HealthyLife Articles

Tag: protection

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
Eye Health At Work

Eye Conditions

Follow your workplace’s safety rules to protect your eyes. Wear safety glasses, goggles, face shields, etc. Keep your safety eyewear clean and in good condition.

More than 700,000 persons in the U.S. have eye injuries at work a year. Most of these could have been prevented.

Find out if and what type of eyewear is required for your job. Ask loved ones if they wear required safety eyewear at work.

Persons who walk through work areas that have eye hazard areas need to wear protective eyewear.

When you visit a worksite that poses a risk of eye injuries, ask for protective eyewear if it is not provided.

Glasses and contact lenses used for other activities may not be effective when working with computer screens.

Let your eye doctor know if you work at a computer so they can prescribe the proper eyewear for you to use.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Safety Tips For Your Teeth

Dental & Mouth Concerns

Your teeth are vulnerable to nicks, chips, stains, and strains. To protect your teeth from damage and injury, take these precautions.

* Don’t chew ice, pens, or pencils.

* Don’t use your teeth to open paper clips or otherwise function as tools.

* If you smoke a pipe, don’t bite down on the stem.

* If you grind your teeth at night, ask your dentist if you should be fitted for a bite plate to prevent tooth grinding.

* If you play contact sports like football or hockey, wear a protective mouth guard.

* Always wear a seat belt when riding in a car.

* Avoid sucking on lemons or chewing aspirin or vitamin C tablets. The acid wears away tooth enamel.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Tips To Protect Your Eyes

Eye Conditions

Look cool and protect your eyes at the same time!

* Anytime your eyes are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, wear eyewear that protects your eyes. Do this when it is sunny and even on cloudy days. Choose sunglasses that block 99 to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays.

* Pick the color lenses you want, but make sure they have UV protection.

* Take sunglasses you already have to your eye doctor or to an optical shop. A UV meter can measure the amount of UV a lens can absorb.

* The sun’s UV rays are the most harmful between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

* Reflected glare from snow or ice doubles the risk of UV damage.

* If you wear contact lenses, choose ones with UV protection and wear sunglasses that have it, too. These protect eye tissue that the contact lenses do not cover.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Uv Safety

Skin Conditions

Exposure to the sun’s UV rays causes most skin cancers. Even a few serious sunburns can raise the risk.

Limit exposure to the sun. When in the sun, wear sun screen and lip balm with a sun protective factor (SPF) of 30 or higher.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation comes in three forms: UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVA and UVB rays cause skin and eye damage. UVC rays don’t reach the earth.

UV rays also reflect off of surfaces like water, sand, and snow.

Use sun screens that protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Choose eyewear that absorbs 99-100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Wrap-around sunglasses work best because they block UV rays from sneaking in from the side.

High doses of UVA radiation comes from tanning beds.

For the look of a tan, use sunless tanning lotions, sprays, and bronzers, instead of sun bathing, tanning beds, and sun lamps.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Decoding Sunscreen Labels

MEDICAL NEWS

You may already know you should wear sunscreen to decrease your risk of skin cancer and sun damage. In fact, the Skin Cancer Foundation says that wearing sunscreen regularly can decrease your chance of getting melanoma (the deadliest skin cancer) by 50 percent. Wearing sunscreen regularly will also help you avoid signs of aging like wrinkles and dark spots.

But the sunscreen aisle at the store leaves many people feeling overwhelmed. There are so many choices, different labels, numbers and ingredients. How do you choose one?

The best sunscreen is one you like, because you should use it every day, says the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Here’s how to narrow it down and choose the sunscreen that’s right for you:

BROAD SPECTRUM

Always look for the words “broad spectrum.” This means it protects against both kinds of UV rays, and it’s important for proper protection.

SPF

Choose an SPF of at least 30.

SPF NUMBERS

Don’t let high numbers fool you. The Skin Cancer Foundation says higher SPF sunscreens do protect more, but not by much. No matter what the SPF number says, you still need to reapply at least every two hours, and always after toweling off, sweating or swimming.

