Batten down the hatches! For those of us in Virginia it has been one drama filled week dealing with the wrath of Mother Nature. After two violent storms, one earthquake and its countless aftershocks we now get to look forward to a weekend with Hurricane Irene. Oh, goody!

In September 2003 when Hurricane Isabel came rocking through I was actually here by myself with 3 kids – ages 7, 5 and 2 (hubs was overseas) and was really not sure what we were in for. We live inland so I thought, how bad could it really be? Bad. Scary and bad. The hurricane came through over night and when we finally saw sunshine the next morning the yard was littered with debris and we had no power. Since we are on a well, that meant no water either. We ended up being without power for 7 days and while we had a generator I could run, we still ended up losing most of what was in the fridge and freezer. Not a fun week.

Faced with a similar scenario coming in this weekend, I have already done the cursory bread, milk and toilet paper stock up run. We have plenty of batteries. I will charge every laptop, iPod and cell phone while we do have power. I will make a batch of muffins and be sure I have a few no-cook meals planned. The cars have full tanks of gas, I got cash and all loose objects in the yard have been put in the garage. The one thing I wish I would have done in 2003 was fill up every bathtub and sink with water ahead of time.  Without power and water, having one sink already full and designated as the hand washing station is important. Also, you can’t flush your toilets without the well to refill them – a bucket and a bathtub of water at least gives you a few extra flushes for emergencies!

If you are not already prepared or you are afraid you have missed something, you might want to take a look at some of these resources:

• FEMA’s Emergency Kit and Checklist
• National Hurricane Center’s Disaster Supply List
• Hurricane Safety Checklist from the Red Cross

Stay safe this weekend and here’s hoping that Hurricane Irene is not as bad as they are predicting she will be.

Summer makes its official debut for 2011 this weekend, which typically means cookouts, family gatherings, swimming pools are open and school is just about out.

Keep your family safe this summer by reviewing some basic safety tips:

• Summer Swim Safety Tips
• 10 Playground Safety Reminders
• American Academy of Pediatrics Summer Safety Tips for Kids
• Barbecue Safety
• Safety Tips for Boaters, Waterskiiers and other water sports
• Supernanny’s Summer Camp Safety

Last but not least, always keep a family safety kit on hand. Emergency kits are affordable and customizable. Stay Safe!

It is officially tick season in our area – typically considered to be April to September in most of the south eastern United States. In the past two weeks my son has found two ticks on himself and we have removed countless ticks from the cat (which tells me we need to switch flea/tick medicine).

The first tick we found on the back of my son’s knee (see picture to right). It was so tiny but it had obviously been there a day or so because of the redness around the tick. Usually when we find a tick we just remove it with tweezers, apply anti-biotic cream and a bandage, and observe it for a few days. Unfortunately with this one, the tick was so tiny and so well embedded, I had no choice but to take my son to the doctor and have the doctor remove it and then put him on a round of anti-biotics – just in case.

What Are Ticks?

Ticks - photo from NIH.gov via Medline Plus

Ticks are small blood sucking insects – actually classified like spiders – that crawl and attach themselves to animals and humans to feed. They are notorious for transferring diseases from animals to humans and are found in tall grassy or deep forested areas.

How to Prevent Tick Bites

The best ways to prevent tick bites in the first place are to wear long pants and long sleeved clothing when hiking through the woods, wear insect repellent that contains DEET, and always inspect your body – arms, legs, torso – for ticks when coming in from the woods.

What to Do If You Find a Tick

If the tick has not gotten all comfy on your body yet, they can be fairly easy to remove with a pair of tweezers. Make sure you get as close to the tick’s head as possible before pulling it out – you don’t want to leave part of the tick in the skin. Next wash the area with soap, apply an anti-biotic cream and a bandage. Observe the area for signs of redness and if the person affected is not feeling well, go to the doctor and have it checked.

Some people recommend putting the removed tick in a ziploc baggie and saving it in the freezer, just in case the person affected gets ill, so doctor’s can test the tick for Lyme Disease and other diseases. Never try to burn off a tick or smother it in any chemical substance.

If the tick looks to have been embedded for more than 24 hours, the area around the tick bite is red, or the tick is too small to easily remove – GO TO THE DOCTOR’S office right away. This is definitely one situation where you are better off to be safe than sorry! We have had friends get very ill from tick bites – it’s just not worth the risk.

For more information on ticks, the diseases they carry and how to deal with them safely, check out:

• Medicine.net
• Ticks and Tick Borne Diseases – very informative presentation by the Virginia Department of Health
• Be wary of the bloodsuckers as tick season arrives from Roanoke.com

Do you have kids? Chances are if you are reading my site you do and chances are, your kids are online – networking with their friends and people with the same interests as they have. And chances are, you have gone over the rules of being online with your kids already, but a good friend of mine published an article today that is so powerful that I consider it a MUST READ.

Go read: Getting Blunt – 16 Things Kids Should Know About Social Networking

And then let me know what you think. I know that all three of my kids will be reading this tonight as part of their homework.

