I love 4th of July - it is truly one of my favorite holidays with fireworks, people gathering with their families and the Boston Pops playing on the Esplanade in Boston. Whether we venture into the city to gather with the crowds or watch the event from home, everyone ends up going to bed happily exhausted.
For an ER doc, though, 4th of July is also one of the more hazardous holidays to work, and think about. A year ago, I posted a few 4th of July fireworks stories from my life, one of which was of a child I cared for in the ER. I can’t get through the holiday without thinking about these kids and the countless others I’ve seen over the years with fireworks-related injuries.
The National Fire Protection Association, reports that “(i)n 2007, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 9,800 people for fireworks related injuries; 56% of 2007 emergency room fireworks-related injuries were to the extremities and 36% were to the head.” And, that “(t)he risk of fireworks injury was two-and-a-half times as high for children ages 5-9 or 10-14 as for the general population.”
Because of this enormous risk to kids, the American Academy of Pediatrics urges parents to not buy fireworks for kids but gather at public places where fireworks are set off by professionals.
We teach our kids to not play with fire. If we want that lesson to sink in, we have to follow it, too. Leave the lighting of things that go boom and light up the sky this 4th of July to the real pros. You’ll enjoy the holiday much more from the vantage point of the crowd and not some ER watching on a small TV, waiting for your injured child to be tended to.
I used to feel guilty when I would say “no thanks” but not any more. I no longer by the line: “Ok…but you do know she might get behind…many of the other kids do continue for the summer.”
I’m ok with it…and so are my kids. And, you know what, not once have they “fallen behind” in any of their activities, even the ones they are at the top of their game on, in sports or in the arts.
It’s a myth that the sports world is the only world with year ‘round pressure. The music and arts worlds have it, too. Those worlds, in fact, can be more insidious about it because it’s done under the guise of “enrichment” and “culture”. The 24/7 wear and tear on our kids bodies, minds, and souls is, nonetheless, the same as with a ‘year round sport and it’s time music, dance and other fine arts parents recognize that their kids, too, need an off season.
The way to look at it is that any school year after school activity that occupies a great deal of time and focus and goes on for most of the school year, or more than 1 celestial season, requires an offseason. The model is in the pro worlds. Pro athletes get off seasons and professional dancers and musicians do take breaks from the intense rigor of their professional season.
Our children have 1 childhood and only so much time in it to explore themselves and pursue activities that interest them. Given how much of the school year’s schedule is dictated by adults, the summer is the best time to hand over the reins to our kids and find out what they want to do and make it happen. The summer is the most perfect time to spread wings and try on something new, something that they may have had to shelve by necessity during the school year.
So, don’t buy into the “she’ll get behind” line – in sports or in the arts. Give your kids the off season this summer they deserve. Just like the off season in the pro worlds, kids use the time so productively that by the time they return to their beloved passions, they have a new found energy, zeal and focus. The rust will come off amazingly quickly and they’ll surge ahead again as if the summer never occurred.
Why not just keep on going, you ask? You could…but you may end up turning an activity your kids love into a complete grind and burn them out entirely. Plus, injury rates increase dramatically in sports and the arts when kids don’t have a break. Musicians and dancers put wear and tear on their bodies just like athletes, but with different muscle groups. Those areas of their bodies need to rest and rehab, in addition to their minds and souls having a chance to not focus so intensely for a while.
Childhood isn’t about specialization, it’s about variety. We’ve forgotten that along the way, and our kids’ bodies and spirits are paying a steep price.
As a pediatrician, I can attest that all of us take an oath to do no harm when we graduate medical school and we continue to uphold that oath with everything we promote for the health and well being of children, including universal vaccination. Studies are clear that the vaccines are safe and that they do not cause autism. If people would think more with their minds and not their emotions, I truly believe they would start becoming more able to believe that.
It’s important to note three other issues.
First, without vaccination, the illnesses that we’ve worked so hard to combat will return, as we are seeing now with measles. Remember that vaccine preventable illnesses have no cure and cause horrible disability and death. Do we want to return to those times?
Second, you can rest assured that no one is using any child as a “guinea pig”, as one commenter put it. This isn’t a live experiment going on…it’s public health and disease prevention.
Finally, there is an inherent risk of side effects with any medication but that doesn’t mean to not give it. The benefits of vaccinating out weight the risks of reaction, just like when you take any medication such as over the counters or an antibiotic.
Keep in mind that all parents love their kids. The issue at hand is without vaccines on board it isn’t a matter of if a child will contract one of these horrible vaccine-preventable illnesses, but when. Read the Article at HuffingtonPost
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1. drinking diet soda to shed pounds
2. not getting a second opinion for major medical issues
3. stopping antidepressants “cold turkey”
4. skipping follow-ups
5. taking too much acetaminophen (AKA Tylenol)
6. drinking too much alcohol in one sitting
Let’s face it…we’ve all been guilty of some items on this list at one point in time or another. Paying more attention to these items really will improve our health in a multitude of ways.
This is a great list but what is more likely to harm us and perhaps even kill us is our constant distractibility caused by technology. We have to pay as much attention to our high tech habits as we do our over all health habits if we truly want to be healthy and live long, happy, injury-free lives.
In addition to the WebMD list, consider this list I put together of “6 mistakes smart people make with technology every day”:
1. Talking on the cell phone or texting while driving.
2. Reading a newspaper or putting on make-up while driving.
3. Googling for health information when we are worried instead of reaching out to our health care providers.
4. Listening to our MP3 devices while running, walking or driving so loud we can’t hear outside noises.
5. Using technology when we should be watching our kids – who may be outside or in a pool or just mulling about the house.
6. Relying on the advice of “online friends” we’ve never met over real friends, family and our own health care providers.
