HealthyLife Articles

Tag: safety

Talk To Your Child About Abuse

FAMILY LIFE

Parents generally teach their children about “stranger danger” from an early age. They are told not to talk to, walk with or take gifts or candy from strangers. But statistics show danger often lurks closer to home.

According to the National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse, the vast majority of children who are sexually abused are abused by someone they know-most often a family member, an adult the family trusts or, in some instances, another child.

Parents can help protect their children from sexual abuse by talking frankly to them about abuse, starting at a young age with age-appropriate information, advises Kay Knaff, clinical services program manager for Youth Villages.

How to talk to your child (starting about age 3 or 4) about sexual abuse:

* Tell your child about good touch-a hug or a pat on the back-and bad touch, when someone is touching private areas.

* Tell your child nobody-no family member, teacher, other child or adult-is allowed to touch him or her in the areas covered by a bathing suit because these are private areas. Exceptions are a parent bathing a young child or helping the child with using the bathroom, as well as a doctor or nurse when examining the child.

* Tell your child he or she has permission to tell any adult who touches them in their private areas, “No!”

Tell your child that if anyone ever touches him or her in any way in their private areas, he or she should tell mom, dad and or grandma/grandpa or another trusted person about it immediately.

Get help immediately. If you suspect your child has been abused, act immediately. Either call your local police, your local rape crisis center, child protective services or the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453), then push 1 to talk to a hotline counselor.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Getting Help For Violence And Abuse

Women’s Health

Violence uses force, power, or threats to cause physical or emotional harm on purpose.

Abuse is one form of violence. It can be emotional, physical, financial, and/or sexual.

It may not be easy to admit that you are the victim of abuse. You may be confused about what to do or how to find a way out.

Time to Get Help When

It is time to get help if the person you love, live with, or work with does any of these things:

* Puts you down in public.

* Criticizes you for little things.

* Keeps you from seeing or talking to family, friends, or co-workers.

* Monitors what you are doing all of the time.

* Keeps accusing you of being unfaithful.

* Destroys things you own or care about.

* Gets angry when he or she drinks alcohol or uses drugs.

* Blames you for his or her angry outbursts.

* Threatens to hurt you, children, or animals. Beats, chokes, hits, kicks, pushes, shoves, or slaps you or them, or hurts you in any way.

* Says it is your fault if he or she hurts you, then promises that it will not happen again.

* Threatens to or uses weapons against you.

* Forces you to have sex against your will. {The Department of Veterans Affairs uses the term military sexual trauma (MST) for sexual assault or repeated, threatening sexual harassment that occurred while a Veteran was in the service.}

Causes

Violence and abuse are ways to gain and keep control over others. Persons who commit violence or abuse come from all ethnic groups and backgrounds. Often, they have these problems:

* Poor skills to communicate.

* Past family violence. They may have been abused in the past. They may have seen one parent beat the other.

* Alcohol or drug problems.

Regardless of the cause, no one deserves to be abused! Most often, persons who abuse others or commit violence, find it hard to change their behavior without expert help. If you are a victim of violence or abuse, get help and support.

Getting Help

* If you are assaulted or threatened or need emergency help, call 911!

* If you are not in immediate danger, have a plan for times you feel unsafe or in danger or when you decide to leave the abusive setting.

– Decide who you will call (e.g., police, neighbors, relatives, and a shelter). Make a list of these telephone numbers. Memorize the numbers, too.

– Decide where you will go. If you have children, plan how you will take them with you. Have a plan for where they should go if you can’t get away. Practice these safety plans with your children. Plan how you will take your pets, too, if you can.

* To help recover from sexual assault or trauma, contact your doctor or health care provider for proper counseling and treatment. {Note: Veterans can receive free treatment for military sexual trauma (MST) at all VA health care facilities.}

Be prepared to leave an abusive setting. Keep important items in a safe place (unknown to the person who is abusing you) until you are ready to leave or if you have to leave quickly. Get these items together ahead of time.

* Extra keys to your car, house, and safety deposit box.

* Cash. Credit cards and ATM card. Checkbook, bankbooks, and investment records or their account numbers.

* Jewelry or other small objects that you can sell in case you need money.

