Medical Alert Bracelets with Style

Holiday shopping can really be difficult, especially when shopping for kids with special needs.

Check out these bracelets from Hope Paige, makers of custom medical bracelets and accessories.  Having a disease, chronic illness, or disability sure can be tough for a kid compounded with the clumsy, archaic medical alert bracelets.

EMT’s are trained to look for the international sign for an illness, but should something happen while they are playing and they are not wearing a medical bracelet, something serious can happen.  Hope Paige Designs lets parents and kids make customized medical bracelets with engravings on the inside to let an EMT know what problem someone has.  This all masked under a fashionable accessory that kids love.

Check out some of these great styles!

There are so many to choose from, you can now let the special needs child on your holiday shopping list turn boring medical alert bracelets in to a trendy fashion statement while still remaining responsible by displaying the well known and easily recognizable medical alert symbol.

 

 

Good Housekeeping Announces 2011 Best Toy Awards

NEW YORK, NY (November 16, 2011) – ‘Tis the season to be jolly and, if you are searching for the perfect gift for a child, quite possibly confused!  With the overwhelming number of toys and games crowding store shelves, making choices can be a challenge – which are safe, quality products that kids will really enjoy playing with?  To help readers find out, Good Housekeeping spent months evaluating hundreds of toys, assessing their design and their ability to inspire creativity, foster learning, as well as promote hand-eye coordination and motor skill development.  After narrowing the list to 85 selections, 115 children ages 3 to 14 visited the Research Institute, the magazine’s state-of-the-art laboratory in New York City. Over the course of seven days, they tested the toys’ fun factor, filling out nearly 1,000 surveys.  The 20 winners that scored the highest and passed the engineers’ safety review (including being dropped by a Drop Tester to make sure the toys didn’t shatter into small pieces that could be choking hazards) made the list for Good Housekeeping’s 2011 Best Toy Awards, revealed in the December issue, on newsstands today.

The engineers and scientists at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute assessed new toys across four categories: those for ages 2 to 5; ages 5 to 8; ages 8+; and board games for ages 3 and up.  Winning toys range in price from $5 to $64.  To find the best board games, 50 were sent home with kids and their parents.  The winning, most family-friendly board games range in price from $20 to $40.

“Parents want to give their kids the toys they’re dreaming of for the holidays, but our readers are also concerned with choosing gifts that are safe and will teach their kids important skills,” says Rosemary Ellis, editor in chief of Good Housekeeping. “The Toy Awards are a great resource for gifts that inspire kids to grow and learn – even though they just think they’re having fun!”

Good Housekeeping’s 2011 Best Toy Award winners are:

Little Tikes 2-in-1 Garden Cart & Wheelbarrow ($40, littletikes.com; ages 2+): One of Good Housekeeping’s youngest testers’ top picks, this toy appealed to little landscapers, who loved pretend-planting the plastic flowers.

Imperial Toys’ Little Tikes Garden Bubble Leaf & Lawn Bubble Blower ($20, imperialtoy.com; ages 2+): This was another favorite among Good Housekeeping’s young testers—and really, what kid can resist a blast of bubbles?

Battat’s B. Critter Clinic ($25, justb-byou.com; ages 2+): Future veterinarians can examine and treat ailing plush pets with a toy stethoscope, syringe and more. The pup and kitty can convalesce in colorful kennel cubbies, and the corresponding door keys let a child practice fine motor skills.

Little Kids’ Toobers & Zots ($25, littlekidsinc.com; ages 3+): With flexible foam pieces, kids can design all sorts of “foamstructions.” Good Housekeeping’s kid testers tended to make wearable art—elaborate crowns and silly hats—but options are as limitless as a child’s imagination.

Shure’s Daisy Girls Dollhouse ($50, yoyo.com; ages 3+): The fun of paper dolls (here, made of durable wood) is combined with the pleasures of playing house, with a toy that includes four girls named after flowers and a fashionable wardrobe that attaches magnetically.

Educational Insights’ Playfoam ($5 for a four-pack, other sets available, educationalinsights.com; ages 3+): Endlessly squishable, it captivated young testers with its sculptability. Kids created colorful creatures, decorated walls with the beady dough (it peels right off and won’t stain), and discovered that it even sort of bounces!

Mattel’s Hot Wheels Wall Tracks ($30 for the starter set, mattelshop.com; ages 4+): Toy cars climb to new heights and tracks attach to a wall via removable brackets, allowing kids to enjoy sending them through straightaways and loops, without getting scattered across the floor.

