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Keeping Children Safe After a Natural Disaster

August 25, 2016 by Tiany Davis

I have had my fair share of experiences with natural disasters, I lived in Miami during Hurricane Andrew, just minutes from one of the hardest hit areas. I volunteered with the Red Cross at makeshift shelters and vividly remember the children… scared, restless and tired.

A few years after Andrew I got married to a Baton Rouge native and moved to Baton Rouge. I thought I had seen the worst with Andrew until Katrina hit Louisiana and devastated New Orleans. Babies at the Super Dome went without formula and diapers. Children were separated from parents, some were lost in the shuffle of chaotic evacuations. More than 4,000 children were reported missing after Hurricane Katrina and the last child was not found until six months later. It was every parents worst nightmare.

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Harmony Hobbs’s 4-year-old son, Asher, surveys the damage near their home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

If there was one thing I had learned from Andrew and Katrina, it’s that your family and your home must be properly prepared for a natural disaster. I thought I was prepared, until floods quietly took over most parts of South Louisiana, in the middle of the night. Without warning, the majority of South Louisiana woke up to find their homes filling with water. Homes that were not in flood zones and perceived safe. I can’t adequately describe the helplessness of seeing friends posting on Facebook that they desperately needed rescuing. It was a morning of shock and panic as Louisianans scurried to find boaters who could go out to rescue loved ones. Photos of children sleeping on roof tops seemed unimaginable until it became a reality.Most of the damage was because of the plumbing that’s why I decided to call santa monica plumbercompany so my house is now prepare to any disaster like Andrew and Katrina.

An estimated 60,646 houses are damaged, 30,000 people were rescued; 13 deaths and thousands remain in shelters, the worst part is that the expert inheritance disputes have had to intervene in the situation, due to all the disputes between the victim’s families.

Thinking back to Katrina, I knew the impact Save the Children had on children after the storm, even years after. I reached out to a friend from Save the Children on day two of the floods and they immediately agreed to respond and help Louisiana’s smallest flood victims.

Thousands of children remain displaced and unable to return to school. Friends have told me of their children crying at the sight of rain. These children face risk of serious emotional and developmental consequences if proper steps are not taken to ensure that they receive the support that they need.

Keeping Children Safe After a Natural Disaster

I was given the opportunity to spend the day at our largest shelter with Save the Children to see their child friendly spaces and talk with families staying at the shelter. The child friendly spaces offer children a safe place to play while giving parents time to care for themselves and flood related business. It warmed my heart to see children smiling, laughing and playing in the midst of crisis. The parents I spoke to were relieved and grateful to have a safe area for their children to go to. The situation is still dire, we have 3000 people in shelters, they’re overcrowded and being consolidated. These families have lost what little they had and many of them have nowhere to go and no family to call on.

Save the Children is doing a phenomenal job of protecting and caring for the children in shelters, this is an organization that deeply cares for their welfare and well-being. Throughout the day I watched as the coordinator worked to close loopholes to protect the kids at the shelter. I can’t imagine the shelters without these child friendly spaces and the resources that Save the Children brings.

Save the Children is also working to assess the needs of families and fill those needs. Next, they will work on creating temporary learning stations with an education advisor so children’s education won’t be delayed. Once these kids go back to school Save the Children will have their psychosocial expert available to help children and equip teachers and parents with the tools and resources they need to support children that have lost so much and experienced such tragedy.

If you are able, please consider making a monetary donation in support of the work Save the Children is doing in Louisiana, this is a tangible way to immediately help Louisiana’s children. We have a long road ahead of us and we need them here for the long haul. You can learn more about the work Save the Children is doing and donate here —> http://www.savethechildren.org/gulf-floods

What can moms do to help their children at a time like this?

August 23, 2016 by Guest Contributor

Throughout the area, families are dealing with enormous challenges and the stress levels that come along with them. In my role as psychosocial lead for Save the Children, I’m spending time at the shelters working to help families who have no other place to go. The moms I talked to today were worried about so many things that the first thing I wanted to do for them was help them find ways to cope.

