Safe Social Media & Online Platform Use

 

November is Family Caregivers Month to recognize caregivers nationally, raise awareness around caregiving issues, educate communities, and increase support for our nation's caregivers. We salute all those who nurture, guide, and support our children.🫡Caregivers need to stay informed so they can talk to kids about substance abuse prevention, but it's equally important to communicate safety rules for the digital world we live in.

Digital technology is a constant in the lives of today's youth.📱💻Most young people use social media and other online platforms daily to communicate, learn about topics, and express themselves. In many cases, digital media can be beneficial and allow youth to build community and connect with others. Unfortunately, we know that kids can also be negatively impacted by online issues that can lead to harassment, cyberbullying, child abuse, and exposure to content that increases mental health issues. Harms like these threaten the safety and well-bring of your young people. 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers helpful resources for families to stay informed and share best practices with their children to help them navigate social media and online platforms safely. Check out the educational resources and info on the link below for safe internet use:

https://www.samhsa.gov/kids-online-health-safety-task-force/kohs-report-safe-internet-use?

Show Appreciation for Our Veterans on November 11

 

Today is Veterans Day – a day set aside to honor all who have served honorably in the United States military – in wartime or peacetime. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served – not only those who have died – have sacrificed and done their duty.💙💖

Each year on November 11, Americans come together to celebrate Veterans Day with parades and other special gatherings to publicly thank veterans who have served in war or peace. Today there are more than 23 million veterans across the U.S. We thank and appreciate all our Veterans for their courage, service, and bravery.

Social Norms Share the Positives in Youth Culture

 

Social norms campaigns in our schools help students rethink perceptions about use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Ms. Cindy and Ms. Amy from our IAA team regularly visit with students at Denison Middle School in Winter Haven to spread awareness and share the positives in youth culture that show most Polk County students in grades 6-12 ARE NOT using drugs - statistics show that 84% do not drink Alcohol, 87% do not use Marijuana, 96% do not use traditional Tobacco, and 88% do not Vape or use E-cigarettes. (Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey - FYSAS).

Knowing the Facts can help kids avoid succumbing to peer pressure when they learn that teens just like them are making healthy choices by choosing NOT to smoke, drink, or use substances.🚭

Please support local prevention initiatives by inviting a representative from IAA to share a free educational program at your school - give us a call at 863-802-0777. 

More Facts to Know About Teen Vaping

 

Parents must stay informed and know what to look and listen for to keep kids safe and healthy. It helps to know some basic facts and terminology surrounding vaping and e-cigarette activity so you are able to recognize what kids are talking about, what they are involved in, and better monitor them in real-life and on social media.

Here are some terms to know:

ADV - "all-day vape" refers to a vape juice the user prefers to enjoy most often

Cloud Chasings - teens often look to produce large clouds of vapor when vaping

Vape fiend - someone who regularly seeks nicotine

Greening-Greening out-Green out - someone who has taken a large hit of THC and is experiencing dizziness, anxiety, nausea, or vomiting

Squonk or Squonker - using a vape mod that contains a bottle called a squonk that is squeezed to deliver the e-liquid

Here's what to look for:

Vapes hidden in plain sight as common household items such as: USB drives, pens, highlighters, phone cases, smart watches, asthma inhalers, lipstick tubes, clothing like sweatshirts or jackets with a vape built into hood drawstrings, backpacks with a vape that comes out of the shoulder strap.

Peer pressure can make it hard for a teen to feel comfortable saying no. But, as a parent, you can help to prevent teen vaping by being proactive. 

We know teens are going to experiment, but by talking about the dangers of vaping and being a good role model to your kids, you can play a key role in helping them choose to avoid or delay trying nicotine products. Help them to build their knowledge about vaping risks. Encourage them to make decisions for themselves and not go along with the crowd. Empower them with confidence so that they will be ready to face challenges and make their own informed choices.

Healthy Brain Habits

 

Your brain shapes every aspect of your life🧠- from decision-making to memory, emotional well-being, and problem-solving. The brain is our most valuable asset, so nurturing it with healthy habits will pay dividends for years to come.

It's never too early or too late to adopt brain-healthy habits. Cognitive health is a lifelong process and small changes made in childhood, adulthood, or even later years can help reduce the risk of cognitive decline. 

Alcohol and smoking have harmful effects on brain health. Alcohol consumption is known to cause several brain anomalies. Heavy alcohol use reduces brain volume and impairs cognitive function, increasing the risk of dementia and stroke. Smoking contributes to oxidative stress, damaging brain cells, and accelerating cognitive decline. Avoiding these substances protects brain structure, enhances cognitive longevity, and reduces the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. 

With the right lifestyle choices, you're not just adding years to your life - you're adding life to your years. Your brain will thank you!

Election Day 2024 – Vote Today: Your Vote is Your Voice

 

Voting in local, state, and national elections is one of the most important duties of being an American citizen. It is your right, privilege, and civic responsibility. Your vote ensures that your voice is heard on important issues that affect the future of our state and of our nation. Every time you exercise that right, our democracy grows stronger.💪

Another fun perk comes with the "I Voted" sticker that you received when your vote was recorded - many businesses and retailers offer FREE items and discounts! Get a free Krispy Kreme donut🍩on November 5. Uber and Lyft offer rides to polling places for half-off.🚗 Uber Eats gives 25% off orders of $25 or more on election night.

Check out a list of more Election Day discounts and freebies from restaurants and other businesses in the Tampa Bay area on News Channel 8 at WFLA.com:

https://www.wfla.com/news/local-news/election-day-discounts-and-freebies-in-the-tampa-bay-area/

When to Talk to Your Children About Drug & Alcohol Use

 

We know that talking with our children about drug and alcohol use is a huge factor in helping them to make healthy choices, but it can be hard to take that first step. Plan to have a series of shorter, regular conversations, which can be more effective than one "big" talk that can be overwhelming on both sides.

When starting an important conversation like this, choose a time and place where you both are comfortable and unlikely to be interrupted. That means putting aside cell phones. Even more importantly, know when NOT to start a conversation. When parents are angry and teens are frustrated, it's best to delay the talk. If you catch your teen intoxicated, wait until he or she is sober and cooler heads and emotions prevail.

Quick Tips:

*Ask your teen’s views – avoid lectures and listen to your teen’s opinions and questions about drugs. Parents should assure teens that they can be honest without getting in trouble.

*Discuss reasons not to use – avoid scare tactics. Focus on how drug use can affect the things that are most important to your teen like sports performance, driving, health, or appearance.

*Discuss media messages – talk about what your teen sees and hears on social media, tv shows, movies, and songs that can sometimes make drug use seem normal or cool.

*Discuss ways to resist peer pressure – think about how to respond if your teen asks about your own personal drug use, including alcohol. Explain why you chose not to use drugs. If you did use drugs, share what the experience taught you and why you want to spare your teen the same experiences.

*Know your teen’s friends and activities – pay attention to who your teen spends time with and where they hang out. Get to know their friends and parents of their friends. Research adult-supervised activities that your teen is interested in and encourage them to get involved.

*Communicate rules, expectations, and consequences – explain your family rules and repeat them often. If rules are broken, consistently enforce consequences.

*Keep track of alcohol, prescription and over-the-counter drugs in your home – take regular inventory of the alcohol and medications in your home and keep under lock and key for safety.

*Provide support – offer praise and encouragement when your teen succeeds. A strong bond between parents and teens can help prevent your teen from using drugs.

It's never too soon to start talking to your children. The conversations you have today can help delay experimentation and assist them in making healthy choices now and in the future!

It’s “Fall-Back” Weekend

 

The calendar has turned to November and this weekend marks the end of daylight savings time on the first Sunday of the month. When daylight savings time begins in March, clocks "spring forward" one hour - now in November, clocks "fall back" one hour.⏰

Daylight savings time became law in the U.S. in 1918 as a way to maximize daylight hours and help save on energy consumption during WWI. Many states have tried to repeal the law through the years, but Hawaii and Arizona are the only two states in the nation that do not participate in daylight savings time, in addition to the territories of American Samoa, Guam, N. Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

Here in Florida, remember to roll back your clocks one-hour this weekend. This goes into effect officially on Sunday morning, November 3 at 2 am – but most folks set their clocks back before going to bed on Saturday night. With the time change, it will be darker earlier in the evening. But, on the bright side, we gain an extra hour of sleep!😴

Many people, especially younger children, can be thrown off by the time change. When clocks fall back, experts recommend that we take steps to increase exposure to sunlight during the day, especially in the morning, and also limit intake of alcohol and caffeine.