Should You Be CPR Certified?

CPR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is an emergency procedure used to preserve brain function when someone exhibits abnormal or unresponsive breathing. CPR instructors advise everyone, especially those caring for children, to become certified. When children stop breathing, the risk of brain damage is heightened and chances of survival are lowered. Parents and caregivers can choose a convenient location close to their home and become certified in a day. For those who have already gone through the CPR training class, certification renewal can be done through an online class.

            Certification is important for many reasons, the most primary being that it can save a life. When a CPR necessitated event occurs, people tend to get nervous and panic. If someone is CPR certified, she is prepared to react quickly and calmly. Attempting CPR when not certified can result in injury. Many common mistakes include chest bruising, inadequate breathing, and incorrect timing between breaths and chest pumping. If there is an emergency, call 911, then administer CPR. For those unfamiliar with CPR, finding someone who can perform the procedure or relay the process step by step is the best choice.

            According to CPR training administrators, effective CPR can triple the survival rate of someone in danger. The human body is only made to survive four to six minutes after the heart stops beating. That usually does not give emergency responders time to reach the injured party, which is why effective CPR training is important. For small children whose body organs are not as developed as those of an adult, the response time needs to be expedited. Doctors should advise parents to get certified, followed by parents suggesting caregivers to do the same. A few hours of training could be worth a life.

           

Summer Won’t Limit Learning

Summer vacation provides a much needed break from the structured routine of the classroom for kids. However, parents and caregivers should feel reassured that three months of non-academic stimulation won’t derail the learning process. Here are a few summer activities that will keep previous lessons fresh, while prompting kids to learn new material:

1. Find a good book. If kids are of reading age, take a trip to the local book store and let them choose a book. Kids will be more inspired to read if the material interests them. After they’re finished, allow them to explain the plot, their likes and dislikes, and whether or not they would recommend the book.

2. Have a math drill. While preparing dinner, shout out some addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division problems. Make math a game. See how many questions the kids get right within 60 seconds.

3. Turn the backyard into a science lab. Planting a garden will help kids understand the process of floral growth and reproduction. As flowers and plants begin to bloom, the kids have the opportunity to learn the individual parts of the plant and their functions.

4. Communicate with teachers. Ask kid’s teachers if there are any worksheets or activities they recommend as a summer refresher or prep for the upcoming school year. Teachers may also suggest a summer enrichment program.

5. Visit a museum or aquarium. These outings allow kids to learn about history, science, and aquatic life while having fun. Museums and aquariums sometimes offer student discounts, group discounts, or free days. Check your local museum or aquarium for details.

If kids maintain some form of structure throughout the summer, the transition back into a daily routine may be less stressful when classes resume. Summer can be educational and fun at the same time!

Keeping Summer Fun!

Summer will arrive shortly and, while the warm months are full of smiles, bicycle rides, and swimming pools, the outdoor scenery can pose health risks to adults and children. Before heading out for summer activities, be sure to take the necessary precautions for happy, healthy fun:

1.      Beware of insect-borne illnesses. Dangerous mosquitos are commonly known to carry West Nile virus   and ticks can carry Lyme disease. Be sure to spray pets with flee/tick repellent. Insects are also attracted to sweet smelling lotions or perfumes so keep it simple.

2.      Sun exposure is of great concern. Sunscreen, containing at least 15 SPF, should be applied before outdoor activity and reapplied according to the label instructions. Along with skin protection, UV-filtered lenses should be used to protect eyes from sun exposure.

3.      Allergens peak with warm weather. Pollen counts are elevated and smoggy air can trigger allergic or asthmatic symptoms. Checking the air quality before beginning the day is a smart routine.

4.      Picnics are great ways to enjoy the outdoors. Be cautious when packing foods for the outing. Place an ice pack in the picnic basket and foods in individually sealed containers to keep fresh.

5.      Lastly, the most serious summer danger is drowning. Beaches and pools are common summer activities. Children left unattended can be disastrous. Be sure to stay close and keep an eye on children at all times when around water.

These are just a few tips for a great summer. The best way to ensure that kids have the best summer stories to share with friends when they return to school is to make the summer a happy and healthy one!

Cool Meals for the Warm Weather!

When school lets out, routine will fade away into the lazy days of summer. Packing lunches full of fruits, whole grains, and calcium give way to “quick bites” from the ice cream truck, pizza shop, or sandwich shop. The idea of a warm meal falls away and kids look towards popsicles, chips, and cookies. Summer months should give children an opportunity to relax and enjoy a little time outside of the rigidity of “classroom” rules though not run the risk of developing unhealthy eating habits.

          Fresh fruits go hand in hand with summer. Encourage healthy eating by taking children on a day trip to a local “pick-your-own” farm. Kids will have a chance to try delicious fruits and exercise as they walk throughout the farm. Once the fruit is home, nannies and parents have the opportunity to try new recipes that encourage healthy eating. Making fruit salads, pure fruit juice, non-fat yogurt smoothies, and fresh fruit skewers, all picked from the farm, are great ways to make meals and snacks exciting and fun.

