P-SAFE GUARDING YOUNG ONES AT HOME^
Sherri Bobzien
Accidents will happen To children, and
grown ups. too While most adults know bet
ter than to stick a fork into a live toaster, or
to drink the Drano. little ones don't In fact
children between the ages one and two are
the most accident prone people according
to the American Association of Pediatrics
(AAP) Here are some tips on how to make
your home safer for your children and to
keep them free from danger
The L• viriQ. Room:
For those of you with very young children
the best place to start looking tor danger, m
your home is on the floor See how the world
looks to a one year-old Elector al outlets
should be covered and empty sockets in
sorted with safety plugs Frayed lamp ords
are » hazard and should be repaired or re
plat od Remember, little -people love playing
with dangling cords so make •..lire all drap
ery strings are lied up and out of rear h Chit
dren can get tangled up in them and injure
themselves
Tablet loths dangling within a child s
ioa. ti should he removed tor a while and
sharp corners on coffee tables should he
covered (Try slicing a tennis ball in half to
put on corners )
The Kitchen
The kitchen is an espe. .ally dangemus
pla> e tor toddlers Children should never be
let! unattended in the kitchen espe tally
when any appliances are in use
Child proof all lower cabinets and for ex
tra safety remove all cleansers, ammonia
products and other toxic items from the at)
mots Children will put anything in their
mouths so remove .ill items small enough to
swallow as well
Remember tfiat most poisonings o* cur
when a parent leaves i child alone Never
leave a child alone, even tor a minute, while
you're < leaning II you have to leave the
mom tor any reason, put the produc t out of
reach and take your child with you A severe
accident can happen m a split second
Keep knives and other sharp obiects out
ot reach ot children Trash cans can also
pose a danger to curious children Broken
glass, or tiny things to swallow can be ha.7
ardous Put the trash out of sight and keep a
secure lid on it When cooking, place pots
and pans on back burners so handles don t
hang over the edge Boiling water or soup
can cause serious injury Children may pull
on the handles or you may bump them your
self, sending a scalding splash to a toddler
Keep all small appliances on the counter
unplugged and away from the edges Also a
dangling iron cord is fascinating to a < hild.
so be especially careful with them
The Bathroom
The most important rule is that a child
should never be left alone in the bathroom
Babies have been known to drown in a pud
die m the tub and others have fallen into the
toilet Plasbr doorknob covers are available
that make it difficult to get into rooms that
are off limits
Pul no skid stickers on the bottom of the
tub (Slipping in the tub is one of the most
common a cidents. for children and adults )
Be very careful about water temperature tor
your child, too Their skin is much more sen
sitive than adults The AAP suggests that
you keep the water temperature at 120 de
qrt es f uhrenheit while your child is young
Aspirin and other relatively safe drugs
should always be kept out ot reach for
youngsters It s a good idea to put a latch on
the medicine < abmet as well Keep razors
and scissors locked up Remember, too, that
polish removers nairspray. and colognes
can be dangerous when they tall into the
wrong hands
It s perfei tly normal tor all children to get
scrapes scratches and bruises at one time
or another they art a part of everyone s
childhood But by taking these precautions
you i an rest easier knowing that your child
is safe is his or her home
Few blame themselves until they have
exhausted all other possibilities.
— Anonymous
It requires a very unusual mind to un
dertake the analysis of the obvious.
— Alfred North Whitehead
SEAT BELTS COULD SAVE
YOUR LIFE (TUFA Dll) MINE!)
Becky Dixon
I remember that day like it
was yesterday. It was April
4. 1985. and I had just got
ten my driver's license Like
all 16-year-olds. I thought
that I was immortal, so I
wheedled the car out of my
parents to take it for a spin
Since my parents had made
me take driver's education
before I could get my
license, the idea of wearing
a seat belt was ingrained
into my brain. Little did I
know how lucky that was for
me On that afternoon of
April 4. I was paying more
attention to my friends who
were in the car rather than
the road. I ran a stop sign
and was hit from the side by
an oncoming truck that was
traveling too fast for the res
identia! area that we were
in. I remember thinking that
I was going to die. but lucki
ly I didn't The police officer
at the scene informed me
that I was lucky to be alive
after such a wreck. Only my
seat belt saved by lift1
nothing else. To this day. I
always wear one when I am
in a car regardless of who is
driving From personal expo
rience. I know that they save
lives, and I have realized
how valuable life is.
