Stranger Danger: What it Really Means and How to Help Keep Kids and Others Safe

Stranger Danger is a slogan that has been around for many years. It has aimed to keep children safe by teaching them to not talk to strangers or those perceived as dangerous individuals. We think more explanation on the danger part will help children and others realize when a situation is dangerous and when it is ok to talk to strangers when in need of help. Below are some tips we have compiled to keep you and your children safe from danger.

Travel in Groups

The best way to stay safe is by traveling with a buddy or with a group of friends when going to school or playing outside. When you are with other people, dangerous individuals are less likely to try and approach you. Remember, there is safety in numbers!

Build Confidence in Children

Teach children and others that if someone ever tries to abduct, grab or take them, that they can fight back. Here is just a few ways to fight back: scream, kick, bite, and put up a good struggle. If you are able to get away, run to the nearest adult or group of people for safety.

Teach Children Which Adults to Trust

 It is important that children realize that not all adults are dangerous strangers. Teach children the type of adults they can seek out and trust. Some examples include a police officer, a security guard, or another woman with children.

Other Important Tips for Keeping Safe:

*Never put identifying information such as names on purses or backpacks or where a predator could see it.

*Store updated photos and important information such as fingerprints of your children in case something should ever happen to them and you would need to provide this to police.

*Never leave school or another function with someone who makes you feel uncomfortable. Trust your instincts.

*A common trick used by predators and child molesters is asking a child about helping with an emergency, a hurt pet or a hurt family member. Make sure your child knows not to trust a stranger like this and to get help immediately.

*Make sure children feel comfortable discussing their safety and well being. If something were to happen to them, you would want them to feel safe telling you about it without them feeling like they did something wrong.

*Always remember, if you or someone you are with feels threatened in any way, please call 9-1-1 immediately for help. 

Helpful Information for Parents: http://www.netsmartz.org/Parents

Video on Stranger Danger:

Protect Yourself during Flu Season

Staying healthy and taking care of your body is important to your overall health and well-being. From now until March, many people will come down with seasonal influenza, also known as the flu. In order to prevent those from getting sick, follow the following guidelines to keep you and your family well!

The flu is a highly contagious respiratory illness which is caused by influenza A and B viruses that attack the body by spreading through the upper and lower respiratory tract. While a cold can sometimes feel like the flu, it is not near as debilitating. Flu-like symptoms include high fever, headache, fatigue and weakness in the body. These symptoms can also appear almost instantly from the time you are infected.

The flu virus is spread quite easily through the air. When someone sneezes who has the flu, he or she infects the air around them. If you were to be close to that person and inhaled droplets in the air that contained the virus, then you could become infected too. Other ways the flu is transmitted is through sharing drinks or utensils, or handling items that an infected person used. If the flu virus were to get on your skin, and then you touched or rubbed your eyes, mouth or nose, then you could become infected as well. This is why it is so important to ALWAYS wash your hands when going to the bathroom and before you eat.

What to do to Prepare for Flu Season

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone six months and older get a flu vaccine once a year. By getting this vaccine, you are taking the first step in protecting yourself from getting this awful illness. Flu vaccines are provided at pharmacies and doctor offices as well as at schools and places of employment.

Secondly, taking everyday preventative actions to stop the spread of germs is important to staying flu-free as well. This includes:

-       Washing your hands with soap and water

-       Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing

-       Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread easily this way!

-       If you get sick, limit contact with others to prevent further infection in others

Lastly, if you get the flu, there are antiviral drugs that can treat it, but it will still take time to get over and get back to being healthy. Visit your doctor if you think you might have the flu.

More information on the flu here: http://www.flu.gov/

YouTube Video on the flu: http://youtu.be/zE6rYqaWjkU

Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

As the weather becomes colder throughout the U.S., it is important for people to keep in mind the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning and how to avoid it from happening to you or your loved ones. Also known as the quiet killer, carbon monoxide comes from fumes produced by furnaces, vehicles, portable generators, stoves, lanterns, gas ranges, or burning charcoal or wood. When the fumes become trapped inside the home, it can cost lives.

