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Using sparklers on our nation's birthday is as traditional as cookouts and swimming and is equally safe if a few commonsense rules are followed. But according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), approximately 16 percent of all consumer fireworks injuries are caused by sparklers burning hands and legs, with the majority of sparkler injuries occurring to young children. These are injuries that would not have occurred if there had been close adult supervision and if some basic safety steps had been taken. The National Council on Fireworks Safety offers these safety steps for sparklers, in the hopes that sparkler injuries to young children can be greatly reduced:

Children under the age of 12 should not use sparklers without very close adult supervision.

Always remain standing while using sparklers.

Never hold a child in your arms while using sparklers.

Never hold, or light, more than one sparkler at a time.

Sparklers and bare feet can be a painful combination. Always wear closed-toe shoes when using sparklers.

Sparkler wire and stick remain hot long after the flame has gone out. Be sure to drop the spent sparklers directly in a bucket of water.

Never hand a lighted sparkler to another person. Give them the unlit sparkler and then light it.

Always stand at least 6 feet from another person while using sparklers.

Never throw sparklers.

Show children how to hold sparklers away from their body and at arm's length.

Teach children not to wave sparklers, especially wooden stick sparklers, or run while holding sparklers.

The National Council on Fireworks Safety urges Americans to be Sparkler Smart this Fourth of July in their holiday celebrations. For more information, visit www.fireworkssafety.org.

(6-30-09)

Using a lawnmower can be as routine as bike riding or barbeques during spring and summer. But often, people find themselves in terrifying situations with these seemingly safe household machines. In fact, 200,000 people – 16,000 of them children – are injured in lawn-mower-related accidents each year, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports.

However, lawn mowers don't "attack" on their own. Most injuries – such as severed fingers and toes, limb amputations, broken bones, burns and eye injuries – are caused by careless use and can be prevented by following a few simple safety tips.

The American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (ASRM), American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons (ASMS), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) have teamed up to prevent injuries and educate adults and children about the importance of lawnmower safety during National Safety Month, June 2009.

"In 19 years of practice as a plastic surgeon and microsurgeon, some of the most devastating and disabling injuries I've treated are from lawnmower accidents," says ASRM President Dr. William Zamboni. "It's especially concerning when children are injured since most of these injuries are preventable."

Many lawnmower-related injuries require a team of physicians from various specialties – plastic surgery, microsurgery, maxillofacial surgery, pediatrics and orthopedics – to properly repair them. Often, patients must endure painful reconstructive operations for months, sometimes years, to restore form and function.

"Power lawnmowers are dangerous adult tools, but many children, and sometimes adults unfortunately, see them as toys," says ASPS President Dr. John Canady. "Lawn mowing can be dangerous to the operator as well as those nearby if proper safety precautions aren't taken. Physicians in this coalition often repair these heart wrenching injuries, and we feel it's our duty to help people avoid these accidents in the first place."

The ASRM, ASPS, ASMS, AAP and AAOS offer the following tips to help prevent lawnmower-related injuries:

Children should be at least 12 years old before they operate any lawnmower, and at least 16 years old for a ride-on mower.

Children should never be passengers on ride-on mowers.

Always wear sturdy shoes while mowing – not sandals.

Young children should be at a safe distance from the area you are mowing.

Pick up stones, toys and debris from the lawn to prevent injuries from flying objects.

Always wear eye and hearing protection.

Use a mower with a control that stops it from moving forward if the handle is released.

Never pull backward or mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary – carefully look for others behind you when you do.

Start and refuel mowers outdoors – not in a garage. Refuel with the motor turned off and cool.

Blade settings should be set by an adult only.

Wait for blades to stop completely before removing the grass catcher, unclogging the discharge chute or crossing gravel roads. (As a safety feature, some newer models have a blade/brake clutch that stops the blade each time the operator releases the handle.)

"We are pleased to be part of this lawn mower injury prevention coalition," says ASMS President Dr. Kevin Kelly. "Maxillofacial plastic surgeons treat numerous facial injuries caused by lawnmowers, particularly to children, and the effects can be devastating. Very often, we see patients who suffer significant facial injuries by items thrown out of mowers like sticks and stones."

Photos of injured patients and a PSA video titled "When Lawn Mowers Attack" are available for download on ASPS' Web site at www.plasticsurgery.org/x8086.xml.

