HealthyLife Articles

Category: Family Life

  • Forget The ‘Perfect’ Family

    FAMILY LIFE

    Dad playing with his 3 young kids.

    Real world families

    Though television shows may portray happy families, every family has disagreements and conflicts. Spouses and partners must work hard to maintain a healthy relationship. This can be difficult, even for happy couples. Disagreements between parents and children are also bound to happen.

    Expect problems, obstacles and arguments. The solution is not to avoid these things. Rather, it’s to learn how to work through them. If you have ongoing problems with your spouse or kids, talk to your doctor. They may recommend seeing a counselor or family therapist. Remember, there’s nothing wrong with asking for help.

    Controlling your kids

    Many parents believe that what their kids do is a direct result of their parenting. This can put a heavy burden on parents. Remember that children are individuals and may do things that you’ve taught them not to do. This doesn’t mean you’ve failed as a parent.

    Your job is to show each child that they are loved and accepted. Help them learn ways they can succeed, teach them respect for others and help them see their place in the world. This is a huge task, and there’s no “right way” that works for every child. Although you can influence and shape your children, ultimately you cannot control them.

    Source: American Academy of Pediatrics

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • The Teen Driver ‘Danger Zones’

    FAMILY LIFE

    Teen sitting in driver seat of car.

    Every day, six teens are killed in car crashes. But many of these injuries and deaths can be prevented. Know the eight “danger zones” of teen driving to help keep them safe.

    1.Inexperience.Make sure your teen gets at least 30 to 50 hours of driving practice with an adult. Practice at different times and in different places.

    2.Teen passengers.Limit your teen’s passengers for at least the first six months. Keep the number of passengers at zero or one.

    3.Nighttime driving.Limit their nighttime driving for at least the first six months.

    4.Not using seat belts.Tell them everyone buckles up. Always.

    5.Distracted driving.Don’t play with the radio or eating while driving. And absolutely NO cell phones.

    6.Drowsy driving.Don’t let them drive when they might be tired. Make sure they get enough sleep.

    7.Reckless driving.Teach them to leave space between cars and obey speed limits and traffic laws.

    8.Impaired driving.Stress that alcohol and driving don’t mix. Even one drink is too many.

    What is distracted driving?

    Anything that takes your attention away from driving is a distraction. This includes:

    *  Looking at a map or directions

    *  Eating

    *  Talking on the phone

    *  Sending a text message or looking at email

    When you send or read a text message, you take your eyes off the road for about 5 seconds. This is long enough to go the length of a football field at 55 mph.

    Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • 10 Action Steps To Keep Foods Safe To Eat

    Home Safety

    Cooked meat, chicken, on grill pan.

    1.  Separate raw, cooked, and ready-to-eat foods when you shop for, prepare, or store foods.

    2.  Wash your hands before you handle foods, Use clean utensils and clean surfaces when you prepare foods.

    3.  Rinse raw produce, such as fruits and vegetables, thoroughly under running tap water before eating, cutting, or cooking. Even if you will peel the produce, it should still be washed first.

    4.  Scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers with a clean produce brush.

    5.  Dry the produce with a clean cloth or paper towel.

    6.  Read and follow the instructions on package labels to store and handle foods safely.

    7.  Thaw frozen foods in the fridge or in cold water. Use the microwave if you are cooking the food right away.

    8.  Cook foods to a safe temperature. See a complete list atfoodsafety.gov/keep/charts/index.html.

    9.  Keep hot foods higher than 140ºF. Keep cold foods at 40ºF or lower. Bacteria grow rapidly in the “danger zone” between 40ºF and 140ºF.

    10. Eat cooked foods or refrigerate them within two hours. If the temperature is 90ºF or higher, eat or refrigerate them within one hour – or toss them out.

    A Year of Health Hints book by the American Institute for Preventive Medicine. www.HealthyLife.com. All rights reserved.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Home Safety 2

    Home Safety

    Mother sitting in an office chair, talking on the phone, with 2 young kids

    Keeping your home safe takes planning. Get checklists of what to do for all areas of your home.

    The number one cause of unintended deaths in the home is poisoning. This is from drugs, solids and liquid substances, gases and vapors, etc. The 2nd leading cause of unintended deaths in the home or a group residence is from falls.

    To help prevent falls, use safety rails and mats and nonskid rugs. Keep pathways clear of ice and clutter.

