"Each year we bring our fifth graders to experience the Adventure Learning Center's alpine tower, giant swing, and team building exercises. They always come back energized, proud, and united! I believe it is one of the best field trips for kids! The staff is always positive, encouraging and totally dedicated to the kids. "

— 5th Grade Counselor, New Hanover County Schools

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World AIDS DAY

WHAT IS WORLD AIDS DAY?

Originally posted on worldaidsday.org.

World AIDS Day is held on the 1st December each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day, held for the first time in 1988.

WHY IS WORLD AIDS DAY IMPORTANT?

Over 100,000 people are living with HIV in the UK. Globally there are an estimated 34 million people who have the virus. Despite the virus only being identified in 1984, more than 35 million people have died of HIV or AIDS, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.

Today, scientific advances have been made in HIV treatment, there are laws to protect people living with HIV and we understand so much more about the condition. Despite this, each year in the UK around 6,000 people are diagnosed with HIV, people do not know the facts about how to protect themselves and others, and stigma and discrimination remain a reality for many people living with the condition.

World AIDS Day is important because it reminds the public and Government that HIV has not gone away – there is still a vital need to raise money, increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education.

Click here to finish reading about World AIDS Day.

Presidential Proclamation -- National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, 2016

NATIONAL IMPAIRED DRIVING PREVENTION MONTH, 2016
– – – – – – –
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

Driving drunk, drugged, or distracted poses a significant threat to drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and all who share our roads. During the holiday season, incidents of impaired driving occur more frequently, and every December, we observe National Impaired Driving Prevention Month to highlight steps we can take to improve safety on our streets and raise awareness of these preventable dangers.

Recently, the number of traffic crash fatalities caused by impaired driving has unfortunately increased — last year, preventable alcohol-related driving fatalities accounted for nearly one-third of all traffic fatalities. Consumption of alcohol by drivers, even those who are of legal drinking age, is highly dangerous, and drug use, including prescription drug use, can also harm judgment, perception, and the motor skills used when driving. Distracted driving — including eating, tending to passengers, and using a cell phone — can also be dangerous and is equally preventable.

We can all do our part to keep our roads safe and prevent these tragedies. As passengers, we can reduce our interactions with drivers and lessen distractions. As friends and family members, we can look out for loved ones who may be drinking and help them get home safely. And as citizens, we can always call 911 to report any dangerous driving we observe.

My Administration has worked to help Americans who struggle with substance use disorders and substance misuse, which can lead to incidents of drunk or drugged driving. We are also striving to give law enforcement officers the resources and support they need to combat impaired driving, and we must encourage the development of technologies like ignition interlock devices, which can prevent impaired individuals from getting behind the wheel. Through the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, States and communities across our country are working to increase road patrols and sobriety checkpoints, in addition to raising awareness and improving education on the dangers of impaired driving. You can learn more about what we are doing to prevent impaired driving by visiting www.WhiteHouse.gov/ONDCP/DruggedDriving, www.NHTSA.gov/DriveSober, and www.Distraction.gov.

Whether encouraging parents to set a good example for their teen drivers or educating every driver on the dangers of unsafe driving, we must recommit to doing everything we can to prevent driving-related injuries and fatalities. This month, let us continue empowering drivers to make responsible decisions and educating the American people on ways they can help keep our roads safe and our futures bright.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 2016 as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. I urge all Americans to make responsible decisions and take appropriate measures to prevent impaired driving.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-first.

 

BARACK OBAMA

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Get Ready...Set...Quit! by the CDC

Please click here to see the original post by the CDC.

The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout is the perfect starting point.

If you’re a smoker, setting a date to quit can be an important step in protecting your health and the health of your loved ones. The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout encourages smokers to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking on a specific day. This year, the 41st annual Great American Smokeout will be held on November 17 and will encourage the 36.5 million adults in the U.S. who smoke cigarettes to quit.

