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

5 Ways Parents Can Help Prevent Cyberbullying

A Florida State University study revealed that to combat cyber-bullying many kids needed a solid support system at home. The study involved 426 adolescents, with 15 of them suffering various degrees of bullying. Researchers discovered that the main difference was from styles of parenting. Kids whose parents provided support and authority had a higher sense of respect and were more likely to turn to their parents to deal with bullies. Those children did not suffer the effects of cyber-bullying as much as other children in the study.

1. Monitor your child’s Internet use- Checking their browsing history isn’t enough because it can be easily erased or not recorded at all. Parental control or monitoring software is the best option because it tracks every move your child makes online.
2. Make careful decisions about which online networks you allow your child to join. Pay close attention to news and media buzz surrounding the site, and read the site’s recommended age restrictions. Parents should join the networking site before they allow their kids to so they can make first-hand decisions about whether they feel it is appropriate or not.
3. Talk with your child about building and maintaining a good online reputation. Some kids are simply picked out of the blue as a target for bullies. Other times they bring it upon themselves by provoking it and by engaging in behavior that invites cyberbullying into their lives. Remind your child that the Internet is never anonymous, and that anything they put online is visible to everyone. Provide guidelines about what is acceptable online behavior and what is considered risky behavior that could potentially invite unwanted attention.
4. Check out what their peers are doing online. See what their classmates and friends are doing on social network sites and which ones they’re using. Besides checking just Facebook and MySpace, visit newer social sites like formspring.me and stickydrama.com. These sites are targeted to the 10-14-year-old age group and can be breeding grounds for cyberbullying. Talk with your child and let them know that even if they are mature enough to use social networking sites responsibly, the same can’t always be said of their peers.
5. Teach your child to lead by example. Talk to your kids about the harm cyberbullying can cause, and teach them to be nice to kids online. Teach them that just because their peers are being mean to someone doesn’t make it okay for them to jump on the bandwagon. Tell them to walk away from groups of kids who have started cyberbullying instead of dragging it out further and making the situation worse.

Go to the Internet Safety blog at blog.internetsafety.com to get more information on how to detect if your child has become the victim of cyberbullying and and how to respond if your child is being bullied.

Information courtesy of Internet Safety

Safety Recall on Britax Chaperone Infant Car Seats

Britax Child Safety, Inc. announced that it is conducting a safety recall on its CHAPERONE™ Infant Car Seat. The recall includes CHAPERONE Infant Car Seats with Model Numbers of E9L95P2, E9L95P3, E9L95P5, E9L69N9, (Sold in the US) E9L69P2, E9L69P3, and E9L69P5 (Sold in Canada)  manufactured between April 2009 and May 2010.

Britax Child Safety, Inc. recently determined that the chest clip supplied with the CHAPERONE Infant Car Seat was incorrectly produced by the manufacturer which resulted in a more brittle chest clip than was intended. As a result, the chest clip which positions the harness straps across the infant’s shoulders may break when the chest clip is engaged as the infant is secured into the infant car seat. The sharp edges of the broken chest clip create a risk of a skin laceration and the fractured components of the chest clip may present a small parts/choking hazard.

To address this issue, BRITAX will provide a free remedy kit that contains a replacement chest clip. An instruction sheet in the remedy kit will provide specific instructions and visuals to aid in installing the replacement chest clip.

All CHAPERONE Infant Car Seat owners should confirm whether their CHAPERONE Infant Car Seat is affected by verifying the car seat model numbers and manufacturing dates: E9L95P2, E9L95P3, E9L95P5, E9L69N9  (Sold in the US) , E9L69P2, E9L69P3, E9L69P5 (Sold in Canada); Manufactured between April 2009 and May 2010.

If your chest clip breaks, remove the broken chest clip from the harness along with any fragments.  The CHAPERONE Infant Car Seat can continue to be used until the replacement chest clip is installed.

For more information, contact the Britax information line, toll free at 1-888-427-4829.

