There are lists of ways for parents to help their kids in school and some general ideas have been discussed in this article.

It does not matter what age group your child belongs to – don’t pounce on your children the moment they walk through the door to find out about tests, grades and other school stuff. Younger children are usually more willing to discuss what happened at school, eager in fact to share information. This is not the case with older children especially teenagers. You have to give the children time to unwind first. Choose general topics to talk about and give them something to eat and drink, children always fare better on full stomachs. Avoid being authoritative and forceful, your children need to feel comfortable confiding in you.

It is always good for parents to be aware of the teachers, friends, classrooms, school layout and subject matter that concern their children. In this way you can ask specific close ended questions that will give you more than monosyllabic answers. Stay involved by reading the school letter, talking or emailing teachers and chatting with the parents of their friends. There is no need to be nosy, just diplomatic.

You have to be patient and understanding with your children in order to help them in school. A parent who is always losing their cool becomes hard to approach. Encourage openness and try to keep discussions open between the child and both parents. Be aware of the nuances of your child’s speech and on the look out for social or academic problems that the child maybe facing. In other words learn to read between the lines but don’t go off tangent at any given opportunity. Be supportive, show love and kindness when helping a child deal with school issues.

With smaller children you may have to provide solutions to the problems that arise in their small world. Teach them problem solving skills and possible responses to the problems they face. Consider the child’s maturity level and stage of development before bursting into speech. With older children they probably already have the answers on how to handle problems and are just seeking parental support. Serious issues need to be addressed to the teacher to get their insights on how best to handle the matter. However, you need to know when to intervene and when to gently suggest solutions to your children.

There are endless lists of ways for parents to help their kids in school and remember practice makes perfect!

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Our research has uncovered an excellent and safe site that children aged 7-14 can enjoy. The site strongly advocates safety practices and have a number of safety features in place to protect your children. The site has a dedicated parents’ page and provides information that counts. Some of the safety features include: filtering of telephone numbers and addresses; no URL links; no vulgarity and private messaging; reporting features and moderators in place to police the site. Best of all parents can actually request the chat logs dating back 90 days to ensure kids safety in virtual worlds.

Kids safety in virtual worlds is the responsibility of the parents. One way of making sure that your child is not misusing their virtual world privileges is to talk to your kid. Discuss their online experiences as you would their daily activities. Do not be judgmental, listen to what they have to say and provide guidance in a calm manner. Since virtual worlds duplicate school room behavior, bullying, sexual communication and harassment maybe part of the virtual world. Despite the language filters that are in place, kids have found a way around the filters by using alternative text. Communication is vital – unless your child is honest with you, you will probably never know what goes on in their virtual world. Visit the site, look at avatars, screen names, profiles, social network sites visited and the type of friends they are socializing with.

Children are trusting souls and often share passwords. You need to educate your child on the importance of how much harm shared passwords can cause. Friends can sometimes stop being friends and use passwords to misrepresent your child. Teenagers probably will not take you seriously, but you need to create awareness. Sow the seed to get them thinking!

Take kids safety in virtual worlds seriously - visit the sites your child is using and examine the safety features and tools provided. Usually there is a safety page on the good sites designed for parents. Go over the safety features with your child to make sure they know how to report abuse and block offenders. Kids also need to be taught the importance of correctly representing themselves when registering on the sites and to use the safety features provided.

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A study comparing the aerobic bacterial bioburden associated with surgical scrub attire shows significantly greater child safety contamination among home-laundered attire than scrubs laundered by the healthcare facility, scrubs sent out by the facility to a third-party company for laundering, or single-use/disposable scrubs. In fact, home-laundered scrubs cleaned and ready to wear had as much bacteria present as facility-laundered, third-party laundered and single-use scrubs which had been worn for one day.
Conducted in the spring of 2009, the study was performed by Bioscience Laboratories, Inc., of Bozeman, Mont., and sponsored by Molnlycke Health Care US, LLC. A total of 80 surgical scrub garments, tops and bottoms, prior to use and after use in the operating room for a day, were collected from multiple healthcare facilities across the U.S. They comprised 10 sets of scrubs in each category: single-use; home-laundered; facility-laundered; and third-party laundered.
The study showed no statistically significant difference in bacterial contamination among facility-laundered, third-party laundered or single-use scrubs prior to use (”clean”), but revealed that the bioburden found on home-laundered scrubs prior to use (”clean”) was significantly greater than on any of the other garments (facility-laundered, third-party laundered or single-use, non-woven) that had been worn for a day in the operating room.
“According to these results, a healthcare professional beginning his or her shift in home-laundered scrubs would essentially be wearing scrubs with the same quantity of bacteria as the scrubs of a healthcare professional finishing a shift in worn scrubs,” said Heather Beitz, BA MEd, Director of Clinical Research for Molnlycke Health Care.
“This study indicates that home-laundering is not as effective as facility- or third-party laundering in decontaminating surgical scrub attire,” Beitz explained. “Another option, of course, is single-use surgical attire. In addition to eliminating cross-contamination concerns as indicated in this study, single-use scrubs are durable and designed for daily use in a variety of surgical procedures and acute care needs and can reduce replacement costs,” she added.
BARRIER® surgical scrub suits and jackets, manufactured by Molnlycke Health Care, are non-woven, single-use products that provide comfort with the soft feel of cotton. They are available in extended size ranges (S - 4XL), assuring a variety of fits. Departments benefiting from the use of BARRIER non-woven scrubs and jackets are trauma, isolation, ER, NICU (for parents), L&D (for fathers), cath and GI labs, oncology, and radiology/interventional radiology.