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away” used to be wise words to live by…and still is as long as the “Apple” we’re discussing doesn’t come with ear buds.
Earlier this week, families impacted by childhood cancer gathered at Reach the Day 2009 to meet with our Congressional leaders to request much needed funding for childhood cancer research. Their personal stories put a face to childhood cancer. Today, the big screen release of the new film “My Sister’s Keeper” spotlights one family’s journey with childhood cancer, creating awareness for this dreaded disease. Visit www.curesearch.org for more information about childhood cancer and facts about childhood cancer.
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On Tuesday, June 23, 2009, the childhood cancer community, including families, patients, and friends travelled from 34 states into the heart of DC to raise their voices for all children with cancer and for those who no longer have a voice. The group of 470 registrants met at Capitol Hill for the Ninth Annual CureSearch Reach the Day event. They came to the nation’s capitol to advocate for increased federal funding for childhood cancer research and to raise public awareness for childhood cancer.
Highlights of the event included
240 visits with elected officials to shine a spotlight on childhood cancer issues to congress.
Congressman Joe Sestak (PA) launched the House Pediatric cancer caucus along with Congressman Chris Van Hollen (MD) and Congressman Mike McCaul (TX).
By the end of the day, more than 30 members of the House of Representatives joined this newly-formed caucus.
House and Senate Resolutions were introduced to designate September 12th as Childhood Cancer Awareness Day.
CureSearch would like to thank all involved for their important contributions to a pivotal day in achieving our ultimate goal – conquering childhood cancer.
Show # 14: Thursday June 25, 2009 Noon ET
Step Into Summer!!
Summer is finally here! To get you in the right frame of mind, this week’s show will cover all the issues you need to know about to have the best summer ever, with out unexpected trips to the emergency room.
To get us on our way, one of my doc friends, Jill Grimes, MD, has tossed together some wonderful summer tips:
Dr. Jill’s Summertime Rules
It’s almost summertime, and everyone is ready to switch gears from the year-end craziness to the lazy days of summer. It’s tempting for both kids and parents to fall into bad habits with the excuse of “Oh, why not? It’s summer!” What are you going to do to encourage your teen to make good choices? Here are my seven tips for summer health:
1.Limit screen time! Between emails, facebook, twitter, social media and television, your teen could spend most of his/her summer glued to a screen if you don’t set a time daily limit. Not only does that discourage physical activity, it really increases your teen’s social exposure. Set a rule that screen time should average less than 2 hours per day.
2. Five for life! Pizzas, burgers, chips and dips become dietary staples far too easily in the summer, but kids of all ages will just as quickly wolf down a fruit platter. The recommendation of a minimum of 5 fruit or veggie servings per day does not change with the seasons, so keep melons, bananas, grapes, and strawberries on hand, and restock your supply every week! Make fruit smoothies from frozen fruit and yogurt to cool you down on a hot summer afternoon.
3. Know the hosts! Either make your home the “hang out” or make sure you know the parents where your teens choose to gather with their friends. It is illegal for kids under the age of 21 to have alcohol, even in private residences, unless their parent or legal guardian is physically there with them. It’s NOT okay for under-aged kids to drink just because they plan to stay home.
4.Choose designated drivers. Kids all know they shouldn’t drink and drive, but it’s tough not to jump in the car with your friend who’s had “just one beer” when he/she is your ride home. Ask for the name of the designated driver and arm your teen with some ready made “excuses” to call you for a ride if this situation crops up.
5.Hot chicks and cool dudes. As the heat goes up, the amount of clothing goes down. From shirt-less guys and bikinis to short shorts and mid-drift tops, beautiful bodies are everywhere, while parental supervision is often decreases. Make sure your teen knows “the facts” and limit temptations by increasing your presence.
6.Be sun savvy. Use sunscreens that have both chemical and physical barriers to block the dangerous UV radiation, and stay out of the sun during the heat of the day. Remember to reapply the sunscreen every few hours, especially if you are sweating or doing water sports.
7.Summer reading list. Don’t forget the joy of spending a lazy summer day with a good book. It’s fine to include educational reading or school requirements, but make sure to include some pure leisure reading as well.
(About Dr. Jill:Jill Grimes, MD is a family physician at West Lake Family Practice in Austin, TX. She is the author of Seductive Delusions: how everyday people catch STDs, and an associate editor for the 5-Minute Clinical Consult Textbook. Dr. Grimes is also a clinical instructor for UMASS Medical School.)
More information on this week’s show are filed under the June_25_Podcast tag on my Delicious page.
SHOW NUTS AND BOLTS
Listening To The Show Live: You have 2 ways to listen to the show live -
1. From my show site. On the day of the show, you’ll see the “play/chat” button when it’s show time. Click the “play/chat” button and you’ll hear the show live. If you don’t see it, just refresh the browser.
2. From any phone (land, cell or skype) by calling 347-237-5194
Listening as a Registered Blog Talk Radio use
Registering with Blog Talk Radio is free and allows you to participate in a live Chat during each show, make shows “favorites”, become a “friend” of a show, and leave the host notes on the show page. Registering is easy and can be done from my show page.
Calling into the Show with a comment or question
When the show is on air, feel free to call in to ask a question: 347-237-5194, hit 1 to enter the switchboard and I’ll bring you on as soon as I can.
If you are listening with a headphone that has a mic, you can also click the “click to talk” button that you’ll see on the top of the Chat Room.
You can also twitter me questions during the show or before the show: twitter.com/drgwenn
Chat Room
If you are a registered user, after you sign in, once it’s show time just hit the green “Chat Now” button on my show page and the chat room will pop up. You’ll see your name and icon on the chat room participant list and then you’re good to go to start participating.
