HealthyLife Articles

Category: Family Life

Prevent Choking & Suffocation

Home Safety

Do This, Not That

Choking and suffocation can occur at any age, but is more common in babies and toddlers. Choking is the 4th leading cause of unintentional death in children under the age of 5. At least 1 child dies from choking on food every 5 days in the U.S. Common foods and other items children choke on include:

* Bubble gum and other types of gum

* Peanuts, other nuts, and popcorn

* Peanut butter (especially from a spoon or with soft white bread)

* Whole grapes and foods with pits, such as cherries

* Hot dogs (whole or cut into round pieces)

* Hard candy and cough drops

* Balloons, button-type batteries, small toy parts, marbles, coins, and safety pins.

In adults, choking usually occurs when food is not chewed properly. The risk increases with talking or laughing while eating, drinking alcohol, taking drugs, or having a condition that impairs chewing or swallowing. In young adults, choking can result from playing the “choking game.” With this, the person uses a rope or belt to cut off blood and oxygen to the brain for a brief “high.”

Learn first aid for choking for babies, children, and adults from your local Red Cross. Find a class in your area atwww.redcross.orgor call 800.733.2767 (800.RED.CROSS).

Adults

Children

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Preparing For College Move-In

FAMILY LIFE

It’s time to send your young adult off for their first semester of college. Here are some tips to be sure they’re ready for move-in day.

*Pack light.Only pack the basics you know they will use and plan to order additional items when needed.

*Bring cleaning supplies.Have them handy when you first arrive.

*Limit who helps with the move.College move-in can be chaotic, and the fewer people, the better.

*Pack seasonally.Your college student won’t need a winter coat in August. Use vacuum seal bags for items that will be needed later.

*Find the nearest drugstore, grocery store, and restaurants.Make sure your student knows how to access transportation to get there.

*Bring lots of snacks.Move-in day can be physically as well as emotionally taxing. Make sure everyone stays well hydrated and fed so you can enjoy the day together.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Pedaling Safely With Your Toddler

Child Safety

It’s easy to equip a bicycle with a child safety seat so your toddler can ride with you. To ensure the safety of your child:

* Be sure the seat is properly installed. If you aren’t sure how to install it correctly, consider having someone at a bicycle repair shop do it.

* A plastic cover should shield the back wheel, so the child’s clothing doesn’t get caught in the spokes.

* The back of the seat should be high enough to support and protect the child’s back and neck, and it should be marked with reflective tape if you ride after dark.

* A passenger restraint (safety belt) should fasten over the child’s shoulder.

* The seat should have a footrest, and the child’s legs should not hang free.

Test the bicycle seat by riding without the youngster to be sure it’s securely fastened. When you take your child riding, be sure he or she is wearing a helmet.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Home Security

Home Safety

Do This, Not That

According to the FBI:

* 13% of homes are burglarized a year.

* A home is invaded every 12 seconds.

* Most home burglaries occur between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

* 85% of all break-ins occur through the door.

* 67% of all burglaries involved forcible entry. Door frame failure is usually the cause.

Most home burglaries are the work of amateurs who are looking for a quick way in and out. Follow tips in this section to keep your home as secure as possible. Also, keep others from finding out when you will be on vacation. For example, do not post your whereabouts on social networks. It is best to not leave a spare key under the doormat, in a fake rock, or in a flower pot next to the door. Instead, give a spare key to a trusted neighbor or nearby friend.

General Guidelines

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Prevent Drowning

Home Safety

Do This, Not That

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

* Drowning ranks 5th among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States.

* About 10 people die from unintentional drowning every day. Of these, 2 are children aged 14 or younger.

* An additional 347 people die each year from drowning in boating-related incidents.

* Drownings are the leading cause of death for young children ages 1 to 4. Most of these drownings occur in home swimming pools.

* Among adolescents and adults, alcohol use is involved in up to 70% of deaths associated with water recreation, almost a quarter of Emergency Department visits for drowning, and about 1 in 5 reported boating deaths. Alcohol influences balance, coordination, and judgment. Its effects are heightened by sun exposure and heat.

General Guidelines

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Build A Strong Family Foundation

FAMILY LIFE

Happy families have a strong foundation. This helps parents and children deal with changes and hard times. Every family faces challenges and stress. Here’s how to protect your family from whatever life throws at you.

Show love through attention

Connect with your kids or spouse each day. Take time to ask about their day or do an activity together. Have family meals when you can, play games or take walks together. Avoid being on screens too much, when no one is talking or noticing one another.

Be open to learning

Having a strong family takes knowledge and care. No one knows everything about families and relationships. Parents can take classes about child development. See a marriage counselor if your marriage is having trouble. You can also look into support groups. Ask your family’s doctor if you need help dealing with specific challenges.

