Lights for Rights

Great American Smokeout

The American Cancer Society is marking the 35th Great American Smokeout on November 18 by encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. By doing so, smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life – one that can lead to reducing cancer risk. Quitting smoking is not easy, but it can be done. To have the best chance of quitting successfully, you need to know what you're up against, what your options are, and where to go for help.

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Reprinted from http://www.cancer.org/Healthy/StayAwayfromTobacco/GreatAmericanSmokeout/index

Get Smart About Antibiotics Week (Nov 15 - 21)

Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work

Antibiotics do not fight infections caused by viruses, like colds, flu, most sore throats and bronchitis, and some ear infections. Rest, fluids, and over-the-counter products may be your or your child's best treatment option.

 

Dangers of Antibiotic Resistance

If antibiotics are used too often for things they can't treat—like colds, flu, or other viral infections—they can stop working effectively against bacteria when you or your child really needs them. Antibiotic resistance—when antibiotics can no longer cure bacterial infections—has been a concern for years and is considered one of the world's most pressing public health problems. Widespread overuse of antibiotics is fueling an increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. So the next time you or your child really needs an antibiotic for a bacterial infection, it may not work.

 

If You Have a Cold or Flu, Antibiotics Won't Work for You!

Colds and flu are caused by viruses, not bacteria. Taking antibiotics when you or your child has a virus may do more harm than good. Get smart about when antibiotics are appropriate—to fight bacterial infections. Taking them for viral infections, such as a cold, most sore throats, the flu, or acute bronchitis:

• Will not cure the infection;
• Will not keep other people from getting sick;
• Will not help you or your child feel better; and
• May cause unnecessary and harmful side effects.

 

What Not to Do

• Do not demand antibiotics when a healthcare provider says they are not needed.
• Do not take an antibiotic for a viral infection like a cold or most sore throats.
• Do not take antibiotics prescribed for someone else. The antibiotic may not be appropriate for your or your child’s illness. Taking the wrong medicine may delay correct treatment and allow bacteria to multiply.

If your healthcare provider prescribes an antibiotic for you or your child:

• Do not skip doses.
• Do not save any of the antibiotics for the next time you or your child gets sick.

 

What to Do

Talk with your healthcare provider about the best treatment for your or your child’s illness. To feel better when you or your child has an upper respiratory infection:

• Increase fluid intake;
• Get plenty of rest;
• Use a cool-mist vaporizer or saline nasal spray to relieve congestion; and
• Soothe a throat with ice chips, sore throat spray, or lozenges (do not give lozenges to young children).

 

Video: Snort. Sniffle. Sneeze. No Antibiotics Please!

CDC created a video to help you learn more about appropriate antibiotic use and how to feel better when you or your child has a sore throat, ear or sinus pain, fever, cough, or runny nose. This video features a doctor, who is also a concerned mom.

Reprinted from  http://www.cdc.gov/Features/GetSmart/

National Drug Facts Week (November 8-14)

National Drug Facts Week (NDFW) is a health observance week for teens that aims to shatter the myths about drugs and drug abuse.  The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) has a great website where teens can get the facts and test their knowledge about drugs and drug abuse by taking the interactive National Drug IQ Challenge quiz!

GO TO QUIZ

The following booklet separates fact from fiction about drug abuse and addiction.  It can either be viewed right here or printed and is a great resource.
Q&A Booklet

Drowsy Driving Prevention Week (Nov 8-14)

The Facts about Safe Driving

For most young drivers, learning to drive and getting a license is a life-changing experience.  Suddenly, they do not have to find rides, take buses or ride their bike.  But being able to drive also comes with a great deal of responsibility.  All of this takes place at a time when young people are experiencing biological changes and greater time demands, leaving little time for proper sleep and other healthy habits.  Before getting behind the wheel, there are several critical facts that young drivers should know.

1. Alcohol and driving do not mix.  Many teens are involved in crashes caused by alcohol even though it is illegal for people under the age of 21 to drink. Also, teens who have car crashes are often repeat offenders when it comes to obeying traffic laws. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

28% of the teen drivers involved in fatal crashes had been drinking or had a prior

moving violation such as speeding

2. Fatigue can be as deadly as alcohol.   Drowsiness impairs judgment, vision, hand-eye coordination, and reaction times just like alcohol and drugs. One study found that after 17 hours of being awake, a person has the same impairment on performance tests as someone with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05. Waking at 6:00 a.m. to catch a school bus creates the “17 hour danger” by 11:00 p.m. With accumulated sleep debt, similar fatigue can occur in less time.