A quick technical note: the chat room has been having technical difficulties for many shows so I apologize ahead of time if you attempt to get in and we don’t have a chat that day.
Listening From The Archives
If you can’t listen live, you can listen to any show at any time from the archives on my show page or iTunes, under “Alternative Health”.
Where can I find more information in any show you’ve aired?
Shows 1-9 have companion pages on Dr. Gwenn Is In where you’ll find links for more information and a summary of each show.
For more information on shows 10 and beyond, see my Delicious Bookmark page. Under each show’s specific date tag, you’ll find the links and headlines that helped make each show so unique.
Upcoming shows:
A Dose of Dr. Gwenn will be on summer hiatus for July and part of August to enjoy the summer as unplugged as possible…and so you can do the same!
Stay Tuned for show August show information as Labor Day approaches. Topics for the August show will include summer wrap-up, and getting the dust off for school and fall sports
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America’s National Park’s have more than 12,000 miles of trails. Hiking is great because you get to enjoy beautiful scenery, look for those little creatures that are trying to blend in with their surroundings and oh yeah, get exercise. Of course, with anything there’s always a chance one can get hurt or sidetracked so you need to take precautions to protect yourself from the what ifs. Here’s what you need to up your safety (fun) factor:
1. Good shoes that fit well and thick socks
2. A backpack to hold your necessities
3. Dress in layers, including a hooded, waterproof jacket, hat and sunglasses
4. Sunscreen
5. Insect Repellent
6. Map and compass
7. Water and food
8. Waterproof matches and army-style knife
9. Flashlight and extra batteries
10. First aid kit
These ten safety tips for hiking are pretty easy to handle. Many of the suggested safety items may be found right in your home. If you want to be head of the class you may consider a weather radio, CPR mask and whistle. You never know what can happen in the wilderness (snake bite, bee sting, all of a sudden anaphylactic shock). It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Be safe and enjoy the trails!
Summer’s here and there’s no better place to be with our kids than outdoors! Whether you are traveling close to home or far, the outdoors offers endless benefits to all members of your family from recreation to health perks to sanity and soul readjustments. Plus, time outdoors is fun and free (usually!).
When you have kids of different ages or you’re just in the mood to try something new, it can be hard to figure out exactly what to do outside or how to tackle nature in a new way. www.naturerocks.org is your answer – a new website I learned about recently that, in addition to having one of the most creative web names online today, has one of the most comprehensive and useful sites I’ve seen for families in a long while.
Founded by the Children & Nature Network and ecoAmerica, Nature Rocks is a new national program that aims to get people outside to not only connect with nature but each other. The goal of the program is fun, safety and sanity, as noted by this intro to the program on the home page: “This site will help you find all sorts of nature activities, plus tools to help guide and plan your adventures. You’ll also find useful tips and information to help you get into nature without getting over your head. It’s fast and easy so you can shut your computer down quickly, open up that door and be on your way in as little as 5 minutes. Nature is closer than you think!”
That’s it in a nutshell – fun, quick and within our limits. Let’s face it – nature is awesome…in the amazing sense and in the overwhelming sense. We want to enjoy it…not be consumed by it’s power and elements we can’t control.
Even before checking out the site, a few perks popped to mind as to why we’d all want to spend more time outside this summer in true nature, away from civilization and plugs:
A break from our daily grind for old fashioned R&R (Rest and Relaxation)
Unplugged time to allow us to decompress from the high octane pace of digital life
To refuel and feeling good
To connect with our families and our thoughts
To expand our life experience
The Nature Rocks website, also points out that time outside gives us many health and brain power perks, too, for ourselves and our kids. We’re basically exercising while having fun and the benefits of that pay forward for a very long time.
To help you plan your outdoor adventures, the site has two great guides. If you are staying close to home, check out Nature Rock’s Staycation Guide for ideas. If you are travelling, REI’s Passport to Adventure has suggestions for hikes and bike rides all over the country.
Here’s a challenge. Go to the Nature Rocks’ home page and listen to the sound track. Notice the family laughter and sounds of nature in the background. Notice how relaxed everyone sounds. Notice the lack of distraction from cell phones going off or texts being typed. That could be your family’s next soundtrack. In fact, that sound be all of our families soundtracks much more than it currently is. I’m up for doing something about that…how about you??
Being the first group of parents to have to have to parent an all digital generation of kids, it’s no wonder our brains go on overload trying to sort out not only how to use all things digital but keep our developing kids safe and thriving in their ever digital lives.
I talked about these issues today on Fox25 Boston and highlighted the new social media and sexting tips out from the American Academy of Pediatrics in honor of Internet safety month. Here’s the clip of the segment with all the details:
To remember the key points of the new AAP tips, I came up with the mnemonic “TECH”:
T: talk to your kids about their technology use and what they think of technology and the issues they hear about online.
E: educate yourself about the technology your kids are using, your kids about the issues, and your community about the need for youth education programs in schools as support for the issues
C: check your kids online profiles and logs often, and sometimes without warning
H: have a family tech use plan and follow-through when violations occur.
We know how to parent off line. We know how to create consequences when curfews are broken and expectations for social rules and proper behavior are not met. What we have to do now is modify our already great parenting skills to the online world. These tips are the first step!
Plus, keep in mind, you are not alone. Not only are all the parents around you in the same boat but you have experts like me here to help answer your questions about the high tech lives of kids.
I had a great chat after the segment with many FoxNews25 viewers and will post what we talked about soon so everyone can benefit. In the meantime, if you have questions about your own “Networked Family” or a story to share from your own “Networked Family” archives, email me at ideas@pediatricsnow.com.