    Install smoke alarms as advised by your city’s or county’s code. Check smoke alarms once a month to see that they still work.

    Keep all poisons out of children’s reach. Put child-resistant latches on cabinet doors. Follow use and storage instructions on product labels. Install carbon monoxide detectors, too.

    A Year of Health Hints book by the American Institute for Preventive Medicine. www.HealthyLife.com. All rights reserved.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Use Ladders Safely

    Home Safety

    Image of a ladder.

    Follow safety tips to keep you from an injury sustained on a ladder.

    *  Make sure your ladder is long enough for you to reach the job without standing on the top three steps or overextending your body.

    *  Check the ladder for cracks or weak spots before you use it. Metal ladders should have nonskid steps and footings. (Don’t paint a ladder; you’ll hide defects.)

    *  Make sure the soles of your shoes or boots are dry and have enough tread to prevent slipping.

    *  Always steady a ladder on firm ground or a flat board.

    *  Never place a ladder in front of a door that someone may open.

    *  Wear tools on a belt or keep them in your pocket so you can keep your hands free when climbing up or down a ladder.

    *  To avoid losing your balance while standing on a ladder, don’t lean too far back or to the side.

    *  Don’t use a ladder outdoors on a very windy day.

    *  To avoid electrocution, don’t use metal ladders near power lines.

    A Year of Health Hints book by the American Institute for Preventive Medicine. www.HealthyLife.com. All rights reserved.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Childproofing

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of mother with toddler.

    Chase a toddler around for a day. Now that’s exercise. Any new parent quickly learns that a toddler is into everything. It only takes a quick second for that child to get out of your sight and around something potentially dangerous.

    The nation’s emergency physicians treat children every day who are injured by something in their own home or someone else’s home. Now is the time to childproof it, advises the American College of Emergency Physicians.

    What you can do in your home right now to protect young children

    *  Use safety latches for drawers and cabinets in kitchens, bathrooms, and other rooms that may contain dangerous products like cleaning supplies, knives and sharp objects, and medicines.

    *  Use safety gates to help prevent falls down stairs and to help prevent children from going in areas that may have potential dangers. Make sure these gates meet current safety standards. (Gates that only press against walls, called pressure-mounted gates, are not secure enough.)

    *  Place protective childproof covers on all electrical outlets that are in reach of children.

    *  Make sure all electrical cords are out of a child’s reach and properly secure.

    *  Fasten all heavy bookshelves, televisions, cabinets, or anything that could pose a potential tipping hazard to a secure wall, making sure it cannot fall on a child.

    *  Use toilet seat lid-locking devices on all toilet seats to decrease drowning hazards.

    *  Use cordless window coverings to help prevent strangulation.

    *  Use corner or edge bumpers on anything with sharp edges, like furniture and fireplaces.

    *  Create a protective barrier around pools and spas that include at least a 4-foot-tall fence with self-closing and self-latching gates. It’s also a good idea to look into getting pool alarms as an additional layer of protection.

    But the best device of all? Make sure a responsible person is with children at all times.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • How To Make The Grade This School Year

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of a group of school children.

    Start talking about the upcoming school year. Listen closely for fears or concerns, advises Dr. Amie Duncan of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. “It is important that parents listen to and respond to their child’s potential anxieties about the new school year, especially if they are making a big transition such as from an elementary school to a middle school. It is perfectly normal to experience first day jitters,” she said. These feelings can be relieved with some of these suggestions.

    Preschoolers and kindergartners need to know what will happen.

    *  Visit the school together. Let them play on the playground, walk through the classroom, and meet new teachers.

    *  Go on a school shopping trip for a backpack and supplies. Assign a school prep area at home for supplies and lunchboxes.

    *  Tuck a small family picture in a backpack or lunch.

    *  Set bedtime and wake-up routines 4 weeks before school starts.

    *  Be positive and excited for the new school year.

    Elementary and middle-school children will need to adjust to new beginnings.

    *  Expect that your child may want trendy or “cool” school supplies.

    *  Take a quick trip to school before classes start to help find classrooms, lockers, the cafeteria, and the bus drop-off location.

    *  Right from the start, help your child get and stay organized. Choose places to store their backpack and a distraction-free area to complete homework.