Many loved ones have probably urged you to quit smoking already, and you’ve probably wanted or tried to quit. We know that quitting can be hard, but don’t give up. Just as every successful goal starts with planning and preparation, so too does quitting. When you plan to quit smoking during the Great American Smokeout, you are celebrating this day with millions of other smokers across the nation who also want to quit. Join in by participating in social media conversations, chatting live with a counselor or calling a quitline, or teaming up with friends, family, or co-workers for encouragement. Smokers who have support are more likely to quit for good!

 Sign that read Finish Line Ahead and Hang in ThereSetting a quit date puts you one step closer to your goal of quitting smoking.

Five Ways to Get Ready to Quit Smoking

You’re taking an important step toward feeling better and creating a healthier life when you set out to quit smoking cigarettes. A good plan can help you get past symptoms of withdrawal. Take these five steps to improve your success:

  1. Set a quit date. Choose the Great American Smokeout or another quit day within the next 2 weeks.
  2. Tell your family and friends about your quit plan. Share your quit date with the important people in your life and ask for support. A daily phone call, e-mail, or text message can help you stay on course and provide moral support.
  3. Be prepared for challenges. The urge to smoke is short—usually only 3 to 5 minutes, but those moments can feel intense. Even one puff can feed a craving and make it stronger. Before your quit day, write down healthy ways to cope.
    • Drink water.
    • Exercise.
    • Listen to a favorite song or play a game.
    • Call or text a friend.
    • Get social support by joining @CDCTobaccoFree on Facebook and Twitter.
    • Sign up for SmokefreeTEXT for 24/7 help on your mobile phone.
  4. Remove cigarettes and other tobacco from your home, car, and workplace. Throw away your cigarettes, matches, lighters, and ashtrays. Clean and freshen your car, home, and workplace. Old cigarette odors can cause cravings.
  5. Talk to your pharmacist, doctor, or quitline coach about quit options. Nicotine patches, gum, or other approved quit medication can help with cravings.

In Focus: Smoking and Mental Health

You may already know that smoking causes immediate damage to your body and that it threatens your future with increased risks for cancer, heart attack, lung disease, and early death. But did you know that one group of people especially vulnerable to high rates of smoking are adults with mental distress* disorders and people with mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression? More than 3 in every 10 cigarettes smoked by adults in the United States are smoked by persons with mental health conditions.

Gran Día de No Fumar

El tercer jueves de noviembre de cada año, los fumadores de toda la nación participan  en el evento Gran Día de No Fumar (Great American Smokeout) de la Sociedad Americana Contra El Cáncer. Los fumadores pueden utilizar esta fecha para hacer un plan dirigido a dejar de fumar o planear con anticipación y luego dejar de fumar ese día. El evento Gran Día de No Fumar les brinda una oportunidad a las personas a renunciar al uso del tabaco y ayuda a las personas a conocer los muchos recursos que pueden utilizar para ayudarles a dejar de fumar y mantenersen libre del tabaco.

Más de 40 millones de personas en los Estados Unidos todavía fuman. El riesgo de padecer del cáncer de pulmón ocurre  aproximadamente 23 veces más en los hombres fumadores y 13 veces más en las mujeres fumadoras, en comparación con las personas que no han fumado durante sus vidas. El tabaco es la causa principal de cáncer y de muerte prematura por cáncer.

Afortunadamente, en las últimas décadas se han visto grandes avances en el cambio de las actitudes en relación con el hábito de fumar, en los conocimientos sobre la adicción a la nicotina y sobre cómo ayudar a las personas a dejar el hábito.

Dejar de fumar tiene beneficios inmediatos igual que a largo plazo. Es difícil dejar de fumar, pero con apoyo puede tener éxito.  Los estudios han mostrado que los fumadores tienen más éxito en renunciar al hábito cuando cuentan con apoyo, como grupos, líneas telefónicas, y con medicamentos.