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To conquer childhood cancer, two leading pediatric cancer organizations, Hope Street Kids founded by former U.S. Congresswoman Deborah Pryce and Randy Walker and CureSearch [National Childhood Cancer Foundation (NCCF) and the Children’s Oncology Group (COG)] have joined forces under the umbrella of CureSearch. The announcement was made today at CureSearch’s Reach the Day event on Capitol Hill.
Everyone needs sleep. Small babies and infants need sleep to grow properly. Toddlers and children need sleep to grow, run, learn, play and explore. And we lucky parents need sleep so that we can keep up with it all!
If you are struggling with bedtime battles or the naptime naughties, Child n’Parent can help. Let our experienced parenting writers give you the lowdown on what works and what does not! Sleeping and naptime can truly be better with help from Child n’Parent.
Train Your Newborn to Develop a Healthy Sleep Pattern
Learn how to help your newborn develop a healthy sleep pattern that will gradually build into a healthy sleep schedule. Discover the dos and don’ts of bedtime routines and get brother and sister in on the new baby fun!
Make Your Baby’s Bedtime Routine a Bonding Time Great suggestions to get the most out of your baby’s bedtime routine. Learn how to bond with your baby at bedtime. Read through our fussy baby checklist to put a stop to the fuss and get your baby to bed!
Safely Swaddle Your Fussy Baby to Sleep
Okay, so you have tried almost everything and your fussy baby will still not go to sleep. Try swaddling. Read our article about this ancient and effective art. Learn how to safely swaddle your baby and use this superior technique as a quality baby sleep aid.
Get Your Baby to Sleep with These Proven Techniques
Need more ideas? Learn how to keep track of baby’s bedtime and naptime habits in a sleepy-time journal. Get some tips on setting up your baby’s sleeping environment including the idea of co-sleeping. Get more ideas on how to soothe your baby to sleep and learn more about baby sleep cycles.
Proven Techniques to Train Your Infant to Sleep through the Night
Train your infant to sleep through the night with “Ferberizing” techniques from Dr. Richard Ferber. Learn where you can find out more about “crying options” from Dr. Marc Weissbluth.
Naptime Help for Parents and Toddlers Get great tips on making your toddler’s naptime easier from our experts. Find out what to do when your naptime plan does not work.
You Can Stop Your Child’s Nightmares
You can stop a night fright problem right in its tracks with expert advice from Dr. Kristi. Learn how to create safe sleep haven for your child. Find out what might be causing the nightmares and utilize a step by step communication method to get to the bottom of your child’s fears.
Not only is this Sunday Father’s Day it’s also the kick off of Lightning Safety Week. Lightning, the nation’s deadliest weather phenomena, strikes year round but summer is its peak season.
Over the past 30 years, lightning killed an average of 58 people per year. This is higher than the 57 deaths per year caused by tornadoes and average 48 deaths to hurricanes. However, since lightning generally claims one or two victims at a time and does not cause mass destruction it is underrated as a major risk. Documented lightning injuries average about 300 per year in the U.S. but obviously without all the lightning injuries being documented the true number will never be known.
Lightning can strike as far as 10 miles from the area where it is raining. That’s about the distance you can hear thunder. So, if you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance and should seek shelter immediately. The National Weather Service has a great tag line: “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!”
Once indoors stay off corded phones, computers and other electrical equipment that put you in direct contact with electricity. Stay away from pools (indoor or outdoor), tubs, showers and other plumbing. Wait 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder before going outside again.
If someone should be the victim of a lightning strike know that they do not carry an electrical charge, are safe to touch and need urgent medical attention. Cardiac arrest is the immediate cause of death for those whose lives are taken. Some lives may be saved if the victim receives the proper first aid immediately. Call 9-1-1 immediately and perform CPR if the victim is unresponsive or not breathing. If an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) is available, use it.
Lightning is dangerous but with common sense and proper first aid training you can greatly increase the safety of yourself and others.
Experts agree. Childproofing your home gives your baby a safe place to play and explore, and gives parents peace of mind. But before your baby even becomes mobile you may be confused about when to begin the process of securing your home, where to start and what to do. A good place to start is to think about the developmental stages your growing baby will reach. From birth to 5 months, he or she will stay where put. But watch out! Sometime between the ages of 6 to 12 months your baby will begin to crawl. From 12 to 18 months he’ll have even greater mobility and reach. By 18+ months he’ll be running around and you’ll be trying to catch him. The best advice: be proactive. Anticipate your baby’s development, mobility and abilities. Childproof your home in advance, before your baby crawls, and you’ll minimize the potential of injuries. More advice: babyproof your home once, and thoroughly. If you’re handy, you can purchase babyproofing products and install them yourself. Carefully research and select them. Although products may look similar, they do not always offer the same quality and level of protection.If you lack mechanical expertise or you simply don’t have the time to get the job done, consider hiring a professional childproofing service. Visit iafcs.org to find a babyproofer in your area.
The First Step: Define Spaces and Secure Stairs
Babyproofing and selecting babyproofing products will be easier if you begin by separating your home into different zones: an area for family space, one for baby and an off-limits area set aside for adults. This is ideal preparation for determining where you will want to install safety gates.
For many, the homes in which we now live are very different than those in which we grew up. Larger, open floorplans offer tots many opportunities to get themselves into trouble. It’s sometimes a good idea to try to limit the area that we allow them to roam by installing baby gates to block access to unsafe areas. Child safety gates should always be installed at the top and bottom of stairs. If this is not realistic, you can install safety gates in hallways leading to stairs.
