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Can You Traffic Circle?

Working with people injured in car accidents is a straight path to insanity when I start to think about my own kids behind the wheel.  I am not sure I will ever feel comfortable with them borrowing the car, getting a ride with others, or even taking their siblings anywhere.  I apologize to my kids in advance for being a basket case when we get there.

 

But the fact that I now allow my 13 year old to ride in the front seat has made me acutely aware of the very important responsibility I have to model safe driving.  She watches me drive, asks questions, and is trying to understand the rules of the road.  I have three years to demonstrate to her how important it is to take this privilege seriously, and what safe driving looks like.

 

The problem is this:  driving, like many daily tasks, becomes highly overlearned.  This means that the brain can manage it without really “thinking”.  That explains why sometimes you might arrive somewhere, somewhat oblivious to the path you took to get there, or the sights you saw on the way.  This is especially true if the brain is distracted en route – via phone calls, checking messages at a stop light, enjoying breakfast, belting out your favorite tune, or talking to a passenger. So driving, as a skill, is something we can do without a lot of conscious thought and our behaviors when driving become more and more ingrained as we log more hours behind the wheel.

 

In being hyper-diligent about this new responsibility to model safe driving for my daughter, I have become attuned to some of the bad habits people have developed.  Some people drive too fast, some too slow (I see these as equally dangerous).  Some don’t signal, and some don’t turn the signal off.  Some people are too aggressive, too risky, and too impatient.  Others are too nervous, lack confidence, or don’t seem to recognize how dangerous it is to be hesitant and unpredictable.  Too many people are still holding their phone to their ear, or think that using the speakerphone instead of a headset is less-illegal (it is not if the phone is still in your hand).  People are still texting or emailing when driving, usually while controlling the steering wheel with their knees (if that were safe people without arms would do that too).  I see many people (especially in my neighborhood) that don’t “stop” at stop signs, but kind of “roll” through them – often after they have crossed the stopping line, and the sidewalk curb cut, and are already entering the intersection.  Pedestrians beware.  Traffic circles are another new problem.  When I was 16, my driver’s ed classes did not include “traffic circle 101” and based on how the teens drive near the high school in my neighborhood, I am not sure it does now either.  All too often I see people cut the circle, or when going straight fail to yield to someone already making a turn.  But the best (worst) thing I saw recently was a guy with a mini-van who was trying to transport his new mattress by holding this to the roof of his car with his left hand (while driving with his right).  Luckily when the mattress flew off into the traffic behind him, it didn’t cause an accident.

 

Motor vehicle accidents are one of the top five leading causes of death and injury for Canadian adults and children.  Getting a license at 16, that is not reviewed again until 80, should not be an automatic ticket to oblivion.  Take a moment to review your own habits behind the wheel.  Old habits die hard, and you don’t want these to kill you, or anyone else.  And if you are driving children, remember that little eyes are watching you and your children are likely to drive just like you – good or bad.

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Gardening Ergonomics

Do you have, or are aspiring to have, a “green thumb” ?  Or do you simply enjoy spending time beautifying your home or spending time connecting with nature?  Whether you garden for pleasure or purpose you may from time to time suffer from a sore back and achy muscles brought on by the hard work and bending involved.  The following article from the Toronto Star gives helpful tips on how to ergonomically garden without ending up with a sore back.

 

The Toronto Star: How to avoid back pain while gardening

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Attendant Care for “Normal”?

Like “happiness”, the word “normal” is one of those subjective words defined differently by all.  Yet, in the world of disability, “normal” becomes a question.  Can someone “live a normal life”, or are they “back to normal”?  How do you answer these questions when normal is so hard to define? 

 

On a recent holiday, I witnessed a woman with a disability engage in compelling acts of what I call “normal”.  I was so taken by this that I had to take the below picture.  What do you notice?  The location of the wheelchair makes the owner of this unidentifiable.  This was not an isolated event.  Everyday I would see this wheelchair stashed somewhere – off to the side, in a deserted hallway, or almost out of sight.  The wheelchair was so far removed from the person that it could never “define her” and really was just a means of transportation.  I would watch her husband wheel her to the poolside, into the restaurant, or out in the theatre then she would transfer to a “normal” chair and he would move her wheelchair out of sight.  True, maybe they just wanted this out of the way, but if the goal was practicality, she would not have taken the time and effort to transfer when sitting in the wheelchair for most things would be easier.

