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States Consider Banning Teens From Tanning Beds

Associated Press — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: In The News, Health & Safety: Teens, Health

Watch a PSA using humor (sort of) to convince teens not to tan. Do you think this will work?

Citing skin cancer risks, legislators have debated over whether or not states should ban tanning beds used by minors. Credit: AP

LOS ANGELES (AP) - If a proposed law passes, California teens under 18 will need a fake ID to "fake and bake" themselves to a golden brown.

Citing skin cancer risks, legislators have joined lawmakers in at least 21 other states who have debated bills this year to ban or restrict tanning bed use by minors.

Teens under the age of 14 are already banned from tanning beds in California, and older teens need parental permission. But lawmakers in the Golden State are considering banning anyone under age 18 from using tanning beds, even if a parent says it's OK.

Sen. Ted Lieu, who proposed the more stringent legislation, says the parent signatures on permission forms are often forged, and tanning salons benefit financially by looking the other way. The bill has been approved by the Senate and faces review by the Assembly policy committee Tuesday.

Lieu chides vain teens who make a habit of slipping into tanning beds, saying they're short-sighted because "you will age doing this. Your skin will look more leathery later on."

According to the Food and Drug Administration, exposure to UV radiation, whether from the sun or a tanning bed, can cause skin cancer, burns, premature skin aging and eye damage. Approximately 30 million Americans visit tanning salons every year, and 2.3 million of those are teens, the FDA says.

"There is no such thing as a safe tan," according to the agency. "The increase in skin pigment, called melanin, which causes the tan color change in your skin is a sign of damage."

In 2009, a World Health Organization research group classified UV-emitting tanning beds as "carcinogenic," adding that health officials should strongly consider restricting minors' access to sunbeds. WHO, the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Dermatology all support legislation banning the use of sunbeds and lamps for teens younger than 18.

Tanning businesses across the country are feeling the heat.

Along with California, lawmakers in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania are considering banning tanning beds for people under age 18. Similar legislation failed this year in Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota and New Mexico.

Legislators in Massachusetts are considering a ban for teens under 14 or 16 in two separate bills. Lawmakers in Florida, Kentucky, Vermont and Washington rejected such measures this year.

John Overstreet, a spokesman for the Indoor Tanning Association, said sunscreen sellers are behind the legislative push and tanning beds are not proven to cause melanoma, the most deadly type of skin cancer.

California's bill is sponsored by the state's dermatology association and a cancer research group called AIM at Melanoma, which lists major drug companies, including Pfizer Inc. and Bristol-Meyers Squibb Co., as its sponsors.

Overstreet said business owners in his trade group worry that the legislation would hurt small businesses already struggling in the current economy. There are now about 878 tanning businesses in California, a number that's seen a 24 percent drop since 2009 because business has cooled, he said.

In areas where teens do a lot of tanning like college towns or affluent areas, Overstreet said, the legislation could mean a 10 percent hit to tanning salons' income.

"UV tanning is by far what people want," said Overstreet, saying tanning is a personal choice that shouldn't be interfered with by government.

"Tanning lamps and beds are designed to mimic the noontime sun, and you use them a measured amount of time," he said.

But according to American Academy of Pediatrics, powerful tanning beds produce radiation levels up to "10 to 15 times higher than that of the midday sun" and frequent tanners get a level of radiation that is not found in nature.

More than a million cases of skin cancer were diagnosed in the U.S. last year, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Cancer survivor Lisa Andrews, 41, said she shouldn't have trusted tanning salon salespeople for medical advice. As a teenager, she went in for tanning bed stints one to three times a week in the winter months.

"I've always lived in California, and I wanted to have the blond hair and the brown skin and live up to all that California girl stuff," said Andrews, who now protects her naturally pale skin with religious use of sunscreen. "I remember thinking I was so ugly when I was my own skin color."

At age 35, she was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma on her leg, and she is now vigilant about watching her skin for signs of cancer. She attributes the cancer to her time in the tanning bed, which she also came to rely on for the euphoric buzz she would feel after the experience.

Exposure to UV rays from tanning beds or the sun may be addictive because the radiation may cause release of endorphins in the skin, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

For the past five years, Long Beach resident Samantha Healey has slipped into a tanning bed up to four times a week.

"I almost get, like, re-energized," the 23-year-old said.

Healey has worked in tanning salons in California and Nevada and says rebellious teens do try to forge their parents' signatures.

Wayne LaVassar, who owns 14 tanning salons in the Los Angeles area, says he requires parents to come in to sign permission slips at his California Tanning Salons. Requiring in-person authorization would be an appropriate middle ground instead of a ban, he said.

Missouri lawmakers are considering a bill this year that would require parents to sign off on their children's tanning, but similar measures failed in Connecticut, Nevada, South Dakota and West Virginia.

