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General Safety Issues

EDUCATION, NOT INTOXICATION: DANGERS OF BINGE DRINKING IN COLLEGE (GUEST POST)

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Education Not Intoxication: Dangers Of Binge Drinking In College

The college years are enjoyable for all students who are deciding what they want to pursue as a profession. It is the first taste of true freedom for many teenagers and a true test of time management skills and direction. It is easy for a college student to be influenced by other students who may or may not be on a successful academic or professional path. Using alcohol is almost considered a rite of passage for the typical college student, but binge drinking can become a problem faster than the untrained drinker can realize.

1. What Is Binge Drinking

Rehabilitation professionals normally claim that anyone consuming over three drinks in an evening are binge drinkers. That threshold may not be reasonable to the average person. The average human can filter one ounce of alcohol per hour through their body, so it generally takes two drinks per hour to initiate intoxication. Even students who are drinking in this pattern are clearly at risk for developing long-term alcohol abuse problems. Serious binge drinking generally carries a component of drinking as a priority.

2. Avoiding Drinking Games

The popularity of drinking games has been a major contributor to collegiate binge drinking behavior. Alcohol consumption as a competitive sport is never a good idea. Novice drinkers do not have the tolerance that regular drinkers have built over time; therefore, it is just not a smart practice. Peer pressure can be a difficult situation to manage, but the best decision is always drink moderately or not at all if under the legal drinking age. This is especially true in public or strange locations because out-of-control situations happen quickly.

3. Educational Issues

Traditional college students are young and normally have the physical ability to recover quickly from a night of binge drinking.  However, this can easily become a daily habit which would then affect focus, organizational skills, and priorities. Class attendance may plummet along with grades. The effects could possibly be academic probation, the loss of a scholarship, and ultimately a dismissal from school altogether.

4. Legal Issues

The most obvious legal danger for a drinking college student is possession of alcohol. All states require individuals to be twenty-one years of age to purchase or possess alcohol. Public intoxication is also an illegal possession charge, so fines can be increased and jail time may be the consequence especially if caught driving under the influence. This could cause a student to miss a number of days from classes. It will create a time consuming battle with their perspective state’s DMV which will hinder driving privileges and cause a number of days missed to attend to the matter. Also, if attending college in Virginia, the attorneys’ at the Wilson Law Firm, would suggest that the defendant should pre-enroll in the 20-hour program, Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP), to show initiative to the court. This, too, would take time from classes and studying.

5. Medical Issues

The short-term effects of drinking are blackouts, promiscuity, and possibly violence. The long-term effects this process can have on the body are numerous. It is particularly true of liquor. Long-term binge drinking can create medical problems with all organs and can eventually cause death from alcohol poisoning. It is proven that brain damage can occur from alcohol abuse. It can hinder the ability to learn and to hold on to knowledge. Additionally, the possibility of a serious accident of any kind is much greater when an individual is intoxicated. Many individuals have suffered a lifetime over accidents that occurred while they were intoxicated.

College is an exciting time for the students and one of concern for parents in hopes that they prepared their son/daughter for this day of autonomy with high hopes for higher learning, great memories, and the start of a successful life. The pressures to make adult decisions can lead a student to make the decision to drink alcohol. This could lead to binge drinking which almost always results in intoxication beyond legal limits. This gives way to situations that could rapidly escalate out of control. There are just too many dangers that can stem from this practice.

Kelly Dennie is a mother of a rising college freshman who is filled with excitement and concern. The attorneys’ at the Wilson Law Firm has a checklist for defendants arrested for DUI: document the situation to the best of their ability, consult with a lawyer, pre-enroll in VASAP, obtain a copy of their driving record, and gather commendations in preparation for their defense. This situation may seem frightening but, the first step in gaining control is to understand the charges, process, penalties, and to hire an experienced lawyer.

General Safety Issues

LIFE AFTER THE BURN (GUEST POST)

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We recently received an email regarding an article posted on our website – “National Burn Awareness Week”, pointing out that this  issue  should be addressed every day, not just one week per year.  We are pleased to present this informative article that provides helpful insight that we all can help and show our concern to burn victims.

Console & Hollawell Blog

Life After The Burn

Some accident victims go home in a few days, maybe even a few hours. Years down the road, only a small, pale scar reminds them of the ordeal. For the really lucky ones, there’s no scar at all. While there was certainly pain and fear, the emotions are temporary and life doesn’t really change.

Many burn victims are not so lucky. Wearing the scars day in and day out, they must learn to live with their new bodies and the social pressures this body implies. Those who have been severely burned can face prejudice and rejection when they need support the most, and these reactions are both illogical and demeaning. Personality, passions, pet peeves – everything that made these people vibrantly unique are still there, but are thrown into the shadows by damaged skin.

The sad reality is burns will continue to occur and people will continue to survive them. So what happens after the burn? We need to foster greater understanding of burn recovery and how we, as family and friends, can help survivors once again have a thriving life.

Burns are a global public health problem, accounting for an estimated 195,000 deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In honor of those who have passed, we must combat the stigma carried by those who live. Photo Credit: Flickr.