Manhattan Toy Quadrilla Melody Basic Set ($64, manhattantoy.com; ages 4+): A musical toy and a building challenge in one, this toy involves assembling a wood track, and as the marble rolls through the course, elegant chimes ring out.

Little Kids’ Crunch Art ($5 and up, littlekidsinc.com; ages 4+): Kids can make mess-free, fantastic fabrications, just pressing little bits of cloth into boards using a stylus. Good Housekeeping’s school-age testers found the results worthy of display and praise.

Silverlit’s 3D Twister ($50, get3Dtwister.com; ages 5+): This remote-controlled car zipped its way to the top of Good Housekeeping’s testers’ lists. Whether careening at dizzying speed down the hall or flipping end-over-end (it’s two-sided, so the car just keeps going), it doesn’t disappoint.

Jakks Pacific B.I.G. Power Hand ($30, becomebig.com; ages 6+): This fulfills every child’s sci-fi dream of having a bionic body part. It fits like a glove (literally); by moving each finger, the wearer can cause the oversize digits to bend, reach, and grasp.

K’Nex Mario Kart Wii Mario and Luigi Starting Line ($60, knex.com; ages 6+): Part construction set, part racetrack, it lets kids build an obstacle course and then set motorized Mario and Luigi cars loose. The crazy brothers bounce off each other and the track’s roadblocks—live, but just like in the video game.

Waboba Tosy AFO ($20, waboba.com; ages 7+): This high-flying toy really soars and (usually) returns, boomerang-like, to its starting spot. Light and flexible, it won’t cause damage or injury in a crash landing. LED lights illuminate nighttime takeoffs.

Ravensburger’s Xoomy ($25, ravensburger.com; ages 7+): With 20 whimsical image patterns to project and trace, plus paper and pen, illustrators-in-training loved customizing these renderings with their own pencils, crayons, and markers.

Wild Planet’s Denkosekka Battle Set ($20, shopwildplanet.com; ages 7+): Players fling a yo-yo-like magnetic catcher toward a mat strewn with tokens to see who’s the best picker-upper, and tokens have different point values; whoever nabs the most points wins.

Lego Creator Rescue Robot ($17, lego.com; ages 7+): The famed plastic-brick maker adds bling with a light-up block. The set has instructions for building three characters (the namesake robot, plus Laserbot and Robocat). Of course, as with all Legos, kids can also improvise.

Scientific Explorer’s Disgusting Special Effects Make-Up Kit ($20, poof-slinky.com; ages 8+): This kit comes with everyday ingredients to teach kids how to easily fake horror movie make-up, such as bloody gashes, dramatic bruises, and more.

SmartLab Weird & Wacky Contraption Lab ($40, smartlabtoys.com; ages 8+): Kids assemble a course of ramps that relies on the science of levers, gears, and gravity. A rolling marble triggers a chain reaction to launch a plastic pig from a cannon. (There’s a reason it’s called “wacky.”)

Jakks Pacific Spy Net Bionic Ear ($20, spynethq.com; ages 8+): This sound magnifier can be stuck to a wall or door and it connects to the included earbuds for a covert operation.

Klutz Guide to the Galaxy ($20, klutz.com; ages 8+): Wannabe astronomers can build their own telescope; the constellation and moon maps help pinpoint galactic bodies, and the book details a slew of otherworldly activities to explore.

The six winning board games are:

Hasbro Connect 4 Launchers Game ($20, hasbrotoysho.com; ages 5+): Reimagining the classic, it heightens the four-in-a-row fun by having opponents fling their checkers onto the board. The goal: to land them consecutively and block the competition from doing the same.

MindWare Pix Mix Game ($20, mindware.com; ages 8+): Got an eye for detail? Each transparent card has a line drawing of a common object, and cards are piled six high; players have 30 seconds to discern each image within the squiggly jumble. 

Techno Source Tetris Link Game ($25, technosourceusa.com; ages 6+): Sometimes the best innovation takes you back to basics. Here, the popular video game goes low-tech: players take turns sliding in the “Tetrimino” pieces and score by linking consecutive colored squares.  

Learning Resources Double Duel Game ($28, learningresources.com; ages 7+): To win this game, it helps to have good ears, fast fingers and a love of language. Cards define pairs of words with the same pronunciation but different meanings. Buzz first and ID the soundalikes to rack up points.  

