Health Help: Ultimate Guide to Swimming Safety

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While nothing beats a fun day at the water, it can be a nerve-wracking time for mommas!

Did you know drowning rates are highest for children ages 1 to 4 and the second most common age group at risk to die from drowning is 5 to 9?

Those are pretty terrifying statistics for moms like you and I. With the Ozark weather warming up and the beautiful swimming options we have right here in SWMO, moms like you and I are searching for information about how to keep our kiddos safe while they swim.

The moms at momlovesbest.com have compiled a complete guide to swimming safety and there is some great info you may want to check out. Click here to view the Ultimate Guide to Swimming Safety for Kids.

Have fun out there mommas, and stay safe!

 

 

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month – Protect your skin

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By Kelli Artherton

The warm weather is finally here and I think it’s actually here to stay. BBQ and pool season is just about to kick off and that means more sun exposure to our skin.

May is actually skin cancer awareness month.  With over 5 million cases diagnosed in the United States each year, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Fortunately, skin cancer is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer. About 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers and 85 percent of melanoma cases are associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. By raising awareness of the dangers of unprotected exposure and encouraging sun-safe habits, we can change behaviors and save lives.

It’s so important that we all protect our skin. No matter what age you are, if you aren’t wearing a daily sunscreen, you need to start today. (If you need a good sunscreen click here to see the one I use daily for my face) Our skin is such a crucial part of our health. If you are a young momma you need to lather your babies up with sunscreen every time they are outside.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane for a minute. I know we have all been young and naive, where we wanted a tan and we would do anything to get one. We would lay outside until we had tan lines, wouldn’t listen to our mommas telling us to put sunscreen on, because let’s face it, we tan better without it, right? Ha! Wrong answer. I learned this the hard way. I was this redheaded, 12 year old, freckly little girl telling my momma this line all to many times. I wanted a tan and I was going to lay out all day. (Click here to read my story, Dear 12 year old me.)

This is what malignant melanoma looks like.

Well, fast forward to my mid twenties, I went into to a doctors appointment for a check up. The doctor had noticed all of my freckles and moles and asked me if I had ever had my moles checked out. I never had, never thought any of my moles looked strange so didn’t see the need for it. The doctor then asked me if any of my moles had changed over the years. I mentioned that one of my moles had actually grown a little bit, but never thought anything of it. The doctor said we should probably remove that mole just to be safe, I’m sure it’s absolutely nothing.

A week passed by and I get the call I wasn’t expecting. A voice on the phone tells me “you have the first stage of malignant melanoma.” What? Are you sure? I thought I had nothing to worry about. Wow, ok, now what?

I tell you my story to encourage you to protect your skin. The sun is good for our health, but we have to be careful in the sun. Have fun outside, but protect that precious skin of yours. I now get checked every six months for skin cancer, and have had over 15 moles removed. I ended up with another malignant melanoma mole a few years after my first one, and the doctor said to not be suprised if I have more in the future. 🙁

Skin cancer is no joke, and malignant melanoma is the fastest growing skin cancer and can also be deadly. If you don’t catch it fast enough in can be in your blood stream very quickly. Please let my story and other stories of your friends and family make you think twice about stepping out into the sun unprotected.

Be safe out there this summer mommas!!

Texting and Driving: our final plea

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Today we are wrapping up our three part series, sponsored by Les Jacobs Ford, on the dangers of texting and driving. We hope the information has caught your attention like it has ours! Click here and here to read our previous two post full of life saving information.

We all know that texting and driving is bad, but why do we keep doing it?

  • 43% of drivers say they want to connect with friends, family and work
  • 30% say they text and drive out of habit (that’s me!)
  • 28% say they’re afraid of missing something important
  • 27% say they felt others expected them to answer their phones right away

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, during any point of the day, 11 percent of drivers are talking on their cell phones. The United States Department of Transportation notes that cell phones are involved in 1.6 million auto crashes each year that cause a half million injuries and take 6,000 lives.

This habit is so deadly, that 45 states have banned texting and driving all together. Get caught texting and driving? The median fine for texting and driving for your first offense is $100.

Thank you to our sponsors at Les Jacobs Ford for pulling together this information for us. It may just save a life and for that–we say thank you!

Texting & Driving: An Important Reminder

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As promised, this month we are focusing on the dangers of texting and driving. If you are like us, maybe you have made this mistake, but have decided enough is enough and in 2018 we are pledging to put down the phone while driving.

