Effective Communications Month (June) 2012

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By Terry Orr

What is effective communications?

Communication is the process of sharing information, thoughts and feelings between people through speaking, writing or body language. Effective communication extends the concept to require that transmitted content is received and understood by someone in the way it was intended. The goals of effective communication include creating a common perception, changing behaviors and acquiring information.

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Tip 1: You aren't a computer! (Stop Multitasking)

• When you are having a conversation, don't do something else at the same time.
• Take care to minimize distracters (TV, computer, cell phone, etc.) in the environment.
• If you find your attention drifting, consciously bring it back to the conversation.
• Make a mental note of key points that you hear during the conversation.
• Listen, don't just 'wait to talk'.

Tip 2: Set the stage (Tell your audience what's coming)

• What's the subject you wish to discuss?
• What's the timeframe for the conversation (schedule and length)?
• What's required of the listener?
• If it's a negative message, prepare the listener ("This is difficult for me to say, and may be difficult for you to hear...")

Tip 3: Think before you speak - and while you are speaking (Be more conscious to be more effective)

• What's the message you are hoping to get across?
• Determine associated information that's needed to support your message.
• Consider anticipated response of the listener, including possible concerns or objections.
• Word choice, tone and body language shape your message.
• Being more conscious helps you to be a better listener, too.

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Tip 4: I can see clearly now ... (Clarification is critical for effective communication)

As a speaker:

• 'Check in' with your listener to make sure that your message is being conveyed as intended.
• Don't make assumptions of your listener's knowledge of or interest in the subject.
• Allow for and respond to questions.
• Use analogies or common examples to help facilitate understanding.

As a listener:

• Use 'active listening' ("What I hear you saying is ...)
• Ask clarifying questions ("Do you mean...")
• Reflect observed body language and tone to confirm impressions.

Tip 5: Take the high road (Break the cycle of negative interaction patterns)

• Responding to an attack with an attack contributes to a downward spiral of negative interactions.
• Take a couple of deep breaths or count to ten before responding.
• Look for common ground to get back on track.
• Watch for emotional 'flooding' and take a time-out if needed.
• If what you are doing isn't working, do something different.

Communication is the exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, visuals, signals, writing, or behavior.

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Potty Training Awareness Month - 2012

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By Papa Orr

Potty training is a major milestone in a child’s life. For many parents, potty training is difficult.  So, in honor of Potty Training Awareness Month (June), we thought it would be the perfect time to share some information/tips to give you a better understanding of the basics of potty training.

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Potty training: How to get the job done

Potty training is a major milestone. Get the facts on timing, technique and handling the inevitable accidents.

By Mayo Clinic staff

Potty training is a big step for kids and parents alike. The secret to success? Patience — perhaps more patience than you ever imagined.

Is it time?

Potty-training success hinges on physical and emotional readiness, not a specific age. Many kids show interest in potty training by age 2, but others might not be ready until age 2 1/2 or even older — and there's no rush. If you start potty training too early, it might take longer to train your child.

Is your child ready? Ask yourself these questions:

• Does your child seem interested in the potty chair or toilet, or in wearing underwear?
• Can your child understand and follow basic directions?
• Does your child tell you through words, facial expressions or posture when he or she needs to go?
• Does your child stay dry for periods of two hours or longer during the day?
• Does your child complain about wet or dirty diapers?
• Can your child pull down his or her pants and pull them up again?
• Can your child sit on and rise from a potty chair?
• If you answered mostly yes, your child might be ready for potty training. If you answered mostly no, you might want to wait awhile — especially if your child has recently faced or is about to face a major change, such as a move or the arrival of a new sibling. A toddler who opposes potty training today might be open to the idea in a few months.

There's no need to postpone potty training if your child has a chronic medical condition but is able to use the toilet normally. Be aware that the process might take longer, however.

