Hot Weather and Vehicles Are Deadly for Kids
By Dawn Deeks
Safe Kids/PIO
July 3, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A few minutes might not seem like a long time, but there are circumstances when it can mean the difference between life and death. As temperatures begin to heat up, children are at a serious risk for heat stroke when left alone even for a few minutes in a closed vehicle.Last year, at least 42 children across the United States died from heat stroke caused by being left or trapped in a vehicle.
“Drivers need to understand that a vehicle is not a babysitter-but it can quickly become an oven,” said Lorrie Walker, the technical expert for Safe Kids Buckle Up, Safe Kids USA’s child passenger safety program. “A child under 10 should never be left alone in or around a vehicle-even for a minute. When it comes to the safety of a child, there’s just too much to lose.”
Heat is much more dangerous to children than it is to adults. When left in a hot vehicle, a young child’s core body temperature may increase three to five times faster than that of an adult. This could cause permanent injury or even death. Heat stroke occurs when the core body temperature reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit. A core body temperature of 107 degrees Fahrenheit is considered lethal.
“The temperature inside of a vehicle can rise 19 degrees above the outside temperature in just 10 minutes,” said Walker. “After an hour, the temperature inside and outside of a vehicle can differ by 45 degrees or more – even if the window is left open a crack.”
Safe Kids USA and program partner General Motors created the Never Leave Your Child Alone program in 2001 to educate families on the dangers kids face in hot vehicles.
According to research conducted by San Francisco State University, even with relatively cool temperatures outside-70 degrees-the inside of a car can reach a dangerous temperature in just minutes.
The research also revealed that more than half of these children were accidentally left behind in a closed, parked car by parents or caregivers while nearly a third of these children were trapped while playing in a vehicle unattended. Sadly, one in five children who died were intentionally left in the vehicle by an adult.
Safe Kids suggests these tips for parents and caregivers:
- Teach children not to play in, on or around vehicles.
- Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, even with the window slightly open.
- Always lock a vehicle’s doors and trunk – especially at home. Keep keys and remote entry devices out of children’s reach.
- Place something that you’ll need at your next stop – such as a purse, a lunch, gym bag or briefcase – on the floor of the backseat where the child is sitting. This simple act could help prevent you from accidentally forgetting a child.
Never Leave Your Child Alone is a component of Safe Kids Buckle Up, the multidimensional program created by Safe Kids USA and General Motors to teach families how to keep children safer in and around vehicles. Nationwide, more than 19 million people have been exposed to the program through educational activities, car seat checkup events and community outreach programs. In June 2008 the program celebrated the milestone of one million child safety seats checked for proper installation.
Source: Safekids
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When Discipline for Your Child
July 3, 2009 by Dan
Filed under One Person's View
Michael K. Davis, MD
July 3, 2009
Frustrated parents may ask pediatricians for guidance regarding effective means of discipline. Pediatricians are often uncomfortable addressing this complex issue due to several reasons but perhaps the main reason is a lack of time to adequately assess the issue.
The term “discipline” comes from the Latin word “disciplinare,” meaning “to teach.” However, the term is most often associated with the concept of punishment. A good discipline strategy involves behavior modeling, attitudes, rewards and punishments.
Why do children misbehave?
Perhaps the main reason is a lack of adequate discipline. Kids who are tired, bored or hungry are more likely to misbehave. Kids also misbehave to gain the parents attention, and even if the parent scolds the child, an attention-deprived child may find this parent interaction worth the punishment. Temperment plays a role in all child behavior. A small proportion of children may have a behavior disorder such as ADHD. Ask your doctor about this.
Discipline strategies should be based on the child’s age. Detailed explanations may help older children understand their punishment but are useless if the child doesn’t have the capacity to understand the explanation. Try explaining to a 3 year old why they can’t have a cookie for breakfast! Children less than 18 months of age are typically unable to understand any type of punishment and an overwhelming desire to explore their environment makes punishment ineffective. Two-parent families should formulate a united front. Opposing discipline strategies between parents only offers a child a means to exploit the differences. “Dad can I have a cookie?” “No.” “Mom, can I have a cookie?” Sound familiar?
Discipline should be clear, concise and immediate so a child learns to appreciate the cause and effect relationship. Punishment should be a logical consequence. For example, if a child does not eat dinner, then he doesn’t get dessert.
Positive reinforcement – Perhaps even more important than punishment, is for parents to recognize and reward good behavior. If a child cleans her room, then she gets to spend more time with Mom or Dad. Unfortunately it is the poorly-behaved child that often gets the most attention. A simple “Good job, son!” or “What an awesome job cleaning your room!” is golden to a young child. Some parents have had success using a chart on the refrigerator in which the child is awarded gold stars for good behavior. A certain number of stars awarded for good behavior is rewarded.