Unfortunately not every
one feels as I do. Of the 631
traffic deaths in Oregon last
year, 85 of the people
were not wearing their seat
belts. A person riding in a
vehicle is 2 times more like
ly to be seriously injured or
die in a wreck as those who
wear seat belts Of adoles
cent drivers, 70 do not
wear seat belts even though
there is a law mandating the
use of them for this age
group What people don't
understand is that on an
average Saturday night. 1
out of every 10 drivers that
are encountered on the road
is drunk So even though
most people don't think that
they will be in an automo
bile wreck, that doesn't
mean that the person that
they meet on the street and
highways thinks the same
thing Drunk driving deaths
are the major cause of death
in adolescents in America
today Most traffic deaths
occur within 10 miles of the
person's home, and could
have been prevented if sea!
belts had been worn These
statistics are staggering
Even more surprising are
the number of reported traf
fic deaths as a result of not
wearing a seat belt. Each
year thousands of Ameri
cans die in traffic related
deaths Most of the traffic
deaths m the U S could be
prevented by wearing .1 seat
belt
There is good news
though The number of traf
fic deaths in Oregon de
dined from 676 in 1988 to
631 in 1989 The Department
of Motor Vehicles reports
that over 45 of all drivers
do wear seat belts when
they are driving, but they
also agree that more needs
to be done to stop the need
less loss of life due to not
wearing seat belts Lot's ill
do our part, and buckle up
to save out lives1
Bits and
Pieces...
\ < Roads are most slippery during the first half hour of a rainstorm because
i oils tend to remain on street surfaces, so drive and cycle with care. Re
member, too. that steel bridges, sewer grates, and manhole covers can be
! as slippery as ice when wet!
> ◄ Gasoline stored as far as 10 feet from an open flame or spark can ex
| plode because of escaping fumes. So store gasoline—as well as kerosene,
i solvents, and other products that give off vapors —in tightly closed contain
> ers far from gas water heaters, furnaces, ranges or any open flame.
Glass windows block most the rays that cause sunburn, but not the radi
ation that can hurt eyes. Thus, you should wear sunglasses while driving.
◄ The most dangerous time to drive is at 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning, ac
cording to the National Safety Council.
◄ Smokers arrive at old age with 20-30% less bone mass than
nonsmokers. This results in a more fragile skeleton and a greater risk of
^ fractures.
* Wearing a bike helmet is the single most important safety factor in cy
cling. Yet less than 2 of all schoolchildren wear helmets while cycling.
-■ » -nw —1 —>* -V-j --
Twas a dangerous cliff,
as they freely confessed,
though to walk near its crest was so plea rnt
But over its terrible edge there had slipped
A duke, and a full many peasant
The people said something would have to be done
But their projects did not at all tally
Some said. Put a fence 'round the edge the cliff.
Some. An ambulance down in the valley
The lament of the crowd was profound and was loud.
As their hearts overflowed with their pity
But the cry for the ambulance carried the day
As it spread through the neighboring city
A collection was made, to accumulate aid
and the dwellers in highway and alley
gave dollars or cents —not to furnish a fence —
but an ambulance down in the valley
"For the clitf is all right if you're careful, they said.
"And if folks ever slip and are dropping
It isn t the slipping that hurts them so much
As the shock down below when they're stopping''
So tor years (we have heard), as these mishaps occurred
Quick forth would the rescuers sally.
To pick up the victims who fell from the cliff
With the ambulance down in the valley
Said one, to his plea, "It's a marvel to me
that you'd give so much greater attention
to repairing results than to curing the cause.
you had much better aim at prevention
For the mischief of course, should be stopped at its source.
come neighbors and friends, let us rally
It is far better sense to rely on a fence
than an ambulance down in the valley
"He is wrong in his head." the majority said,
He would end all our earnest endeavor
He's a man who would shirk this responsible work
but we will support it forever
Aren't we picking up all, just as fast as they fall,
and giving them care liberally?
A superfluous fence is of no consequence,
if the ambulance works in the valley
The story looks queer as we've written it here,
but things oft occur that are stranger
More humane, we assert, than to succor the hurt,
is the plan of removing the danger
The best possible course is to safeguard me source
attend to things rationally
Yes build up the fence and let us dispenst
with the ambulance down in the valley
Author Unknown
Drinking and Swimming**0^.
