Parenting expert releases top five summer safety tips for parents
Jennifer Trachtenberg, MD, renowned RealAge expert and author of Good Kids, Bad Habits: The RealAge Guide to Raising Healthy Children, has released her Top 5 Summer Safety Tips for Parents in conjunction with the Home Safety Council’s Home Safety Month, June 2007.
Accidents are still the leading cause of death in children. “Most accidents aren’t accidents at all,” explains Dr. Trachtenberg, chief pediatric officer for RealAge.com. “They happen because we overlook, underestimate, or ignore risky situations.” Surprisingly, most accidents happen to kids while under parental supervision, either in the evening or on weekends, and while on vacation — usually when the parent is relaxed.
Her top five tips are:
- Wear a helmet: If there’s one piece of safety equipment to wear, it’s a helmet. Helmets can reduce the risk of head and brain injuries by 88%. Head injuries are the leading cause of bike-related deaths.
- Learn to swim: Never leave a child up to the age of 5 alone by the water. Four-year-olds usually have the mind-body skills needed for formal swimming instruction and water-safety training.
- Beware of balloons: A leading cause of death in children, make sure popped or uninflated balloons are out of children’s reach. If a child swallows an uninflated balloon, it takes the shape of the airway rather than moving down it like a solid object would.
- Choking: For young kids, choking is one of the most common causes of accidental death. Teach your child the universal sign for choking. Common foods that can cause choking are spoonfuls of peanut butter, white bread, nuts, chunks of cheese, hot dogs, whole grapes, and popcorn.
- iPoditis: To keep kids’ hearing sharp for years to come, noise researchers recommend limiting earbud use to no more than an hour a day and keeping the volume no higher than 90 decibels (about the loudness of a vacuum cleaner or lawn mower). You can download free software at apple.com that limits the volume on your child’s iPod.
FHM set to pull the covers back the globe’s sexual activities
June 20, 2007 by andy · Leave a Comment
FHM have officially launched the world’s biggest sex survey promising to reveal the world’s inner most sexual desires, turn offs, antics and habits. From Mexico to Malaysia and Sweden to South Africa, 31 countries covering 21 different languages are invited to contribute to what will be the largest search of its type in the history of mankind.
Sexual themes and trends will be exposed, while comparisons will be drawn from the bedroom performances and preferences from nations all around the world. What nation is the most active? Who make the best lovers? Who are the most promiscuous? All will be unveiled!
It is expecting that there will be millions of responses worldwide and there is only one way you can be part of sex history.
To take part in FHM’s Global Sex Survey visit FHM.com where a full list or questions are provided.
Father’s Day: don’t dismiss it as “too commercial” or “inferior to Mother’s Day or Mothering Sunday”
June 13, 2007 by andy · Leave a Comment
I propose that we stand up for Father’s Day.
Yes, it has become a commercial occasion, but so have the two major Christian festivals, and yet the meaning behind them still exists, and can be found for those who wish to pursue it.
Yes, it’s a 20th century invention, as compared with Mother’s Day, or Mothering Sunday, which date back much further.
That shouldn’t make it less relevant.
In a society where the role of the father is being diminished, we should have a day that honours the role of a good father.
Children need good male role models, even if they are not their biological fathers. How about celebrating this on Father’s Day?
It’s just a day - as is Mothering Sunday, or a wedding anniversary - but it’s good to pause, reflect, respect, honour and love our fathers and our good male role models.
Don’t dismiss this coming Sunday (or the date that your country marks the occasion). The world needs good fathers just as much as it needs good mothers.
Many men willing to get involved to prevent domestic violence and sexual assault
June 7, 2007 by andy · Leave a Comment
According to new research by Peter D Hart Research Associates on behalf of the Family Violence Prevention Fund, over half of men think it’s very or fairly likely that, at some point in their lives, they will know a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault, and most are willing to take action to raise awareness, help victims, and promote healthy, violence-free relationships.
“Across the board, men want more done to stop domestic violence and sexual assault,” said Verizon (who supported the research) Wireless President and CEO Lowell McAdam. “Men are ready to do their part by talking to the next generation, donating wireless phones to help victims and more. Verizon Wireless will continue its commitment to stop violence, and encourages men — and women — to take action.”
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt may retire to dedicate time to family
June 7, 2007 by andy · Leave a Comment
According to a recent press release, it seems that movie stars Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt plan to retire from the movie industry in a few years to dedicate time to raising their children.
They have four children, three of whom are adopted.
Jolie says, “I think both of us only plan to work for a few more years. Brad and I have a lot of kids. And we want to have more kids, and they demand a lot of time. You can’t balance everything.”
In an industry where it’s rare for couples to even stay together, I have to say “Good on you guys!”
I do hope you stay together and can fulfill what you want for bringing up your children.
Glasgow woman calls for memorial to lost children
June 7, 2007 by andy · Leave a Comment
A campaign has been launched to mark the graves of children who were buried in unnamed, communal plots before the 1970s.
The BBC reports:
Cath Curran, 75, from Glasgow, has urged other bereaved mothers to help build a memorial to lost children at the city’s Old Eastwood Cemetery.
Until the 1970s, it was common for bereaved parents not to see their babies or arrange their funerals.
The Stillbirth And Neonatal Death Society has backed the scheme and said memorial areas could provide comfort.
There are now five memorial gardens in Fife commemorating children who were buried in unmarked common graves.
(BBC)
Malnourished children could be saved with locally-made peanut butter food
June 7, 2007 by andy · Leave a Comment
A recent report by the United Nations aid agencies said that hundreds of thousands of badly malnourished children who don’t have access to hospital care could be saved with something as simple as locally-made peanut butter based food.
The appalling statistic is that around one million children die from malnutrition each year - that’s one child every thirty seconds.
Twenty million children under the age of 5 suffer from acute malnutrition.
The high-energy food, a paste-like composition of peanuts, milk, sugar and vegetable oil, costs as little as $3 per kg when produced locally. It requires no refrigeration or added water.
“When implemented on a large scale, and properly combined with hospital treatment for children with complications, community-based management of severe acute malnutrition could prevent the deaths of hundreds of thousands of children each year,” the U.N. aid agencies said.