SOURCE Molnlycke Health Care US, LLC

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Individuals who would like to find an H1N1 vaccination clinic in their area or learn more about the virus can visit h1n1.findaflushot.com, an online resource sponsored by Maxim Health Systems. Visitors to the site can find convenient clinic locations by simply typing in a local zip code.
“Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the flu,” notes Steve Pellito, National Director of Wellness for Maxim Health Systems. “By taking the simple step of getting your H1N1 vaccine, you are helping keep yourself, your family, and your community healthy.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly recommends that anyone who falls into a high risk category for complications from H1N1 should get vaccinated. This includes:
People six months through 24 years of age
Pregnant women
People who live with or provide care for infants younger than six months
Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel

SOURCE Maxim Health Systems

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Here are Dr. Cobble’s heart-healthy ABC’s for 2010:

• Active: Be active every day — take the stairs, park further away,buy a push lawn mower. Find ways to move your muscles, clap your hands, move your feet.
• Breakfast daily: Start each day with a good breakfast, including dairy, fiber and fruit. Select items such as whole grain toast, low or fat-free milk, bananas, pears and high-fiber oatmeal with nuts and berries.
• C. Cholesterol management: Get an advanced test that tells you and you doctor about the dangerous cholesterol — directly measured LDL, non-HDL, apoB and subparticles — that can hurt your arteries. The Vertical Auto Profile (VAP) lipid test from Atherotech is one such test.
• D. Diet: Think moderation, balance and “heart healthy” throughout the day. Eat fruits, veggies, fiber, complex carbs, proteins and healthy fats. Experience European dining with each meal.
• E. Exercise: Exercise daily — walk at lunch with coworkers, before orafter work with your pets, join in team sports or find an outletthat gets your heart pumping for at least 30 minutes a day.
• F. Fiber is your friend: Read the nutrition label on foods so you knowwhat you’re eating and to better manage your cholesterol, fiber andother nutrients.
• G. Glucose in moderation: Too much sugar and starch contribute todiabetes. Get tested for diabetes with a blood glucose test, and cutback on pasta, potatoes, sodas, ice cream and fast food.
• H. Healthy lifestyle: Lead a healthy lifestyle, which means no smoking,seeing your clinician every year for a physical, and laughing often.Spend time with friends, kids and grandkids.
• I. Imagine: Use your imagination to enjoy life and get the most out of each and every day. Have fun, do what you love and what makes youhappy.

SOURCE Atherotech Inc.

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ATF wants you to know that celebratory gunfire is not only unsafe, it is against the law. Discharging a firearm into the air is a crime and can lead to felony charges under California state law or federal charges if that person is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Bullets shot into the air can climb up two miles and then fall at a rate of 300 to 700 feet per second, killing or injuring those that are struck.

“ATF wants to ensure that all those celebrating New Year’s Eve have a great time and enjoy family and friends. We don’t want to see the New Year ruined by senseless tragedy just because someone thought it would be ‘fun’ to shoot a gun in the air. Random gunfire on New Year’s Eve has gone down significantly in recent years, but even one is too many,” said Torres.
In addition to celebratory gunfire, ATF is reminding the public that the use of illegal fireworks is also prohibited. Illegal fireworks meet no safety standards and can be deadly in the hands of children. Federally banned fireworks include M-80s, M-100s, Silver Salutes and Cherry Bombs.

“ATF will continue to work with our state and local law enforcement partners to ensure that persons who possess firearms or fireworks illegally are prosecuted to the fullest extent possible to include federal prosecution if warranted,” added Torres.

SOURCE Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

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“First and foremost, we applaud the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on producing this historic health reform bill which will provide millions of currently uninsured children access to comprehensive health insurance coverage.

“We support Congress’ goal to fulfill President Obama’s campaign promise to provide mandated coverage for all children. We have been vocal in our concern for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and we are hopeful that Senator Reid’s manager’s amendment, that keeps the program intact through the end of 2019 with funding until 2015, will be preserved as Congress moves forward with this process.

“We do remain concerned, however, about its future fate: CHIP will run out of funding in 2015 and expire in 2019, moving millions of children into private coverage through an untested health insurance exchange that will increase costs and may deter families from signing their children up for insurance. The implication of fewer kids with health coverage is disastrous, both from a public health and an economic standpoint.

“As the bill moves forward, CHF urges Congress to preserve CHIP and provide funding for the entire authorization period.

“We are pleased with the number of positive health measures for kids and their families, among which are provisions that will require insurance companies to allow children to stay on their parent’s plans until they are 26 years old and Medicaid expansions that allow foster children to remain on Medicaid until they are 26 years old.

“The legislation bans insurance companies from denying children with pre-existing conditions coverage under their parent’s plans, an important reform measure which we believe will enable sick children, and families suffering under debt, to get the care kids need.

