A Road To Hell {infographic}

                                          Source: infographicpins.com via Infographic Pins on Pinterest

~~Silence Today~~

Bloggers Day of Silence and Support #SandyHook

Please Read! Very Important!

  Join the Blog World on December 18th for a day of Silence and Support for Sandy Hook and the senseless tragedy that happened that day. How can we ever understand why? My heart absolutely hurts tonight so much thinking about those dead children and the adults that died with them.
I look at my Christmas tree and weep thinking of the parents and loved ones that have been so heartbroken here right before the holidays. Having so much medical knowledge in my head does not help me deal with this any better, as an ER nurse I can envision the trauma that those poor babies endured and how they may have passed from this earth to a heavenly plan. I pray that my daddy met them with open arms at the gates of glory and led them to the foot of Jesus and told them that they were safe now.
Please read the bloggers plee below and on Tuesday December 18th, lets show Newtown CT that we care, support them and help those families get thru this tragic time.

_______________________________________________________

To the Blog World and Anyone Else who Wants to Help,

Friday, tragedy struck so many of us in ways we did not foresee. An elementary school and small town in Connecticut was shattered by a mass shooting. We knew we wanted to help and we came up with this:

<img src="https://sites.google.com/site/megoblogdesign/files/sandyhooksupport.png" />

On Tuesday, December 18th, there will be a blogger day of silence. We will post the button and that's it. Please try to not post anything else that day if possible.

We are also raising money that will go to an organization in the memory of this tragedy. The organization is called The Newtown Family Youth and Family Services.

Here is the official description of the support service we are donating to:

"Newtown Youth and Family Services, Inc. is a licensed, non-profit, mental health clinic

and youth services bureau dedicated to helping children and families achieve their

highest potential. NYFS provides programs, services, activities, counseling, support

groups and education throughout the Greater Newtown area.

ANY DONATIONS MADE TO NEWTOWN YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES WILL BE DONATED DIRECTLY TO THOSE EFFECTED BY THE SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHOOTING."

Please visit THIS PAGE to make your donation.

We can't imagine how they must be feeling, especially this close to the holidays. We would love for you to spread the word on your own blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Let's make a difference and use blogging in a positive way.

Thank you in advance for participating.

Love,

The Blog World

P.S. If you would like to, copy-paste and repost any part of this, please do. Share on.

What's in the Bag? Oh My!

 


Via ABC News:

British police say children out trick-or-treating on Halloween got more than they bargained for when they were given bags of cocaine instead of sweets.

A 23-year-old man has been charged with possession of class A drugs after the children's parents found the resealable plastic bags on Wednesday night and took them to the police in Royton, just outside Manchester.

"Snap bags containing white powder were taken to the police and examined," police said.

"It was confirmed that the bags contained cocaine.

"The bags had been given to children on Mendip Close, Royton, who were out trick-or-treating."

A 21-year-old woman was also arrested but was later released without charge.

"The parents and police acted quickly when this report was made, in the interests of public safety," police superintendent Catherine Hankinson of Greater Manchester Police said.

"We understand this to be an isolated incident."

AFP

This is why you check your kids trick or treat bags! yes?

Break these Chains..

Debbie LaRocque started this string of beads in 2006 with the 1st bead being her child's. Each bead represents a child that we know has died from the choking game since then. This string of beads is now over 20 ft long with over 600 beads and these are only the ones that are self-reported.

Today October 11, 2012 marks the first World Choking Game Awareness Day! #SPEAKUP  and shout out the importance and significance of making more people aware of this deadly game that kids are playing!

THESE KIDS ARE DYING! WE CAN STOP THIS

EDUCATE YOURSELF

EDUCATE YOUR KIDS!

EMPOWER YOUR COMMUNITY

10-11-12 the ages you should talk to kids because the average age of death is 13. It is estimated that 75% of kids know about the game but 40% of kids think it's harmless. It is not - just start asking 13 and 14 yr olds if they've heard of a game where kids pass out for fun because it has way too many names among kids to ask just about the choking game..

On 10/11/12, we request that you make the ribbon your profile pic or at least talk to some people about the game. 

IT IS going on around you - SPEAK UP

 and help keep our children from dying a senseless death.

Thank you to the Kris Marceno Foundation for their award winning PSA -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwc5kCAP8fU

For more information on how to talk to young kids and how to educate yourself please look at the following links -

1. Erik's Cause
http://stopthechokinggame.wordpress.com/

2. The Kris Marceno Foundation
http://www.krismarcenofoundation.com/

3. Ed4Ed4All
http://ed4ed4all.com/

4. DB Foundation
http://chokinggame.net/

5. GASP
http://www.gaspinfo.com/en/home.html

6. The JLPL Choking Game Awareness Foundation
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-JLPL-Choking-Game-Awareness-Foundation/132769133498534

7. Racing For Andrew
http://www.racing4andrew.com/

8. Lucastrong.com

A Mothers Love is Forever~~

Austin Cole Gillentine 1994-2007

In Loving Memory

Another Angel 

and a Mother's Love

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

     

Raising Awareness of Bullying Behavior!