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Most children begin to show signs that they are ready for potty training between 18 and 24 months, but instead of using age as an indicator, look for other signs that your child may be ready to start the process, such as the ability to:

• Orally express a need to go
• Keep a diaper dry for two hours or more
• Get to the potty, sit on it, and then get off the potty
• Pull down diapers, disposable training pants or underpants
• Show an interest in using the potty or in wearing underpants

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There are a few key points to remember during the potty training process. First, teaching a toddler to use the potty isn’t an overnight experience. This will require a lot of time, patience and a willingness to accept setbacks. Remember that accidents will happen. It’s important to recognize all of the little successes during the process, so be sure to praise all attempts to use the toilet, even if nothing happens. During the process, if you show disappointment when a child wets or soils themselves or the bed, it can result in a step back. Instead, offer your support and reassure your child that he or she is well on the way to using the potty like a big kid.

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10 Training Tips

Once you see that your child is ready to start learning how to use the potty, these tips may help:

1. Don’t make your child sit on the toilet against his or her will. Instead, show your child how you sit on the toilet and explain what you’re doing (because your child learns by watching you). You can also have your child sit on the potty seat and watch while you — or one of his or her siblings — use the toilet.
2. Establish a routine. For example, you may want to begin by having your child sit on the potty after waking with a dry diaper, or 45 minutes to an hour after drinking lots of fluid. Only put your child on the potty for a few minutes a couple of times a day, and let your child get up if he or she wants to.
3. Try catching your child in the act of pooping. Children often give clear cues that they need to use the bathroom — their faces turn red, and they may grunt or squat. And many kids are regular as to the time of day they tend to have a bowel movement.
4. Have your child sit on the potty within 15 to 30 minutes after meals to take advantage of the body’s natural tendency to have a bowel movement after eating (this is called the gastro-colic reflex).
5. Remove a bowel movement from your child’s diaper, put it in the toilet, and tell your child that poop goes in the potty.
6. Make sure your child’s wardrobe is adaptable to potty training. In other words, avoid overalls and onesies. Simple clothes are a must at this stage and kids who are potty training need to be able to undress themselves.
7. Some parents like to let their child have some time during the day without a diaper. If he or she urinates without wearing a diaper, your child may be more likely to feel what’s happening and express discomfort. (But if you opt to keep your child’s bottom bare for a little while, you’ll probably need to keep the potty close by, protect your rugs and carpet and be willing to clean up.)
8. When your son is ready to start urinating standing up, have “target practice.” Show him how to stand so that he can aim his urine stream into the toilet. Some parents use things like cereal pieces as a sort of bull’s-eye for their little guys to try aiming at.
9. Offer your child small rewards, such as stickers or time reading with Mommy, every time your child goes in the potty. Keep a chart to track successes. Once your child appears to be mastering the use of the toilet, let him or her pick out a few new pairs of big-kid underwear to wear.
10. Make sure all of your child’s caregivers — including babysitters grandparents, and child care workers — follow the same routine and use the same names for body parts and bathroom acts. Let them know how you’re handling the issue and ask that they use the same approaches so your child won’t become confused.

There are some stressful or difficult times when you may want to wait to start the toilet-teaching process, for instance when traveling, around the birth of a sibling, changing from the crib to the bed, moving to a new house, or when your child is sick (especially if diarrhea is a factor). It may be better to postpone it until your child’s environment is stable and secure.

Just remember that kids will let you know when they’re ready. If you’re torn about when to start the potty training process, let your child be your guide.

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Good links for help on Potty Training:

http://www.aap.org/en-us/search/pages/results.aspx?k=potty%20training&nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR%3a+No+local+token

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/potty-training/CC00060 (excellent link)

http://www.webmd.com/parenting/tc/toilet-training-topic-overview (very good link)

Sunglasses Day

Audrey Davis
(Terry's Granddaughter) 

By Diane Forrest

Kendall
(Diane's Granddaughter) 

My granddaughter, pictured above, loves wearing sunglasses.....upside down!  Sunglasses are not only a cool accessory, but also a necessity to keep harmful u-v rays out of your eyes.  I never wore them when I was young, and never thought about them for my son when he was young, but now I see them more and more on people of all ages.  When I was going through my Marilyn Monroe phase I found some great large white rimmed sunglasses, but my son thought they were goofy, so I didn’t wear them much.