“Likewise, we are pleased with the inclusion of pediatric specific benefits in the list of essential benefits to be provided to all Americans in the newly formed exchange and efforts to strengthen access to oral health for children. Pediatric oral health is often lacking in medically underserved areas, with dire consequences for children and families.

SOURCE Children’s Health Fund

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The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is issuing the third Winter Spare the Air Alert of the season for Friday, December 25, 2009, which bans burning wood, manufactured firelogs or any other solid fuel, both indoors and outdoors.

Stagnant weather conditions and wood smoke from the 1.4 million fireplaces and woodstoves in the Bay Area, will bring the region into the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” category of the U.S. EPA’s Air Quality Index. This is bad for child safety. Children, adults, and especially people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, are advised to limit outdoor exertion.

“Air quality is unfortunately forecast to be unhealthy on Christmas Day, and the Air District is taking steps to protect public health by issuing a Winter Spare the Alert,” said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Air District. “Please remember this holiday season that children, the elderly and those with heart and lung problems are most susceptible to the harmful effects of wood smoke.”

During this Winter Spare the Air Alert, it is illegal for Bay Area residents and businesses to use their fireplaces, woodstoves and inserts, pellet stoves, outdoor fire pits, or any other wood-burning devices. Homes without permanently installed heating, where woodstoves or fireplaces are the only source of heat, are exempt.

The public must check before they burn during the Winter Spare the Air season which runs from November 1 through February 28

SOURCE Bay Area Air Quality Management District

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When children and parents are separated while shopping, panic can set in… that’s why Art Van Furniture is implementing CODE ADAM. Backed by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the system was developed to quickly find children who are reported missing or lost in a retail store.

Beginning immediately at all Art Van stores, when a child is reported missing a special alert is broadcast over the announcement system. Immediately, specific steps are followed by the store employees and a “call to action” is taken to find a missing child. All Art Van employees have been trained in these special child safety steps.

“As a father, I completely understand the worry parents can have when shopping in a public place. CODE ADAM has proven to be successful and Art Van employees are 100% behind this program,” stated Gary Van Elslander, President of Art Van Furniture.

CODE ADAM, which began in 1984, is one of the country’s largest child safety programs.

SOURCE Art Van Furniture

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According to information provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, since 1990, more than 200 infants and young children have died from accidentally strangling in window cords.In an effort to help prevent the potential hazard of strangulation to young children, SuperBaby is educating young parents and caregivers about the recall of roman shades and roll-up blinds.

Consumers can obtain free retrofit kits for roman style fabric looped and flat panel shades and roll up blinds online at www.windowcoverings.org or by calling WCSC’s toll-free phone line at 1-800-506-4636.

Parents and caregivers are being reminded of potential window-cord dangers and are urged to make the right choice and only use cordless window products in homes with young children. Owners and renters should replace all window coverings in the home made before 2001 with today’s safer products. To maximize window-cord safety when young children are present, consumers are urged to follow these safety guidelines:

Install only cordless window coverings in homes with young children. Replace window blinds, corded shades and draperies manufactured before 2001 with today’s safer products.
Move all cribs, beds, furniture and toys away from windows and window cords, preferably to another wall.
Keep all window pull cords and inner lift cords out of the reach of children. Make sure that tasseled pull cords are short and continuous-loop cords are permanently anchored to the floor or wall. Make sure cord stops are properly installed and adjusted to limit movement of inner lift cords.
Lock cords into position whenever horizontal blinds or shades are lowered, including when they come to rest on a windowsill.

Source Superbaby

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Frogs, like all amphibians and reptiles, can be a source of Salmonella infections in people. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) are reminding the public that instead of a prince, improper handling of amphibians and reptiles — and that includes kissing a frog — can result in a nasty illness bad for child safety.

Frogs passing on Salmonella to people recently made headlines when the CDC reported on Dec. 7 that water frogs were the source of 48 cases of human Salmonella infections in 25 states in 2009.

While the majority of illnesses were reported in children less than 10 years of age, the AVMA and ARAV are encouraging people with pet amphibians and reptiles to think twice before finding new homes for their pets if they have, or are expecting, children in their households. Instead, safe handling and some common-sense precautions can prevent illness.

“Individuals who have pet amphibians and reptiles really just need to be conscientious about the care of these animals,” says Dr. Mark Mitchell, associate professor of zoological medicine at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. “Certainly there is a risk associated with keeping them in their house, but it’s no different then the risks associated with cooking chicken or eating raw vegetables. We need to understand that there are potential concerns, and we need to follow through by practicing appropriate hygiene.
“Just like any potential risk, we need to be aware of it so we can protect against it becoming a problem.”

Dr. Mitchell stresses the importance of hand washing after handling amphibians and reptiles to prevent the spread of Salmonella. In addition, amphibians and reptiles, and anything that comes in contact with these animals, such as housing or cages, should not be cleaned in areas where people prepare their food or clean themselves, such as tabletops, sinks, or bathtubs.