Super Duper Publications Jeepers Peepers Game ($40, superduperinc.com; ages 5+): Curiosity is key here, with competitors clipping photos of different items onto their game glasses, facing out, then taking turns posing yes-or-no questions to figure out what’s on their display.  

Educational Insights Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game! ($20, educationalinsights.com; 3+): Participants aim to be the first to stock a log with acorns using the tweezerlike “squirrel squeezers.” A bad spin could mean losing one piece—or your entire stash. 

For more on Good Housekeeping’s top-rated toys, visit www.goodhousekeeping.com/toyawards.

About Good Housekeeping

Founded in 1885, Good Housekeeping (www.goodhousekeeping.com) magazine reaches nearly 25 million readers each month.  In addition to the print title, there is The Good Housekeeping Research Institute, the consumer product evaluation laboratory of Good Housekeeping magazine.  Founded in 1900 and continuing today with the same mission, the Research Institute is dedicated to improving the lives of consumers and their families through education and product evaluation. Only products evaluated by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute can be accepted for advertising in the magazine, and thereby become eligible to display the Good Housekeeping Seal, the hallmark that provides assurance to readers that the products advertised in the magazine are backed by a two-year limited warranty against being defective, with specified exceptions.  In 2009, the Green Good Housekeeping Seal was introduced as an environmental overlay to the original Seal, offering consumers guidance on products making environmental claims.  Readers can also interact with the brand on the digital front, with Good Housekeeping mobile (m.goodhousekeeping.com), at Goodhousekeeping.com and through its GH@Home iPhone app. In addition to its U.S. flagship, Good Housekeeping publishes 10 editions around the world.  Good Housekeeping is published by Hearst Magazines, a unit of Hearst Corporation, the largest publisher of monthly magazines in the U.S. (ABC 2011) and reaches 87 million adults (Spring 2011 MRI). (www.hearst.com).

 

 

Reduce Your Gas Addicition

1. Public Transportation While budgetary cutbacks have impacted public transportation, many cities and even rural areas offer some form of service. It might take longer to get around via buses, subways and trains, public transport allows you to leave that gas guzzler in the garage.

Don’t overlook other opportunities provided by public transportation. Freed from focusing on the road, you can get some work done, make new friends or catch up on email, Facebook, Twitter and cat videos.

2. Bicycle
Winter storms make bicycling impossible in some locations, but peddling your way to work or around town during inclement weather is both cheaper and better for your body. Many places now offer bike lanes, making this form of transportation much safer. Bike libraries or leasing services are increasing in popularity, allowing you to either borrow a bicycle or pay a minimal fee. Some employers even encourage biking by providing a financial incentive and, on occasion, in-house showers with a more casual dress code.

3. Car Pool
Sure it’s a bit more complicated to commute when you have to work around other people’s schedules, but you’ll also have access to those speedy car-pooling lanes. Various cities offer government-organized car pool services, with some even providing the vehicle. As with public transport, you’ll also have extra time to work, put on your makeup, text friends or simply lay back and take a nap. For help coordinating a carpool, check out PickupPal which connects drivers with passengers through social networking tools.

4. Walk
We have legs and feet for a reason. Hit the pavement and get some exercise, whether by power walking, jogging or simply sauntering.

5. Scooters
These “mini-bikes” are popular in Europe because of super high gas prices. They’re light, agile, and usually much less expensive than motorcycles. While you can’t use a scooter on highways, they’re perfect for short commutes or trips around town.

6. Segways
These new-age transport vehicles are considered somewhat geeky, but John Hinkenlooper was recently elected Colorado governor despite his propensity for Segways. They’re great for getting around town and actually are quite fun to ride.

7. Shop Online
Surfing the Web for everything from groceries to clothes and auto parts allows you to cruise your favorite shops without wasting gas. With the increase in free shipping offers from stores like Lands’ End and JCPenney shopping online is even cheaper this year, and consumers have rapidly caught on. A sharp climb in the number of retailers offering free shipping deals helped boost online sales by 24 percent in 2010.

8. Telecommute
Skype, the “cloud,” email and other 21st Century innovations make it even easier to telecommute. Working just one or two days a week from home will cut your gas bill by roughly a fourth or fifth — not so shabby a savings! Consider hosting mandatory business meetings online using virtual platforms likeGoToMeetings, which uses a web conferencing tool that allows attendees to share applications in real time.

9. Electric and Hybrid Cars
Kelley Blue Book recently rated the 2011 Nissan Leaf as first in its “Top 10 Green Cars for 2011.” The Leaf not only gets 73 miles per charge (the equivalent of 99 miles per gallon), but it’s also made with recycled materials. (Just thought you might like to know that detail.) The 2011 Chevy Volt placed second as the “most fun” electrically driven car and the Toyota Prius, the original and most-popular hybrid, rounded out the top three. Click here for the complete list.

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Consumer savings expert, Andrea Woroch, is available for an in-studio, satellite or skype interviews to share ways consumers can save without driving your gas guzzling vehicle with your audience. As a media expert source, Andrea has been featured on NBC’s Today Show, FOX & Friends, MSNBC, ABC News NOW and many more. To view recent interviews or find more information, visit AndreaWoroch.com.

Arthur Celebrates Earth Day with Five New Episodes

BOSTON, MA (April 11, 2011) – PBS KIDS GO!’s iconic kids series ARTHUR continues its 14th season with five brand-new episodes highlighting environmental protection, cultural awareness, and teamwork beginning on Earth Day, Friday April 22, 2011, and continuing through Thursday April 28, 2011 (check local listings). The fun starts with a special Earth Day message from Arthur and his friends in Buster Baxter and the Letter from the Sea. In this episode, Buster discovers a message in a bottle on the beach while on vacation with the Read family. Could it be an urgent message from the people of the Lost City of Atlantis? Buster is determined to find out and sends messages back…by throwing his own bottles into the ocean. Join Buster and Arthur as they learn that keeping our beaches and waterways clean is the real message.
Online, kids are invited to take the Go Green Challenge (http://pbskids.org/arthur/thetreehouse/gogreen/index.html) on the ARTHUR website. In this special section, kids can join their favorite ARTHUR characters in support of a green cause. Whether it’s making better food choices with Buster, or saving energy with D.W., kids have opportunities to take simple green steps that can help save the environment. Also, kids will be able to print out a “Challenge Page” to keep track of their green actions.

“This Earth Day, we wanted to show kids how simple actions can affect the environment,” says Senior Executive Producer Carol Greenwald. “Through this episode and the Go Green Challenge, kids can learn simple steps that they can take to help protect the world around them.”

Throughout the week of new episodes, Arthur and friends will follow a soccer ball as it makes its way around the world.  In Follow the Bouncing Ball, airing Friday, April 22, 2011, Alberto Molina’s beloved soccer ball, signed by his favorite Ecuadorian soccer star, “El Boomerang,” is lost. Kids are invited to join Arthur in learning about new cultures and track all the places “El Boomerang” goes as it travels around the world (and into outer space!).

In a special episode airing Thursday, April 28, 2011, kids learn that teamwork can help their dreams soar when NASA Astronaut Mike Finke guest-stars on ARTHUR in Buster Spaces Out. Inspired by footage of the moon landing, Buster wants to go to outer space. Well, someday. For now, it would be really cool to build and launch a rocket.  So Buster enlists his friends to help…but they can’t agree on anything and the mission stalls.  Luckily, their new friend Astronaut Mike teaches them that only teamwork will accomplish this mission–and then it’s blast-off!

Tune in for these adventures and more as your favorite ARTHUR characters travel the globe in Around the World in 11 Minutes, start competing blogs in Muffy and the Big Bad Blog, try their hand at fashion design in All the Rage, cope with teasing in D.W., Queen of the Comeback, explore Africa in In My Africa, and discover knitting in Arthur Unravels. The full schedule of airdates is below (check local listings):

Friday, April 22, 2011 – Follow the Bouncing Ball, Buster Baxter and the Letter from the Sea
Monday, April 25, 2011 – Around the World in 11 Minutes, Muffy and the Big Bad Blog
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 – Arthur Unravels, All the Rage
Wednesday, April 27, 2011 – D.W., Queen of the Comeback, In My Africa
Thursday, April 28, 2011 – Buster Spaces Out, The Long Road Home

ARTHUR Online at PBSKIDSGO.org/arthur
The award-winning ARTHUR website is home to many games and activities, including the new game “Buster Baxter, Lung Defender.” In this game, kids fight common asthma triggers in a wild ride through Buster’s lungs. Supporting material for parents and caregivers can be found in the new Kids & Asthma section on the Parents & Teachers site. Also new this season, Arthur and his friends team up with Martha from Martha Speaks in a new game called “Marthur Stickerbook Mashup.” Kids can choose characters and props from each show to create unique mashup scenes. Finally, in a comic-creator feature inspired by Neil Gaiman, who guest-starred on ARTHUR last fall in Tales of the Grotesquely Grim Bunny, kids can create their very own comics, featuring Arthur and his Elwood City friends. The ARTHUR website is also home to most of the series educational materials including resources, lesson plans, and activities and has features to help kids understand their neighbors, near and far, and gain a better appreciation for the world around them. Kids can also watch video clips and full episodes of ARTHUR at PBSKIDSGO.org/video.