* Cell phone, a phone calling card, and phone numbers that you need.

* Personal papers for you and your children. These can be the original forms, copies of them, or information, such as numbers and dates written on paper. Items include:

– Birth certificates and social security numbers.

– Driver’s license, state ID, and passports.

– Car registration, title, and insurance information.

– Medical ID cards and medical records for you and your children.

– Marriage license, divorce papers, legal papers for custody, restraining orders, etc.

– House deed or lease agreement.

Resources

National Domestic Violence Hotline

800.799.SAFE (799.7233)

Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN)

www.rainn.org

National Sexual Assault Hotline

800.656.HOPE (656.4673)

National Sexual Assault Online Hotline

https://ohl.rainn.org/online

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Choosing Quality Child Care

FAMILY LIFE

Today, more children than ever live in households where both parents work. As a result, child care is a necessity for many families. You can make an informed choice with a little homework and preparation.

First, think about the type of care you’d like.

In general, your choices will include daycare centers, family child care homes and in-home care like a nanny, babysitter or au pair. There is no right or wrong answer, and no one option works for everyone. Consider your and your child’s personalities, as well as the cost of each choice.

See it for yourself.

If you’re considering a child care center or family home, ask about coming in for a visit. Seeing the environment yourself can often give you a better feel for the caregivers and the atmosphere. Do the children get constant supervision? Do they receive positive discipline?

Look at group size.

Each state has required caregiver/child ratios. See if you’re comfortable with the size of the group and ask about their typical ratios. Infants need one caregiver per four children at a minimum. The ratios get higher as the children get older.

If you’re looking for a nanny or au pair, prepare for interviews.

You should talk with each candidate to get a feel for their personality, child care philosophy and their training and education. You may wish to write a list of questions in advance, and take notes during each interview so you can refer to them later.

Check health and safety guidelines.

Caregivers should be up-to-date on CPR certifications. Ask about smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and childproofing all areas for safety.

Discuss illness prevention.

Find out whether policies are in place to prevent the spread of illness. This may include requiring children to be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to care, as well as other policies on specific symptoms and illnesses. Caregivers should thoroughly wash their hands after each diaper change or using the bathroom, and before preparing any food.

The ultimate goal for any child care is to find one that keeps your child safe, healthy and happy.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Child Care Aware

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
The Scoop On Shoveling

WELL-BEING

Push the snow, dress in layers, and warm up first are sensible rules for shoveling snow. Here are some guidelines you may not know:

* Avoid caffeine or nicotine before shoveling, especially if you have a history of or are at high risk for a heart attack. These stimulants may increase your heart rate and cause your blood vessels to constrict, which places extra stress on the heart. If you have a heart condition, respiratory issues, or back problems, check with your doctor before doing any shoveling.

* Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

* Try to shovel fresh snow, before it becomes packed or refrozen. It may be helpful to shovel a few times during a snowfall rather than waiting until the storm ends when the snow is deeper and heavier.

* Switch hands periodically and alternate the side to which you are throwing snow to more evenly distribute the work load and repetitive muscle use.

* Use a sturdy snow shovel that has open ends to allow you to easily toss the snow off to the side.

* Pace yourself. Be sure to take frequent breaks to rest and avoid overexertion. Exhaustion can make you more susceptible to injury, hypothermia, and frostbite.

Most important:

If you begin to experience any pain in your chest, arm or neck, shortness of breath or profuse sweating, stop shoveling immediately and seek emergency medical attention.

[Source: Kessler Institute]

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
See The Light In Healthy Ways

Eye Conditions

* Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) uses 75% less energy and last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, but contain tiny amounts of mercury. Recycle them according to your state’s guidelines. To safely dispose of a broken CFL, follow EPA guidelines fromepa.gov/hg.

* Wear eyewear that protects your eyes from ultraviolet (UV) light when it is sunny and even on cloudy days. Choose sunglasses that block 99 to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays.

* Wear a wide-brimmed hat during outdoor activities.

* Open blinds and curtains to let daylight fill rooms during the day.

* Install a skylight or solar panels for light and warmth and to save on cooling, heating, and lighting costs.

* Turn off lights when not in use. Install motion sensors, timers, and task lighting to save on light usage. One to two hours before bedtime, dim the lights.