In North Carolina, Ohio and Rhode Island, legislators are weighing whether a doctor's note should be required for teens under 18. Iowa and Washington rejected such a requirement this year.

LaVassar said he doesn't understand why legislation is moving in so many states when tanning beds are overseen by the FDA and parents should have the right to make decisions for their kids.

"I don't believe the sun is bad for you. I believe too much sun is bad for you," he said. "We should be sending a message of moderation and responsibility."

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. This article was written by SHAYA TAYEFE MOHAJER, Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

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A Soda Substitute for Teens, from Dr. Oz

the editors at MarloThomas.com — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Health & Safety: Teens, Expert Advice: Teens

Dr. Oz reveals a healthy soda substitute for teenagers.

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How to Prevent and Treat Poison Ivy

Mary Kate Baumann — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Medical Conditions, Health & Safety: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Health & Safety: Big Kids, Health & Safety: Tweens, Health & Safety: Teens

There's nothing more irritating than a skin rash to set your summer activities back. Poison Ivy is among the most common skin rashes to get while playing outside during the summer. Watch this video on how to get rid of the plants in your yard and how to treat the rash so you can get back to your summer fun!

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Summer: Deadliest Season for Teenage Drivers

Tom Henderson — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Teen Culture, Health & Safety: Teens

Seven of the top deadliest days of the years for teenagers fall between Memorial and Labor days. Credit: Getty Images

The folks at AAA are nervous. Summer is here. That means teenagers are out of school and hitting the road.

Angels and ministers of grace protect us.

A new analysis released June 6 by the automotive association found that seven of the top deadliest days of the years for teenagers fall between Memorial and Labor days, The New York Times reports. Five of them are in July.

"We know that in the summer, kids are out of school, so they drive more, and when they drive more, they crash more," Justin McNaull, the director of state relations for AAA, tells The Times.

AAA's analysis is based on federal stats from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System for drivers and passengers from the ages of 13 to 19, for a five year period from 2005 to 2009. The Times reports that the average number of teen deaths during May, June, July and August was higher than that recorded during the other eight months.

McNaull hopes the grim numbers encourage parents and teenagers to be more aware of the dangers. "It's not about any one day," he tells The Times. "It's about the whole summer."

Several other organizations completed similar analyses in recent months, according to The Times. They all reportedly came to the same conclusion that more teenagers die during the summer.

Allan Williams, a road safety consultant and the former chief scientist at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a nonprofit group financed by the insurance industry, mentions how important these statistics are for parents to keep in mind.

"The idea is that parents really need to pay attention" Williams tells the paper. Parents too often provide supervision while their kids are learning to drive but pay less attention immediately after they get their licenses, he adds.

"That's when risk really goes up," he says.

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10 Ways You're Not as Private as You Think on the Internet

the editors at Common Sense Media — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Media, Gadgets, Health & Safety: Big Kids, Health & Safety: Tweens, Health & Safety: Teens

How much personal information are you really sharing? Credit: Getty

Little Ways You're Leaking Privacy

These days, so much of what you do online actually creates a record of your activities and preferences. You may not realize that you and your kids are creating permanent records that can be accessed by everyone from marketers to future employers. The stakes are high because unintentional public information can last for a very, very long time. Here are 10 ways you may be living much more publicly than you think.

10 Ways You're Not as Private as You Think

1. Allowing yourself to be publicly searchable on Facebook. Have you ever wondered if people can search for you on the Internet and find your Facebook profile? Unless you opt out of Public Search Results, they can. This goes for other social networking sites, too. Help your kids set their Facebook privacy controls.

2. Broadcasting your location. Kids can use Twitter, Foursquare, Loopt, Google Buzz, and Facebook Places to "check in" and tell people exactly where they are. When kids broadcast their whereabouts using these location-sharing programs, it not only makes them vulnerable to unwelcome personal contact, it gives away a ton of personal information to advertisers.

3. Ignoring your YouTube Activity Sharing settings. YouTube's Activity Sharing settings let you restrict all of your YouTube activities, including the videos you upload, to a closed circle of chosen friends. Review your kid's Activity Sharing settings -- and while you're at it, make sure their privacy controls are set to "only friends." And remember, regardless of your settings, anything kids upload could potentially become public, so they should never post anything they wouldn't be comfortable showing to say, grandma.

4. Using Chatroulette. This video chatting site randomly connects you to other users anywhere around the world. Chatroulette requires no registration, so anyone with a webcam can use it and do anything they want -- including tempt your kids to give away private information, take your picture, and record your conversation. Beyond that, these types of programs reduce the time between thought and action and that can be risky for kids.

5. Not talking to your kids about online privacy. Kids create lasting records of their lives whenever they post something. Nothing is private online. Once they post something, it can travel far and wide and be viewed by who knows who. Talk to them about their responsibility in guarding their own privacy.

