Distracted Driving Kills: Please Watch With Your Teens (Video)
Alex Brown age 17,
Cady Reynolds age 16,
Margay Schee age 13,
Joe Teater age 13,
Ashley Johnson age 16,
Julie Davis age 58 – her granddaughter was 2.
Kassy Kerfoot age 18.
What do all these people have in common? They are the real names of some of the 5,500 people who die
and the 500,000 people injured on our roads each year due to distracted driving. Some of the victims are innocent occupants and pedestrians who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Innocent – small consolation – dead is still dead. Most are under 20- they are our children- they are our future.
Distracted driving is texting while driving; it is talking on cell phones. It is any activity that takes the focus off of the task of safe motor vehicle operation. It only takes a moment of inattention. But enough of me rambling.
Below is a link to a video that is 3 minutes 50 seconds duration. If you watch it-you WILL be moved, you WILL make a difference in someone’s life. You will show a teenager in your family this video- you will watch it together. You will think twice before you respond to a text while driving. You will set an example for your kids to follow. Just 3 minutes and 50 seconds.
Making a difference- changing a life for the better need not take long- it usually just takes action. Please make a difference- pass this along.
For more information on teen and districted driving:
- Fatality Facts 2018 – Teenagers: https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/teenagers
Home Alone After School? Top 8 Safety Checks for Parents
We are now a few weeks into the new school year and along with all the new fresh faces roaming the halls during school, there are fresh faces staying home alone after school for the first time. Now I’m pretty sure that if you have made the decision to leave your child home alone after school that they are what you deem to be old enough and a responsible person. Yet even the most responsible adult can run into problems or have emergencies when home alone, so a little pre-planning and forethought can go a long way to your child’s safety and your peace of mind.
Let’s start with the basic safety checks:
- Emergency contact numbers, are they known or preprogrammed into a phone or highly visible place near the phone?, Parents, friends, neighbors ,poison control ?, the best case scenario would be to have someone close to your home whom you trust to be aware of the situation and willing to be on call.
- Safety gear, Next we can get all of our safety gear such as flashlights, candles, and a fire extinguisher all together and know how to safely use each. As a little side note, any fire station will gladly teach you how to properly use an extinguisher.
- Medications, these can be anything from pills that parents take to needed medications for the child like Insulin or any type of med available in the home. Medications that parents take should be kept locked up and medications the child may need to take while home alone should be clearly taught and understood and closely monitored by the parents upon coming home.
- Household cleaners should always be locked up if there are little ones around and if they are not, it should be understood the dangers they present when used and how to take proper precautions, such as opening a window for ventilation and hand and eye protection.
- Major emergencies, It cannot be understated how important it is to call 911. It should be understood that calling 911 is not embarrassing and should not get anyone in trouble. It is what we are here for. Should anything happen in or around the home when your child is home alone that makes them feel unsafe, please instruct them to call 911 right away! ,They could be cooking and accidentally start a fire or smell smoke in an odd place, hear electrical buzzing, maybe they see or hear someone outside or anything that makes them feel unsafe, please make it ok for them to call 911. If it turns out to be nothing, that is fine. You can talk about it when you get home and everyone is alive, safe and well.
Three of the biggest things we worry about with children that are home alone are Fire, Strangers and Weapons.
- In the case of fire, it is a great idea to have an escape plan from your home. Escaping from a single story window or door may not be hard but a second or third story may require an emergency ladder or alternate route in case of stairs blocked by fire.
- When it comes to strangers, there is no shortage of bad people. That being said, it is a good idea to have a do not answer the door policy and even a do not acknowledges anyone at the door policy. If it is at night, the house should be well lit and should the person at the door not go away or make your child feel unsafe then 911 should be the next call. A police officer recently told me it’s a good idea to have a second alarm control keypad in the upstairs area that can be activated with a panic button in case of an intruder or strange noise.
- When it comes to Weapons it goes without saying that they should be respected and understood. Your child is home alone and if there are weapons in the home they should be safely stored, locked and secured as to avoid the awful accidents we see on the news every year. If your child is old enough, trained and certified with a gun, then it is your decision to give them access to it, but be warned because accidents happen. I would think it would be a better and much safer thing to do the things that deter unwanted guests, such as outdoor lighting, cameras, alarm company signage, a dog, anything that does not put a loaded weapon in your child’s hands.
I hope these safety checks give you something to think about and I hope it keeps all the kids safe.
Kids and Medication: What Parents Should Know to Avoid Errors
Let’s discuss medication use in children because many parents feel that an office visit to the Doctor for their child is not complete without a medication to use regardless of the cause for the visit.
First, many Doctors are getting away from using medications of all kinds for minor illnesses. Antibiotics are not effective for the most common infections seen in Children, viruses. Typical “cold medicines are found to have side effects: these adverse effects include, but are not limited to irritability, loss of appetite, poor sleep and restlessness to name a few. Antibiotics are becoming even ineffective against certain bacteria because of over use and development of resistances to those antibiotics. Those people who may contract an infection for which the choices of antibiotics have become limited potentially pose a problem for every one.