The AVMA has developed a complete list of tips on how amphibian and reptile owners can protect themselves and their families from Salmonella infections. These tips are available on the AVMA’s Web site at www.avma.org/public_health/salmonella/amphibians.asp. This Web page also includes links to resources from other organizations, such as the ARAV, U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

SOURCE American Veterinary Medical Association

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Always keep a burning candle within your sight.
Never leave a burning candle unattended.
Keep burning candles away from combustible items. Be careful not to place candles near flammable decorations or Christmas greenery.
Always use a candleholder specifically designed for candle use. The holder should be sturdy, heat resistant and big enough to collect dripping wax.
Keep candles out of the reach of children and pets.
Trim candlewicks to 1/4 inch before lighting or re-lighting. Keep the wax-pool free of wick trimmings, dust, matches and debris at all times.
Keep burning candles out of drafts and away from air vents.
Never move a candle when it is burning.

SOURCE National Candle Association

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“It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the information circulating around the topic of both seasonal and swine flu,” said Dr. Laura Jana, pediatrician mother of three and owner of a daycare center. “Avoid panic by planning ahead and talking to your family about what you all can do to protect yourselves from illness.”

Dr. Jana recommends the following tips to keep healthy this winter:

Get Vaccinated - Understand the difference between and availability of the seasonal flu and H1N1 (Swine) vaccines and talk to your doctor about what’s best for your family.

Wash Hands Often and Properly - The CDC says hand washing is the most effective way to help stay healthy. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water ensuring all of the surfaces of the hands are cleaned.

Once washed, dry your hands thoroughly with a clean dry towel. If soap and water are unavailable, use a hand sanitizer.

Disinfect to Protect - Help prevent the spread of illness-causing germs by disinfecting the surfaces that your family frequently touches. Use a trusted disinfectant brand that is proven to kill cold & flu viruses, including H1N1.

Cough and Sneeze Etiquette - Practice good cough and sneeze etiquette to prevent spreading germs to others. Cough into your elbow, rather than your hands, and sneeze into a tissue to minimize hand contact transmission of germs. Immediately throw away used tissues and wash your hands.

Stay Home if You are Sick - If you or a family member feels unwell with flu-like symptoms (i.e., fever, fatigue and sore throat), stay home and rest. You will get over the illness faster and will not get

those around you sick. Plan ahead for back-up childcare options if a parent is sick or unable to be home with the child.

SOURCE Reckitt Benckiser

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The study, the largest of its kind, used electronic health records to identify more than 170,000 children vaccinated with the varicella (chicken pox) vaccine from 2002 to 2008 in Kaiser Permanente’s Southern California region, then followed children for an average of two and a half years to identify the occurrence of herpes zoster.

Researchers found only 122 cases of herpes zoster among the 172,163 vaccinated children, for an estimated incidence of 1 case per 3,700 vaccinated children per year. This is a lower rate compared to what one would expect in the unvaccinated children based on previous experiences.

“The message to parents and pediatricians is: vaccinating your child against the chicken pox is also a good way to reduce their chances of getting herpes zoster,” said the study’s lead author, HungFu Tseng, Ph.D, MPH, a research scientist and epidemiologist at the Kaiser Permanente Department of Research and Evaluation in Pasadena, Calif. “More research is needed to identify the virus strains that cause herpes zoster.”

This study did not look at side effects of the varicella vaccine.

Herpes zoster is an acute skin viral infection caused by reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus, which remains in certain nerve cells of the body after an infection with either wild-type or the varicella vaccine virus. The wild-type virus is found in the natural infection, in contrast to the virus strain found in vaccine.

Since the vaccine’s introduction in 1995, there have been few studies on the incidence of childhood herpes zoster among children vaccinated with the varicella vaccine.
Following licensure in 1995, 1-dose varicella vaccine was recommended for children 12 months to 12 years of age. In 2006, a routine second dose of varicella vaccine for previously vaccinated persons aged 4 years and older was recommended.

Other study authors included: Ning Smith, MS, Lina S. Sy, MPH, S Michael Marcy, MD, and Steven J. Jacobsen, MD, Ph.D., from the Kaiser Permanente Department of Research and Evaluation

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente

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“We need to be proactive not only to keep ourselves healthy, but to avoid transmitting illness if we’re sick,” said Eileen Finerty, RN, MS, CIC (certified in infection-control), nursing director for infection control and occupational health at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in Manhattan.

Hospital for Special Surgery has one of the lowest infection rates of any hospital in the country and was recently commended by the New York State Department of Health for its low infection rate in patients undergoing hip replacement. The overall infection rate refers to all infections acquired by patients in the hospital, not only viruses such as those that cause the flu.

Infection control in the health care setting is critical. Nationwide, hospital-acquired infections result in 100,000 deaths each year.

“We emphasize infection control as a best practice,” said Thomas P. Sculco, M.D., surgeon-in-chief at HSS, “and strive to maintain it at every level of patient care from washing hands to a clean and safe environment for our patients in the operating room and the entire hospital.”

HSS employs a combination of infection-control measures, according to Ms. Finerty. Some are highly sophisticated and others are basic good practices.