About ARTHUR
ARTHUR, based on Marc Brown’s best-selling books, reaches over 5.1 million people each week (NTI, Sept. 2010-January 2011).  ARTHUR has won numerous awards, including the George Foster Peabody Award, a BAFTA and six Daytime Emmys®– four for Outstanding Children’s Animated Program. ARTHUR is produced by WGBH Boston and Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc. Carol Greenwald is Senior Executive producer (WGBH) and Executive producers are Toper Taylor (Cookie Jar), and Marc Brown (Marc Brown Studios). The series is directed by Greg Bailey.

Funding for ARTHUR is provided by public television viewers. Corporate funding is provided by Chuck E. Cheese’s®.

About WGBH Boston
WGBH Boston is America’s preeminent public broadcasting producer, the source of one-third of PBS’s prime-time lineup along with some of public television’s best-known lifestyle shows, many public radio favorites, and a roster of children’s programs that empower kids with innovative, entertaining, curriculum-based content. Among the WGBH produced children’s titles: Arthur, Curious George, Postcards from Buster, Between the Lions, Design Squad, Martha Speaks and Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman. WGBH is the number-one producer of websites on pbs.org, one of the most trafficked dot-org websites in the world, and a pioneer in educational multimedia and in technologies and services that make media accessible to the 36 million Americans who rely on captioning or video descriptions. WGBH has been recognized with hundreds of honors: Emmys, Peabodys, duPont-Columbia Awards . . . even two Oscars. In 2002, WGBH received a special institutional Peabody Award for 50 years of excellence. For more information, go to www.wgbh.org.

About Cookie Jar Group
Cookie Jar Group develops, produces, distributes and markets quality products to children, their caregivers, parents and teachers. Cookie Jar Group’s products reflect its commitment to providing the best in children’s published content, animated and live action programming and innovative educational and entertainment-driven products worldwide. The group of companies consists of Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc. and Cookie Jar Education Inc. Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc., Cookie Jar Group’s entertainment operation, is a leading, global, independent producer, marketing and brand manager of such renowned children’s properties as The Doodlebops, Caillou, Arthur, Spider Riders and Johnny Test. Combining globally renowned intellectual properties with an industry-recognized management team, Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc. is a market-driven, brand building company that is committed to children first and foremost and is dedicated to the development and production of quality programming that embraces the whole child, with animated and live-action series that entertain, inspire and enlighten children and family audiences worldwide.

About PBS KIDS GO!
PBS KIDS GO! offers early elementary children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television, online and community-based programs.  For more information on specific PBS KIDS GO! programs supporting literacy, science, math and more, visit PBS.org/pressroom.

 

Six Ways To Save Like An Extreme Couponer

With the start of TLC’s latest “Extreme Couponing” season, it’s a good time to review some basic tricks that these coupon pros use. Read on for six ways you can save like an extreme couponer.

1. Start Small
Don’t try to go extreme all at once. Take it step by step, rather than show up at a checkout with 50 coupons and little idea what you’re doing.

2. Never Pay For Coupons
There are some things in this life you just shouldn’t pay for, and a coupon is one of them. Paying someone to clip or organize your coupons defeats the purpose of living frugally. Instead, surf Sunday newspaper ad supplements for coupon savings; ask your neighbors for their unwanted papers; or dive inside a recycled dumpster or two. Also, free online coupon sites like CouponSherpa.com give consumers access to a multitude of coupon codes and printable coupons for thousands of merchants.

3. Get Organized
A little organization can go a long way. Always create a shopping list and have your coupons and shopping strategy organized before you even enter the store. Use an expandable coupon binder to sort coupon inserts by date, categories and expiration dates. Transfer to a small couponizer only those you’ll need for a specific shopping trip.

4. Location, Location, Location
Where you shop is a key factor in making the best use of your time and coupons. Only shop at locations that allow coupon stacking and combining coupons with in-store offers. Don’t be afraid to call and ask about policies before you show up. You don’t want to wind up embarrassed at the checkout line with a handful of useless coupons.

5. Loyalty Rewards
Always take advantage of club membership rewards. These programs are usually free and have many savings perks, like rewards points, cash back programs, and double points for every certain amount you spend.