WKBT anchor Jennifer Livingston took a moment during Tuesday's morning newscast (Oct. 2, 2012) to directly address a recent email she received from a viewer complaining about her weight.

 "To the person who wrote me that letter — do you think I don't know that? That your cruel words are pointing out something that I don't see?" Livingston asked in response. "You don't know me. You are not a friend of mine. You are not a part of my family. And you have admitted that you don't watch this show. So you know nothing about me but what you see on the outside. And I am much more than a number on the scale."
 Livingston went on to say that October is National Bullying Month, and that she hopes her response to the email will serve to raise awareness of bullying behavior, which is "passed down from people like the man who wrote me that email." "If you are at home and talking about the fat news lady, guess what? Your children are probably going to go to school and call someone fat," Livingston said. Livingston thanked friends, family and colleagues, saying, "I will never be able to thank you enough for your words of support, and for taking a stand against this bully. We are better than that email. We are better than the bullies that will try to take us down."

Bullying Behaviors should not be tolerated by adults or kids, we are so much better that any bully. A Bully has some serious issues themselves that need to be dealt with, some are seeking attention, some have been bullied or assaulted by parents or older siblings themselves, some are trying to impress their peers or have serious psychological problems.

Each year millions of children and youth experience the humiliation and devastating effects of bullying.  Bullying damages the physical, social, and emotional well-being of its victims. It also hurts the children who bully, as well as those who watch it happen. In fact, bullying creates a climate of fear, callousness, and disrespect for everyone involved.

Help #Stopbullyingnow

Making a difference, one life at a time! whether starfish or human!

One day, a man was walking along the beach, enjoying the morning sun and cool breeze from the ocean.

Suddenly, far off in the distance, he saw what looked like someone dancing.  But as he drew closer, the man noticed that it was a little girl picking up starfish from the shore and tossing them back into the ocean.

As he approached the girl, he paused for a moment, kind of puzzled, then asked, "Young lady - why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?"

And she replied…"Well, the sun is up, and the tide is going out. If I leave these starfish on the beach, the sun will dry them up and they will die."

And the man said “But there are thousands of starfish washed up all along this beach for miles! You can’t possibly make a difference!"

The young girl thought for a moment, then slowly leaned over, and carefully picked up another starfish from the sand. And with the starfish in hand, she turned to the man and gently said "You may be right, but it’ll make a difference to this one!"

And with that, she reached back and threw the starfish as far as she could back into the ocean.

How can you help? Go to our website www.Ed4Ed4All.com and see how you can help

Be that person that helps just one!

SPEAK UP! World Choking Game Awareness Day

Mark this date down now! October 11, 2012! 

Go Here Now Facebook Event Page

Do it now! I mean it!

Save the ribbon above onto your computer or device now!

Alright, Thank you! now read this! Make sure to visit all the links and educate yourself!

10-11-12 the ages you should talk to kids because the average age of death is 13. It is estimated that 75% of kids know about the game but 40% of kids think it's harmless. It is not - just start asking 13 and 14 yr olds if they've heard of a game where kids pass out for fun because it has way too many names among kids to ask just about the choking game..

On 10/11/12, we request that you make the ribbon your profile pic or at least talk to some people about the game. 

IT IS going on around you - SPEAK UP

 and help keep our children from dying a senseless death.

Thank you to the Kris Marceno Foundation for their award winning PSA -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwc5kCAP8fU

For more information on how to talk to young kids and how to educate yourself please look at the following links -

1. Erik's Cause
http://stopthechokinggame.wordpress.com/

2. The Kris Marceno Foundation
http://www.krismarcenofoundation.com/

3. Ed4Ed4All
http://ed4ed4all.com/

4. DB Foundation
http://chokinggame.net/

5. GASP
http://www.gaspinfo.com/en/home.html

6. The JLPL Choking Game Awareness Foundation
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-JLPL-Choking-Game-Awareness-Foundation/132769133498534

7. Racing For Andrew
http://www.racing4andrew.com/

8. Lucastrong.com

Pinterest and The Choking Game who guessed?

Tonight I searched my favorite website Pinterest for pins about "The Choking Game" thinking that Pinterest was just for cute crafty home kind of stuff, and I was totally wrong. I did find many pins that mentioned TCG so I created a board dedicated to safety and our children. You can find my Pinterest tab to the right on the sidebar. If you are on Pinterest search #Chokinggame #kidssafety for other interesting pins to add to your own boards. Pinterest is a great way to connect your educational efforts also with others and spread the word and cause to help stop the choking game, especially if you link your Pinterest with Twitter and Facebook! 

Pins from search of "choking game" 

pinned to my own "safety and our kids first" board

                                                                              Source: parenting-source.com via Leslie on Pinterest

                                                               Source: pattyinglishms.hubpages.com via Leslie on Pinterest

                                                                               Source: gaspinfo.com via Leslie on Pinterest

                                                                  Source: healtharticlesforkids.org via Leslie on Pinterest

Great Video from YouTube! All these kids lost their lives to this deadly game.

 Spread the word and save a life.

     

Please share this information with others so we can save a life! Please re-pin!