          Another idea is to encourage kids to plant their own garden. They can decide what to grow, learn about caring for seeds, and ultimately picking their own fruits and vegetables. These “personal” farms don’t have to be planted in a large field. Local department and hardware stores sell seeds, the right dirt, and small pots to keep outside in a small area. Giving young children the “farm to table” experience is a fun way to promote healthy eating.

          As meal time approaches, transition away from the stove and venture outside to the grill. Grilled chicken, fish, and vegetables are healthy choices for daily dining. There are a variety of fruits & vegetables that can be grilled. Do a “taste test.” Which do you like better, a grilled banana (use bananas that are not over ripe!) or “raw” banana, a grilled pineapple or a raw pineapple? Be mindful of young children near hot grills. Grilling outdoors leads to eating outdoors. Kids love the opportunity to eat outside; they may not realize they’re still on the same healthy eating plan.

Surprising Seasonal Allergy Triggers

With spring rapidly approaching, allergic reactions have spiked as compared to the winter months. Allergy symptoms consist of sneezing, runny nose, watery or itching eyes, skin rashes, and common cold-like symptoms. To control these symptoms, many doctors prescribe seasonal medications or even yearly medical regiments to control allergy attacks. According to Prevention.com, the most effective way to decrease allergic reactions is to understand their triggers.

     Surprisingly, summer fruits are first on the list of agitators. Grass or ragweed allergy sufferers are advised to take precaution when eating apples, peaches, pears, and melons when these fruits are in season. Baseball parks, America’s pastime, overflow with an influx of families during the spring and summer months. Ironically, the dust and dirt from the field may contain high levels of spores, causing allergy symptoms to surface. Be aware and take precautions such as carrying allergy medications in case of an attack. After the baseball game, be careful of jumping directly into the pool to cool off. Diving into water instead of easing the body in can trigger asthma or allergy symptoms because of the sudden temperature drop. As the evening approaches, be sure to remain downwind during those late night camping adventures or bonfires. Smoke inhalation weakens the body’s immune system causing allergy symptoms to worsen.

     Lastly, on those beautiful summer days, think about the way heat traps pollen and diesel bringing allergens closer to the ground. It’s a good practice to always check the weather report for air quality. If quality is low, take precautions. 6 Surprising Seasonal Allergy Triggers

The Influence of Social Media On Youth

Living in the age of social media, status updates, and automatic news feeds means the information highway has become influential, regardless of age demographics. The American Academy of Pediatrics released data correlating to youth and social media stating: 22% of teens log onto these sites more than 10 times per day, 75% have access via mobile device, and the prolific use of social media has increased the risk of cyber bullying and depression among teens.

      Social media, while potentially dangerous to the naive, has positively increased communication, provided abundant access to information, and has allowed younger users to easily use their own creativity to construct their online profiles. In 2005, Facebook originated as a university based site and allowed access only to users with an “.edu” address. Today, Facebook is internationally accessible to users over the age of 13. The American Academy of Pediatrics developed 13 tips for parents regarding online danger prevention and educating young social media consumers:

1. No underage activity. No child under 13 should have access to social media sites
2. Parents should check computer privacy settings, limiting access once a child is old enough to navigate on their own.
3. Use filter software to monitor which sites children visit.
4. Set ground rules before a social media profile is created
5. Know your child’s interests. Their likes will become their top searches.
6. Keep the computer in a central location to monitor usage and content.
7. Monitor pictures. Once a picture is posted, the image can never be destroyed.
8. Parents should set a good example, displaying appropriate profiles of their own.  Limiting cell phone use will help to limit access to social networks
9. Teach children about online reputations. 
10.  Parents need to understand technology & their children’s level of knowledge.
11.  Discuss online dangers, predators, and scams.
12. Urge children to stay away from giveaways, contests and questionnaires that request personal information.

Technology use is a societal norm. In less than a decade, the age of social media users has decreased by five years of age. While children are developing socially, emotionally, and mentally, technology serves as a central place for information communication. If boundaries are not set and online activity is not monitored closely by parents, the fallout of posting inappropriate comments or pictures by naïve children may come back to haunt them in unexpected ways.

How to Talk to Your Kids about Tragedy

The aftermath of Sandy Hook, the Colorado movie theater massacre, and Hurricane Sandy devastation has left parents nationwide hugging their children a little tighter and keeping a closer eye on their daily activities. When tragedies occur, how do parents explain abstruse situations to innocent children? Begin by finding out what they already know. Never assume they know all details. Launching into unnecessary detail may cause information to be shared. Children are only as innocent as what they know. Once their perception is established, ask an open-ended follow up question. Your questions allow the transfer of sadness, inquiries, fears, and angers.

         With children, the more lucid the explanation, the easier it is for everyone. Analogies are a great form of communication for young children. Relate the occurring tragedy to situations they encounter every day. Children should be informed about their surroundings, never fear them. Acknowledge which emotion they are harboring and reassure them that they are secure with you. Children need to know that they have safe places where no harm can come their way. While most people assumed that schools were that safe place, recent tragedies have proved that parents must provide children with emergency thinking skills. In case of emergency, they need to know who to contact, where to go, and that someone is there to protect them.   

         Watching the news with your child gives allowance for age appropriate dialog. The older they become, the more detailed the conversation will be. In today’s world, the most important thing a parent can do is hold their child one second longer and tell them they love them one extra time per day.