Combining sleepiness with driver inexperience can be dangerous - more than

half of all fall-asleep crashes involve drivers aged 25 years or younger

Biology, academic pressures, extracurricular activities and early school start times conspire to keep teens from their sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation’s 2006 Sleep in America poll, more than half of teens report feeling sleepy during the day.

 

3. Distracted driving is unsafe at any speed.  Common factors that increase the risk of car crashes include:

• Distractions – eating, putting on make-up, talking on the phone or interacting with passengers can cause a crash
• Recklessness – teens who run stop signs and speed are more likely to crash
• Safety – not wearing a seatbelt increases the risk of dying in a car crash

4. Drowsy driving among teens is common.  Teens are among the most sleep deprived Americans.  According to NSF’s 2006 poll:

More than half of teens (51%) admit to having driven drowsy in the past year

Car crashes are the No. 1 killer of teens – 7,460 teen drivers were involved in

fatal crashes in 2005

The privilege of driving comes with certain responsibilities, and safety-conscious parents must do all they can to ensure their young drivers stay safe as they hit the road. That is why NSF created this safe driver agreement specifically for young drivers and their parents.

Safe Driving Agreement

 

Reprinted from drowsydriving.org

 

School Lunch Ideas: Pinwheel Sandwiches

Sick of the same old sandwiches?  Shake things up with a twist on the traditional lunch with pinwheel sandwiches!  Using a wrap of any kind, just spread on your filling of choice, roll it up, then slice into sections for easy eating.  Simple, delicious AND healthy!  Here are some suggestions for fillings:

• hummus (alone or with veggies, cheeses, lettuce, etc)
• nut butter, sun butter or soy butter with banana and/or jelly
• chicken caesar salad
• cream cheese with tomatoes, cucumbers and feta
• tuna
• bean dip and cheese
• deli meat with cheese and avocado
• cream cheese and avocado
• cream cheese and smoked salmon
• chicken salad
• cream cheese with salsa and shredded cheese

There are endless options... be creative!  By coming up with a collection of different combinations that your child likes, you can offer up a fresh variety each day of the week.  Remember to include some fresh fruit and a healthy drink to complete the meal.  Eat A Rainbow!

Tween & Teen Health

Raising tweens and teens can be confusing, frustrating & exhausting!  Often we are looking for information and support to help us guide our children through these years.  The Mayo Clinic has great information on it's website addressing many relevant issues such as puberty, bullying, and risky behaviors:

GO TO SITE

American Diabetes Month

Join Bret Michaels and become involved in American Diabetes Month®.  This November, the American Diabetes Association is asking: How will you Stop Diabetes®? The future is in your hands.

Last November, the American Diabetes Association launched the Stop Diabetes movement, with the audacious goal of having 1 million people join in the first year.  So far, more than 814,000 people around the country have raised their hand and pledged to join the fight.

There are plenty of ways you can become involved in American Diabetes Month and the Stop Diabetes movement this month.  There is no time to waste. Diabetes is a disease with deadly consequences. Drastic action is needed.  From everyone.

Tools are available to help spread the word for companies, community organizers and health care professionals. You can discover more ways to become engaged in American Diabetes Month by visiting stopdiabetes.com, calling 1-800-DIABETES or texting JOIN to 69866 (standard data and message rates apply).

Healthy School Lunches

Students who eat nutritious foods are able to perform better academically, but coming up with healthy school lunches that your child will actually eat and that are convenient for you to make can be a challenge.  Here are some tips to help:

• Prepare ahead of time.  The mad rush out of the house in the morning is hectic enough.  Try to set aside some time on Sunday to put healthy foods like fruits/veggies and cheeses in handy baggies or containers.  Put waters or 100% juice boxes in the freezer to use as functional ice packs!
• Pack a rainbow.  A healthy lunch box is full of colorful wholesome foods.
• Think outside the sandwich.  Cubed meat and cheeses, veggies or fruit with dips (hummus, yogurt, guacamole, etc), wraps, salads, & soups are great ideas and keep your child from lunchtime boredom.
• Skip the sugar.  Avoid refined sugars and processed foods.  Soda is an absolute no-no.  "Lunchables" may be convenient but they are loaded with fat, sodium, sugars and preservatives.  Serving whole foods in their natural form ensures that your child's lunch contains optimal nutrition.
• Get help.  Getting your kids involved with preparing their school lunches is a great way to instill healthy eating habits early.
• Go Green.  Pack lunches in reusable containers instead of brown bags to reduce the amount of waste. 

Stay tuned for healthy school lunch and snack recipes!