Don’t Mix
Michael Dean Hutley
summer appro.)' he .iri< 1 the weather begin* to Me.it up we
t ooling ‘ilt Heading down
iwn the rapids or swinging
of ,i mountain lake are ways
anal Oregon sunshine In or
. involve the consumption
e quantities To combine
danqerims and life thieat
seek to discover different methods of
to a local river with friends to lloal
tmm a rope on a tree into the coolnes
in which we lake advantage ot the seasoi
der to enrich the festivities we often tunc
,,t various forms ' alcohol in excessn
these two types ot i tivity. however is i
ening tolly best not undertaken
Muie than 180.000 persons ot all ages drown each year through
u! the world In the United States, about 7000 to 8000 lives are lost
due to drowning or about 3 per 100,000 About 60 ot at! brownings
occur in the < lassification ol accidental tails into the water from
docks decks of pools, bridges, or shores, or recreational boating
and fishing accidents It has been estimated that perhaps 25 of all
fatal submersions throughout the world in persons ages 16 or older
involve prior consumption ot alcohol
In a study conducted by Vernon 0 Plum khahn on t il male
drowning victims Irom 1957 to 1980 15 ot the bodies contained it
least a 08 blood alcohol level Causes of brownings tanged from
tailing oil ol jottic-s to passing out lace down m a mud puddle
Why does alcohol play such an important role in the deaths ot
many drowning victims ’ The most important physiological action ol
alcohol in the body is most likely the depressant effect on the cen
trat nervous system This may cause a drop in awareness or coordi
nation and it may also lower inhibitions, producing feelings of brav
ery and indestructibilty This is when accidents can happen, and
acting properly in a crisis situation becomes more difficult when the
mind and body are intoxicated
A good approach to avoid endangering yourseit and others might
be the same one taken to drinking and driving It you know you are
going to he around the water don't drink enough to impair your abil
dy to trunk, dei ide. reai I and move about freely And it you have
hud too much already 'day away from the water
Having tun is an important part of summer vacation and in our
lovely slate we are afforded various lakes, rivers, pool:., and an
ocean in which to delve in recreational activities Being safe is part
ot that tun. and by cons, tously making dei isions in regard to alco
ho ar l our behavior we may enjoy the weather that much more
DRINKINGDRIVING
■ Hll'P ( >H
l icks. Mites and Hikers—
r ©ar of dise,»-.»• .in*J Hqijeamishness abend bugs has l«?ft
■ ■ t . • - • id t 11 . . • ■ t ■
A . ■ i : i : t I I ' 1 it
. 1
irtf - 1 •• ■ im) other parasitic t
, ■ ■ .... rat i! every
• .■ . : i riant
t y?nf. i . aused by -uks *ew Mail'd ba tena transmitted
pin Hid* the bde of the pinhead seed doer b< k in the* larval ;J »g©
H. t- -jfi My nptv. .md adults ais attach themseivos to l>»r b;
• !• !•-}’, an J , *•• sir The ticks wait - 1 -.V vs-gel at H • .VliOdOtJ areas
m l t*.r star th.-mselves to whatever t,'ashes !., You re fhOSt likely
to pick up » b k in underbrush
L ,'to d.seaso has - urred m at least ii lies m.cil frequently
a- ny the 1 l item seaboard bom Boston to W ishinglC1". D C . a ros .
" ■ , . • ’ Meen-s a i a' ! W*s a- i ! i. g the l‘ i
, i .! , a I n. e f f > if S, m 1 ; a wife V‘. rd m Jt* -• The1' ’ .