6. Don’t Be Greedy
This is often where extreme couponers cross over into the world of hoarding. Only shop for items you actually need, products you can stock up on that aren’t perishable, and those you can donate. Remember, a bargain is only a bargain if you can actually use the purchase. If your pantry has expanded into your living room and the kids are sleeping on rolls of toilet paper, you’ve probably reached hoarder status.

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Consumer savings expert, Andrea Woroch, is available for an in-studio, satellite or skype interviews to share “6 Ways To Save Like An Extreme Couponer” with your audience. As a media expert source, Andrea has been featured on NBC’s Today Show, FOX & Friends, MSNBC, ABC News NOW and many more. To view recent interviews or get more information, visit AndreaWoroch.com or you can also follow @AndreaWoroch on Twitter to receive daily savings tips.

 

Thanksgiving Apps for your Smartphone

Turkey, stuffing, cranberries…and smartphones?  Next Thursday, countless tech savvy homemakers will turn to their digital devices in search of the perfect recipes, crafts and other items essential to the perfect Thanksgiving Day.

As such, Appitalism.com, the first site to combine a social community with an online store to help consumers quickly and easily discover, discuss and download the best digital content for all devices, recommends the following apps for your smart phone to help ensure a memorable turkey day.

• Thanksgiving Recipe – Just as the title implies, this Apple iOS app offers step-by-step instructions for creating everything from a perfect moist turkey to garlic mashed potatoes and beyond.

• MMS Checklist for Blackberry – You’ve planned the perfect meal but all of your effort could easily be for nothing if you forget a key ingredient or two.  This easy to use Blackberry app allows you to have your entire shopping list available at the click of a button, checking off each item as they placed in your shopping basket.

• Thanksgiving Crafts – Now that the meal is planned and the shopping is complete, it’s time to turn your attention to festive decor.  Use this app to create everything from seasonal centerpieces to paper pilgrim hats and everything in between.

• SocialVibe Thanksgiving Feast – Created in the true spirit of the holiday, this free Facebook app enables users to donate meals to needy families.

• Turkey Taps – Have some time to spare between basting?  Score points in this interactive Android game by tapping on the turkeys, harvest bowl, cranberries and more then see how your fellow guests stack up against your score.

• NFL Game Center 2010 – Still stuck at the table while your favorite Thanksgiving Day NFL matchup is underway?  Don’t miss a minute of the action with real time scores, audio highlights and more from this popular app.

• Weight Loss Diary & Tracker.  Did that extra serving of turkey and gravy push your waist over the top?  This comprehensive weight loss tool provides the tracking information necessary to motivate your long term diet plans.

E! Investigates: Teen Suicide

E! Investigates: Teen Suicide

Laura Ling Examines This National Crisis On December 8 In Her Premiere Episode As Host Of E!’s Hit Investigative Series

“I thought if I can end this life, then people will finally care and people will stop making fun of me, because no one makes fun of someone that’s dead.” – Ernesto Dominguez, 16

(November 11, 2010) – In an average classroom of thirty students, six will experience depression; of those six, half will try to kill themselves. In response to statistics such as this, Laura Ling, respected journalist and host of E! Investigates, examines this tragic crisis. Speaking with teenagers who attempted suicide and family members who have lost loved ones, Ling tries to find answers to the hardest question for those left behind: why? The journalist’s first episode as host of E! Investigates premieres on December 8th, 2010 at 10:00 PM only on E!.

Kayla Havins shot herself with a hunting rifle. Darielys Tejera cut herself. Max Nolan washed down countless pills with vodka. These are just some of the tragic cases of suicide and suicide attempts that Laura Ling examines in E! Investigates: Teen Suicide. Ling’s investigation takes her to schools where she speaks with teens about depression and to support groups for parents whose children have killed themselves. Sadly, Ling discovers that the recent rise in teen suicide making headlines is merely the tip of the iceberg. In many cases children show no outward signs of trouble, while others provide clues that are difficult to separate from everyday teen angst.  Kathy Silverman, mother of Matt Silverman who passed away in 2006, tells E!, “It’s very difficult to distinguish what is normal teenaged behavior and something that may become abnormal.”

Frightening facts revealed in this episode of E! Investigates include:

* Every 40 seconds in the United States a teenage attempts suicide.
* Every two hours, suicide claims a teenager’s life.
* For every young person who dies by suicide, up to two hundred attempt.
* 80% of suicidal people will tell someone in some way that they are going to do it.
* Only 30% of teens who are depressed are getting help.

