8 Dangers of Technology

Tweet The first thing I did yesterday was make two salads and two desserts. One salad and one dessert was for my husband's family dinner at noon. The other salad and dessert was for an evening Thanksgiving meal with my family.

By the end of the day, everyone was tired. It had been a long day and we had all eaten two Thanksgiving meals. We were standing around the table talking. Well, at least I thought we were. People seemed to be talking to each other, but two of them were reading Black Friday ads from the newspaper, two of the kids were texting, two of the adults were on their cell phones, and one was surfing the web on his laptop computer. I just looked around and thought, "We're not really together here." Each person seemed isolated, doing his or her own thing.

It made me wonder if all the technology, as amazing as it is, is really a good thing. I started thinking about some of the dangers I've seen, read, or heard about. Here are eight of them to consider:

1. There may be a link between cell phone use and tumors.

2. Using cell phones and texting while driving may very likely cause an accident.

3. Technology may isolate people, even when they're together. There is some argument about this, however. One study says that technology actually causes people to socialize more, just differently than before.

4. Cyber-bullying and cyber-stalking take place frequently. Along with this is the possibility of encountering Internet predators. Children may also accidentally (or purposely) see inappropriate material on the Internet. Parents must be vigilant.

5. Internet addiction can occur. Studies have show that, while not an official disorder, there are cases where excessive computer use interferes with a person's daily activity. Other studies have shown a link between Internet addiction and ADHD and depression in teens.

6. Carpal tunnel syndrome can be caused by the repetitive motion of typing or mouse-clicking.

7. The black dust (toner) used in laser printers has been classified by the FDA as a class-A carcinogen.

8. Technology, especially video games, makes people less active. Lack of exercise can lead to obesity which leads to a variety of diseases.

Parents, students, and teachers need to be aware of these dangers as well as others that may exist. Limiting the use of technology may be necessary for the health and welfare of all.

Sources:

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/cellphones
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20090505/teens-all-thumbs-when-texting-and-driving
http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE5A50KD20091106
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_addiction_disorder
http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/05/depression.adhd.internet.addiction/index.html
http://everything2.com/title/Computer+Myths+and+Dangers
http://www.playsavvy.com/articles/features/eight-valid-concerns-about-video-games/

School Resource Officers

Tweet Some time ago I was sitting in a restaurant eating lunch. It wasn't very crowded and so it was easy to hear the conversations at the other tables. I don't usually pay any attention, but one woman at one of the other tables was complaining about the public high school in town. She said something about the school being so bad that there had to be a police officer there all the time. She said she would never let her children go to such a school.

I could have said something, but didn't want to ruin my lunch or hers with an argument. So I continued eating, getting more angry as time passed.

The police officer she was talking about is called an "SRO" or "school resource officer." He wasn't there because the school had a lot of problems. He was there to help prevent problems.

The main duty of an SRO is to insure the safety of the students, staff, faculty, and the school. Each officer in the program is a regular police officer who has taken extra training to deal with students and schools. It is currently one of the fastest growing areas of law enforcement.

Besides safety, SROs also educate, counsel, give classroom presentations, patrol halls, prevent delinquency, and perform other duties as needed by their particular school.

The biggest problem SROs have is job security. They are police officers, but whether they will be in a school depends on funding. Of course, when schools cut their budgets, the School Resource Officer position is usually one of the first to go. Some, however, are paid through grants and collections which provide an extra source of funding.

So today, as we approach Thanksgiving, I just want to say "thanks" to all the school resource officers. They have a tough job, but provide a valuable service. I always felt better knowing our school had one on duty.

15 Safety Rules for Motorists Sharing the Road

Tweet The other day I wrote 30 Safety Rules for Bicyclists. One of the comments I received was that I should also write something for motorists. I think that is an excellent idea and will try to do my best.

Bicycles have as much right to be on the road as do other vehicles, so here are some rules for motorists as they apply to bicyclists:

1. Be patient when passing a bicyclist. Slow down and pass only when it is safe.

2. Allow at least three feet of clearance when passing a bicyclist. Change lanes if possible.

3. Expect that children on bikes will not follow rules, even if you think they should. They don't think the same way adults do. Even when they know the rules, they may not follow them.

