Living Safer Volume 7 Edition 1 by LivingSafer

VOLUME 7 • EDITION 1

MAGAZINE

editor-in-chief

Stephanie Andre sandre@livingsafer.com

senior designer

Anthony James

A LETTE R FROM TH E E D ITOR

ajames@livingsafer.com

Dear Friends,

a s s o c i at e e d i t o r

Brittany Monbarren bmonbarren@livingsafer.com

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living safer

209 South Howard Avenue

Springtime always has a way of bringing the happy with it, doesn’t it? The sun shines just a little bit brighter, the “green” returns to the grass and getting outside becomes a priority. It’s a great time to appreciate this incredible planet we have. That’s why it’s all-the-more important that we truly begin to consider the ramifications of our daily lives. In this issue, we focus on Mother Earth and how some of the things “vital” to our everyday routine are slowly, but surely, killing our planet. From car emissions to our everyday plastics, if we don’t make some serious changes, this planet will be ruined and our own livelihood will be the next to be endangered.

Tampa, FL 33606 There are small things we can do to help the planet: • Bring your own bag when shopping. • Carry a travel mug. • Quit the bottled water habit. • Buy glass food storage containers instead of plastic. • Skip the plastic baggies and sandwich bags.

813.225.1313

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Consider adopting some or all of these practices. If each person did this now, it would save our future. In addition to this look at our everyday environmental practices, this issue of Living Safer also touches on some important health business: including the push to reduce your sodium intake, the nutritional battle between eating out vs. cooking for yourself and the psychological struggles of “comfort eating.” Coming back to the idea of springtime, I hope you will do your best to get outside, take the kids, breathe in some fresh air and enjoy! There’s nothing like the smell of fresh-cut grass and the gentle breeze of the season.

© 2015 by Claris Marketing, Tampa, Florida. All rights reserved. Editorial and executive offices at 209 S. Howard Avenue, Tampa, FL 33606. Telephone: 813-225-1313. Material in this publication may not be stored or reproduced in any form without permission.

Best to you and yours,

Requests for permission should be made to Stephanie Andre, Editor-In-Chief, Living Safer, sandre@livingsafer.com. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of specific authors and are not intended to or do not necessarily represent the opinion or views of the publisher, staff or other authors.

Stephanie Andre, Editor-in-Chief

living safer is your guide to all things safety.

Behind this SUV is a group of daycare children. Not one of these children can be seen by the driver behind the wheel.

WORKING TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE IN AND AROUND VEHICLES Before you turn the keyâ&#x20AC;Śmake sure you can see! Most drivers are unaware of the large and very dangerous blindzone that exists behind all vehicles. Every week at least 50 children are seriously injured or killed after being backed over because a driver was unable to see them behind their vehicle.

Help save the life of a precious child Donate to KidsAndCars.org

LOG ON TO DONATE: http://kidsandcars.org/donate.html

Helping Families Live Healthy Digital Lives. IPHONE APP COMING SOON

Social Networking for Kids: www.Yoursphere.com

Resources for Parents:

www.YoursphereForParents.com

Inside This Issue ON THE COVER

FEATURES

when it’s time to consider home care

self diagnosis: don’t trust everything you read

unplug’ a little each day

household cleaners: why they look like kids’ juice boxes

Environmental Concerns in 2015 34 Top Plastics, car emissions and more Do you ever think about how much you drive your car? How many plastic bottles do you use every week, each year? Do you send your kids to school with sandwiches in a reusable plastic container rather than throwaway plastic sandwich bags? These issues are nothing new, but nonetheless, they still exist and seem to be getting worse as our planet ages on. In this issue, we focus our attention on Mother Earth and how we humans continue to destroy her.

TRENDING TOPICS

HUMAN TRAFFICKING: THE MODERN-DAY SLAVE TRADE

FACEBOOK: COMPARISON TRAP OR CONTINUOUS SELF-IMPROVEMENT TOOL?

13 41

Every Parent Needs to Know

shake your salt habit

by Kelsey Williams

47 30

THIRTY INTERNET ACRONYMS EVERY PARENT NEEDS TO KNOW Internet Acronyms

DEPARTMENTS 05

the pulse

tech trends

gadgetry : make staying home safer for seniors

THE CONSUMER’S GUIDE TO ALL THINGS SAFETY

We’re on the Web and in Your Hands. Welcome to the all-new Living Safer, the same magazine you’ve come to know and love...just with a more inviting look and feel. And while the face may have changed, our pledge to you remains the same: to offer the best in safety information— from new trends and wellness to lifestyle, home and more.

Join the Conversation. Share and comment on Living Safer stories by joining us on Facebook and Twitter and by visiting LivingSafer.com fb.com/LivingSafer / @livingsafer

TRENDING

Early Sips of Alcohol Linked to More Drinking Later A new study by researchers in Brown University’s Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies finds that children given a sip of alcohol before sixth grade were more likely to have had a full drink or have gotten drunk by ninth grade than those who didn’t get a sip. But the study reveals only an association, not proof of a cause, the researchers caution. About three in 10 students reported having a sip of alcohol before sixth grade. By ninth grade, those children were five times more likely than those who didn’t get an early sip to report consuming a full drink of alcohol. They were also four times more likely to have been drunk and 3.7 times more likely to have tried binge drinking. Those calculations take into account some possible confounding conditions including a measure of the parents’ drinking habits. The findings—based on a 10-year study of more than 500 students—should put to rest the idea that letting your kids take a

swig offers them a “protective factor” against later alcohol abuse, according to the study. But fear not; no one is saying that it’s creating a “thirst” for alcohol. Researchers say children who get an occasional sip from parents don’t consume enough to change their brains. This appears, they say, to be about confusing signals from some parents who proclaim “don’t drink until you’re 21,” but whose actions may hint that experimentation is acceptable. “Kids this age are very concrete thinkers,” says Kristina Jackson, author and associate professor of behavioral and social sciences at Brown. “They can’t differentiate between a sip or two in the home versus a couple of sips outside the home. So they are getting a message and they’re not able to interpret the nuances.” But the study findings should encourage parents to be clear and consistent with children that alcohol is not for them, she said, including keeping it out of their reach around and beyond the home. @LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 5

‘Modern-Day

SLAVERY’ by J.R. Whaley

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uman trafficking is, simply put, the modern-day slave trade. And, while slavery is not legal anywhere in the world, it occurs everywhere. As former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrote, “Elementary students across America are taught that slavery ended in the 19th century. But, sadly, nearly 150 years later, the fight to end this global scourge is far from over.” Human trafficking is big business. The most recent estimates are that human trafficking is a $150 billion a year global enterprise, and has overtaken drug dealing and illicit arms sales as the single largest international crime industry. According to the U.S. State Department, 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders every year. Between 14,500 and 17,500 people are trafficked into the U.S. each year alone. Of course, this number does not include those Americans (mostly women and children) sold domestically—more than 70% of trafficking victims are female and half are children. Worldwide, the International Labour Organization estimates that 21 million are victims of human slavery. Modern-day human slavery takes two forms primarily. The first is sexual. Victims are physically forced or emotionally coerced into prostitution or to commit sex acts to create pornography that can then be sold. Trafficking victims in America are many times the most vulnerable members of society—runaway girls, foster kids, or those who were sexually abused as children. In 2013, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children estimated that one in seven endangered runaways reported to them were likely sex trafficking victims. Other studies indicate that one in three homeless children are lured into commercial sexual exploitation within 48 hours of being on the street. The average age a teen enters the sex trade in the U.S. is 12 to 14 years old. The number of minors trafficked sexually in the United States is estimated to be about 100,000 kids per year. Trafficking victims are also kept into involuntary labor servitude in labor camps, migrant farms and forced to perform other menial services. Often, these victims are illegally transported into a foreign country, having been promised work and wages. When they arrive, however, the “job” is much different than what was advertised. These victims are kept in involuntary servitude under physical threats or other coercion. Because the victims are oftentimes in the country illegally and do not speak the language, they believe they have no opportunity to report their captivity. William Wilberforce, the British statesman and abolitionist, said about slavery then that, “You may choose to look the other way, but you can never say again that you did not know.” Because they know of the horrors of modern-day slavery, governments and private parties have taken actions to combat human trafficking. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000 is the first comprehensive federal law to address trafficking in persons. It provides for a three-pronged approach to combat modern day slavery including prevention, protection and prosecution. The TVPA was reauthorized through the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2003, 2005, and 2008. In addition to this federal effort, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have passed some sort of human trafficking legislation. Several organizations, such as HPServe (www.hpserve.org) and Trafficking Hope (www.traffickinghope.org), take heroic actions every day to educate law enforcement officials and counsel and help victims. The most important issue for law enforcement is

education—ensuring that officers recognize victims of trafficking, and not to view them as perpetrators of a crime. Laura Domingue, the founder of Trafficking Hope and Hope House, knows well the emotional toll trafficking has on its victims. Hope House is a safe-house available and designated specifically for human trafficking victims and has provided care for 44 trafficked women since its opening on Oct. 1, 2013. “Human trafficking happens in communities all across America including yours,” Dominque says, “it crosses all social-economic barriers and can only be stopped when our communities stand up and say ‘it’s not’ and then actually do something about it.”

To request help or report suspected human trafficking, call your local authorities or the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline at 1-888-373-7888. Or text INFO or HELP to: BeFree (233733).

@LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 7

Making the world safer one community at a time. 60 for Safety partners with grassroots nonprofit organizations to bring safetyrelated messages to your community. Give us 60 minutes, we'll help make a difference in the life of someone you know.

60forSafety.org fb.com/60forSafety AN INJURY BOARD PROJECT

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TECHNOLOGY

Turn Your Phone into a LifeSaving Device by Brittany Monbarren

By now, we all know that our cellphones can be lifesavers—whether it be playing a game to kill time or scrolling through Facebook during a boring meeting. However, what can your phone do in an actual emergency situation? Although you may not use these emergency programs every day like you would Candy Crush or Twitter, consider downloading these life-saving apps.

GotoAID

FEMA

With a database of more than 400 topics, interactive tools and report generators, GotoAID brings immediate access to first aid information for you and your pets.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency app features information on different types of disasters, an interactive checklist for emergency kits, a section to plan emergency meeting locations, information on how to stay safe and recover after a disaster, and much more.

ICE Standard

Weather Radio by WDT

ICE standard, In Case of Emergency Standard app helps first responders and emergency room personnel locate a person’s updated medical information, emergency/medical contacts, medical insurance information, blood type, name, address and a photo verification of the individual.

Weather Radio enables you to receive critical alerts via voice and push notification regarding life-threatening weather events. This app allows you to keep on top of potentially dangerous conditions in your area and across the nation.

Pet First Aid

ubAlert - Disaster Alert Network

This app is devoted to animal aid and safety. Pet First Aid is loaded with detailed videos and step-by-step illustrations so you’ll know exactly what to do when caring for your pet in an emergency.

ubAlert is a global social network that operates to save lives by sharing the knowledge of the world’s citizens with those in danger. The app gives you all the information you need when it comes to disasters happening across the world. @LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 9

Gadgets that Make Staying Home Safer for Seniors by Brittany Monbarren From everyday safety and medication management to GPS trackers and monitoring systems, this issue we provide you with a list of tech gadgets that can make all the difference for your live-alone loved one’s safety and day-to-day living.

MONITORING

grandCARE The grandCARE is a personalized system that consists of a small Internet-connected computer that connects directly to the TV. It allows caregivers to broadcast important appointments and reminders to their loved ones. With the grandCARE system, you can also share photos and video chat with your loved one.

www.grandcare.com

SmartSoles The SmartSoles from GTX Corp. provides peace of mind for family members and those caring for people suffering from memory impairment. These GPS enabled “Smart” soles are designed to fit into most adult shoes and lets you monitor the whereabouts of loved ones who may have a tendency to wander or at risk of becoming disoriented and lost.

www.gpssmartsole.com

BeClose BeClose is a monitoring system. By using discrete wireless sensors placed in the home, BeCare tracks routines and activates, and informs caregivers and providers when issues of concern arise.

www.beclose.com

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MEDICATION MANAGEMENT

CADEX Medication Reminder & ID Watch This multi-functional watch is used for more than just telling time. It programs up to 12 medication reminders and also stores important medical information in its Medical ID Databank. When the watchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ALERT button is pressed, it will display the medical ID information in an emergency.

www.cadexwatch.com

e-Pill Pocket Pill Box With this automatic medication reminder, you can set up to four daily auto-repeating alarms by vibration, beep or both. Its automatic locked pill dispenser also allows you to store your medication and holds up to four doses of medication.

www.epill.com

EVERYDAY SAFETY

iRobot The iRobot family of automated cleaners makes it easy for your loved one to keep any floor in the house clean. With just the press of a button, these robots are designed to make vacuuming, floor scrubbing, mopping and sweeping easier than with conventional tools.

www.irobot.com

Stove Guard This revolutionary safety device uses advanced technology to monitor your loved ones presence in the kitchen cooking area and shuts off power to the stove when left unattended for too long.

www.stoveguardintl.com @LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 11

ONE Second IS NOT A VERY LONG TIME.

But when you’re behind a steering wheel and your eyes leave the road—that ONE single second can change a life. ONE second is all it takes to be distracted. When you are driving, it should not be a secondary task—it should be the only task. EndDD.org (End Distracted Driving) was established to raise awareness and generate action against the epidemic of distracted driving. DISTRACTIONS INCLUDE:

Visual

Taking eyes off the road

Manual

Taking hands off the road

Cognitive

Taking mind off the road

While texting and talking on the phone are both mental and physical distractions, cellphone use is attributed to 18% of fatalities in distraction-related crashes.

What makes up the other 82%? » Putting on makeup » Reaching to grab a drink » Changing the music » Dealing with the GPS » Eating on the go The distractions are endless. But they don’t have to be. The Core Mission of EndDD Our core mission is to preserve life and promote safety on a large scale through advocacy, education and action. It is our hope that we can prevent families and friends from suffering the loss of a loved one because of distracted driving. Together, let’s work to prevent distracted driving from claiming another life.

