August is Children's Eye Health and Safety Month

It's August and school is right around the corner. Enrollment forms and orientation schedules are being completed, immunizations are being done (will address in tomorrows article) and well visits are being accomplished--but what about your child's eyes?

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, nearly 25 percent of school-aged children have vision problems. Of children ages three to five, close to one in 20 have a problem that could result in permanent vision loss if left untreated. Eighty percent of preschoolers do not receive vision screenings. August is Children's Eye Health and Safety Month - a great signal for you to get your child's eyes checked before school starts.

Most children have healthy eyes. But there are conditions that can threaten good vision. Because you can't always "look" into your child's eyes to tell if they have eye health problems, set up some time today for an eye exam. Keep these following things in mind:

• Your child's eyes should be examined during regular pediatric appointments and vision testing should be conducted around age three.
• Parents should be aware of signs that may indicate their child has vision problems, including: wandering or crossed eyes; a family history of childhood vision problems; disinterest in reading or viewing distant objects; and squinting or turning the head in an unusual manner while watching television.

If you suspect that your child has any of the following eye diseases, do not delay, talk to your child's pediatrician. Keep an eye out for lazy eye, crossed eyes, drooping of the eyelid, color deficiency and refractive errors.

According to American Academy of Ophthalmology, more than 12 million children suffer from vision impairment, and eye injuries are one of the leading causes of vision loss in children. There are an estimated 42,000 sports-related eye injuries each year and the majority of them happen to children.

Parents should talk to their children about the importance of eye safety and what they can do in order to protect their eyes such as wearing protective eyewear while participating in sports or recreational activities, and playing with their age-appropriate toys. Avoid toys with sharp or protruding parts.

One of the best ways to ensure your child keeps his/her good vision throughout life is to set a good health example.

Finally a few tips to help plan for that trip to the eye doctor:

1. Schedule the appointment when your child is not likely to be sleepy or hungry. Schedule around those cranky times of day.
2. If you know that you may be spending some time in the waiting room have a plan in place. Bring a toy, coloring book or storybook. Even a snack can help pass time.
3. To lessen your child's anxiousness have the child watch an eye exam being done on a family member. Encourage your child to ask questions.
4. Another wonderful technique is to bring your child's favorite toy. The doctor can "examine" the doll or bear. This can also help keep little hands off of expensive equipment.
5. Finally, as a parent you should stay calm. Children can sense if you are nervous and in turn may become anxious.

Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month is dedicated to increasing awareness of the importance of proper eye care for youths. When in doubt, the best thing you can do for your child is to get a comprehensive eye exam from an eye professional.  So take a few minutes and call your eye doctor!

National Watermelon Day

Talk about a great topic in early August with the hot, hazy and humid days – there is nothing like finding a nice shady tree, a cool breeze and a water melon that has been sitting on ice for a couple hours!  Getting out the big knife to slice yourself a piece or two – sit down on the ground with your pals, eating that delicious , sweet, cold watermelon and spiting those seeds – always trying to outdo your last one.

A mid-west bred and raised fella who learned some of the finer point in life while growing up with the influence of my grandparents, aunt, uncles, parents, cousins, siblings and friends – with memories that have lasted for decades.  My kids and grandchildren have also shared in the family tradition.

On Granny’s farm, there was always fresh fruit and veggies, hot dogs, hamburgers, and fish a plenty for everyone.  They were not any holidays necessary – just a time for the family to gather – enjoy our time together, eat good food and have fun!

So stop by the local produce market – farmer’s stand and pick yourself a good watermelon, put it on ice for a spell – invite others or just enjoy it yourself.

Thump it.  If the watermelon sounds hollow (if you hear a dull thump/thud), the melon is usually ripe.

Tonight is - "National Night Out"

National Night Out is a community-police awareness-raising event held the first Tuesday of August, sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch in the United States and Canada.

The event is meant to increase awareness about police programs in communities, such as drug prevention, town watch/neighborhood watch, and other anti-crime efforts.

Take time out of your busy schedule, bring along Mom and the kids to participate in this worthwhile event!

National Ice Cream Sandwich Day

Could there be any more perfect treat on a hot summer day than a delicious Ice Cream Sandwich?  You have Ice Cream, and a chocolate cookie and smile on your face.

Today is National Ice Cream Sandwich day.   An ice cream sandwich is a slice of ice cream, commonly vanilla although other flavors are often used, sandwiched between two wafers, usually chocolate and rectangular.

Pictures taken from the Jersey Shore in 1905 show that Ice Cream Sandwiches were popular then and sold for 1 cent.  The current form was invented in 1945 and was sold at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Pa.  Since that time there have been other variations of the Sandwich.  Mainly with the wafer.  Chocolate Chip cookies and Ice cream sandwiched between oatmeal cookies dipped in chocolate, and crispy marshmallow wafers are used along with different flavors of ice cream. 

Ice Cream Sandwiches are also popular in other countries such as Australia, Singapore, Wales, England and Scotland.