Strategies used by the hospital to keep germs in check can be adapted for use at home and in everyday life, according to Ms. Finerty. These practices include:
1 - Good hand hygiene using sanitizers.
Hospital: Hand sanitizers located all around the hospital have a sensor that dispenses foam without the need to touch it. The sensor detects hand motion and automatically releases foam.
What everyone can do: Sanitize hands frequently using an alcohol-based liquid hand cleaner. Use about a tablespoon, rub it into your hands and let it dry. Do not wipe it off. Ms. Finerty carries a hand sanitizer in her purse at all times.
2 - Frequent hand-washing.
Hospital: Hospital staff are instructed to wash their hands often. Signs around the hospital say: “Good Hand Hygiene Saves Lives.”
What everyone can do: Wash your hands for at least 15 seconds. You can sing “Happy Birthday” to get an idea of how long it should take. Work up a good lather and rub your hands together.
3 - Good ventilation.
Hospital: Clean air in operating rooms and the use of special panels to direct air flow to maintain the most sterile environment possible for the patient.
What everyone can do: Open the windows and let in some fresh air to ensure adequate ventilation. A stagnant, stuffy environment causes germs to re-circulate around the house.
4 - Controlling the spread of germs.
Hospital: The entire staff is trained in infection-control measures, such as coughing into a tissue and not into one’s hand. Boxes of tissues are located throughout the hospital. Staff are encouraged to stay home if they have a contagious illness.
What everyone can do: Carry tissues and dispose of them properly and immediately after coughing or sneezing. Then wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer. You can also cough into your sleeve to avoid getting germs on your hand that can later be spread.
In general, when you’re outside or at work, or if you have come in contact with a sick person, avoid touching your face. Germs on your hand get you sick when they enter your body through your eyes, nose or mouth, or through a break in the skin. Don’t go to work if you’re sick.
5 - Cleaning and disinfecting.
Hospital: HSS housekeeping staff is especially diligent about cleaning. The routine entails mopping, cleaning, and disinfecting surfaces, getting into cracks and crevices where bacteria can grow.

SOURCE Hospital for Special Surgery

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Moreover, the safety of many children’s accessories and toys made in China remain in question. Just this week, for example, stroller-maker Maclaren announced a recall affecting one million China-manufactured umbrella strollers that reportedly can injure children’s fingers.

“It’s not just parents - grandparents, too, have become very conscientious consumers,” says Kerry Menger, co-founder of NMCtoys.com. “They’re researching their options, and choosing us because they want safe, eco-friendly toys and educational gifts for their grandchildren. They also love how our products are ‘Made in the USA.’ There’s no doubt that the sales that come from these goods stimulate the health of our domestic economy. That’s the icing on the cake.”

NMCtoys.com debuted in 2007 in response to the mass recalls of “Made in China” toys that took place that year. The online resource was a hit - and its owners predict greater success this holiday season, considering recent updates and a broader mission.

NMCtoys.com has an expanded product line, a larger offering of “green” toys, and a goal to support U.S.-based toy manufacturers. With many options in both entertaining and educational toys, parents and grandparents feel this website is an ideal resource for various reasons.

“I have a special needs grandson (toddler), and am particularly interested in toys designed for young children who have both physical and mental challenges,” says Lauren, one customer who now receives the website’s coupon- and product-packed newsletter.

Another customer, Teresa, is regularly using NMCtoys.com’s gift certificates to purchase baby shower gifts. Now she has a grandson and shops the website because she trusts the quality of its toys, even if she spends a little more for this peace of mind.

SOURCE NMCtoys.com

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CLW calls on international toy brands to respect their promises to workers and the families that purchase these toys by enforcing better conditions at Merton. “Many workers in this factory are barely older than the children who buy the toys abroad,” states CLW Executive Director, Li Qiang. The report found that Merton hires workers as young as 16 and cooperates with local schools to arrange for student employment.
CLW’s report outlines the following illegal conditions:

Illegal wages: Merton operates on a 6 day/week system of 6 hours and 40 minutes per day. Saturdays in this system are mandatory and paid at half the legal Saturday overtime wage rate, or only $0.71/hour. Workers make only $206-$221/month with overtime, before deductions for room and board

Excessive overtime: Working hours last 11.5 hours daily with overtime, and total monthly overtime is 60 hours, in excess of the legal limit.
Vacation: Workers are illegally denied annual vacation for Spring Festival.

Poor living conditions: Food in the canteen is poor. In the dormitories, beds are falling apart because bugs have destroyed the wooden boards workers sleep on, there is no hot water to shower or electrical outlets to charge phones, and workers are prohibited from airing out their bedding except on weekends.

CLW’s report follows a decade of monitoring conditions at Merton. CLW issued its first report in 2000, when conditions were particularly poor and a number strikes erupted. In 2006, CLW conducted another follow-up investigation after a major strike involving nearly a thousand workers. The new report demonstrates that labor violations persist at the toy manufacturer in spite of major improvement. CLW urges brands to invest in remediation, and improve corporate audit systems that overlook serious labor violations.

SOURCE China Labor Watch

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“We don’t want anyone to go out trick-or-treating and come home sick,” said Sharon Stanley, Chief Nurse of the American Red Cross. “You can follow these special tips to try to have a flu-free Halloween:”

* If your child is sick, keep them at home. This will be disappointing to your young one, but your neighbors and community are counting on you to hold the line on transmission of this virus.
* Remind kids to keep their hands away from their eyes, nose and mouth to keep germs away. Carry that hand sanitizer with you or have it near your candy dispensing area.
* If you are giving out candy, hand it out or scoop it. Instead of a bowl of candy, consider handing out small, individually wrapped bags of treats.
* Throw away any unwrapped candy and inspect the rest for choking hazards and tampering.