(6-30-09)

The most inclusive, family-friendly cruise gets even better with two more great reasons to sail with Disney Cruise Line this summer – a value-added offer and new talent for eight special "Disney Channel Summer at Sea" sailings.

Families looking for a fun-filled getaway can set sail this summer on the most magical ships at sea and receive $100 per day onboard spending credit with a verandah stateroom booking. This special offer is available on most Disney Cruise Line itineraries, including three-, four- and seven-night sailings to the Bahamas and the Caribbean.

For example, a guest who selects a verandah stateroom would receive a $700 onboard spending credit when booking a seven-night cruise, a $400 credit when booking a four-night cruise or a $300 credit when booking a three-night cruise.

Guests may use the onboard spending credit to treat themselves and their family members to special indulgences, including rejuvenating spa treatments at the Vista Spa and Salon, shore excursions at ports of call, shopping onboard the ship and at Castaway Cay and purchasing keepsake photos at Shutters.

Offer valid on most sailings:

Seven-night cruises: June 20 to August 8, 2009

Four-night cruises: June 28 to August 9, 2009

Three-night cruises: June 25 to August 6, 2009

In a Disney exclusive, Disney Channel stars will set sail this summer, joining thousands of Disney Cruise Line guests aboard the Disney Wonder for eight special sailings during the first-ever "Disney Channel Summer at Sea," presented by Kodak.

During the special sailings – three- and four-night Bahamian cruises taking place July 9 through August 2 – Disney Channel stars will participate in onboard deck parties, join guests for Q&A and autograph sessions, preview screenings of Disney Channel programming and participate in live musical performances.

Disney Channel stars newly added to the summer's exciting lineup of talent include Roshon Fegan from Camp Rock (July 9-12, July 12-16); Chelsea Staub from Camp Rock (July 23-26, July 26-30); Oleysa Rulin from High School Musical (July 16-19, July 19-23); and musical act KSM (July 30-August 2).

Just some of the other top stars scheduled to participate include Mitchel Musso from Hannah Montana (July 19-23); Jason Earles from Hannah Montana (July 16-19, July 19-23); Tiffany Thornton from Sonny with a Chance (July 9-12, July 12-16); Alyson Stoner from Camp Rock (August 2-6); and Debby Ryan from The Suite Life on Deck (July 30-August 2).

For more information, visit www.disneycruise.com.

(6-23-09)

The first-ever national estimate among a nationally representative sample of U.S. children reveals that 3 out of every 1,000 children between the age of 6 and 17 in the United States have been diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome (TS), according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The study, "Prevalence of Diagnosed Tourette Syndrome in Children in the United States, 2007," found that a TS diagnosis is three times more common in boys than in girls, and approximately twice as common in children between 12 to 17 years as those aged 6 to 12 years. Among children with TS, 27 percent were reported as having moderate or severe TS, and 79 percent of children had also been diagnosed with at least one additional mental health or neurodevelopmental condition.

Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder that typically begins during early childhood, with symptoms being most severe between the ages of 10 and 12 years. TS is characterized by recurring multiple motor tics and at least one vocal tic. Tics are involuntary, repetitive, stereotyped, usually sudden and rapid movements or vocalizations that may be suppressed for short periods of time.

"TS and tic disorders have been linked to higher rates of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and impairments associated with these conditions, such as learning disabilities and problems with peer relations," says Dr. Rebecca Bitsko, Health Scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Given the high number of children diagnosed with TS who have another mental health or neurodevelopmental condition, it is necessary to further study the relation between these conditions."

Further, the data show that non-Hispanic white children are more than twice as likely as non-Hispanic black children or Hispanic children to have a parent-reported TS diagnosis.

"Having an estimate of the number of U.S. children who are diagnosed with TS is a first step toward understanding the overall impact of this condition in the population," says Dr. Bitsko. "Further research must examine differences in access to health care for children with TS in different population groups, the impact of TS on the quality of life, long term outcomes for children with TS, and strategies for reducing the impact of conditions associated with TS."

For more information about Tourette Syndrome and other birth defects, call toll free 1-800 CDC-INFO.

(6-16-09)

The U.S. Surgeon General issued a call to action on underage drinking in 2007, with the goals of bringing more attention to the issue, increasing research and improving prevention efforts, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). In response, the study "Estimated Blood Alcohol Concentrations for Child and Adolescent Drinking and Their Implications for Screening Instruments," has re-examined the number of standard drinks that constitute binge drinking in tweens and teens. Binge drinking is defined as a pattern of drinking that results in a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 grams per deciliter of blood within two hours. However, children weigh less than adults and can therefore achieve a higher BAC than adults after consuming the same number of drinks.