With the help of experts including clinical psychologist Dr. Ramani Durvasula, Los Angeles Unified School District psychologist Richard Lieberman, and psychiatric nurse Cathy Strunk, along with the cooperation of young men and women who survived their suicide attempts and the family members suicide has left behind, E! Investigates provides an in-depth, far-reaching examination of this national crisis. Be sure to tune-in to E! Investigates: Teen Suicide on December 8th at 10:00 PM only on E!.

Black Cats are “Lucky” After All

Pet insurance claims indicate that black cats are less prone to accidents

Halloween conjures images of mysterious black cats that cross paths and bring bad luck. According to Petplan pet insurance, however, nothing could be further from the truth. Among the cat population, black cats are the least accident-prone, resulting in the lowest number of pet insurance claims.

Based on Petplan’s insurance claims, black cats are 15% less likely to be victims of an accident or injury compared to their colorful kitty counterparts. By contrast, orange cats are twice as likely as their inky cousins to be involved in a mishap. These unforeseen accidents can cost a small fortune.

Petplan’s most “unlucky” cat to date is a grey one, named April. After ingesting a belly’s worth of plastic, she required extensive surgery. Luckily, April survived and so did the family’s bank account. Petplan picked up 99% of the $5,000 veterinary bill for the insured cat, their highest feline accident claim to date.

While black cats may be lucky in avoiding accidents, they are not as fortunate when it comes to being adopted. According to a study by the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, black cats are often the last to be selected at an animal shelter.

Despite this, “Lucky” is the third most popular name of black cats insured by Petplan. Subscriber favorites include “Midnight” as the top choice with “Boo” as the next preferred. Black cat names inspired by popular culture include “Beetlejuice,” “Optimus Prime,” “Leroy Brown,” and “Jesse James.”

“Regardless of the color of your pet, this Halloween keep all furry friends away from lit jack-o-lanterns, decorations, and candy,” advises veterinarian Dr. Jules Benson, Petplan’s Vice President of Veterinary Services. The average veterinary cost of chocolate ingestion by a pet is scary indeed… upwards of $1,000.00. Additional Halloween safety tips are available on Petplan’s webpage (http://www.GoPetplan.com/newsletter/201010/newsletter.aspx).

About Petplan

Petplan is America’s #1 rated pet insurance company, offering comprehensive accident and illness health insurance for dogs and cats. Petplan offers simple, customizable policies to meet any coverage requirements and budget and is the only pet health insurance provider to cover all hereditary and congenital conditions for the life of the pet without dollar limits per condition. For more information, visit http://www.GoPetplan.com or call 1-866-467-3875.

Pet Food Recall

FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.

Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd. Recalls Limited Production Code Dates of Dry Dog Food Because of Possible Excess Vitamin D

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 8, 2010 – Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd., recalls certain dry dog food because of possible excess Vitamin D that can affect the health of some dogs. The Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd., is recalling certain packages of its Wilderness Chicken, Basics Salmon and Large Breed Adult Chicken dry dog foods sold under thc “BLUE” brand which have the potential to contain excessive levels of Vitamin D.

While Vitamin D is a beneficial component of these foods, the Company believes that these products may have levels of Vitamin D that are beyond the formula specifications, and has therefore chosen to withdraw them.

Dogs reacting to the higher levels of Vitamin D may show signs of lethargy or exhibit unusually frequent water consumption and urination. If your pet has consumed the recalled products and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

The affected productions of Blue Wilderness Chicken, Basics Salmon and Large Breed Adult Chicken dry dog foods were distributed nationwide through pet specialty stores.

Only these production runs of the products are involved in this recall:

 

Blue Wilderness Chicken Flavor dry dog food	4.5 1b	“Best If Used By JUL2611Z” “Best If Used By JUL2711Z” &  “Best If Used By JUL2811Z”
Blue Wilderness Chicken Flavor dry dog food	11 lb	“Best If Used By JUL1211B”
Blue Wilderness Chicken Flavor dry dog food	24 1b	“Best If Used By JUL1211B” & “Best If Used By JUL1311B”
Blue Basics Limited Ingredient Formula Salmon and Potato Recipe dry dog food	11 lb	“Best If Used By AUG2111B” & “Best If Used By AUG2211B”
Blue Basics Limited Ingredient Formula Salmon and Potato Recipe dry dog food	24 lb	“Best If Used By AUG2111B”  “Best If Used By SEP2311P” &  “Best If Used By OCT2611P”
Blue Life Protection Formula Natural Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Large Breed Adult dog food	30 lb	“Best If Used By SEP2211P”  “Best If Used By SEP2311P” &  “Best If Used By OCT2611P”

 

No other BLUE dry or can pet foods are involved in this recall, and only the specific code dates of these products are involved.