* Wear protective eyewear during sporting events. Before mowing the lawn, look for and remove debris.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Garage Door Safety

WELL-BEING

Follow this safety advice from the Overhead Door Corporation:

* Keep the garage door opener control button out of the reach of small children. And do not let children play with garage door remote controls.

* Never place fingers between door sections. Explain the dangers to children and consider pinch-resistant door panels.

* Consult the owner’s manual and learn how to use your garage door’s emergency release feature.

* Each month, inspect the springs, cables, rollers and pulleys for signs of wear. Do not try to remove, adjust or repair these parts or anything attached to them. These parts are under high tension and should only be fixed by a trained door technician.

* Test the reversing mechanism, monthly, too. Place a 2×4 board or a roll of paper towels in the door’s path. If the door does not reverse after contacting the object, call a qualified professional for repair. If the garage door opener has not been replaced since 1993, get a new one that has safety beams and an auto-reverse as standard features.

* Do not leave the garage door partially open. When activated again, it may travel downward and come in contact with an object in its path. This also compromises a home’s security.

* Never leave the remote control in the car when given to a parking attendant. A stolen remote leaves you more susceptible to home invasion. Always lock your car when left unattended. Store the remote out of sight.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Using Decongestants Safely

SELF-CARE CORNER

As we approach the peak season for colds and flu, many people turn to over-the-counter medicines for relief. And if you have a stuffy nose (known as nasal congestion), you may be thinking about taking a decongestant.

What are decongestants?

Decongestants are medicines designed to relieve stuffiness and pressure in the nose and sinuses. The two over-the-counter decongestants available are phenylephrine (i.e., Sudafed PE) and pseudoephedrine. Pseudoephedrine are stocked behind a pharmacy counter, but you don’t need a prescription. Both medicines work by shrinking blood vessels in the nose, allowing air to pass through more easily.

Are decongestants safe?

Decongestants are safe when they are used properly. Here’s what to know before you take one:

* Read the label and be sure you understand how much you can take and how often to take it. If you’re not sure, ask your pharmacist or doctor.

* Know the active ingredients. Many cold and flu products contain several active ingredients. They are listed on the drug facts label at the top. Be sure you don’t accidentally take too much of one ingredient. For instance, many cold products contain acetaminophen, a pain reliever that can be toxic in high doses. If you’ve already taken a pain reliever with acetaminophen and you take the cold medicine too, you could take too much acetaminophen.

* Talk to your doctor before taking a decongestant if you have diabetes, heart conditions, high blood pressure, glaucoma, prostate problems or thyroid disease.

* If you take other over-the-counter or prescription medicines, ask your doctor if decongestants can be safely taken with your other medicines.

* Do not give decongestants or any cough or cold product to kids under 4 years of age. Ask your child’s pediatrician before giving them any medicines.

* Talk to your doctor if you need to take a decongestant for longer than a week.

What about nasal sprays?

Saline nasal sprays with no medicine in them are safe to use daily, as often as needed. These can help flush out allergens and mucus so you can breathe easier. Not sure if it’s just saline? Look at the drug facts label and be sure it contains only sodium chloride as the active ingredient.

But, decongestant sprays that contain active ingredients are not safe to take for more than three days in a row. This is because your body can become dependent on them. When this happens, your nose may become even stuffier over time, and you’ll have to use more and more spray to get relief.

Medicines can help you cope with bothersome cold and flu symptoms. But, be safe and savvy before you take them – and keep them in a locked cabinet out of children’s reach!

Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians, Food and Drug Administration

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Suicidal Thoughts

Student Health

For persons 15 to 24 years old, suicide is the third leading cause of death, behind unintentional injury and homicide. More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease combined. Young women attempt suicide 4 to 8 times more often than young men, but males are 4 times more likely than females to die from suicide.

Signs & Symptoms

A lot of people think about suicide or say things like, “I wish I was dead,” at times of great stress. For most people, these thoughts are a way to express anger and other emotions. They may not, in and of themselves, be a sign of a problem. The signs and symptoms that follow need medical care.

* Writing a suicide note.

* Suicidal threats, gestures, or attempts.