Do you check your kids’ text messages and monitor what they do online? If not, you should. My kids know I check on them. 99% of the time I find myself yawning at the level of ho-hum that I find. That’s good. I let them know that they are making good decisions and that by continuing to make good decisions helps build my trust.

I did check on one of the “friends” my son had friended on Facebook a few weeks ago. It was a school mate and she had listed as her interests – partying and drinking. Really? That’s the best you can do? Anyhow, I asked my son if he knew who she was and if he could pick her out in a crowd. He said she was a girl from school but he didn’t really know her. When I pointed out her interests he quickly said, “I’m in the middle of a game, can you just log into my account and delete her?” Good choice. At which point we revisited the rules of Facebook and went on with our day.

Technology is a wonderful tool and a great way to stay connected, but it is also a tool that we have to regulate, too! Get involved and teach your kids how to stay safe online!

Happy Halloween! Be sure to stay safe this evening when all the Trick-or-Treaters are out:

• Wear something reflective and take flashlights
• Be aware of your surroundings
• Make sure costumes do not impede vision or drag on the ground and become tripping hazards
• Toss any candy that is opened or just doesn’t look right
• And don’t talk on the phone or text while driving

If you are looking for creative ways to use up all that extra Halloween candy, I suggest putting it in the freezer and using it for cookie and ice cream add-ins through out the year or make some yummy Halloween candy bark and give it away as gifts.

Photo: from an email my husband forwarded to me

Technology is certainly changing the way we live our lives – from the way we communicate to the tools we use to keep our families safe. One of the Raising a Healthy Family partner’s, SecuraTrac wants to help you get your kids back to school safely and has put together some very timely safety tips. They have also shared an exclusive coupon with us – HEALTHYFAMILY20 is good for 10% off through September 1, 2010.

Every 40 seconds someone’s son or daughter is reported missing, totaling over 800,000 missing children in the United States each year. Whether you are in a crowded shopping mall, amusement park or even a neighborhood park, as a parent, turning around and not seeing your child induces instant panic and a sinking feeling in your stomach.

There are a few steps parents can take to help shorten the time it takes to locate their child should he or she ever go missing. The first step is to remain as calm as possible and other tips that can help include:

• Teach your children to look for other moms or dads to ask for help if they ever get separated from you.
• Practice memorizing last name, address, home phone and cell phone numbers with your children by turning them into a rhyme or pneumonic device so the child can recall it when they are scared.
• Check around your home in places that would be easy to hide or places where young children might get trapped.
• Keep a current photograph on hand.
• Notify local law enforcement and the media and report where they were last seen, what they were wearing and other key pieces of identifying information.
• Contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) on their toll-free telephone number: 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
• Consider renting or purchasing a GPS locator for your child that can notify you if you child leaves home and allows them to send you an SOS message if they are in danger.

For more information on protecting your children and securing your own peace of mind please visit www.securatrac.com.

For all the reasons we love technology, the Internet and social networking there are just as many reasons not to like it – especially when it comes to our kids!  Not only are kids more comfortable than most of their parents when it comes to using the web, many of them know more than their parents about settings, the popular sites and how to use them. So, as a parent what are you to do to ensure that while your kids are online that they are safe?

EDUCATION!

Yep, one word. Education.

Educate yourself and educate your kids. Set guidelines, expectations, boundaries and be prepared to monitor them. Its not a matter of privacy (as in being an invasion of theirs) – its a matter of doing your job as a parent.

Read Deb Ng’s homerun post: Getting Blunt – 16 Things Kids Should Know About Social Networking first! It is by far the best article to date for kids about online safety.

iTwixie.com, my tween daughter’s new favorite site has a great article on keeping kids safe online, too, but with a twist. We know kids are more likely to take risks when in the presence of their friends – like at a slumber party. Their article gives girls tips and solid advice on staying safe while surfing with their friends. (Slumber-ific Sleepovers: How 2 Keep U & UR BFF Safe & Having Fun)

SafeKids.com is another source of good online safety information. Not only do they have a quiz for pre-teens on Internet safety, they also have contracts you can print out that help make sure kids and grown ups are aware of the house rules, safety guidelines and expectations for online use.

Two more sites I like include Don’t Believe the Type and ConnectSafely.org.

The Internet and Social Networking is here to stay. If used responsibly it can be a great way to stay in touch with family, friends, connect with people who share your same interests, and bring the world closer together. And a little bit of education can go a long way.

When we were kids we didn’t have cell phones – I wonder how we survived (LOL)? Today’s kids, however, don’t know life without cellphones, texting and the constant communication that comes with it. And since today I officially became the parent of a TEENAGER (yikes!) with a growing social circle, the topic of kids and cell phones is one I deal with daily.

Like all technology, the benefits and convenience also come with new challenges and potential for misuse. Teaching kids how to be safe and responsible with cell phones and other technology is imperative. For example – do you monitor your kids’ phone usage? Do you have specific family rules in place as to when and to whom your kids can talk to?