When the power goes out due to emergencies such as bad weather or hurricanes, the use of alternative power options such as portable items used for heaters and cooking goes up. This can be especially dangerous if fumes from these items build up in the home. This is why it is so important to make sure your homes are equipped with carbon monoxide detectors. (Don’t forget to replace the batteries on a regular basis!) More than 450 people die each year due to unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning. By recognizing and preventing carbon monoxide poisoning, we can help lower the number of unintentional deaths and help save lives.

Carbon monoxide poisoning has symptoms that are very similar to the flu. Because of this, many people do not realize they have had carbon monoxide poisoning. The most common symptoms are: headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion.

What can we do to help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning?

·        Have your heating and water system (or anything serviced by gas) checked once a year for any problems by a qualified technician.

·        Install battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors in your home and change the batteries at least once a year. 

·        Please seek medical attention or call 9-1-1 immediately if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning.

·        Do not use camp stoves, generators, grills or anything gasoline or charcoal-burning inside the home or garage.

·        Never leave a vehicle running in the garage.

·        Never heat your home with a gas oven

·        Do not burn anything in a stove or fireplace without ventilation.

Remember, carbon monoxide poisoning is preventable. Make sure to protect yourself and your family by being prepared and aware. If you think you might have carbon monoxide poisoning, please call the Poison Control Network at 1-800-222-1222. For more information on carbon monoxide poisoning, please visit: http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/carbonmonoxide-factsheet.pdf

YouTube Video: http://youtu.be/lchtRTDsHSM

Safety Tips to Maximize Halloween Fun!

Halloween falls on a Wednesday this year and many children and adults alike will be out trick or treating and attending parties or haunted houses. Halloween is a time when people enjoy dressing up in costumes and eating delicious treats, but it also is a great time to shine a spotlight on safety. Below are some tips and tools to help maximize safety and ensure healthy fun on this spooky holiday.

Trick-or-Treating Tips:

- Avoid trick-or-treating alone. It is always best to walk in groups or with a trusted adult.

- Use reflective tape on costumes and bags in order to help drivers see you at night.

- Costume items such as knives and swords should be short, soft and flexible.

- Make sure to go through the treats to check them for tampering or choking hazards. Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating handmade treats from strangers.

- Take a flashlight with you so you can see and others can see you. And remember to walk, not run in between houses.

- Look both ways before crossing the street and make sure to use crosswalks.

- Enter homes only with a trust adult and only visit well-lit homes. Do not stop at dark homes and never accept rides from strangers.

For those handing out candy or attending parties:

- Provide healthy treats or low calorie treats for trick-or-treaters.

- Leave your light on and your house well-lit for trick-or-treaters.

-Always remind drivers to watch out for trick-or-treaters and to drive slowly and safely through neighborhoods.

- Make sure to have lots of fun!!!

Check out this video for Halloween tips: http://youtu.be/Ful7kykz4TU

National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week 2012

October 21^st through the 27th marks National Lead Poisoning Prevention Month. Young children frequently put toys or other objects that are close to grab in their mouths during childhood and early development. Unfortunately, putting hands in the mouth can put children in contact with lead paint or dust.

There are many sources of lead, but the most common lead exposure occurs from chips and particles of old lead paint. While children can be exposed to lead through paint chips and dust, they can also be exposed to lead that might be in house dust or soil around the home.

Lead is an invisible source (to the naked eye) which means that it is exposed to as many as 30% of children without their knowledge. Some of these items containing lead include:

·         Imported candies

·         Imported toys or jewelry

·         Imported cosmetics

·         Pottery or ceramics

·         Drinking water that is contaminated with lead

Children are not the only individuals we need to worry about when it comes to lead poisoning. There are many work and extra-curricular activities that can expose individuals to lead. Some activities that could cause exposure to lead include remodeling projects on the home, home repairs, indoor firing range use and pottery making, to name a few.

How to Protect Children from Lead Exposure

Lead poisoning is easily preventable with these simple tools. The goal is treat children immediately who have been poisoned with lead and also stopping children from coming into lead exposure in the first place. Possible lead hazards need to be identified and removed from the home and away from a child’s environment.

If you have any reason to suspect your child or you have come in contact with lead poisoning, please contact your health care provider. Your provider can then decide if a blood test is necessary to test for elevated lead levels in the blood. A blood test is the only way to tell if you or your child is suffering from lead poisoning. Never hesitate to call the Poison Control Center hotline for more information at 1-800-222-1222.