The study estimated that in a two-hour period, three or more drinks for 9- to 13-year-old children would theoretically result in a legally drunk BAC of .08. The same BAC level would be reached with four or more drinks for boys and three or more drinks for girls 14 or 15 years of age, and with five or more drinks for boys and three or more drinks for girls 16 or 17 years of age.

This information is important because it suggests that fewer drinks can result in hazardous levels of alcohol impairment in teens, especially girls, a message that is even more important at this time of year when proms and graduation celebrations begin taking place.

(6-09-09)

To celebrate the newly opened "American Idol Experience" attraction at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Kris Allen shouted the famous words "I'm Going to Disney World!" immediately after being crowned the newest "American Idol" in the show's star-studded season finale on Wednesday night, May 20, in Los Angeles.

Camera crews captured Allen's celebratory pronouncement on the Nokia Theatre stage mere moments after American Idol host Ryan Seacrest announced the champion's name to millions of viewers watching worldwide. Not only did the newly crowned Idol shout "I'm Going to Disney World!" at the spot's conclusion, his voice also was featured throughout the ad as he performed the iconic song, "When You Wish Upon a Star."

And with the same immediacy that has made the Disney spot one of the most beloved commercials of all-time, the newest "I'm Going to Disney World!" commercial aired on television within hours of the "American Idol" finale. Starring in a role usually occupied by sports stars – including Super Bowl heroes and World Series champs – Kris Allen is the second singer to ever star in the Disney commercial in its 20+-year history. (The 2008 American Idol champion, David Cook, was the first.)

Allen's role in the newest "I'm Going to Disney World" commercial celebrates "The American Idol Experience," the new American Idol-themed attraction that had a February 2009 grand opening at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Disney's Hollywood Studios is one of four theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

"The American Idol Experience" – the first major theme park attraction in the world based on the popular television series – was developed by Walt Disney Imagineering in conjunction with FremantleMedia Enterprises and 19 TV Ltd. In the attraction, Disney guests are able to experience the glitz and glamour of the American Idol television show, whether they are auditioning for a Disney producer, performing on-stage in front of a packed theater or voting for their favorite performance from their audience seats.

Attraction performers who receive the most audience votes in the preliminary shows return to star in that evening's grand finale show. In addition to their new-found theme park fame, the top vote-getting guest in the finale show receives "The American Idol Experience" Dream Ticket – which allows an eligible holder to schedule a front-of-the-line audition at a future regional audition for the American Idol television show.

For more information, visit www.disneyworld.com/idol.

(5-26-09)

With Memorial Day around the corner, trauma season is upon us. Over the next four months, 17 children a day are expected to die from a traumatic injury that could have been prevented. A new Safe Kids USA study, sponsored by Johnson and Johnson, for the first time links research on a child's cognitive, behavioral and physical development at different stages of their life and the risk of unintentional injury because of these developmental limitations. The report, Raising Safe Kids: One Stage at a Time, also provides age-appropriate safety tips for parents and caregivers so they know exactly when and why to take certain safety precautions – at all ages of a child's development.

Here are some highlights from the research and examples of safety tips to assist in decreasing the number of preventable traumatic injuries to children this summer:

Infancy (0 to 12 months old):
Report finding: Infants, children ages 0 to 12 months, are a vulnerable group for unintentional injury, as they are just beginning their development and are completely reliant on adults for their care and safety. It is the parent's or caregiver's responsibility to create a safe environment for infants.

Tip: Never leave a child alone in a car. When left in a vehicle, even on a cool but sunny day, a young child's core body temperature may increase three to five times faster than an adult's. This can cause permanent injury or even death.

Early Childhood (children 1 to 4 years old):
Report finding: Due to their underdeveloped muscles and bones and limited sensory abilities, they're more prone to falls. Since social skills are not yet developed, children this age imitate others and surpass their physical abilities for climbing or using playground equipment, increasing the likelihood of an injury.

Tip: Provide safe places to play. Only allow your child to play on playgrounds with 12 inches of safe surfaces such as shredded rubber, hardwood fiber/mulch or fine sand below the equipment to reduce the risk of serious injuries in case of a fall.

