/emergency-preparedness

Common Sense

  • Common Sense Media is a non-profit organization that offers age-based and educational ratings and reviews for movies, games, apps, TV shows, websites, books, and music.
  • Common Sense Education provides free resources, including ratings and reviews of digital tools, a comprehensive K–12 Digital Citizenship Curriculum, ready-made lesson plans, videos, webinars, and more.
  • Common Sense Kids Action is their advocacy platform.

commonsense.org

Disaster Assistance Improvement Program (DAIP)

Provides disaster survivors with information, support, services, and a means to access and apply for disaster assistance. The site also provides resources to help you learn how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.
FEMA Disaster Assistance Helpline: (800) 621-3362 (also for 711 & VRS) or (800) 462-7585 TTY
disasterassistance.gov

Dog Bite Reporting & Rabies Vaccines

If you are bitten by a dog, report it to the appropriate health department listed below.

Go online to find information about rabies vaccination clinics as well. Call your doctor for information about treatment. Report stray animals to the Franklin County Department of Animal Control at (614) 525-3400.

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Safe Drug Disposal

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has created safe and secure drop box locations to appropriately dispose of any unused or expired pain reliever medications. Visit the website to find a safe disposal location.
apps2.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e2s1

Empower Our Youth Foundation

Offers a range of services for kids ages 5-17 to create a positive and nurturing environment for youth. Programs include a literacy and STEM academy, annual fashion and art shows, community give-back projects, social outings, and bullying prevention programs. They provide a safe space to assist with the reporting of bullying incidents to authorities, and their website has additional educational and anti-bullying resources for parents.
6600 Busch Boulevard, Columbus, Ohio 43229
(614) 512-6511
empowerouryouthfoundation.org

Everytown for Gun Safety

Works to end gun violence and build safer communities through education and advocacy. The website provides information on ways to prevent gun violence, the “issues” surrounding gun violence and other resources. Visit the website for contact information.
everytown.org

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Provides information for individuals on avoiding scams, identity theft, and online security; as well as information on money and credit, homes and mortgages, health and fitness.
consumer.ftc.gov

FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)

FEMA is responsible for organizing government-wide relief efforts after a disaster. They provide information, resources and toolkits for family and youth on emergency preparedness, planning, response and recovery efforts.
500 C Street Southwest, Washington, DC 20472
For Disaster Survivors: (800) 621-3362 (7-1-1 or Video Relay Service Available) or (800) 462-7585 TTY

Franklin County Emergency Management & Homeland Security (FCEM&HS)

Offers a Citizen Preparedness Program which helps children, seniors and people with functional needs on what to do before, during and after an emergency. You can also receive free emergency notifications to help keep you and your family safe through their emergency alert system.
5300 Strawberry Farms Boulevard, Columbus, Ohio 43230
(614) 794-0213
fcemhs.org
ALERT Franklin County: alertfranklincounty.org

Franklin County Public Health (FCPH)

Find lots of educational resources and city services on their website. FCPH offers many services and resources, including:

280 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 525-3160
Weekend, Holiday and After Hours Emergency Hotline: (614) 525-3965
Telecommunications for the Deaf: 711 or (800) 750-0750
myfcph.org

Franklinton Cycle Works (FCW)

Helps families keep their bikes in good working order through its free Open Shop program in which people repair their own bicycles with help from a volunteer mechanic. Youth helmets are free and refurbished bikes and new and used parts can be purchased at an affordable rate.
897 West Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43222
(614) 228-1852
franklintoncycleworks.org

Healthy Hearing

This online resource offers great information about hearing and hearing loss, and a national clinic directory to help you find a provider near you. They also have an online hearing test and lots of information on topics like hearing loss in children, various hearing diagnoses, assistive listening devices, and navigating insurance and financial help.
(800) 567-1692
healthyhearing.com

IMPACT Safety

Teaches personal safety awareness through workshops offered to youth and adults. People learn personal safety skills, how to set boundaries and how to avoid dangerous situations. They also have experience working with people with special needs. Community programs are offered several times per year in various locations. Programs require a fee, but they offer need-based partial scholarships.
1699 West Mound Street, Columbus, Ohio 43223
(614) 437-2884
impactsafety.org

KID (Kids in Danger)

Protects children by fighting for product safety. They share information on safety awareness and recall information around home products and children’s products.
kidsindanger.org

Kids Health

This website offers a broad range of information on many topics for parents:

kidshealth.org

Make Safe Happen

By downloading the free app, parents and caregivers can get room-by-room safety tips, watch videos, set reminders and more to keep kids out of harm’s way.
makesafehappen.com

Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC)

Offers information and local resources about local biking events and trails, bicycle safety, promotes bicycling in central Ohio. They also provide a Franklin County Home Repair program low- and moderate-income homeowners, home energy efficiency and safety services at no cost to income-eligible homeowners and renters, and information on air quality.
111 Liberty Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 228-2663 or (800) 750-0750 TTY
Home Repair: (614) 233-4171
Free Home Energy Efficiency & Safety Services: (614) 621-1171
morpc.org

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Their website provides a lot of information about car safety ratings, choosing a car seat, how to find out about recalls, airbag information, reporting vehicle theft, car seat laws, finding a car seat inspection site and a lot more. With your child’s date of birth, height and weight, you can click on the link below to figure out what car seat to choose.
1200 New Jersey Avenue Southeast, Washington, DC 20590
(888) 327-4236 or (800) 424-9153 TTY
Car Seat Finder Tool: nhtsa.gov

Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) Center for Injury Research & Policy

Their website provides information on a variety of safety topics, including bicycle safety, burns, poison, transportation, home safety, gun safety, sports and recreation, and more.
nationwidechildrens.org/injury-research-and-policy-injury-topics

Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) Health e-Hints Newsletter

A free e-newsletter written by pediatric specialists and customized to meet the health and safety needs of your family. When you enter the ages of your child(ren), you will only get articles that are relevant to your family.
nationwidechildrens.org/e-newsletter-sign-up

Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) Kohl’s Cares Safety for All Seasons Program

Find an easy Car Seat Chooser app, Play it Safe! video game, plus coloring and activity pages to download and print regarding car seat and other safety topics (sport helmets, poison, fire, drowning, falls, etc.) on the program’s website.
700 Children’s Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43205
nationwidechildrens.org/family-resources-education/health-wellness-and-safety-resources/resources-for-parents-and-kids/safety-for-all-seasons

Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) Opioid Safety

Provides education and resources to help patients, parents, and physicians safely prescribe, use and dispose of opioids. If you have an emergency concern about your child’s prescription pain medication, please call (800) 222-1222. For more information and other questions regarding the safe use and disposal of opiates, please contact the Medication Assisted Treatment for Addiction (MATA) Program at (614) 355-8614.
700 Children’s Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43205
nationwidechildrens.org/opioid-safety

NCH Green Flags

Program from The Center of Family Safety and Healing at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH) helping teens build and sustain healthy relationships. Green Flags seeks to flip the conversation on teen dating abuse by focusing on the qualities of a healthy relationship. Visit the website to find helpful information on teen dating topics like relationship myths, sex and consent, and digital rights. Victims of teen dating abuse can find help and resources on safety planning. Anyone call call, text, or chat with the Green Flags Pro team with questions about relationship concerns.
Call: (844) 234-5463
Text: (844) 283-3393
greenflags.info

NetSmartz

Provides age-appropriate resources such as, videos, games, activity cards, and presentations to help teach children and teens about how to be safer and avoid the dangers that exist on the internet (online and offline).
missingkids.org/NetSmartz

Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness (OCSWA)

Promotes statewide severe weather safety and preparedness. They also inform residents of weather hazards that typically affect Ohio. They have disaster preparedness kits, weather alert apps and safety resources.
weathersafety.ohio.gov

Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

Provides lead poisoning prevention programs throughout Ohio. Ohio residents have access to resources to test for lead and help families with the cost of lead repair work.
246 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
(877) 532-3723
odh.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odh/know-our-programs/Childhood-Lead-Poisoning

Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Office of Health Preparedness

Provides information to families to prepare for the possibility of natural disasters, accidents, power outages, intentional acts and other emergencies that disrupt daily life.
odh.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/odh/know-our-programs/public-health-emergency-preparedness

Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Ohio Buckles Buckeyes (OBB) Program

Provides free car seats to low-income families throughout Ohio. Families must attend an educational class. The program is designed for families with babies and small children who have outgrown their infant seat. Visit the website for contact information.
246 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/child-injury-prevention/child-passenger-safety

Ohio Emergency Management Agency

Work with local, state and federal agencies in an effort to bring resources of recovery and support to Ohioans impacted by a disaster, both natural and man-made. In addition to disaster response and recovery they offer education, training, planning, preparedness resources.
2855 West Dublin-Granville Road, Columbus, Ohio 43235
(614) 889-7150
ema.ohio.gov

PBS Kids When Something Scary Happens

This website offers resources to help families cope in emergencies and other challenging times. They provide videos that include familiar PBS characters, age-appropriate activities, and resources for parents about preparation, coping and resiliency.
pbskids.org/learn/when-something-scary-happens

