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Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2698 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 415 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017 Tips For Empowering Your Daughters Guide To Warm Weather Comfort And Safety (NAPSA)—Warm weather means not just an increase in outdoor activities but emergency room visits as well. By taking a few steps to prepare, you can protect yourself and your family for more fun in the sun. Dr. Jamison Satterfield, a pediatrician for over 25 years, advises pulling together a bag to bring on your outings to help avoid unnecessary hospital visits. Essential items that should not be overlooked or underestimated include: First Aid Kit: If left untreated, cuts and scrapes can get infected. Always keep on hand a topical sterilizer—tube of Neosporin—for a quick cleanup. Adhesive bandages, gauze, medical tape, alcohol wipes and an ice pack may also come in handy. Check your kit regularly to replace used items and remove expired products. Sunblock: The rate of deadly melanoma skin cancer has almost tripled in the last 35 years despite all the warnings. Dr. Satterfield recommends broad-spectrum sunscreens with an SPF of 30 or higher. Water-resistant sunscreens can be less effective so it’s best to avoid them unless you’re going swimming. In addition, sunscreen containing insect repellent has its SPF cut by more than 30 percent. “When it comes to sunscreen, apply more and do it more often,” added Dr. Satterfield. Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes prior to sun exposure and reapplied generously every two hours. Over time, sunscreens lose effectiveness, changing in color or texture. At the expiration date or yearly, sunscreen should be discarded. Also note, over-thecounter pain relief medications and antihistamines decrease the efficacy of sunscreen. So do some prescription drugs including antibiotics as well as many acne treatments containing benzoyl peroxide. Protect your family from sunburn, bug bites and infection this summer. Mosquito Repellent: Chances of contracting mosquito-borne illnesses are on the rise, especially for children and the elderly. A study by The New England Journal of Medicine found that bath oil, which some people use as a repellent, protects for less than 10 minutes. Other natural repellents such as eucalyptus oil, cactus juice, lemongrass oil, juniper, or even peppermint or vanilla, are no better. While DEET certainly works, Dr. Satterfield does not recommend it for children under age 1. He does recommend Thermacell Mosquito Repellent products, including lanterns, handheld repellers and backyard torches, which are designed to create a 15x15-foot “bubble” of protection that biting pests cannot penetrate. These products use a repellent that mimics the natural insecticide found in chrysanthemums and are virtually odorless, flameless and portable. Emergency Car Kit: Keep on hand hand-wipes or sanitizer, bottles of water, and hearty snacks that can take the heat, such as dried fruits, nuts and granola bars, for a quick, protein-rich snack. Other emergency items can include a couple of flares, flashlight, hats, umbrella and blanket. Dr. Satterfield said he also keeps a Thermacell repeller on hand for roadside use and picnics. Jamison J. Satterfield, M.D., practices pediatric medicine in Charlotte, N.C., and has been included in the Charlotte magazine Top Doctor list for numerous years. (NAPSA)—Capable, strong and confident women are in the news with increasing frequency these days—from politicians and movie stars to women making strides in sports, business and the military. Parents are becoming more aware that helping their children—particularly girls—build skills that lead to empowerment is important for success in life. But many parents may be wondering just how to go about it. Child and adolescent psychotherapist Katie Hurley, a parenting expert and author of the upcoming book “The Happy Kid Handbook: How to Raise Joyful Children in a Stressful World,” notes that empowerment begins at home with day-to-day activities. Here are some easy tips Hurley recommends as effective in helping your daughter to be her best self. •Communicate, communicate, communicate. One of the most important things parents can do is open the lines of communication. Listen before you respond. Allow your child to vent and articulate her emotions, while letting her know you’ll just listen, without judgment. Showing empathy is important (“I hear you” and “How can I help?”). Give lots of love, acceptance and support. This will help her know that what she thinks and how she feels is important and that she is a priority for you. •Help identify good models. Watch what she’s watching and discuss it together. Kids today are often plugged into their own world and tuned out to their parents. But that doesn’t mean you have to sit back and remain in the dark. Watch her—or your—favorite shows or movies together. The subtle lessons in a film can be the impetus for discussing issues and providing role models. One such A delightful animated film that parents and children can watch together can lead to important life lessons. film is “Strange Magic,” Touchstone’s newest animated tale from George Lucas, now on DVD. A key character is Marianne, a female whose journey to empowerment includes learning to see people not for how they look, but for who they really are. George Lucas notes, “The point of the film is that everyone deserves to be loved and true love goes much deeper than just infatuation or looks...It’s about finding true beauty in someone’s soul regardless of how they look.” •Encourage girls to aim high. Remind them that hard work and dedication are part of what it takes to reach goals and dreams. The key to building girls up is to help identify and then support their strengths so you can encourage them to reach their goals. •Resist jumping in to “fix” things. Rather than solving your daughter’s problems, try stepping back so she can work through conflicts and find solutions on her own. When you empower your daughter to problem-solve, you show her you have confidence in her ability to handle her life. This allows her to enlist your participation in a discussion and show your support through the process. •Success is a team sport. Healthy competition is good. When young girls learn to stick together and lift each other up, they internalize the valuable lesson of teamwork. Whether your daughter is athletically, artistically and/or academically inclined, help her find ways to join with others and learn how to be a team player. Let her know it’s OK to compete by using her strengths to the best of her ability. •Build empathy by volunteering together. Helping others is a great way to spend quality time together and learn to focus on other’s needs, which is a great leadership skill. Search for monthly volunteer opportunities and choose one that appeals to both of you. Spend some time doing good to feel good together. Learn More For more tips from Katie Hurley, visit http://practicalkatie.com. •Disney’s “Strange Magic,” http://strangemagicmovie.com, on DVD and Digital HD. •Preorder Hurley’s “The Happy Kid Handbook” on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1JlcxmI. Strange Magic & ™ 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
