Community Magazine April 2014

118 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE WHAT EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW ABOUT TEENS AND ALCOHOL: Alcohol harms the developing teenage brain more than the adult brain. This is because the young brain has more receptors for alcohol to bind to. The part of the brain that restrains risky behavior is not fully developed until the age of 25. Statistics show that more teens are killed by alcohol than by all illegal drugs combined. Drinking alcohol often leads to anxiety and depression. More than 4 in 10 people who begin drinking before age 15 eventually become alcoholics. Alcohol abuse can lead to yellowing skin, stomach ulcers, severe abdominal pain, cirrhosis of the liver, kidney failure and muscle wasting. The most common reason for young people’s avoidance of substance abuse is not wanting to harm their relationships with the adults who care about them. TIPS: • It is important to start discussing alcohol use and abuse with your children at an early age and keep talking about it as they grow up. Open, honest, age-appropriate communication early on sets the stage for your children to come to you later with other difficult topics or problems. • Times of transition, such as the onset of puberty or a parents’ divorce, can lead to alcohol abuse. Teach your children that even when life is upsetting or stressful, drinking alcohol as an escape can make a bad situation worse. Be sure to serve as a good role model in this regard. • People who have problems with self-control or low self-esteem are more likely to abuse alcohol. They may not believe that they can handle their problems and frustrations without using something to make them feel better. Teens who lack a sense of connectedness to their families or who feel different in some way (appearance, economic circumstances, etc.,) may also be at risk, as they may attempt to fit in by going along with the crowd instead of following what they know to be a safer choice. Study ways to boost your child’s self-esteem. If you or someone you know needs help, please call our confidential, toll-free hotline, 24/7, at 1-866-569-SAFE (1-866-569-7233). The Importance of Visible House Numbers It was Erev Rosh Hashanah when Rina Stern heard a scream. She looked in horror as her oldest daughter, Miri, pointed to little Shira, who was not breathing. Realizing the baby was choking, Rina dashed for the phone and looked for the number of Hatzalah, the volunteer ambulance service in her community. They answered on the first ring. “Just give me your name and address,” the dispatcher said. “Rina Stern, 1213 Ocean Street, Please! Hurry!” A block away, Hatzalah vehicles raced through the Erev Yom Tov traffic. A volunteer raced up Rina’s block. He searched for the numbers on the house, found what he thought was 1213 and rang the bell. He was greeted by a housewife who thought he was collecting money, even after he identified himself. Soon other members of Hatzalah had reached the block. “This isn’t 1213!” He shouted to them. “Call the woman; I don’t know which house she’s in! There are no visible numbers!” Quickly, the dispatcher was called. He was still on the phone with Rina. Two-and-a-half minutes had passed, and the baby was not breathing and did not have much more time left. “Mrs. Stern, what does your house look like?” the dispatcher asked. “The white house with the red trim.” “Got it!” screamed a volunteer, and the medics rushed to the house and began working to save baby Shira. “She swallowed a balloon...” one of the medics said. They administered CPR, but after a full minute, the baby still hadn’t made a sound. Finally, there was a weak coughing spasm. “Got a heartbeat!” a young man screamed. Quickly, the baby’s airway was reestablished and an oxygen mask was set on her tiny face. The baby was okay. “May I make a suggestion?” a Hatzalah member said to Rina on his way out. “Anything.” “Go to the hardware store and buy numbers for your house as soon as possible and hang them up where they’ll be very visible. We lost at least a minute looking for your house.” “I promise... They’ll be up before Yom Tov. Come check.” “I believe you.” He smiled graciously. He wished her a good Yom Tov and left. The numbers were up within an hour, as were the numbers of some of the neighbors’ houses, at Rina’s expense and insistence. Told by the The Torah Safety Commission Community Chest