Next a few “rules of the road” when using any medication on children:
- Children are not to be considered “ just small adults” when given any medicines- the dosages are calculated differently, they react to medicines in a different way than adults, the illnesses to be treated are not necessarily the same in adults and children, side effects of these medications can appear different in adults and children. Never look at your child and try to calculate any dosage based on a percentage of your own weight, or any side effects that you may have.
- Just because a child has an illness does not mean that “medicine” is necessary. There are some who reach for the medicine cabinet as soon as their child sneezes or exhibits a runny nose, or cough. Given what I explained above, this is certainly not necessary and in some cases may make things worse. Same thing occurs with onset of fever and this has been discussed previously, not all fevers require medication to lower them.
- Learn some easy measurements:
- 1 cc or 1 ml is 1/5 of a teaspoon which is 5ccs
- 5ccs or one teaspoon is 1/3 of a tablespoon which is 15 cc
- 30cc is approximately one ounce, and 8 ounces is a cup
- 1000 cc’s equals one liter or a little more than a quart
- 16 ounces = 1 pint and 32 ounces = 1 quart
- 4 quarts = 1 gallon
It is good to know these equivalents but be sure you totally understand the instructions for a medicine before you leave the pharmacy, and be sure the pharmacist has supplied you with the correct measuring utensil. These can come as accurate little measuring spoons or even syringes measured in cc’s. A kitchen teaspoon or tablespoon is not very accurate and is often not close enough for the required measurement. Ask the pharmacist about this before you leave the pharmacy and don’t use a kitchen teaspoon or tablespoon for your child’s medicine unless they say it will be ok.
- When giving your child medication according to a schedule, write the times and dosage down as a reminder and save any dosing instructions until they have completed the entire prescription. If they accidentally miss a dose, in “most cases” (unless these are cardiac meds or similar) it will likely not make a difference, however I recommend checking the dosing instructions just to make sure your doctor has not specified “not to skip a dose” in which case you should probably give the dose when you think of it. If in doubt contact your child’s doctor or the pharmacy.
Your child will be happier and safer if you remember these few things
Trampolines & Jump Centers: Fun but Risky, Parents Beware
By now I am pretty sure that all of us have either seen the ads for or been to one of the many trampoline centers popping up in a town near you. Or you are one of the many homes in American that have a trampoline in the yard. While I personally have nothing against trampolines, being in the EMS field I am always aware of the dangers they pose and what kind of injuries they would present with. While your own personal trampoline or the ones at the jumping center are a lot of fun there are some numbers I think you should have and recommendations you should be aware of before letting the kids bounce away.
The Statistics.
Nearly 100,000 people a year were sent to the ER with trampoline related injuries from 2010- 2014 and about a third of those were with broken bones and 92% of those were in children under 16. Injuries of the head and spinal cord were also reported in that time and represent the smallest amount but the most severe. In an American Academy of Pediatrics study they found that fractures were more common in younger children than adolescents and children under 6 years of age actually had the highest percentage of fractures with 47.8%. The study also revealed that while trampoline injures at home stayed around the same average per year, there is a growing and alarming number of injuries at trampoline parks with the national trend getting higher and higher.
The Recommendations.
The safety recommendations for trampolines are the same over a number of different studies. The American Academy of Pediatrics went to far as to recommend against the recreational use of trampolines for children in 2012, But seeing as how people are jumping now more than ever, they have put together a list of things you can do to keep your children and yourself as safe as possible while jumping. The recommendations are:
- Adult supervision at ALL times.
- Only 1 jumper on the trampoline at a time. Most injuries occur with multiple jumpers.
- No Flipping. Safety rules may vary at trampoline centers. Please check the rules before jumping.
- Adequate padding on the trampoline, all of its exposed parts. Frame, springs, poles. As well as Padding on the floor around the trampoline.
- Checking all equipment before jumping.
- Having the trampoline at ground level if possible.
- Having the trampoline clear of any overhead obstructions: Trees, Lines, Poles, House.
What to do.
Should an injury occur on a trampoline what to do will depend on the severity of the injury, but as I always tell people, if the thought to call 911 crosses your mind, go ahead and do it. Some injuries may be minor and require nothing more than some ice and elevation, but should the injury involve the head, neck, or spine, a loss of consciousness, or broken bones, then please let EMS handle it. They are trained and prepared to deal with these types of injuries.
As, always I hope you have a fun and happy summer and above all be safe!
What You’ll Want to Have In Your Baby’s First Aid Kit
More than 1 million children a year are involved in an accident in the home. Most aren’t serious, but it’s sensible to make sure your first aid box contains the essentials.
Choose a waterproof, durable box that’s easy to carry. It’s much easier to take the box to the child than the child to the box. The box should have a childproof lock and be tall enough to carry bottles of lotion.
