Safe Kids Marathon County

07/24/2026

Do you know how to recognize when someone is at risk of drowning? It doesn't look like most people think it does. Watch the video below to learn about the signs and safety tips. For information on local swim lessons, CPR trainings, boating safety classes, life jacket loaner stations and more, check out our listing of Water Safety Resources Serving Marathon County:https://www.aspirus.org/Uploads/Public/Documents/Safe%20Kids/Water%20Safety%20Resources.pdf

07/15/2026

We applaud the communities in Marathon County that are supporting and educating community members on safe recreation and transportation. 👏👏👏

The Wausau Police Department continues to respond to questions & complaints about "e-motos". Reckless operation of these devices in the city is occurring at a more frequent rate. Thankfully, there has not yet been a serious injury or incident but there have been numerous close calls. Let's not wait for a tragedy to happen before changing behavior.

To be clear, it is NOT legal to operate e-motos on city streets/roadways, bike lanes, sidewalks, parks, or multi-use paths & trails. They may only be operated on private property or DNR-approved lands.

Newly recreated Wausau ordinance 10.40 addresses bicycles, e-bikes, e-motos, and similar conveyances. The full ordinance can be reviewed here: https://library.municode.com/wi/wausau/ordinances/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=1427382

This comprehensive infographic is also posted online at https://www.wausauwi.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/16434

07/10/2026

Great information from our lead agency Aspirus Health and partners at Wausau Police Department about injury risks related to e-bikes and safety tips. Want to learn more about what parents and riders should know about e-bikes and e-scooters? Check out the AAA E-Ride Safety Guide here: sm.AAA/ERideReady

06/29/2026

👇Important information from the Marathon County Health Department to help keep yourself and your family safe during the extreme heat this week. Keep in mind that children are at a higher risk for heatstroke than adults because a child's body heats up 3 to 5 times faster. More tips to keep kids safe in the extreme heat: https://www.healthychildren.org/english/safety-prevention/at-home/pages/protecting-children-from-extreme-heat-information-for-parents.aspx?

🚨The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Warning for Marathon County from June 29th at 12:00pm to June 30th at 7:00pm. A Heat Warning is issued when heat levels pose a significant health risk and require immediate precautions. All public libraries throughout Marathon County are open during regular business hours as cooling centers as well as Bridge Street Mission and Open Door.🚨

🌡️ Take steps now to stay safe.
✅ Move to air‑conditioning or a cooling center if possible.
✅ Drink water regularly, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
✅ Avoid outdoor activity.
✅ Check on people who may be at higher risk.

If you or someone near you shows signs of heat stroke, call 911 immediately.
Call 211 for information on cooling locations.

06/25/2026

Gates open at 5:35 p.m. for tonight's Wausau Woodchucks' game with the first pitch at 6:35. Tonight's game includes the beach-themed Speciality Jersey Auction presented by Aspirus Health and benefiting Safe Kids Marathon County. Stop by our booth before the game, and win a beach-themed prize by correctly answering a safety question!

06/22/2026

Did you know that yesterday was ASK (Asking Saves Kids) Day? ASK Day is a day to share the message of safe firearm storage and remind parents to ASK if there is an unlocked gun in any home where their child plays. It falls on the first day of summer, marking a time when kids typically spend more time at the homes of friends and other family members. It’s a simple question but could save a life. RESOURCES BELOW:

ASK Tip Sheet:https://www.safekids.org/sites/default/files/documents/ask_tip_sheet-final-web.pdf

Safe Storage Options:https://projectchildsafe.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/PCS_SafeStorage_20-print.pdf

06/18/2026

HUGE THANK YOU to our partners at the Wausau Police Department for their efforts to educate the community on the differences between e-bikes and e-motos. Visit these additional resources to learn more about e-bikes and safety recommendations:

~ American Academy of Pediatrics: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/ask-the-pediatrician/Pages/are-electric-bikes-e-bikes-safe-for-children.aspx?

~ WI Bike Fed: https://wisconsinbikefed.org/e-bike-resources/

Parents, be sure you know what you're buying. 🏍️

This year we've seen a surge in e-motos in our community, like most across our nation. In speaking with kids, and parents alike, many bought them believing them to be e-bikes which their kids could legally ride around without worry. But the reality is, these are not bicycles. They are battery operated motorcycles (sometimes mopeds), lacking necessary safety equipment to make them street legal, and often being driven by children who aren't licensed drivers.

If you purchased one of these for your child to ride, understand they cannot be driven on the streets or sidewalks here in the State of Wisconsin. To be street legal they would need the necessary safety equipment, they would need to be registered, and they would need a licensed and insured driver.

We are doing our best to educate children as we see them being riden and asking them to share this information with their parents. We hope you can sell them, or swap them out with legitimate e-bicycles if that is what you were hoping for. If you intentionally bought a battery operated motorcycle for your child to use, and continue to allow them to use them, you could be charged with permitting an unlicensed person to drive.

Please understand, our goal here is not to give anyone a ticket for driving one of these. We know some people just made a mistake, and we want you to find a way to correct that before anyone faces consequences such as citations, vehicles being towed, or worse...someone getting hurt not understanding the power of them.

If you're unaware of what makes an e-moto different from an e-bike, the most recognizable difference is the bicycles have pedals like non-electric bicycles where e-motos do not. There is a lot of information online about the difference, but we encourage you to review the box/paperwork of the item you own and/or discuss with the retailer you purchased them from.

Let's keep our children, and our community safe, together.

06/12/2026

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Our Helmet Hero program kicked off yesterday! Stay safe by wearing a helmet + get a free ice cream cone from Briq's Soft Serve? Sounds like a WIN-WIN to me! Learn more: https://www.wsaw.com/2026/06/11/aspirus-health-safe-kids-marathon-county-launch-helmet-hero-program/