To date there have been 36 cases nationwide of dogs reported with symptoms consistent with elevated Vitamin D in their systems while feeding on these specific productions of the products. In all cases the symptoms have subsided upon discontinuing feeding these products, with no apparent long term health consequences.

Blue Buffalo learned of this potential eondition in its products when it received reports of dogs diagnosed with high Vitamin D levels while feeding on the products from these specifie production runs. On further investigation it was learned that a sequencing error had occurred at the supplier of the dry ingredients for these products. Immediately before producing the ingredients for these specific production runs, the supplier had run a product for another customer that contained a more potent form of Vitamin D used in chicken feeds. It is now believed that there was some level of carry over of this Vitamin D product into the ingredients for the specific manufacturing runs of the BLUE products, thereby increasing the Vitamin D activity to unacceptable levels in the Blue ingredients.

Consumers who have purchased any of the products being recalled are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-877-523-9114 from 8 AM to 8 PM Eastern Time or visit the Company web site at www.bluebuffalo.com/news for more information.

Tips on Halloween Candy and Avoiding Tooth Decay

Tips on Halloween Candy and Avoiding Tooth Decay

By Dr. Margaret Mitchell

Kids love candy and Halloween is a great time to celebrate that love. However, what is a parent to do if they are worried about tooth decay from all this candy consumption? Candy usually contains sugar, which the bacteria that cause tooth decay dine on. So eating a food loaded with carbohydrate or sugar feeds the bacteria that cause tooth decay. Consequently, to avoid negative impacts from candy, we have to do two things: 1) Avoid excessive consumption of these sugary treats and 2) Lessen the amount of time the sugar is present in the mouth.

As the owner of Mitchell Dental Spa, a dental spa facility in Chicago’s Water Tower Place, I’d like to offer the following tips to for protecting your kids teeth at Halloween.

• Examine your child’s candy to see if it meets your approval.
• It is okay for your child to eat any candy that you approve of, but to help lessen the chance for tooth decay, have them brush as soon as possible (after eating the candy). If a child or adult brushes right after, the impact of the candy on the teeth is minimal.
• Avoid sticky candy such as taffy, gummy bears, caramel, etc.  Sticky Candy adheres to teeth and causes decay
• Kids can eat candy ANYTIME, there is not a good time of day/night to eat candy
• Prior to Halloween, visit your dentist to have sealants put into the child’s teeth grooves

If brushing soon after eating is not possible, then try the following:

• Consume the candy with a meal. The increased saliva production while eating will help wash the sweet off the teeth.
• Rinse the mouth with water.
• Chew a sugarless gum (especially those containing xylitol) after snacking on candy. The increased saliva from chewing will help wash the sugar off the teeth and xylitol gums help control the bacteria that cause tooth decay.
• Eat the candy quickly in one sitting to decrease the amount of time it is contact with the teeth. Avoid eating any candy slowly over an extended time or over multiple sittings. Recent studies have shown that length of time eating a sweet can be more harmful than the amount of sweet consumed. This means hard candies, breath mints, etc. (long residence time in the mouth) can actually be worse for your teeth than a chocolate candy bar (shorter residence time in the mouth).
• Avoid sugary sodas.  They are: 1) Loaded with sugar (often over 10 teaspoons per 12 ounce serving), 2) Are acidic enough to dissolve away tooth enamel, and 3) Are often sipped for long periods of time, resulting in teeth that are being bathed with sugar and acid almost continuously throughout the day.

For more information, please visit www.MitchellDentalSpa.com.

About Mitchell Dental Spa

The philosophy of the Mitchell Dental Spa is over-the-top dentistry combined with over-the-top amenities.  Unlike other cosmetic dental offices which only have dental services, the Mitchell Dental Spa is a full-service facility offering dentistry along with massages, facials, and skin rejuvenation. Complimentary 10-15 minute spa treatments are included with every visit and this is offered up along with refreshments, a friendly staff and world-class professional service.  The Mitchell Dental Spa is located at 845 North Michigan Avenue in Suite 922 East in Chicago’s Water Tower Place. For more information, please call (312) 642-1014 or visit http://www.mitchelldentalspa.com.

 

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