To help prevent other dangers, take the following steps for a safer Halloween:

* Use flame-resistant costumes.
* Plan your route and make sure adults know where children are going. A parent or responsible adult should accompany young children as they make their way around the neighborhood.
* Make sure the trick-or-treaters have a flashlight. Add reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treat bags. Have everyone wear light-colored clothing to be seen.
* Visit only the homes that have a porch light on. Accept treats at the door — never go inside.
* Instead of masks which can cover your eyes and make it hard to see, use face makeup.
* Walk only on the sidewalks, not in the street. If no sidewalk is available, walk at the edge of the roadway, facing traffic. Look both ways before crossing the street, and cross only at the corner. Don’t cut across yards or use alleys. Don’t cross between parked cars.

Source Red Cross

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According to Dr. Mark Borchert, director, The Vision Center at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, certain toys, such as BB guns, pose a particular danger for young children.

“While a BB gun pellet may not break the skin of a young child, it can puncture his eye very easily. Unfortunately, every Christmas I see young children in our emergency room who have had an eye destroyed by a BB pellet.”

The eye surgeon said parents with young children should avoid toys that shoot projectiles, have parts that fly off or can be shattered into sharp pieces. He added that scissors, rubber bands and deflated balloons — often left out at holiday time — should be collected, since they can be dangerous in the hands of younger children.

It also is a good idea to explain to a child how a new toy is properly used and to promptly throw away broken toys.

The Consumer Products and Safety Commission reports that more than 230,000 toy-related injuries are treated at U.S. emergency rooms annually. Of those injured, approximately one third were under the age of five, and three quarters were under the age of 15. More than 45 percent of injuries were to the head and face.

Dr. Borchert noted that during busy holiday times, young children are at higher risk for injuring their eyes because they often have less adult supervision.

“If you are hosting young children in your home, be sure to get furniture corner protectors for tables, cabinets and windowsills. Young children are prone to falling into low-lying objects,” he added.

If you suspect your child has suffered an eye injury look for these symptoms:

There is blood in the clear part of the eye;
Your child has obvious pain or trouble seeing;
One eye does not move as well as the other;
The eye has an unusual pupil size or shape

Source The Vision Center at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles

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Therefore, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that heart disease patients get vaccinated against the flu each year. Mended Hearts, a national patient support group affiliated with the American Heart Association (AHA), is spreading the word among heart patients to get the flu shot.

“Heart health is always an important consideration among Central Florida residents. However, many people are still not taking basic steps - like getting a flu shot - to help protect themselves. As heart disease patients take stock of their heart health, we want to make sure that getting vaccinated against the flu becomes a priority, beginning this flu season,” said Heathrow resident Mike Philpott, a member of the Orlando chapter of Mended Hearts and a heart disease patient.

Dr. Pradip Jamnadas, MD, MBBS, FACC, FSCAI, FCCP, FACP, an interventional cardiologist at Florida Hospital, has joined Mended Hearts to help spread this important message to the Central Florida community. “It is important for people with heart disease to do all they can to prevent against possible complications,” explained Dr. Jamnadas. “The flu can be very dangerous for heart patients, and it is important that people with heart disease realize how valuable annual flu vaccination is for them.”

This effort is part of the Mended Hearts initiative, ‘I Heart Flu Shots,’ which was first launched in 2007 to help educate people living with heart disease about the importance of getting a seasonal flu shot. The flu can worsen heart disease and can lead to complications including viral or bacterial pneumonia. Getting the flu shot is an important way for heart disease patients to help protect themselves.

The AHA and the American College of Cardiology recommend that the more than 12 million people in the United States with cardiovascular conditions receive an annual flu shot. However, according to recent CDC data, approximately 40 percent of adults living with heart disease did not receive a flu shot in 2007.

Source Mended Hearts

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The Company is unveiling CA Internet Security Suite Plus 2010, engineered to work faster and more accurately all while being even easier to use.

CA ISS Plus 2010 provides comprehensive security and protection when accessing the Internet for banking, shopping and spending time online. In fact, CA is so confident in CA ISS Plus 2010’s ability to help protect your online computing experience, it includes an Internet Protection Plan* at no additional cost, providing up to $10,000 in coverage for identity theft or PC damage from a virus.

Redesigned from top to bottom for a better user experience, many elements of the suite including business-strength firewall, anti-virus, anti-spyware, and anti-phishing software have been updated to provide better performance and protection against a wide range of emerging online threats.

CA ISS Plus 2010 is powered by a new core processing technology that helps boost performance and accuracy in detecting malware. Combined with an intuitively designed interface that organizes and simplifies tasks and even provides users with security tips and information sourced from experts at CA’s global Security Advisor team, CA ISS Plus 2010 offers you and your family a simple to use, all-in-one security solution.

