911: What's Your Emergency?

In the aftermath of tornadoes, hurricanes, and other disasters, I have spent time planning for emergencies. I have planned before, but knew that I could do more. I had the basics covered. Flashlights were stocked with fresh batteries. A case of bottled water was always on hand. I use well water, so in times of approaching bad weather, I fill a bathtub with water so that we can flush at least one toilet should we lose power. No power = no well pump = nu running water for toilets, sinks, or showers. We can survive in our home for about 24 hours without running water. Filling the bathtub gives us about another 24 hours before we have to evacuate to a hotel.

A recent newsletter from Howard County Public Schools reminded me of a couple of other safety measures.

In Howard County, you dial 911 for emergencies, but what about other issues?

• Report nonemergency situations: 410-313-2200
• Report any criminal or dangerous situations: 410-313-STOP
• Report any confirmed or suspected drug activity: 410-290-DRUG

And the following is of interest to parents of tweens and teens, as well as other residents of Maryland:

• Always report underage alcohol parties and other offenses.
• The Howard County Police Department and HC DrugFree want you to report if you know of parties where underage drinking is happening, or if you are witness to any illegal or dangerous activity, alert HCPD immediately.
• Your tips are held in high regard and will result in police involvement whenever warranted. You ALWAYS have the option to remain completely anonymous.

As always, stay safe this holiday season!

Missing Kids: Resources

Recently, I have heard about five missing persons. Two were young adults and three are teens. Sadly, the young adults were found dead. Two of the teens were found safely some distance from their homes. As a parent, I am devastated to think of what these parents are going through. I did a search for resources on missing persons, which I am sharing here.

Amber Alert -- Law-enforcement agencies, broadcasters, transportation agencies, and the wireless industry all work together on the AMBER Alert™ Program. This program is for disseminating information about missing persons aged 17 years or younger. The AMBER Alert program activates an urgent bulletin in serious child-abduction cases. The goal of an AMBER Alert is to instantly spread the world about a child's disappearance to assist in the search for and the safe recovery of the child.

Each AMBER plan is based on clearly defined activation criteria to provide a uniform network of plans across the country, and to minimize potentially deadly delays because of confusion among varying jurisdictions. In order for an AMBER Alert to go out:

• There must be a reasonable belief by law enforcement that an abduction has occurred.
• The law enforcement agency believes that the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death.
• There is enough descriptive information about the victim and the abduction for law enforcement to issue an AMBER Alert to assist in the recovery of the child.
• The abduction is of a child aged 17 years or younger.
• The child’s name and other critical data elements, including the Child Abduction flag, have been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system.

Tips for Preparing for Sickness

This has been a bad winter for sickness. Colds, flu, stomach bugs, and strep. You name an illness and you probably know someone who has had it. With the weather as cold as it is, there is barely enough time to recover from one illness before another sickness strikes.

You might have had a flu shot. You might be a germ freak who sprays Lysol all the time. Or you may have done nothing to ward of the winter sickness. When sickness strikes, there is little you can do except ride it out. But you can do a little prep work ahead of time.

• Keep a well-stocked medicine cabinet. Stock up on tissues.
• If you have a regular prescription, keep track of how much you have left so you can renew.
• Whether you have colds and flu or vomiting and diarrhea running (pun intended!) through your home, you will need to keep the rest of your family healthy.
• So keep a supply of Lysol sprays, hand sanitizer, antibacterial soap, and paper towels.
• Keep on top of the laundry. You don’t have to launder every last sock, but try to keep a clean set of sheets for every family member, and of course towels so that if you need to strip a bed you’ll have clean sheets.
• For young kids, consider buying waterproof mattress pads. Primarily used for bed wetting, waterproof mattress pads come in handy in cases of vomiting and diarrhea.

And before I forget...create a first aid kit:

• Tylenol and Advil for fevers, aches, and pains
• Over-the-counter allergy medications
• Bandaids, Neosporin, and Bactine for cuts and scrapes
• Pepto Bismol for tummy troubles.
• Rolaids for gassy symptoms
• Boatloads of cough and cold medicines.