VISIT US ONLINE web: twitter: facebook:

End Distracted Driving is sponsored by the Casey Feldman Foundation and is dedicated to inspiring individuals and communities to take action to end distracted driving. CONTACT US toll-free at 855-363-3478 or info@EndDD.org

endDD.org @end_DD EndDistractedDrving

WELLNESS

Don’t Ignore

These 6 Symptoms by Stephanie Andre

@LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 13

et’s be honest. We’re all busy and typically take care of everyone else around us first before thinking about our own well-being. Be that as it may, there are certain things it’s OK to put off. But then again, there are other symptoms that are too significant to ignore. Following are six ailments that should be checked out right away, courtesy of WebMD. WEAKNESS IN YOUR ARMS AND LEGS If you get weak or numb in your arm, leg, or face, it can be a sign of a stroke, especially if it’s on one side of your body. You could also be having a stroke if you can’t keep your balance, feel dizzy, or have trouble walking. Get help quickly if you suddenly can’t see well, get a bad headache, feel confused, or have problems speaking or understanding. “Caught early, it is often reversible,” says internist Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. Don’t wait to see a doctor. Call 911. If you get a clot-buster drug within 4.5 hours of your first symptom, you can lower your risk of long-term disability from stroke. CHEST PAIN When it comes to chest pain, it’s better to be safe than sorry. “Any chest pain, especially accompanied by sweating, pressure, shortness of breath, or nausea, should be evaluated by a medical professional right away,” says Shilpi Agarwal, M.D., with One Medical Group in Washington, DC. Chest pain or pressure can be a sign of heart disease or a heart attack, particularly if you feel it after being active. It may also mean that you have a blood clot moving into your lung, Teitelbaum says. If your chest feels tight or heavy, and it lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back again, get help. Don’t try to tough it out. TENDERNESS AND PAIN IN THE BACK OF YOUR LOWER LEG This can be a symptom of a blood clot in your leg. It’s called deep vein thrombosis, or DVT. It can happen after you’ve been sitting for a long time, like on a long plane ride, or if you’re sick and have been in bed a long time. If it’s a blood clot, you may feel the pain mostly when you stand or walk. You may also notice swelling. It’s normal to feel tenderness after exercise. But if you also see redness and feel heat where it’s swollen or painful, call your doctor. Teitelbaum says you can also check for what’s called the Homans sign. “If you flex your toes upward and it hurts, that’s also suggestive of a blood clot,” he says. “But don’t rely on that. If it’s hot, red, and swollen on one side, go to the ER.” It’s important to catch a blood clot before it can break off and block your blood flow, which can lead to complications. BLOOD IN YOUR URINE Several things can cause you to see blood when you pee. If you have blood in your urine and you also feel a lot of pain in your side or in your back, you may have kidney stones. A kidney stone is a small crystal made of minerals and salts that forms in your kidney and moves through the tube that carries your urine.

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Your doctor may take X-rays or do an ultrasound to see the stones. An X-ray uses radiation in low doses to make images of structures inside your body. An ultrasound makes images with sound waves. Many kidney stones eventually pass through your body when you pee. Sometimes your doctor may need to remove the kidney stone. If you see blood in your urine and you also have an increase in feeling that you urgently need to pee, make frequent trips to the bathroom, or feel burning when you urinate, you may have a severe bladder or kidney infection, Teitelbaum says. Don’t wait to see your doctor, especially if you have a fever. If you see blood but don’t feel any pain, it may be a sign of kidney or bladder cancer, so visit your doctor. WHEEZING Breathing problems should be treated right away. If you’re wheezing, or hear a whistling sound when you breathe, see your doctor. “Without urgent evaluation, breathing can quickly become labored, and it can be catastrophic if not evaluated and treated quickly,” Agarwal says. It may be from asthma, a lung disease, a severe allergy, or exposure to chemicals. Your doctor can figure out what’s causing it and how to treat it. If you have asthma, an allergist will create a plan to manage it and reduce flare-ups. Wheezing can also be caused by pneumonia or bronchitis. Are you coughing up yellow or green mucus? Do you also have a fever or shortness of breath? If so, you may have bronchitis that’s turning into pneumonia. “Time to see your doctor,” Teitelbaum says.

6 SUICIDAL THOUGHTS If you feel hopeless or trapped, or think you have no reason to live, get help. Talking to a professional can help you make it through a crisis. Go to a hospital emergency room or a walk-in clinic at a psychiatric hospital. A doctor or mental health professional will talk to you, keep you safe, and help you get through this tough time. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). It’s free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s confidential, so you can feel safe about sharing your thoughts.

Hand Washing—the Key to Wellness by Adrianne Walvoord Webb as the stomach bug ever spread like wildfire through your home? Or, the flu jumped between family members like a hot potato? The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls hand-washing a “do-ityourself” vaccine. Perhaps taking a better approach to hand washing could prevent your next household epidemic, which, practically speaking, will decrease your sick days and visits to the doctor.

Here is a refresher on how to properly wash your hands and a

reminder of when to wash your hands to maximize you and your family’s wellness.

HOW to properly wash your hands Take a look around next time you’re in a public restroom; are people scrubbing with the appropriate vigor for the appropriate amount of time to make hand washing effective? Or, do they take a quick rinse under the water and shake dry as they walk out? While everyone attests to know how to wash their hands, a refresher may prove helpful:

Rinse your hands with clean running water (standing water can harbor germs).

Rinse your hands with clean running water. Thankfully, clean running water is an expected luxury in our lives and it’s integral in effectively washing hands.

Lather your hands with soap. Remember the backs of hands, between fingers and under fingernails where microorganisms love to harbor and hide away on those folks with inferior hand-washing skills.

Dry your hands with a clean dry towel. Germs can transfer more easily between wet hands and a wet towel can harbor bacteria, so dry those mitts with a single use towel or remember to launder the hand drying towels in your bathroom regularly. If you are hosting a party during flu season, throwaway towels are your best bet against spreading infection.

Scrub it is recommended to keep a lather going for 20 seconds. Scrubbing helps lift the dirt, grease, and germ microbes from the surface of your skin.

WHEN to wash your hands

• Taxis

It seems obvious to wash your hands after your use the lavatory or sneeze, but there are other situations where hand washing should become routine. Think about your day; you drive to the train station; pay for your ticket or parking; ride the train; catch the bus from the train to your office or a cab if it’s raining; or maybe you stop by the corner mart for a coffee; if you’re the active type, you hit up the gym before you start your work day. Regardless of the particulars, before you sit down and type at your desktop you have touched hundreds of (unclean) surfaces. Next time you start your workday—how about starting with a fresh pair of clean hands! Here are some thoughts for when to wash your hands:

• Handling Money

• Public Transportation

• Exercise equipment • Food Prep • Before AND after you eat • Kids and Pets – If you are around kids or pets, you are likely encountering an infinitely greater number of occasions where germs can creep into your life—and you ought to think about washing your hands much more often. Think runny noses, teething drool, tired eyes, dirty diapers, snacks, meals, bottles, pet dander, drool, dirty digging paws, etc, etc, etc… Break the chain of infection and WASH YOUR HANDS! @LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 15

When Home Care May be the Right Choice by Daniel Feldman

here comes a time in our lives when we no longer can do the things we once could do. As we age, we may even lose the ability to safely perform tasks that are necessary to live independently. Doing things like driving, cooking or cleaning the house can no longer be done safely. Sometimes a person may even need assistance showering/ bathing, grooming or even toileting.

What happens when a senior can no longer do all these tasks? One option is for the senior to move to a “community” or “facility.” There, different levels of help are available ranging from an independent living retirement community (ILF), to an assisted living facility (ALF) or even a skilled nursing home (SNF). While there comes a time when one of these options may make sense for a senior, the fact of the matter is that the overwhelming majority of seniors (90% in recent surveys) prefer to “age in place.” In other words, they want to remain in their own homes where they typically have been living for many years, often for decades. But, what can a senior do if he/she no longer can safely drive, or get around the house to do normal household chores? What if the senior can no longer bathe or shower without being a fall risk? Well, an option, other than moving into a facility, is to obtain care at home from a reputable home care company. First, “home care” is different than the care available from a “home health” agency (or, at the end of life, from a hospice company). Home health agencies provide medical, sometimes referred to as “skilled” care. This may be care from a nurse, a physical therapist, occupational therapist or speech therapist (ST). Home health care is covered by Medicare and most health insurance policies. The home health medical professional will visit the senior at the senior’s home—but these visits typically are limited to roughly an hour and up to about three or four times a 16 / LIVING SAFER / VOL 7 ED 1

week. While critically important, this is not sufficient to meet the needs of many seniors who may have some physical limitations but who wish to remain at home. And, this is where “home care” comes in. Home care is not medical care. Caregivers typically are certified nursing assistants or health aides. They can assist the senior in getting dressed, showered and ready for the day. They can perform household chores—cooking, cleaning, take the trash out, etc. They can go grocery shopping for the senior or drive the senior to doctor appointments. In short, home care can allow the senior to live safely and independently where he wants to live—in his home. However, home care, given that it is “non-medical” is not presently covered by Medicare or health insurance. Rather, it primarily is private pay—which means the senior must pay for it. Although the VA provides home care benefits to some veterans and although a small segment of the population (slightly less than 10%) have purchased long term care (LTC) insurance, the overwhelming majority of home care is paid by the senior, or the senior’s family. And, while the cost of home care may seem high, in reality it can be quite a bargain. In Alabama, for example, home care from a reputable company costs from $15-$18/hr. Taking the average of $16.50, a senior who needed 25 hours of care a week to remain at home would spend about $412.50/week or about $1,750/ month. Contrast that with the typical cost of an ALF ($3,500/ month) or a SNF ($6,500/month). In other words, for a fraction of the cost of moving to a facility the senior can safely stay where he wants to stay—in his own home. In next the next edition of Living Safer, we will discuss why a senior contemplating hiring a caregiver ought to hire a reputable home care company as opposed to the (unfortunately) all too common practice of hiring family or “friends” and paying them “under the table” (without cutting taxes). This practice is fraught with problems for the senior.

Are You Flossing Enough? by Lily Grace t may sound simple, but flossing may just be the most important preventative care you’ll do for your mouth. From stains to pains, flossing is key to keeping your mouth healthy and the cavities at bay.

Reason #1: Stains can adhere to both plaque and tartar buildup. Regular use of dental floss removes plaque, helping to prevent the buildup of plaque, which can lead to tartar.

Reason #2: Simply flossing your teeth can make them look brighter by removing plaque and excess food particles that you may not see in the mirror or in areas that your toothbrush doesn’t reach. Think of a carpet before and after you vacuum. You may not really see the dust and dirt, but once you vacuum and the dust and dirt is removed, the carpet looks brighter. The same principle applies to flossing, according to Oral-B. So while you’re thinking about using a teeth whitening product, try recommitting to daily flossing and twice-daily tooth brushing with a whitening toothpaste, which can improve the appearance of stained teeth in some cases. Make flossing your teeth a regular, daily part of your dental care routine, and you may be more likely to keep your teeth and less likely to need dentures later in life.

Reason #3: While periodontal disease is not the primary cause for pulpal death, chronically unhealthy gums can increase your risk of losing your teeth or needing a root canal. And even though twice-daily tooth brushing is essential for good oral hygiene, brushing alone may not protect you from gum disease and the tooth loss that can result. Many people who suffer from sensitive or bleeding gums may be tempted to avoid flossing for fear of making their bleeding gums worse. But in fact, flossing can improve the health of your gums, thereby helping to prevent them from bleeding. In a 2006 study, researchers compared the effects of brushing alone vs. brushing and flossing on bleeding gums in 51 sets of twins. One of each twin pair brushed his or her teeth twice a day and the other brushed and flossed twice a day. After two weeks, the twins who flossed had 38 percent fewer bleeding gum areas.

Reason #4: There’s an increasing amount of evidence linking periodontal disease to an increased risk of heart disease, although more studies are needed to confirm this link. Some researchers think that mouth infections, like any infections, can increase the levels of inflammatory substances in the blood, which can promote blood clots and slow blood flow to the heart. Another theory is that bacteria from a mouth infection can easily enter the bloodstream and impact your cardiovascular system. Regular flossing removes plaque, thereby removing the bacteria in plaque from your mouth. It also helps prevent tooth decay and can reduce your risk of developing gum disease by removing plaque. In addition, flossing gives you the opportunity to regularly examine your mouth for any swelling or redness. Flossing gives you an opportunity to take a good look at your teeth, tongue and gums. Certain conditions including some cancers, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse and eating disorders can cause lesions in your mouth and redness and swelling of the gums.

BOTTOM LINE: Not flossing before is not a reason not to start. Even if you were inconsistent about flossing during your childhood or teen years, it’s never too late to start or maintain good oral hygiene.

@LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 17

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Self Diagnosis:

Don’t Trust Everything You Read by Stephanie Andre ou’re bound to know this person—the person who can’t get to his/her computer fast enough every time an ache or pain occurs. He’s the self diagnoser. The person who is convinced something is terribly wrong. According to Dual Diagnosis, this affliction is quite common. In fact, in a report published in 2013, researchers found that the average American consumer spends an average of an hour each week looking for health information online. They might browse casually, reading up on disease prevention or general health management, but many of these consumers are performing targeted searches in which they’re outlining the symptoms they have, and hoping to find out what they can call their particular ailment. Unfortunately, search engines often provide information about the most serious types of ailments at the beginning of the search results. For example, in a study conducted by researchers at Microsoft, the probability that the word “brain tumor” would come up in response to a web search for the symptom “headache” stood at 0.26, which is the same probability the diagnosis “caffeine withdrawal” received. In all likelihood, people searching for the word “headache” have something really quite simple, such as:

»» ALLERGIES »» COMMON COLDS »» SINUS INFECTIONS

Watch What You Read People who do a significant amount of work with search engines likely know that the results have little to nothing to do with disease prevalence. However, many people who run these searches don’t really understand the logarithms that drive most search engines, and they may believe that the results on the first page are indicative of the diseases that they are most likely to have. Studies seem to suggest that few people who use online forums to diagnose their conditions take their results with a grain of salt. For example, a study from Wolters Kluwer Health found that 63% of people who sought out information online reported that they have never misdiagnosed themselves due to a search. They feel as though they’ve gotten the right information at the right time and that they can trust everything they found. Even more distressingly, a study from the Pew Research Center found that only about half of people who look for information online talk to their doctors about what they have found. In most cases, people believe what the search engines have told them, and they might act on that information without consulting an outside source at all. Even if that information is false or patently untrue, these people believe it and they don’t ask for confirmation from their doctors. That’s a sad, and dangerous, fact.

