Vaccination is recommended and beneficial into the winter months – a time of the year when spreading holiday cheer with family and friends can also make it easier for disease, like influenza, to spread when we’re in close contact. Everyone six months of age and older is recommended for annual flu vaccination, and immunization is the best way to be protected and enjoy the celebration all the way into the New Year.

Learn more about influenza and the importance of annual vaccination by visiting www.facesofinfluenza.org.

About Influenza

Influenza is a serious respiratory illness. Each year in the U.S., on average, influenza and its related complications result in approximately 226,000 hospitalizations. Depending on virus severity during the influenza season, deaths can range from 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people. Combined with pneumonia, influenza is the eighth leading cause of death in the nation.

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All of the severe weather lately has been disconcerting for many of us, particularly in the aftermath of the New Year’s Eve tornadoes in the St. Louis area. We would all like to think something like that won’t happen to us. And, if it did, we would like to think we’d know what to do.

However, when the sirens go off, how many of us sit and debate whether to go to the basement? Do we have a plan in place for reconnecting if the family is not together? For working parents, what will we do if we are at work and our kids are at school or daycare? Are we familiar with the school’s emergency procedures if they had to evacuate or shelter in place? If we are affected, do we have enough emergency supplies packed and ready to go – prescriptions, sanitary supplies, insurance papers, etc.? And just where is that flashlight?

Think about those in your family that depend on you and what items they literally would need to survive. As a mother of a 6 month old, I think about how long it takes me now to pack up for a weekend trip to visit grandma and can’t imagine trying to evacuate on a moment’s notice in the event of an emergency. Diapers? Bottles? Pacifiers? Blankets? Formula and/or batteries for my breast pump? And as a breastfeeding mom, I need more water per day than the average person; have I accounted for this? This is a lot to think about now, but I know I will feel more at ease by having these essential items in my kit and ready to go.

As some of you may have heard, last week was Severe Weather Week in Missouri. Take this reminder as an opportunity to make sure your family is prepared for emergencies where you should feel the safest: your home. And we’re talking tornadoes today, but the importance of being prepared applies to all sorts of emergency situations. The earthquake in Japan no doubt has many of wondering about our own earthquake risk. For access to a host of tips and tools to help you be ready for tornadoes, earthquakes and anything else, visit AllReadySTL.com.

All Ready is a new initiative for residents of the St. Louis region to take it upon themselves to prepare today for what may happen tomorrow. It is meant to inspire all of us to take the three steps to emergency preparedness: 1) Make a plan 2) Get a kit 3) Be informed.

Visit the website and look around. You’ll find resources for every step of the process, as well as specific information for handling special circumstances, such as disabilities or pets. Plus, as an incentive to get your family prepared, the American Red Cross is offering a 15 percent discount at its online store with the code AllReady2011.

Preparing for the worst isn’t something most of us like to think about. But preparing for the worst is the way we can protect our family the best.

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Since its inception, the AMBER Alert program has led to the safe recovery of more than 500 children, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Statistics show that the first three hours following abduction are the most critical to the search. In 2005, the Wireless AMBER Alerts Initiative enabled the public to receive alerts via text message on their wireless devices. Wireless AMBER Alerts have the potential to reach 96 percent of the public with more than 292 million cell phone subscribers in the United States.*

“Once customers sign up for this free service, AMBER Alerts are sent to their wireless devices, so they can be made aware of a missing child in their area immediately,” said Michelle Groves, director of sales for U.S. Cellular in the St. Louis region. “Signing up is quick, simple and may help in bringing home a lost or abducted child.”

To sign up for wireless AMBER Alerts, visit www.wirelessamberalerts.org or text the word “Amber” followed by a space and your 5-digit zip code to short code 26237. All cellular carriers participate in the program.

How wireless AMBER Alerts work:

1. Sign up to receive AMBER Alerts in your area by selecting the location(s) you frequent most, such as where you live and work.
2. Law enforcement issues an AMBER Alert and provides the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) with the information to include in the alert.
3. NCMEC formats the AMBER Alert information, which is then relayed to the cellular companies.
4. This information is sent as a free text message.
5. Cell phone customers will only receive AMBER Alerts by enrolling in the program.

If you have information on a missing child, call the NCMEC toll-free Hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) 24-hours a day.

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I honestly cannot believe that it’s already time to start thinking about snow and ice, and I know some of our neighbors to the north have already done some shoveling. I’m not the best about preparing my car for the winter, so I found this video helpful.