If your kitchen and family room are connected, you might want to secure this area with child safety gates (you’ll also have to thoroughly babyproof these rooms), which will give ample space for your child to explore while you can still supervise. Installing safety gates in these locations may replace the baby gates you would otherwise need at the bottom of the stairs. The remainder of the downstairs is “by invitation only.” Visit this space with your child, not to play but with a special activity. You might choose to read a book or listen to music together.
If you have a home office, block access to it by installing a baby safety gate or a door lock. If your office is located within another room, secure the area with an extra-wide gate that can be configured to any shape you need or consider using a play yard. Either way, this is an adult space and should be made off-limits.
Be diligent about closing and latching all your child safety gates every time you walk through them, whether they are installed in hallways, entrances to rooms or at the top and bottom of stairs. Your baby will see and understand that the baby gate is not a hurdle to climb but a doorway into an area that mom or dad has to open. By making sure safety gates are always closed and latched, even when your baby is sleeping, you’re less likely to forget to do this when it really counts. In addition, when your baby is with you in what is typically an off-limits area, you will have to be super-diligent about monitoring his whereabouts.
The Next Step: Selecting Safety Gates
Once you determine where you want to install your baby gates, you’ll have to select an appropriate safety gate for each location. There are three basic styles of safety gates.
Hardware or permanent mounted baby gates swing open and closed like a door. They are secured into walls and/or newel posts, offer maximum security and should always be used at the top of staircases. They’re also convenient for use at the bottom of stairways, as well as for hallways and entryways between rooms. These baby gates require mounting kits unless you are installing the gates in wood framed doorways. New styles include safety gates that install on an angle and baby gates designed for outdoor use.
Pressure mounted walk-through baby gates also feature a convenient doorway but are secured to walls with tension, offering tool-free installation. Since this is not a permanent style of mounting, pressure mounted walk-through baby gates are ideal for separating rooms on the same level. They are also often installed in hallways, entryways or at the bottom of stairs. Pressure mounted walk-through baby gates are available for openings up to approximately 6’ wide.
Irregular and extra-wide baby safety gates let families install large safety gates that compliment their floorplans and lifestyles. Relatively recent in design, these irregular and extra-wide safety gates can be used to separate rooms, for hallways, entryways and at the bottom of stairs. Since some irregular and extra-wide baby safety gates feature add-on sections so you can customize them to create safety gates in whatever size and shape you need. They are often ideal for sectioning off an area of a room to create a safe play space for baby.
Another option you may wish to consider is to use a play yard. A modernized version of the playpen, it allows you to create a safe play space within any room. Most styles of play yards allow you to add on as many panels or gate extensions as you need. You can even use a play mat underneath it, offering a cushioned play surface for romping and rolling.
This past weekend a 4 year old girl was killed after being hit by a car driven by an 88 year old woman. By all reports, the elderly driver was not speeding or out of control. The little girl was simply crossing the street on her scooter with her grandfather - in a cross walk.
This month alone Massachusetts has had four accidents involving older drivers. According to The Boston Channel, “On June 2, a 93-year-old man drove his car into a Danvers Wal-Mart, injuring a mother and her baby. Just days later, a 73-year-old woman lost control of her minivan and crashed into a crowd gathered for a memorial in Plymouth.”
The death of this Diya Patel has caused Massachusetts residents to ask some tough questions about whether older folks should be driving, and the Mass legislature to introduce a bill calling for mandatory road testing for anyone wanting to drive past the age of 85.
While I’m a big believer in encouraging freedom and independence for our older members of society, I couldn’t agree more that this measure is needed. I witnessed my grandmother driving well past a point of safety and comfort, accumulating minor traffic violations and fender benders. She and a friend ultimately ended up in a very serious accident that neither recovered from. The only good that came from that accident was that we got my grandmother off the road. But, her dignity and independence were gone. We had to put her in a nursing home to recover from the accident and she never recovered. It was like her soul was sucked from her. While drive was dangerous to her and others, it allowed her that spark she needed each and every day. I always wondered if we had found another way to get her off the road, well before that accident, could we have preserved her dignity? Could have have preserved that spark we all looked forward to seeing in her eyes?
The driver who struck and killed little Diya is likely grappling with these issues right now. Not only is her dignity and sense of independence gone, but her virtual freedom may be as well as she’s been charged with motor vehicle homicide by “negligent operation”.
It’s difficult to see our loved ones age and to have the discussions of restricting their means of freedom. So many skills are involved in driving, however, it’s in the best interest of the elderly driver and everyone else to have mandatory road tests. This isn’t just about reading an eye chart. This is about handling a moving vehicle and reaction times.
Our parents once helped us learn to drive. Now we have to help them learn how to not drive.
It’s an uncomfortable role reversal but it’s what we have to do when the tables turn and we realize that the shoe is on the other foot and the child must now care for the parent.
It’s time we stopped turning a blind eye to the fact that our aging parents need us to care for them, even if it means saying “no” to things they want to do. If we can do that, and with driving, Diya’s death will not have been in vain.
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Show # 14: Thursday June 18, 2009 Noon ET
Celebrate Dads!
Special Guest: David A. Kelly, author of Babe Ruth and the Baseball Curse
This week I welcome to the show dad and author David Kelly who has a new book out for kids, Babe Ruth and the Baseball Curse.
About the book:
Before 1918, the Boston Red Sox were unstoppable. They won World Series after World Series, thanks in part to their charismatic pitcher-slugger Babe Ruth. But some people on the Red Sox felt the Babe was more trouble than he was worth, and he was traded away to one of the worst teams in baseball, the New York Yankees. From then on, the Yankees became a golden team. And the Red Sox? For over 80 years, they just couldn’t win another World Series. Then, in 2004, along came a scruffy, scrappy Red Sox team. Could they break Babe Ruth’s curse and win it all?