Punishment is a necessary part of discipline but it must be used together with positive reinforcement. Time-outs are a popular strategy that can be very effective when used appropriately. Send the child to the corner of the room or next to a tree for 1 minute for every year of age. So, a four-year-old gets a 4 minute time out. The time-out spot should be safe, but boring. No interaction is allowed during a child’s time-out. Once time out is over, “time-in” should involve positive interaction between parent and child. Time-outs are not super effective short term, but can be very effective over time when used correctly. Time outs probably work best for kids between 18 months and 6 years of age.
Verbal scolding should only be used sparingly. If used too much, it can cause unnecessary anxiety or excitement in the child. A parent should model good behavior and a tirade of insults will only be copied by the child at a later time.
According to one survey of the National Family Violence Survey more than 90% of families use some form of spanking to modify child behavior. Attention-getting, open-handed, non-injury-causing pops on the buttocks, hand or leg are generally not considered abuse in the United States. However, while the immediate shock value may change a child’s behavior, spanking is not the most effective means of discipline. No child should ever be struck with an object, hit hard enough to leave a mark, or shaken.
It is important to understand the developmental milestones of children when deciding when and how to apply discipline. A child less than 2 years old should not be punished for potty-training accidents because they may not have the physical ability to control bladder and bowel function.
Source: Banks JB. Childhood discipline: challenges for clinicians and parents. Am Fam Physician. 2002 Oct 15;66(8):1447-52.
Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com
What does 4th of July Mean?
July 2, 2009 by Dan
Filed under Encouragement
By AT&T
July 4, 2009
Patriotic celebrations with stars and stripes, stunning fireworks shows, and parades will be underway this weekend. Let’s take a moment to remember the importance of this monumental holiday.
Independence Day (also known as the “4th of July”) is a federal holiday celebrating the United States’ independence from Great Britain over 230 years ago. On July 4, 1776, the Thirteen Colonies were declared sovereign states as justified in the Declaration of Independence (formally known as “The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America”).
Today, common Independence Day festivities include parades, barbeques, picnics, libations, and fireworks. Some of these celebratory and patriotic activities, such as fireworks, have been around for nearly as long as the Declaration of Independence, but they all signify the acknowledgement of the birth of the United States of America as we know it today. Decked with red, white, and blue decorations and marked by patriotic compositions, families, businesses, schools, and municipalities celebrate this important historical event with gusto.
But how much do you really know about the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution? Try this short quiz to test your knowledge.
Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com
Liberty’s Crown Reopen for Visitors
By Laura Leigh Davidson
July 4, 2009
There will be more than fireworks and festivals to celebrate Independence Day this year. On July 4, the crown of the Statue of Liberty will once again be open to visitors.
The entire statue was closed to the public after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. On that day, terrorists flew planes into major buildings in New York City, Washington, D.C., and into a field near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After the attacks, U.S. officials tightened security at many major landmarks, buildings, and transportation systems.
In 2004, officials decided it was safe to reopen the Statue of Liberty’s base and lower observation deck to visitors.
But the Department of the Interior, which oversees U.S. national parks and landmarks, decided to keep statue’s crown closed. Officials said they were mainly concerned about the safety of the narrow 168-step spiral staircase that leads to the top of the statue.
Thanks to a number of recent security improvements, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar says the crown can be reopened. Ten people will be allowed in the crown at a time. Park rangers will bring visitors up the spiral staircase to the top of the statue.
“On July 4th, we are giving America a special gift,” Salazar said in May. “We are once again inviting the public to celebrate our great nation and the hope and opportunity it symbolizes by climbing to [the statue’s] crown for a unique view of New York Harbor, where millions of American families first saw the new world.”
People are accepting the gift with enthusiasm. The first batch of tickets to visit the crown sold out within a day.
Story of the Statue
The Statue of Liberty’s real name is Liberty Enlightening the World. The people of France gave the statue to the people of the U.S. as a symbol of American independence. She is also a symbol of friendship between the two countries. The 150-foot tall statue was unveiled in New York Harbor on October 26, 1886.
Often called “Lady Liberty,” the statue stands for freedom and independence. The tablet in her left hand has the date July 4, 1776, engraved on it. That’s the date the U.S. Declaration of Independence was signed. The right hand holds the Torch (or Light) of Freedom. The broken chain near the statue’s feet symbolizes the victory of liberty over a cruel and oppressive government.
The Statue has represented freedom and hope to millions of immigrants who came and are still coming to the U.S. to find a better life. Particularly in the late 1800s and early 1900s, most immigrants first arrived in America by way of New York Harbor. As newcomers approached their new home aboard boats, the Statue of Liberty was there to greet them.
Source: Scholastic News Online
Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com