Many Parents Text, Phone With Kids in Car: Survey

FRIDAY, April 19 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly two-thirds of adults use a cell phone when they're driving with children in the car, and about one-third text, according to a new California survey.

The dangers of such behavior are well-documented. In 2011, about 3,300 deaths and 400,000 injuries in the United States occurred because of distracted driving, according to experts in the driving safety program at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine.

Their online survey of 715 drivers, aged 30 to 64, in San Diego County revealed that many people either are unaware of the dangers of distracted driving or choose to ignore them.

"Studies have shown that phoning and driving increases the risk of crashes four-fold, with hands-free and handheld devices equally dangerous; this is the same as driving with a blood alcohol content at the legal limit of .08. Texting increases this risk eight to 16 times," Dr. Linda Hill, a clinical professor in the department of family and preventive medicine at UCSD School of Medicine, said in a university news release.

"[These findings] highlight the dangerous behavior of adults driving distracted, especially with children in the car, exposing both themselves and their children to increased risk for a crash," Hill said.

Of the more than 500 people in the survey who said they drive an average of one to two hours a day, 30 percent said they use cell phones for talking, texting and other applications sometimes or often. Fifty-three percent said they rarely do so, and 17 percent said they never do.

Fifty-six percent of respondents reported driving with a handheld phone and 92 percent with a hands-free phone.

Among the respondents with children younger than age 11 in the car, 65 percent drive with a cell phone and 36 percent text. Of those with children aged 12 to 17 in the car, 63 percent drive with a cell phone and 31 percent text. People with children younger than age 11 in the car were significantly more likely to text and to talk on a handheld phone, according to the survey.

The survey also found that 31 percent of respondents said they feel obligated to take a work-related call while driving.

"Employers should be aware that encouraging workers to initiate and receive calls while driving on the job is putting their employees at risk and exposing their companies to potential liability," Hill said.

-- Robert Preidt
Copyright © 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved. SOURCE: University of California, San Diego, Health Sciences, news release, April 10, 2013

View the original article here

Many Parents Text, Phone With Kids in Car: Survey

Work-related calls a priority for nearly one-third polled

By Robert Preidt

HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, April 19 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly two-thirds of adults use a cell phone when they're driving with children in the car, and about one-third text, according to a new California survey.

The dangers of such behavior are well-documented. In 2011, about 3,300 deaths and 400,000 injuries in the United States occurred because of distracted driving, according to experts in the driving safety program at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine.

Their online survey of 715 drivers, aged 30 to 64, in San Diego County revealed that many people either are unaware of the dangers of distracted driving or choose to ignore them.

"Studies have shown that phoning and driving increases the risk of crashes four-fold, with hands-free and handheld devices equally dangerous; this is the same as driving with a blood alcohol content at the legal limit of .08. Texting increases this risk eight to 16 times," Dr. Linda Hill, a clinical professor in the department of family and preventive medicine at UCSD School of Medicine, said in a university news release.

"[These findings] highlight the dangerous behavior of adults driving distracted, especially with children in the car, exposing both themselves and their children to increased risk for a crash," Hill said.

Of the more than 500 people in the survey who said they drive an average of one to two hours a day, 30 percent said they use cell phones for talking, texting and other applications sometimes or often. Fifty-three percent said they rarely do so, and 17 percent said they never do.

Fifty-six percent of respondents reported driving with a handheld phone and 92 percent with a hands-free phone.

Among the respondents with children younger than age 11 in the car, 65 percent drive with a cell phone and 36 percent text. Of those with children aged 12 to 17 in the car, 63 percent drive with a cell phone and 31 percent text. People with children younger than age 11 in the car were significantly more likely to text and to talk on a handheld phone, according to the survey.

The survey also found that 31 percent of respondents said they feel obligated to take a work-related call while driving.

"Employers should be aware that encouraging workers to initiate and receive calls while driving on the job is putting their employees at risk and exposing their companies to potential liability," Hill said.

View the original article here

Phone of a friend

A true friend phone

I got a call from a good friend of mine the other night.  She was obviously very upset and had to talk.

She told me she really struggling.  She has quite a bit of weight to lose and is the last time on a weight-loss rollercoaster.  She was very frustrated and said that I was the only one who could talk with them because nobody knew how it was.

We chatted for a while and I reassured her that she could do this!  We have a plan and figured out how I could help her by some accountability.  I hope they hung up feeling much better than when they are called.  I know when she hung up, I was so proud of her.

She did the one thing that can help her most right click.  She called someone she thought might help and talked about her feelings.

Have you ever felt discouraged and in despair?  Have you ever felt like you knew "stuck were" and not what to do?!?  All sure … we have at some point.  How do you handle those feelings?  Here are some ways I have dealt with them in the past:

Eten

Cry

Eten

Sleep

Eten

Cry

Eten

You notice a pattern?  Nowhere on that list saying, "call someone who has been there and ask for help!"

It dawned on me after we hung that she is a complete rock star.  In the past, she would probably still on the road she was on, getting more weight and feeling more miserable and alone.  This time, she made the choice to the end then and there.  She decided to phone from a friend who could encourage her and help her get back on track.

I would encourage you if you're struggling to to find someone to call.  Lay it all out there and ask them for help.  Perhaps they can help you with accountability.  Maybe they can help you come up with a plan.  Maybe you just need someone to tell you that it will be all OK, and this is just another hurdle that you are going through.

Harvest-up-the-phone!

There are so many people out there that are done that there are, and they can help you!

On another note…I am off to Philly for a work Conference.  Wish me luck like cheese steaks all around me!

Have a great weekend!

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Inter tion "friend"?

View the original article here