Many crashes that involve teens have common factors. Wisconsin’s Graduated Drivers Licensing law aims to help reduce the factors associated with teen driving crashes, but research shows that talking with a parent can have far more impact on changing a teen’s behavior.

As parents, we can do a lot to make our kids safer drivers. First, don’t wait until your teen turns 15 1/2? to start talking about safe driving. Many teens are front seat passengers long before they are driving. Take advantage of this time to point out safe and unsafe driving that you see on the road.

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How do you get everyone in a family exercising together regularly? Busy schedules, varying ages of family members and weather all can be barriers to getting enough physical activity for the day. Exercise needs to be easy to access and enjoyable for everyone in the family. One of the best ways to do this is dancing as a family.

It’s as simple as turning on the tunes and moving your body. Dancing improves balance and strengthens your muscles and bones. Getting your groove on increases confidence and energy levels, relieves stress, and helps you sleep better at night. Children love doing things as a family. They especially love seeing their parents acting silly.
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Concussion has been a hot topic in the news lately. In youth sports, several states recently passed laws requiring coaches to be educated about concussions and kids with suspected concussions to be stopped from practice or playing until they receive medical clearance.

In football alone, there are 100,000 concussions per year. Whether you’re an Olympian, high school athlete or simply sledding in the park, helmets are essential safety gear.

When buying a helmet, it’s important to remember a few guidelines:

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The 2010 Winter Olympics are taking place close to home this year in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. While enjoying the Olympics, my thoughts will naturally turn to the 2010 U.S. Transplant Games. The games take place July 30 through Aug. 4 in Madison, Wis.

The U.S. Transplant Games are Olympic-style events for transplant recipients to compete for gold, silver and bronze medals in 13 sporting events. Opening and closing ceremonies along with other celebrations make the U.S. Transplant Games an extremely amazing experience as you realize the health challenges participants have overcome to be there.

Recipients of hearts, lungs, livers, kidneys, pancreases, intestines and bone marrow have an opportunity meet other recipients and their families, celebrate life through athletic competitions and promote the success of donation and transplantation.

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Our state’s Legislature is considering legislation that can help save lives in our schools. Can you help us?

Assembly Bill 725 will require all schools in Wisconsin to offer enrolled high school students instruction in lifesaving skills.

In situations when an emergency happens, time is of the essence. Many lives can be saved because people at the scene of a cardiac emergency have the necessary tools to recognize and respond appropriately.

Cardiovascular diseases remain Wisconsin’s No. 1 killer, yet many lives can be saved if simple lifesaving procedures are initiated by lay rescuers. By providing simple instruction in the high school setting, our young adults will have an increased comfort level and the necessary tools to help save a life.
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