Source CA

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– Overall, mothers view seasonal influenza vaccine as safe and effective, yet misperceptions still cause some to avoid this immunization for their children

– Results suggest health care professionals need to play stronger role as vaccine advocates

Novel H1N1 influenza has raised parents’ awareness and concern about seasonal influenza, increasing the likelihood that they will get their children vaccinated compared to past years, according to a recent national survey commissioned by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID). Yet, while mothers view seasonal flu vaccine as safe and effective, significant barriers remain, causing some to leave their children unprotected.

Based on what they have seen, read and heard about novel H1N1 influenza, nearly half (48 percent) of those surveyed say they are now more concerned about seasonal influenza than in the past. More than half (53 percent) of the parents polled say they are interested in seeking seasonal influenza vaccination for their children this season, while only 35 percent say they got all or some of their children vaccinated regularly in the past years.

This increase is largely because of the heightened attention around H1N1 that has increased parental awareness of how easily seasonal influenza can spread, its potential to kill, and how vulnerable children can be to the illness. About 100 children die from complications of seasonal flu and 20,000 are hospitalized in the U.S. each year.

“Unfortunately, influenza immunization has not been a health priority for American children,” said Carol J. Baker, M.D. Immediate Past President, NFID; Chair, NFID’s Childhood Influenza Immunization Coalition; and Professor of Pediatrics, Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine. “While influenza can be a moderate disease, it also kills healthy children and it is impossible to know which children will die.”

Source National Foundation for Infectious Diseases

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On Halloween night there is a significant increase in home fires, burn-related injuries and falls. Most injuries involve flammable costumes and decorations. Home fires are 70 percent more likely to happen on Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day than on any other day of the year according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

“October through January experiences the greatest number of structure fires caused by an open flame,” says John Drengenberg, director of Consumer Safety at Underwriters Laboratories. “As parents, we need to make sure we are taking the appropriate safety measures when it comes to decorating our homes and outfitting our children in costumes.”

To help parents recognize potential safety hazards associated with many Halloween activities, Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the leading independent product safety organization, is offering the following tips as a guide to ensure loved ones enjoy a safe Halloween season.

Source: Underwriters Laboratories

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In the new special episode “Getting a shot: You Can Do It!” from the Emmy®-nominated series, Sid and his friends will learn the basic science behind germs, viruses and vaccines using age-appropriate vocabulary and scientific concepts that have become a hallmark of the series. PBS KIDS will premiere the series on Monday, October 26 (check local listings) with several re-airings over the following weeks.

It’s vaccination day at Sid’s school, and Sid and his friends are a little apprehensive about getting a shot. Thankfully, a very special nurse will be giving the kids their vaccination–Sid’s Grandma! Throughout the special episode, Grandma, Teacher Susie, Mom and Dad all do their part to make vaccination day a fun learning experience filled with music, games and lots of laughs.

“SID THE SCIENCE KID explores the science behind the everyday experiences of a preschooler and we know that getting a shot can be scary for many children,” said Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company. “This special episode is an opportunity for us to help kids understand why they are getting a shot while providing parents and caregivers with helpful resources to handle this important issue.”

Source: Jim Henson Company

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For 2003-2005, CPSC staff received reports of an average of 90 children younger than 5 years of age who drowned in bathtubs (62%), baby seats or bathinettes (15%), buckets and pails (11%), landscaping or yard products (6%), and other products (4%). There was an annual average of an additional 39 reports of non-fatal submersion incidents for 2005-2007 that were reported for the same products. The majority of drownings and non-fatal submersion incidents involved children younger than 2 years old.

“What parents need to know is that anywhere there is water, there is a potential drowning hazard to children,” said Inez Tenenbaum, CPSC Chairman. “Parents shouldn’t let their guard down; young children need constant supervision around bathtubs, bath seats and buckets.”

Many of the reported incidents involved a lapse in supervision by caregivers, such as leaving the bathroom momentarily while the child was in the bathtub to answer the phone/door or to retrieve an item like a towel. In other incidents, an older sibling was left to watch a younger sibling.

CPSC recommends parents and caregivers follow these safety tips when children are around bathtubs, bath seats, buckets, spas, or decorative ponds or fountains:

Never leave young children alone, even for a moment, near any water. Young children can drown quickly in even small amounts of water.

Always keep a young child within arm’s reach in a bathtub. If you must leave, take the child with you.

Don’t leave a baby or toddler in a bathtub under the care of another young child.

Never leave a bucket containing even a small amount of liquid unattended. Toddlers can fall headfirst into buckets and drown. After using a bucket, always empty and store it where young children cannot reach it. Don’t leave buckets outside where they can collect rainwater.

Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). It can be a lifesaver when seconds count.

Source U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

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While any night on which children parade darkly-lit streets in a race for candy is a fraught with hazards, statistically speaking, the biggest threats to kids on Halloween are traffic accidents, cuts while carving pumpkins, and fires caused by candle-lit jack-o’-lanterns.

According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Halloween is the most dangerous evening for children to be on the streets. In fact, The CDC states that “the number of childhood pedestrian deaths increased fourfold among children on Halloween evenings when compared with all other evenings.” Halloween is an evening of parties, too, and more drunk drivers are on the road at precisely the time children are too.

Another increasingly relevant worry for parents is that Halloween is primetime for sexual predators. “Halloween is a day when child safety is on everyone’s mind,” Trip Wakefield, CEO of ThinAir Wireless said. “Parents should accompany small children and explain to older ones how to avoid problems when trick-or-treating.”