Kendall
(Diane's Granddaughter) 

My husband always had trouble finding sun glasses too.  He wore prescription glasses, and tried several things, he tried the ones that fit over his glasses, but they were just too large and clunky.  Then he tried just the lenses, that clipped onto his glasses, but he didn't like those either.  He finally took an old pair of glasses, and had them tinted.  That proved to be the best solution for him.

Kendall
(Diane's Granddaughter) 

Eye protection is hardly a new concept. In fact, long ago, Inuit peoples would shape walrus ivory into flattened circles with narrow openings. They were able to see out of these tiny slits, while the rest of their eyes remained shielded from the sun.  In 1752, the first tinted sunglasses were made. Then in 1929, the entrepreneur Sam Foster mass-produced the modern version.  I remember long ago watching advertisements about Who's behind those Foster Grant's?

Sunglasses protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. Your Optician will tell you that sunglasses with UV protection, will help to avoid cataracts. They also report that UV rays can be stronger in the winter, as the sun's rays hit you on the way down....and as it is reflected back up from the snow.  Sunglasses come in many colors and styles, from inexpensive to very expensive.  Some of the higher prices ones include Ray Ban's and Oakley, Gucci and Prada.  The main requirement they should have is that they block the U-V light rays from your eyes.

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Today is Sunglasses day, so make sure you don't leave home without them.  Here are some other reasons people wear sunglasses:

• You want to be a movie star and they all wear sunglasses.
• You're looking to hide behind a big, dark pair of sunglasses, and travel unseen through the streets.
• A little espionage, eh!?
• You want to make a fashion statement.

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And, Oh yes.... A few of us wear sunglasses to protect our eyes from the harmful rays of the sun.

Lightening Awareness Safety Week (June 24-30, 2012)

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By Terry Orr

When Thunder roars, Go indoors!!  That’s advice from the National Weather Service.  Also an expression my parents would have embraced and used while I was growing up. My Dad said more than once, “Boy, don’t you have enough sense to come in from the rain?”  I enjoyed watching storms, especially those that might contain tornados.

Lightening on the other hand, got my undivided attention.  I still enjoy watching thunderstorms – over the years I have gained a healthy respect for lightening.  The closest I have ever came to a bolt, was about 50 feet and nearly lost all body functions, jumped straight out of my chair during dinner.

Summer is the peak season for one of the nation's deadliest weather phenomena— lightning. But don't be fooled, lightning strikes year round. The goal of this Website is to safeguard U.S. residents from lightning. In the United States, an average of 54 people are reported killed each year by lightning.

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Lightning is a serious danger. Through this site we hope you'll learn more about lightning risks and how to protect yourself, your loved ones and your belongings.

These simple precautions can save lives during a lightning storm.

Stay Alert

• Monitor local weather conditions regularly with a special weather radio or AM/FM radio.
• Recognize the signs of an oncoming thunder and lightning storm - towering clouds with a "cauliflower" shape, dark skies and distant rumbles of thunder or flashes of lightning. Do not wait for lightning to strike nearby before taking cover.

Seek Shelter

• Look for a large, enclosed building when a thunder or lightning storm threatens. That's the best choice.
• If you are in a car and it has a hard top, stay inside and keep the windows rolled up.
• Avoid small sheds and lean-tos or partial shelters, like pavilions.
• Stay at least a few feet away from open windows, sinks, toilets, tubs, showers, electric boxes and outlets, and appliances. Lightning can flow through these symptoms and "jump" to a person.
• Do not shower or take a bath during a thunder or lightning storm
• Avoid using regular telephones, except in an emergency. If lightning hits the telephone lines, it could flow to the phone. Cell or cordless phones, not connected to the building's wiring, are safe to use.