To help you prepare your car for winter, Midas has created a Midas Winter Safety Kit which can be stored right in your car for any of those winter road emergencies! And they want to give one — valued at $100 — to one of my readers. The winer will receive:

• $50 Midas Gift Certificate
• Jumper Cables
• An Emergency Thermal Blanket
• First Aid Kit
• An Ice scraper/Snowbrush
• A Flashlight
• Storage bag
• Water

Giveaway Guidelines:

To enter the contest, you MUST become an email subscriber to Lipstick to Crayons. The subscribe button is in the upper right corner of the site. Once you subscribe (or if you are already a subscriber), leave a comment below telling me you did so, and make sure the email address you provide is the one you used to subscribe. After completing this mandatory first entry method, you can gain additional entries by doing any or all of the following (but be sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do):

1. Blog about this contest
2. Share your favorite winter road trip or “must have” winter essentials
3. Tweet this giveaway on Twitter (you can do daily tweets, but leave a comment each time you do)
4. Follow @MyMidasGuy or “like” Midas on Facebook
5. Add Lipstick to Crayons to your blogroll or my button to your sidebar
6. Become a fan of Lipstick to Crayons on Facebook.
7. Post a link to this contest on your Facebook page.

This giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m. Central time December 10, 2010.  Be sure to include a valid email address with each of your entries. Winner will be randomly chosen via random.org and will be notified via email and announced on this post.

If  winner does not claim the prize by December 13, 2010, she will forfeit the prize to an alternate winner who will be drawn at random.

USA residents only please!

NOTE: I received this prize package to provide to my readers from Midas.

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. CONGRATS TO SHELLY, COMMENT #112.

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• A/S/L Age/sex/location
• A3 Anyplace, anywhere, anytime
• AA As above
• AAF Always and forever
• AAMOF As a matter of fact
• CD9 Parents are Watching
• CD99 Parents are no longer Watching
• DOC means “Drug of Choice”
• MIRL means “Meet in Real Life”

The ebook includes a number of abbreviations that may be warning signs that your kids are chatting with strangers or engaging in dangerous online behavior.

“Parents have a responsibility to know what their children are doing and saying online,” said David Barker, spokesperson for TrueCare.net. “At TrueCare, our primary concern is keeping children safe from the dangers of online social networking. We’ve released I Don’t Know What My Kids Are Saying Online because we want to give parents easy access to this ever-changing language, so they can decode what their kids are saying to their friends.”

TrueCare is easy to use, respects the child’s privacy and offers parents valuable resources for protecting their children against online dangers like predators, cyber bullying, and harmful posts which could damage their reputation.

For more information on the company and its services please visit www.truecare.net or call 1-877-368-6390

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My teen is working as a life guard this summer, and she was home with me when the accident happened, immediately going into “first-aide/life guard mode.” While I wrapped my hand around my toddler’s ankle (not yet knowing the extent of the injury), got her on her back and lifted her foot in the air, my teen grabbed the first-aid kit, tore open a large gauze bandage, handed it to me, then grabbed a long piece of cloth that is actually a cooling cloth but that we used to secure the bandage around my baby’s ankle and slow the bleeding. Then we loaded her into the car and headed to the emergency room. Here is a picture of our “battle field” dressing.

Now here’s a picture of her injury. Don’t look if you’re squeamish.

She got stitches. It was all a little “traumatic” at first, but the E.R. at Missouri Baptist Medical Center is the BEST at handling kiddos, so we’re all good. And the stitches will come out before we leave for our Florida beach vacation, so that’s a relief.

But back to the first aide kit. My teen was a little critical of the contents of our kit, so I’m re-stocking. We had what we needed, but we did use our last bandage. Here’s a high-value coupon off any Johnson & Johnson Red Cross brand product. ($2 off). That should make a package of bandages pretty cheap.

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I was sent the CARES child airplane seat belt  to review and let me tell you what a life saver it is!  First of I mean that literally, your kids are much safer with this seat belt than just a lap belt alone.  But secondly carrying this belt verses a large car seat is so much more convenient.  We traveled with bug last thanksgiving and I wish I would have had this then.  But since I didn’t, I learned how hard it can be to keep a toddler in their seat using just a lap belt.  It was a struggle the whole entire flight.  And we were both exhausted by the end of it.  Well then I received the CARES seat belt and couldn’t wait to try it out on our next flight.  The second time using CARES was a completely different experience.  Once I put it on bug he knew he wasn’t going to be getting up.  Just like in the car, he was stuck.  I was so happy to have some peace on the flight, and it wasn’t just because of the quiet.  I also had peace of mind knowing bug was much safer wearing this CARES harness seat belt.  And it is really easy to use it.  It just slides down around the seat, you tighten it and then the lap belt loops through the bottom.  It is also easy to adjust to fit your child just right.  It only takes one minute!   I completely recommend this to anyone who is flying with toddlers.  It is a must have! Here is all the technical info about CARES from their website .  I decided to just let them explain it to you since they know what they are talking about

CARES (Child Aviation Restraint System)

“CARES Child Aviation Restraint System is designed specifically for aviation use for children age 1 and older who weigh between 22 and 44 pounds. These youngsters are old enough to be in their own seats, but are too small for the seat belt alone to protect them and provide the safety they require during airplane travel. Their bodies cannot withstand the jolts that are common in routine air travel, much less emergency situations, and they flail forward or slide beneath the seat belt if they are not held securely in place.

