More Than One in Five Parents Feel Ill-Equipped to Prevent Kids From Trying Drugs and Alcohol

New survey data from Partnership for a Drug-Free America^® and MetLife Foundation finds that more than one in five parents feel unable to prevent their kids from trying drugs and alcohol. To help motivate and equip parents to talk with their kids about the dangers of substance abuse, the two organizations are focusing the next phase of their award-winning radio campaign, which kicks off today, on better preparing parents on ways to safeguard their kids from the risks of drug and alcohol use.

To begin an ongoing conversation, the Partnership and MetLife Foundation’s parenting skills campaign will air educational messages on radio stations in local markets nationwide through the end of October. The campaign is backed by online tools and tips for raising drug-free teens. A brochure containing helpful tips, called “Your Child Needs You,” and other resources are also being made available. All can be found at drugfree.org.

Parents Need Help Responding to Recent Increases in Teen Drug Use

The new data comes from the 2009 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS), sponsored by MetLife Foundation, which found more than one in five parents feel there is little they can do to prevent their kids from trying drugs (22 percent) and alcohol (27 percent). The survey also found only two in five parents (39 percent) feel strongly that they could immediately stop their kids from using drugs once they’ve started.  PATS data released earlier this year also confirmed marked increases in teen use of alcohol, Ecstasy and marijuana, namely those substances that teens are most likely to encounter is social situations.[1] The need for parents to play a more active role in helping protect their kids from dangerous behaviors posed by the use of drugs and alcohol is underscored in the campaign.

“It’s crucial that we help parents understand the threats facing teens today, help them be more confident about their ability to make a difference, and equip them with useful resources, which is the purpose of this campaign,” said Steve Pasierb, president of the Partnership. “What many parents may not realize is that they, not athletes, movie stars or popular music artists, are in fact the biggest influence in the lives of their children. Kids who learn a lot about the risks of drugs at home are up to 50 percent less likely to use drugs than those who do not get that critical message from their parents.”

The campaign features radio messages in English and Spanish, stressing the importance of talking with kids about drugs and alcohol to parents, encouraging them to overcome their fears about starting a dialogue with kids about these dangerous behaviors, and motivating parents to stay involved in their children’s lives to keep them healthy. Messages in English will air on radio stations in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas/ Ft. Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Phoenix, Providence, San Francisco/Oakland, Tampa and Tulsa. In Chicago, Dallas, Orlando, Phoenix, San Diego and San Antonio, the radio messages will also air in Spanish.

“By talking with teens about the dangers of drug and alcohol use, parents can help protect their kids and keep them safe,” said Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. “Parents strongly influence the decisions teens make and this campaign provides much-needed tools to help parents feel better equipped to discuss this important health issue with their kids.”

Visitors to drugfree.org can download copies of the brochure “Your Child Needs You! A guide to help your child lead a healthy drug-free life,” available in English, Spanish and Chinese languages. The brochure includes information on the dangers of illicit drug use and helps parents prevent drug use in their own families. Free copies are available from the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at 877-767-8432.

Information courtesy of DrugFree.org

Lower Body Exercises from The Biggest Loser

The release of The Biggest Loser interactive health and fitness video games for Wii and Kinect for XBox 360 are on the horizon, so THQ wants to let fans take a look at the challenging exercises in store for active gamers. Over the next few weeks, THQ will be showcasing a number of great exercises offered by The Biggest Loser video games.

This week, the show’s trainer, Bob Harper suggests 2 lower body exercise moves that will help keep your lower half tight and toned:

Lunges:

Target the hips, glutes, and thighs with perfect “anywhere exercise”. Simply step forward, keep your torso tall, drop your back knee straight down and keep your front knee behind the toe on the same leg. Then simply step back and alternate. Do one lunge on each leg for a single rep.

Glute Lifts:

Tone your tush with this stability ball exercise. Lay your stomach on the ball, chest off, arms on the ground in front and begin alternating leg lifts, squeezing the glute as it rises. Remember to keep your hips down on the ball and not to rotate. Do one lift on each leg for a single rep.

So who says playing video games makes you a couch potato? Get up and get interactive with Bob and Jillian when THQ’s The Biggest Loser Challenge (Wii) and The Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout (Kinect for XBox 360) become available later this year.

Information courtesy of THQ

Eye Protection For Kids

Summer has already arrived in full-force and while we religiously don our favorite pair of sunglasses to keep the sun out of our eyes, when is the last time we considered our child’s eyes? Most are aware that excessive UV exposure can lead to a number of serious eye health problems such as cataracts and macular degeneration. But did you know that up to 80 percent of lifetime UV exposure is received before a child turns 18? Considering how much time our kids spend playing outside, this is a concerning statistic. In fact, children are the most susceptible to UV damage because their eyes’ lenses are much more transparent than our own.

LensCrafters and their resident eye-care expert, Dr. Eliot Grossman, want to join in the effort to caution parents against harmful UV rays.

According to Dr. Grossman, UV rays are strongest between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., making it crucial that our kids wear sunglasses when playing outside during these times. Children should also wear sunglasses in shaded areas, since UV rays can bounce off of buildings, roads, and other surfaces. Grossman warns that ultraviolet radiation passes through clouds so don’t be lulled into a false sense of security if skies are cloudy.

For parents in southern locales or mountainous regions, the sun’s rays become stronger closer to the Earth’s equator and greater at higher altitudes. Also when on family vacations, keep in mind that UV rays are more harmful against reflective surfaces like snow, water or sand.

When choosing sunglasses for your child, Grossman recommends buying a pair that blocks out at least 99 percent of UV rays. You can check shades for UV protection levels by visiting your eye care professional for a quick lens assessment. This only takes a matter of seconds and can be done at any LensCrafters store.