Always Remember the Angels~~

Today we would like to reflect on the senseless slaying of those Angels in Aurora Colorado that did not
deserve to die at the hands of a madman. So many things happen that we will never understand, but God is always on his throne.

May God bless and comfort those who lost loved ones on that day. 

Wild Farm Kids lost an Angel to the Choking Game

I wanted to share the outstanding work at this website to help further educate
others about the "Choking Game". Sadly a child's life was lost, another angel in heaven, read this post via the website by founder and big sister KeriGlenn, talking about the night her little brother died. Kudo's to your work "Wild Farm Kids"


The Game That Could Win Your Life.
November 21^st 2011, this day was my little sisters 7^th birthday and the day that has forever changed my life. My family had a small birthday party planned for my sister at my grandparents. The basketball games I was at coaching my cheerleaders went into overtime, so I didn’t get done until about 9:15 that night. I hurried to my grandparents to have cake and ice cream with them, but by the time I got there, they were getting ready to leave. I said hi and bye to all my siblings, then headed back to campus.
I no more than got in the parking lot and my mom called me screaming so loud that I couldn’t understand anything she was saying. I then got her to talk slower and she said the most heart breaking words I have ever heard, “Joshua is dead!” I dropped my phone and burst into tears, I couldn’t breathe, and I instantly turned back around and sped home. I got about a half mile out of town and got pulled over for speeding. I was a wreck. I told the cop what was going on and he didn’t believe me, so he had to call dispatch to see that I was telling the truth.
By the time I got close to my house I could see a light show from all the cop cars that were surrounding my parent’s home. I couldn’t get into my driveway so I drove through my neighbor’s yard to get to my parents. The look on my dad’s face, made me know this was real. My mom was crying, talking like she was talking to herself, but out loud. She said, “His eyes were lifeless and glazed, his skin was blue, all I wanted to do was hold him but they wouldn’t let me.” I tried talking to her but all she could say was, “They told me to prepare for the worst, but I know he’s already gone.”
The drive to the hospital was the longest drive of my life. Once we got there they wouldn’t let me in his room. So many EMT’s and ME’s were in the room working on him. I just wanted to go in there with him. Once they let me in, I held his hand, kissed his cheek, tried closing his eyes and talking to him. I knew he was gone, but my mind wouldn’t let me accept it.
We were fielding questions, going through all of his things, and trying to find peace of knowing what really happened and started the funeral planning process. I took on the “big sister” role, and helped plan his visitation and funeral. I never thought I would be able to do this, but I did and it was the most rewarding thing I have ever done. I did it because I knew my parents needed the help. There were so many people there; it was completely amazing to see all the love and support we got from everyone.
Joshua was 13 years old, a 7^th grader who was on the A honor roll, loved football, wrestling, drawing, singing, outdoors, 4-H and everything else a little boy loves. He had the biggest heart and a contagious smile that could light up a room. A few days after he died we found out the cause of his death, it was from “the choking game”. This is something that none of our family knew he was doing, but when we were told about it and what it entails, we found that the warning signs were all over. They included things like; headaches, itchy eyes, off sleep patterns, marks on his bunk bed, robe ties in his room, and the fact that he was a 13 year old adventurous boy.
Since this happened I have been so invested in the “choking game”. I have found that it is more common than people think. It isn’t something that people really admit to or talk about, but it is going on everywhere, probably even in your neighborhood. When someone participates in this, they are cutting the oxygen supply from their brain, for a short term high, which as a result kills brain cells and can be fatal. This isn’t a game and if people are doing it, I hope that this is a wakeup call to them to stop. The affects of this not only hurts yourself, but also everyone that loves and cares about you.
KeriGlenn
 http://wildfarmkids.com/

I drink blood.........really?

 Twilight is a movie~ not real life people!

As promised I will attempt to dig deeper into those 10 teen health dangers and try to understand them better.
I was hoping that number 1 would not be so true, but I was wrong, kids are biting and sucking each others blood. Good grief what a crazy phase, kids are actually biting and sucking the blood from another person. What are they thinking, infections, serious injuries, hepatitis, Hiv, death are the possible consequences of such a stupid game.

via The Parent Dish and MSNBC, I found some info here:
Inspired by the "Twilight" series and heartthrob vampire Edward Cullen's chilly charms, teens are taking their love nips a little too far, MSNBC reports, biting each other -- hard -- and then licking the blood.

Bizarre teen behavior has horrified parents for generations, but health officials and other experts are warning this vampire-inspired Count Dracula fad could have serious consequences.

"These are kids who think they are real vampires," Dr. Orly Avitzur, the medical advisor to Consumers Union, the agency that publishes Consumer Reports magazine, tells MSNBC.

And many teens are getting their blood-sucking fix on the Internet, Avitzur says, noting that sessions spent trolling vampire-related teen websites are on the rise. Groups such as "I drink blood," a category at experienceproject.com, and "I want to be a vampire" at the site 43things.com, are filled with apparent posts from young people with a yearning for hemoglobin.

"Having that thick, warm copper-tasting blood in my mouth is the best thing I can think of!" writes a teenager identified as "GothicGirl10" on MSNBC. "Sometimes my boyfriend lets me feed off him. I let him feed off me as well."