6. Giving your baby a Facebook page. Really?

7. Neglecting to read a company's privacy policy. When you register for a site or download an app, you are accepting the company's usage of your private information. Many companies say "we won't sell your information," but there are other ways they collect and use information about you. Some children's websites retain the right to send kids as young as 13 email ads and other promotions. Treat the site registration process as you would a store's return policy -- read it, and if you don't like it, don't buy it.

8. Using your real name as your user name in virtual worlds and other online games. Most kids' websites remind kids not to give away personal information, and employ filters and moderators to prevent kids from posting it. But kids who are active in cyberspace may have avatars, game tags, and other identifiers. They need lots of reminders about keeping personal information to themselves. Visit your kid's favorite online world or game and you'll find other users creatively trying to get around the site's filters.

9. Revealing your status. Instant messaging is the easiest way to give yourself up, but every social network allows you to reveal your current status. AIM, for example, makes anyone visible to all their buddies when they sign in unless they mark "invisible." MySpace uses an "Online Now" icon. Why does everyone need to know when your kid is online? They don't. The only people who need to know where your kid is at all times are mom and dad.

10. Letting your kid sign up for anything before you know the facts. Whether it's a new app, a new program feature, or even a ringtone, new things are coming out all the time -- and your kid may hear about them before you do. Do your homework on whatever it is and who's doing the selling. In this 24/7 world where information is constantly being bought and sold, you can never be too careful.

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App for Mobile Phones Helps Diagnose Concussions

Associated Press — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: In The News, Health & Safety: Big Kids, Health & Safety: Tweens, Health & Safety: Teens, Apps

Credit: Eric Risberg

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - The next tool in the campaign against concussions might be your smartphone.

A concussion expert at the University of North Carolina teamed with other head-trauma researchers to develop an application for mobile devices that helps determine whether someone may have suffered a concussion.

Jason Mihalik of UNC's brain injury research center joined Justin Smith of Psychological Assessment Resources Inc. and the Children's National Medical Center in developing the program.

Smith says it's the first observer-based concussion app. After the user answers a series of questions, the app determines the likelihood of a concussion and can email information to a doctor. Mihalik said Thursday that the basis for the app's question flow comes from materials provided by the Centers for Disease Control.

The introduction of the app is just one way to speed the response to possible concussions. One of the key issues discussed during the National Sports Concussion Cooperative's daylong seminar was how to most effectively bridge the communication gap between team doctors and the team athletic trainers, who often are the first to act when players suffer concussion-like symptoms.

"The documentation (of immediate symptoms) is very important, from, 'How did they get hurt?' to the mechanism of injury through those initial signs and symptoms, to 'How did they progress over time?'" said Bill Griffin of the National Athletic Trainers' Association. "It's not only what happens at the time of the injury, but how things change."

The cooperative consists of coaches, doctors, equipment manufacturers and parents, and the group was formed in March to study concussions and brain trauma injuries in an attempt to make sports safer.

"We're trying to do more. We think there is an opportunity to do more," said Art Chou, Rawlings' vice president of research and development. "The caution that we have as manufacturers is, are we ready to draw definitive conclusions? ... There's a balance there, and I think it's up to the research community to determine whether it is ready for prime time or not, because the issue is going to be one of public perception.

"The issue is, have we confused the public? ... I would like to see more consensus from the research community that supports that, because we need more data. We need to move the needle. ... The last thing we need, I think now, as a whole football community, is going back and forth and confusing the issue any more."

Mike Oliver, the executive director of the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment, continued to express a longstanding desire to come up with a safety standard for youth helmets.

But he cautioned that it's dangerous to rush to a conclusion before the scientific research is complete. NOCSEA, a nonprofit corporation, formed in 1969 in response to a need for a performance test standard for helmets.

"You want to have an answer. You want to have a solution to the problem," Oliver said. "You want to be able to say ... 'We do have a solution to the problem and you can have a level of confidence (that) you will have a level of protection. ... But we can't do that until we have the science behind it."

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. This article was written by Joedy McCreary, Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

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Saving Precious Skin: Summer Skin Safety

the editors at FoxNews.com — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Health & Safety: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Health & Safety: Big Kids, Health & Safety: Tweens, Health & Safety: Teens

Author Jill Kargman, mother of three and skin cancer survivor, talks to Dr. Manny about how she protects her kid's skin.

Click here for more health tips from Dr. Manny on Foxnews.com.

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ERs Attract Kids With Mental Problems

Tom Henderson — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Medical Conditions, In The News, Health & Safety: Big Kids, Health & Safety: Tweens, Health & Safety: Teens

A number of emergency room visits are for mental reasons. Credit: Corbis

Give kids access to mental health services, and they still bring their psychological problems to the emergency room.