I started by really listening to them and acknowledging all the fears and emotions they are dealing with. That went a long way. If you are feeling overwhelmed and stressed, please try to find someone who can do the same for you. And if you can’t, try writing down your feelings, taking a walk, or using other strategies that have worked for you at other stressful times in your life.

Self-care is so important. One of the moms I spoke with today had a young baby and her husband had just been abandoned them after a fight. He had taken the few belongings they had salvaged with him, so the first thing we did was help her find a change of clothes for herself and her child. But then we talked through her other challenges and what she could do to feel calmer and more equipped to start taking them on one at a time.

I connected this lovely woman with some other moms and they quickly offered each other emotional support. Together we discussed how the stress they were feeling as moms could easily transfer to their children. They realized it wasn’t selfish at all to look after themselves, and how important it is for their little ones.

Certainly this is a scary and uncertain time for many children. They look to their parents and caregivers for guidance and reassurance, but sometimes we aren’t sure of the best way to manage. Here are basic ideas I hope can help.

10 Tips to Help Kids Cope with Disasters

Limit TV time. Watching television reports on disasters can overwhelm younger children who may not understand an event is being replayed and instead think the disaster is happening over and over again. Overexposure to coverage of the events affects teenagers and adults as well.
Listen to your children carefully. Emotional stress results in part when a child cannot give meaning to dangerous experiences. Begin a dialog to help them gain a basic understanding that is appropriate for their age and responds to their underlying concerns.
Give children reassurance. Let them know that if any emergency or crisis should occur, your primary concern will be their safety. Make sure they know they are being protected.
Be alert for significant changes. Be aware of changes in sleeping patterns, eating habits,
concentration, wide emotional swings or frequent physical complaints without apparent illness. They will likely subside within a short time but if prolonged, we encourage you to seek professional support and counseling.
Expect the unexpected. As children develop, their intellectual, physical and emotional capacities change. Younger children will depend largely on their parents to interpret events, while older children and teenagers will get information from a variety of sources that may not be as reliable. While teenagers seem to have more adult capacities to recover, they still need extra love, understanding and support to process these events.
Give your children extra time and attention. They need your close, personal involvement to comprehend that they are safe and secure. Talk, play and listen to them. Find time to engage in special activities for children of all ages.
Be a model for your child. Your child will learn how to deal with these events by seeing how you deal with them. Base the amount of self-disclosure on the age and developmental level of each of your children. Explain your feelings but remember to do so calmly.
Watch your own behavior. Make a point of showing sensitivity toward those impacted by the disaster. This is an opportunity to teach your children that we all need to help each other.
Help your children return to normal activities. Children almost always benefit from activity,
goal orientation and sociability. Ensure that your child’s school environment is also returning to normal patterns and not spending great amounts of time discussing the crisis.
Encourage your child to do volunteer work. Helping others can give your child a sense of control, security and empathy. In the midst of crisis, adolescents and youth can emerge as active agents of positive change.

We are sharing these tips with parents in the shelters when they bring their kids to our child-friendly spaces. It’s wonderful to see the children play, smile and have fun again, but we all know there is so much more work to be done to help these children and their families bounce back.

If you’d like to support our response and recovery work, please consider donating at www.SavetheChildren.org/Gulf-Floods.

Thank you!

Anjana Dayal de Prewitt

20 Rainy Day Activities For Kids

August 12, 2016 by Guest Contributor

When it’s too hot, wet, or cold to go outside, you’ll need something for the kiddos to do to keep your sanity. Here are 20 rainy day activities and things to do with kids that should help keep the kids entertained for a day or two. 😉

20 rainy day activities to do with your kids:

Get out the crafts – Let the kids use their imaginations and create a masterpiece.
Make a fort in the living room out of blankets.
Play Restaurant – Let the kids help in the kitchen for a day – bake cookies, make lunch and dinner together and have them “critique” meals on paper.
Write letters to friends and family or fill out a years worth of birthday cards.
Have a fashion show or photo shoot or better yet, make a photo both and take lots of funny pictures. Making photo props can be fun and allow the creative juices to flow!
Read books.
Put on a puppet show. During Hurricane Katrina, we had our boys put on a play with puppets, or paper dolls. They drew the characters, cut them out, glued them to cardboard and glued a stick on the backside, fixed a stage out of a large shipping box, wrote a script and put on a play. This entertained them for hours!
Make paper airplanes and have a flying contest like this review by Top9Rated.
Cleaning party! Crank up the radio and have a dance party while cleaning the house! Clean, de-clutter and exhaust the kids. It’s a win win!
Skype or FaceTime Catch up with friends and family you haven’t seen in a while or talk to friends fellow home-bound friends.
Donate – Go through your home with the kids and find items {clothes, toys, appliances} to donate.
Camp out– Create an indoor camp with tents and use the microwave to make s’mores.
Make snowflakes and tape them to the windows.
Try to make Origami – this site has tons of great ideas.
Go to the movies at home– pop some popcorn and catch up on movies you have yet to see or revisit an old favorite.
Puzzles, board games and Charades are always a must on a snow day…try to change things up or make up your own games. Use this Charades generator to get ideas.
Learn something NEW: there are so many tutorials online these days, you can learn to do just about anything, including coding for kids! Take a few coding classes and create your own video game!
Decorate the house and get a head start on Mardi Gras and Valentine’s Day crafts!
Go through old photos – this always offers plenty of entrainment.
Go play! Bundle up the family for some gold old outdoor play time, even if it’s only ice!

We would love to hear your ideas for indoor activities, please share them on our Facebook page!

Baton Rouge Real Estate 101 for First Time Homebuyers – Part 1

June 7, 2016 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

“Ask the Experts” is a series on Baton Rouge Moms where local experts share their thoughts, opinions and answer questions relating to health, wellness, parenting and living in Baton Rouge.

Baton Rouge recently ranked as the No. 7 city in the country for first time home buyers according to realtor.com. High mortgage availability, along with a low unemployment rate and a fun, festive culture were cited as reasons the Baton Rouge area has become a “nouveau hipster haven” for first time home buyers. 52% of all mortgages in Baton Rouge have gone to homeowners between the ages of 25 and 34, placing Baton Rouge at the top spot for mortgages in that age bracket among all ranked markets.

Photo credit – Darrell Miller

The biggest question most first time home buyers face is “how do I know when I’m ready to buy a home?” The very first step I recommend is speaking with a good mortgage loan officer. There are thousands of articles online with many competing opinions about when is the right time to buy a home, but nothing determines your readiness more than the bottom line. A good loan officer will explain the criteria to obtain a loan, the loan approval process, and all the potential costs. After going over everything and reviewing your financial information, you should come away with one of two things, a letter of pre-approval or a plan.

A pre-approval letter is your green light to start house shopping. You meet all the criteria to obtain a mortgage for an amount that you can afford based on your credit, income, and existing debt.

If you don’t meet the criteria to be approved for a mortgage yet, or you aren’t happy about the amount you can get approved for, or you just aren’t quite ready, your loan officer is an invaluable resource for coming up with a plan to raise your credit score, or strategically reduce debt so that you can purchase in the future.

If you are ready to take the next step and continue down the path to home ownership, your loan officer will help you determine what type of mortgage is right for you. If you don’t have a large chunk of cash saved for a down payment, Baton Rouge first time home buyers have an abundance of options for purchasing a home with little or no money down. According to Tasha Guarisco with Assurance Financial, some of the most popular options include the USDA Rural Development program, FHA loans, the new HomeReady conventional loan from Fannie Mae, and Capital Area Finance Authority’s Capital Advantage Program.

So you’ve dug through your tax returns, W2’s, pay stubs, and bank statements, given them to your loan officer and gotten your pre-approval letter. You’ve carefully thought it over and decided how much you really want to spend based on your desired budget… Show me the houses already!

