About the Chill Out for Winter Safety Program

A Mission Inspired by Tragedy

The Chill Out for Winter Safety program was developed mom and Munson Healthcare team member Tammie Budrow, following the death of her vibrant young daughter Carly, who was just eight years old when her sled veered off a local sledding hill and into a patch of trees, each no more than two inches in diameter.

Sadly, tragic accidents like Carly’s are not uncommon. Every 30 seconds, a child dies from an unintentional injury, and millions of children are injured in ways that affect them for a lifetime. However, the majority of accidents can be avoided. To honor Carly and draw awareness to kids’ snow sport safety, Tammie created the Chill Out for Winter Safety program, designed to teach kids and parents lifesaving winter safety tips with the help of mascot Beary Careful.

Munson Healthcare proudly supports this award-winning program, which is shared with thousands of children and parents throughout Northern Michigan each year. Munson also offers annual helmet safety clinics throughout the region, providing free helmet fittings and helmets for kids.

We are proud to partner with the following organizations to share this important safety information to our communities: MSU College of Human Medicine Traverse City Campus; Munson Healthcare Family Practice Residency; the US Coast Guard Air Station, Traverse City; Safe Kids North Shore; Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department; and the Carly Belknap-Budrow Memorial Fun-Day-tion.