About David:
Kelly has written for many newspapers and magazines, but Babe Ruth and the Baseball Curse is his first book for children. Kelly lives 15 minutes from Fenway Park in Newton, Massachusetts with his wife, two sons (Steven and Scott), and a dog named Samantha.
I read this book in a day and give it a two thumbs up! I’m looking forward to chatting with David and learning about how he came up with this fantastic book…and about meeting Hank Aaron as a kid!
More information on this week’s show are filed under the June_18_Podcast tag on my Delicious page.
SHOW NUTS AND BOLTS
Listening To The Show Live: You have 2 ways to listen to the show live -
1. From my show site. On the day of the show, you’ll see the “play/chat” button when it’s show time. Click the “play/chat” button and you’ll hear the show live. If you don’t see it, just refresh the browser.
2. From any phone (land, cell or skype) by calling 347-237-5194
Listening as a Registered Blog Talk Radio use
Registering with Blog Talk Radio is free and allows you to participate in a live Chat during each show, make shows “favorites”, become a “friend” of a show, and leave the host notes on the show page. Registering is easy and can be done from my show page.
Calling into the Show with a comment or question
When the show is on air, feel free to call in to ask a question: 347-237-5194, hit 1 to enter the switchboard and I’ll bring you on as soon as I can.
If you are listening with a headphone that has a mic, you can also click the “click to talk” button that you’ll see on the top of the Chat Room.
You can also twitter me questions during the show or before the show: twitter.com/drgwenn
Chat Room
If you are a registered user, after you sign in, once it’s show time just hit the green “Chat Now” button on my show page and the chat room will pop up. You’ll see your name and icon on the chat room participant list and then you’re good to go to start participating.
A quick technical note: the chat room has been having technical difficulties for many shows so I apologize ahead of time if you attempt to get in and we don’t have a chat that day.
Listening From The Archives
If you can’t listen live, you can listen to any show at any time from the archives on my show page or iTunes, under “Alternative Health”.
Where can I find more information in any show you’ve aired?
Shows 1-9 have companion pages on Dr. Gwenn Is In where you’ll find links for more information and a summary of each show.
For more information on shows 10 and beyond, see my Delicious Bookmark page. Under each show’s specific date tag, you’ll find the links and headlines that helped make each show so unique.
Upcoming shows:
Thurs June 25 Noon (step into Summer!)- all ET. NOTE: Check show page for exact show dates as times as details may change after this post is published.
July: Summer Vacation Hiatus - enjoy the time with your families!!
August: Stay Tuned for show info - topics will include summer wrap-up, and getting the dust off for school and fall sports
At Reach the Day, we want to “broadcast” the event for those not able to make the trip into DC. We’re going to provide updates on Twitter via the username @CureSearch. Tweeting will allow us to provide updates across the web quickly and easily to everyone “tuned in” via Twitter.
If you’re following along on Twitter at home, retweeting our tweets and tweeting “follow @CureSearch” suggestions during our tweet up will be a huge help to our cause.
We’re also hoping our attendees will Tweet from the event. We will then organize all of our tweets under the hashtag #ReachTheDay. This way, anyone on Twitter can see all Reach the Day-related tweets with a simple search. We will also try to have enough #ReachTheDay mentions that we’ll be one of the top 10 topics on Twitter, which will make us visible to every Twitter user online. This is a great opportunity to spread awareness for childhood cancer!
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
With health care reform being the talk of the week - a top priority for President Obama and for the AMA, who wants to be sure that America’s physicians are not just talked about in the reform process but included - I can’t help but wonder if the entire system will be reevaluated or if we will end up with just another band aide.
What worries me is that it is not just the practical end of medicine that is broken. It is not just the billing end that is unhealthy. It’s not just the reimbursement and billing end that is broken. The overall culture of how we practice medicine is broken as well as the educational system in which and through which our next generation of physicians are being trained.
In this Spring’s issue of the Tufts University Medical School Alumni Magazine, my medical school Alma Mater, resident life style issues were at the core of their headline article. Reading the article, Pressure Drop, by Susan Clinton Martin, M.D., M.P.H, ‘04, a pediatrics resident, I was at times propelled back in time to my pediatrics residency at the same institution in the early 1990’s have discussions with my adviser and residency director about whether I wanted to go part time. As I was in my junior year of my pediatrics’ residency and expecting my first child, this was not an easy decision to make and I had seen mixed results with other residents who had attempted this path before me.
In the end, I opted to not go part-time and for the reasons stated in the article for most residents not opting for this path:
1. longer length of overall residency
2. decreased pay and benefits (not ideal with a baby at home!)
3. resentment of colleagues for fear of extra work on their plates
4. lack of support of the program
The honest truth is all of these issues were at play back in the 90’s with me and my colleagues and still exist today. I opted to just forge ahead and deal with having a baby and being a full time resident. I don’t regret that decision. I had the support of some attending physicians and colleagues, friends, my husband and a wonderful nanny who a PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) Attending introduced me to. It wasn’t easy but is there ever a great time to have a baby in the medical profession? Let’s be honest - residency is one of the most challenging times for a physician and adding any stress to the plate makes it worse.
Balancing work and family is never easy for any career but particularly challenging as a doctor and incredibly challenging as a resident physician where you don’t control your time. Residency programs have rather rigid schedules and even the most thought through back up systems don’t accommodate the last minute life issues that can occur unexpectedly when you are a new parent and have a new baby at home. Residencies try to be reasonable when life issues emerge but it isn’t always easy and there is always some sort of “pay back”. Even when unexpected life issues emerge - daycare crises, infant illness, or a family crisis, it’s almost easier to find a way to get to your shift. That’s how intense the pressure is on you at the time. I recall seeing an Attending pregnant with her 3rd child in tears one day become some small issue had unraveled at home. I asked a mentor about it and she told me “You’ll see when your baby comes. Some days the pressure just gets to you. Just come talk to one of us. There are a few who understand and can help.”