 

I believe that this woman just wanted to feel “normal”.  She didn’t want to be recognized by her chair, and wanted to experience the world the way non-disabled people do – sitting on a pool lounger, in a dining chair, on a couch, or even in the water on a floaty.  And who allowed this to happen?  Her husband.  He pushed her around the resort, secured her chair for transfers, moved this out of the way, and re-secured it when changing locations. I also saw him carry her in and out of the pool so she could float in the water, and he was her personal waiter for drinks, food and other items she needed that she could not obtain herself.  In my world this is a perfect example of attendant care.  Transfers, mobility, equipment maintenance, and ensuring comfort and security are all parts of the current form used by Occupational Therapists in auto (and WSIB) to calculate attendant care.  So, let’s not underestimate the time someone might take to help someone feel “normal”, whatever that means to that person, in that environment and at that time.  I believe “facilitating normal” is a valuable and important part of being an attendant and should be fairly represented in our calculations of care.  

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Protect Your Peepers

Whether you choose to wear designer sunglasses, knock offs, or an inexpensive pair from your local department store, research shows the important point is that you WEAR them.  In the summer months especially many tend to focus on protecting their skin from sun damage and harmful UV rays, however, it is equally important to protect your eyes. Did you know your eyes can suffer a sun burn?   The best way to prevent this and to protect your eyes is through the wearing of sunglasses.  The following article from The Globe and Mail discusses the dangers sun exposure can have to your eyes and how you can protect them.

 

The Globe and Mail: How much damage does sunburn on the eyes cause?

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A Place Called Vertigo

I am not sure what the word “vertigo” refers to in U2’s hit song, but as someone living with vertigo, I can tell you it is not a place you want to be.  Vertigo is highly unpleasant and can be caused by multiple factors including visual or auditory problems, or more commonly, head injury.  I best describe my vertigo as my eyes and ears sending different messages to my brain regarding the position of my body in space.  So, while my eyes tell me I am sitting still in a chair, my ears tell me I am on a boat in the middle of a hurricane.  The result of these mixed messages is spinning, nausea, dizziness, problems walking, and ultimately dysfunction.

 

For me, my benign positional vertigo (BPV) lives in my right ear.  As a result, I cannot lie on my right side, laterally flex my head to the right, lie flat with my neck extended, or look down into extreme flexion.    While I can tolerate these movements momentarily, I cannot hold these positions for more than a few seconds otherwise I am sent into a spin that can last for days.  I am fortunate to know my triggers and do my best to avoid them (no yoga for me).  I have also learned, after living with this problem for two decades, how to catch my symptoms early to prevent a slight episode of dizziness from turning into days of bed rest. 

 

When my clients experience vertigo, and describe this to me, I can fully appreciate where they are coming from.  The story is a book I too could write.   But, like other “hidden” ailments, I get concerned when the medical community does not take this complaint seriously.  This is especially true in my industry where insurers and their assessors often want “proof” of a health problem to support someone’s recovery. While I recognize that people can be dishonest, my experience is that people don’t make this stuff up.  Health professionals need to give people the benefit of the doubt, including insurance situations. To understand, or better yet, support someone with any “invisible” problem like vertigo, health professionals need to be compassionate, and should care enough to listen, to research and learn, and ultimately believe.  Empathy, TRUST, and understanding will go a long way to support those that need it. I can only imagine how frustrating, devastating and angering it would be for someone to assume or opine that my “place called vertigo” is not a place at all: because, believe me, I live here.

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Juicing Vs. Blending

Health professionals are increasingly recommending juices and smoothies as a great way to increase your fruit and vegetable intake and to help you increase your overall health and wellness.  These “power” beverages can help to boost energy, are more eco-friendly and help to ensure you are getting the proper nutrients from your diet without the need for costly supplements.  The following info graphic from www.mindbodygreen.com discusses the differences between juicing and blending so you can find the method that works best for your budget, and nutritional needs.  Check it out and find out which way works best for you!