UL’s Summer Safety Tips

For those of you who have been following An Island Life for a while now, you may remember the time that Kacie went down the wrong waterslide and ended up on the bottom of a 9′ pool. Back then she didn’t know how to swim but knew enough to hold her breath and kick as fast as she could. Thank goodness our story had a happy ending because we all know how serious water safety is.

Mom Central and Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) have teamed up to share with you some great tips to help keep your family safe while having fun this summer.

As the weather heats up, families will seek refuge in the cool waters of their neighborhood or backyard pools. Although there’s nothing like a quick dip on a hot summer’s day, pool season doesn’t come without potential risks. In fact, approximately 4,200 people go to the emergency room every year due to pool or spa-related injuries. This summer, Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a leading product safety testing organization, is providing useful tips to help you and your “little minnows” stay safe.

Pool Safety at Home

• If you have a pool at home, install a fence. The fence should be at least four feet high and have a self-closing, self-latching gate that has a locking mechanism beyond a child’s reach.
• Cut overhanging tree limbs and remove chairs or ladders from the pool area to prevent children from climbing over the fence that surrounds the pool.
• Keep grates and drain covers in good repair and secured in place. Alert your family and guests to stay away from these devices, as the suction from drain outlets can be strong enough to cause entrapment of hair or body parts, which can potentially cause a person to drown.
• Make sure you know infant and child CPR if you own a pool.

Be Safe Smart While Swimming

• Supervision is a must. Follow the 10/20 rule when you’re at the pool. The 10/20 rule states the supervising adult needs to position themselves to be able to scan the pool every 10 seconds, and reach the water within 20 seconds.
• Always have rescue devices, such as UL-LISTED life preservers, nearby.
• Flotation devices, toys and inflatable swimming aids are not safety devices. They are toys and can easily puncture and deflate.
• Always drain wading pools after children are done playing. Infants can drown in just a few inches of water.
• Have a telephone nearby and appropriate emergency numbers posted.
• Remove all toys when you leave the pool. Toys may attract children to the unattended pool.

UL and Disney even produced a cute video featuring Timon and Puumba from the Lion King teaching kids how to stay safe while swimming during the summer, and all year long.

From backyard tree houses, to jungle gyms, to neighborhood playgrounds, kids will be climbing and swinging all summer long.  However, it’s important for parents to be aware of the potential dangers associated with play sets. Each year, more than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger go to the emergency room for play set-related injuries. That’s why Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a leading product safety testing organization, is providing easy-to-follow safety tips to help families “play it safe” this summer.

Before Installing a Backyard Playset . . .

• Make sure your backyard is large enough for playground equipment. The site must also provide good visibility and security. Before setting up equipment, look out for obstacles, such as the garage, tree branches, utility poles and wires.
• Read and follow the manufacturer’s directions when setting up play set equipment. Be sure your child’s weight and age fall within the manufacturer’s recommended limits for the equipment.
• Install protective surfacing, such as rubber tiles or mulch under the play set, at least six feed in all directions, to prevent serious injuries

Before Heading Out To Play . . .

• Carefully inspect backyard playground equipment. Make sure equipment is anchored safely in the ground, all equipment pieces are in good working order, S-hooks are entirely closed and bolts are not protruding.
• Check for spaces that could trap children, such as openings in guardrails or between ladder rungs. These spaces should measure less than 3.5 inches or more than 9 inches.
• Always supervise children on play set equipment to make sure they are playing safely.
• Never attach ropes, jump ropes, clotheslines, pet leashes or cords of any kind to play set equipment. If used improperly, they can be potential strangulation hazards.
• Watch for potential trip hazards, such as rocks, tree stumps and concrete footings. Make sure you’re children are aware of them as well.
• Do a sandbox check. Before letting your child dig in, rake through the sand to check for debris or sharp objects. Also, inspect for any animal contamination or insect problems.

So don’t go through the scare that I did and make sure you keep your kids safe this summer by following these simple tips.

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Underwriters Laboratories. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

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