Melanie Murr can help you with with your home buying needs at Third Coast Realty Group. Third Coast Realty Group is a locally owner Boutique Real Estate Firm with offices in Baton Rouge and Denham Springs connecting you to real estate throughout the Gulf South.

Resources

Third Coast Realty Group

Los Suenos Luxury Real Estate

Rural Development Loan Information

Capital Advantage Program

Top 10 Cities for First Time Homebuyers – realtor.com

Baby Safe Homes Louisiana – Giveaway

May 2, 2016 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

Each year, children are injured by hazards in and around the home. Household injuries account for the most visits to the ER in children under the age of 3 , and nearly 70% of the children who die from unintentional injuries at home are 4 years old and under.

Thankfully, the risk of injury can be reduced or prevented by using child-safety devices like the popular wifi baby monitor that let monitor your baby all the time . Safety devices should be sturdy enough to hinder access and yet easy for you to use.

Most importantly, to be effective, they must be properly installed. This is where Baby Safe Homes Louisiana comes to the baby proofing rescue! Baby Safe Homes Louisiana offers BABY/TODDLER proofing and they come to YOU!

What is Baby Safe Homes Louisiana?

Baby Safe Homes are a professional, same-day baby proofing service. It is their mission to provide families with peace of mind by creating an environment for their babies and toddlers to explore, learn and grow safely, visit website to get the most adorable baby toys there are.

From infant to toddler safety, Baby Safe Homes offers everything that you need to baby proof your home. Their trained baby safety consultants recommend specialized safety products; they will help design the solution that is right for you and your family to help keep your baby safe.

GIVEAWAY

Baby/Toddler proofing for YOUR HOME!! Win a baby safety gate (Value $100) OR select $100 in products from Baby Safe Homes Louisiana PLUS a FREE In-Home Inspection & Consultation ($95 Value) Total GIVEAWAY VALUE $195

a Rafflecopter giveawaySources: Kidshealth.org

The six things moms need to know about the Zika virus

January 27, 2016 by Dr. Mindy Calandro

The Zika virus is currently being seen in epidemic numbers in at least 22 countries, some of which are popular tropical travel destinations. In fact, the Center for Disease Control for the first time ever issued a travel warning specifically for pregnant women last week cautioning about travel to areas where the Zika virus is rampant. Here is what you might want to know about the Zika virus.

What is the Zika virus and how is it transmitted?

The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne illness that was first discovered in 1947 in Uganda, but until 2007, the virus really was not seen in humans. The Zika virus is transmitted through the bite of the Aedes mosquito, which is also the mosquito responsible for transmitting Chikungunya and Dengue viruses as well. Unlike the Culex species of mosquito that transmits West Nile Virus and mainly likes to bite in the dawn and dusk hours, the Aedes mosquito prefers to feed on its host during the daytime hours.

What are the symptoms of the Zika virus?

It is estimated that 80% of people who are infected with the Zika virus will have no symptoms at all, and the other 20% could have a very mild illness with symptoms such as fever, rash, red eyes and joint pain. These symptoms generally occur within 2-7 days after a person is infected with the virus, and the illness likely will last a few days to a week. There is concern about a possible link between the Zika virus and Guillain-Barre Syndrome, which is an autoimmune related neurologic disease that may lead to paralysis.

So why is it a big deal for pregnant women?

There has been an alarming increase in a birth defect known as microcephaly, or babies being born with abnormally small heads, in countries where the Zika virus is very common. Infants born with microcephaly may also have abnormalities of their brain because of incomplete development. Brazil, in particular, has seen more than 3,800 cases of microcephaly since October 2015, which is more than a 25-fold increase in the rates of microcephaly when compared to previous years. There is also concern that the Zika virus could cause loss of pregnancy. Scientist are feverishly working to determine just how strong the link between the Zika virus and microcephaly and pregnancy loss is, but the trend is concerning enough that health officials have taken notice.

Is this the first virus that can cause problems for developing fetuses?