WATER RESISTANT

If you’re going to be sweating or swimming, choose one that says “water resistant.” There is no such thing as “waterproof” sunscreen. The bottle will say how long the sunscreen will remain water resistant. It may say “40 minutes” or “80 minutes.” That’s how often you need to reapply it when you’ve been in the water.

LIPS

Choose a sunscreen for your lips too. A lip balm with broad spectrum SPF 30 is also important. Skin cancer can – and does – affect the lips.

GELS vs CREAMS

Sunscreen gels are great for oily skin, while creams work well for dry skin.

SENSITIVE SKIN

If you have sensitive skin, consider a physical-only sunscreen. This means the active ingredients on the bottle will only include titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, or both. While chemical sunscreens work well, they can irritate some sensitive-skin types.

PRICE TAG

Expensive doesn’t always mean better. A higher price tag may be due to the brand name or certain extra ingredients that make it feel nicer or smell good. It doesn’t mean it will protect you more than a cheaper bottle.

NO COMBINATION

Don’t choose a combination sunscreen and insect repellant. The AAD says sunscreen should be reapplied liberally every two hours. But insect repellant should only be applied lightly every several hours as needed.

BABIES

Most sunscreens are only approved for babies over 6 months of age. Look for a physical-only sunscreen or one formulated for babies. Babies younger than 6 months should be kept in the shade and covered with lightweight protective clothing and hats, says the American Academy of Pediatrics.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
How To Recognize And Report Abuse

FAMILY LIFE

Child and elder abuse is a serious problem that affects people from all walks of life. One of the most important ways to protect victims from abuse is by making sure they get the help they need and by reporting cases to the authorities. Here’s how to recognize the different types of abuse and what to do in case you know someone who is a victim. This advice is from the General Services Administration of the U.S. government (www.USA.gov).

Child Abuse

Children who are victims of physical or emotional abuse often display mental and social development problems. In most cases, the abuse comes from their own parents or caretakers. Here are some of the signs of abuse:

*Physical abuse:A child who suffers from physical abuse might have bruises, burn marks, broken bones and scars. They are often fearful of adults or certain people.

*Sexual abuse:Victims of sexual abuse are forced to have sexual relations or engage in inappropriate physical contact with adults. Signs include feeling uncomfortable when changing clothes.

*Emotional abuse:Children who experience emotional abuse are often victims of private or public humiliation and neglect. A child might show sudden changes in behavior and act violently.

*Neglect:Children who are physically neglected show signs of lack of personal hygiene and bad health due to malnutrition, among other things.

If you know or suspect that a child is a victim of abuse and is in immediate danger, call 911. To report a case of child abuse, call the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.

Elder Abuse

Elder abuse can occur in the victim’s home or at places such as assisted living facilities. People who abuse the elderly are usually people who know or take care of the victims. There are several types of abuse and all of them can have a profound negative impact on a person’s physical and mental health.

*Physical abuse:As with child abuse, elders who suffer from physical abuse also might show bruises or other signs of injury on their bodies.

*Sexual abuse:Elders who suffer from sexual abuse might become withdrawn.

*Emotional abuse:This occurs when the victim is humiliated and treated with disrespect. The victim might feel useless or inferior and might suffer from depression.

*Neglect:Elders show signs of physical neglect when caretakers fail to help them with their personal hygiene, food, clothing, and medications.

*Financial abuse:Elders are often targets of financial fraud. This usually happens when people who take care of elders steal their retirement.

If you know or suspect an elder is a victim of abuse and is in immediate danger, call 911. To report a case of elder abuse, call 1-800-677-1116 or visit the National Center on Elder Abuse atwww.ncea.aoa.gov.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Look Cool & Protect Your Eyes

SELF-CARE CORNER

Sunglasses are a great fashion item, but their most important job is to protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Prolonged exposure to the sun can damage the surface tissues, cornea, and lens of the eye. It has also been linked to cataract, macular degeneration, and temporary vision loss.