The Wall Street Journal reports researchers at Johns Hopkins Children's Center thought that was weird.

They looked into it, and, sure enough, at least 71 percent of the kids who came to the E.R. with psychological problems already had their own mental health provider. Among repeat customers, that percentage jumped to 85 percent.

And the emergency room gets a lot of repeat business. According to the Journal, of some 2,903 young patients who visited the E.R. for mental health reasons, 338 were back within six months.

This is a little discouraging for folks who thought community-based mental health services might cut down on emergency room visits more than that.

Emily Frosch, the lead researcher and a pediatric psychiatrist at John Hopkins, tells the newspaper such hopes don't account for certain factors.

Mental health providers might tell their patients to go to the E.R. for after-hours problems, she says. It could also be that parents feel they'll get a quicker response in the emergency room, she adds.

"We need to better understand how the ER is meeting their needs," Frosch tells the Journal.

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Measles Pose Threat to Unvaccinated Infants

Tom Henderson — Fri, 27 May 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: In The News, Health & Safety: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Health & Safety: Big Kids, Health & Safety: Tweens, Health & Safety: Teens, Health

Children and adults who remain unvaccinated and develop measles put others in their community at risk. Credit: Getty Images

The United States has been hit by the worst measles outbreak since 1996, posing a threat to infants too young to be vaccinated against the disease.

Quick! Blame someone!

The Los Angeles Times says you can wave a finger (you choose which one) at travelers to Europe and Asia.

Think of measles as filmmaker Roman Polanski. Although eliminated from the United States, it took up residence overseas. Occasionally, it meets with American visitors, visitors who bring home little souvenirs from their trip.

Bear in mind, the Times reports, "outbreak" doesn't mean the return of the plague. There have been 118 cases (none of them fatal) in the United States reported to the Centers for Disease Control between January and May.

Still, according to the Times, that's the highest number of cases reported during that time period since 1996.

Because infants younger than 12 months old are too young to be vaccinated, health officials' brows are slightly knitted.

Your best defense, CDC officials tell the Times, is to get adults and older kids vaccinated.

"Children and adults who remain unvaccinated and develop measles also put others in their community at risk," the CDC says in an official statement. "For infants too young for routine vaccination and persons with medical conditions that contraindicate measles immunization, the risk for measles complications is particularly high. These persons depend on high MMR vaccination coverage among those around them to protect them from exposure."

Oh, and the next time you go to Europe? Just bring back a T-shirt.

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No Link Found Between ADHD Drugs and Heart Problems

Tom Henderson — Tue, 17 May 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: In The News, Special Needs, Health & Safety: Big Kids, Health & Safety: Tweens, Health & Safety: Teens, Health

WebMD reports kids who take drugs for ADHD are not at a greater risk for heart attacks or strokes. Credit: Getty Images

If you're bombing with your child with meds to control his hyperactivity and short attention span, you might have worried all those chemicals were sending him to an early grave.

Well, relax.

WebMD reports kids who take Adderall, Ritalin, Strattera and all the other trendy drugs for ADHD are no more likely to keel over on the playground than other children.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine looked at the number of people on ADHD meds who have heart attacks, stroke and abnormal heart rhythms and compared them to the rates among the rest of the population. WebMD reports they didn't find any big differences.

Officials at the U.S. Federal Drug Administration announced early last month they are doing their own study that should prove "reassuring," but those results haven't been released yet.

"Until the final FDA results are published, our study should provide some additional reassurance," lead University of Pennsylvania researcher Sean Hennessy tells WebMD. "One of the most important findings was that the risk of death was no higher in kids taking these drugs."

Some 2.7 million children and teenagers in the United States take Adderall, Ritalin, Strattera or other drugs for ADHD, according to WebMD.

Some the drugs increase blood pressure and heart rates in children. Reports of sudden cardiac death in children led to labeling changes for some of the drugs, warning parents of possible cardiovascular risk in patients with heart problems.

But WebMD reports University of Pennsylvania researchers found no connection between heart attacks, strokes and ADHD medications. In fact, they couldn't so much as one cardiovascular incident in the insurance claims they pored over from California, Florida, Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio.

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CT Scans Not Always Best Response to Head Injuries

Tom Henderson — Tue, 10 May 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: In The News, Health & Safety: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Health & Safety: Big Kids, Health & Safety: Tweens, Health & Safety: Teens, Health

It might be a good idea to observe children for awhile before getting them a CT scan. Credit: Getty Images

One of the first things you want to do after a child has suffered a head injury is get him a CT scan. Right?

No, actually.

Reuters reports it might be a good idea to observe children for awhile. If it turns out they don't need a computed tomography (CT) scan, they can avoid an unnecessary dose of radiation.