Combating Human Nature

Whether we like to admit it or not, most of us judge people based on their appearance, if only for a second. Those judgments may be proved wrong, we may regret them in time, but the fact remains that it’s human nature to make them. Our eyes assess information in a flash, before our brains have a chance to refute it. A burn victim deals with these snap judgments every single day. Any disfigurement or disability caused by their burns can prompt shame and exclusion, reports the WHO. Awareness needs to be raised about life after the burn, and how we can support these individuals rather than tearing them down with ignorance, a shocked glance, or a cruel word.

The truth is, we could all become a burn victim. It’s not a disease some of us are more likely to catch. It’s usually an accident, as unforeseen as stubbing your toe.  Suddenly the grill flares up, hair catches fire, and we are on the other side of this story. Photo Credit: Corbis Images. 

Going Home

As medicines advance, the survival rates of burn victims have improved substantially. Yet, many still remain in the hospital for months, and it can become an insulated environment with a built-in support system, according to the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors. That type of understanding and protection can be scary to leave, and going home can be like a slap in the face, when the reality of disfigurement or disability finally hits. As family and friends, your support is pivotal to easing the transition.

First, it’s critical to understand the emotional upheaval going home represents. In the hospital, burn survivors could forget about their appearance, about how their life outside would change, as they focused solely on treatment. Sitting at home on their couch, surrounded by reminders of their old life, they are forced to process the looming future. Grief, post-traumatic stress, and anger can lead to months of sleeplessness and wishing, just wishing, there was a simple solution. Of course, there isn’t. But family and friends can be a world of help.

No one would call hospitals cozy, but for many in long-term recovery they symbolize routine and stability. Out of all injury types, burns account for the greatest length of hospital stay, according to the National Library of Medicine (NLM). Photo Credit: Flickr.

Before leaving the hospital, talk about going home and any fears they have, says Phoenix. If your loved one seems to feel alone and trapped once home, gently encourage them to start doing their usual activities. The threat of staring eyes keeps many burn survivors inside, so resources such as Phoenix urge families to talk about staring and how most people are simply curious. A burn survivor will draw attention, you can’t change that, but helping them stand up to stares with confidence lets them discover a stranger cannot dictate their happiness or self-worth.

Burns are a common and potentially devastating cause of injury in childhood, third to motor vehicle accidents and drowning, according to NLM.  Photo Credit: Flickr.

Help Them Tell Their Story

They may need to tell their story time and again as they readjust to their world, notes Phoenix. Like many who journal or blog understand, the simple act of putting pain into words is healing. Meeting other survivors and being able to talk about the ordeal provides emotional relief, a much-needed community, and even a sense of purpose if they become involved in advancing the group’s efforts.

Some burn survivors attending these conferences were injured as infants, while some are just months into their recovery. Photo Credit: Flickr.

If someone close to you has been burned, help them seek out resources. Walking into a room with the expectation of sharing their story can be intimidating, but time and again it’s proven to be extremely rewarding.

This type of organized social interaction can help them overcome their fear of reaction, a hurdle they must jump to thrive in the world. There are conferences, organizations, centers, camps, and societies all developed to unite burn survivors and encourage them to find comfort in one another. Don’t let the extent or type of the burn dictate whether they seek out support. There is no “burned enough” requirement for these groups. Additionally, don’t let them compare themselves to others and wonder if they should be there – for once, the physical remnant of the accident is of no concern, it’s all about how they feel.

The Lost Childhood

The American Burn Association notes that children are especially vulnerable to being burned, and the recovery process for those who were burned at a young age can be particularly arduous, both physically and emotionally. As a parent, I know when our children suffer we want to absorb all their pain and carry the burden ourselves, especially if we feel guilty for the accident. What parents need to know is that focusing on the past keeps their children from a healthy future. Don’t let these pangs of regret keep you from talking about the accident with your child when they’re ready. They can face prejudice from many sides – strangers, friends, classmates – so what your child needs from you is unconditional love and support, and the knowledge that the lines of communication are open.

A scarred hand peeping out from his sweatshirt is enough to make kids ridicule him. For children like him, emotional and physical damage runs deep. Photo Credit: Flickr.

For a scarred child, the idea of going back to school can be terrifying. Friends may disappear when the child can no longer play like they used to, and classmates can taunt with wounding nicknames. “Crusty crab, burnt toast, snake skin, Freddy Krueger’s daughter, mutant, scarface” – these are just a few of the cruel names that haunt burn survivors for years, reports the Huffington Post. What kind of life is that, spending the golden years of youth alone in their bedroom with insults ringing in their ears? Already distraught by what they see in the mirror, such reactions only solidify unjustified shame. These challenges can follow them into adulthood, and maybe it’s not until years later that they even meet another burn survivor and begin to feel their attitude change as they realize others are just as traumatized.

So, burn foundations nationwide have created school reentry programs that aim to prepare and inform teachers and peers. As your child talks about their accident they can feel empowered and independent, and everyone can become more comfortable with the injury.