If you are caught outside: (If you are unable to reach a safe building or car, knowing what to do can save your life.)

• If your skin tingles or your hair stands on the end, a lightning strike may be about to happen. Crouch down on the balls of your feet with your feet close together. Keep your hands on your knees and lower your head. Get as low as possible without touching your hands or knees to the ground. DO NOT LIE DOWN!
• If you are swimming, fishing or boating and there are clouds, dark skies and distant rumbles of thunder or flashes of lightning, get to land immediately and seek shelter.
• If you are in a boat and cannot get to shore, crouch down in the middle of the boat. Go below if possible.
• If you are on land, find a low spot away from trees, metal fences, pipes, tall or long objects.
• If you are in the woods, look for an area of shorter trees. Crouch down away from tree trunks.

Helping someone who is struck by lightning

When someone is struck by lightning, get emergency medical help as soon as possible. If more than one person is struck by lightning, treat those who are unconscious first. They are at greatest risk of dying. A person struck by lightning may appear dead, with no pulse or breath. Often the person can be revived with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). There is no danger to anyone helping a person who has been struck by lightning - no electric charge remains. CPR should be attempted immediately.

Treat those who are injured but conscious next. Common injuries from being struck by lightning are burns, wounds and fractures. (From http://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/emergency/weather/lightning/)

Lightning Strikes in One Shot

Lightning Show at the Grand Canyon

Links:

http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/

http://www.lightningsafety.com/

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June is National Fruit and Vegetable Month - 2012

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By Diane Forrest, RN

The other night my aunt came in from Texas for a visit.  My mother invited me over for dinner.  My father grilled burgers out on the grill, and we had home grown tomatoes and homemade bread and butter pickles made with cucumbers from his neighbor's garden.  We also had some steamed squash, zucchini, and onions from that garden, and fresh corn on the cob that was a gift from another friend.   I just have to say, there is nothing better than a grilled burger with home grown tomatoes.  It's one of my favorite meals.   It would have even been better with some strawberry short cake for dessert, but we didn't have any.  Luckily a friend of mine was telling me all about the delicious strawberries he had topped his ice cream with, so it was almost as if I could taste them too.

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June is National Fruit and Vegetable Month.  It’s the perfect time to celebrate, because there are alot of family gardens popping up all over town.  The most popular crop here is tomatoes.  I have never grown any, because people, who do grow them, always have more than they can eat. Other popular crops include: squash, bell peppers, onions, jalapeno peppers, okra, beans and peas.  I don't know of too much fruit grown around here, there are watermelons, cantaloupe, and occasional strawberries and blueberries.

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Fruits and vegetables are a great way to get the most nutrition out of your calories. They are packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients.  Compared with people who consume a diet with only small amounts of fruits and vegetables, those who eat more generous amounts as part of a healthful diet are likely to have reduced risk of chronic diseases, including stroke and perhaps other cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers.

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I have to confess I don’t have enough fruits or vegetables in my diet, so here are some tips to help sneak some extras into your meals:

• Wake up to fruit: make a habit of adding fruit—fresh, frozen or dried—to your morning oatmeal, ready-to-eat cereal, yogurt or toaster waffle.
• Stock up: Fill your fridge with raw vegetables and fruits—"nature's fast food"—cleaned, fresh and ready to eat.
• "Sandwich" in fruit and vegetables: Add pizzazz to sandwiches with sliced pineapple, apple, peppers, cucumbers and tomato as fillings.
• Top your pizza with lots of veggies. Try broccoli, spinach, green peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms and zucchini.

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So while the veggies are popping up in your area, stock up and learn how to freeze them to save for the winter months, and if you can't eat enough veggies or fruits, you can always have a V-8!