* Thoughts of suicide that don’t go away or that occur often.

(Note: In some suicides, no warning signs are shown or noticed.)

Causes

* Depression.

* Bipolar disorder.

* Schizophrenia.

* Grief. Loss of a loved one.

* A side effect of some medicines. One is isotretinoin. This is prescribed for severe acne. Some antidepressant medicines can increase the risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, too. This is especially noted in children and adolescents. This risk may be higher within the first days to a month after starting the medicine. Persons who take antidepressants should be closely monitored.

* A family history of suicide or depression.

* Money and relationship problems.

Treatment

Suicidal threats and attempts are a person’s way of letting others know that he or she needs help. They should never be taken lightly or taken only as a “bluff.” Most people who threaten and/or attempt suicide more than once usually succeed if they are not stopped. Emergency care and hospitalization are necessary after an attempted suicide. Persons with suicidal thoughts should seek medical treatment.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care / Prevention

If You Are Having Thoughts of Suicide

* Let someone know. Talk to a trusted family member, friend, or teacher. If it is hard for you to talk directly to someone, write your thoughts down and let someone else read them.

* Call your school’s Mental Health Service, your local Crisis Intervention Center or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800.273.8255. Follow up with a visit to your health care provider or your school’s Mental Health Service.

How to Help a Friend Who May Be Suicidal

* Take him or her seriously. If your friend informs you of suicidal intentions, believe the threats.

* Keep firearms, drugs, etc. away from persons at risk.

* Take courses that teach problem solving, coping skills, and suicide awareness.

* If you think the person is serious about suicide, get help. Watch and protect him or her until you get help. Keep the person talking. Ask questions, such as, “Are you thinking about hurting or killing yourself?”

* Urge the person to call for help. If he or she is already under the care of a health care provider, have the person contact that provider first. If not, other places to contact are listed in the box below. Make the call yourself if the person can’t or won’t.

* Express concern. The person needs to know that someone cares. Most suicidal persons feel alone. Tell the person how much he or she means to you and others. Talk about reasons to stay alive. Don’t judge. The person needs someone to listen, not to preach moral values.

* Tell the person that depression and suicidal tendencies can be treated. Urge him or her to get professional care. Offer help in seeking care.

Resources

Your school’s Student Counseling or Mental Health Service or Student Health Service

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

888.333.AFSP (2377)

www.afsp.org

(This is not a crisis hotline.)

Metanoia Communications

www.metanoia.org/suicide

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

800.273.TALK (273.8255)

www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
How To Put In Eyedrops

SELF-CARE CORNER

* Wash your hands with soap and water.

* Shake the eyedrop container gently. Make sure the prescription is for you. Check to see how many drops you are to put in and when.

* Remove the cap. Set it aside. Do not touch the dropper tip with your hand.

* Tilt your head back. With both eyes open, look at a point on the ceiling.

* Pull your lower lid down gently to form a pocket for the drop. Position the tip of the bottle less than an inch above your lower lid.

* Squeeze the bottle lightly to allow the drop to fall into the pocket.

* Close your eyes without squeezing them. Keep eyes closed for 30 seconds. Gently blot with a clean tissue.

* Replace the cap on the eyedrop bottle.

* Keep eyedrops out of sunlight.

Other tips:

* Do not wear contact lenses while using eyedrops or ointments.

* If you have eyedrops and eye ointment, put in the eyedrops before the ointment.

* You may find this easier to do in front of a mirror or lying flat on your back.

* Check the bottle’s expiration date. Throw it away if outdated.

Source: National Institutes of Health

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Wash And Eat

HEALTHY EATING

Pesticides are compounds that help to protect crops from devastating pests and weeds. Whether conventional or organic, farmers safely and carefully use pesticides as necessary to control insects, weeds, and fungus (organic farming does permit the use of certain pesticides), says the International Food Information Council.

Pesticide residues are tiny amounts of chemicals that may remain on food from their application to crops while being grown on the farm. Some crops are less susceptible to pesticide residues, such as those with a husk (corn), shell (peanuts), or skin (bananas). However, even those without an outer layer are safe to eat, and simply washing raw fruits and vegetables before eating them removes most traces of pesticide residues.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026