My favorite way to eat an Ice Cream Sandwich is to let it get a little soft, then lick the ice cream around the edges.  Then I mash the wafers down until more ice cream oozes out.  I continue this process until the wafers are flat against each other and I have licked off all the ice cream.  Then I gobble down the wafers. I always like to eat layered things a layer at a time, to make it last longer, and irritate family members...which is always fun.

So on this hot August afternoon, treat yourself to an ice cold Ice Cream Sandwich in honor of National Ice Cream Sandwich day and remember the summers of your youth, or make some new memories.

Mixed Bag....enjoy

A little of this, a little of that to share …

American Adventures Month - American Adventures Month celebrates vacationing in the Americas. Whether, traveling in luxury or primitive conditions, tourists are encouraged to explore South, Central and North America. Experiencing the Americas in a variety of ways unlocks new worlds for all travelers.

Happiness Happens Month - It’s Happiness Happens Month! Our 16th President put it best when he said, “People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Happiness is truly a state of mind, and it’s up to us to determine to be happy! There are 3 purposes to reserving this month:

Get happy during Happiness Happens Month!

Recognize & express happiness

Listen to others talk about their happiness

National Panini Month - Hot off the grill, in honor of the third annual National Panini Month, Sargento Cheese has invited food lovers to switch up their usual sandwich routine and celebrate the delicious goodness of a panino during the month of August.

Although the panino is a traditional Italian recipe, Americans have come to embrace it – as evidenced by its place as a lunchtime favorite at delis and cafes around America. However, food lovers don’t have to reserve the great taste of a panino for eating out only.

National Truancy Prevention Month – A problem that has plague school, patents, communities, law enforcement officials and others for decades.  Please click on the link and read the report.

CUTS (Court Unified Truancy Suppression) Program (http://www.superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/JuvenileProbation/Probation/CUTS.asp)

National win with Civility Month - When we are civil to each other, we confirm our worth and acknowledge the worth of others. We can move in and out of all levels of society confident that we are always doing the “right thing.” We gain recognition for civility, and we secure the respect of our fellow human beings. Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/national-win-with-civility-month#ixzz1SzAqzRZ8

United States Air Force (August 1^st) – Established on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947.  The core values of the Air Force are: 1) Integrity first; 2) Service Before Self; and 3) Excellence in All We Do.

Respect Parents Day (August 1^st) - Parents’ Day is held on the fourth Sunday of every July.  It was established in 1994 for “recognizing, uplifting and supporting the role of parents in the rearing of children.”

World Wide Web (August 1^st) - Take a couple minutes to reflect how the Web has changed your life, your ways of communicating, how you research, shop, and the other million different things we can do today.  Then pause for a few moments and think what changes will occur over the next decade or two.  I hope that the good lord allows me a few more years to observe and enjoy it.

Simply put, the World Wide Web is a way to share resources with many people at the same time, even if some of those resources are located at opposite ends of the world. If you think of it as a research paper that lets each footnote take you right to the original source, then you've got the basic idea.

How has the World Wide Web and Internet changed your life?

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Wide_Web

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.hypertext/msg/395f282a67a1916c?pli=1

National Underwear Day (August 4^th) – when I saw this subject, I started laughing and knew right away, doing the research for this topic was going to be fun.  Second listing from my Google search was – ‘National Underwear Day at Freshpair.com.’  Take a couple minutes to visit this web site, as they do provide a nice recap about this day.

United States Coast Guard (August 4^th) – We recognize and help celebrate these unsung men and women who have a very difficult and challenging mission in protecting our water ways.  For all you who enjoy safe boating – you already have first-hand experience of the excellent training they provide boaters.

Assistance Dog Day (August 7^th) – Pay tribute to the selfless love, devotion and care provided by assistance dogs, including service dogs, guide dogs, hearing alert dogs and alert/seizure response dogs.

Purple Heart Day (August 7^th) – Is a US military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917.  It is the oldest award that is still given to members of the US Military.  I was first awarded on February 22, 1932 and nearly two million Purple Hearts have been awarded since that date.

WALKING THE DOG

A woman was flying from Seattle to San Francisco.  Unexpectedly, the plane was diverted to Sacramento along the way.

The flight attendant explained that there would be a delay, and if the passengers wanted to get off of the aircraft the plane would re-board in 50 minutes.

Everybody got off the plane except one lady who was blind A man had noticed her as he walked by and could tell the lady was blind because her seeing-eye dog lay quietly underneath the seats in front of her throughout the entire flight

He could also tell she had flown this very flight before because the pilot approached her, and calling her by name, said, "Kathy, we are in Sacramento for almost an hour Would you like to get off and stretch your legs?"

The blind lady said, "No thanks, but maybe Buddy would like to stretch his legs."

Picture this:

All the people in the gate area came to a complete standstill when they looked up and saw the pilot walk off the plane with a seeing-eye dog!  The pilot was even wearing sunglasses People scattered.  They not only tried to change planes, but they were trying to change airlines! 

