Keeping children and young people safe before, during and after an emergency requires the partnership of many: schools, after-school programs, and any provider of services to kids. Help this partnership work well by sharing your preferred emergency protocols with all people who care for your children. Kids can be trained and supported so that they feel confident and well-informed about the right thing to do. As a parent, care provider or other trusted adult, talk to the others about basic information to share with the child, such as: knowing the proper adults to contact, who to ask for help, and having a back-up place to go if their primary place is unavailable due to emergency. Remember: avoid giving conflicting information; remove fear and disaster images; and be sure the information is age and culturally appropriate.

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September 28th, 2009 | Tags: children, Information, kid, partner, Preparedness, Safety | Category: STAT 5MM | Leave a comment

With school back in session, there are lots of small ways to increase the safety of children. For example – adults can take advantage when the school, police, community group or other trusted provider offers free fingerprinting for kids. It is an extra precaution that does not have to be scary – remember that protecting your children is an act of love, not fear!

Keep extra sets at your home and work to ensure you have proper fingerprint identification at your disposal. There are several inexpensive and simple-to-use kits also available to record fingerprints of all family members. Each set should be paired with a photo of the person they belong to and stored in a waterproof container (perhaps a simple ziptop bag) to protect against dirt and moisture. Replace the photo regularly as the child grows to keep records current.

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September 21st, 2009 | Tags: children, records, Safety | Category: STAT 5MM, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Teach kids before flu season what they can do to keep themselves and others safe. Use games, songs and other tools to teach basic skills like proper hand washing:
• use warm soap and water and wash thoroughly for at least 20 seconds
• remember between the fingers and on the backs of the hands
• dry hands completely and throw the paper towel in the trash (after using it to open the door)

Kids can also learn how to sneeze correctly: into tissues, of course, or into their elbows or even down their shirts – this is better than sneezing into the air or into their hands and then touching things. Wash hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer afterward.

Take the fear and threat out of flu exposure and help kids learn positive, empowering and sharable skills.

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September 14th, 2009 | Tags: children, Flu, H1N1, Public Health | Category: 2009, STAT 5MM | Leave a comment

The organization One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) has developed a simplified, $200 laptop (the XO) in order to spread educational tools among the world’s poorest children. These laptops, which are not for public sale, have limited size and speed, but are highly durable — and can run on solar, crank or other power sources.

In November 2007, OLPC will allow donors in North America to pay for two laptops and keep one (the other goes to a poor child in a targeted country). If your circumstances are such that even a limited laptop could be crucial during power outages, learn more about this potential resource. Be sure to investigate the details of the XO, and the program, at laptop.org and xogiving.org

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November 5th, 2007 | Tags: children, laptop, OLPC | Category: 2007, STAT | Leave a comment