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Tennessee Officials Promote Simple Reminder to Save Young Lives This Summer

Issue #450

May 28, 2025

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

☁️ Columbia’s Weather - Cloudy, occasional showers in afternoon w/ high of 78 & low of 63

📰 Tennessee Officials Promote Simple Reminder to Save Young Lives This Summer

🗳️ Vote For Your Favorite Maury County Businesses!

💦 TODAY: Kick Off the Summer at the Fairview Splash Pad

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

👉 Do You Love What’s Up Columbia??? VOTE FOR US HERE! (Must vote for at least 5 categories to be valid)

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Tennessee Officials Promote Simple Reminder to Save Young Lives This Summer

State Representative Scott Cepicky

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett, State Rep. Scott Cepicky, the Tennessee Department of Health, the Tennessee Department of Safety, and AAA today urged parents and caregivers to utilize the free ‘Baby in the Back’ car hangtag program to help reduce heat-related illnesses and deaths in children during the summer months. 

“This program is a small way we can raise awareness about the dangers of heat-related illnesses and deaths among our youngest Tennesseans,” said Secretary Hargett. “I am grateful to Rep. Cepicky for approaching us with the idea for ‘Baby in the Back’ and for his trust in our office to administer it. Thanks to the Department of Health, the Department of Safety’s Highway Safety Office, and AAA — The Auto Club Group, for joining us this year as we all work together to prevent these tragedies involving children.”

State Rep. Scott Cepicky presented the idea for ‘Baby in the Back’ to Secretary Hargett a few years ago. Since its launch, almost 600,000 Tennesseans have requested the free hangtags.

“This program was an idea inspired by my father, a disabled veteran, who had a placard hanging from his car mirror,” said Rep. Cepicky. “That placard led me work on creating a similar visual reminder to prevent the unspeakable tragedies we hear about every summer. I am honored ‘Baby in the Back’ has become one of the best programs in the nation, and I appreciate Secretary Hargett’s continued partnership as we work to improve safety for families in communities across Tennessee.”  

These serve as a reminder for drivers to always check their vehicles before locking them on hot days. Passersby who see a tag displayed from a vehicle’s mirror may also be prompted to check the vehicle and make sure no child has been left inside.

"Far too many families experience the unimaginable tragedy of losing a child to heatstroke from being left in a vehicle,” Tennessee Health Commissioner Ralph Alvarado, MD, FACP, said. “The ‘Baby in the Back’ hang tag is a simple, life-saving reminder that can make a difference in protecting our most vulnerable passengers. No distraction is worth a life when we can make sure every child gets home safely."

During extreme heat, interior temperatures in a parked car can quickly approach 140 degrees. While hot car deaths involving children are preventable, on average, one child dies from heatstroke in a car every 10 days. In more than half of these deaths involving children in hot cars, a caregiver forgot the child they were caring for was inside the vehicle.

“When a child is left in a car accidentally or you think it’s just a few minutes, it is a situation that can quickly turn into a tragedy,” said Tennessee Highway Safety Office Deputy Director Jason Ivey. “In Tennessee, it is illegal to leave children in a vehicle without supervision for any period of time. It is our hope that these hangtags will be a visible reminder and will prevent a tragic heat-related injury or death from occurring.”

Travel on Tennessee roadways tends to increase during the summer months. Because of schedule changes, parents and caregivers are also more likely to become distracted. The free visual reminder provided by the ‘Baby in the Back’ car hangtag program can make all the difference.

“Every year, despite warnings from safety organizations, children continue to lose their lives in hot cars – a tragedy that is entirely preventable,” said Stephanie Milani, TN Public Affairs Director for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “We’re committed to raising awareness and proud to partner with this program to deliver a simple, yet powerful reminder to never underestimate how quickly a hot car can become dangerous for a child.”

Tennesseans can request free hangtags online through the Secretary of State’s office by visiting https://sos.tn.gov/requesthangtags.

Tags will also be available through the Department of Health at all local health departments, and the Tennessee Office of Vital Records. The Department of Safety will also distribute the hangtags at Driver Services Centers, Tennessee Highway Patrol District Headquarters, and upcoming Tennessee Highway Safety Office events, including Car Seat Checkpoints. Drivers can also stop by their local Tennessee AAA branch to pick up a free “Baby in the Back” hangtag while supplies last. To find your local branch, visit: AAA.com/branches.

Vote For Your Favorite Maury County Businesses!

Vote for your favorite Maury County businesses, people, places and events in the 2025 Main Street Awards!

Categories are listed in alphabetical order in 5 main groups, Food & Flavor, Medical Services, Retail, Services, and Community. You can submit a nomination in any category if your favorite is not already listed.

Be sure to share the link to the ballot with your friends and family, too. Online voting is strongly encouraged, and ballots must have votes cast in a minimum of 5 categories to be valid.

TIP: You can vote once per hour until June 1st. But remember to vote in at least 5 categories for your votes to count!

What’s Up Columbia is nominated in the Local Media category - we’d appreciate your support - VOTE HERE 🙂

*Spring Hill (Maury & Williamson Counties) with Thompson Station has a separate Main Street Awards contest in July and will not be included in this round.

TODAY: Kick Off the Summer at the Fairview Splash Pad

Join us for a fun-filled afternoon as we kick off the season with a Summer Splash event on Wednesday, May 28, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the Fairview Park Splash Pad.

This free community event will feature snow cones, balloon animals, and plenty of bubbles for the kids to enjoy. It’s the perfect way to cool off, connect with neighbors, and celebrate the start of summer.

A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 3:00 PM to officially mark the opening of the splash pad for the season. We invite everyone to gather and be part of this exciting moment.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Fairview Park
871 Iron Bridge Rd.

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Wednesday, May 28th

Thursday, May 29th

Friday, May 30th

Saturday, May 31st

*More events coming soon!

📌 Mark Your Calendars…

June 5-8: CMA Fest
June 7-8: Nashville Comicon
June 7-8: Great Tennessee Air Show
June 21: Experience Spring Hill, The Event

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🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Wednesday, May 28th

Matt Marinchick, Puckett’s, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

Thursday, May 29th

Radio Farm, Puckett’s, 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Todd Ciprian, Tito’s Spring Hill, 6:00-9:00 PM
Second Chance Bluegrass, McCreary’s Irish Pub, 7:00 - 9:00 PM

Friday, May 30th

TBA, The Spot Burgers & Beer, 5:00-8:00 PM
Rob Harris, Tito’s Spring Hill, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
The Nature Project, Buck & Board, 6:00-9:00 PM
Ryan Keeler, Gracie Italian Eatery, 6:30 - 9:30 PM
Tom Saffell & Robert Johnson, McCreary’s Irish Pub & Eatery, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
TBA, Grinder’s Switch, 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Herrick, Puckett’s, 7:30 - 9:00 PM
Rhiannon: The Stevie Nicks Experience, The Mulehouse, 8:00 PM
No Fun Intended, Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8:00 - 11:00 PM

Saturday, May 31st

Martin Lane, Amber Falls Winery, 3:00 - 7:00 PM
TBA, Buck & Board, 5:00 - 8:00 PM
Los San Petricios, McCreary’s Irish Pun 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Vinyl 4, Rebel Bar & Grill, 7:30 PM
Troy Castelland, Puckett’s, 7:30 - 9:00 PM
Broke By Monday, Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8:00 - 11:00 PM
Zone Status, The Boondox, 8:00 - 11:00 PM

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