Lise Nigrovic at Children's Hospital in Boston worked on a study that concludes this is especially true for children who have some risk of a serious brain injury, but aren't showing serious symptoms.

Nigrovic tells Reuters if a child goes to an emergency room very soon after a head injury, "you may just not have had enough time for symptoms to develop."

Or, a child may have some concerning symptoms, she adds, "but you just want a little time."

According to Reuters, Nigrovic and her fellow researchers reviewed data on more than 40,000 children with head injuries who were taken to one of 25 different emergency rooms.

In one case, a child fell off a swing, developed a severe headache and vomited once. Nonetheless, doctors waited before giving him a CT scan. Two hours later, he was a awake and talking and more or less back to his old self.

"We all want to make sure that we use CT scanning in the cases where it's likely to be positive and that we save children from the radiation for those that we know are very unlikely to be positive," Martin Osmond at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario tells Reuters.

Osmond was not among the researchers, but, he adds, "this study adds important new information about who to observe."

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Teenage Girls Continue to 'Fake 'n' Bake' Despite Health Warnings

Tom Henderson — Thu, 05 May 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Teens, Health & Safety: Teens

Teens continue to tan despite health risks. Credit: MTC

Ask Snooki from "Jersey Shore." She knows.

There's nothing like that pre-cancerous glow to say, "Hey, boys, I'm young and sexy. Love me now before my skin turns to beef jerky, and I die from melanoma."

Not that teenage girls need Snooki's encouragement to do something stupid. According to U.S. News & World Report, beauty-obsessed adolescents continue to "fake 'n' bake" even though tanning poses the most publicized health risks since smoking.

Unless you have actually been living on Venus to catch some truly tasty rays the past few years, you know what ultraviolet light can do to your skin. For one thing, according to U.S. News, it increases your risk of deadly skin cancer by 75 percent.

"Whatever," say millions of American teenage girls as they smack their bubble gum and twirl their hair.

Some 32 percent of them used a tanning bed within the past year, according to a poll by the American Academy of Dermatology, and a quarter of them tan on a weekly basis.

The results are more grim than sexy. According to U.S. News, 68,000 people develop melanoma every year, and at least 9,000 of these people die. Melanoma rates have reportedly risen in the last 30 years, especially among girls.

The Associated Press reports lawmakers in New York are considering the first state ban on indoor tanning for anyone younger than 18. Roughly half the states regulate indoor tanning for children and teenagers, and New York currently requires parental consent for kids between the ages 14 to 17 to get indoor tans.

"The challenge is that teens have access to indoor tanning salons on almost every corner," Ronald Moy, the dermatology academy's president, tells U.S. News.

"We are very concerned that this behavior will lead to a continued increase in the incidence of skin cancer in young people and, ultimately, more untimely deaths from this devastating disease," he adds. "Our survey underscores the importance of educating young women about the very real risks of tanning."

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Kids May Be Overdosing on Prescription Meds, Report Says

Tom Henderson — Tue, 03 May 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: In The News, Health & Safety: Big Kids, Gear Guides: Tweens, Health & Safety: Teens

Know what, and how much your kids are taking. Credit: Getty Images

Your child could be at risk of overdosing on prescription pain medications.

WebMD reports a lot of prescriptions given to children end up with 53 percent more medicine than they should. That constitutes an overdose.

Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston looked at 149,791 prescriptions for pain meds given to kids up to 36 months old.

They found 14.9 percent of prescriptions qualified as overdoses based on the quantity dispensed by the pharmacist. WebMD reports 61.1 percent of kids 2 months and younger who were prescribed a narcotic drug got an overdose.

The website adds 35 percent of infants ages 3 months to 5 months were overdosed along with 17.1 percent of infants ages 6 months to 11 months and 8 percent of children who were 1 year or older.

"The reasons why children 0 to 36 months old might take narcotics include postoperative or posttraumatic pain or for cough due to respiratory illnesses," lead researcher William T. Basco, an associate professor and director of the division of general pediatrics at the Medical University of South Carolina, tells WebMD. "In fact, the majority of narcotic-containing preparations we valuated were cough and cold medications containing hydrocodone. The drugs are indicated for this purpose, so we do not mean to imply that the drugs are being used improperly."

Nonetheless, Lee Sanders, an associate professor of pediatrics at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, says prescribing narcotics for infants and young children is risky.

"The risks to child safety are real and very concerning because if you overdose on certain pain medications like opioids, there is a risk of respiratory suppression and potentially death," he tells WebMD.

Although there are times when a higher dose is warranted, he tells the website, parents should schedule a thorough medication review with your pediatrician.

"Bring in all of your child's medication and the dosing devices to make sure your child is getting the right medication in the right amount," he adds.