Keep the box out of the reach of children, but handy for adults. You don’t want to be hunting for your first aid kit when a child is injured and frightened.
Either buy a first aid box, which is green with a white cross**, or, if making up your own box, write “First Aid” on it so that, if you aren’t around, other people know what it is. If someone else is caring for your children, let them know where the kit is kept.
First aid manual
An easy-to-use guide can help refresh your memory when panic and a crying child make it hard to remember what to do. Or you could print out a first aid guide and keep it with your first aid box.
Painkillers and babies
Make sure you have an age-appropriate painkiller, such as paracetamol (*acetaminophen) or ibuprofen, which can be used for headaches and fevers. You will also need a measuring spoon or, for younger children, a no-needle dosing syringe. Always follow the dosage instructions on the label.
Dressings for babies
- Sticking plasters (*Band-aids). Buy them in a variety of sizes for minor cuts, blisters and sore spots.
- Adhesive tape (*Medical tape). This can hold dressings in place and can also be applied to smaller cuts.
- Bandages. Crepe (*Wrap compression) bandages are useful for support or holding a dressing in place. Tubular bandages are helpful when a child has strained a joint and needs extra support. You can also buy triangular bandages that can be used for making a sling.
- Sterile gauze dressings. These are good for covering larger sore areas and cuts.
Antiseptic cream or spray
Antiseptic cream or spray can be applied to cuts, grazes or minor burns after cleaning to help prevent infection. Some may also contain a mild local anaesthetic to numb the pain.
Antihistamine cream
This can reduce swelling and soothe insect bites and stings.
Thermometer
- Digital thermometers. Digital thermometers are quick to use, accurate and can be used under the armpit (always use the thermometer under the armpit with children under five). Hold your child’s arm against his or her body and leave the thermometer in place for the time stated in the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Ear (or tympanic) thermometers. Ear thermometers are put in the child’s ear. They take the child’s temperature in one second and do not disturb the child, but they’re expensive. Ear thermometers may give low readings when not correctly placed in the ear, so read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully and make sure you understand how the thermometer works.
- Strip-type thermometers. Strip-type thermometers that you hold on your child’s forehead are not an accurate way of taking their temperature. They show the temperature of the skin, not the body.
- Mercury-in-glass thermometers. Mercury-in-glass thermometers are no longer available to buy**. They can break, releasing small shards of glass and highly poisonous mercury. If your child is exposed to mercury, get medical advice immediately.
Calamine lotion
This can help to soothe itching irritated skin, rashes (including chickenpox) and sunburn. There are gels and mousses available for chickenpox rashes as well.
Baby first aid accessories
- Pair of scissors for cutting clothes, and also plasters and tape to size.
- Tweezers to remove thorns and splinters.
- Ice packs or gel packs can be kept in the fridge and applied to bumps and bruises to relieve swelling. A packet of frozen peas is just as good, but wrap it in a clean tea towel before applying it to skin. Direct contact with ice can cause a “cold burn”.
- Saline solution and an eye bath. This is useful for washing specks of dust or foreign bodies out of sore eyes.
Antiseptic wipes
Antiseptic wipes are a handy way to clean cuts and grazes and help prevent infection. To use them, take a fresh wipe and clean the wound, gently working away from the centre to remove dirt and germs.
Remember to keep your first aid box up to date. Replace items when stocks have been used and check use-by dates of all medicines. Throw away anything past its use-by date. You can take any out-of-date medicines to a pharmacy to be disposed of safely.
Editor’s Note: *clarification provided for our US readers.
** U.S. First Aid Kits are often white with a red cross or red with a white cross
** Mercury-in-glass thermometers are not available for purchase in the U.K. and in a number of States within the U.S., however they may still be purchased legally in some States. For more specific information about individual State’s mercury laws, click here.
Video: How to Protect Young Children from Poisoning
In this 2-minute video, Katrina Phillips of the Child Accident Prevention Trust talks about what you can do to protect your child from poisoning.
Editor’s Note: Video Highlights
The most common culprit for child poisoning is everyday painkillers - It’s important to put them somewhere where a small child can’t be tempted by the bright colors and where they can’t reach them
- The other common cause of poisoning for young children is household cleaning products
- Note that child safety caps on medicines and cleaning products can slow young children getting them open, but they’re not actually childproof
- Some three and four year-olds can open those caps in seconds, so it’s important not to rely on child safety caps to keep young children safe from poisoning
- There are other things around your home that you wouldn’t suspect could be poisonous to small children but are – including:
- Perfume on your dressing table
- Aromatherapy oils that you might have in your bathroom
- Small amounts of alcohol, like the dregs left in the bottom of a glass
- You need to think about what might be harmful to a small child and put it somewhere where they can’t see it and where they can’t reach it
- Also, get your gas appliances serviced every year – and fit a carbon-monoxide alarm that will sound a warning if levels of the poisonous gas are too high in your home
- Finally, if you think your child has swallowed something poisonous, it’s important to get immediate medical advice and help