Care for yourself

If you get burned out, you can’t help others in your family. Take quiet time to listen to music, take a bath or do whatever relaxes and calms you. Get regular exercise, such as walking, and include family members if you can. Talk to a trusted friend when you’re stressed or overwhelmed.

Build your community

Connect with others who understand and support you. Join a sports team, a group or a religious organization that supports family life. Community can make life fun and help you learn from others, too.

Be open about problems

If you’re stressed and need some time alone, tell your spouse or your kids. Explain that you need some time to calm down, rather than blowing up or feeling resentment toward them.

Don’t overschedule

Try to keep your activities and family calendar reasonable. When everyone is too busy, there’s not much time to connect.

Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Prevent Child Abuse With Strong Families

FAMILY LIFE

Child abuse affects hundreds of thousands of children each year. Even if you don’t know someone affected by child abuse, you can help prevent it. It starts with knowing its causes and risk factors.

Why does abuse happen?

If a parent or caregiver has these risk factors, child abuse is more likely to happen:

* Low self-esteem

* Poor impulse or temper control

* Untreated mental health conditions like depression or anxiety

* Substance abuse

* Lack of education or knowledge about child development

* Unemployment or poverty

In addition, if a child has special needs or a challenging temperament, they are more likely to be abused. Babies and young children, because they require constant care, are also more likely to be abused than older children. Teens are at a higher risk of sexual abuse than younger children.

Protective factors

Protective factors are things that lower the risk of child abuse or neglect. Protective factors include:

* Having resources for things everyone needs, like food, transportation and housing

* Access to safe schools and health care

* Parents who have ways to cope with stress

* A strong family support system of family and friends

* Children who have self-esteem, confidence and independence

* Parents and children who communicate well with each other

What to do if you suspect abuse

If you suspect that someone is abusing or neglecting a child, there are resources to help.

*State child abuse and neglect agencies:Contact your local child protective services office or law enforcement agency.

*Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline:1.800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453). Professional crisis counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in over 170 languages. All calls are confidential. The hotline offers crisis intervention, information and referrals to thousands of emergency, social service and support resources.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Child Welfare Information Gateway

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Take The Hazard Out Of Halloween

Child Safety

Dressing up to go trick-or-treating is a traditional childhood ritual. But wandering the streets in the dark dressed in bizarre costumes and knocking on strangers’ doors to ask for food can pose hazards. To be sure your children have a Halloween that’s fun and safe, take these precautions.

* Choose white or bright costumes, preferably of flame-retardant fabric and marked with reflective tape.

* Be sure a costume is short enough so that your child won’t trip.

* Don’t let your trick-or-treaters wear masks, which can interfere with their vision. Instead, apply makeup to their faces.

* Trick-or-treaters should carry flashlights, not candles. Small children should be accompanied by an adult.

* Avoid trick-or-treating at homes on dark streets or in unfamiliar neighborhoods.

* Check all treats before your children eat them. Don’t let children eat candy or other treats that aren’t commercially wrapped or look as though they’ve been tampered with.

* Keep carved, candlelit pumpkins out of reach of young children. And be sure to set your jack-o’- lantern on a nonflammable surface.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Earth-Friendly Ways For Holiday Fun & Safety

Home Safety

* Save gas by doing close-to-home outdoor recreation activities, such as skating and making snowmen with your children.

* Choose non-toxic toys for children, such as ones made from solid and recycled wood (not pressed wood) and non-toxic paints and finishes. Avoid toys made of PVC plastic; xylene, toluene, or dibutyl phthalate.

* Get the lead out! Contact the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) atcpsc.govabout recalled toys and other household products that contain lead. Find out how to dispose of them.

* Send electronic greeting cards and letters or ones made of recycled paper.

* Wrap gifts in recycled paper, the funny papers, a pillow case, etc. Give gift certificates, movie and concert tickets, etc. that do not need to be wrapped.

* Instead of using a cut live tree, buy and decorate a large potted house plant. Or use a potted small tree which can be planted outdoors. If you use a live tree, recycle it. Find out how from your local waste department.

* If you decorate with lights, turn them off when you can, to save energy and to make the lights last longer.

* Use glasses, dishes, and silverware instead of disposable products.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Prevent Falls

Home Safety

Do This, Not That

* Falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries for children ages 0 to 19. Every day, about 8,000 children are treated in U.S. emergency rooms for fall-related injuries.

* Almost 86,000 fall injuries each year are linked with dogs and cats. This includes falling or tripping over the animal or its toys and/or being pulled down or pushed by a dog.

* One out of 3 people age 65 and older takes a bad fall every year. And in this age group, falls are the leading cause of death by injury.

Older Adults

People with Special Needs

General Guidelines

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026