Each year more and more young children fly. But until CARES came along, what was missing was a convenient, hassle-free way to keep young flyers safe. Here’s what makes CARES such an invaluable travel solution:

• CARES is the first and only harness type Aviation Child Safety Device to be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an alternative to a car seat.
• CARES is an elegantly designed belt-and-buckle device that works in conjunction with the regular airplane seat belt and provides young travelers the same level of safety as a car seat.
• CARES weighs just one pound and fits into a 6" stuff sack! It is easily portable, simple to install, adjustable to every size airplane seat, and usable on any seat in the airplane, except in the emergency exit rows.
• Need your car seat on the other end of the trip? Just check it through as luggage – and carry CARES on board in your pocket!

CARES is manufactured exclusively by AmSafe Aviation, the foremost manufacturer of aviation seatbelts and pilot restraints in the world. (Turn over your airplane seat belt buckle. Chances are it says AmSafe.) CARES is made of the same industrial-strength webbing as your own seat belt and is engineered to the highest aviation-safety standards.”

Things that are Brag Worthy:

• A Safer way for your kids to fly. 
• Portable and lightweight.
• Easy to put onto an airplane seat, and easy to strap your child in.
• Much more convenient than caring a large car seat onto the plane.
• Made for children between 22-44 lbs. (typically 1 to 5 years).
• No more struggling with a toddler who won’t stay in the lap belt.
• Made by AmSafe Aviation (they know what they are doing since they make airplane seat belts).
• Gives you peace of mind.
• Comes with a bag to carry it in, and the bag fits easily in our diaper bag.

Check out where to buy and read more about CARES at www.kidsflysafe.com.

CARES gets Bragging Rights!

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 Are you headed out with friends after work this Wednesday to celebrate the holiday?  No?  Well when you and your family are on the road headed to choir practice, a t-ball game, or coming home from school, you may be sharing the road with those returning from a fun St. Patrick’s Day event.  It’s time to spread the word about the dangers of buzzed driving and to remind people that Buzzed Driving IS Drunk Driving, and the best way to stay safe is to plan ahead.

Let’s remind everyone about the importance of remembering to:

• Designate a sober driver before you leave for your event. 
• Be ready to take alternate transportation such as a bus or taxi. Have the phone number of a taxi service stored in your phone before you leave for the party.

Even if you will not be celebrating this St. Patrick’s Day, keep in mind that in 2008, 1,179 people in other vehicles were killed in crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers.  And for those who don’t plan on over-indulging: a buzzed driving crash looks the same as a drunk driving crash.

Global Influence is working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Ad Council as they continue their efforts with the “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving?”PSA campaign. Buzzed drivers drink and drive, but do not consider themselves a hazard on the roadway because they have had “only a few” drinks. The campaign hopes to educate people that consuming even a few drinks can impair driving and that Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.

So, help spread the word that buzzed driving IS drunk driving.

To learn more about the impact buzzed driving can have on a life, please watch this important video about the financial and personal repercussions of getting a DUI.

 Remember: Buzzed Driving IS Drunk Driving. Plan ahead and ask your loved ones to do the same.

For more information, visit Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving on Facebook and Twitter (@Buzzeddriving).

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Britax car seats are expensive, and sales are hard to find, but let me tell you why I think they’re worth it. This car seat has one of the highest safety ratings, as well as a patented side-impact system.  Plus, it has a cool,easy to use latch system that makes installation a “snap,”, a unique tether system that makes it seem more stable and secure and some very handy velcro strips that keep those pesky straps out of the way when you’re trying to put the child in the seat. 

I paid $219 for my Britax  when I bought it two years ago (one model is on sale at the Right Start for $199 starting today) , and I loved it so much that I bought one for my husband’s car a few months later.    Here are some photos of one of my Britax car seats and the features I love:

The car seat is VERY easy to install because of its unique clip system. Plus, it has a tether that is attached to the top of the seat and clips into the hardware built into floor of your  car or minivan, which stabilizes the seat in a way that I was NEVER able to achieve just using the lap belt on other car seat models.  It is rather large, so I had to move the seat’s position in my old van to behind the passenger seat so that my husband could still drive without his knees being on the dash.  But that was in my a Kia Sedona — we don’t have this issue in our Honda Odyssey.

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