The team at CellPhones.org has put together one of the best guides for keeping kids safe on their cell phones that I have read yet!

The basics include:

• Be Aware of Surroundings
• Parental Safety Controls
• Limit Internet Access
• Never Talk to Strangers (pertains to phone usage too!)
• Discuss Sexting
• and 6 more important reminders

If you have kids who have cell phones, take a few minutes NOW and go read the entire article on kids and cell phone safety now – it goes beyond common sense and it what I consider a Must-Read!

(image purchased via iStockPhoto)

Memorial Day weekend is the traditional gateway to summer in the United States and is usually marked by picnics, family get togethers, and the opening of swimming pools.

Swimming is a healthy and fun activity for everyone, but it is also an activity that needs to be closely monitored. Did you know?

• Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children between the age of one and 14. (Centers for Disease Control, 2003)
• Nine people drown in the United States every day. (CDC)
• Two-thirds of all drownings occur between May and August. (Orange County California Fire Authority)
• Approximately 75% of child drownings occur because of a lapse of adult supervision of less than five minutes.

So how do you keep your family safe in and around the pool this summer? Ambajam has a great list of 10 tips for swimming pool safety that include:

10 Tips to Swimming Pool Safety

• If your child is missing, check the pool first.  If the unthinkable has happened every second counts.
• If you’re little one already knows how to swim they should still always be supervised.  Knowing how to swim doesn’t prevent accidents from happening.
• Pool Alarms. These can be used as an added safety feature and they are made for doors and for underwater.
• Are there empty homes on your street?  Do they have swimming pools?  This can be very dangerous even if the pool is empty.  If you aren’t sure if there is a pool, try using Google maps (satellite view) to check out your neighborhood.  An empty home with a pool can be a hazard that is easily prevented by a phone call to the owner or real estate agent.  Simply ask them to please place a lock on the side gate to prevent the possibility of a child wandering back there.
• Long hair and limbs can get caught in pool drains creating a risk for your young swimmers.  Make sure that no pool drains are broken or missing.  Even better, if your child has long hair, pin it up to prevent accidental suction.  Know where your circuit breaker is for the pool/spa and label it clearly in the event it needs to be shut off during an emergency.
• Have your child wear an approved safety device at all times while you are around the pool.  Arm floaties can easily slip off when a child jumps in.  A flotation device that is snug and goes around the torso is a better option.
• Identify other areas besides pools that pose a threat.  Things like small wading pools or plastic tubs can be enough to compromise the safety of your child.
• If you have a play date, ask if the child knows how to swim.  If the answer is no, take extra precaution to lock all doors leading to the pool.  If you are taking your child to a play date ask if there is a pool.
• If you are going to a park, find out if there is a pool and know where it is.  Make sure that there isn’t a way that your child can get in to the area.
• Pool fences should go around the entire pool and be at least 4 feet tall.  There should be a secure latch and/or lock if your child can reach the opening.

Check out the rest of her article for more information and additional safety resources.

Besides safety tips and precautions you need to take when in the neighborhood of a pool, and the numerous devices you can use to assist you and your family with the supervision and monitoring your children, pool alarms are definitely one of the best assets for your home, or some sort of security system. Of course to assist in preventing and reducing risk even further, consider installing security camera equipment

Enjoy your weekend and stay safe!

Each year, more than 200,000 kids are treated in hospital ERs for playground-related injuries. In the past six months I have heard first hand of two separate incidents where kids have fallen off the swings at the playground and have sustained significant head injuries. In neither case was the child doing anything wild and crazy, they just lost their balance.

As the days get warmer and the kids spend more time on the playground, keep the following safety tips in mind (yes, I know a lot of this is common sense):

1. Start with the sunscreen! Whether it is a sunny day or a cloudy one, protect your child’s skin with sunscreen. We like California Baby’s SPF 30+ Sunscreen: Everyday/Year-Round 2.9oz
2. Make sure your children are dressed in the appropriate clothes. Avoid hooded shirts/jackets that could get caught on corners – same goes for drawstrings. Wear closed toe shoes with non-slip soles.
3. The best surfaces for playgrounds are made of wood chips, mulch, smooth pea gravel, and shredded rubber.
4. Look for swings with seats made of plastic or rubber, not metal or wood.
5. Look for age appropriate activities/equipment and encourage children to play within their comfort zone.
6. Remind children to go down slides one at a time, on their bottoms, and feet first. Guard rails are for their protection, not for climbing on.
7. Check for hot surfaces on playground equipment (like slides, swings, and climbing structures) before allowing children to play on it.
8. Make sure there are no obvious hazards around the playground, such as broken glass, metal, tree roots, and such.
9. Be careful walking around swings, the base of the slides, under monkey bars, and around equipment in general.
10. Supervise children at all times! Remind them not to push, shove or crowd others while on the equipment.

These safety tips are not just for public playgrounds, but are essential for your backyard playground as well. For additional playground safety guidelines and tips, please visit the following sites:

• KidsHealth.org – Playground Safety
• National Center for Injury Prevention’s extensive list for Playground Safety