Reading that Dr. Martin was brave enough to go part time was like seeing a rose among weeds. The benefit to her and her family was enormous. When working her “on” months, she can focus and feel less guilty, knowing her time with her family is coming. When she has her “off” months, she’s refreshed “emotionally accessible” to her family.
A recent study by Martin’s program director Dr. Robert Vinci showed that today’s medical students value part time options in residency programs, yet few residents are utilizing those options when they do exist and the majority of programs are still very traditional. According to the article, only 25% of US residencies have part time options with only 10% of residents in those programs utilizing the part time paths.
So, there’s a big disconnect in medical education between desire for better lifestyle and what is available, no different than what those of us who have completed are education and training have experiened with in the health care system for years. While it’s discouraging that our caring profession doesn’t have a system that allows us to care for ourselves and our families, it’s encouraing that we are all finally speaking up that balance between work and home isn’t a frill but a necessity - even for physicians.
This is why it is so crucial that doctors at every level of today’s health care system not only have a voice in the health care system discussions under way but be the key players in crafting the new system. This is our career, our life’s work. We would never tell the Government how to do their jobs…what makes them think they call tell us how to do ours?
With Swine Flu, Influenza H1N1, now at pandemic levels world wide, gathering data and information about the virus is important to keep us all healthy. Believe it or not, part of the information hunt involves how you get your information on important health issues such as Swine Flu.
Researchers at The Institute for Health Policy at The Massachusetts General Hospital are looking into that very issue and have put together a quick survey that they’ve asked me to post on my blog. Surveys like this are important because they help us not only take the temperature of where you are at in gathering information on important health issues but they help us as health journalists, bloggers, physicians and researchers in sorting out the best ways to disseminate health messages day to day and when crises strike.
BTW, I would never ask you to take a survey I didn’t take myself. It’s quick and easy, and has questions that will make us all think a bit differently about the world of health media messages.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
The end of the school year is nearing but that doesn’t mean the kids have to stop learning or making good choices. As an educational professional, what message are you leaving your students with?
As a school psychologist did you review the negative effects bullying can have on one’s self esteem? How about the effects of peer pressure? Off the playground or out of the hallway there’s still the public pool, parks, house parties, etc. that peer pressure weasels its way into.
If you’re a health teacher is there a female student who needs some guidance when it comes to healthy eating choices because she suffers from an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia? How about reminding students that it’s okay to say “no” to sex? Realistically, knowing that not all kids practice abstinence, reiterate the importance of the use of condoms.
School nurses can’t stress enough the importance of hand washing. There’s a cool product on the market called Glo Germ that shows kids, and adults for that matter, just how quickly germs can spread. That would be a perfect summer “experiment” to keep the young people busy.
Speaking of keeping busy, physical fitness gurus (AKA gym teachers) maybe you won’t be able to drag the kids away from VH1’s latest “blank of love” reality show but you could create some commercial length quickie workouts that won’t seem so bad when broken down. I know you knowchildren and adolescents should do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of physical activity each day butdo they?
Of course they may roll their eyes now but encouraging kids to keep active, read, take part in positive group activities and get out and enjoy the summer weather (of course wearing sun block) is all a part of what twenty years down the line they’ll be wishing they could do again instead of sitting at work twittering about it.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
Cell phones are their feature are an ever growing topic in today’s families. It used to be that the hot button issue was whether to get the phone. Now, we have to deal with all the features: texting, Internet, camera…to name the tip of the iceberg!
Clearly we’re becoming a more mobile society with our cell phones taking over features previously reserved for our computers. A recent Nielsen Wire report confirms this observation showing that in Q1 of 2009 21% of cell phone owners used their phones to search the Internet, up from 16% in Q4 of 2008.
At the moment, digital plans are pricey so it’s easy to lock our kids out of their cell phone Internet access. However, not too long ago we said the same exact thing about texting and now we have affordable unlimited texting plans.
Given the impulsivity of tweens and teens and how difficult it is for us to help kids with appropriate Internet use on computers, do we want to open the door to having them have access to the Internet on cell phones? Once data plans become more affordable, should we let them have cell phone internet access?
Perhaps it would be easier to answer if asked slightly differently. How are our teens and tweens doing with the digital cell phone freedom they have right now? Given the rise of extreme texting and sexting, I’d say not so great. Before we open the door to new issues and digital freedoms they are not ready for, we have to help them more with the freedoms they already have - and are clearly struggling with. Plus, as parents, we are still sorting out the issues with the digital uses of technology our kids are currently using. Let’s sort those out first before we give the green light to other mobile freedoms that will certainly be more complex and harder to control.
If all goes well, data plans will remain unaffordable for a while longer so we won’t have to cross another digital bridge none of us are ready for.
Show # 13: Wednesday June 10, 2009 Noon ET
Networked Families!
Join me today for my monthly Networked Families show. On deck this week are topics that range from MP3 players, the 24/7 lifestyle of teens, hidden hazards of technology during natural disasters, tele-medicine, and an update on how media impacts our kids’ health.
All the studies featured on today’s show are filed under the June_10_Podcast tag on my Delicious page.
SHOW NUTS AND BOLTS
Listening To The Show Live: You have 2 ways to listen to the show live -
1. From my show site. On the day of the show, you’ll see the “play/chat” button when it’s show time. Click the “play/chat” button and you’ll hear the show live. If you don’t see it, just refresh the browser.
