The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

safety

Choosing a Safe Gymnastics Program – What to Ask!

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jodi-kidAdvice from Jodi’s Gym

  • Does the program have clearly defined curriculum?
  • What are the qualifications of the teachers? USAG safety certified, background checked, CPR/First Aid, experience working with children, education, gymnasts…the more qualifications, the better!
  • What is their initial training? What ongoing training do their teachers receive?
  • Are the class ratios low? This is very important for a safe gymnastics environment.
  • Is the equipment suitable for the age group?
  • Is the gym set up safely? There should be clear paths for children to walk and safe landing areas for dismounts.
  • How clean is the gym? Clean and safe go hand in hand.
  • What are the qualifications of Program Manager? Their training, education, background and experience in the
  • position are all important.
  • How carefully are their students supervised? The teachers should be able to see all of their students at all times (never with their backs to them.) Teachers should also always have their entire group of children
  • Are multiple staff members always present? A facility should always have more than one staff member present and lobby should be attended.

Visit www.jodisgym.com or call 914-244-8811

Chin Up, Mom and Dad!

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helmetWhy Bicycle Helmet Safety is for Every Family Member

By Lydia Evans, MD

“Do as I say, not as I do” is an idiom that’s fodder for endless sarcastic remarks. It is clear that one of the most effective teaching tools parents have is modeling behavior. So I am totally flummoxed when I ride my bike on our beautiful local bike trails and see families out for a weekend ride.Why flummoxed? Because children, dutifully wearing their helmets, ride along wheeling and squealing, with their helmet-less parents trailing behind.

New York State requires helmets for riders under 14, but sadly, no such requirement exists for adults.

While statistics vary slightly depending on the source (U.S. Dept, of Transportation, NY State & the CDC), pedal cyclists deaths nationally range from 625-825 annually; over 500,000 injured require emergency medical attention. The vast majority of deaths (85-90%) occur in individuals 16 and older. In 2009, 91% of bicyclists killed were not wearing helmets. The most serious injuries amongst these victims were to the head. The estimated cost of caring for the injured, unhelmeted cyclists is $2.3 billion annually.

So what happens when you hit your unprotected head? While the skull is fairly strong and hard, the brain is soft (almost jello-like), and floats in cerebral spinal fluid. Inside the skull are many sharp ridges and edges.

When the head is hit, injury occurs as the brain is propelled back and forth against these protuberances (even if the skull itself is not fractured). The end result? Bruising and bleeding in the brain, and destruction of irreplaceable nerve cells.

I have ridden bicycles since childhood (yep, the classic picture of my poor father running alongside, holding onto the back of my seat until I finally “got it.”) I have suffered my share of road rash, but my helmeted head has remained unscathed. Bicycle falls are not just from motor vehicle collisions. An unseen small stone, wet leaves, or a tiny surface crack can send you and your bike flying. It only takes a second of inattention (“Oh, look at the deer,” and “What did you say, honey?”) and bang, you are on the ground.

So why doesn’t everyone wear a helmet? Some adults tell me that they “know how to ride” and won’t fall on the motorless bike path. Any experienced cyclist will tell you that this is a fallacy. I believe the main problem is that helmets can initially seem a little annoying. So is wearing a seatbelt or using sunscreen.But these minor inconveniences can all save your life. So please buckle up! This time…under your chin.

Dr. Lydia Evans has a private practice, specializing in both cosmetic and medical dermatology, in Chappaqua. Her last biking trip was with her husband through the back roads of southern Spain.

Safe at Home!

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Beth-Head-shot-thBy Beth Besen

Safe zone. Safety-sealed. Safe place. Better safe than sorry. Safe and sound. Have a safe trip. To be on the safe side. Safe at home! These are just a few of the phrases we blithely scatter in conversation with regards to keeping ourselves and our loved ones out of harm’s way. We use them as heartfelt good wishes, but usually without any real expectation that anything will go awry.

What if such weren’t the case? What if we literally had to hold our breath until we heard that loved ones had arrived somewhere “safe and sound”? Such is the unfortunate reality that confronts too many people in too many places in today’s world. I shudder when reading and listening to headline news, and give thanks for my many freedoms and my safety. And so, as I sit staring at my laptop, hoping to find the perfect turn of phrase that will provoke thought and discussion about this topic, I realize that my blank screen and quiet home office speak volumes. Outside, the summer birds chirp and the bees buzz; inside, my fan hums and my dear old dog snores softly nearby. My children are squared away with local summer jobs, my husband is ever-hopeful he’ll be home in time for a round of late golf. Are there complaints? Of course there are. We worry about the weather and gripe our way through the hassles of everyday living. From traffic and train delays to cancelled appointments and interrupted vacations, curve balls inevitably come our way. But we recognize, even as we kvetch and moan, that these are “first-world” problems.

And yet! And yet even in our first world “Chappaqua Bubble,” all curve balls are not created equal… Some of us have suffered rural paradise losses when beloved pets succumbed to wild animals. Others have felt the sting of an unexpected anti-Semitic slur. Though many of us move here for the renowned Chappaqua schools, sometimes the fit is far from ideal and our kids become a target for bullies. And, speaking of kids, what about the serious consequences and ramifications regarding underage drinking? One could argue that, while this is an ongoing cross-demographics issue, it is nonetheless made worse in our suburban car-culture. Add to that the undisputed uptick in distracted driving (by adults and kids alike) and our roads are, without a doubt, more dangerous than ever.

These topics, and a variety of other safety concerns and well-being articles, are the focus of this issue. I hope they give you pause. I hope they spark a conversation between family and friends. I hope they both inspire you to be more aware, and also give you a few new tools to reassure your family’s comfort and safety.

Peace, Beth