in- u 'a u • rad, Mu, "e . ;gfi n. ,
ft- Ks in bite y a without your kn >w.ng Y An adult !" k can drop
df afle- !■(•! oinew; eng.jigej with blood to*f a,- .< seen it A h 'e
of an immature ' *• - s pain!---, and may leave a Im e An it
fa- hed !h k bef. re d tie omeg • •uy.eyed with t><*. 1 looks like «
tidy fie k if iked dirt *•' « small skin mole The round, flat. <a jht
legged tdult is ... than * .ne tenth 1 an tnc.?! 1 " ; toe nymph had
this sou* I tie male is bla> k and the female ■ dark re J and black
When filled with blood the !. ks t>»*' .,.»m© gray md triple m siHi
If a tick has bitten you whe ti is infected with the Lyme disease
arrying bai feria a small bump will ensue within JO J ays and will tie
urrouruled by i spreading red rash Like the mgir e bit©, the rash
ften goes unnob* ed ‘.tiff neck rnusi le ac fu-s and low fever some
times I- eg if y this stage About me thud J |U mfe< led people
11 a * e • syn - ! .an . at ill T hr* early rnpt- ae . usn i 1- ip( ear hut
an be ?..'Lowed a few month . later by knee . jrentp s sever© head
a r , •. heart arrhythmia shortness of breath and even partial fa. *al
pa' ilysis f ties** .ymptoms aisi lisappear within a few days to a few
A'Vf. t)ijt 1 be f he h •re-unner s •* hnmi. I ye . arthritis wh
in .orr.!• - * tw year , after - p If you discover a th’.k at
la * - d t- , ©ways consult a physe ian md d po ■. 11.1 * - extract the
tii k u* g ,i t<-.-,ue >r tweezers .md put if in .» rotarne* * blame ; a
few Jr -p * ai ohol fur your pfiysc ntrt fr dm fdy
Cf ;gnf mites are another annoying and !•■'■.i < >•> u> fiungry w id
land pa'.isite ( >nc© April hits the Northwest the mi?*- ev.ie u.-wly
hatcfie i .it soil hmb the nearest plant an 1 wait for a n >-al Instead
of trm usual til'd log or small animal, you may be the n .- © if you
brusf’ try a mi!", tin* mite drops off the plant and atta. ties to you with
a pan ' j iwlike laws Unlike the tic.k the r.higger doevi I burrow It
feeds ‘Jf the skin try secreting en/yrn, -. which liquefy epidermal
cell*. The*,© r .'ymes rnay prov *ke an aM©rg« reaction which h*ads
( mien-.,- itching and pus-able mfe* turn fr->m s ratcf'iug M.e h
tsith-, and > alarnme lotion help reln*v© this it. hirg
t - avoid the nsk of ticks and < higyer mites alw i.s head into the
c derbrust'i with a well stocked first a ! kit in- hiding tweezers m
se< ? repellent and alamine lot.on Wear a long sleeved light colored
stmt to ward off heat and protest the arms and shoulders This also
makes a tick or mile visible on > ur lofhmg Wear long pants in un
rlerbrusb and tu k your shirt int • your pants and your pants into your
so*: ks or boots When emerging from the wild she *■ yourself thru
Oughty an I fiav»■ a friend sere*-- your ha k .md i!p May sound *a
/y tiut ar) *Hjn* *• of prevention is worth a p -unrl of . me'
STAFF BOX
I iliiin: Beth Gaiser
I >i ri-i 11 >i of llt.itlli I illli.itlon: J'.diie-' f ' r <
II1.1I1I1 I dm .1(1011 si.if I Rayns -”l Boyle l.iu'' - Sheik)-.. Carmel
Crowe, Chris:.y Bloome Beth Gaiser Valerio
Shannon and Annie Dochnahl
! .ii mil I h sin11 * *' i Nr ■.
I’m lli.ilili \d\isors , is '•■■■■• n a o : . •' Kct —
Schwersthal. Robbie Ross. Jennifer Schmidt
Michael Dean Hutley B'*cky Dunn. Sherri
Bob.'ien
I'rodm|inn: Jer for Ar. 0.0, T." lv ! ; A • ■ < r n md:
Dal 11" Jmi I 'f;. Jenrnfi-r Hoe , Wendy Morn-,
I In Well Now is ,i newsletter sponsored In the Sludeill
Health ( enter and produced In the health edneation stall with
the assistance of the Oregon Daih I inerald. \II articles are
mitten In students and (M i s lor the Health I cluealion Pro
gram.
I would like to extend main thanks upon on graduation to
I he Health I duration Stall at the Student Health ( enter. Hub
ert I’etil. \dministrator ol the Student Health ( enter and l)r.
Janus k. Jackson, Susan Iheien. Director of \dvertisiim. Me
lissa Nelson and all insulted for making this puhlication possi
ble dm itiy im three wars as Kditor. (iood health to sou all!
Itetli (miser, I ditor.