As many families prepare to go off on mid-winter getaways or spring break to warm and sunny destinations, it’s important for parents to talk with teens about the dangers of tanning.

A suntan today can cause very serious skin problems tomorrow. Many teens think tanning in a booth or bed is not harmful, but this is not true. Ultraviolet lights have the same damaging effects as the sun.

Explain to your teen that all tanning harms the skin, causing visible and invisible damage. Visible damage, appears within a few hours after exposure, and includes suntan and sunburn. Invisible damage, such as premature aging, wrinkles, sun spots and skin cancer, may develop years later. (more…)

Every year since 1998, Carole and I have had the great opportunity to host the Miracle Marathon. Since then, we have raised more than $12 million for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

This year, we have the chance to jump-start our total gift by $50,000. Foresters™ and Children’s Miracle Network are searching for North America’s Most Caring Radio Station. To celebrate its ongoing commitment to Children’s Miracle Network, Foresters will donate $50,000 to the radio station with the most votes to put toward the total of their 2010 radiothon.

We need your help! If WKLH receives the most votes, the donation will directly benefit this year’s Miracle Marathon and support care for kids and families at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

Vote online at radiocares.childrensmiraclenetwork.org through Friday, Feb. 5. From the list of radio stations, select “WKLH 96.5 Classic Rock, 96.5.” You can vote up to 10 times a day per e-mail address. Please share this message with your family and friends! Remember to cast your vote over the weekend!

Also, tune in to WKLH 96.5 for the 13th annual Dave & Carole Miracle Marathon Wednesday, May 26, through Friday, May 28.

-Dave Luczak, 96.5 WKLH

Learn more about Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin at chw.org.

As parents, we don’t always realize just how much our kids understand the consequences of events that happen around the world — however tragic they might be. Don’t underestimate your children. They probably have a lot of questions that need to be answered.

Most children want to know they are safe. In the case of the earthquake in Haiti, it’s important to remind them that this is happening very far away from where we live. It’s true that sad things happen to children sometimes, but reassure your child that he or she is safe and that you take your job of protecting him or her seriously.

Remind your child that many countries are helping the people of Haiti. In fact, this is a good opportunity to get your child involved. Think about something your child can do to help like donate a toy or blanket, money from his or her piggy bank. Take some canned foods to either a specific relief site or a food pantry. Any little thing your child can do will contribute to his or her sense of being the “helper” and not helpless.

Be sure to limit exposure to television coverage, and watch it with your child. This gives you the opportunity to turn off the TV if the visuals become too distressing. It also gives you the opportunity to find out what your child really is questioning, which might be different than what you think. Keep in mind that children may need to ask a question more than once as they try to understand the complicated issues involved.

–Kimberly Gerlach, LCSW, CTS, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Center, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Yesterday was a red-letter day for Children’s as we work to improve the health of children everywhere. Children’s has provided some assistance to the victims of the Haitian earthquake. News reports tell how quickly basic supplies were depleted in Haiti in the face of such overwhelming need. A spontaneous collaboration grew from a conversation with our board member Joel Quadracci and CEO Peggy Troy about how we could send help.

In a few hours we were able to pull together a donation of antibiotics, dressings, bandages, formula, slippers, crutches and more… we are indeed fortunate to have supplies to share. The fantastic part is that the materials were collected, assembled, transported and delivered by the Quad/Graphics airplane so quickly and so efficiently. They safely flew to the Dominican Republic and were delivered to the Red Cross in Santo Domingo at 02:00 this morning, less than 24 hours after Joel and Peggy’s conversation. Now the supplies are crossing the border to Haiti where they will do a world of good.

After thanking everyone who helped, I went home proud of what we had done, proud of my organization and my community, and grateful to be a part of some help for kids and families who have been badly hurt by a devastating natural disaster.

-Tracy Cleveland, director, Materials Services, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Only 20 percent of all teens get the recommended nine hours of sleep per night. Yet more than half of all teens report feeling sleepy during the day.  The impact of this includes being late to school or falling asleep in school, being too tired to exercise or driving while drowsy. According to a new study, electronic devices may contribute to teens not getting enough sleep at night. In the study, 100 teens filled out questionnaires about how much time after 9 p.m. they spent with various electronic devices.  The results were eye-opening: 82 percent reported watching television, more than half reported on-line computer use, and a little less than half reported talking on the phone.  Fifty-seven percent reported completing homework.  On average, teens engaged in four technology activities after 9 p.m.  And, caffeine consumption tended to be higher in the teens who were multitasking and getting less sleep.

Suggestions to improve your teen’s sleep:
1.    Avoid having a TV or computer in the bedroom and turn them off at least 30-60 minutes before bedtime.
2.    Set limits for when your teen can make or receive phone calls and text messages.
3.    Limit caffeine, especially after lunch time.
4.    Make sleep a priority in your family and set a good example.

If you are concerned about your teen’s sleep habits, learn more about how we can help by visiting Children’s Sleep Center.