»» STRESS »» FATIGUE

The Harm that Can Come

»» EYE STRAIN

People who believe that they’re diagnosed with a specific medical or mental health condition may attempt to cure that problem by changing their diet, taking over-the-counter medications or otherwise attacking the issue at its source. Unfortunately, if people are working from a flawed assumption about what they have, they might be taking steps they simply don’t need to take. Meanwhile, if people are addressing one problem while ignoring the real source of the issue, they may find that their original complaint grows much more serious. For example, people who assume they have a brain tumor might begin to dabble in drug abuse in order to make the pain fade, and they may believe that they’re facing a terminal illness and therefore don’t have long to live, so there’s no reason to be sober. If their pain comes about due to allergies, however, and they don’t get that addressed, those allergic symptoms could grow much more severe and might even transition into asthma. At some point, the person could have an addiction and asthma, and the headache might still be a problem. The wrong diagnosis, as this example makes clear, could lead to longlasting problems.

But researchers found that people looking online are likely to walk away from that search thinking that they have a brain tumor. The most serious thing is given prominence, even though it may be a much less likely reality than less serious conditions. It’s hard to know why this is the case, but it’s possible that the nature of web searches makes critical diagnoses seem much more prevalent when the user is searching for information online. Most websites use a mathematical model that’s based on pageviews when determining what order in which to rank pages in search responses, and articles about cancer might get more hits or page views than articles written about eye strain or fatigue. The pieces just seem more interesting, and there are more stats and stories to share in response to a cancer topic. Since more people read these cancer articles, they seem more popular and move up in search results. This doesn’t mean that cancer is more prevalent; it just means that more people want to read about cancer. But a search results page filled with the word “cancer” can fill a person with fear and make it seem likely that the little headache is a harbinger of something terrible.

@LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 19

Small Small Hearts Hearts

Big Challenges Big Challenges

Early Detection Leads to Early Prevention Early Detection Leads to Early Prevention

Small hearts can conceal big challenges, especially when it comes to congenital heart defects. Nearly one in three infants who die from birth defects has this condition. But a simple, non-invasive screening Small hearts can conceal big challenges, especially when it comes to congenital heart defects. Nearly for all newborns could save the life of your child or the child of someone you know. one in three infants who die from birth defects has this condition. But a simple, non-invasive screening

for all newborns could save the life of your child or the of someone you know. Tell your legislator to support pulse-oximetry testing forchild all newborns. Get involved at YoureTheCure.org Tell your legislator to support pulse-oximetry testing for all newborns. Get involved at YoureTheCure.org

Heart Disease and Stroke. You’re the Cure.

YoureTheCure.org

LIFESTYLE

Facebook:

Comparison Trap or Continuous Self-Improvement? by Braden Kowalski @LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 21

2015 study from the University of Missouri reveals that spending too much time on your friends’ Facebook pages could have some serious consequences. More than 700 college students were surveyed and the consensus is that checking in on your peers on Facebook can make you think you don’t measure up. The massive evolution of interconnectivity has dramatically changed the way humans think, socialize and share life experiences. Growing up during the tech revolution, Facebook has given us tremendous digital capabilities. However, for some individuals, the ability to refrain from Facebook is as hard as quitting a physical drug addiction. Why is this and how has Facebook led multiple users down a path of depression and selfanxiety? To understand our obsession with Facebook and media platforms, we must look all the way back to our youth—before social media—and to our fear of “missing out on excitement.” The reality is, we feel a burning desire to be associated within our networks at all times whether it be physically or digitally. The constant checking of Facebook to see what others are doing has led to depression because of two things. Envy and jealousy. Facebook provides us a small and emotional window into our others’ lives that lets us analyze a person’s “perceived life.” It is when we quietly envy our friends’ pages that we realize our lives simply do not match up with theirs, leaving us feeling jealous and bad about ourselves. In other words, Facebook acts as a lifestyle magazine featuring your friends—who are doing it better than you. This is detrimental to our personal development because instead of truly finding ourselves, we begin to mimic those around us due to our feelings of envy and jealousy. Scanning through Facebook and assuming you’re so far behind that you’ll never catch up will leave you lost in the comparison trap. The more energy you spend comparing yourself to others, the less energy you will have for what really matters: continuous personal development. It is only natural as a human being to want to connect with your network and other successful people around you. Jealousy and envy of your peers is common; however, it is whether you are engaging in healthy jealousy or destructive jealousy that will determine your mindset moving forward. Destructive jealousy is the most common and is to wish another person would fail, so that you can score a win. The idea of “healthy jealousy” is the ability to admire someone else’s creative

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brilliance and desire to create something great for yourself. Counteract the feelings of despair, anxiety and depression by selectively surrounding your Facebook newsfeed with the people and pages that will contribute to your education and enable you to visualize future success. Consistent positive reinforcement will drive your motivation and phase out irrelevant friend news. Use Facebook to bolster your lifestyle and reputation instead on focusing on that of others. Not only will your mindset change but you will become the person of envy and will be oozing confidence in all aspects of life.

“The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity. An important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking and negative acting people.” —Colin Powell

start your team at marchforbabies.org

ÂŠ 2012 March of Dimes Foundation

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Regional Snapshot: High Rates of Cancer Found in St. Louis Community by Lara Vitiello As of late, a northern suburb of St. Louis—Florissant, has become a hot bed of debate about environmental radiation exposure and links to cancers. It started when seemingly healthy residents and former residents in their 30s and 40s started coming down with various cancers and other autoimmune diseases at an alarmingly high rate. Some of the cancers, like appendix cancer, were rare. Florissant residents started talking, friends and families started comparing notes and a Facebook page was born. In 2011, the “Coldwater Creek—Just the Facts” page was created as a way to gather and disseminate information about the cancers and other diseases now striking people who grew up in Florissant in the 1960s and 1970s.

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Residents came together and started doing their own research. They found that during World War II, a local St. Louis corporation played a significant role in the development of the first nuclear weapons. Mallinckrodt Chemical Works began processing the original Belgian Congo Uranium (U235) in 1942 for the first atomic bomb at its downtown St. Louis location. By the mid 1940’s, Mallinckrodt Chemical Works had run out of space and began to ship the radioactive waste offsite, to an underpopulated area, north of St. Louis. The offsite storage was located at the Hazelwood Interim Storage Site (HISS) and also at the St. Louis Airport Site (SLAPS). Radioactive materials were stored in bulk, on the ground, open to the elements and

unattended next to Coldwater Creek. In the 1960s, government records show evidence of aging barrels that were rusty with radioactive materials seeping into the nearby creek. Coldwater Creek runs throughout North St. Louis County and is a tributary for the Missouri River. Through wind, rain, flooding, and groundwater, the creek was contaminated, providing radioactive material a mode of transportation. To make matters worse, during this same time period, there was a significant population boom in St. Louis County. Construction activity disturbed the radioactive materials and redistributed the contamination throughout all of North St. Louis County. Some of the radioactive materials that had previously been buried or contained in underground water tables, were now exposed to open air, or used as fill for newly created subdivision lawns. Food sources were contaminated and ingested by leaching into locally grown farm and backyard garden vegetation, and local dairy supplies. The entire community has been chronically exposed to ionizing radiation for decades through inhalation and ingestion. By the 1990’s, the government confirmed unsafe levels of radioactive materials (radium, thorium and uranium) were in the soil around these sites. In 1989 Congress added these sites to the U.S. EPA’s National Priority list. At the direction of Congress, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers became responsible for the cleanup of FUSRAP (Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program) sites in 1997. The Facebook page now has 8,400 members. These people had grown up playing in Coldwater Creek – and at times, that creek had flooded their yards or even backed up into their basements. Through the page, the group conducted its own

non-scientific illness survey. They received 3,300 illness reports which included 1,242 cases of cancer. Among them were 95 cases of brain cancer, 59 cases of thyroid cancer, and 39 cases of appendix cancer, which is diagnosed in fewer than 1,000 Americans each year. The survey also found 320 cases of autoimmune disorders. The founders of the Facebook page took their findings and urged local, state and federal government agencies to take a close look at the possible link between the radiation contamination and the high rates of cancer. In 2013, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MODHSS) conducted a study of six zip codes near Coldwater Creek. A report found higher rates of some cancer, but determined lifestyle factors like smoking and unhealthy eating habits are likely to blame. Residents pointed to flaws in the MODHSS study because they used data from 1996–2004, after most of the radiation contamination had been cleaned up. In September 2014, the St. Louis County Health Department released a statement calling for more study of health problems in and around the Coldwater Creek area. They agreed the research should extend beyond just cancers to include all health problems related to radiation exposure. And, they emphasized the need to analyze data prior to 1996. They put together a chronic disease surveillance team which will be working closely with various community partners, including academic teams from local universities, the CDC, the MDHSS and the EPA. To date there has been no scientific link between the high incidents of disease in the Florissant/Coldwater Creek area and the radio-active contamination. The group continues to grow, gather data and push for more research. It is hopeful that new research will eventually lead to a link and, ultimately, to the government providing some type of compensation to the victims.

@LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 25

Mental Check:

Time for a New Job? by Jim Edwards ork stress—whether from the actual job or some of the trials and tribulations to go along with office politics and social issues—can take a toll. It’s not hard to spot: you’re most grouchy to the ones you love, you may not be sleeping well and your patience may fly out the door on a moment’s notice. Here are some clues from careerattraction.com that it may be time to move on:

1 There Goes that Promotion You worked hard on loads of projects, put in unpaid overtime, worked on weekends and through lunches, but when a management vacancy needed to be filled, someone with less experience and ability got the spot. There could be many reasons for this snub. The other person may better fit

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the image people have of what it takes to succeed in the role. Or, they may just be better than you. Little comfort, whatever the reason. They got the job, and you didn’t. This may be a sign that your contributions and efforts aren’t being valued by the people who should be noticing. It may be a risk, but stating your desire to fulfill your potential elsewhere might spur your seniors into action. If not, then it may be time to head to new pastures. 2 “Could You Do a Coffee Run?” You used to be given important responsibilities. Perhaps people reported to you and you had a say on major decisions or a significant budget tied to your role. Now, seemingly for no reason, things have changed. If you’re part of the

meetings at all, you’re given more junior tasks, and you’re required to report to others and provide regular updates on your activities. If things have gotten really bad, you may even be sent on errands like picking up lunch or getting the coffee. This is a sure sign you’re not being taken seriously anymore. This treatment may be related to performance, personality differences or something completely beyond your control. It doesn’t have to make sense. You also don’t have to accept it. 3 “Dave Who?” They say as much business gets done at the bar or on the golf course as it does at the office. Outings with coworkers allow you to get to know each other in a relaxed setting. You may find things in common with several of them, such as shared hobbies or mutual friends. Those ties assist you at work. People understand how your mind operates, what your strengths are and, if they like you, they’ll be far more willing to cooperate with you on projects and other tasks. But things are getting bad when you’re being deliberately left out of office-related social functions. If your colleagues head out for drinks after work without inviting you for the umpteenth time, it may be a little concerning. Check your breath and your zipper. If those pass the test, it may be that your

personality doesn’t fit in the office culture—or that people are playing their own agendas. 4 Taking the Office Home Many people have a hard time leaving work at work, especially if financial struggles and layoff rumors are spreading around the office like a twisted game of telephone. That said, bringing work home can (and will) make you more irritable, mentally drained and not as much fun to be around. There’s a saying that may be cliché, but is nonetheless close to the mark: “No one on their deathbed ever wished they’d spent more time at the office.” Bringing work home is essentially the same as always being at work, and no one wants that—except maybe your boss, but we’ll get to him later. Not only do you get to have no down time, but in the long run, it lowers your performance on the job because you’ve had no mental respite. Long-term, things can’t go on if you’re in this mindframe. Something will have to give, and as important as your job is to you, I’d wager your health and family are more important. 5

This Isn’t the Complaints Department

There’s nothing worse than the waiter who stinks at customer service, or the grocery clerk who doesn’t know where to find the sugar and, in fact, couldn’t care less about the damn sugar. If you dread picking up the phone because you’re tired of hearing people do nothing but complain (even though your title is Customer Service Agent), or you hate rush hour traffic but drive a cab, it may be time to switch jobs. 6 Horrible Bosses Does your boss constantly exercise poor judgment and focus on the wrong parts of the job? Do they not get along with their subordinates? Do they provide inconsistent, unconstructive or barely existent feedback? Ineffective management and unclear instructions make it hard for you to do your job. It can get to the point where you’re no longer emotionally invested

in your work, which could potentially lead to you just not caring. Unfortunately, there’s a good chance your boss is going to still be around. So, if they aren’t going anywhere, that only leaves one person in the equation who can. 7 From Great to Good You can’t honestly see anything different in your performance, but you notice those fours and fives that used to dominate your evaluations are now threes and fours, and all those areas previously rated as “excellent” are now just “good.” Many people fall into a comfort zone in their jobs after a while, especially if they do the same work over and over. And as the saying goes, “familiarity breeds contempt”; some of us need variety in our work as this change provides stimulation. It can happen slowly, starting out with you doing fewer of the extras that earned you those fives on past evaluations. You’re still generating sales but aren’t making additional suggestions for related purchases. Maybe you don’t help out new staff like you used to or haven’t volunteered for extra duties for a while. This attitude can slowly permeate into the core aspects of your work, causing a performance decline that gets noticed by superiors (who also become future references). So if you’re losing some of your zest for the job, remember that this can affect your ability to secure that better job that allows you to get your mojo back. 8 “It’s Peterson, Right?” Most people experience a bit of a honeymoon period when they start in a new position. Your supervisors are more likely to be cordial since they understand you’re new and not yet comfortable in the position. The good ones remember when they were in your spot and try and help you out. Once you’ve developed your routine, you should settle into a pattern of communication with your superiors that’s based on personalities, workload, office culture and other factors. One day, months or years down the line, it dawns on you that you

don’t speak to your superiors as often. Once-friendly hallway conversations are now brief pleasantries or non-existent. A lack of communication from your higher-ups may be a sign that you aren’t valued as much and that interactions with you aren’t seen as worth their time. 9 Your Heart Just Isn’t In It Remember when you left work excited to get home and tell everyone about what you did? When you got up the next day and were excited about getting to work to carry on where you left off the day before? Now, you can’t wait to leave work. At the end of the day, if you’re not enjoying your job anymore and if there’s no real prospect of that changing anytime soon, then it’s time to move on. Your performances will inevitably start to suffer, negatively impacting your colleagues and potentially your ability to get a new job.