No. Viruses causing birth defects are nothing new. Viruses such as rubella, cytomegalovirus, parvo B19 and even chickenpox can be transmitted from a pregnant mother to the fetus and can cause a host of problems in a baby ranging from hearing loss to anemia to small size of the baby. However, most women have had either been vaccinated against (think MMR and chickenpox vaccine) or have had these virus by the time they reach childbearing age, and therefore, already have immunity from these illnesses. Since the Zika virus is just emerging and there is no preventative vaccine, we do not have any protection from this virus.

Have there been any cases of the Zika virus here in the US?

No…and yes! 234 pregnant women in the US have been diagnosed with Zika virus, acording to the CDC. The CDC hasn’t disclosed where any of these women were infected with the virus, or how they came in contact with it. So far, three babies have been born in the US with Zika-linked birth defect microcephaly. The defects were also seen in three other pregnancies that ended. All the cases are connected to travel to areas with outbreaks of the mosquito-borne virus, primarily Latin America and the Caribbean. There’s been no local spread of Zika in the U.S.

What should expectant mommies do?

If you were planning a trip to one of the areas on the CDC travel advisory list, I would put those travel plans on hold! We spend 9 months doing everything in our power to protect our growing little bundles of joy possibly giving up our favorite raw sushi roll, our morning extra venti caffeinated latte, or foregoing your next skydiving adventure (not sure that I would ever be brave enough for that one honestly). There is so much about pregnancy that we cannot predict, so in my opinion, we should try to limit those things that are known risks. Until more is know about the Zika virus and how it may specifically affect a growing fetus, I would encourage pregnant women to err on the side of abundant caution and avoid travel to those areas inundated with the Zika virus.

If travel to one of the countries with a Zika outbreak is unavoidable, how can women protect themselves?

You must make sure to take precautions against mosquito bites. Use either a DEET or Picaridin containing mosquito repellent at all times (remember, the Aedes mosquito likes to bite during the day and not only dusk ‘till dawn like other mosquitoes). Also, wear lightweight long sleeves and pants and even clothing that is permethrin-treated to cover as much of the skin as possible. Finally, if your lodging is open to the outdoors, make sure to have a mosquito bed net over where you will be sleeping.

I am not usually one to “sound the alarm” before I have a wealth of data and information in front of me, but the Zika virus and its possible association with a severe birth defect warrants our attention. While a change to travel plans is not convenient (especially when you have been looking forward to crystal blue water, a beach chair and a virgin pina colada), the beaches will still be there in a few months and scientist will have had the time to further research how a tiny virus from a pesky mosquito could cause lifelong problems for your still growing baby.

“Ask the Experts” is a series on Baton Rouge Moms where local experts share their thoughts, opinions and answer questions relating to health, wellness and parenting. If you have a question for one of our experts, please leave it in the comments below to be featured in an upcoming article.

Laying the Groundwork for Your Babies, Toddlers, and Pre-schoolers

October 1, 2015 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

Do you have trouble scheduling your family’s many activities? What are your older kids doing after school this fall? Maybe you started dance classes, joined a soccer team, are trying Spanish, piano, tennis, or art lessons, or giving your child a little help with extra tutoring?

Why do we as parents feel like these extra curricular actives are important?

These activities help our children grow up to be well rounded. These activities help us and our children identify their interests. And the more immediate benefit is harnessing their endless energy into productive activities.

So how do you lay the groundwork for your babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers? PLAY!

I am not talking about putting some toys out around your toddler while you are on the phone catching up with an old friend or cooking dinner. While both of these things are important, your child craves some dedicated play time with their favorite person – YOU!

I encourage you to play with your child at least once a day. Sit down with your child, without the distraction of your phone, the tv, other devices and give your whole attention to the little person who adores you.

Make a list of play activities but don’t be afraid to repeat activities over and over – young children learn through repetition.

Ask your child a lot of questions. And LISTEN to their answers (even if it is just babbling), it will make the your child feel important. Teach them the give and take of conversation, and as their imagination blossoms encourage pretend play.