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Safe Kids USA Helps Soothe Parental Fears

Tom Henderson — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Health & Safety: Babies, Health & Safety: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Health & Safety: Big Kids, Health & Safety: Tweens, Health & Safety: Teens

Safe Kids USA is sponsoring a webcast to educate parents about sports injury prevention. Credit: Corbis

Is it safe to sleep with your baby in the bed? Or will you squish him in the night?

When should your child ride in the front seat of the car? How can you have children and firearms in the house at the same time?

These are the questions that often plague parents. Safe Kids USA was founded to answer some of these questions and un-knit a few parental brows.

Surgeon Martin R. Eichelberger and public relations professional Herta Feely started the National Children's Accident Prevention Campaign under Children's National Medical Center in 1987.

One year later, Eichelberger and Feely received money from Johnson & Johnson (the organization's founding sponsor) to launch the Safe Kids Campaign -- the only American nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing unintentional childhood injuries.

Safe Kids USA and Johnson & Johnson are sponsoring a webcast at 12:00 p.m. EST on May 2, to educate parents of children ages 5 to 14 about sports injury prevention.

The webcast will be streamed from the Safe Kids USA Facebook page. RSVPs are being accepted.

Today, Safe Kids USA is a nationwide network of organizations working to prevent unintentional childhood injury -- the leading cause of death and disability for children ages 1 to 14.

Organization officials educate families, provide safety devices to families in need and advocate for better laws to help keep children safe, healthy and out of the emergency room.

There are more than 600 coalitions and chapters in all 50 states bringing together health and safety experts, educators, corporations, foundations, governments and volunteers to educate and protect families.

Safe Kids USA aims to:

· Teach families about child injury risks and prevention.

· Encourage and conduct research on leading injury risks.

· Evaluate solutions for injury risks.

· Work to pass and improve child safety laws and regulations.

· Provide lifesaving devices such as child safety seats, helmets and smoke alarms to families who need them.

· Promote corporate leadership in child safety through effective and sustainable partnerships.

The organization's website includes a series of position papers, offering advice on a wide range of child safety issues.

Related: Safe Kids USA and Johnson & Johnson to Air Webcast on Sports Injuries; Dr. Mom Shouldn't Be the One Diagnosing Sports Injuries

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Majority of Kids Surveyed Report Seeing Their Parents Drive Recklessly

Tom Henderson — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: In The News, Health & Safety: Teens

Watch a video on how to help your teen become a better driver.

Your kids really do watch what you do all the time. Credit: Getty Images

Be careful when you're recklessly driving. Someone is watching you.

It's your kid.

According to Consumer Reports, 82 percent of teens report seeing their parents drive carelessly.

Parents deny this. In a survey commissioned by Ford, 95 percent of parents say they are good drivers -- even though half of them say their teenage children have asked them to slow down or keep their minds on the road.

Consumer Reports waves its finger at parents. After all, parents are supposed to be role models.

"As parents, it's important to be aware of how you drive and what potentially bad habits you may be doing while your teens are watching," the magazine scolds.

Maybe parents need a good tongue lashing.

The survey found that 82 percent of parents say they want their teenage children to attend a safe driving program, but less than 20 percent do so, even as more and more schools are cutting their driver education program.

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How to Obtain Guardianship for Adults With Autism

the editors at FoxNews.com — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Health & Safety: Teens, Expert Advice: Teens

Credit: Corbis

Once a child turns 18, he or she is legally considered an adult and, therefore, permitted to make his or her own choices. For children who have difficulty managing their emotions, expressing themselves and executing day-to-day self-care tasks, like many on the autism spectrum, this freedom may not be a safe option.

Many parents of teens with autism are learning they are not automatically considered their child's legal guardian just because that child has a disability. If you feel guardianship is the best option for your family, you have to go through the court system to be assigned this role, which will give you the right to make decisions about issues such as your adult child's schooling, health care and living arrangements. The decision to assign a legal guardian to a person older than 18 is not taken lightly and it involves paperwork, time and money.

One mother of an 18-year-old with autism in northern New Jersey says, "I just can't believe how overwhelming the process was. I spent a lot of time on the phone, gathering and copying paperwork, and talking to my lawyer and my son's court-appointed lawyer. It was a part-time job."

Though the process can be lengthy and time-consuming there are some things you can do to prepare.

Each state has its own process for filing to become a legal guardian. Be sure if you are reading information online that it comes directly from your state's official website. Most states have the step-by-step process on their website, complete with options for guardianship, forms to be printed, and necessary phone numbers.

You will need your child's medical and school records so if this paperwork isn't already organized, now is a good time to get it in order. Fill it chronologically so you can locate information quickly.

You will need to provide references -- people who know you and your family well and have intimate knowledge of your child's challenges. Consider teachers, therapists or caregivers who have worked closely with your child and your family. They will need to provide specific examples of areas of difficulty and times when your child was unable to make safe decisions, express himself effectively, or care for himself.