Toward the same purpose, teen burn survivors can attend burn camps. Teenagers rely heavily upon their peers for self-validation, so being supported by other young adults can help them deal with the emotional scars of excruciating staring and teasing.

Don’t let 20 years go by before your child gets a chance to reach a turning point, and truly cope with their accident. Talk about it now.

Burns are recognized as among the most painful and devastating injuries a person can survive. To heal, they need to address the trauma beneath the scars. Photo Credit: Corbis Images.

From Victim To Survivor

With survival comes a need for support and information. Simply knowing they are not alone and there are people who care makes a difference, and makes their injuries less of a burden.

What must be remembered, amidst certain emotional exhaustion, is a survivor’s adaptation to their new life is heavily dependent upon the love and support you offer. Never let them give up hope.

Increasing the knowledge of burn recovery helps us better empower our loved ones, supporting their renewal and return to society. Listen to their story, help them find resources, and allow them to grieve for as long as they need. Voicing grief allows them to move beyond their losses and newly define themselves. A burn accident can be a double-edged sword, feeding mental devastation and physical disfigurement, but also becoming a unique time of rebirth for many. In a way one doesn’t expect, it becomes an opportunity to start over.

General Safety Issues

TEN COMMON REASONS WHY SIBLINGS FIGHT (GUEST POST)

Ten Common Reasons Why Teen Siblings Fight

by Meghan Walker of babysitting.net

eNannySource has been helping families find quality caregivers for over 15 years. They have thousands of jobs and active caregivers daily. In addition they offer the most thorough background checks in the industry. 

If you have teenagers, then you know that there are a lot of ups and downs with raising them.  They are pushing the boundaries and getting ready to leave the nest.  They are often rebellious and will fight with you and their siblings over the silliest of things.  But in a time when you think that your teenagers should be getting closer, why do they still have such big fights?  Check out 10 common reasons why teen siblings fight.

  1. Inequality: Often sibling fights start because one sibling doesn’t feel they are being treated fairly by the parents.  The oldest usually gets more privileges and can stay out later than the younger.  Maybe the oldest is involved in sports while the youngest isn’t so they feel like the world revolves around the schedule of the older child.
  2. Jealousy: One sibling might be jealous of what the other sibling has.  Maybe one teen has a phone and the other doesn’t have one yet.  Or maybe one got a car when they turned 16 and the other didn’t because the car was meant to be shared between the teens when the time came that they could both drive.
  3. Hormones: Everyone knows that teenagers have raging hormones and not just the kind that are aimed at members of the opposite sex.  Hormone imbalances can cause irritability and just make them short tempered so any perceived slight will set them off on a rant.
  4. Unmet expectations: Sometimes teens think that they have each other’s back, but then the sibling will rat the other one out if they broke the rules.  Expectations are a big deal, but are often assumed and teens need to realize that no one reads minds and that if they don’t express their expectations then theirs sibling won’t be able to meet them.
  5. Frustration: Being a teen is frustrating enough.  School is harder and more stressful.  Members of the opposite sex enter into the picture and cause their own drama.  Teens can be frustrated with each other for nothing more than eating something too loudly.  If things don’t go their way in one aspect of their world they may take it out on their sibling.
  6. Feeling of betrayal: This is more likely to happen when there are teens of the same sex in the household.  One sister dates the boy the other sister liked and now she feels betrayed by her own sister.  Or one brother gets into an argument with another guy and his brother sides with the other guy instead of him.  Siblings feel like even though they fight that they should stick together on the important stuff and that just doesn’t always happen.
  7. Competition: Who’s the biggest, skinniest, prettiest, fastest or most talented?  Siblings will compete with each other and results of the competitions most always cause a fight.  The other person had to have cheated or somehow rigged the contest.  Maybe it’s not a looks contest, but a contest to see who’s smartest?  Who gets better grades?
  8. Need for space: Teenagers seem to do a lot of deep thinking and they need their space.  When a younger teen interrupts an older sibling’s private time or invades their space there is likely going to be fireworks and not the good kind.  This also includes sitting too closely to them in the car.  The whole fight about who’s touching whom will ensue and you’ll want to pull your hair out, but keep in mind this too shall pass.  
  9. Touching or taking their stuff: Another thing that teenagers are is possessive of their things.  They don’t want their sibling to use, touch or take anything that belongs to them.  If their sister borrowed their favorite shirt without asking and now it’s dirty and they wanted to wear it to the game there’s going to be a lot of fighting.  As soon as kids get something they consider to be their own, these kinds of fights start and it doesn’t stop when they become older teenagers.  It just gets louder and the stuff gets more expensive.

Insults flying: Sometimes teenagers just fight because they can.  Perhaps they get bored and just feel like picking a fight, but it’s often just stupid stuff that they fight about.  Siblings know how to push each other’s buttons and they will do it just to get a rise out of their sibling.  There’s just something about irritating each other that’s part of the growing up process.

Hope these tips will help us all understand that kids fighting is a very common part of life. It’s up the parents to handle them in the best way possible. Cases like this may really show the need for keeping a first aid kit!