If your child wears glasses, consider prescription sunglasses since wearing contacts to accommodate sunglasses is not an option. Kids’™ prescription sun frames can be found at your local LensCrafters as well.

Polarization is a optimal choice for sunglasses as well as prescription sun lenses for kids. Polarized lenses aide in protecting young eyes from UV rays while significantly reducing glare and enhancing overall vision comfort for parents and children alike. Outdoor activities such as fishing, boating, golfing, skiing, biking or driving will be greatly enhanced by polarized lenses to by helping you and your child see the world more clearly.

Lastly, Dr. Grossman recommends scheduling a yearly eye exam for your child to ensure that any changes in their eyes are monitored and possible eye disorders are detected and treated early.

Information courtesy of LensCrafters Kids’ Glasses

Ten Simple Tips to Maintain a Healthy and Germ-Free Nursery

Identify the germ “hot spots” within your nursery and clean them often. Germ hot spots within the nursery are the areas that come in contact with waste in diapers and other body fluids, either directly or indirectly. Diaper waste–and the millions and millions of germs in it–can be spread by hands and objects that come in contact with it. Since germs are microscopic and invisible to the naked eye, it’s easy to spread many of them to clean surfaces without knowing it. Areas where most bacteria typically gather include:

• Changing Table – This is the place where diaper messes and germs are transferred from the diaper to baby’s skin – and possibly mom’s hands. And a dirty diaper likely has more germs inside it than anything else in the nursery.
• Laundry Hamper – Studies have shown that laundry, especially if it has come in contact with bodily fluids, can harbor great quantities of bacteria and even spread them to clean clothes through normal washing cycles.
• Floor – Germs on the floor are not a concern for adults, but the floor is where babies lay, crawl, and play. Most floor germs aren’t of the harmful type, but it’s still a hot spot to keep an eye on.
• Toys/Toy chest – The average toy isn’t loaded with germs, but toys will transmit them easily if they become contaminated, since toys come in contact with playmates’ hands, skin, and mouths.

Learn the difference between cleaners and disinfectants, and which is appropriate for your nursery. Cleaners remove most soils, but may spread germs around. Disinfectants actually kill germs when used correctly.

• To use a disinfectant correctly in a nursery, remove your baby from the spray or wipe zone and apply the product liberally. After the label-specified contact time elapses, wipe off the surface with a wet cloth or paper towel to get rid of any irritating residual chemicals so your baby’s delicate skin does not touch these chemicals.
• It’s also wise to disinfect hard floors and vacuum carpets routinely to keep germ levels low
• Tip: Disinfectants say “disinfects,” “antibacterial” or “sanitizes” on the label Set aside a special place in the nursery for disinfectants so they’re readily available for quick cleaning but safely out of reach of children. Even “non-toxic” cleaners can be dangerous to children, so keep cleaners on a high shelf in the closet or a child-proofed drawer of the dresser.

Set aside a special place in the nursery for disinfectants so they’re readily available for quick cleaning but safely out of reach of children. Even “non-toxic” cleaners can be dangerous to children, so keep cleaners on a high shelf in the closet or a child-proofed drawer of the dresser.

Keep messes (and germs) to a minimum when changing dirty diapers in the nursery.

• Establish a quick, mess-free diaper changing routine, and keep supplies handy and close by.
• Create a dedicated changing area that can be easily cleaned and disinfected.
• Take extra care to handle diapers from the outside surfaces and avoid touching waste.
• Get rid of diapers in a hygienic fashion that keeps germs sealed away. I recommend the Diaper Genie II Eliteâ„¢ Disposal System. It seals odor into the pail and out of your nursery unlike an ordinary trash can and plastic bag. Diapers only touch the disposable film, not the pail, so there is one less thing to clean. The Diaper Genie II Eliteâ„¢ Disposal System also has Antimicrobial Protection built into the plastic to inhibit odor-causing bacteria.

Keep soap and warm water, or where soap and water are not available, antibacterial hand wipes, nearby to use after changing your baby in the nursery. This will help stop the spread of germs within the nursery.

• Tip: When soap and water are not available, consider using an antibacterial and wipe, such as Wet Ones® Antibacterial Hands and Face Wipes. Wet Ones Antibacterial Hands and Face Wipes are clinically proven to be just as effective as gel hand sanitizers in killing 99.99% of germs, and also clean away dirt and messes.

Keep baby bottles away from germ hot spots, such as the changing table, and only handle them when your hands are clean. Harmful germs can grow very quickly in formula and breast milk – be sure to keep bottles clean and dry when not in use.

Keep a special hamper inside the nursery to use specifically for heavily soiled baby laundry This special, separate hamper will help prevent bacteria on heavily soiled laundry from spreading throughout the rest of the nursery. Also, take special care when laundering heavily soiled baby clothing and bedding to prevent the spread of germs through the
laundry.

• Use Hot water and/or chlorine bleach
• Dry laundry in a hot dryer cycle

Take special precautions within the nursery when baby is sick to prevent spread of illness to other children and throughout the rest of the nursery.

• Disinfect nursery “hot spots” more frequently
• Reduce time other children spend in the nursery and with baby

Take special precautions in the nursery when you or other family members are sick, to keep from giving your infection to baby and spreading throughout the nursery

• Cover all coughs and sneezes
• Wash hands before contact with baby and when entering the nursery

Reduce pet access to the nursery.

• Reptiles and birds frequently harbor dangerous germs, like Salmonella. Make sure that children wash hands well with soap and warm water after handling reptiles and before coming into the nursery, and keep bird bedding/litter out of the nursery altogether.

Written by Dr. Benjamin Tanner, president and founder of the Antimicrobial Test Laboratories, LLC

« Previous Page — Next Page »