Middle Childhood (5 to 9 years old):
Report finding: Since this age group is more likely to play in groups, they are more vulnerable to peer pressure for participating in risky playground behaviors such as misuse of playground equipment and jumping from swings or parallel bars.

Tip: Make sure children use age-appropriate playground equipment for 5- to 12-year-olds. Children enjoy playing in groups and are more vulnerable to peer pressure for misusing playground equipment. Tell them what equipment is appropriate for their age levels.

Early Adolescence (10 to 14 years old):
Report finding: Visual perception is less defined even for early adolescents and they still lack the ability to discern an object from within a noisy background – an important skill to have to identify oncoming cars.

Tip: Make sure your child wears a helmet and protective gear every time he/she uses a bike, scooter, skateboard and inline skates. Nearly 630 children are injured daily from a bicycle-related incident, yet 15 to 20 percent of children don't wear helmets when on a bike. A helmet can prevent more than 80 percent of serious traumatic brain injuries if that child falls or is hit by a car.

(5-26-09)

As the concern over swine flu (H1N1) grows in school districts and communities across the country and around the world, children and families can become anxious. Parents may be looking for help on how to talk to their children and may not know how or when to communicate with the school. That's why the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA), National Association of School Nurses, and the National Association of School Psychologists have joined together to provide parents with information they may need about swine flu and tips for talking to their children about the situation.

Although it's important to be cautious and vigilant, it's equally important not to panic, say experts. When talking to children, the key is to provide prevention information without causing alarm. Teaching children positive preventive measures, talking with them about their fears and giving them a sense of some control over their risk of infection can help prevent and reduce any anxiety.

Here are 10 tips on talking to children about swine flu:

Remain calm and reassuring. Your children will react to and follow your verbal and nonverbal reactions.

Make yourself available. Your children may need extra attention from you and may want to talk about their concerns and questions. Make time for them.

Know the symptoms of swine flu and how it spreads. Symptoms of swine flu include fever, sore throat and cough, among others.

Review basic hygiene practices. Encourage children to practice everyday good hygiene by washing their hands, by covering their mouths with a tissue when they sneeze or cough and by not sharing food or drinks.

Be honest and accurate. In the absence of factual information, children often imagine situations far worse than reality. Also, parents should be frank with their children in a manner that is appropriate for their age.

Discuss new rules or practices at school. Many schools will be enforcing prevention habits.

Avoid excessive blaming. It is important to avoid stereotyping any one group of people as responsible for the virus.

Monitor television viewing. Limit television viewing or access to information on the Internet. Constantly watching updates on the status of the flu virus can increase anxiety.

Maintain a normal routine to the extent possible. Keeping to a regular schedule can be reassuring and promotes physical health.

Communicate with your school. Let your school know if your child is sick, and keep him or her home. Talk to your school nurse, school psychologist, school counselor or school social worker if your child is having difficulties as a result of anxiety or stress related to the flu. Follow all instructions from your school.

The complete handout, "Talking to Children About H1N1 (Swine) Flu: A Parent Resource," an audio version of the guidelines and additional resources are available on all of the following Web sites: www.pta.org, www.nasn.org or www.nasponline.org.

(5-19-09)

History has shown that as teens trade textbooks for car keys in May and June, the number of fatal crashes will skyrocket, marking the beginning of the 100 deadliest days of the year for teen drivers. While nothing takes the place of experience behind the wheel, parents and teens can dramatically reduce teen driving risks by taking the right precautions and using a few simple techniques to make driving safer this summer, say driving experts at Tire Rack Street Survival, a national nonprofit teen driving program.

Between 1996 and 2006, nearly 12,000 teens died behind the wheel – during the summer months, there is an average of 13 teen deaths per day, or 91 funerals per week.

Tire Rack Street Survival is working to save lives this summer by teaching teens the skills they need to stay alive behind the wheel. The community-run program enrolls local students in neighborhoods across the country and teaches them how their driving competence is improved by learning to better control their vehicle through hands-on experiences in real-world driving situations.

"Few people realize driving is one of the most dangerous things they do on a daily basis," says Bill Wade, National Program Manager, Tire Rack Street Survival. "A car traveling at just 4 mph has more energy than a bullet. That's a lot of responsibility. A little caution and preparation can mean the difference between getting into an accident and avoiding one."

Wade offers the following suggestions for parents and teens to have a safer summer behind the wheel:

Set Limits: Remember, your teen's license is not about your convenience – it's about their life.