Such talk alarms medical experts, who warn about the dangers of blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis and HIV, as well as the risk of nasty infections. Typically, 10-15 percent of human bite wounds become infected, MSNBC reports.

"If you break the skin, your mouth is pretty dirty," Dr. Thomas Abshire, a pediatric blood and cancer specialist and spokesman for the American Academy of Pediatrics, tells MSNBC. "The human mouth flora is dirtier than a dog or cat's."

Also concerning is the fact that this biting is often done to brand another person, experts say.

"If you think about it, there is such glamorization in those teen vampire movies, they make it seem so sexy and appealing and intriguing," Avitzur says. "It's all mixed up with passion."

Focusing on teen health dangers

Over the next few weeks we are going to focus on some of the teen health dangers
that are prevalent now and maybe a few more totally absurd ones you might never think about.
If you search the internet you will find many articles on different webpages that list these dangers, make sure you are reading credible information.
This list of 10 trends comes from the social media doctor at KevinMD.com a great site for health information that you can use, one of my favorite sites.

Here’s a roundup of 10 troublesome trends, some old and some new, that your teen may be exposed to this summer and school year :

1. Biting and cutting and sucking blood. Yes, as unbelievable as it sounds, there’s a vampire movement afoot thanks to the glamorous portrayal of teen vampires on the Twilight series and The Vampire Diaries and the popularity of HBO’s True Blood. Besides the serious bacterial dangers of human bites, it can be a mode of HIV transmission that’s not covered in most sex ed classes.
2. Circle lenses/decorative contact lenses. A look made popular by Lady Gaga and YouTube, circle lenses create a big doe-eyed appearance and have become popular among teenage girls. Illegal to sell without a prescription, but easily bought online, doctors are concerned about risks of blinding infections and damage to the cornea.
3. ADHD prescription drug abuse. The same drugs being used to treat attention deficit disorder are being freely shared by some teens on college campuses and high schools to give them an edge at preparing for exams. Not only is the stigma gone, but kids who have the prescriptions are the go-to favorites during finals. If your child uses ADHD drugs, warn him or her against sharing. If your child doesn’t, make it clear that these are serious medications with side effects, not study aids.
4. Tobacco escalation products. Many teens are convinced that, unlike cigarettes, smoking a hookah or using chewing tobacco is not harmful. In fact, hookahs do use tobacco (referred to as Massel) which comes in a wide variety of flavors—including apple, strawberry, and coconut—intended to create a “graduation strategy” so that kids get hooked by starting them with milder tasting, more flavored substances. This trick is also used with a product called “Snus”, a non-chew, no-spit oral tobacco that’s also available in variety of sweet and fruity flavors. Also increasingly popular with teens, using Snus lets them stay under the radar at school and still get their nicotine fix, because it’s stuffed between the lip and the gum. Make sure your teens know that these products have their own dangers, as well as leading to nicotine addiction.
5. Tanorexia/Tanning salons. Even though exposure to tanning beds before the age of 30 increases a person’s risk of developing melanoma by 75 percent, this real danger is dampened by television shows that depict it as trendy and fashionable. One study of university students found that more than 90 percent of tanning-bed users know about the risks of premature aging and skin cancer but continue to tan because they think it looks good.
6. Tattoos. Tattoos have become extremely popular among teens. Although most states have laws prohibiting minors from getting them, they are poorly enforced. Recent data suggest that more than one-third of adults in the U.S. under the age of 35 now sport at least one tattoo. Outbreaks of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) skin infections among tattoo recipients have been related to sloppy infection control practices. And tattoos are estimated to account for more than twice as many hepatitis C infections as injection drug use. Other infections, including HIV, can also be contracted through tattooing. If your kids insist on tattoos, make sure that they go to a licensed practitioner.
7. Piercings. Besides traditional ear piercings which carry the standards risks of infection, allergic reactions to nickel, and scar formation, kids are piercing other parts of their bodies, including their nose, naval region, lips, eyebrows and tongues, as well as areas hidden from parents, such as the nipples and genitals. Bacterial infections are not uncommon as are risks of hepatitis, tuberculosis, HIV and tetanus. Deformity and scarring can be permanent. Make sure your kids are aware that needles wielded by anyone but a health professional or certified technician can be lethal weapons.
8. Tech use at night. Do you know what your kids are doing in their bedrooms at night? It’s likely they’re texting their friends, chatting on Facebook, or playing video games. The high-tech bedrooms of many teenagers, are anything but dark and quiet. They often go to sleep listening to their iPods, and exchange text messages late into the night. In fact, this seems to be typical teenage behavior. No wonder they’re tired in school. Encourage your child to make it a habit to completely unplug well before bedtime.
9. Texting while driving. There have been reports of teens getting into serious car accidents texting while driving because they keep their hands and eyes on their cell phone keys, rather than the steering wheel. The practice is widespread and getting worse. According to a 2010 survey by AAA and Seventeen Magazine, 86 percent of drivers, age 16-19 admit to risky driving habits, up 25% from a 2008 survey. And those who texted, sent, on average, 23 text messages while driving in the past month. Sixty percent of teens say they drive while talking on their cell phones, up nine percent from a 2008 survey. Make sure your teen drivers have headsets in the car so they can take needed calls and keep their hands on the wheel.
10. Noise exposure. According to published research, about 12.5 percent of American children between the age of 6 and 19 have measurable noise induced hearing loss in one or both ears. Exposure to harmful sounds can injure the delicate hair cells in the inner ear. We have a fixed number of cochlear hair cells and they don’t regenerate, so it’s important to prevent damage in the first place to reduce the need for a hearing aid later in life. To protect their hearing, they should turn down the volume from headsets, televisions and car radios, and set the top volume level on their MP3 player to a safe level.
Orly Avitzur is medical adviser at Consumer Reports and blogs at the Consumer Reports Health Blog.