Skin Rashes

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By Diane Forrest, RN

When I was young, I had a round red circle mark on my stomach.  My mother couldn't figure out what it was, so off to the doctor we went.  I was diagnosed with ring worm.  Ring worm is a rash that is acquired from animals.  The doctor prescribed some antifungal cream and told me to stay away from strange animals.  That wasn't a problem since I had almost been eaten alive by a stray Doberman Pincher that hung around my school yard; I kept as far away from animals as possible.

When my son was young, I took him on a trip to visit some friends.  It was summer time, and hot, and his diaper was wet, and he developed diaper rash on his hind end.  I placed him in warm water with an oatmeal soak, and then applied Destin ointment to the area.

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Then on his first birthday I baked him a wonderful clown cake, made with strawberry cake mix.  He loved the cake and dug right in, but when it came time to clean him up, the red spots wouldn't come off.  He was allergic to the strawberry cake, and broke out in hives, another skin rash.

A rash is a change of the skin which affects its color, appearance or texture. A rash may be localized in one part of the body, or affect all the skin. Rashes may cause the skin to change color, itch, become warm, bumpy, chapped, dry, cracked or blistered, swell and may be painful. The causes, and therefore treatments for rashes, vary widely. Diagnosis must take into account such things as the appearance of the rash, other symptoms, what the patient may have been exposed to, occupation, and occurrence in family members. The diagnosis may confirm any number of conditions.

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There are many conditions, foods and even medications that will cause a skin rash.  Some are listed below:

• Food Allergy
• Anxiety
• Allergies, for example to food, dyes, medicines, insect stings, metals such as zinc or nickel; such rashes are often called hives.
• Skin contact with an irritant
• Fungal infection, such as ringworm
• Reaction to vaccination
• Skin diseases such as eczema or acne
• Exposure to sun (sunburn) or heat
• Friction due to chafing of the skin
• Irritation such as caused by abrasives impregnated in clothing rubbing the skin. The cloth itself may be abrasive enough for some people
• Menstruation
• Secondary syphilis
• Diseases such as Lupus

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Treatment differs according to what rash a patient has been diagnosed with. Common rashes can be easily remedied using steroid topical creams (such as hydrocortisone) or non-steroidal treatments. Many of the medications are available over the counter in the United States.  If you notice a suspicious rash on your body that doesn't heal in a couple of weeks, seek treatment from your physician before it spreads and becomes worse.

Celebration of the Senses Day

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By Terry Orr

Celebration of the Senses Day is a day to step beyond our normal sensory perceptions and take the time to exercise your latent senses. Unlike animals, people tend to over-rely on our vision to process information, or are simply too busy to stop and fully perceive the environment around us. In our distracted lifestyles, we many times overlook the distinct qualities of new objects or even things we interact with day. Try the following as a starting point for Celebration of the Senses Day:

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Go outside and close your eyes; listen to the sounds, feel the breezes and try to pick up on outdoor scents:

• In your home (away from stairs) close your eyes and try to navigate to different rooms;
• Close your eyes and have someone take objects from the refrigerator and see if you can guess the items by their smell;
• Turn on music that you normally don't listen to and sit down with nothing else to distract you (no games or reading material) fully take in the music. Try to pick out the different instruments used;
• Take a normal, everyday object that you've seen a thousand times, and take a really close look at it. Use a magnifying glass to look closely. Close your eyes and feel its texture; and
• Have a type of food you've never had before. Close your eyes as you eat it.

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One of my all-time favorite movies in “City of Angels” and the scene that I love is describing the pear (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHckzPJuPKw ). 

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Extrasensory perception (ESP) involves reception of information not gained through the recognized physical senses but sensed with the mind. The term was coined by Frederic Myers, and adopted by Duke University psychologist J. B. Rhine to denote psychic abilities such as telepathy, clairaudience, and clairvoyance, and their trans-temporal operation as precognition or retro cognition. ESP is also sometimes casually referred to as a sixth sense, gut instinct or hunch, which is a historical English idiom. It is also sometimes referred to as intuition. The term implies acquisition of information by means external to the basic limiting assumptions of science, such as that organism can only receive information from the past to the present. 

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