Dear CATS Friend,

Congratulations and best of luck to the class of 2012! Please remember to celebrate safely. In 2004 the NH state legislature passed a law (RSA 644:18 the Party Host Liability Law) to hold "hosts" of parties responsible for the actions of underage participants. This law can be applied to any adult.

Stay safe under this law: take action to prevent the party; try to stop the party if it has already started; tell local law enforcement officials as soon as possible. Click here for more information. 

Make this a memorable event for all the right reasons.

Best regards,

Sue Centner 

Car crashes are the number one killer of children 1 to 12 years old in the United States. The best way to protect them in the car is to put them in the right seat, at the right time, and use it the right way.

There are so many car seat types and models, how do you know which one is right for your child? The right car seat or booster fits your child and your car, and is one you will use correctly every time you travel. Not only will your child ride as safely as possible, you will be establishing the foundation for a lifelong habit of seat belt use every time your child travels. More 

Starting July 1st the Northern New England Poison Center will no longer be able take calls from the State of New Hampshire. The State has told the NNEPC that Federal grant funds that supported poison center services are no longer available, and officials are unsure if other money will be available.

The NNEPC answers, on average 20,000 calls from New Hampshire. More than 12,000 calls are about poisonings. There are no other poison centers serving New Hampshire. The loss of services to New Hampshire could have a huge impact on health care services, Medicaid, Medicare and private health insurance costs. Poisoned patients may also not get the care they need, resulting in injury and perhaps even preventable death.

What can you do to help?

1-Call the Governor's office and let them know that you are concerned about the Poison Center and that you want to know what is happening to make sure you don't lose poison center services.

           Governor's Office 603-271-2121 

2-Call your State of NH Senators and House Representatives to tell them you are concerned and want to know what is happening.

 In addition to the safety themes below, the summer season traditionally is a time of increased unintentional injuries and fatalities.

Preventing Overexertion - June 5 to 11
Overexertion is the third-leading cause of unintentional injuries treated in emergency departments. The most common injuries are strains and sprains, especially of the lower back.   

Teen Driving Safety - June 12 to 18
Promoting teen driving safety is crucial to keeping our roadways safe. Each year, more than 5,500 people are killed in crashes involving teen drivers.   

Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls - June 19 to 25  Falls are one of the nation's leading causes of unintentional injuries treated in emergency departments. Adults 55 and older are more prone to becoming victims of falls.   

On the Road, Off the Phone - June 26 to 30 Motor vehicle crashes remain the nation's leading cause of unintentional death. A major contributing factor is distracted driving. NSC estimates 23% of all motor vehicle crashes involve cell phone use behind the wheel.   

R U Ready 4 Summer?

   

Help your kids stay active and safe this summer by planning some youth-friendly and family-friendly activities.  Structured or supervised time and providing healthy choices for activities can help prevent idle curiosity turning into risky behavior. 

 

Visit the CATS page to learn more. 

 

 Abby writes about summer activities in her article this month. Please see below. 

Summer Memories 

Abby Rugg 

Now that I'm unofficially an adult, with my first real office job and commute, I've realized that I'm a little nostalgic for summer break already. Sure, I know that I spent a large part of my summer vacations doing nothing, but free time isn't what I miss the most. There are so many fun things to do in the summer: we live an hour away from great beaches, Boston, the White Mountains, so I can't figure out why I wasn't constantly doing something fun.  

If I had this summer, I'd be planning beach trips once a week. I know it's a hassle packing everything up, but I spent some of my best summer days at the beach with my younger brother and sister. Summer is the best time to go hiking or camping, if you enjoy the wilderness.  

If not, Boston has so much going on all the time, and summer is of course the season for Shakespeare on the Common, or plenty of other outdoor concerts, including my personal favorite, Riverfest in Newburyport.  

If you don't feel like packing a bag, or don't want to drive a long way, throw a barbecue! There's nothing in the world like corn on the cob and grilled food in July.  

And for kids, it's camp season. I had a blast at Camp Lincoln, when I was a kid, but my sister did Derry's Create Your Own Camp and learned to decorate cakes. There are also Derry Rec summer programs; Hood Park has things going on all summer, and (my personal favorite) the Derry Public Library does a summer reading program. There's so much to do in New England in the summer: I only wish I'd done more of it when I had free time.