Stay tuned for our next post about "blood sucking" "cutting" 
JKYP2R994FFY

Part 2: Drinking Hand Sanitizer? Seriously Serious!

Part 2
Today we look into the nasty dangerous game of drinking hand sanitizer to get high!
Yes, kids and teens are actually doing this, and landing their butts in the ER and ICU's intoxicated and barely breathing.
Alcohol is a drug or specifically the drug/chemical ethanol is a central nervous system depressant, thus slowing down the respiratory drive of the drinker, to much and you can stop breathing.
The following article from CBS News shows incidents and possible solutions.

(CBS News) Would you drink hand sanitizer? The idea may sound repulsive to most people, but California doctors are warning parents of what may be a fast-growing dangerous trend after six local teenagers were hospitalized in separate incidents with alcohol poisoning from drinking the soapy stuff.
Popular "cinnamon challenge" has potential to be deadly
Dangerous "games" that may harm kids and teens
The Los Angeles Times reported some of the teenagers used salt to separate the alcohol from the sanitizer using instructions found online. If a liquid hand sanitizer contains 62 percent ethyl alcohol, that means a "drink" can be as high as 120 proof, whereas a shot of hard liquor such as whiskey or vodka is typically 80 proof.

"All it takes is just a few swallows and you have a drunk teenager," Dr. Cyrus Rangan, director of the toxicology bureau for the county public health department and a medical toxicology consultant for Children's Hospital Los Angeles, told the Los Angeles Times. "There is no question that it is dangerous."
Teens who presented to the emergency room had symptoms such as slurred speech and a burning sensation in the stomach. Some teens were so drunk they needed to be monitored in the emergency room.
Rangan said although there have been only a handful of cases, the practice could become a nationwide problem since hand sanitizers are cheap and easily available, and teens can easily look up how to extract alcohol from a bottle. KTLA in Los Angeles reports there were no such cases last year, and the recent spate of cases in recent weeks is surprising.
"It is kind of scary that they go to that extent to get a shot of essentially hard liquor," Rangan said.
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Department of Health told HealthPop there was no official city-wide warning or statement at this time.
Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency medicine physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said he has taken care of some teens out who had ingested hand sanitizers at school as a "dare," only to come to the ER drunk with dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
"They denied drinking any 'alcohol', had no smell of alcohol on their breath, but when their blood alcohol was quite elevated, they later admitted to drinking the hand sanitizer," Glatter told HealthPop.
Glatter said it's essential that warning labels be placed on hand sanitizers to educate parents and the public of potential risks.
"Officials in institutions where these products are available - including hospitals, schools, offices, heath clubs, and day care centers - have a duty to inform people about the alcohol content in these products, and subsequent dangers if ingested," he told HealthPop.
Doctors told the L.A. Times that parents should purchase foam hand sanitizers since they're harder to extract alcohol from compared with gel-based products, and they should monitor hand sanitizer bottles around the house as if they are liquor or medicine bottles.
"Over the years, they have ingested all sorts of things," Helen Arbogast, injury prevention coordinator in the trauma program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, told the Times. "Cough syrup had reached a very sexy point where young people were using it.... We want to be sure this doesn't take on the same trend."
The industry trade organization, the American Cleaning Institute, responded to the recent reports.
"One case of product misuse - intentional or otherwise - is always one too many," Nancy Bock, vice president of education at the American Cleaning Institute said in an emailed statement. "But let's not lose sight of the fact that millions of people are not abusing these products and do responsibly use them as needed."

Video shows kids laughing about this crazy trend and posting YouTube videos

What next? I am sure there is something out there just as bad, I will find it to share next :) Leslie