Contact these people prior to submitting their names and contact information and ask if they are comfortable spending time discussing their experience with your child with your child's attorney.

Send all of your paperwork to your lawyers and the court offices with a delivery confirmation from the post office. These offices are handling a tremendous amount of paperwork and you want to be able to confirm that yours was delivered. Though an added cost, it will give you peace of mind.

Pursuing legal guardianship of an adult with a disability is a decision that requires much thought and care. The decision, and the ensuing process, should be handled with respect for the individual and his best interest in mind at all times.

More from FoxNews.com:

Study: Pregnant Mothers' Diets Linked to Child Obesity

Chronic Fatigue Rare But Serious in Teens

Scientists: Parents 'Want Child Gene Tests'*

This article was originally published on FoxNews.com by Jennifer Cerbasi. Jennifer Cerbasi works as a special education teacher at a public school in New Jersey. As owner of The Learning Link, LLC, she works with parents in the home to support children's academic, social, emotional, and physical health through a variety of services. Jennifer utilizes her training in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis in both settings to foster children's development. In addition to her work both in the classroom and at home, she is also a member of the National Association of Special Education Teachers and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. For more information, go to www.jennifercerbasi.com.

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Safe Kids USA and Johnson & Johnson to Air Webcast on Sports Injuries

Tom Henderson — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: In The News, Health & Safety: Big Kids, Health & Safety: Tweens, Health & Safety: Teens

Johnson & Johnson are sponsoring a webcast May 2 at 12 p.m., to educate parents of children ages 5 to 14 about sports injury prevention. Credit: Getty Images

If your child gets injured playing sports, do you know what to do?

Don't worry. Neither do at least 40 percent of parents, according to a survey by Safe Kids USA and Johnson & Johnson. Only 35 percent say their child plays sports with a certified athletic trainer. And only 29 percent feel the coach knows how to prevent sports injuries.

That's why Safe Kids USA and Johnson & Johnson are sponsoring a webcast at 12 p.m. EST on May 2, to educate parents of children ages 5 to 14 about sports injury prevention.

The webcast will be streamed from the Safe Kids USA Facebook page. RSVPs are being accepted.

The panel includes:

Steve Young, former NFL quarterback
Dr. Angela Mickalide, director of research and programs for Safe Kids Worldwide
Dr. Gerard Gioia, director of the SCORE Concussion Program at Children's National Medical Center
Dr. Douglas Casa, chief operating officer for the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut

According to Safe Kids USA, more than 3.5 million children age 14 and younger are treated for sports-related injuries each year, and as many as half of these injuries -- including concussions, dehydration, heat stroke and sprains -- are preventable.

"This epidemic of youth injuries hasn't happened overnight. It's a cultural change," William Levine, a physician and the incoming chair of STOP Sports Injuries, tells USA Today. His organization is made up of physicians who want to make sports safe for kids.

Levine adds that sports have gone from a seasonal activity for kids in the past 10 years to a lifestyle. When one sport ends, another begins.

Jean Rickerson, a mother and founder of SportsConcussions.org, tells the newspaper it will take another movement to eliminate the parents' knowledge gap.

"We're changing a culture and the culture doesn't change overnight," she says.

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Keeping Your Kids Safe Online

Elizabeth Humphrey — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: Media, Health & Safety: Big Kids, Health & Safety: Tweens, Health & Safety: Teens

There are several steps to take to keep your child safe online. Credit: Getty Images

So, you're thinking of setting up your kids on a computer -- and possibly letting them invite thousands of strangers into your home. Do you have plans in place to protect your children from the criminal or bully who might be lurking in the Internet crowd?

If not, there are many resources available for parents, so, when you do decide to open your home to Internet strangers, you can take precautions to keep out unwelcome "guests."

Caroline Knorr, digital life editor with Common Sense Media, says there is no reason for children to get online until they are school-age, although a child as young as 3 might want to. Knorr recommends that parents closely guide children on the Internet.

"Little kids should not surf the Web unsupervised," she says.

At any age, parents should always preview sites, determining if they provide age-appropriate games. Common Sense Media rates websites and other media, making suggestions based on age.

Tech-savvy 7- or 8-year-olds start becoming more interested in social networking sites geared toward their age group: Webkinz and Disney's Club Penguin, for example. Parents should check to ensure sites comply with the government's Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

Besides imposing a suggested daily maximum of a one-hour limit on screen time, educating your child about Internet safety is essential. NetSmartz411, Enough is Enough, Carnegie Mellon's MySecureCyberspace and the U.S. government's OnGuardOnline sites offer resources and a starting point for online safety decisions for you and your family. Each site represents a wide range of information, online activities and approaches.