5 Tips for Preparing for Sickness

This has been a bad winter for sickness. Colds, flu, stomach bugs, and strep. You name an illness and you probably know someone who has had it. With the weather as cold as it is, there is barely enough time to recover from one illness before another sickness strikes.

You might have had a flu shot. You might be a germ freak who sprays Lysol all the time. Or you may have done nothing to ward of the winter sickness. When sickness strikes, there is little you can do except ride it out. But you can do a little prep work ahead of time.

Chicken Soup

Stock up on comfort foods. You know the old expression "Feed a cold, starve a fever." Keep a stash of soft, easy-to-digest foods...soup, apple sauce, yogurt, etc.

Flat soda

The photo may show a Diet Coke...but keep ginger ale, Gatorade, sports drinks on hand to replenish your system when you have a stomach bug/virus.

Cold and cough medicines

Keep a well-stocked medicine cabinet...Nyquil, Dayquil, and other cold and flu medicines. Stock up on adult AND child medications. Read labels carefully as some medications are not suitable for children.

First aid items

You'll need Bandaids, Neosporin, and Bactine for cuts and scrapes. When accessing an injury, look at amount of blood and depth of cut to determine whether you need to go to the ER.

Tummy troubles

Upset stomach. Gassy-ness. Heartburn. Indigestion. You may have these symptoms on a regular basis or every so often. Keep Rolaids, Pepto Bismol, and other products on hand as the need arises.

Sprains and injuries

Falling down stairs. Tripping over the dog. Banging your funny bone. Ow. Try a pain-free wrap to keep the injury in place. If pain persists, consult a physician.

Sniff, Sniff, Achoo!

Picture this...you are lying in your sickbed, you need a tissue, but alas you have no tissues at hand. Stock up on tissues for runny noses, allergies, coughs, and colds. Achoo!

It rubs lotion on its self...

Winter wreaks havoc on your skin. From the cold outside to the dryness inside your home, your skin will be a hot mess by spring. Keep lotions on hand to replenish dry and chapped skin.

Parenting Tips: Five Strategies for Taming the Homework Beast

Are you having the homework issues night after night? I have the hardest time getting my kids started on homework. I have strategies that work some evenings but not others. I have to be flexible…roll with it…go with the flow…but ultimately the goal is for homework to be done in a timely fashion.

Here are my strategies for successful homework time:

Let your child blow off some steam before homework…run around outside…shoot baskets. 

I have my children play outside for at least 30 minutes. Younger kids will want to stay out for longer. Set a time limit. Let your child know that when that time is up that he will need to go inside to start homework.

Set up a homework area.

One of mine likes to lie on the family room floor, which leads to sloppy work. So I have found that sitting at the kitchen or dining room table works better than lying on the floor!

Encourage your child to put completed assignments back in his backpack.

While your child is doing homework, you will have a chance to look through the backpack for paperwork or permission slips. Have your child get in the habit of placing all notes, permissions slips, and graded papers in a folder, so that you don't have to dig to the depths of the backpack.

Stay close to your child so that you can answer questions.

Depending on the age of the child, stay close. You will need to answer questions, read assignments, etc., so it helps to be next to your child. With my K-2nd graders, I sat at the table while they worked. I found that homework got completed quicker if I was close at hand. For my 3rd-5th graders, I stay in the same room, but try not to hover. For middle schoolers, let them work in their bedrooms. My oldest liked to work in her bedrooms as she was distracted by her younger siblings. My high schoolers will study and do homework in their bedrooms.

Establish the consequences for not doing homework.

If you have a child who flat out refuses to do homework, a good tactic is to let them not do an assignment one night. Tell them that it is their choice not to do their homework. Remind them that you previously “forced” them to do the assignment and now you are no longer going to force them. Remind your child that their may be consequences at school for not doing homework. This tactic works for 3rd graders and up. Fortunately, I’ve only had to do this once. The very thought of having to explain to a teacher why they didn’t do their homework was enough to stop the behavior.