Hand Sanitizer Dangers Part 1

They are everywhere, on the wall, in the bathroom, in the diaper bag, at the grocery store. Hand sanitizers have become common place in our society today. Would you ever think about drinking them? WHAT! Drinking it! Yuck that has got to be nasty, right?
Kids are drinking hand sanitizer to get high, since the alcohol content is at least 67%, some higher, and it is very readily accessible to them.
Hand sanitizers, once only found among true germophobes and in hospitals, have become ubiquitous. They’re present at the supermarket, the gym, in daycare centers, and you probably have at least one bottle rolling around in your car or in the bottom of your purse or backpack.
During the flu epidemic scare of 2010/2011, hand sanitizer use jumped dramatically as healthcare professionals warned us that the only way to keep from getting deathly ill was to strip our hands of the viral microbes that constantly hitch rides on them. When scientists told us potentially deadly bacteria are all over virtually everything we touch, we became paranoid about germs. Hand sanitizers seem like an easy way to mitigate the risk of…well…being a resident of Earth.
But hand sanitizers, like most things in life, have a dark side. Yes, it’s important to practice good hygiene, especially on the hands, if you want to stay healthy. But a hand sanitizer isn’t always the best way to do so, especially if you aren’t using it right. Here are 5 reasons why you might want to consider using it less.
1. Your skin needs its oils
Most hand sanitizers contain a high concentration of alcohol, which removes the layer of natural oils from your skin. However, the skin on your hands is relatively thin and delicate, and needs those oils to stay healthy. The more you use hand sanitizer, the more moisture you strip from your skin, leaving it red, raw, chapped, and eventually bleeding. And, without proper moisture, your hands—one of the first areas to show aging—will also look much older, much sooner.
2. Your immune system needs its exercise
Like body builders who maintain their muscled physiques by working them at the gym every day, our immune systems stay strong by constantly doing battle against unfamiliar microbes. When we remove bacteria and other microbes from our lives, it can weaken our immune systems. This is especially true for babies and young children. Our worry that exposure will hurt them actually deprives them of developing a hearty immune system, which could make them sicker down the road. We don’t suggest that you should purposely expose your children to harmful bacteria, but too much caution the other way can backfire.
3. They don’t replace soap and water
The Food and Drug Administration recommends that hand sanitizers not be used in place of soap and water, but as a backup. Dirt, grime, blood, and other body fluids present on the hands can block the effective ingredient in hand sanitizers. When the hands are visibly dirty, soap and water must be used to wash them first. Plus, studies indicate that, in real life on actual human hands (as opposed to controlled surfaces used by manufacturers to test their 99.9 percent kill claims), washing with soap and water does a better job of cleaning the hands.
In fact, one researcher at Perdue University claims that, by stripping the oils from our hands that prevent bacteria present in the body from coming to the surface, using hand sanitizer can actually increase the presence of bacteria on the hands in a way that soap and water washing doesn’t.
4. False sense of security
Manufacturer’s claims that hand sanitizers kill 99.9% of bacteria combined with not using them properly can lead us into a false sense of security about our exposure to harmful substances. Alcohol-based sanitizers, for example, have been shown to be ineffective against rabies and norovirus. Hand sanitizers containing less than 60% alcohol—and they are out there—are just plain ineffective. And if you don’t use enough to cover your entire hands and stay wet for at least 15 seconds, you might as well have not used it at all.
5. Toxins in your system
Many hand sanitizers claim to be antibacterial, which means they contain a chemical called triclosan, a hormone disrupter. In a 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, three-quarters of participants had concentrations of triclosan in their urine. While not all sanitizers contain triclosan, most do contain parabens, propylene glycol, and synthetic fragrances, all substances known to affect the systems and organs in the body. Those chemicals aren’t particularly good to add to the ecosystem, either.
Despite its dark side, hand sanitizer can be an important and useful tool in fighting disease. Used properly, and only when absolutely necessary when lacking hand-washing facilities, it can help you stay healthy. But if you are a too frequent user, you may be doing yourself and your family more harm than good.

info credit : Naked health online

Stay tuned tomorrow for  part 2  (Drinking hand sanitizer sends teens to hospitals)

Be ExtraOrdinary!

Make a difference in the life of someone this week

Be that extraordinary person that

is inside you!

You are the Change the world wants so desperately to see!

Please help our friends at The Mommies Network spread their wings

Help support one of our favorite non-profit groups "The Mommies Network"! Our own Injury Prevention Specialist Leslie works closely with this non-profit group also and asks that you take the time to vote for this worthy charity that also supports our endeavors to help put an end to youth risk behaviors and "The Choking Game".
 
The Mommies Network is a finalist non-profit in Eleventy Group's 4Good contest. With a simple click to vote and another to share, you can help boost TMN's fundraising power.
Better fundraising means technology upgrades, an expanding network, and more time for our volunteers to focus on what they do best: make mom-to-mom connections everyday.

Join us and vote here https://www.facebook.com/questions/280273618735527/

Share this event with ALL your facebook friends and on your chapters, please spread the word that will help us spread our wings. Voting costs nothing but a minute of your time.

Help us Soar Higher and do more 4Good for you! Vote now! and tell every you know!

From everyone at The Mommies Network, thanks for your support.


Join this event if you have not already via The Mommies Network fb page
https://www.facebook.com/events/310674799010659/

 Thank you from all of us at Ed4Ed4all.com

What is a Space Monkey? or Space Junkie?

Just what on this earth or up in space is a "space monkey"? Not a Tv show cartoon character, or a cute little monkey that plays games so harmlessly.

Definitions via The Urban Dictionary : 

  Space Monkey is a game that teens play where a person either chokes his/herself or has someone else do it until they almost pass out. It can cause brain damage due to lack of oxygen to the brain.