Make eye contact with your child – this has been proven to lead to more confident older children.

Talk to your child how you want them to talk, this is important before your child is talking & after they turn into a little chatterbox.

Both gross and fine motor skills need practice for developing body control. So, add in climbing, dancing, jumping, skipping, and other large muscle group work with coloring (or scribbling), puzzles, stacking blocks, and other more focused activities.

Playing with your child sounds easy, but it is hard to schedule into your busy life. If you have a class to attend, you will be more accountable for your time. Come see us at Gymboree Play & Music to spend some quality play time with your child in one of our classes – Play & Learn, Music, and Art. Our memberships are monthly and always include Open Gym free play time! Our schedule is located at www.gymboreeclasses.com.

Five Benefits of Piano Lessons – National Piano Month

September 30, 2015 by Guest Contributor

“Ask the Experts” is a series on Baton Rouge Moms where local experts will share their thoughts, opinions and answer questions relating to health, wellness and parenting. If you have a question for one of our experts, please leave it in the comments below to be featured in an upcoming article.

This is a guest post by Rebecca Bellelofrom, owner of Piano Pathways for our “Ask the Experts” series.

Learning to play the piano is a rewarding process. Playing music is a fun and enjoyable activity, but like anything worth doing well, it takes a commitment and hard work. When I think of all of the wonderful reasons to take piano lessons, what comes to mind first are the many musical benefits that piano lessons provide. Despite studies of music’s effects on the brain and improving test scores, the most powerful benefit of music lessons is, in my opinion, the gain of a musical talent!

In addition to musical benefits, piano lessons also foster many wonderful non-musical characteristics. In fact, these non-musical skills are actually very important for musicians, and quite necessary to playing an instrument! Here are five benefits that can transpire from piano lessons:

Five Benefits of Piano Lessons

1. The ability to play a musical instrument. Learning how to create beautiful sounds on the piano is a lasting reward of lessons. Every person, despite age or skill level, can learn foundational piano skills and how to create tuneful music. Piano-playing is a form of personal expression that provides a healthy, creative outlet. Playing music is a special ability, but a very teachable and accessible ability that every person can learn!

2. The ability to read music. Music reading is typically taught alongside piano playing. Reading music is certainly not the only way to learn to play an instrument, but it is an accessible skill and common teaching approach in piano lessons. Standard music notation is how classical piano literature has been passed down for hundreds of years, and how composers traditionally notate their musical creations. By reading music, a musician has the opportunity to learn endless musical repertoire from any culture, time period, or artist.

3. An appreciation for different types of music. I want my piano students to be well-rounded musicians. No matter the genre of music we are studying, for example, popular, holiday, classical, I want students to play exciting music from different history periods, cultures, and composers. By learning why music was written the way it was written and about its purpose in the culture, a student can adopt an appreciation for different kinds of music. Appreciation for different things leads to tolerance and empathy~ great life-skills for every person to emulate!

4. Goal-setting. Having a structured practice routine is essential, even mandatory, to progress in piano. The best tool I can recommend for successful practicing is to set a goal. Ask the question, “What do I want to accomplish in this practice session?” Set a goal for each time you practice, and have a practice plan in mind! Of course, goal-setting is not something unique to piano practicing. Setting and meeting goals is ubiquitous to many areas of a healthy and fulfilling life.

5. Working through “struggle”. Piano is possibly one of the first real challenges that a child comes across. Piano skills take months, even years, to develop. Children who are used to doing things correct the first time initially have a hard time understanding that this won’t happen in piano! At times, playing piano can be difficult, even frustrating. During these struggles, employ approaches such as problem solving and creative thinking. By struggling during the learning process, a child learns persistence, emotional strength, and confidence.
There are so many more empirical and antidotal benefits to piano study. What are other benefits from piano lessons that you can add to this list?
• Time management skills
• Performing under pressure
• Self-evaluative skills
• Listening skills
• Memorization
• Delayed gratification
• Fine muscle coordination
• Ability to respond to criticism
• How to handle winning and losing
• Working with others
No matter why you enroll your child, or even yourself, in music lessons, I hope piano adds joy to your life! Happy playing!

