FamilyWatchdog.us has recently added Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands to their other 51 states' and territories that are included in their registry for a total of 54 registries included! Currently the offenders from these areas are not mappable, but they will be included in the name searches. For name searches, select search by name on the left column on www.FamilyWatchdog.us and you can search by first and last name, or last name only. You can even search with just a portion of the last name. Not only can you search a specific state or territory you can search all of them at once by leaving the state section blank.

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March 22nd is the official first day of spring. While we will miss the sledding and snowmen that winter brings, there is no doubt that many of us are looking forward to putting all this snow behind us. Spring break is a great time for the family to get away from the cold, dark days of winter and have some fun in the sun. Keep your family safe while on your trip by following these tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Sun Safety for the Family

• The sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Try to keep out of the sun during those hours.
• The sun’s damaging UV rays can bounce back from sand, snow or concrete; so be particularly careful of these areas.
• Most of the sun’s rays can come through the clouds on an overcast day; so use sun protection even on cloudy days.
• When choosing a sunscreen, look for the words "broad-spectrum" on the label - it means that the sunscreen will screen out both ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) rays. Choose a water-resistant or waterproof sunscreen and reapply every two hours.
• Zinc oxide, a very effective sunblock, can be used as extra protection on the nose, cheeks, tops of the ears and on the shoulders.
• Use a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.
• Rub sunscreen in well, making sure to cover all exposed areas, especially the face, nose, ears, feet and hands, and even the backs of the knees.
• Put on sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors - it needs time to work on the skin.
• Sunscreens should be used for sun protection and not as a reason to stay in the sun longer.

St Patrick's Day is just around the corner, which means many people across the world will be getting ready for the annual celebration of all things green. While this is a great time to celebrate with friends and family, it's also a time to remain cautious of what is going on around you in order to make sure that your children are safe from harm.

Here are a few safety tips to consider in order to make your St Patrick's Day end incident free:

• Phone Use. It's important that all your children know how to work a phone.
• Point of Interest. Before you set out you should have an idea of where you are going and what points of interest will be in the area.
• Stress the Importance of Strangers. From a young age every child should know that they shouldn't talk to strangers. While not all strangers are out to harm young children this you can't be too sure. Instead, inform them of who to approach if they get lost. For example police officers and fire marshals. They will be able to help your child locate you again and will be in trusted hands during this short period.
• Keep an Eye Out. While it's easy to forget what's going on around you, it's essential to remember that large crowds have the potential to attract trouble.

• Choose nontoxic products for your spring cleaning. For example, vinegar and water is an inexpensive and effective window cleaning solution.
• Time to move the furniture? Place cribs, playpens and other furniture away from the window and accessible drapery cords. Children can climb up on furniture and fall out of the window or get strangled in the cords.
• Make sure window guards/bars are secure, and know how to open the window in case of fire. Screens do no prevent window falls.
• Test all your smoke alarms to ensure they are working. Change the batteries at least once every year. Most smoke alarms also need "spring cleaning" maintenance - check your manual.
• Develop and practice a family fire escape plan in case of emergency.
• Consider installing carbon monoxide alarms in your home.
• Make sure small parts, plastic bags, small toys, balloons or any other choking hazards are out of reach of young children, particularly those less than 36 months of age.
• Check your home for recalled and banned children's products. To find out about recalled products, go here
• Keep traffic areas free of clutter, toys and rugs in order to avoid tripping with your child in your arms.
• Doors that lead to the basement should have a self-latching lock to prevent children from falling down the stairs.
• Post the Poison Help Line number (1-800-222-1222) and your pediatrician's number on all phones.