Don’t Do Anything Rash … Yet If one or more of these signs speak to you, it may be time to start listening. I’d recommend you have a meeting with your boss before doing anything rash, to ensure you haven’t completely misread any signals. @LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 27

HYGIENE KITS AVAILABLE KITS Guiltless Giving has three different size kits to choose from. Zack donates additional kits to every order so as to pay it forward.

CONTENTS Guiltless Giving kits can contain up to the following: a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap,

HELPING THE HELPLESSâ&#x20AC;Ś ONE KIT AT A TIME. Zack Gooding founded Guiltless Giving in October 2006. When he started the company six years ago, rd

he was a 9-year old 3 grader. The idea evolved from a 3rd Grade invention project that led to Zack receiving 2nd place in the San Diego Young Inventors Contest.

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From that point on, Zack was

razor, pair of knit gloves and a resealable

persistent in creating his company,

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GOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT Included is an information card with the 800 numbers for the homeless to get information on government assistance.

Zack is featured on CNN, CNN Headline News, Channel 10 San Diego, and more.

WWW.GUILTLESSGIVING.COM

Would You Let Your Car Do the Driving? by Margaret E. Machaiek

t the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, several major automakers unveiled plans to produce autonomous vehicles—cars that can literally drive themselves. Audi sent a car from Silicon Valley to Las Vegas in time for the convention; Mercedes-Benz debuted its prototype of a luxury model autonomous vehicle, the F 015; and BMW introduced its i3 EV, which has the capability not only to parallel park on its own but also to independently locate and pull into a vacant space in a parking garage. For the United States, Ford reported that it will soon produce a more affordable version of self-driving cars for a broad range of consumers. Self-driving cars have captured international attention and raised questions about how technology will fit into existing legal and regulatory schemes. However, this technology is not brand new, nor are concerns about the legal status of “driverless vehicles” and those who manufacture and operate them. Four states and the District of Columbia already have laws on the books permitting the testing of autonomous vehicles on public roads and providing basic safety guidelines and requirements. Many states have proposed laws that would mandate that autonomous vehicles contain certain safety features, and that a licensed driver remain in the vehicle while it is being tested.

Many of these laws, although they never took effect, contain similar features and have provisions in common with the few laws that have been passed to date. A common feature of these laws is that individuals or entities who wish to test driverless cars on public roads must either carry $5 million worth of insurance, or post a $5 million safety bond. Additionally, most of the laws require that a licensed driver remain seated and alert at the controls, and that the vehicle contain a mechanism for alerting the driver in the event of a system failure so that the driver could take over manual operation of the vehicle. Proponents of driverless cars assert that, because most car accidents are caused by human error or inattention, autonomous vehicles will drastically reduce the number of accidents. Significant questions remain, however, about where the responsibility will fall in the event of an accident that this technology is simply unable to prevent. State laws exempt manufacturers from liability only in cases where a vehicle has been modified with autonomous vehicle technology by a third party. Legal scholars have speculated that the NHTSA may promulgate federal regulations to govern safety standards for autonomous vehicles, which could preempt states’ attempts to pass their own regulations or even prevent injured parties from bringing lawsuits alleging negligent or defective @LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 29

design or manufacture in cases where the minimum federal guidelines have been met. Despite these lingering questions, unless and until state or federal lawmakers take action to regulate the field, the same legal concepts that apply to regular automobile accidents must also be applied in accidents involving autonomous vehicles. For instance, just as a manufacturer would only be held liable for damages resulting from a car accident if some component of the vehicle were defective, a manufacturer of an autonomous vehicle could only be held liable for an accident if the accident were caused by some unforeseeable failure or malfunction of the vehicle or its operating system. Additionally, a manufacturer’s liability could be reduced or even avoided altogether if the vehicle is equipped with an adequate system for alerting or notifying the operator that some type of maintenance or system check is required. A careless driver who fails to exercise reasonable care cannot escape liability by relying blindly on technology. As with any other vehicle technology, such as cruise control, park assist, or even GPS, a driver using autonomous vehicle technology must exercise a level of care that is reasonable under the circumstances. Thus, for instance, California law, while permitting the operation and testing of autonomous vehicles, also requires that the driver remain seated in the driver’s seat, monitor, the operation of the vehicle, capable of taking over immediate manual control if necessary. Although this not the law in every state, it serves as a reminder that even when autonomous vehicle technology becomes widely available, operators must adhere to a standard of reasonable care. Of course, it is difficult for anyone to determine with precision the standard of care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise when operating an autonomous vehicle because the technology is not yet widely available. Some sources predict that driverless car technology will be commercially available to consumers as early as 2017. Others, however, estimate that it will be at least seven to 10 years before autonomous vehicles full of vacations hit the roads. In any event, drivers should not expect autonomous vehicles to serve as an invitation to engage in gratuitously risky behavior, such as getting behind the wheel while intoxicated or becoming engrossed in internet activity while the vehicle is traveling down the interstate at speeds of up to 70 mph. For the foreseeable future, while the technology remains in its infancy, all drivers—even drivers of “driverless” vehicles—will continue to be responsible when their car is on the road.

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Safety. Security. Privacy. And Drones. by Lara Vitiello drone landed on the lawn of the White House. It turned out the drone was flown by a government employee who, for unknown reasons, was flying the drone recreationally at 3 a.m. when he lost control of it. The drone ended up crossing over the White House fence and crashed into a tree on the south lawn. The DJI Phantom drone was only 2 feet in diameter and weighed just about two pounds. The device was too small and flying too low to be detected by the radar used to guard the air-space around the White House. While this incident was uneventful â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it raises questions about

drones and safety, security and privacy issues. Just days before the incident the Department of Homeland Security held a conference where they discussed specifically about these small drones and their ability to travel around virtually undetected. In fact, they are so small that at a-glance some people could mistake them for a bird. The DHS and Counter-terrorism officials showed how explosives and chemical or biological weapons could be strapped to drones and flown into crowded areas or government buildings. They went so far as to say the DJI Phantom drone was the terroristâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drone of choice. @LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 31

However, if the government were to adjust their radar detection systems to pick-up these small drones, it would pickup every bird or swaying branch. In recent years, the government has put some security measures in place for drones. But, they admit it is tough, as these small drones are difficult to shoot down. The military can’t scramble fighter jets to bring down something the size of a small toy. On the flip side, our military has been using drones (aka UAV or unmanned aerial vehicle) for years. In 2001, they started using armed drones to hit ground targets outside the theater of war. In 2005, tactical and theater-level UAVs had flown over 100,000 flight hours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. By 2009, the CIA claimed it had killed more than half of the 20 most wanted al-Qaeda terrorist suspects in targeting killings using UAVs. And, in 2012 the USAF trained more drone pilots than ordinary jet fighter pilots for the first time. The military use of drones continues to grow at an unprecedented rate. Technological advances have enabled drones to take-off, land and fly themselves. A fully autonomous drone only needs the orders input to its onboard computer system. Despite the technological advances, there are still issues with civilian casualties. The statistics and opinions vary by country and report, but it is definitely an area of concern that has many around the world watching the use of drones very carefully. Back in U.S., drones have also exploded in popularity. A person can pick-up the DJI Phantom UAV Drone Quad Copter

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online for $480. An upgraded model equipped with a highdefinition camera sells for $1,250. Not only are they easily accessible, they are easy to fly. A user can simply take it out of the box, charge it up and fly it. They are equipped with GPS, so a coordinate or address is all that is needed. And, the drone can even be programmed to return ‘home’ if the signal is lost. Many people are buying the drones and simply using them as toys. But, there are practical civilian applications for drones—crop surveillance, aerobatic aerial photography and filming, search and rescue, inspection of power lines and pipelines, forest fire detection, delivering medical supplies to remote regions, border patrol, counting wildlife, weather and environmental research, and the list goes on. The drone industry is projected to generate $80 billion in economic activity over the next decade. Because of this, many lawmakers are pushing to get the necessary regulations in place so drones can fly in all national airspace. The FAA said it would integrate drones into the national airspace in phases; and outlined a five year roadmap to get there. However, it says there are still many hurdles to overcome. Specifically, drones are not yet equipped with seek and avoidance technology (technology that would enable drones to avoid each other and other aircraft). And, the FAA says existing air traffic control systems cannot handle drone flight paths. The question is: are we willing to sell our safety, security and privacy for an estimated $80 billion in economic activity over the next decade?

‘Unplug’ a Little Each Day You’ll be happy you did by Lily Grace

n our nonstop, always accessible lives, it’s difficult to imagine just turning it all off. Surely, you have to have your phone, right? Tablet? I mean, what—no Facebook? It’s unrealistic to think that you could just find your own version of a deserted island and escape each and every day. However, there are little things you can do to take a break—even for a few minutes—from the constant running that our lives have become. Below are some suggestions.

SET YOUR EMAIL TO VACATION MODE, even if you aren’t

going on vacation. No one will know. 2 GO OUT ON AN ERRAND and leave your phone at home. 3 DO NOT LOOK AT FACEBOOK TODAY. Resist the urge to post a photo of that man walking down the street in the superhero costume. Just take a mental snapshot and tell a real-life friend about it in person. Perhaps in a coffee shop. You’ll be better off for it and you might actually have others genuinely interested in your story. 4 TAKE YOUR OLD-SCHOOL CAMERA FOR A NATURE WALK. Notice the dew on flower petals; pay attention to the

quality of the light; listen to the birds or other creatures. Take

at least twenty pictures, ones that require you to focus and pay attention. Do NOT hold the camera away from your face and take a picture of yourself for your Facebook profile. 5 PET YOUR CAT WITHOUT YOUR VIDEO CAMERA AT THE READY. Yes, your pet might do something incredibly strange

and worthy of the world’s best cat video. But chances are you won’t get 3 million views on your YouTube account anyway. And really, who cares? The point of having a pet is that they need/ love you even when you’re being weird. 6 GO OUTSIDE. Go to the mountains, the rivers, the beach. Find your happy place and resist the urge to share it on social media. Just be there. Absorb it rather than being a conduit for the virtual world. Better yet, bring along a friend/loved one/ total stranger to share the experience. 7 TRY A NEW SPORT. Who cares if you’re no good at it. Practice, practice, practice! 8 TAKE UP A NEW HOBBY THAT REQUIRES ALL YOUR ATTENTION. Think birdwatching or knitting or roller derby,

anything that occupies your entire mind. The trick is to come up with new hobbies every once in a while. Or take your old hobby and push yourself a little. @LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 33

COVER

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Plastics, car emissons and more

by Stephanie Andre Do you ever think about how much you drive your car? How many plastic bottles do you use every week, each year? Do you send your kids to school with sandwiches in a reusable plastic container rather than throwaway plastic sandwich bags? These issues are nothing new, but nonetheless, they still exist and seem to be getting worse as our planet ages on. In this issue, we focus our attention on Mother Earth and how we humans continue to destroy her.

@LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 35

A Plastic Problem

9 Ways to

• GULP, GULP •

Need to hydrate? Grab a water. That’s what we do, right? Did you know that Americans buy more bottled water than any other nation in the world? We add 29 billion water bottles a year to the problem. In order to make all these bottles, manufacturers use 17 million barrels of crude oil. That’s enough oil to keep a million cars going for 12 months. Imagine a water bottle filled a quarter of the way up with oil. That’s about how much oil

was needed to produce the bottle. So what’s the reason so many are compelled to buy bottled water? Some think it’s healthier—not true; maybe convenience (see: laziness). We are fortunate in the United States, that our local governments mandate water from the faucet is safe; others in this world are not so lucky. Simple solution to this bottle problem: be grateful for what you have and drink the clean water from the faucet.

• OCEANIC ISSUES • One of the worst problems we face is the improper disposal of plastics by consumers. Plastic items easily make their way into the environment— especially our oceans. From beaches to waterways, there is plenty of trash and it’s everywhere. Plastics stay in the environment for decades, harming marine life at a very slow pace: Direct impacts—Studies show that fish and other marine life eat plastic because it often looks like their food: plastic bags/jellyfish; bottle caps/squid; plastic bits/fish eggs, etc. Plastics cause

irritation or damage to the digestive system. If plastics are kept in the gut instead of passing through, the animal feels full (of plastic not food). They do not eat and this leads to malnutrition or starvation. Indirect impacts—Plastic debris acts like a sponge. It accumulates pollutants up to 100,000 to 1 million times the levels found in seawater. It is still unclear whether these pollutants can seep from plastic debris into the organisms that happen to eat the debris. More research is needed to help better understand these areas.

• BPA BUSINESS • By now you’ve probably heard about Bisphenol A (BPA), a key building block for making polycarbonate plastics such as water bottles—a rumored contributor to cancers, immune disorders, hyperactivity, obesity, diabetes, and hyperactivity. How does it happen? It’s simple, really. BPA has been shown to leach from the containers into the food it contains. And in the past, BPA was a major ingredient in the billion-dollar plastic water bottle industry. But BPA isn’t just an issue for water bottles. In fact, the chemical has been used to line canned foods to prevent

corrosion and food contamination and, just as bad, baby bottles and cans of baby formula. “Virtually every canned product, even those labeled organic, has a liner with BPA,” says Tara Parker-Pope in her April 22, 2008 New York Times article, “A Hard Plastic Is Raising Hard Questions.” Additionally, Parker-Pope’s article indicates that babies who drink from polycarbonate bottles ingest an estimated 10 micrograms of BPA per kilogram of body weight. Pacifiers and teethers can contain polyvinyl chloride (known as PVC or vinyl) or DEHP.

REDUCE

YOUR USE One of the best ways of reducing your impact is to look around you—your production of trash, what you buy and how you can avoid disposable products or those with excess packaging. Reuse what you can. Recycle all products that are accepted in our local programs. Here are some suggestions:

no.1 Bring your own bag when shopping. There are even reusable produce bags on the market now. no.2 Carry a travel mug for your daily caffeine fix. Some places even charge you less. no.3 Quit the bottled water habit. You can stay just as hydrated with a reusable bottle made of stainless steel, aluminum or glass. no.4 Learn what you can recycle. Find out what plastics your community recycler accepts. Explore other recycling resources: UPS stores will take back shipping peanuts; many office supply chains will take back used printer cartridges. no.5 Buy glass food storage containers instead of plastic. Don’t cook in plastic. Heat can cause hazardous chemicals to leach out of some polymers. no.6

Skip the baggies and sandwich bags. Use reusable containers or reusable sandwich bags.

no.7 Purchase items in bulk with less packaging. Avoid individually wrapped food servings, or make your own using reusable containers. no.8

Think durable, not disposable—razors, pens, lighters, etc.

no.9

Tell the restaurant to leave out the utensils with your to-go order. Keep reusable utensils in your desk, purse and car. Source: University of Washington

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By the Numbers: Plastics

46 THOUSAND

The United Nations Environment Program report estimates 46,000 pieces of plastic debris floats on or near the surface of every square mile of ocean.