What Parents Need to Know:  http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/ACCLPP/blood_lead_levels.htm

How to Prevent Lead Poisoning in your Home: http://youtu.be/Tc5PiTz73d8

National Fire Prevention Week

During the second week of October, people across the U.S. are focused on promoting fire prevention and safety. Fire safety is important knowledge for everyone in case they are ever found in an emergency situation.  Unfortunately, many fire hazards in the home go virtually undetected because people are unaware or do not take the time to fireproof their home. By utilizing some simple tools, you can create a safer environment in your home and educate everyone on what to do in case a fire breaks out.

A lot of fires that start in the bedroom are usually caused by misuse or poor maintenance of electrical devices, leaving candles burning too long, smoking inside or even children getting a hold of a lighter or matches. With a little education, most of these issues can be addressed and avoided. An example is making sure flammable items such as bedding and clothing is at least three feet away from lit candles or portable heaters. Items such as electrical blankets and appliances should never be used if the power cords are frayed or cut. And lastly, remember that electrical outlets should never be overloaded with lots of appliances plugged into one outlet. Below are more tips and tools on how to protect your home from a fire.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO BE PREPARED

*Make sure all fire alarms in the household are up and operating correctly. Replace batteries if needed.

*Designate escape routes from different parts of the home and practice them to be prepared in case a fire does break out.

*Don’t forget what you learn in school: Stop, Drop and Roll! This is very important in case your clothing or hair catches on fire.

*Remind kids that lighters and matches are not toys and are tools for lighting things. IN the same regard, make sure matches and lighters are out of reach of children and in a safe place.

For more information on fire safety and prevention, please visit www.fpw.org or www.live-safe.org.

Below is a great video from the Live-Safe website:

Focusing on Bully Prevention

October marks the month where we focus efforts on bully prevention. Whether you are an adolescent or an adult, bullying is never okay and by taking a stand, we can help stop bullying or prevent it from occurring.

WHAT IS BULLYING?
There are various types of bullying but in its most basic form, bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior from one person or a group of people. Bullying can continue for a short time or a long time but it is shown that those who bully and those who are bullied, can have serious lasting problems. Examples of bullying include: name-calling, teasing, taunting, threatening to cause harm, to name a few. Social bullying exists too in the form of leaving people out on purpose, spreading rumors, telling someone not to be friends with another person or embarrassing someone in public. Physical bullying such as hitting, kicking, punching and screaming or taking someone’s things is also a serious problem. Bullying can occur during school hours or after school hours. 

CYBER-BULLYING

Cyber-bullying is bullying that occurs through the internet or electronic technology. Most cyber-bullying can occur through emails or on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. It could be a mean text message or an embarrassing photo or even fake profiles created to bully someone.

Sadly, kids who are cyber-bullied usually end up skipping school, using alcohol or drugs, have a lower self esteem and have more health problems than the average kid.  

UTILIZE RESOURCES AND GET INVOLVED

Everyone plays a role in bully prevention whether you are a student, teacher, parent or onlooker of bullying. That is why it is so important that as a community we make an effort to stop and prevent future bullying. Make sure to talk to kids about bullying so that they understand it is not acceptable behavior. Explain the warning signs and how they can report bullying to teachers, parents or trusted adults. Communicate with kids and make them feel comfortable enough to tell you if bullying is occurring with them or someone they know.
It is a great idea to talk about how to stand up to a bully as well. They can use tips such as humor or telling the person directly to stop or even just walking away from the situation. Encourage kids to help other kids they might see being bullied too. At www.stopbullying.gov there are numerous tips, videos and tons of information on bullying and how to prevent it from happening to others or even you.

Links to great informational resources on bullying:

http://www.stopbullying.gov/index.html

http://whatsyourstory.trendmicro.com/internet-safety/pg/internet-safety

www.GrowingWireless.com/

Check out these videos on examples of bullying and take the quiz after viewing:

http://www.stopbullying.gov/kids/webisodes/index.html

Here is a great article on how one woman dealt with bullying:

http://shine.yahoo.com/women-who-shine/sikh-woman-balpreet-kaur-turns-cyber-bullying-incident-203500244.html