Thanks to Rebecca for this wonderful post to help us learn more about the benefits of Piano amd to celebrate National Piano Month! Rebecca operates and owns Piano Pathways, voted a Family Favorite in Baton Rouge Parents Magazine.

For more information or to register for Piano lessons, please call Rebecca at 225-767-0030.

Piano Pathways is conveniently located on Perkins Road between Bluebonnet and Siegen. You can follow them and learn more on their social media channels – Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.

Ask the Experts: Fall Trending Fashion Tips from Designer of Sharmooz

September 23, 2015 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

fasCan you believe it’s Fall already? Stores are weighted down with racks of new exciting fashions but how do we know what’s really ‘in’? Check out Roberto Santiago’s Shopping Center where you can find what´s really in. In any other season pairing sleek boots with sweat pants was a faux pas, but this fall is different! The store mannequin wasn’t wrong but hasn’t really shed any light on what this season is all about so here are some tips to get you on track: Pro Fall tip: ShoesFella.com

• It’s hip to be square this season! Finally! In fact, not just square, the more shapes the better according to design houses who turned to geometric inspiration when it came time to build their fall collections. Don’t limit yourself to square! Be the Boot Bomb envy of your friends! What about rectangular, octagonal or trapezoidal! O.K, you get the idea!

• And better yet, you can be comfortable this fall. Some major collections got their runway inspiration from the gymnasium. Dress up those sweats or luxe designer kicks. It’s all about workout ready shapes in street ready fabric this year.

• Boyfriend jeans with button down shirts are out! This season’s borrow-from-the-boys trend demands a gifted tailor. Picture rich, black suit, and don’t be afraid to accessorize with a floppy bow-tie collar and a fedora hat! Wow, what a statement!

• To really nail the trend, minimal effort with maximum impact. Monotone looks are great in all shades with a contrasting accessory to complete the look.

• You don’t need attend a Woodstock like event to jump on this season’s 70’s trend. Yes, flares are back and pair yours with classic pieces to keep the look updated.

Fall 2015 is an exciting time to be alive. Electric and bold, comfortable and chic. Start with the minimalistic jacket and find your groove! Clothes with great functionality yet comfortable are in!!

Ask the Experts: Concussion – Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

September 2, 2015 by Dr. Mindy Calandro

Now that September is here it means there’s just one question on everybody’s mind: “Are you ready for some football!??!?” Whether you are most excited for the Friday night lights of high school football, Saturday nights in Death Valley (or Kyle Field for my Fightin’ Texas Aggies out there), or “Who Dat” Sundays in the Superdome, I know many people have been (not so) patiently waiting for the past 8 months for football season to start once again. But outside of the excitement of the return of the gridiron, as you’ve likely seen, there has been increasing media coverage over the past few years in regards to sports injuries. Our favorite players, whether they be our sons and daughters on the local peewee or high school teams, or the pros in the NFL, everybody seems to be getting bigger, faster, & stronger at all levels and, in heavy contact sports like football, that means bigger hits and therefore more potential for brain injuries and concussions. So as we prepare for the greatest season of the year (i.e. football season ), here is what parents need to know in regards to concussions in their young athletes.

What exactly is a concussion?

A concussion occurs when there is an injury to the brain that causes disruption of normal brain function. This mechanism of injury typical occurs after a blow to the head. In other words, your hard skull meets another object (someone else’s head, the floor, a ball, etc) that causes the brain to jostle around inside the skull. In sports, we hear the most about concussions in those contact sports such as football, hockey, rugby, and the like, but concussions are also common in sports such as soccer when players’ heads collide, in basketball when a player falls and hits their head on the hardwood, or in cheerleading when a flyer isn’t caught appropriately. It is also common to see concussions after things like car accidents, ATV accidents, boating sports like skiing, wakeboarding, and tubing or even with the occasional nasty fall around the house. In reality, anytime there is a significant enough blow to the head, a concussion is possible.