Avoid High-risk Situations: Set limits on your teen's driving, especially in high-risk situations such as at night, on the weekends or in inclement weather.

Don't Ride with Inexperienced Drivers: Do not let your teen ride with a young driver that has less than one year's driving experience.

Keep Numbers Down: The higher the number of teens in the car the greater the level of distraction.

Understand the Route: Have a clear understanding of where your teen is driving, who they are with and the route they intend to take. Confirm a check-in time with your teen so they can update you on their plans.

Maintain Visual Awareness: Remind your teen to look 10 seconds down the road at all times when driving, and that they should be driving no fewer than three seconds behind the next vehicle. This will teach your teen to focus on the best escape route when confronted with an obstacle.

Make Time to Talk: Set aside time each week to re-connect with your teen during the summer to get a full understanding of what their schedule looks like. Empower your teen to get out of a bad situation. Set up a secret code. Something like "Mom I have a headache" would signal for you to drop everything and pick them up from where they are should they find themselves in an unsafe situation. Providing your teen with a card to keep in their wallet with the numbers of local taxi services will also help minimize sleep-deprived driving.

Examples Are the Key: Your teens rely on you to lead by example. Practice what you preach and don't use your cell phone or send text messages while you are driving. Both are leading causes of distractions and crashes for teen drivers. Remind your teen to keep their hands off of the center of the steering wheel and their feet off of the dashboard. In the event of an accident an airbag deployment with the hands or feet in this position can cause serious bodily harm. Ensure that every passenger in the car is wearing their seat belt.

Run a Quick Check: Complete a quick vehicle maintenance check with your teen every month to ensure everything is working properly. Are the tires inflated correctly? For correct tire inflation specs and for more tire-related information go to www.tirerack.com.

Community leaders or concerned parents interested in requesting a Tire Rack Street Survival school in their area can request one online at www.streetsurvival.org or by calling 864-329-1919.

(5-19-09)

Adecco Group, one of the nation's largest staffing companies, surveyed working mothers about the impact the recession is having on their work/life balance and the results are startling. According to Adecco's latest Workplace Insight Survey, 80 percent of women are working because they have to, not because they want to. Additionally, almost half (48 percent) of working moms are more stressed due to the current economic climate, and the majority (65 percent) are cutting their family budget.

Some further evidence that the economy is taking a toll on working mothers is that almost half (48 percent) of working moms wish they could spend more time with their kids, with nearly one in five (16 percent) reporting that their work hours have increased in this economy. Also, nearly one in five (19 percent) working moms are overcompensating by purchasing material goods for their children.

Other stats include the following:

Re-entering the work force: 13 percent of working moms went back to working full-time in this economy.

Feeling overwhelmed: Nearly one-third (30 percent) or working moms feel overwhelmed with responsibilities at home.

Being a role model: Working mothers are nearly 20 percent more likely to think their kids find them to be a role model than non-working moms.

Children of working moms are better behaved and better in school: 74 percent of working moms think their children do well in school while 60 percent of nonworking moms feel this way, and 72 percent of working moms think their children are well behaved compared to 65 percent of non-working moms.

Adecco has these tips for working mothers on better balancing their home and work lives:

1. Focus on how parenting makes you a better professional. Being a parent exposes and depends on a slew of soft skills including effective interpersonal communication, negotiation, compassion and understanding. These same skills are crucially important to being both a successful leader and team player at the office, enabling parents to hone in and sharpen these skills to best navigate both of their domains.

2. Talk to your employer about telecommuting. Telecommuting will allow you to stay home with your child when he/she is sick and keeps you from missing ballet recitals, sports events and school plays. You need to assure your boss you will remain highly productive and focused while in a more flexible work arrangement.

3. Get dads in on the balancing act. It's a changing world and gender roles in the home are starting to blur. Increasingly, men are staying home with sick children, working four-day weeks and asking their employers for extended paternity leave. Include dad. The kids will like spending extra time with their father and it helps you balance your life too.

4. Be realistic about your goals. Do not expect to be able to spend the same amount of time with your child as someone who is a stay-at-home parent. Instead, concentrate on making the most out of the time you have. And let your children know too. Young children need to know what to expect each day and they look forward to when you will be home.

5. Focus on productivity over face time. It's more important that workers properly prioritize, manage their time and deliver than simply put in "face-time" until all hours at the office. You don't need to be in the office all the time to make a powerful contribution. Be sure to set defined works goals and results beforehand with your supervisors.

(5-12-09)