10 Major Current

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

For every six water bottles we use, only one makes it to the recycling bin. The rest are sent to landfills. Or, even worse, they end up as trash on the land and in rivers, lakes, and the ocean. Plastic bottles take many hundreds of years to disintegrate.

107 BILLION

pounds of plastic were produced in North America in 2002.

Pollution

: Pollution of air, water and soil require millions of years to recoup. Industry and motor vehicle exhaust are the number one pollutants. Heavy metals, nitrates and plastic are toxins responsible for pollution. While water pollution is caused by oil spill, acid rain, urban runoff; air pollution is caused by various gases and toxins released by industries and factories and combustion of fossil fuels; soil pollution is majorly caused by industrial waste that deprives soil from essential nutrients.

Global Warming

: Climate changes like global warming is the result of human practices like emission of Greenhouse gases. Global warming leads to rising temperatures of the oceans and the earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; surface causing melting of polar ice caps, rise in sea levels and also unnatural patterns of precipitation such as flash floods, excessive snow or desertification.

Overpopulation

: The population of the planet is reaching unsustainable levels as it faces shortage of resources like water, fuel and food. Population explosion in less developed and developing countries is straining the already scarce resources. Intensive agriculture practiced to produce food damages the environment through use of chemical fertilizer, pesticides and insecticides. Overpopulation is one of the crucial current environmental problem.

Natural Resource Depletion

: Natural resource depletion is another crucial current environmental problems. Fossil fuel consumption results in emission of Greenhouse gases, which is responsible for global warming and climate change. Globally, people are taking efforts to shift to renewable sources of energy like solar, wind, biogas and geothermal energy. The cost of installing the infrastructure and maintaining these sources has plummeted in the recent years.

Waste Disposal:

The overconsumption of resources and creation of plastics are creating a global crisis of waste disposal. Developed countries are notorious for producing an excessive amount of waste or garbage and dumping their waste in the oceans and, less developed countries. Nuclear waste disposal has tremendous health hazards associated with it. Plastic, fast food, packaging and cheap electronic wastes threaten the well being of humans. Waste disposal is one of urgent current environmental problem. @LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 37

Climate Change: Climate change

is yet another environmental problem that has surfaced in last couple of decades. It occurs due to rise in global warming which occurs due to increase in temperature of atmosphere by burning of fossil fuels and release of harmful gases by industries. Climate change has various harmful effects but not limited to melting of polar ice, change in seasons, occurrence of new diseases, frequent occurrence of floods and change in overall weather scenario.

Loss of Biodiversity: Human

activity is leading to the extinction of species and habitats and and loss of biodiversity. Ecosystems, which took millions of years to perfect, are in danger when any species population is decimating. Balance of natural processes like pollination is crucial to the survival of the ecosystem and human activity

threatens the same. Another example is the destruction of coral reefs in the various oceans, which support the rich marine life.

by 150%. The main impact is on shellfish and plankton in the same way as human osteoporosis.

Deforestation: Our forests are

Ozone Layer Depletion:

natural sinks of carbon dioxide and produce fresh oxygen as well as helps in regulating temperature and rainfall. At present forests cover 30% of the land but every year tree cover is lost amounting to the country of Panama due to growing population demand for more food, shelter and cloth. Deforestation simply means clearing of green cover and make that land available for residential, industrial or commercial purpose.

Ocean Acidif ication: It is a

direct impact of excessive production of CO2. 25% of CO2 produced by humans. The ocean acidity has increased by the last 250 years but by 2100, it may shoot up

Did You Know… EACH MINUTE

The ozone layer is an invisible layer of protection around the planet that protects us from the sun’s harmful rays. Depletion of the crucial Ozone layer of the atmosphere is attributed to pollution caused by Chlorine and Bromide found in Chloro-floro carbons (CFC’s). Once these toxic gases reach the upper atmosphere, they cause a hole in the ozone layer, the biggest of which is above the Antarctic. The CFC’s are banned in many industries and consumer products. Ozone layer is valuable because it prevents harmful UV radiation from reaching the earth. This is one of the most important current environmental problem. Source: Conserve Energy Future

55 people are poisoned by the pesticides they use; 5 die. 60 new cases of cancer are diagnosed in the United States alone (that makes a total of 500,000 each year with 20,000 leading to death).

EACH DAY

At least 51 acres of tropical forests are destroyed.

Over 230,000 babies are born.

We consume almost 35,000 barrels of oil. 50 tons of fertile soil are washed or blown off cropland. We add 12,000 tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

EACH HOUR

25,000 people die of water shortage or contamination. 10 tons of nuclear waste are being generated by the 350 existing nuclear plants. 250,000 tons of sulfuric acid fall as acid rain in the Northern

1,692 acres of productive dryland become desert. 1,800 children die of malnutrition and hunger (that makes a total

Hemisphere. 60 tons of plastic packaging and 372 tons of fishing net are dumped into the sea by commercial fishermen.

of 15 million each year). $120 million are spent for military expenditures (making a total

Almost five species of life become extinct.

of one trillion each year).

8% The overall U.S. plastics recycling rate is only 8%.

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MILLION Recycling one plastic bottle can save enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for six hours.

The number of tons the U.S. generated plastic waste in 2010.

KILLING ME SOFTLY:

Automobiles

EMISSIONS’ ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS When a car’s engine is running, several different types of gasses and particles are emitted that can have detrimental effects on the environment. Of particular concern to the environment are carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas; hydrocarbons—any of more than a dozen volatile organic compounds, some of which are known carcinogens; nitrogen oxides; sulfur oxides; and particulate matter, tiny particles of solids, such as metal and soot. Other emissions that affect human health and create smog include ozone and carbon monoxide. The good news is that despite the increase of vehicles on the road, air quality today is actually better than it was in the 1970s, thanks to the 1970 Clean Air Act. In fact, lead emissions from cars have been almost completely eradicated because of the phasing out of leaded gasoline. Vehicle emissions can affect the environment in several ways. Cars emit greenhouse gasses, such as carbon dioxide, which contribute to global warming. Some air pollutants and particulate matter from cars can be deposited on soil and surface waters where they enter the food chain; these substances can affect the reproductive, respiratory, immune and neurological systems of animals.

VEHICLE FLUIDS As everyone knows, vehicles contain many different fluids, including motor oil, antifreeze, gasoline, air-conditioning refrigerants, and brake, transmission, hydraulic and windshieldwiper fluids. In most cases, these fluids are toxic to humans and animals, and can pollute waterways if they leak from a vehicle or are disposed of incorrectly. Many vehicle fluids are exposed to heat and oxygen while an engine is running, and undergo chemical changes. These fluids also pick up heavy metals from engine wear and tear, making them even more toxic to the environment. Today, motor vehicles are responsible for nearly one half of smog-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs), more than half of the nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, and about half of the toxic air pollutant emissions in the United States. Motor vehicles, including nonroad vehicles, now account for 75% of carbon monoxide emissions nationwide. The total vehicle miles people travel in the United States increased 178% between 1970 and 2005 and continues to increase at a rate of 2-3% each year. In the United States, there are more than 210 million cars and light-duty trucks on the road.

@LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 39

TIME TO DO SOMETHING Enter the Clean Air Act, which takes a comprehensive approach to reducing pollution from these sources by requiring manufacturers to build cleaner engines; refiners to produce cleaner fuels; and certain areas with air pollution problems to adopt and run passenger vehicle inspection and maintenance programs. The EPA has issued a series of regulations affecting passenger cars, diesel trucks and buses, and so-called “nonroad” equipment (recreational vehicles, lawn and garden equipment, etc.) that will dramatically reduce emissions as people buy new vehicles and equipment. CLEANER CARS The Clean Air Act required the EPA to issue a series of rules to reduce pollution from vehicle exhaust, refueling emissions and evaporating gasoline. As a result, emissions from a new car purchased today are well over 90 percent cleaner than a new vehicle purchased in 1970. This applies to SUVs and pickup trucks, as well. Beginning in 2004, all new passenger vehicles—including SUVs, minivans, vans and pickup trucks—must meet more stringent tailpipe emission standards. This marks the first time that light-duty trucks, including SUVs, pickups, and minivans are subject to the same national pollution standards as cars. As more of these cleaner vehicles enter the national fleet, harmful emissions will drop dramatically. These reductions would not be possible without cleaner, very low sulfur gasoline and diesel fuel. In addition to their direct emissions benefits, cleaner fuels enable sophisticated emission control devices to effectively control pollution. Congress recognized the importance of cleaner fuels to reducing motor vehicle emissions and gave EPA authority to regulate fuels in the Clean Air Act. ALTERNATIVE FUELS The Clean Air Act also encourages development and sale of alternative fuels—transportation fuels other than gasoline and diesel, including natural gas, propane, methanol, ethanol, electricity, and biodiesel. These fuels can be cleaner than gasoline or diesel and can reduce emissions of harmful pollutants. Renewable alternative fuels are made from biomass materials like wood, waste paper, grasses, vegetable oils, and corn. They are biodegradable and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In addition, most alternative fuels are produced domestically, which is better for our economy, energy security and helps offset the cost of imported oil.

40 / LIVING SAFER / VOL 7 ED 1

INITIATING INSPECTIONS Take care of your car. Proper maintenance of a car’s engine and pollution control equipment is critical to reduce excessive air pollution. To help ensure that such maintenance occurs, the Clean Air Act requires certain areas with air pollution problems to run inspection and maintenance (I/M) programs. The 1990 Act also established the requirement that passenger vehicles be equipped with on board diagnostics. The diagnostics system is designed to trigger a dashboard “check engine” light alerting the driver of a possible pollution control device malfunction. To help ensure that motorists respond to the “check engine” light in a timely manner, the Act requires that I/M programs include an inspection of the on board diagnostic system. WE ARE KILLING THIS PLANET From 1989’s Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska to the more recent Deepwater Horizon BP Oil Spill of 2010 along Florida’s Gulf Coast, human error is still the culprit when it comes to destroying the Earth. Just look at the results of this egregious error: »» More than 200 million gallons of crude oil was pumped into the Gulf of Mexico for a total of 87 days, making it the biggest oil spill in U.S. history. »» Approx. 16,000 total miles of coastline have been affected, including the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. »» Even though the gushing well was capped in July 2010, oil is still washing up on shores, which might cause long-term damages to people living in the area. »» The initial oil rig explosion killed 11 people and injured 17 others. »» Responders used 5.5 million feet of boom, a barrier placed in water, to collect and absorb oil. »» Of the 400 miles of Louisiana coast, approximately 125 miles have been polluted by the oil spill. »» A method of treating the oil spill is “in-situ burning” or burning oil in a contained area on the surface of the water, which has negative effects on the environment. »» Over 8,000 animals (birds, turtles, mammals) were reported dead just six months after the spill, including many that were already on the endangered species list. Over 30,000 people responded to the spill in the Gulf Coast working to collect oil, clean up beaches, take care of animals and perform various other duties. In 2013, it was reported that dolphins and other marine life continued to die in record numbers with infant dolphins dying at six times the normal rate. One study released in 2014 reported that tuna and amberjack that were exposed to oil from the spill developed deformities of the heart and other organs that would be expected to be fatal or at least life-shortening and another study found that cardiotoxicity might have been widespread in animal life exposed to the spill. As of April 2015, the Gulf was still polluted with oil.

n o w a n d ag a i n , e v e r yo n e needs a helping hand... fO or tH h Ii S s ,, LlAW awY yEeR rSs FaI g st F R T Ga H iTnI N G h Hu Un Ng GeErR iIs S t Th He Er Re E ..

Founded in 2011, LAH lfh is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting hunger, increasing food security for those in need, and providing support grants to other 501(c)(3) organizations that help fight hunger in Oklahoma.

For more information or to donate, visit lawyersagainsthunger.com.

NUTRITION

Diet Cheat: Why Letting Go on the Weekends is OK by Robert Roe

e live in the era of instant gratification. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re used to getting what we want when we want it. Unfortunately, this mentality does not translate well to a healthy wellness program. Following this pattern, many people will set a goal for their weight and select the newest vogue trend, viewing the diet as the means to an end but this idea is inherently flawed. For a diet to be truly effective, it must become more of a lifestyle than a trend. Following a diet strictly for one or two days but inevitably returning to pre-diet trends is less effective than moderate but consistent adherence. While this may sound like bad news for Weight Watchers, what it essentially means is that a diet can be effective if it is followed more days than not. 42 / LIVING SAFER / VOL 7 ED 1

This brings us to the idea of cheating on the weekends. This diet model is compatible with essentially any other diet and is as simple as following the diet during the work week, and eating whatever you want on the weekends. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very simple and takes the guilt out of cheat days because not only is it part of the diet but it actually serves a purpose, to maintain a high metabolism to maximize fat loss. A bonus to dieting this way is that most of the pressures that people experience to cave on their diets occur on the weekend anyway. Out with friends, relaxing after a long work week, even having the time to prepare more elaborate meals are all valid reasons that people can succumb to. During the work week, it becomes much easier

to plan out meals, which for most of us means cooking at home or prepared lunches. It is worth noting that a cheat day does not mean going to extremes. It does not mean you can go all out with food and alcohol. The general rule for drinks is if you can feel it, from a caloric standpoint, you’ve had too much. For most people, it is reasonable to have a drink per day on the weekends. And, cheating on the weekends does not equate to stuffing your face. A great guideline is to not eat until you’re full, but eat until you’re no longer hungry. A subtle, but important difference that you can begin to recognize during meals and can make dieting much easier. The best time to try to implement this is actually at a restaurant. Almost any meal you order at a restaurant contains more than enough calories to get you through the day. This isn’t because restaurants are evil. It’s because everyone who comes in for food is different and the goal is to leave no customer unsatisfied. It’s not only ok, but encouraged to leave food on the plate. Furthermore, studies have shown that indulging on weekends can ramp up your metabolism. A problem that all long-term dieters eventually face is a diminishing return brought on by the body adapting to calorie restriction by decreasing its

metabolism. This way when you are dieting during the workweek, your body still anticipates the high calorie intake from the weekend and burns calories faster. Proponents of this approach to dieting also claim that it helps strengthen their resolution during the week as well. A light at the end of the tunnel approach leaves yet one more thing to look forward to after getting through a work week. One of the most common reasons cited for caving on a diet is the traditional all or nothing approach which we all know at times can take a herculean will power to accomplish. Having an out makes a diet much easier to accomplish by breaking it down into segments. This segmented approach is also an important factor in the diet as one of the best ways to accomplish what may seem like impossible tasks is to break them down into more feasible mile markers along the way. On a final note, we all know that diets with impossible expectations are bound to fail. It’s all about finding a healthy balance of both staying healthy but also still enjoying life. Following the general rule of thumb that as long as you’ve reached caloric deficiency more days than not, you’re bound to lose weight and attain the goal of any diet: “maintenance.”

@LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 43

Why There’s No “Comfort” in Stress Eating by Brittany Monbarren

motional eating, we’ve all been there. You may have finished a whole bag of potato chips out of boredom or downed a pint of cookies and cream ice cream after a stressful day of work. Either way, your mood decided your food. The fact is, when our emotions get the best of us, sometimes the only way we “feel better” is through eating comfort foods. But, are they really that comforting?

Since emotional eating usually results in overeating or eating unhealthy foods, it can often lead to unwanted weight gain, poor self-esteem or obesity. This is where emotional eating becomes a problem. If you recognize that you’re an emotional eater, here are some tips from the Mayo Clinic to help when the craving hits:

Have a Hunger Reality Check. Ask yourself if your hunger is The Connection Between Your Mood and Food Sometimes, your strongest cravings for certain foods happen when you’re emotionally drained. You may turn to food – consciously or unconsciously – to help you cope. This is called emotional eating or comforting eating. According to helpguide.org, emotional eating is using food as a way to make yourself feel better—“eating to fill emotional needs, rather than to fill your stomach.”

physical or emotional. If you just ate a few hours ago and your stomach isn’t growling, you’re probably not hungry. Wait a few minutes to let the craving pass.

Snack Healthy. If you feel the urge to eat because of a certain mood you’re in, try to go for healthier items. Choose a low-fat, lowcalorie snack like fresh fruit or vegetables with low-fat dip instead of grabbing that candy bar or bowl of leftover mashed potatoes.

Emotional eating can be triggered by a number of factors: »» Stress

Tame Stress. If stress or anxiety contributes to your emotional

»» Anger

eating habits, try stress management, such as yoga, meditation, relaxation or therapy.

»» Fatigue »» Boredom »» Good vibes »» Sadness »» Childhood Habits

Fight Boredom. Instead of eating a snack when you’re bored and not truly hungry, distract yourself. Take a walk, play a game, listen to music, call a family member or friend.

»» Social Influences

Take Away Temptation. Don’t tempt yourself by keeping comfort

The problem: Emotional eaters tend to gravitate towards comfort

foods in your home. When you’re feeling stressed or bored, having those foods in your home may be very hard for you to resist.

foods—foods that bring back good memories or make you “feel good.” While these foods may bring you back to that family vacation to Disney or spending time with your bestfriends, unfortunately, comfort foods tend to be high in fat, loaded with calories and sometimes full of sugar. All of these can be very harmful to your health and wellbeing. 44 / LIVING SAFER / VOL 7 ED 1

Breath. This may sound simple enough, but take deep breaths when you feel the urge to emotionally eat. By adding more oxygen to your brain, you will be able to think more clearly and make better decisions.

The Fuss Over How Top Foods Boost Your Immune System by Scott Marshall

hat is health care? Some would say that it’s care provided to you when you are injured or ill; however, that sounds more like “sick” care rather than “health” care. True health care involves maintaining your health, not trying to regain it.

An essential element of health care is your diet. Eating the right foods can give your body the tools to remain healthy in the face of an unwanted invasion in the form of virus, bacteria or fungus, thus avoiding the necessity of “sick care.” Here are a few powerful foods to keep your body healthy and prepared to fight the fight when the time comes:

Garlic - Garlic does more than repel vampires. It contains allicinan important active ingredient in the fight against stomach cancer and colorectal cancer. Additionally, it makes everything taste better. A diet rich in garlic requires a minimum of six cloves per week.

Probiotics - Lactobacillus reuteri! This, among many other live active cultures, can be found in yogurt. The “good” bacteria that keep your intestines in the groove, a daily seven-ounce dose of yogurt will keep you your immune system humming. Lactobacillus reuteri stimulates white blood cells, which are fighters of all things sickening, so if you can find a yogurt with this warrior in it, use it.

Shellfish - Oysters! Lobster! Crab! These foods are rich in selenium, which help white blood cells produce cytokines, a protein. Oysters also contain a good amount of zinc, which has been found to have anti-viral effects, in addition to aid in healing wounds. If you need an excuse to go to an oyster bar near you, here it is. Make it a weekly trip.

@LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 45

Fish - Salmon, mackerel, tuna and herring. These fish are rich in Vitamin D and Omega-3 fatty acids, which have a antiinflammatory effect on the body. Make this a part of your diet 2-3 times a week. When looking for salmon, wild caught is the best. Always look for a label that says Certified Sustainable Seafood. Read more about this at www.msc.org.

Orange food - Sweet potatoes, sweet potatoes (carrots, cantaloupe, pumpkin, and squash) are rich in Vitamin A. Among other benefits, Vitamin A is important for skin health, by supporting your connective tissue. Your body turns the Vitamin A to antioxidants for battling infection. Try baking a sweet potato and sprinkling it with your favorite spice. You can make it dessert by adding a touch of brown sugar. Mix these orange goodies into your diet on a daily basis.

Greens - You’ve got to eat your greens, people! Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Kale & Spinach. Salad, Salad, Salad. This is the best way to enjoy these Vitamin C rich greenies (although, you can cooked them up slightly, just don’t kill them). Eat a variety of these every day, twice a day.

Tea (Green or Black) - Full of polyphenols and flavonoids, as well as the amino acid L-theanine, Green or Black Tea load you up with powerful anti-oxidants to help rid your body of free radicals. Drink five cups a day for maximum benefit. Adding a locally produced honey sweetens the dose and has the added benefit of helping with seasonal allergies. 46 / LIVING SAFER / VOL 7 ED 1

Shrooms - Mushrooms stimulate your white blood cells, which are extremely important in fighting infection. Shiitake, Maitake, Reishi and Button mushrooms are among the best. These fungi have antiviral and antibacterial effects. Add them to your salad, or lightly sauté them in olive oil (with garlic!) for the best benefit. You can also cook them up with your pasta or load them onto pizza. You need at least an ounce or two a day.

Berries - Elderberry, Acai Berry, Blueberry are all full of antioxidants. Sprinkle them on your yogurt! Or pour yourself a cup of these juicy sweets. You can’t eat too many!

Water - This list wouldn’t be complete without water. Don’t forget to drink 8-10 glasses of water a day. Water keeps everything clean and working. Drink water throughout the day to keep your body properly hydrated.

This list is not exhaustive. There are plenty of other foods useful in fighting your immune system. The most important element to real health care is a diet that is both balanced and consistent. Take these foods and incorporate them into your regular diet. By giving your body the tools it needs to fight off illness and infection, you will help avoid the need to go to the doctor for sick care. The data in this article was taken from information found on WebMD.com and ClevelandClinic.org.

id you know nine out of 10 Americans consume too much sodium? America’s relationship with salt is putting us at risk for high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Most of your sodium intake comes from the foods you buy pre-packaged and pre-made in grocery stores and restaurants. In fact, only about 10% of the salt you consume comes from your salt shaker. The American Heart Association recommends you consume 1,500 mg or less of sodium per day, but we know that most Americans consume upwards of 3,400 mg of sodium every day.

SPECIFY HOW YOU WANT YOUR FOOD PREPARED. Ask for your dish to be made without extra salt.

Take the sodium pledge today by visiting www sodiumbreakup.heart.org to make your personal commitment to break up with salt. There’s no tracking or longterm commitment; it’s just a pledge to be more aware of the amount of salt you and your family consume. Additionally, your pledge helps serve an even bigger purpose. The American Heart Association is trying to create a groundswell of support to show federal legislators that Americans do care about the way our food is packaged and processed. The hope is that the organization can collect enough pledges to influence federal regulation on the amount of salt in the foods we buy.

It only takes a few moments. Please consider taking the pledge today! @LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 47

AT THE STORE/WHILE SHOPPING FOR FOOD: CHOOSE PACKAGED AND PREPARED FOODS CAREFULLY. Compare labels and choose the product with the lowest amount of sodium (per serving) you can find in your store. You might be surprised that different brands of the same food can have different sodium levels.

CHOOSE CANNED VEGETABLES LABELED “NO SALT ADDED” AND FROZEN VEGETABLES WITHOUT SALTY SAUCES. When you add these to a casserole, soup, or other mixed dish, there will be so many other ingredients involved that you won’t miss the salt.

PICK FRESH AND FROZEN POULTRY THAT HASN’T BEEN INJECTED WITH A SODIUM SOLUTION. Check the fine print on the packaging for terms like “broth,” “saline” or “sodium solution.” Sodium levels in unseasoned fresh meats are around 100 milligrams (mg) or less per 4-ounce serving.

LOOK FOR PRODUCTS WITH THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION’S HEART-CHECK MARK to find foods that can be part of an overall healthy dietary pattern. Heart-Check is not a low-sodium program and the Heart-Check mark is not necessarily a sign that a product is “low-sodium” but it does mean that the food meets AHA’s sodium criteria to have the Heart-Check mark. You can eat foods with varying amounts of sodium and still achieve a balanced and heart-healthy diet. To learn more about the Heart-Check Food Certification Program, visit www.heartcheckmark.org.

CHOOSE CONDIMENTS CAREFULLY. For example, soy sauce, bottled salad dressings, dips, ketchup, jarred salsas, capers, mustard, pickles, olives and relish can be sky-high in sodium. Look for a reduced or lower-sodium version.

WHEN PREPARING FOOD: USE ONIONS, GARLIC, HERBS, SPICES, CITRUS JUICES AND VINEGARS in place of some or all of the salt to add flavor to foods. Our recipes and tips can help!

COOK PASTA, RICE, AND HOT CEREAL WITHOUT SALT. You’re likely going to add other flavorful ingredients to these foods, so you won’t miss the salt.

DRAIN AND RINSE CANNED BEANS (like chickpeas, kidney beans, etc.) and vegetables—this can cut the sodium by up to 40%.

COOK BY GRILLING, BRAISING, ROASTING, SEARING, AND SAUTÉING to bring out the natural flavors in foods—that will reduce the need to add salt.

COMBINE LOWER-SODIUM VERSIONS OF FOOD WITH REGULAR VERSIONS. If you don’t like the taste of lower-sodium foods right now, try combining them in equal parts with a regular version of the same food. You’ll get less salt and probably won’t notice much difference in taste. This works especially well for broths, soups and tomato-based pasta sauces.

INCORPORATE FOODS WITH POTASSIUM, like sweet potatoes, potatoes, greens, tomatoes and lower-sodium tomato sauce, white beans, kidney beans, nonfat yogurt, oranges, bananas and cantaloupe. Potassium helps counter the effects of sodium and may help lower your blood pressure.

AT RESTAURANTS: TASTE YOUR FOOD BEFORE ADDING SALT. If you think it needs a boost of flavor, add freshly ground black pepper or a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime and test it again before adding salt. Lemon and pepper are especially good on fish, chicken and vegetables.

CONTROL PORTION SIZES. When you cut calories, you usually cut the sodium too. Ask if smaller portions are available or share the meal with a friend. Or, ask for a to-go box when you order and place half the meal in the box to eat later.

WATCH OUT FOR FOODS DESCRIBED USING THE WORDS PICKLED, BRINED, BARBECUED, CURED, SMOKED, BROTH, AU JUS, SOY SAUCE, MISO, OR TERIYAKI SAUCE. These tend to be high in sodium. Foods that are steamed, baked, grilled, poached or roasted may have less sodium.

A new law requires chain restaurants with 20 or more locations to provide nutrition information, including sodium content, to customers upon request. The new law will take effect in December 2015, but some restaurants may have the information available before then.

ASK ABOUT THE SODIUM CONTENT OF THE MENU ITEMS.

*Source: American Heart Association 48 / LIVING SAFER / VOL 7 ED 1

Study: Home Cooking a Main Ingredient in Healthier Diet by Stephanie Andre eople who frequently cook meals at home eat healthier and consume fewer calories than those who cook less, according to new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health research. “When people cook most of their meals at home, they consume fewer carbohydrates, less sugar and less fat than those who cook less or not at all—even if they are not trying to lose weight,” says Julia A. Wolfson, MPP, a CLF-Lerner Fellow at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future and lead author of the study. The findings also suggest that those who frequently cooked at home—six to seven nights a week—also consumed fewer calories on the occasions when they ate out. Wolfson and co-author Sara N. Bleich, PhD, an associate professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Bloomberg School, analyzed data from the 2007-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from more than 9,000 participants aged 20 and older. The survey asked detailed questions about what participants ate during a 24-hour period as well as other eating behaviors such as fast food in the past 30 days. The researchers found that 8% of adults cooked dinner once or less a week and this group consumed, on an average day, 2,301 total calories, 84 grams of fat and 135 grams of sugar. Forty-eight percent of participants cooked dinner six to seven times a week and they consumed 2,164

calories, 81 grams of fat and 119 grams of sugar on an average day. The researchers also found that those who cook at home more frequently rely less on frozen foods and are less likely to choose fast foods on the occasions when they eat out. The research found blacks are more likely to live in households where cooking occurs less frequently than whites; and individuals who work more than 35 hours a week outside the home cook less, as well. “Obesity is an escalating public health problem that contributes to other serious health issues, including diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease,” says Wolfson. “The evidence shows people who cook at home eat a more healthy diet. Moving forward, it’s important to educate the public about the benefits of cooking at home, identify strategies that encourage and enable more cooking at home, and help everyone, regardless of how much they cook, make healthier choices when eating out.” Wolfson says there may not be a one-size-fits-all solution to getting people to cook more. “Time and financial constraints are important barriers to healthy cooking and frequent cooking may not be feasible for everyone. But people who cook infrequently may benefit from cooking classes, menu preparation coaching or even lessons in how to navigate the grocery store or read calorie counts on menus in restaurants” @LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 49

FCISER.net

“I Choose” anti-bullying campaign

The “I Choose” campaign is a challenge and movement for change. It’s about recognizing bullying for what it is: a choice. What you say or do to someone has the power to affect that person’s life. The campaign challenges people to stop, think and remember that their choices matter.

