Helping to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

By Nurse Diane

When my mother was a teen, teenage pregnancies were mostly unheard of.  If someone happened to get in the family way, the girl was usually shipped off to Aunt Clara's house, or to some other remote location before any signs of the indiscretion became apparent.

When I was a teen, it was still quite uncommon for a girl to get knocked up, however if it happened, the girl usually stayed away from school, and was whispered about around town.

These days, seeing a pregnant mother at high school is a common sight, no one even blinks twice when a pregnant girl walks down the high school halls.  The vocational schools have day cares and child caring classes, and there is even a television show glamorizing the scenes of teenage pregnancy.

Becoming a parent while you are still a child is not as fun as the media makes it seem.  Not only have you lost your childhood, unable to do activities the other kids are doing, but also you are also responsible for another life.  You have to provide food, shelter, and heath care for another person for the next 20 years or so - should you decide to keep your baby?

Today is the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.  While it may not be a popular or comfortable subject to talk about, as adults, we have the responsibility to at least make an effort to inform the younger generation about the repercussions of unprotected sex and the effects it will have on their lives.  If you know of a teen, or have one in your home, take today and start a conversation with them, find out what they know, and what they don't. 

Stayteen.org has an online quiz here, http://www.stayteen.org/quiz/.  Ask your teen to take this quiz as a starting point for your conversation. 

To find other ways to help visit: http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/national/. 

There is plenty of time for young girls to become mothers.  Encourage the teens to wait until they are able to care for themselves and another human.

Mom, Dad, - time to do your research - get the facts - and determine your path forward for your children.  The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unwanted Pregnancy offer Ten Tips for Parents :  

1. Be clear about your own sexual values and attitudes.
2. Talk with your children early and often about sex, and be specific.
3. Supervise and monitor your children and adolescents.
4. Know your children's friends and their families.
5. Discourage early, frequent, and steady dating.
6. Take a strong stand against your daughter dating a boy significantly older than she is. And don't allow your son to develop an intense relationship with a girl much younger than he is.
7. Help your teenagers have options for the future that are more attractive than early pregnancy and parenthood
8. Let your kids know that you value education highly.
9. Know what your kids are watching, reading, and listening to.
10. These first nine tips for helping your children avoid teen pregnancy work best when they occur as part of strong close relationships with your children that are built from an early age.

Parents and Guardians – PLEASE take a few minute to click on this link read the entire article.

Bike Riding Safety

Ten Tips for Safe Bike Riding

Pediatric Safety Basics

Bicycle riding is a fun and popular activity among kids. And with more and more kids becoming overweight, encouraging kids to be more active and ride their bikes regularly can lead to a healthier lifestyle.

Unfortunately, bicycle riding can also lead to kids getting injured or even dying, especially when they don't wear a helmet. According to the CDC, 'more than 500,000 children go to hospital emergency rooms or doctors' offices due to bicycle injuries' each year.

Although it is a simple way to avoid getting hurt, far too many kids don't wear a helmet when riding their bike. In fact, one survey by the National SAFE KIDS Campaign found that 'only 41 percent of all children observed on bicycles, inline skates, skateboards and scooters wear helmets' and that 35 percent of all children observed wearing helmets wear them improperly', either because the chin strap was unattached, loose, or the helmet was tilted. In our own Bicycle Helmet Poll, only about half of children 'always' wear a helmet.

In addition to setting a good example and always wearing a helmet yourself, here are ten tips to teach your children to encourage safe bike riding:

• Always wear a bike helmet
• Stop and check traffic before riding into a street
• Don't ride at night
• Obey traffic signs and signals
• Ride on the right-hand side of the street
• Check your brakes before riding.
• Give cars and pedestrians the right-of-way
• Wear light or bright-colored clothing so that motorists can see you
• Be extra careful turning left - motorists don't expect it
• Avoid broken pavement, loose gravel and leaves - which can cause you to lose control of your bike.

But remember that simply wearing a helmet is not enough. Your child has to wear it correctly for it to keep him safe. You should choose a bike helmet that meets current safety standards. Other tips to help you select and correctly use a bike helmet include that you should:

• Start children wearing helmets with their first tricycles or play vehicles.
• Use foam pads inside to fit the helmet snugly so it doesn't move on the head.
• Fit the helmet so the front is just above the top of the eyebrows.
• Teach your child to wear a helmet so that it covers the upper part of the forehead and sits level on the head.
• Adjust the two side straps so they meet in a "V" right under each ear.
• Adjust the chin strap snugly under the chin.
• Make it tight enough so the helmet pulls down when the child opens his mouth.
• Check often to make sure straps stay snug and the helmet stays level on the head.

Please remember – Safety First!