 

Mind Body Green: Juicing vs. Blending

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Schooling on Pooling

I was a fortunate child who grew up with an inground pool.  As the only house on the street with a pool in our yard, the neighborhood kids would loiter around our home hoping for an invite.  My mom developed a wonderful system using a Canada flag.  If the flag on our fence was up – everyone was welcome for a swim.  The only rule was that the kids needed to bring a parent.  Mandatory.  And despite the kids that would sit on our lawn whining about not having an adult to join them, my mom was firm to the rule.

 

We have a pool in our yard.  This is separately fenced.  As our kids are getting older, and have been able to swim for years, we are giving them more freedom around the pool.  As long as an adult is home, they are welcome to swim.  However, the other day I was reminded of an important lesson – just because my kids can swim, that is not necessarily true for others of the same age.  We had a pool party for our twins’ birthday and all the kids arrived and proceeded to jump in the pool.  One child was hanging around the shallow end and I asked her if she could swim – nope.  I was surprised that in dropping her off to a pool party, her parents would not mention this very important fact.

 

Last year in my small community an 18 month old child drowned when he was able to get outside while his father had a 15 minute nap.  Drowning is the second most common cause of accidental death among children aged 14 and under in Ontario, after motor vehicle accidents.  Yet, like many risks, drowning is absolutely preventable.  Here are some safety precautions to consider:

 

Constant and vigilant supervision. Supervision of any child is a full-time job. Most drowning’s occur when a child is playing near the water and falls in – not while “swimming”. So, when it comes to kids, a “within arm’s reach” rule should always apply – whether they are in, or around, water.

 

Using safety devices for the pool. These could include:

o   Poolside Alarm- A motion sensor is installed along the pool edge, which sounds an alarm when waves are detected from a body falling into the water.

o   Child Immersion Alarm- A wristband worn by a child, which will sound an alarm when they come into contact with water.

o   Pool Fences- Fences should be at least four feet tall, surround the entire pool and have self-latching gates out of the reach of children. Specialized gate locks prevent children from entering the pool area, as they are complex or require adult strength to open. Gate alarms can also be installed to alert when the gate is unexpectedly opened.

o   Pool Covers- A cover built to fit your pool dimensions will act as a barrier for a falling body, as they will not enter the water.

o   Door locks – special locks, difficult for children to open and installed at the top of a door, prevent kids from being able to get into the yard without an adult.

 

Use life jackets, not just floaties. If your child is not a strong swimmer, they should always be wearing a life jacket – in a pool, at the beach, or on a boat. Like wearing a seat-belt and helmet, children should be taught from a young age that wearing a life jacket is necessary around water. From a functional standpoint, life jackets are safer than floaties.  Floaties can develop small holes that actually fill with water, or can deflate, causing the child to slowly sink lower into the water.  A well-fitting life jackets is designed to keep a child’s head above water, and to flip a child over onto their back to facilitate breathing.  They cannot deflate. It also provides something for an adult to grasp if they need to pull the child out of the water.

 

Know the signs of drowning. Contrary to popular belief, drowning does not happen when people are flailing their arms, yelling and calling for help.  It is actually the opposite.  People that are getting into trouble in the water often look like they are climbing an invisible ladder.  They can’t yell or cry for help as their body is low on oxygen and is focused on trying to keep air in, not yell it out.  Know the signs – check out this link for the “8 Quiet Signs of Drowning”: http://www.rd.com/advice/parenting/8-quiet-signs-of-someone-drowning/.

 

Knowledge of first aid. Parents should always consider having knowledge of CPR or basic water rescue.  This could prove handy for many situations beyond just water safety.

 

Swimming lessons.  Give your kids a head start by helping them to become comfortable in the water from a young age.  Every minute they can stay afloat could save their life.

 

But remember, when it comes to children, nothing is safer than diligent and attentive supervision.

 

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Give Yourself a Boost

Do you ever find yourself struggling to get out of bed in the morning?  Or hitting a wall in the mid-afternoon needing a pick me up?  Before you rush to your local coffee shop for quick caffeine boost, try utilizing some natural energy boosters.  The following article from Alive Magazine provides tips on how to boost your energy naturally and effectively for the long run so you can avoid that short term rush from your additional cup of Joe.

 

Alive Magazine: 10 Energy Boosters