What do you choose? We believe that there are five powerful choices that kids and teens can make to counter bullying: Friendship Kindness Respect Compassion Love

How you can be a part of the “I Choose” movement Teachers If you are interested in incorporating the “I Choose” Anti-Bullying Challenge into your classroom or school, please visit whatdoyouchoose.org and get signed up today.

Youth Whether you were the victim or you know someone who was, your story has the power to shift someone’s perspective. Visit whatdoyouchoose.org to share your story and make your choice.

Supporters Spread the message by purchasing an “I Choose” bracelet for yourself or a child in your life.

As written about in

and proudly supported by

Team Up to stop bullying.

F A M I LY

Traumatic Events: How to Talk to Your Child by Marc Whitehead

here have been a number of tragic events in the news

recently that can cause fear, anxiety and stress in your child, especially those heart breaking events involving schools or even the death of a child. According to the U.S. Department of Mental Health and Human Services, knowing how recognize signs of stress and also how to talk to you child will not only help them cope with the situation but will help develop positive coping skills which are very important to the fundamental development of

a healthy child. Children can respond to traumatic events in many different ways depending upon the age group, the childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s environment, the availability of support from adults and even the childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own past history with a traumatic event or death. Being able to recognize the signs that your child is having difficulty coping with a traumatic event will help you better respond to your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs in a positive and reassuring manner. @LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 51

Here are some signs you may see in each age group:

Preschool: Younger children will find it difficult to adjust to tragic events or bad news. They may revert to earlier developmental stages such as thumb sucking or bed wetting. The child may be more fearful of the dark or when they are around strangers. Some children exhibit disobedience, speech problems and hyperactivity. These ages must depend upon the adults in their life, parents, teachers, and family members, to assist them in understanding the situation and how to get through it.

6 Ways to Help Your Child Respond 1

Open Dialog with Your Child - Talk to your child about the event and answer their questions honestly but try to keep the frightening aspects to a minimum. Encourage your child, no matter what age, to keep communication open. This may mean expressing their emotions in writing, drawing, and through conversations with family members and teachers.

Reassure Your Child - In her 2012 article on the Newtown School Shooting, Disaster Response Specialist Dr. Saliha Bava states that the key to helping children cope with traumatic events is reassurance. This may mean cuddling for much younger children and continual verbal support for all ages.

Limit Your Childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Exposure - Limit time your children

Limit Your Own Exposure - As a parent, it can be

Take Care of Yourself as Well as Your Child - Make

Early Childhood: Children ages 5 through 11 may demonstrate the same reaction to traumatic events as the younger preschool age children do. You may notice your child withdrawing from play groups and classroom activity. This age group may also develop fear of returning to school, a need for more attention from adults and teachers. They may also lash out in anger or show signs of aggression due to their inability to process their emotions.

Adolescence: When children ages 12 to 14 experience stressful or traumatic events, they may vie for increasing attention from parents or teachers while simultaneously withdrawing from responsibilities or acting out in class, sometimes to the point of being disruptive. Challenges to authority, high-risk behaviors such as drug and alcohol, and deep feelings of guilt and helplessness may also manifest in this age group. Young adolescents in this age bracket need to be seen as â&#x20AC;&#x153;normalâ&#x20AC;? by their peers and may be less concerned about their interactions with adults 52 / LIVING SAFER / VOL 7 ED 1

Keep to the Norm - Try to keep their schedule as normal as possible to help keep their stress to a minimum. Children are happier with a routine they understand and participate in.

have access to media or television. Keep news viewing of the event to a minimum.

quite traumatic to see images of tragic events involving schools or children. When you expose yourself to a barrage of information regarding a traumatic event, you become agitated and stressed yourself and your child will sense this. Try and create a sense of safety for you and your children by limiting your own media exposure.

sure that you acknowledge your own reactions to a traumatic event. Make sure you establish physical or emotional well-being in yourself as well as in your children. Remember, it is difficult to promote reassurance in a child if you yourself are uneasy.

Being able to recognize signs of stress and opening the pathways to communication with your child following a traumatic event will not only help both you and your child deal with the current tragic circumstance but can also help you and your child develop skills that will make any future difficult or tragic events easier to cope with. Remember to stay positive and be sure to reach out to family, friends and the community for support.

30 F

Internet Acronyms Every Parent Needs to Know by Kelsey Williams

rom the “far out’s” of the 1970’s to the “as if’s” of the

room at night by a predator, convinced to sneak out never to return.

1990s, every generation has its own lingo that separates

While this worst-case scenario is statistically unlikely to occur to the

it from the others. Today’s kids have had the unique

average teenager, it is much more probable that your child is being

ability to transform all facets of language, especially the written

contacted by friends about sexual matters, being bullied, being a

word, in ways previous generations could not have fathomed

bully, or simply acting in a manner you would not approve of in this

thanks to the near constant technological connectivity that comes

world they have created for themselves behind the protection of

along with the Internet, text messaging and cellphone data. An

the computer screen.

increasingly popular form of slang adopted by today’s kids is the

Although many teens attempt to hide their bad behavior by

use of acronyms, which can be challenging for parents to crack, to

using teen-speak acronyms, as a parent, you can take a proactive

discuss topics from the mundane to the dangerous.

stance by educating yourself about the acronym code to help make

While most teen-speak acronyms are harmless, some phrases

sure your child is safely and respectfully using technology. Below

could be signs of trouble for your teen. Every parent knows the

are 30 acronyms every parent should know to keep their child safe

all-too-common narrative of the teenager lured from his or her

in the modern, tech-enabled world:

420 - Marijuana

N00b - New Person

AF - As F***

OMG - Oh my Gosh/God

ANL - All Night Long

PIR - Parent in Room

Bae - Baby

ROFL - Roll on the Floor Laughing

BRB - Be Right Back

/S -Indicated what was just said is

DOC - Drug of Choice

sarcasm

FML - F*** My Life

SMH - Shake My Head

GNOC - Get Naked On Camera

TBH - To Be Honest

GTFO - Get the F*** Out

TF - The F***

HIF - How I Feel

TIFU - Today I F***ed Up

ILY - I Love You

TL;DR - Too Long; Didn’t Read

IRL - In Real Life

TTYL - Talk to You Later

LOL - Laugh Out Loud

WBU - What ‘Bout You?

LMAO - Laugh my A** Off

WTF - What the F***

MFW - My Face When

WTTP - Want to Trade Pictures?

MRW - My Reaction When

With constantly changing technologies

media and cellphones, requiring your child

and teen-speak vocabularies, it can be

to share their social media profiles with you,

hard to help kids steer clear of trouble but

and maintaining an open dialogue about

educating yourself about your children’s

internet safety with your child. If in doubt

slang is the first step parents can take to

about the meaning of a term or acronym you

protect their children in the modern world.

see your child using, do not hesitate to type

Some other steps you can take to protect

it into a search engine; it could just mean the

your child from the risks associated with

difference between a harmless catch-phrase

technology include limiting the use of social

and a life-altering mistake. @LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 53

Do I Look in This? Study: Body image concerns start in young children by Stephanie Andre

ou’ve probably heard this before: “Kids seem to be growing up faster these days.” While for some time that may have just been some of us getting older, it’s now being backed up by various studies that prove that “kids these days” are, in fact, dealing with certain issues much younger in life than a generation ago. Many Americans may not realize that the media influences kids’ body image concerns from a very young age, according to a new brief that provides an overview of the existing research in the field. Researchers from Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization that reviews content targeted at kids, say that dozens of studies reveal very young children are increasingly struggling to develop a healthy relationship with their own bodies. For instance, when kindergarten-age children are asked to indicate their ideal body size, nearly a third of them choose a size that’s smaller than their own. By age 6, kids are aware of what “dieting” means and may have tried it. By age 10, 80% of American girls say they’ve been on a diet. “Almost as soon as preschoolers complete the developmental task of mastering a concept of their bodies, they begin to express concerns about their bodies, taking their cues from peers, adults, and media around them,” the Common Sense Media researchers write. “Young children in particular pick up models for how to think and behave from those around them. Body-related talk and behavior is no exception.” Plus, this issue appears to be getting worse. Between 1999 and 2006, for instance, the number of kids under the age of 12

54 / LIVING SAFER / VOL 7 ED 1

who needed to be hospitalized for eating disorders increased by nearly 120%. A complex mix of factors contribute to kids’ perceptions of their bodies. The behavior modeled by their parents appears to play a role; in one study of elementary school-age children, for example, kids started picking up on their mother’s dissatisfaction with her body before expressing dissatisfaction about their own. Parents can try to avoid passing down negative messages by avoiding “fat talk” and focusing their efforts on emphasizing healthy food instead. Researchers are also concerned about the unrealistic portrayals of particularly thin bodies in the media, which appear even in products aimed primarily at children. A recent review of 134 episodes of popular Nickelodeon and Disney shows found that a staggering 87% of the female characters between the ages of 10 and 17 were underweight. Meanwhile, another study discovered that the overweight characters on those channels were more likely to be portrayed as unattractive and having no friends. Even kids’ cartoon characters can’t always escape the pressure to conform to unrealistic ideals of thinness. Disney has been criticized for slimming down its popular characters like Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck, while the body proportions of its princesses have frequently been called into question. Executives continue to employ this marketing strategy even though there’s no clear evidence that children prefer skinny cartoons. Ultimately, according to the Common Sense Media researchers, it’s important to take stock of children’s current influences because we know that body image is linked to key aspects of social and emotional wellbeing. When children are dissatisfied with their bodies, they’re more likely to struggle with low self-esteem, depression, and eating disorders. And disordered eating, which plagues an estimated 30 million Americans, is the most fatal mental health issue in the country—one out of every five people with anorexia eventually dies from causes related to the disease.

Parent Speak: Tips for talking with young children about body image

Boys: From very early on, boys take a lot of their cues about what an adult man should look like from the media they consume: TV shows, video games, and even action figures and toys. Here are some teachable moments that could help raise awareness to your child and how they perceive male body image: If your child receives or shows interest in playing with an action figure whose body is very exaggerated, ask the following questions while playing with them: »» Is this how you or your friends, or the grown-up men you know, look like? »» Why do you think the people who make action figures make them look like this? »» Do you have to have big muscles to be a hero? »» Can you think of people who are heroes who don’t necessarily use their muscles to do good things?

If you notice your child watching a television show, playing a videogame or wanting a video game that promotes hyper-masculinity through large bodies and tough attitudes, ask these questions while playing with them: »» What’s the difference between how the good guys and the bad guys are portrayed? »» Do other boys/men you know look and act like this? »» What is the difference between the video game world and the real world? »» Does the game make you solve problems by hurting people? What might be some other ways of solving the problems in the game that don’t involve violence?

Girls: Even very young girls may have the desire to conform to the thin ideal. Research has shown that dolls and cartoon characters can influence how young girls perceive their appearance and bodies and how important they think it is to be attractive and sexual. Here are some teachable moments that could help your child understand the media’s beauty ideal vs. reality: If your child enjoys playing with sexualized dolls or shows a great interest in these types of dolls/toys, ask them the following questions while playing with them: »» What do you like best about the doll? »» Are the skinnier, more attractive dolls shown as being more popular? Are there any dolls who aren’t skinny or don’t wear revealing clothing? »» If the doll is supposed to be an adult, do the women you know look like this doll? If not, why might the people who made it not have made it look like real-life women? »» If the doll is supposed to be a child or teenager, do the girls you know look like this doll? If not, why might the people who made it not have made it look like real-life girls? »» Why do you think the people who made this doll chose to make it so thin or give it such revealing clothing?

If you notice your child talking about celebrities or models with their friends or even to you, ask them the following questions: Do you compare how you look to celebrities? »» Does seeing or reading about celebrities make you feel differently about the way you look? »» What do you like the most about how celebrities look? Do you feel like you should look like that? If your child enjoys watching TV shows or movies that promote certain body types and suggests that it’s most important for girls to be popular and attractive, you may ask them the following questions while watching with them: »» Do all women look like the main character in this? »» Is the most important thing about a person how they look? What other things might be important about a person? »» What do the ‘good’ characters in this look like? What do the ‘bad’ characters usually look like? Why do you think they’re different? »» Which character would you want to be friends with and why? @LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 55

Study: Racing Video Games May Influence Later Behavior by Mark Bello ideo games continue to be extremely popular. Games are evolving every year, and as technology gets better the games become more realistic. People play them because they are fun, interesting and a way to relax. But, are prolonged hours spent playing these games affecting behavior? What may seem to be a simple question with an even simpler answer may be much more complex. While the debate over the connection between playing video games and real-world behavior has subsided in recent years, it remains an ongoing controversy. Most studies have tried to prove that frequent users of violent video games are more likely to commit acts, condone them or engage in aggressive behavior. Some people even claim that video gaming led to the Columbine shootings, however, there is no proof. Furthermore, playing violent video games did not cause millions of other players over the years to commit similar, heinous, crimes. Concerns have also