Telematics innovator ThinAir Wireless makes the POM Offender Locator, which quickly and accurately pinpoints sexual offenders in any neighborhood. The Offender Locator is a downloadable app available for iPhones and is currently the 23rd most popular iPhone application in the “top paid app” category; it is fourth in “utilities”. Two versions, one of which is free, are available for download in the iTunes Store (listed under “Utilities”).

The statistical probability that children will have contact with a sexual predator is now 1 in 3.

“With Halloween just a month away, the time to begin talking about safety with your child is now,” Wakefield said. “POM Offender Locator, in its free (2.5) or paid (2.2) versions, should be considered an integral part of any family security strategy.”

Trick-or-Treaters
Keep to neighborhoods you know well.
Visit only houses that are lit. Stick to the sidewalk - don’t run - and pay attention to traffic signals.
Don’t cut across driveways and yards, especially in the dark.
Use makeup instead of wearing a mask.
Wear shoes that provide good support, fit, and traction.
Don’t wear costumes that dangle or drag on the ground.
Carry only fake, flexible rubber swords, knives, etc.
Parents
Be sure that an adult - if not you - is with children under the age of 10 at all times.
Know where your children are going.
A cell phone is a recommended part of the wardrobe for children and adults.
Tell your children where they can reach you if you are going out that night.
Make sure that children’s costumes are flame-retardant and use reflective tape.
Instruct children that all candy they collect must be inspected by you at home before it can be eaten.
Toss out anything that looks like it may have been tampered with.

Source: Thin Air Wireless

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Consider a recent survey of teenagers that revealed the following:

- 91% of kids have an email address
- 60% have an instant-message screen name
- 75% have a cell phone
- 72% have profiles on social networking sites

And on a more disturbing note

- 1 in 5 said they have been “cyber-bullied”
- most share personal info online, though 3 in 5 know it’s dangerous
- 1 in 4 know someone who experienced something bad, from an inappropriate text forwarded around school to being sexually victimized

The internet currently presents very interesting questions and challenges for parents.

If there were an instruction manual on how to be a parent, the section on technology and the internet would be worthy of several chapters for certain. Online activities add yet another dimension to the job of raising our children, as if worrying about them in the “real world” weren’t enough already.

The need for complete information and advice on this subject cannot be overstated.

This 34 page comprehensive guidebook, “Raising Kids On The Internet”, is presented to parents of all backgrounds or experience, whether they are just getting familiar with the internet yourself, or they are a long-time internet surfer. Even experienced internet users have been found to be unfamiliar with many of the facts and issues regarding effective monitoring of children in online activities.

All you have to do is to fill in your Name and Email above to get your free copy of “Raising Kids On The Internet“.

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“Child passenger safety seats save lives, but only when they are used properly,” Pawlowski said. “Parents need to check the instruction booklet for their seat to make sure the seat was installed properly. If parents have any doubts at all, they should arrange for an inspection by our troopers.”

State police inspected 1,073 child safety seats at 82 locations during National Child Passenger Safety Week, Sept. 12-18. Pawlowski said troopers found that 888, or 82.7 percent, of those seats were improperly installed.

“Troopers reported that in many cases, parents weren’t securely anchoring the child seat to the vehicle’s seat,” Pawlowski said. “Anchoring the child seat properly is critical to its effectiveness in a crash.”

Other common problems identified during the inspections included failing to use the child seat’s harness to hold the child in the seat, facing the car seat in the wrong direction, and using a seat that has been recalled because of a defect, Pawlowski said.

Source: Pennsylvania State Police

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The “Safety on the Go” campaign encourages parents, grandparents and caregivers to secure children in the appropriate child safety seat. This year’s initiative places special emphasis on keeping children up to 8 years old in booster seats.

According to a 2008 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the use of child restraints declines as children get older. From birth to 12 months, 99 percent of children ride in a restraint. It drops to 92 percent for kids ages 1 to 3. For kids ages 4 to 7, 89 percent are restrained. But only 85 percent of kids ages 8 to 12 ride in a restraint.

“Parents need to set the rules and stay vigilant,” said Anne Franchak, Safe Kids PA Director. “Booster seats and seat belts are just as important for older kids as car seats are for younger kids.”

Source: Safe Kids Pennsylvania

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With much consideration to your child’s safety, here is one of the possible concerns. Suffocation hazards may cause your child’s safety at risk.

You may be sleeping with your child in your home. It may feel easier sometimes but it may be dangerous at the same time. Considering the pillows and blankets that could possibly cause accidents, be sure not to put those things within your child’s reach. Or you may just put your child in his own crib near your bed. Those things may cause suffocation or shortness of breathing if those things will accidentally cover your child’s mouth. He may be too small and too weak to move them out of the way (especially if your the one weighing it down).

If you decide to put your child on the crib, ensure that it is empty. No toys or big pillows should be present on the crib. If your child has chills at night, put her in a sleeping sack instead of blankets. He may get tangled up and not be strong enough to untangle himself. It is also strongly encouraged that you put your child to sleep on her back.

Have your child put into safety at all times. Be sure to know and to monitor such kinds of possible suffocation hazards as those things put a great risk for your child’s safety.

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