2. From any phone (land, cell or skype) by calling 347-237-5194
Listening as a Registered Blog Talk Radio use
Registering with Blog Talk Radio is free and allows you to participate in a live Chat during each show, make shows “favorites”, become a “friend” of a show, and leave the host notes on the show page. Registering is easy and can be done from my show page.
Calling into the Show with a comment or question
When the show is on air, feel free to call in to ask a question: 347-237-5194, hit 1 to enter the switchboard and I’ll bring you on as soon as I can.
If you are listening with a headphone that has a mic, you can also click the “click to talk” button that you’ll see on the top of the Chat Room.
You can also twitter me questions during the show or before the show: twitter.com/drgwenn
Chat Room
If you are a registered user, after you sign in, once it’s show time just hit the green “Chat Now” button on my show page and the chat room will pop up. You’ll see your name and icon on the chat room participant list and then you’re good to go to start participating.
A quick technical note: the chat room has been having technical difficulties for many shows so I apologize ahead of time if you attempt to get in and we don’t have a chat that day.
Listening From The Archives
If you can’t listen live, you can listen to any show at any time from the archives on my show page or iTunes, under “Alternative Health”.
Where can I find more information in any show you’ve aired?
Shows 1-9 have companion pages on Dr. Gwenn Is In where you’ll find links for more information and a summary of each show.
For more information on shows 10 and beyond, see my Delicious Bookmark page. Under each show’s specific date tag, you’ll find the links and headlines that helped make each show so unique.
Upcoming shows:
Thurs June 18 Noon (Celebrate Dads with author David A. Kelly), Thurs June 25 Noon (step into Summer!)- all ET. NOTE: Check show page for exact show dates as times as details may change after this post is published.
July: Summer Vacation Hiatus - enjoy the time with your families!!
August: Stay Tuned for show info - topics will include summer wrap-up, and getting the dust off for school and fall sports
I had to IM my daughter once to get her to dinner. Such is life in our high tech, networked families!
My 14 year old has been known to text, talk, write and eat just about at once. Her phone is more of a data collector as I can’t recall the last time a call was sent or received on it.
What stories do you have?
If you are a parent of high tech kids or a high tech teen, I’d love to hear your stories or high tech moments for a book project I’m working on.
If interested, email me at ideas@pediatricsnow.com. I’ll be changing all names and locations so you don’t have to worry at all about privacy or being “identified” in the book.
Disney/Pixar’s Up has been the rage of reviews since it opened. Looking fun and having a cool story, I decided to take my 6th grade daughter and her friend last weekend, and was joined by just about every other family in a 10 mile radius – the theatre was packed with kids in age from young toddlers to older teens.
It’s not a surprising site these days to see young kids in a PG movie. Most animated movies these days are PG and most turn out ok. In this case, though, perhaps we all should have previewed the film before taking our kids – or perhaps the reviewers should have looked at the film more realistically from the eyes of kids under 13 instead of through their very adult lenses.
We all entered that theatre expecting the terrific animated adventure we had read about. We were all aware that the start of the film included a quick image of the passing of main character’s wife – but then expected the mood to lighten. It never did. Not a single person left that film with a happy look.
The movie was, indeed, a cinematic masterpiece in many, many ways. However, it was just too emotionally charged well beyond the opening montage with action that was far more intense for small children than any review had described. Ed Asner’s character, Carl, was so clearly in love with his late wife, Elle, that you could feel his grief throughout the movie. That theme was palpable until the very, very end – so much so that I had a few moments where I felt choked up. Looking over at my daughter and her friend during those times, they, too, had tears in their eyes.
Part of the issue, by the way, was the melancholy music which, other than the adventure moments, was incredibly pervasive. The other part of the issue was the bad guy – the adventurer we met in the opening scene when Carl was a small boy. He turns just plain creepy and evil – Indiana Jones nemesis evil, but animated.
Having now seen the movie, the issue is that the reviews all looked at the movie for it’s Oscar-worthiness and not for it’s kid-appropriateness. For example, Atopic Popcorn wrote: “Pixar has crafted a film that is their finest to date and so far, is the best film of the year.” No where in that review does it dissect the emotion of the flick or whether this really is a movie meant for kids under 13 at all.
However, another review from the Telegraph gives us a more realistic assessment of Up by noting that this is the first animated film to ever open at the Cannes. That alone is telling and an indicator of the overall emotional temperature of the film. The review goes on to say: “The film, in its aerial beauty and its melancholic undertow, recalls Albert Lamorrise’s The Red Balloon and Hiyao Miyzaki’s Howl’s Moving Castle. No recent animated picture has been quite so suffused with an awareness of human mortality.”
There you have it: “melancholic undertow” and “human mortality”. The only part this review left out is that those 2 themes were every present and quite intense.
So, who is Up meant for? Adults for sure, teens if they know what they are in for, and mature tweens. Keep in mind this is PG…and really should be PG-13 given the thematic content.
In an article posted this morning, Dash Wallooppillai voiced his concerns about the lack of funding for childhood cancer research. He knows all too well the hardships caused by this deficiency; his six-year-old daughter Ishanti is now battling Rhabdomyosarcoma for the second time.
Click here to read the full article, including Dash’s encouraging words about how we can spread awareness in order to reach the day when every child can be guaranteed a cure.
Visit 1800blogger to see all of our industry leading blogs.
Disclaimer:
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In addition to the WebMD list, consider this list I put together of “6 mistakes smart people make with technology every day”:
I had to IM my daughter once to get her to dinner. Such is life in our high tech, networked families!
Disney/Pixar’s Up has been the rage of reviews since it opened. Looking fun and having a cool story, I decided to take my 6th grade daughter and her friend last weekend, and was joined by just about every other family in a 10 mile radius – the theatre was packed with kids in age from young toddlers to older teens.