Through its EyeSmart® UV Safety campaign, the American Academy of Ophthalmology offers tips to keep your eyes safe:

Wear sunglasses that protect your eyes from both UVA and UVB rays.

* When you purchase sunglasses, look for either UV400 or 100% UV protection on the label. Frames with a close-fitting wraparound style give the best protection.

* Wear sunglasses even if you wear UV-blocking contact lenses. Contacts do not cover enough eye area.

* Wear sunglasses on cloudy days, too. The sun’s rays can pass through haze and clouds.

Wear a hatalong with your sunglasses. Hats with a wide brim are best.

Protect your children’s eyes.

* Keep children out of direct sunlight during the middle of the day.

* Have them wear sunglasses and hats whenever they are in the sun.

Be extra careful in UV-intense conditions:

* Mid-day to early afternoon, when sunlight is strongest

* At higher altitudes

* Places where the sun is reflected off of water, ice or snow

Learn more about UV eye safety and tips to protect the eyes from the sun atwww.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/living/sun.cfm

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Melanoma And Skin Cancer Awareness

MEDICAL NEWS

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S. Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, kills one American every 54 minutes.

The good news is many cases of skin cancer can be prevented. Before you head outside to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air, know how you can protect yourself and your family from skin cancer.

*There’s no “safe” tan:Getting a “base” tan before vacation isn’t safe. It increases your risk of skin cancer and aging of the skin. Using self-tanners is the only safe way to get a bronze glow.

*Seek shade:One of the best ways to avoid UV rays is to love the shade. Trees, umbrellas and buildings are easy ways to keep the sun’s rays off your skin, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when rays are strongest.

*Get vitamin D safely:Though the skin makes vitamin D when it’s exposed to the sun, there are safer ways to get what you need of this nutrient. Eggs, fatty fish, fortified dairy and juice are good ways to get your D.

*Use caution with water and snow:Swimming and skiing can expose the skin to more UV rays because the sun reflects off water and snow. Be diligent about sun protection during these kinds of activities.

*Apply (and reapply) sunscreen:Use a sunscreen labeled “broad spectrum” with an SPF of at least 30. Reapply at least every 2 hours, and after swimming or toweling off.

*Use protective clothing:Sun protective hats, shirts, scarves and more are available to help block UV rays. Look for clothing and swimwear with a “UPF” rating on the label for protection. Use it with sunscreen for optimum protection.

Finally, contact your doctor if you notice a new, itchy or painful mole. Moles with irregular shapes and borders or those that are black or multicolored should be checked.

Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, American Cancer Society, Skin Cancer Foundation

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Protect Yourself From Medical Identity Fraud

MEDICAL NEWS

It’s America’s fastest growing identity crime. DHHS says health care data hacking has affected more than 34 million Americans. Stolen records provide information for tax and insurance fraud.

“When someone steals your medical identity, they corrupt your individual health record, so the next time you receive care your doctor can be working off a file riddled with bad information,” say ID Experts, a medical software provider.

Use these wise fraud protection tips.

* Protect your health insurance card as carefully as you would your Social Security or credit cards. Theft of these cards allows someone to assume your identity to receive care. Treat their loss as seriously as a missing credit card; notify your insurance company and include it on any police report you file.

* Never share your insurance with a friend or family member. When someone pretends to be you to receive health care, your lifetime medical records become compromised. This can lead to a future misdiagnosis, a prescription mistake, or other inappropriate treatment.

* Use strong passwords on patient portals and change them often.

* Be observant in medical offices. Don’t just fill out the HIPAA policy form and then assume your provider is being careful. Raise concerns, like medical records sitting open on desks or unattended and unlocked computer terminals.

* Do NOT provide your medical information to someone who calls or emails you about your “possible involvement in a recent breach.”

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026