Computer manufacturers provide products specific to the young, tech-savvy learner. If a computer has Internet access, parents should play an active role by placing the computer in a room where the child can be monitored.

Enforce parental controls through setting Web browser preferences to "strict," Knorr advises. Although not "foolproof" and they sometimes may error on the side of blocking everything, Internet Explorer preferences are password-protected.

Many products are available for monitoring a child's use on the Internet. AOL offers a free service with parental controls that incorporates oversight for Web browsing, activity records, e-mails, IM and time limits.

Most importantly, Knorr says, "be involved in your kids' digital life so you know what they like to do online and are aware of good online behavior. Young kids need to develop healthy brains, bodies and social ability, so make sure your kid is getting a good balance of physical activity and real-world experience."

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Teenage Driving Study Reveals Why Teens Cause Accidents

Tom Henderson — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: In The News, Teen Culture, Health & Safety: Teens, Research Reveals: Teens

Watch a video on safety tips for teenage driving.

Surprise, surprise! Why more teens get into accidents. Credit: Getty Images

Pop quiz: Most automobile accidents involving teenage drivers are the result of:

A. That stupid lamppost that totally, like, shouldn't even be there.
B. Lame old people in their 40s. Why do they even let those people drive?
C. Inexperienced, immature drivers.

If you guessed "C," you're right, according to a new study from the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

It may seem like a no-brainer, but according to US News & World Report, researchers wanted to make sure immaturity and inexperience were really the overriding factors in crashes involving teenagers. Reckless driving, alcohol and cell phone use were other suspects.

Researchers studied some 800 serious crashes involving teenage drivers and analyzed the cause of the accidents. Around 65 percent of them were caused by kids being complete nimrods. Put more charitably, they made critical errors more experienced drivers probably would have avoided.

"This study shows the vast majority of crashes occur not because the teen drivers are behaving badly, but because they have not yet developed the crucial skills they need," Allison Curry, director of epidemiology and biostatistics at the center, tells US News & World Report.

A big mistake young drivers make is not scanning the environment around them for all possible hazards, the study found. They also tend to drive too fast for the road conditions and are easily distracted by something inside or outside the vehicle.

Nationally, according to US News, more than 600,000 teens were injured in vehicle crashes in 2008. More than 4,000 teenagers died. Automobile collisions are a leading cause of death among teens ages 13 to 19, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports.

"The study really points to specific skills that parents can work on with their teens when teaching them how to drive," Curry tells US News. For instance, parents should teach teens how to keep their eyes on the road while still constantly surveying the environment for hazards. They should also emphasize basing speed on what's appropriate for the weather and road conditions, not the posted speed limit.

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A 10-Minute Cardiac Test Could Save Children's Lives

Tom Henderson — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Health & Safety: Big Kids, Research Reveals: Big Kids, Health & Safety: Tweens, Health & Safety: Teens, Research Reveals: Teens, Health

Researchers suggest parents add an electrocardiogram to their children's medical checkups as a precaution. Credit: Getty Images

Heart conditions in children often fly under the radar, and parents too often learn their children had problems while mourning their deaths.

However, a 10-minute electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) could save lives.

Researchers at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia conducted a pilot project where the relatively inexpensive screening identified potentially fatal heart problems in 10 out of 400 seemingly healthy children.

In a hospital press release, researchers suggest parents add an electrocardiogram to children's medical checkups as a precaution against the tragedy of sudden cardiac arrest.

"In the United States, the current American Heart Association guidelines recommend screening only competitive athletes, not all children, using history and physical examination alone," study leader Victoria L. Vetter, a pediatric cardiologist at the hospital, says in the press release.

She adds that Italy and Japan have compulsory screening of all athletes and school children.

"Our pilot study evaluated the feasibility of adding an ECG to cardiac screening of healthy school-aged children," Vetter says in the release.

Researchers published their study March 15 in the American Heart Journal.

Sudden cardiac arrest in children is caused by structural or electrical problems in the heart that frequently cause no symptoms and often go undiagnosed. Between 100 and 1,000 American children die every year as a result.

"In our study, using ECG outperformed the history and physical examination and found previously unidentified potentially serious abnormalities that would not have been identified by history and physical examination alone," researchers conclude.

They add that children in the screening were not all high school athletes, and most would not have undergone cardiac screening. Regular checkups had not detected the cardiac conditions.

"Performing the ECG and its interpretation added less than 10 minutes to each subject's total evaluation," Vetter says in the release, adding that the ECG machines are portable and relatively inexpensive.

"Our pilot study showed that adding ECG to the currently recommended guideline of history and physical examination is feasible for screening children and adolescents, and offers the potential to identify serious cardiovascular abnormalities," she says. "However, our study was not designed to be generalizable to a larger population of children at risk for SCA. Larger, more representative studies must be done, as well as cost-effectiveness research."

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