4. Always look carefully for bicyclists before opening doors next to moving traffic.

5. Always look for bicyclists before making right turns. Do not pass bicyclists if you will be making a right turn immediately afterward. They could be traveling straight through.

6. When making left turns, be careful to not cut off bicyclists also making left turns from that lane.

7. When making left turns, do not turn in front of bicycles coming toward you from the opposite direction. They have the right of way, just as a motorized vehicle would.

8. Bicyclists are extremely difficult to see at and after dusk. They should have lights and reflectors, but sometimes they don't.

9. Remember that bicycles are vehicles and they belong on the road. Treat them with the respect that you would any other vehicle.

10. Bicyclists need room to get around potholes, sewer grates, manhole covers, cracks in the pavement, and other hazards. Give them some space.

11. Don't honk your horn when approaching a bicyclist. It could surprise or frighten them and cause them to crash.

12. Be extra cautious around bicycles in bad weather conditions. Slippery roads are much worse for bicyclists than for motorists.

13. Remember that bicycles are less visible, quieter, and don't have a crumple zone around them. Always be on the lookout for them.

14. It can be difficult to judge the speed of a bicycle. While they're usually slower that regular traffic, some can be traveling 25-30 mph (or faster).

15. In some locales if a bicycle cannot be passed safely, it cannot legally be passed. These laws do permit passing of a slow moving vehicle in a no passing zone if it is safe.

30 Safety Rules for Bicyclists

Tweet I probably should be writing this in the spring when people are more likely to be riding their bicycles. However, there seems to be more and more people riding bikes at all times of the year and some of them are living life dangerously.

Monday, I was driving home from the grocery store and I saw a woman on a bicycle. At first I thought it was one of my neighbors, but soon realized it was a stranger. I then noticed she was all over the road. As I got closer, I saw the problem. She was talking on a cell phone.

At first I laughed, then realized what a problem this could be. I actually couldn't believe that she would continue riding when all she had to do was pull over to the curb to continue her conversation.

This is just one case of dangerous activities I've witnessed by people on bicycles. Usually it's kids riding all over the road, not paying attention. Sometimes its groups of kids riding side by side. Occasionally, it's someone riding at night without lights or even reflectors.

So here are some suggestions for riding bicycles safely. Some are laws, but laws can vary city by city, so you should learn the ones for your area.

1. Wear a helmet.

2. Travel in the same direction as other traffic.

3. Ride on the right side of the road (be careful of the curb).

4. Signal your turns. Left arm straight out for a left turn. Left arm bent and up for a right turn. Left arm bent and down for a stop.

5. Keep your eyes on the road to be aware of hazards in the road such as gravel, sewer grates, manhole covers, potholes, and cracks in the pavement.

6. Keep a safe distance from parked vehicles (they could pull out or open a door).

7. Obey all traffic signs.

8. Ride in single file.

9. Do not ride on sidewalks.

10. When making left turns, use the left turn lane if one is available. If possible, use breaks in the traffic to make difficult maneuvers.

11. Keep your bicycle maintained.

12. Use a white headlamp and a red rear reflector. Extra blinking lights can help you be better seen by other motorists.

13. Use a rack for carrying items.

14. It's a good idea to carry a basic tool kit.

15. Wear bright colors during the day and light colored clothing at night. Reflective clothing helps.

16. Cross railroad tracks at a right angle.

17. Do not wear headphones on both ears.

18. A rear view mirror is an excellent idea.

19. Be extremely cautious when riding through intersections. Sometimes it might be best to cross intersections as a pedestrian and walk your bike across.

20. Keep your hands on the handlebars, except when signaling.

21. Yield to pedestrians. They have the right of way.

22. The closer you are to the speed of traffic, the further you can ride out in the road.

23. Always ride one to a bike.

24. Stop for school buses (the same as other traffic).

25. Be careful of wet roadways; they can be slippery (this includes roads that may be damp from dew in the morning).

26. Your bicycle should have a warning device such as a bell or horn.

27. It is recommended that children under 10 years of age ride off the road.

28. It is recommended that children never ride at or after dusk.

29. Wear appropriate clothing and shoes. Clothes should be comfortable and not so loose as to get caught in gears. Shoes should not be slippery.

30. Avoid standing on the pedals. You could crash if the chain would skip.