On average (since 1998) overheating in a car is the cause of death for 38 children aged 0-14 a year in the USA- with most of them happening ages 0-6 years. Last year it was 44 children. Let's keep the math simple. Knowing that we will inflate the risk, let's assume that all these deaths occur to children under the age of 5. In reality, 5% of these deaths happen to kids ages 6-14. I'm doing this with the numbers because we have data that estimates that there are 23.7 million children ages 0-5 in the USA. I don't have numbers for how many kiddos are 0-6 years old in the USA.
So that's less than 2 out of every million children die from overheating in a car- though for last year it was almost exactly 2 out of each million. That risk is very low. It is significantly less than 1% of children ages 0-5, and is really close to the number zero.
30% of these deaths are from children playing in unattended cars- and I suspect that that represents most of the deaths of the children who are 3 years & older. 27% of these deaths are children age 3-14. 73% are children 0-2 years old. 70% of children who die left in warm cars are forgotten or intentionally left in cars.
53% of the deaths are a result of children being forgotten- usually when a parent goes off routine and forgets that their child is in the car with them. 18% of these deaths occur when children are intentionally left in the car.
One smart kiddo came up with a way to remind the driver that there is an infant or toddler in the back of the car. His cheap, simple, and smart idea could save the lives of 26 - 30 children in the USA a year. This number could probably safely be doubled, since I haven't discussed deaths from hypothermia at all.
http://www.ezbabysaver.com
Assuming that the 18% that are intentionally left in the car are done so in order to run a quick errand rather than with the intention of killing the child- on average, 7 children in the USA die while parents leave the kids in the car to run an errand. Again, the number would presumably be larger if we include children who are left in cars and die from the cold. I have had trouble finding a good source for those numbers.
http://www.childstats.gov/americaschildren/tables/pop1.asp
http://www.ggweather.com/heat
]]>You can learn more about FREE at the link below:
http://faceraceroc.org/about
ACT Rochester also had a hand in creating FREE and supporting this summit on Race You can read more about ACT here:
http://www.actrochester.org/about-us
Here is a great place to read feature articles and blog posts about Issues of Race and Equity in Rochester NY http://roc.democratandchronicle.com/section/UNITE01
And here is yet another organization involved in equity for Rochester residents- Metro Justice
http://metrojustice.org
There is a local National Coalition Building Institute in Rochester- yet anotherorganization fighting racism in Rochester
http://www.ncbirochester.org
The local YWCA is also active in the anti-racist movement http://www.ywcarochester.org/site/c.4nIDIROnG4IOE/b.6401171/k.7661/Racial_Justice_Programs.htm
But, no longer. Hence the shrinking. And frankly, a lot of pain and nerve damage .
I am reminded of Alice in Wonderland and the bottle that says "drink me" on it. I admit that it feels like I went down the rabbit hole and found myself in an unreliable, chaotic reality, so the image is apt.
I'm having back surgery. Spinal fusion. In July. They will remove a disc, insert titanium, and encourage (make?) bone growth happen. And hopefully I'll feel better after I presumably feel a lot worse for a month or so. And then my daughter will have a new narrative. One in which she won't feel compelled to ask me "Is your back not sore?" when, on rare occasion, I carry her down the stairs. Just writing this brings tears to my eyes. I hate that this is her narrative. The idea that a woman's body image can be based on what her body can do rather than what it looks like came at exactly the wrong time for me. And I can't help but wonder what impact it has on other women who have bodies that fail them in one way or another.
I'm ready for change. Both reluctant and impatient for surgery.
And now that the internet knows I'm having surgery- it must be true.
Sincerely,
Mama Rae
I initially refused to even look at the 'My Brest Friend' because the name is SO ridiculous! I find that the Boppy is easier to remove, wash & replace the cover. However, the My Brest Friend pillow is much better in many ways. First, it provides an elevated surface so that Baby's head is raised while eating. This essentially allows you to feed hands free. It also supports your back while nursing. I was gifted the Friend pillow when I complained of sore wrists from holding my heavy baby while nursing & it has been helpful in alleviating that pain. It also has a pocket. It is too bad the pocket has such strong velcro- it wakes a sleeping baby & distracts an older baby. Another downside is that you buckle yourself in- which can make quick transitions a little tricky. The Boppy can be used as a pillow for babies to sit in or lean over as they get older, I find that my babe is not interested in that at all.
*The reality is that in most cases, a normal pillow slid under your elbow/babe's head will do just fine. Also, a rocking glider with arm rests & padding is ideal for nursing. My Pediatricians have one in their office & it provides nice arm support & makes standing up with babes in arms easier than a standard couch or lazyboy. It is also a very cozy chair that enables Mom to rest during those early months when Baby wants to feed often during the night. These rocker gliders are SO comfortable.
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eating
eating in restaurants
deciding what to eat
brushing your teeth (without inducing vomiting)
putting on socks & shoes
sleeping
staying awake
paying attention
stairs
caring about other people
exercise
clipping your toenails
bathing- including wiping your *$$ and shaving
sitting
standing up
standing still,
and therefore cooking
making decisions
simple mathematics
managing heat
feeling attractive
controlling/managing emotions
hand eye coordination
remembering things
carrying stuff
walking up minor inclines & hills
bowel movements
breathing
being on time
being polite
being patient
waiting in line
controlling you bladder when you walk, laugh, sneeze...
squatting
bending
travelling
These experts are very well informed. I have students who have literally saved my unborn child's life! My favorite tidbit of information from the experts I come across on a daily basis is that raising my arms above my head tightens the umbilical cord. I could choke my baby!
While attempting to get the wee one to move around (poking my stomach), I heard another student mutter, "She's going to kill that baby." If it was that easy two things would be true.
1. We'd be in trouble as a species...
2. We would not have heated national/political debates about the legality of medical abortions.
I don't normally try to 'wake up' the baby - and frankly it doesn't work- but I'm quite certain that this system has been fine tuned. This baby is comfortable, content, and growing.
We're talking about a baby that is just under 3 pounds, is head up at 30 weeks, and is pretty gentle with the movement. Studies monitoring movement in utero, and again in childhood, show that these two things have a high correlation. I know that's not a lot to go on, but I feel like I'm getting to know my baby a little bit. It's like having a clue to the chili pepper's personality. A little piece of information to give detail to my imaginings about our future.
In the last week I've noticed a significant change in the movements of this little chili pepper growing within. According to the internet, this wee one is close to 3 pounds and is about 16 inches long. So, it's close to it's full length, and will be plumping up for the next 8-12 weeks. I'm due in 10, and assuming that I'll likely deliver within two weeks of that date. I'm trying to mentally prepare for 12 so that it will be a bit easier to bare if the little chili pepper wants more time in the oven, especially in August!
]]>In other news, our crocuses and daffodils are starting to come up because it has been so nice out lately. Unfortunately it is supposed to be below freezing again shortly. I do hope our flowers survive the cold.
My brain is a bit fuzzy, it's challenging to be witty or even coherent. Time for a nap!
I also find myself reverting to childlike eating habits (no, I'm not eating with my fingers...much). For example, I don't like sauce on my pasta, don't really like meat much, and I find myself having to remember to chew. I'm not kidding! I will be eating a banana or some mashed potatoes and realize that I have food sitting in my cheek pockets and what in the world happened that I forgot to keep chewing? Weird!
I have been able to get almost all my maternity clothes without having to shop (which I Abhor). Now we are looking into things like cloth diapers vs disposable and which type...
I am very much looking forward to being a stay at home mom!
below is a pic of our first sonogram.