We hope that you read our initial conversation on this topic last week (click here to read last weeks post). The conversation continues this week as we talk about the dangers of distracted driving.

Thank you to our sponsors at Les Jacobs Ford for pulling together this information for us. It may just save a life and for that–we say thank you!

In a recent survey, 98% of drivers acknowledge that texting and driving is dangerous, however, 74% admit to engaging in a text-related activity while driving.

Smart phones aren’t the only distraction. Daydreaming causes 62% of distracted driving accidents. Eating, reading, and applying makeup increases the likelihood of a crash 2-3 times.

Kids cause parents to take their eyes off the road for an average of 3 minutes and 22 seconds during a 16-minute car ride–or 21% of total driving time.

Don’t have kids? 65% of dog owners admit they’ve been distracted while driving with their pet in the car.

In a recent study, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute  installed cameras on dashboards inside truck cabs. From the video footage, on average it took five seconds with their eyes off the road when driver’s experienced distractions. The distance covered in five seconds of driving at 55 mph is equivalent to the length of a football field.

We are guilty of distracted driving and I am sure many of you are as well.

We invite to join us as we think about these startling statistics this month as we are behind the wheel. Is reaching back to hand my child yet another snack really worth the risk? Probably not, but we do it all the time. The good news? It isn’t too late to do better in 2018!

Shocking Statistics That Will Make You Think Twice About Grabbing Your Phone

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Well, here we are. February. How are those New Year resolutions coming along, mommas?

While I have made improvements on nixing my bad habit, I haven’t completely ended it, just yet. What is the bad habit I am referring to? Texting and driving.

Eeeek. I know. It is not just a bad habit, it can be deadly and I have no room for that in my life. Especially with three little sets of eyeballs watching me from the back seat.

We recently teamed up with our sponsors at Les Jacobs Ford and they quickly reminded me how dangerous this habit is. They really care for us and want to keep us safe as we are out and about. Whether you are running to soccer practice or driving across the country, there is no room for texting and driving.

The numbers illustrating the dangers of cell phone use while driving are downright startling. In fact, at any given time throughout the day, approximately 660,000 drivers are attempting to use their phones while behind the wheel of an automobile. And I am guilty as charged.

Smartphones have made it easy for us to stay connected at all times. But that can pose serious safety risks if someone decides to check his or her text messages, emails, phone calls, or any other mobile applications while driving. Did you know?

  • The National Safety Council reports that cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes each year.
  • Nearly 330,000 injuries occur each year from accidents caused by texting while driving.
  • 1 out of every 4 car accidents in the United States is caused by texting and driving.
  • Texting while driving is 6x more likely to cause an accident than driving drunk.
  • Answering a text takes away your attention for about five seconds. Traveling at 55 mph, that’s enough time to travel the length of a football field.
  • Texting while driving causes a 400% increase in time spent with eyes off the road.
  • Of all cell phone related tasks, texting is by far the most dangerous activity.
  • 94% of drivers support a ban on texting while driving.
  • 74% of drivers support a ban on hand-held cell phone use.

Remember those three little sets of eyeballs I referred to earlier that are always watching me? Well, in the blink of an eye, they will be teen drivers and the last thing I want them to do is text and drive!

A teen driver with only one additional passenger doubles the risk of getting into a fatal car accident. With two or more passengers, they are 5x as likely. Taking your eyes or mind off the road even for a moment can have disastrous consequences. Don’t risk it. Practice safe driving whenever you’re behind the wheel.

  • 11 teens die every day as a result of texting while driving.
  • According to a AAA poll, 94% of teen drivers acknowledge the dangers of texting and driving, but 35% admitted to doing it anyway.
  • 21% of teen drivers involved in fatal accidents were distracted by their cell phones.
  • Teen drivers are 4x more likely than adults to get into car crashes or near-crashes when talking or texting on a cell phone.

Individuals (including teens and you and I!) who drive while sending or reading text messages are 23 times more likely to be involved in a car crash than other drivers. A crash typically happens within an average of three seconds after a driver is distracted.

This month, we will have a weekly reminder about the dangers of texting and driving. We hope that you will join us as we strive to kick this bad habit to the curb in our own lives.

Cell phone distraction rates are alarmingly high. We hope with a little information, you’ll make the right decision when you’re on the road.