True story.....

Have a great day and remember....

THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS

AS THEY APPEAR

A DAY WITHOUT LAUGHTER IS A DAY WASTED!!!

For the second time today, I find myself at a favorite eating establishments and using their WiFi to post this article.  With some luck, my new router will arrive tomorrow - but then again...gives me a good reason to visit others. 

This week on Keeping it Simple - August 1, 2001

Welcome to this week at Keeping it Simple (KISBYTO) on the first day of August.

Life often provides us challenges when we least expect them.  Case in point yesterday – my router died – and my internet access – my life line to the world.  After calling my provider who insisted in running the same trouble shooting steps I had already taken – finally agreed the router was dead.  A new router is due to arrive Tuesday morning.  So this morning I am having my breakfast at Silver Diners in Fair Lakes, VA –using their Wi-Fi to prep and post today’s articles - thank you.

The hot days of summer are upon us in North America and July has been exceptionally brutal for most folks with triple digit heat and high humidity.

We will continue our focusing on Safety throughout this month as we have done in July. Our first article will be Kids in Hot Cars – where last year set a new record high of kids dying in cars – it is hard to believe that folks will leave their children in the cars along – regardless of the weather conditions.

Diane and I have been busy working on several articles for this first week of the new month on some really good topics: Breastfeeding; Children’s Eye Health and Safety; Immunization awareness; Internet Safety guide for parents; and several fun and interesting topics.

Thank you again for your continued support, readership and comments.  We truly enjoy hearing from you.  

Kids in Hot Cars Alert

Although experts often focus on more common safety measures, like using car seats correctly and basic childproofing, there are many less well known 'hidden dangers' that may put your kids at risk.

Your family car is one of these 'hidden dangers,' and it is not just because of car accidents. In addition to the risk of getting hit or run over by a car, being left or getting trapped in a hot car can be just as deadly a danger. 2010 was a record year for deaths for children left in hot cars - 49 deaths.

Situations in which kids get hurt in hot cars include when:

• infants and toddlers are simply forgotten in their car seat
• toddlers or preschoolers sneak into the car to play and can't get out
• kids get trapped in the trunk

What's the danger?

In addition to the risk of being abducted if they are left alone in a car, on a typical summer day, the temperature inside a car (even with the windows rolled down a little) can quickly rise above 120 to 140 degrees. Even on a relatively mild day, the temperature inside a car can get above 100 degrees. At those temperatures, kids are at great risk for heat stroke, which can lead to a high fever, dehydration, seizures, stroke and death.

If you don't think that it can happen to you or your kids consider these descriptions from the death certificates of children that were published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

• a 9 month old died after being 'left strapped in child safety seat in a sweltering minivan for two hours - misunderstanding between child's parents resulted in the child being left alone in the van; one parent believed infant was at home with other 
• a 6 month old 'baby died when accidentally left in hot car for 3 hrs, died when outside 90-degree temperatures rose to 130 degrees inside closed car, parents thought the other had carried the baby from the car to crib 
• a 34 month old 'toddler who recently learned how to open a car door apparently climbed inside family station wagon while parent and sibling were in house'
• a 23 month old died when a 'relative babysitting child, put child in car for trip to store, went back in house having forgotten something, was distracted by something on television, sat on couch to watch, fell asleep, woke up two hours later'
• a 2 year old died after a 'parent left child in car after returning home from errand - was left for more than an hour'
• a 2 year old 'child apparently slipped away from parents and siblings, fell asleep atop blanket in unlocked car in driveway of home, oldest sibling found child 40 minutes later'

Remember, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 'a locked car sitting in the summer sun quickly turns into an oven,' and 'temperatures can climb from 78 degrees to 100 degrees in just three minutes, to 125 degrees in 6-8 minutes.'

Safety Tips

To keep your kids safe:

• don't leave them in a car, which can quickly heat up, especially on a hot, sunny day
• always lock your car and secure the keys so that your kids can't get to them
• warn your kids about playing in the car by themselves without adult supervision
• install a trunk release mechanism, so that they can't get trapped in the trunk
• get your kids out of the car first, and then worry about getting the groceries, etc., out of the car when you get home
• make sure that child care providers and day care workers have a plan to make sure that kids aren't left in the day care providers car or van
• If you are afraid that you might leave your sleeping infant or toddler in their car seat when you get out of the car, place a reminder on the dashboard.
• Also be on alert for cars that might have an unattended child left inside. If you see a child alone in a car, be sure to call 911 and help make sure the child gets out as soon as possible.
• And when a child is missing, in addition to checking the backyard pool and any other bodies of water, be sure to check inside the car and trunk of any nearby vehicles.

Kids in Cool Cars

The danger of being left alone isn't limited to kids getting overheated. Simply leaving the car running and the air conditioning on doesn't make your child any safer, even if it is just for a few minutes. Your child might be abducted, put the car into drive, or even get caught in a closing power window. So use the drive-through if it is available or take your kids inside, even if you will just be a few minutes.