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. 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.