 A game played by boys and girls ages 10-20 who can't manage to get their hands on any weed. Choking yourself causes lack of oxygen to the brain and can cause oneself to lose consciousness or die. Kids think that it makes them feel high, while really it just destroys their brain.

Accurate definitions? pretty much 

Not just in the United States, this problem is a global problem! 

An article from the UK based "Sky News" reports 

Roddy Mansfield, Sky News Online

Children are 'strangling' themselves to get high then sharing the videos on the internet, campaign groups have warned.  

Nicknamed "Space Monkey", the practice involves squeezing the carotid arteries in the neck to restrict the flow of blood to the head.

Releasing the pressure leads to a sudden rush of oxygen to the brain, giving a feeling of euphoria. But it can lead to brain damage, un-consciousness and death.

The craze is well known in the US and France and parents and campaign groups fear it is now catching on in the UK.
The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention claims in the last ten years 86 children may have died in the UK playing 'the choking game'.
There are no official figures for Britain, although the Department for Children, Schools and Families claims it is aware of the problem.
You-tube videos seen by Sky News show youths taking it in turns to squeeze each others necks before appearing to lose consciousness.
In one British video a teenager is seen hyperventilating before having his arteries crushed before passing out.

The practice can cause unconsciousness by restricting blood and oxygen to the brain

A YouTube spokesman told Sky News: "YouTube is a community site used by millions of people in very positive ways. Sadly as with any form of communication, there is a tiny minority of people who try to break the rules.
"If content breaks our terms then we remove it and if a user repeatedly breaks the rules we disable their account."
Teenagers are also sharing instructional videos to show others how it's done and using scarves and ropes to choke themselves. Others are posting Space Monkey reports online.
On a Yahoo forum, Baay, writes: "Just as I passed out I said 'it's so scary'.
"Then I fainted and I started like having a fit or something like shaking, was it a fit? And my eyes were open and rolling back.
"Now everyone is doing it at school, and apparently if I was doing all this I could of died, is that true?"
Professor Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, told Sky News: "First you get asphyxia anoxia which is a lack of oxygen to the brain, then you get a sudden rush of oxygen to the brain.
"Children are copying what they see in the videos and think they'll get a similar high to taking drugs.
"It is a significant problem which hasn't yet been picked up by parents and teachers.
"Not only is it difficult to prove how many people have died, we don't know how many near misses there have been."

 The practice can cause unconsciousness by restricting blood and oxygen to the brain

 Children are filming themselves choking each other and sharing the videos online

Space Monkey?

or

Space Junkie?

 or 

Dead

you choose

 make the right choice, choose life! 

 

A Drug Dealer in your own medicine cabinet? You?

This week we have been working on a 4 part series of blog posts for The Mommies Network for education on the upcoming DEA "Take Back Day" April 28th, 2012. As parents and health providers we are the gatekeepers of many dangerous substances and do not even realize it. Today's society of kids and teens are so much smarter that we were ever at that age, so they are very aware of what lurks in the medicine cabinet at home. Are you are a drug dealer and don't even know it?

AWARxE is an awesome resource website. AWARERX.ORG is an information source providing authoritative resources about medication safety, prescription drug abuse, medication disposal, and safely buying medications on the Internet. 

Inspiration for AWARxE: The Story of Justin Pearson

Justin Pearson’s story was the inspiration for the AWARxE consumer protection program. Justin Pearson, a resident of St Cloud, MN, died tragically at age 24 because of a prescription drug overdose. Justin died on December 25, 2006, after taking a mix of prescription drugs, which he ordered from an illegal Web site. Web sites like these are illegal and sell prescription drugs without requiring prescriptions from the doctor. In Justin’s case, he was able to easily order drugs from an illegal Web site and the drugs were mailed to him. Taking the drugs without a doctor’s prescription, and mixing a high dose of different prescription drugs led to Justin’s death.
For more information about Justin’s story, please visit Justin’s Web page at jvp1.com.
AWARERX.ORG aims to prevent more tragic stories like Justin’s by providing information that will raise AWARxEness among consumers.

Become AWARxE!

“Prescription” Does Not Mean the Drugs are Safe For Everyone!
Many teens believe that taking prescription drugs to get high is safer than using street drugs. Be AWARxE! Prescription drugs are dangerous when they are not used correctly as directed by a doctor.

• One in five teens have taken a prescription drug that was not theirs to get high or to deal with problems.
• Teens are abusing pain pills (Vicodin^®, OxyContin^®), stimulants (Ritalin^®, Adderall^®), and tranquilizers (Xanax^®, Valium^®).
• Teens take these drugs right out of the medicine cabinet – at home, at a friend’s house, or when visiting family.
• 5.2 million people, including kids ages 12 and older, said they had abused prescription pain relievers, as reported in a 2007 survey.
• More people are visiting the emergency room because they misused prescription pain medication. From 2004 to 2009, emergency room visits due to misusing narcotic pain pills increased by almost 100%.

Be AWARxE! Prescription medications should only be used when your doctor prescribes them for you. Follow your doctor’s directions when taking prescription medications – make sure to take the correct amount of medication each day. Ask your doctor or pharmacist when you have questions taking drugs that are prescribed for you.

Learn How to Protect Yourself, Family, and Friends.