Prevent Child Injury

This national organization was started to raise awareness about the problem of child injury, offer solutions and reduce child injury and death. They offer safety toolkits and dozens of downloadable safety plans to share with families and child advocates.
preventchildinjury.org

radKIDS

Educates children ages 8-12 about safety and how to defend themselves against bullying, child abuse and neglect, as well as sexual assault. radKIDS uses an age-appropriate, fun activity-based curriculum to help kids learn. Visit the website to find a program near you.
(844) 723-5437 Toll-free
radkids.org

Ready

Educates and empowers people to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies, including natural and man-made disasters. They provide information and resources in different languages, covering various topics on preparedness. Also, they offer a special website for kids, and local and national opportunities for youth.
ready.gov
Ready Kids: ready.gov/kids

Ready Ohio

Educates and empowers Ohioans to prepare for and respond to emergencies, including natural and man-made disasters that are likely to occur in Ohio. They offer information and resources on their website.
ready.ohio.gov

Safe Kids Central Ohio

Provides car seat inspections, educational resources, product recall information and safety tips to help parents and caregivers prevent childhood injuries. Visit their website for a list of car seat inspection locations.
240 Parsons Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 645-6138
Car Seat Inspection Sites: safekids.org/coalition/safe-kids-central-ohio
Main Website: safekids.org

Safer Schools Ohio

Sign up for SaferOH Tip Line to report potential suicide, school shootings, bullying or other problems anonymously. This program is based on four components: Prevention/Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery. They also provide guidance to Ohio school administrators in planning, educating staff, and enforcing their school’s safety and security operations.
1970 West Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43223
(614) 644-2641
SaferOH Tip Line: call or text (844) 723-3764
ohioschoolsafetycenter.ohio.gov/home

Sesame Street in the Communities

Offers providers and parents resources to help children thrive and deal with issues that affect children’s lives. Resource topics include health and wellness, social-emotional skills, trauma, diversity and inclusion, and school readiness. They offer videos, games, and worksheets for children to explore, and free webinars for parents and educators.

sesamestreetincommunities.org
To view their additional toolkit: sesamestreet.org/toolkits

Smoke-Free Housing in Columbus

Columbus Public Health highlights smoke-free housing options in Columbus, Ohio.
240 Parsons Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 645-7417
columbus.gov/publichealth/programs/Creating-Healthy-Communities/Franklin-County-Tobacco-Free-Collaborative/Smoke-Free-Housing-Options

Stay Safe Online

Contains resources on internet safety and security for people of all ages. Offers advice and support on cyber-bullying, computer security issues and fraud prevention.
staysafeonline.org

Still Standing: The Alexander Project

Provides grieving mothers and their families support by offering individual and group counseling, mentoring, support and outreach programs, annual and monthly outings and events. This resource is focused on helping families who have lost a loved one due to violence.
(614) 597-0538
ssthealexanderproject.org

Superspecs (Free Sports Goggles)

Provides no-cost baseball and softball helmets with face masks, sports goggles for basketball and soccer, and prescription sports goggles for any activity. Items are available for kids ages 4-18. Parents can find eligibility details and apply online.
Ohio Ophthalmological Society
5115 Parkcenter Avenue, Dublin, Ohio 43017
(614) 527-6799
superspecs.org

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

Provides answers to questions about the safety of products that children use such as cribs and strollers. The USCPSC is committed to protecting the public from products that can injure children. The website lists product recalls and allows consumers to report safety issues.
4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland 20814
(800) 638-2772 or (800) 638-8270 TTY
cpsc.gov

U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

Their website has helpful information about food safety, dietary supplements, food ingredients, and nutrition; drugs, medical devices, radiation-emitting products, vaccines and more.

  • Report a problem with FDA-regulated products: (888) 463-6332
  • To report an emergency involving food, drugs, medical devices, dietary supplements, or cosmetics: (866) 300-4374

fda.gov

University of Michigan Injury Center

Click here to view their “Parents’ Guide to Home Firearm Safety” handout on gun safety at home.
injurycenter.umich.edu

USAGov

Provides an official guide to government information and services at the federal level. Examples of topics include financial help, disability services, how to prepare for and recover from disasters and emergencies, housing, jobs and unemployment, as well as taxes, immigration, how to research common U.S. laws, file a complaint, and more.
(844) 872-4681
usa.gov

Yay Bikes!

Provides bicycle education for individuals and groups, programmed community events and leads fun, accessible rides to places in Columbus, year-round.
921 North Hight Street, Columbus, Ohio 43201
(614) 470-4220
yaybikes.com


Print This Page