56 / LIVING SAFER / VOL 7 ED 1

been raised with racing video games and their effects on driving behaviors. Given that children start playing these games on average at age 10, some researchers are concerned that racing games may instill risk-taking behaviors that lead to unsafe driving when children reach the age where they find themselves behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. Recently, a study was conducted to determine if there was a link between racing games and bad behavior on real roads. Subjects were given personality tests before being assigned to play a computer racing game or a neutral computer game. Afterwards, the subjects took a driving simulation test where they pressed a â&#x20AC;&#x153;stopâ&#x20AC;? button when they felt the behavior in the simulator got too risky. Those who played the racing game averaged about 12 seconds to stop whereas those who played the neutral game averaged 10 seconds. The personality tests and simulation tests were compared and a positive correlation was

found between having an adventurous/risk-taking personality and riskiness in the test. (Prior gaming experience was shown to have no effect.) Teresa Senserrick of Transport and Road Safety (TARS) Research at The University of New South Wales said she does not view this as clear evidence of a link between gaming and taking risks when actually driving on-road. The reason is, despite the evidence, today’s research is too inconclusive to determine any causal links. Drivers only participated in virtual driving where the tendency for risky behaviors is presumably stronger. The study did not assess participants in real-road driving situations. A young man may drive in an irresponsible manner for any number of reasons, not, simply, because of the video games he plays. Senserrick pointed out that many everyday factors, such as arguments with friends or family can take up ‘headspace,’ affecting our state of mind while behind the wheel. As a comparison, most video game research has focused on violent games and aggression. In hundreds of studies, none have said that violent video games are the only risk factor for aggression or violence or even the most important factor. This type of behavior usually results from an accumulation of factors. There is nothing about behavior that is predictable and there is nothing exact about social science. Different people become aggressive or engage in dangerous driving habits for different reasons; there can be many contributing factors. To simplify, anyone who is determined to deliberately hurt or murder someone will probably do it with or without video games. Anyone determined to drive on the wrong side of the road or scale a guardrail will do it despite the virtual adventure. Who plays ‘Grand Theft Auto’ and says, “I think I’ll drive through the police barricade and start shooting now that I learned how in this video game?” So, how much risk-taking behavior is due to personality and other factors and how much is due to playing racing games? Whether innate or developed over time, gamers often have characteristics that non-gamers don’t. It is far more likely that gamers exhibit risky driving behaviors due to a natural inclination toward risk-taking rather than their games playing activities. Game playing may support the behaviors, but are likely not the main cause. Are there benefits to video driving games? Racing games

A young man may drive in an irresponsible manner for any number of reasons, not, simply, because of the video games he plays. can help gamers understand the mechanics of maneuvering a vehicle. Since physics is applied in the game, gamers are able to understand how different mistakes will cause different types of crashes and how to avoid them. Researchers found that playing action packed video games helps process visual information at a faster rate and track 30% more objects coming than non-gamers. Playing video games also enhances reflexes that when applied in real-life driving, can help a driver avoid danger and injury such as swerving to another driver or a tree. Some studies even acknowledged experienced gamers on average need less tries to pass their driving test. The media and some experts often opine that playing violent video games is the reason why some young people engage in certain behavior. While many scientists and psychologists find that video games can actually have many benefits—teaching kids high-level thinking skills that they will need in the future, whether behind the wheel, in the classroom, or in a corporate office, Senserrick said “keeping attention to the road at all times is a real challenge and there is no harm cautioning against anything that could have a negative impact, including playing a racing game immediately beforehand.” Whether you believe that the link between video games and behavior is clear or science is too faulty to mean anything, it’s hard to argue that more research is unnecessary.

@LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 57

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SAFETY TIPS FOR DIY LAWN CARE by Craig Kelley

ith the spring season and all things new comes the need for lawn care and landscaping work. The average lawn owner may see that the surrounding neighbors have already called professional lawn service companies to handle their lawn service needs. With professional landscaping services come large landscaping bills, so many of us will opt to forego these services and try to out-landscape their neighbors the do-it-yourself (DIY) way! With any DIY project, one can just hear the “danger, danger” warning alarms sounding despite the way those television DIY

crews make it look so easy. So what are some tips for the confident, brave and enthusiastic DIY lawn aficionado, other than opening up the checkbook and hiring others? First, there is the lawn equipment (mowers, weed eaters, chainsaws, wood chippers, etc.). One might think that it is no problem to use those machines when their use was taught by one’s grandfather or father long ago. However, all too often, folks suffer over-confidence, which means safety can go by the wayside. Most people fail to wear clothing that will protect from injury, such as long-sleeved @LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 59

shirts, long pants, work boots (steel toes recommended), gloves, safety glasses/goggles, and even hearing protection. While many may scoff at safety precautions as over the top, one must keep in mind that the lawn mower, alone, is one of the most dangerous home tools. In fact, approx. 68,000 people are injured each year by this piece of lawn equipment! Many of those injured are under 18 years of age. Injuries from lawn equipment can cause deep lacerations, the loss of fingers or toes, eye injuries, hearing loss, burns, bone fractures and more. The lawn equipment itself is not the only thing that can cause the injuries. For instance, many people forget to pick up loose objects from their lawn (i.e.; rocks, tree limbs, glass, kid toys, dog toys and bones), which results in these objects becoming high-speed propulsions that can cause serious injury. It is vital that some rules and safety precautions be put in place, including but not limited to safety clothing and removal of objects. Also, children using lawn equipment should always be supervised. And, we must be sure that anyone hanging out nearby stays clear of those friends and family while working on the lawn with any power equipment. In addition to the myriad of lawn equipment dangers, there are additional lawn dangers that the DIY lawn worker should take into consideration. EXTREME TEMPERATURES: When the temperatures are hot, and especially when it is humid, you could experience heat exhaustion or heatstroke. To help avoid the situation, one should drink a ton of liquid, along with avoiding lawn work during peak sun hours, wearing cover-ups, sunglasses and hats. On the opposite end of the temperature continuum, there could be hypothermia if lawn work is done in cold spring conditions. NATURE: There are insects and bees that can bite or sting the outdoor worker. Also, certain plants, weeds and trees could cause harm when in contact with. POWER LINES: There are power lines in the sky and buried in the dirt, so one must make proper inquiries with the power company before digging or trenching if there are no warning signs already in place. HEIGHTS, HOLES & HILLS: Be cautious when working on any surface. You risk the chance of falling off of ladders, trees and other heights when working above ground. Hills and ditches can topple lawn mowers and other equipment; and there are even sinkholes that can appear. CHEMICALS: Pesticides and chemicals are used for lawn care, however, they should be used carefully because they can be very harmful to both humans and pets. In fact, out of the approx. 30 most used lawn pesticides, 19 have been linked as cancer causing carcinogens, 13 have been linked to birth defects, 21 have been linked to reproductive issues, 26 have been linked to kidney or liver damage, 15 have been linked to neurotoxicity, and 11 with hormonal issues in the endocrine system! Such poisons are absorbed into the body through the skin, by mouth, or by breathing in sprays, vapors, or dusts

60 / LIVING SAFER / VOL 7 ED 1

If you or a loved one suffers or suspects any injury or illness from DIY lawn care, call for emergency medical assistance immediately. Spring is an exciting season full of new growth, green beauty and hope for our best lawn ever, but it is important to think ahead with an appropriate safety plan to keep everyone safe, healthy and enjoying that beautiful lawn.

LOCAL LAWYERS

LENDING A H A N D Membership and Unity

Good Works, Large & Small

We meet throughout the year to reconnect on all matters business and personal.

IB members work tirelessly to better their own local communities - through both IB initiatives as well as their own.

A different kind of lawyer The Injury Board is a nonprofit group of plaintiffsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; law firms that understand the importance and effectiveness of getting out in the community and making a difference. The commonality all IB members share is the drive to succeed, to participate and become part of a select group of like-minded firms. For more information or to find a representative in your area, visit injuryboard.org.

Household Cleaners: Why They Look Like Kids’ Juice Boxes by Nathaniel Fick

ou may not realize just how dangerous the average house can be until you are preparing to bring a child into your home. When that day comes, even just a quick look around and your home reveals many seemingly-innocent items that are actually quite hazardous—table corners are suddenly too sharp, hardwood floors are suddenly too slippery and power outlets are well within the reach of even the smallest children. Thus, “babyproofing” a home becomes a rite of passage just before adding a new member to your home. The dangers of common household cleaners are often overlooked. Although all commercially-produced household cleaners are required to be clearly labeled with information regarding the dangers of use and/or ingestion, a young child will not stop and read a label before playing with the fun, colorful bottle of liquid they just found underneath the kitchen sink. To avoid endangering your children, you need to remember a few key things.

Household Cleaner Containers While it’s true that many household cleaning items come in containers that resemble children’s juice boxes, part of the reason for that resemblance is that cleaners’ packaging must be durable, practical and easy to use. The packaging is usually made up of a combination of around six layers of paper, aluminum foil and other types of materials that work in tandem to help make the package strong. The shape of the containers themselves also comes down to convenience—they’re designed to be easy for many people to use regardless of age, size and more. Most cleaning product manufacturers have included several child-resistant packaging options that parents can use for extra protection. Often these packaging designs result from tests conducted with actual kids and usually require two different motions to be completed at the same time—something that is much more difficult for a child to do than it is for an adult. Despite this, however, nothing is perfect. Kids may still be able to open the containers.

More than Just Bleach and Glass One of the biggest mistakes you can make regarding child safety involves assuming that the only household cleaning items you need to lock up are the most obvious—bleach, ammonia or soaps. However, there are several other items that can be just as deadly 62 / LIVING SAFER / VOL 7 ED 1

that deserve equal attention, including: • Paint and related products • Antibacterial products • Nail polish/nail polish remover • Plumbing chemicals • Shampoos for carpeting and rugs • Air-freshener • Wood polish and similar items used specifically for furniture All pose a real threat to your kids if ingested, and should be safely guarded from a child’s view, reach and access.

Keeping Kids Safe from Cleaning Products Try to avoid storing household cleaners under the kitchen sink. Understand that you can never make that kitchen cabinet door 100% impossible for a child to open. Remember that children learn through observation—meaning that if they’ve seen you unlock the child safety lock on the cabinet, they will eventually be able to recreate those steps on their own. Take this possibility out of the equation altogether and store your cleaning supplies on a high shelf. Also, do not just focus on the areas of your home where you believe your kids are likely to be. You should take extraordinary precautions with cleaners in bathrooms and kitchens. Be sure to secure cleaners kept in garages, closet, basements and attics. Automotive fluids, rodent poisons and weed killers can be just as deadly as the bottle of kitchen bleach you took great care removing from your child’s reach. If you ever need to change a household cleaner’s container—do not use a household food or drink container for cleaner storage. Children observe and learn what containers of that shape and size are used for, and can identify containers used for food and drinks. For every parent, the safety and well-being of their children is always of the utmost concern. Installing child safety locks on cabinets, storing items out of reach and buying only products with child safety locks on the containers themselves will be meaningless in protecting your child if you forget to re-secure household cleaners after use. With household cleaners, the key is to approach the situation from every possible angle to help understand what needs to be done to secure them properly. Never leave children unattended while cleaners are being used.

If Someone Yells Fire in a Crowded House . . . By Bret Hanna

hat do you do? Ideally, in the unfortunate event of a fire in the home, there will be a fire safety plan in place so all occupants will know exactly what to do when an alarm is sounded. Of course, every home is different. Each fire safety plan must be customized to the structure that serves as the home as well the occupants of the home. Because each home is unique, the place to start with a fire safety plan is a diagram or map of the dwelling. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be architect worthy quality, just detailed enough and sufficiently to scale to make it useful for everyone in the home. If you live in a multi-family housing situation, such as an apartment building or a condo complex, make sure you include all avenues of entrance and exit to your particular unit on the map. Also, note every door and every window of each room, and indicate the location of each smoke alarm. Smoke alarms should be located in each sleeping area of the home, and there should be at least one on every level of the home that does not have a sleeping area. Smoke alarm batteries should be replaced twice a year, and many people use daylight savings time changes as a reminder for replacement. Also, if you can remember to do it, it is a good idea to test each smoke alarm once a month by pushing the test button to make sure each is working properly. If an alarm fails a test, replace the battery and test it again. If it fails again, replace the alarm. Smoke alarms, like carbon monoxide detectors, are not inexpensive. But, they are worth every penny and are critical investments in your familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safety. Once the map of the home is completed, visit each room and identify two ways to get out of the room in the event of a fire.

Ideally, both ways out will provide for an exit from the home altogether, but in some instances, of course, that will not be possible. In those instances, identify the second route of escape that provides the best path to a complete exit. In addition to creating the map, make sure that all doors and windows will open properly so that even children who are old enough to understand the fire safety plan can open them. Also, make sure that all home identification signage is clearly visible and well lit at night so that the fire department does not have difficulty locating your home. That includes house numbers or family name signs you may have. The final step of creating a home fire safety plan is to establish the best way for the homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s occupants to implement it. Make sure that all home occupants know the appropriate fire emergency number for your location, be it 911 or some other number the local fire authority has established for emergency calls. Also, identify a pre-arranged meeting place for everyone in the home to go to in the event of a fire emergency. It should be easy to walk to and in a safe location for all, including the elderly and children. Preferably, the established meeting place will be some highly visible area in front of the home. Finally, practice using the fire safety plan periodically to make sure that all home occupants know what to do and how to do it. A couple of times a year is ideal but for most families, when the plan is put in place and whenever you happen to think of it after that is more realistic. The critical take away is to think through fire safety issues with your family, so everyone is on the same page about what to do if that fire alarm is sounded. @LIVINGSAFER / LIVINGSAFER.COM / 63

the

DOs & DON’Ts

of...

WATER CONSERVATION AROUND THE HOUSE by Brittany Monbarren

Run dishwasher and washing machine only when full, using short cycle.

Cut your showers short and save 5-10 gallons per minute.

Water your lawn in the heat of the day.

Use water to clean off sidewalks or driveways— instead, sweep them clean.

Let the water run while brushing teeth, shaving, washing hands or washing dishes or vegetables. Check your water meter or bill to monitor water use. Use the toilet as a waste basket and don’t flush it unnecessarily.

Repair leaky faucets and turn taps off tightly. Slow drips waste 10-15 gallons/day.

Install water-saving shower heads and low-flow aerators.

DON’T Fill bathtub to the top. Stop at half full.

64 / LIVING SAFER / VOL 7 ED 1

Put debris, yard clippings or leaves down storm drains.

FIGHTING FOR INJURY PREVENTION AND JUSTICE PRESERVATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY. The Civil Justice Foundation is a national charitable organization dedicated to safeguarding justice for all Americans by strengthening the alliance between trial attorneys and consumer advocacy groups. It is the only national foundation devoted solely to protecting the individual rights, health and well-being of the injured â&#x20AC;&#x201D; providing small but significant grants to the tireless organizations fighting for injury prevention and justice preservation across the country.

How Do We Do It? The Civil Justice Foundation is proud to award grants to grassroots organizations that are at the forefront of the consumer advocacy movement â&#x20AC;&#x201D; particularly to groups that have difficulty securing traditional funding because they are newly organized and/or address a controversial issue. To date, the Foundation has awarded more than $1.4 million to more than 110 of these groups.

www.civiljusticefoundation.org

ONLINE SAFETY

is a Shared Responsibility Learn how to do your part to make the Internet safer and more secure for all.

facebook.com/STOPTHINKCONNECT

www.stopthinkconnect.org

@STOPTHNKCONNECT

STOP. THINK. CONNECT. is the national cybersecurity education and awareness campaign.