How can misusing the drug products in your medicine cabinet harm you, your family, or your friends? Medications can provide great health benefits when used as the doctor ordered, but there are big risks when they are abused or not taken as directed. Click on Get Informed to find facts about the dangers of misusing or abusing prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

Illegal Prescription Drugs Were Deadly for Justin Pearson – Read Justin’s Story

Justin Pearson, a resident of St Cloud, MN, died tragically at age 24 because of a prescription drug overdose. Justin died on December 25, 2006, after taking a mix of prescription drugs which he ordered from an illegal Web site. Web sites like these are illegal and sell prescription drugs without requiring prescriptions from the doctor. In Justin’s case, he was able to easily order drugs from an illegal Web site and the drugs were mailed to him. Taking the drugs without a doctor’s prescription, and mixing a high dose of different prescription drugs led to Justin’s death.
Justin Pearson’s story was the inspiration for the AWARxE campaign. For more information, please visit Justin’s Web page at jvp1.com.
Get informed and learn how to prevent more stories like Justin’s. Read more about Not Recommended Web Sites and VIPPS Recommended Internet Pharmacies from NABP.


What's in your medicine cabinet? you might need to start looking and reevaluate how you keep meds and store them away from small children and teens.

Sniff me, Snort me, Suck me up

 

What Types of Products Are Abused as Inhalants?

 Inhalants are commonly known as Glue, Kick, Bang, Sniff, Huff, Poppers, Whippets, and Texas Shoeshine.

Chance are most of these substances are right there in your kitchen,garage or pantry. If I try it just one time to see what if might do to my body, it won't hurt..............or will it? 

Magic question~ do you want to find out?  

Inhalants generally fall into the following categories:
Volatile solvents—liquids that vaporize at room temperature

• Industrial or household products, including paint thinners or removers, degreasers, dry-cleaning fluids, gasoline, and lighter fluid
• Art or office supply solvents, including correction fluids, felt-tip marker fluid, electronic contact cleaners, and glue

Aerosols—sprays that contain propellants and solvents

• Household aerosol propellants in items such as spray paints, hair or deodorant sprays, fabric protector sprays, aerosol computer cleaning products, and vegetable oil sprays

Gases—found in household or commercial products and used as medical anesthetics

• Household or commercial products, including butane lighters and propane tanks, whipped cream aerosols or dispensers (whippets), and refrigerant gases
• Medical anesthetics, such as ether, chloroform, halothane, and nitrous oxide (“laughing gas”)

Nitrites—a special class of inhalants that are used primarily as sexual enhancers

• Organic nitrites are volatiles that include cyclohexyl, butyl, and amyl nitrites, commonly known as “poppers.” Amyl nitrite is still used in certain diagnostic medical procedures. When marketed for illicit use, organic nitrites are often sold in small brown bottles labeled as “video head cleaner,” “room odorizer,” “leather cleaner,” or “liquid aroma.”

These various products contain a wide range of chemicals such as—

• toluene (spray paints, rubber cement, gasoline), 
• chlorinated hydrocarbons (dry-cleaning chemicals, correction fluids),
• hexane (glues, gasoline),
• benzene (gasoline),
• methylene chloride (varnish removers, paint thinners),
• butane (cigarette lighter refills, air fresheners), and
• nitrous oxide (whipped cream dispensers, gas cylinders).

How Do Inhalants Affect the Brain?

The effects of inhalants are similar to those of alcohol, including slurred speech, lack of coordination, euphoria, and dizziness. Inhalant abusers may also experience lightheadedness, hallucinations, and delusions. With repeated inhalations, many users feel less inhibited and less in control. Some may feel drowsy for several hours and experience a lingering headache. Chemicals found in different types of inhaled products may produce a variety of additional effects, such as confusion, nausea, or vomiting.
By displacing air in the lungs, inhalants deprive the body of oxygen, a condition known as hypoxia. Hypoxia can damage cells throughout the body, but the cells of the brain are especially sensitive to it. The symptoms of brain hypoxia vary according to which regions of the brain are affected: for example, the hippocampus helps control memory, so someone who repeatedly uses inhalants may lose the ability to learn new things or may have a hard time carrying on simple conversations.
Long-term inhalant abuse can also break down myelin, a fatty tissue that surrounds and protects some nerve fibers. Myelin helps nerve fibers carry their messages quickly and efficiently, and when damaged, can lead to muscle spasms and tremors or even permanent difficulty with basic actions such as walking, bending, and talking.

Lethal = Dead -- one way road to your coffin

Sniffing highly concentrated amounts of the chemicals in solvents or aerosol sprays can directly induce heart failure and death within minutes of a session of repeated inhalation. This syndrome, known as “sudden sniffing death,” can result from a single session of inhalant use by an otherwise healthy young person. Sudden sniffing death is particularly associated with the abuse of butane, propane, and chemicals in aerosols.

Sudden Death can occur the first time you try inhalants! or the 100th time you try them, it's not choosy. All your luck it will be your first time!

Sniff Me, Snort Me, Suck me Up and Die!! Stupid is as Stupid Does!! Don't Be Stupid!!

Choose Life!!