What are the symptoms of a concussion?

Just as every child’s brain is different, the exact constellation of symptoms of a concussion can vary as well. The most common symptoms include headache, dizziness, blurry vision, light or sound sensitivity, a “foggy” feeling, difficulty concentrating or remembering things, and large alterations or quick swings in mood. While symptoms will often appear immediately after the blow to the head, some symptoms may take hours or even days to appear. Less than 10% of children who suffer a concussion have a loss of consciousness – so don’t automatically assume that if they weren’t “knocked out” that they haven’t had a significant brain injury.

How is a concussion diagnosed?

First and foremost, a child who has sustained a serious blow to the head should be evaluated by a medical professional to determine if they have sustained a concussion. There is no single test that can diagnose a concussion. There are several screening tools available that focus on what symptoms the child is having that can be used in conjunction with a general medical evaluation to determine if a concussion is suspected. Most children who have sustained a concussion do not need imaging of their brain such as a CT scan or MRI. However, only a medical professional can determine if there are worrisome signs following an injury that would warrant taking a look at the brain.

What is the treatment for a concussion?

The most important treatment for a child that has been diagnosed with a concussion is both physical and mental rest. There is no debating the fact that an athlete who suffers a concussion should remain out of sports or any physical activity until 100% symptom free. Returning to sports before one concussion has resolved puts athletes at risk for “secondary impact syndrome” which can lead to more permanent brain damage. Where a bit of discussion comes about in the medical literature centers around the need for rest from all mental activities as well (i.e. schooling). While a few days away from school or reduced cognitive workload for a short period of time may be needed for certain cases of concussions, the latest research is indicating that complete mental rest may actually cause more harm than good. There are certainly more studies ongoing at this time to try and determine the best course of action when it comes to school attendance. However, one thing when it comes to mental rest that is for sure…avoidance of TV, video games, smartphones and other electronic devices is recommended along with the related social media & internet activities that accompany these things (And yes, I can almost hear the universal groan from all of those teenagers out there who read or hear this).

When can children return to sports following a concussion?

Since every brain is different, the amount of time that each brain needs to heal following an injury will also be variable. Many children may have concussion symptoms lasting 1-2 weeks after the injury, but it is not uncommon for these symptoms to linger to some extent for up to 6 weeks. Athletes should be held out of their sport until 100% symptom free at rest. Once symptom free at rest and cleared by a medical professional, a stepwise return to play should be initiated. Most high schools and colleges have a specific 6-step return to play plan of action. In the end, the most important thing to remember is, “When in doubt, sit them out!”

So what about these “baseline concussion screenings” being offered by some schools and physical therapy offices?

Now, here is where we get into the current debate in the concussion world. Should all athletes, particularly high school, college and professional athletes, be required to have a pre-season, baseline concussion screening test? There are several testing tools available, most now computerized, that are aimed at providing an objective measure of brain functioning. The idea here is that by knowing the baseline brain functioning of an individual, those results can be compared to the results when the test is given after suffering a concussion. While I think such testing can provide objective data, it should be remembered that no one single test can determine if a child has either sustained a concussion or has fully recovered from a concussion.

For parents, understanding the signs and symptoms of concussions as well as the importance of rest for a child recovering from a concussion is of utmost importance as we strive the keep our children’s growing brains healthy. What was previously referred to as “getting your bell rung,” we now understand as an injury that can have long term and potentially permanent negative mental effects especially if not allowed to heal properly. So as the countdown clock to kickoff continues to tick away, remember that when it comes to a potential concussion with your young athletes, make sure and get a medical professional involved to assess the situation and follow their recommended course of action. Be prepared to allow the proper time for mental and physical rest critical for healing the brain, and don’t get back to any athletic activities until your athlete is 100% symptom free. And if there’s ever a question, remember the phrase, “When in doubt, sit them out!”

Everyone have a safe and incredible football season, Gig ‘Em Aggies, Geaux Tigers, and Who Dat!