    *  Talk to your child about high-risk behaviors, such as drinking, drug use, and sexual activity. Have this talk early and often.

    *  Encourage your child to choose to take part in at least one school club, sport, or other activity outside of school hours.

    *  Don’t hesitate to make an appointment with the school counselor right away if you have concerns about how your child is adjusting to school. Keep the lines of communication open.

    High schoolers need and thrive on positive reinforcement.

    *  Help your teen set realistic goals on how to earn the best grades and complete assignments.

    *  Stay organized. Buy a daily planner and teach your teen how to use it correctly or teach them how to organize their schedule with a tablet computer or laptop.

    *  Encourage your teen to get involved in at least one extracurricular activity or sport because it will help them meet people.

    *  Continue to support and encourage good study habits with regular homework/study times. Search for ways to offer positive support.

    *  Ask about what’s going on in your child’s life. (Use open-ended questions, rather than those that require only a “yes” or “no” response). Be an active listener without judging your child.

    *  Stay involved in your child’s school life and you will know what is going on, and how they are doing.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Prevent Kids From Choking

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of father and daughter eating oranges.

    Food-not toys-are the most common culprit of choking accidents in kids under 5. The reasons have a lot to do with a child’s anatomy.

    “Young children have underdeveloped swallowing mechanisms, immature teeth and narrow airways, which put them at a higher risk for choking on food,” said Dr. Nina Shapiro, a professor of head and neck surgery at the UCLA School of Medicine. “Plus, the diameter of a child’s airway is about the size of their pinky, so high-risk foods can easily block their tiny airways and prevent their ability to breathe.”

    The list of high-risk foods for children under age 5 years includes many kid favorites:

    *  Cheese sticks

    *  Chewing gum

    *  Chunks of meat or cheese

    *  Chunks of peanut butter

    *  Chunks of raw vegetables

    *  Dried fruit

    *  Grapes

    *  Hard or sticky candy and lollipops

    *  Hot dogs

    *  Nuts

    *  Popcorn

    *  Seeds such as pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds

    Here are some tips:

    *  Vegetables should be cooked and cut into small pieces.

    *  Hot dogs and cheese sticks should be cut lengthwise, then widthwise, and then into the shape of small moons.

    *  Grapes should be peeled and cut in half or quarters.

    *  Nut butters should be spread thinly onto crackers or bread.

    *  Young children should always be attended to by an adult when they eat and only eat developmentally appropriate foods.

    *  Children should sit up straight and not play or run while eating.

    If a child does choke and is unable to breathe, call 911 and perform the Heimlich maneuver. Even if the child seems to choke but then coughs and appears fine, the object may have become lodged, and the child should see a doctor.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • The One Question Parents Need To Ask

    FAMILY LIFE

    Image of gun and bullets.

    Before you let your child play at another person’s house, you may ask some safety questions. For instance, you’ll probably want to know if adults are there, when they will be home, and what they will be doing.

    There’s another question that may be harder to ask, but your child’s life may depend on it: “Is there an unlocked gun in your house?”

    The American Academy of Pediatrics says half of all U.S. homes contain firearms. More than a third of all accidental shootings of children happen in the homes of friends, neighbors or relatives.

    Follow these gun safety tips to help keep loved ones safe:

    *  Never keep a loaded gun in the house or in a car.

    *  Keep guns locked up and unloaded. Lock ammunition up in a separate location. Be sure your kids can’t get the keys.

    *  Put trigger locks on all guns.

    *  Know how to operate a gun before you load it.

    *  Don’t point a gun at another person.

    *  Unload the gun before setting it down.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • 3 Keys To A Virtual Family Gathering

    FAMILY LIFE

    Couple waving in front of a computer screen while have dinner.

    While there is no true replacement for being with family & friends, the option to connect virtually is sometimes the best available. To get the most out of your virtual time, consider these tips.

    Have the right technology and try it out in advance

    You need a quality device setup for video chats, such as a laptop, smartphone, or tablet. You also need a good internet connection.

    Choose an app that works for everyone

    There are so many video chat apps out there. The right one for you depends on the size of the group and the devices people are using. Shop around.

    Plan virtual activities that everyone can enjoy

    *  Pictionary

    *  Charades

    *  Scattergories

    *  Talent show

    *  Trivia

    *  Get-to-know-you-better questions

    *  Jokes or riddles

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine