Hi,

After the devastating news of Senator Ted Kennedy’s brain tumor, we need to turn our attention to the reality that this could happen to any one of us at any given time. Are there precautions we can take? Let’s take a look at facts about malignant brain tumors, symptoms and courses of treatment that are available.

Prevention in regard to our safety and health is always our first priority. Although there is no known single cause of malignant brain tumors, there are recommended symptoms that if noted, can contribute to catching the cancer in its early stages; thus encouraging greater chance of survival and/or less permanent neurological damage. Let’s first look at some facts about brain tumors.

Brain tumors account for 1 percent of all cancers in the United States. This equates to approximately 13,000 cases per year, causing 2.5 percent of all cancer related deaths. Brain tumors themselves are cancers that arise in the brain rather than spreading to the brain from other parts of the body. Normally brain tumors are found in children. There has been a steady increase among individuals between the ages of 50 and 55, but the vast majority of brain tumors are again, most common in children. As you can see, brain tumors are not a high cancer risk. There incidence is low, but unfortunately, they are among the most difficult to treat with the greatest risk of highly damaging effects on the individual’s quality of life.

As already mentioned, there is no discernable cause for brain tumors; however there are symptoms of brain tumors. Let’s take a look at these symptoms.
• Headache - A persistent, worsening headache, particularly in the nighttime and morning hours
• Vomiting - This may or may not be associated with nausea
• Seizures - An adult who has no history of seizures and yet experiences one is at a high suggestion of a brain tumor. This was the case for Senator Kennedy.
• Change in mental ability or personality - The family or close friends usually notice this more than the individual
• Lethargy
• Body Effects -
1. Weakness of various parts of the body, especially an arm or a leg
2. Difficulties in coordination or balance
3. Impairment of memory
4. Various vision defects
5. Speech problems
6. Changes in sensations

Note: Each of these symptoms is indicative and helpful for doctors in regard to where the tumor maybe located in the brain.

What courses of treatment are available? First, if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, we encourage you to see your doctor immediately. Catching cancer in its earliest stages possible provides the greatest opportunity of recovery at its highest possible point.

The courses of treatment for a brain tumor depend on the site and type of tumor as well as the condition of the patient. Surgery is the principal treatment for the most common brain tumors, particularly if caught early. Additionally, there are drugs available to decrease brain swelling which in turn will help in removing significant amounts of the tumor while being a relatively safe course of treatment.

If surgery is not an option due to the site and/or stage that the tumor is in, then radiation and chemotherapy, as in Senator Kennedy’s case, are the suggested courses of treatment. Further, if surgery is performed but the entire tumor is not able to be removed, then radiation and chemotherapy may be advised.

Clearly the diagnosis of a malignant brain tumor is a devastating finding. Make sure if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above that you make an appointment to see your doctor immediately. As always, we are wishing and supporting your safety and health.

Safe living,
Yovette Mumford

Is your home safe from burglars? You probably thought so until you saw this video. Bump keys are things most of us have never heard of before. If you have heard of these before you may have had a hobby breaking into places, or you are probably a police officer. Believe it or not, this burglar tool has been proven to work for over 50 years. So much for feeling your home is secure when you leave. The Bump Key burglar tool could be made by a 3rd grader with a file, thanks to the simple directions made available by sites such as YouTube. The question now is how safe are you and your material possessions considering how easy it is to acquire and make the bump keys. Bumpkey.us sells keys as cheap as $3.50 while offering bigger packages. Everything the burglar ever wanted to enter your home. Are you scared? Maybe, we all should be a little scared knowing how easily a burglar can enter our houses.

There is only one bit of knowledge a burglar needs to enter your house when they use a bump key, and that would be, how many tumblers are actually in your lock. That knowledge is required to get the key to work. But, the truth of the matter is that most keys are cut from standard formats, giving the “bump key burglar” a quick and easy guess of which bump key to use on your lock.

BayAreaLocks.com recommends buying secure locking systems that combine digital and mechanical keying. But are they any safer? Will they provide you with a better sense of security? Medeco™ and Abloy™ are companies that sell secure locking systems that combine digital and mechanical keying. They show a key that appears unique. It looks special, and you know immediately from looking at it the bump key burglar tool won’t work. You may feel more secure, but now you have a key that’s warranty will end in two years. As if that isn’t bad enough, you must remember that this is hybrid technology mechanical and digital technologies combined. This places a limit on temperatures within which the technology is useable. For most people, -22° to 122 ° F would be considered normal living temperatures. For someone in Texas or Nevada or, other hot places such as Bahrain, it is possible this technology wouldn’t come close to working correctly. People who live in the Northern regions of the USA and other places in the world, would find the cold temperature margin a big issue. Even in New York State, they close schools for temperatures that go below -20° F.

The only other safety measures you could add to keep thieves out of your house would be a burglar alarm system or a rather viscous dog with a bad reputation.

So are you safe considering how easily accessible this information is for the up and coming burglar? The answer to this has to come in the form of additional questions. Do you trust your neighbors? Do you feel your neighborhood is secure? Do you believe your neighbors are looking out for you? Feeling safe at home has to be founded on these issues, not the ability to keep the burglar out of your home.

Safe living,
Yovette Mumford

Hi,

It’s a simple message, but one that is too often ignored. Our society focuses a lot of attention on educating young people on the importance of not drinking and driving, but drivers of all ages are susceptible to doing it. Regardless of who you are; if you drink and drive you risk arrest, personal injury or even death, to yourself and others on the roadway.

There’s a compelling story behind every DUI/DWI-related casualty. Tasha Elliott was the principal of an elementary school. She and her husband loaded their two children into their vehicle after having too much to drink and died when they left the roadway and submerged in a pond.

As was mentioned in a previous blog post and follow-up comments by Kenneth Speegle, the Elliott crash killed a family of four. The possibility of dying probably never entered their minds that evening. As parents they wouldn’t intentionally harm their children. Yet, they’re statistics because they chose to drive after drinking.

As an educator with a life-long commitment to children Mrs. Elliott knew better than to drink and drive or to ride with an impaired driver. Nobody knows who was driving the family car, but both of the Elliott’s were exceeding the legal intoxication threshold. It proves the point that alcohol impairs judgment.

This is a teaching moment for all of us. This couple had a lapse in judgment that had horrifying consequences. It doesn’t mean they were evil people. But it drives home the importance of adhering to the wisdom of thinking ahead. The best time to decide not to drink and drive is before taking that first sip. If you haven’t worked out the details on how you’re going to get home, don’t drink at all.

The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has an alcohol awareness safety campaign. It’s message, “Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving”, is accurate, compelling and all too real. There is a fine line between slightly impaired and too impaired to drive. As mere mortals we lack the judgment to know the difference.

Instead of taking chances, take a stand. “Use your head” and “Plan ahead” are more than phrases. They’re common-sense statements we should all adhere to before we put ourselves into the position of having to make this sort of life and death decision. The time to decide whether or not to drink and drive isn’t when it’s time to go home.

Every decision has consequences. Don’t let a single decision or lapse in judgment forever define who you are. Don’t climb behind the wheel after drinking. Don’t let anyone else drive after drinking. Don’t ride with someone who has been drinking. If you’re hosting a party or get-together, either confiscate the keys of your guests before they drink – and have designated drivers available – or don’t serve alcohol at all.

It’s not worth the risk. The price is simply too high.

Safe living,
Yovette Mumford

Safety product: Todd’s Fire Drill

Hi,

If you trust a school to educate your children and to house them you wouldn’t want to worry about fire in the dormitories of colleges and boarding school. 

Statistics for US schools (U.S. Fire Administration National Fire Data Center, 2007) reveal that there were no reported school related fire deaths for the year 2006-2007.  Why is this?  Why is it that Canada and European schools have similar statistics?  It is because of the government enforced fire safety policies that are strictly monitored.  Fire drills are required at least once a month.  Fire evacuation routes have to be posted.  In most schools there is a required sprinkler system, or fire escape.  The report quoted above credits the fire drills as the largest contributing factor to the safety of the students in schools.  Yet, when there is a school related fire death reported, they tend to be in boarding schools in these countries.  Why?  The answer unfortunately is simple.  The one thing that happens in a boarding school that does not happen in a regular school is that students sleep in their own beds.  Sleeping is the only listed contributing factor to school related fire deaths in these countries.

School inspections include examinations into fire safety in these countries.  In most cases those reports are also available online.  Past concerns are also reviewed and examined in these reports.  Even schools in Korea have stringent rules on fire safety (Korea International School, 2007).

Yet, there are still many schools in Africa, Asia and, South America, where state required inspections do not exist or are not as strict have had large death tolls related to boarding school fires.  On April 15th 2008, a fire ripped through a dormitory in Buddo Junior Primary School, a boarding school in Uganda.  Nineteen girls as young as 12 and two adults were killed (OLUKYA, 2008).  On March 26, 2001 a fire killed 59 boys at the Kyanguli Secondary School in Machakos, a boarding school out (Associated Press, 2002).  In both cases there were serious fire hazards.  Doors were locked.  Windows were barred.  Government monitoring was lax.  The living condition in both cases was poor.

When you look at a boarding school no matter what country, visit the dorm!  Talk to the students, ask questions about fire drills.  Ask the students if they are ever awakened by one.  Its one thing to send your little one to a school known for its academics, its another thing to send your child someplace to live without first visiting the place and people you will trust to care for your child.  Kenya and Uganda are only a few of such places that have had fires with deadly results.

The US Fire Administration (2007) reports that hotels, boarding houses and boarding schools are susceptible to higher incidences of fire because of carelessness, smoking, candles, and simple ordinary home life activities that are not appropriate for a boarding/hotel type atmosphere.  Cooking in electric appliances such as toaster ovens or electric plates, discarding flammable materials such as cigarettes, storing towels and sheets where cleaning supplies are kept are just a few of the things that lead to fires in boarding schools. 

Safety Tip: Remember, if you want your child to be safe in a boarding school, visit the school, ask students questions, and check out the school’s last inspection.  These two tasks will protect your children in their home away from home. 

Do you have a concern or experience related to this article?  If so, leave a comment and share your concerns with others. 

Safe living, Yovette Mumford

Hi,

You may have provided your baby with a safe crib and safe furniture, when you leave the baby alone in the room how can you assure yourself he or she will be completely safe? You cannot stay with your baby in the nursery all the time, but you need to be assured that your baby is sleeping soundly and not in distress. You can have a peace of mind by investing in a baby monitor, such as the Safety 1st Sight N Sound Assurance Monitor System, and keep it on at all times the baby is left alone.

The Safety 1st Sight N Sound Assurance Monitor System is a video baby monitor with black and white screen, allowing you to see and hear your baby. This is a device that’s so easy to install and use. It consists of a video camera that can be adjusted into an angle that lets you get the best view of your baby.You will find this video baby monitor particularly suitable if you have a big house because you will be able to receive its frequency within a maximum range of 300 feet, while still providing you the video clarity you want. With Safety 1st Sight N Sound Assurance Monitor System, you have an option whether to operate the device using household electricity, or battery power.

Baby monitors help reassure you about your baby’s safety. They are especially comforting in times when you sleep soundly and have the baby sleeping in another room. If you have a large house and want to be alerted when the baby wakes, the Safety 1st Sight N Sound Assurance Monitor System can be programmed to set off an alarm.

Remember, however, that transmissions from baby monitors can be picked up on cell phones and on your neighbors’ baby monitor receivers. Make sure to turn off your transmitter while inside the nursery. You would not want to be embarrassed by having your neighbors hear your private conversations. Life has no reset button, think safety!

Safe living,
Yovette Mumfrod