Great American Smokeout

GASO Banner 2016According to the American Cancer Society, every year, on the third Thursday of November, smokers across the nation take part in the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout event. Encourage someone you know to use the date to make a plan to quit, or plan in advance and then quit smoking that day. By quitting – even for 1 day – smokers will be taking an important step toward a healthier life and reducing their cancer risk.

About 40 million Americans still smoke cigarettes, and tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the world. While cigarette smoking rates have dropped (from 42% in 1965 to 17% in 2014), cigar, pipe, and hookah – other dangerous and addictive ways to smoke tobacco – are very much on the rise. Smoking kills people – there’s no “safe” way to smoke tobacco.

Quitting smoking has immediate and long-term benefits at any age. Quitting is hard, but you can increase your chances of success with help. Getting help through counseling or medications can double or triple the chances of quitting successfully.

For more information please go to the American Cancer Society’s website.

Know! To Recognize & Respond to Bullying

NC Parent Resource Center brings you Know!

Talking regularly with kids about the dangers of alcohol,
tobacco and other drugs reduces their risk of using.

Click here to read original post

Know! To Recognize & Respond to Bullying

October is National Bullying Prevention Month; an opportunity to bring awareness to an issue that is negatively impacting children and families nationwide.

Bullying touches the lives of at least one out of every four children in the U.S. In this year alone, approximately 13 million youth from preschool to high school will experience it. Yet, many parents do not even know their child is a victim. One study revealed that as many as 64% of youth who were bullied did not tell a parent, teacher or any other adult about it. Will your child be one of them? Would you recognize it and know how to respond?

Bullying can take various forms. While the schoolyard bully who pushes around smaller children or steals their lunch money still exists, the term “bullying” includes several other negative behaviors. Bullying can be physical, verbal, sexual, emotional, cyberbullying or combinations of the five. In any case, according to Pacer Center’s Teens Against Bullying, it’s considered bullying if:

  • The person is being hurt, harmed or humiliated with words or behavior.
  • It can be behavior that is repeated, or it can be a single incident.
  • It is being done intentionally.
  • The person being hurt has a hard time defending him/herself from the behavior.
  • Those who are doing it have more power, meaning, they are older, physically stronger, have a higher social status, or if multiple youth “gang up” on another child.

Click here to read the whole article.

Red Ribbon Week 2016

SIGN THE RED RIBBON PLEDGE

Take the National Red Ribbon Campaign Pledge now and be a part of the creation of a drug free America.

WHAT’S THE PLEDGE ABOUT?

  1. As parents and citizens, we will talk to our children and the children in our lives about the dangers of drug abuse.
  2. We will set clear rules for our children about not using drugs.
  3. We will set a good example for our children by not using illegal drugs or medicine without a prescription.
  4. We will monitor our children’s behavior and enforce appropriate consequences, so that our rules are respected.
  5. We will encourage family and friends to follow the same guidelines to keep children safe from substance abuse.

I PLEDGE TO SET GUIDELINES TO HELP CHILDREN GROW UP SAFE, HEALTHY AND DRUG-FREE.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month

Image result for national bullying prevention month

Every October, schools and organizations across the country join STOMP Out Bullying™ in observing National Bullying Prevention Month. The goal: encourage communities to work together to stop bullying and cyberbullying by increasing awareness of the prevalence and impact of bullying on all children of all ages.

To read the whole article or for more information click here.

#BE THE 1 TO

BeThe1To-300x300The National Action Alliance for Suicide Preventionand the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline know it is possible to reduce deaths from suicide like we have reduced heart disease fatalities and other leading causes of death. We know that for every person who dies by suicide annually, there are another 278 people who have thought seriously about suicide who don’t kill themselves, and nearly 60 who have survived a suicide attempt, the overwhelming majority of whom will go on to live out their lives. These untold stories of hope and recovery are the stories of suicide prevention, stories which are informing the Lifeline and the Action Alliance’s efforts to prevent more suicides every day. We also know that we are not the only ones that are making a difference in preventing suicides.

Be the one to spread the word about suicide prevention, and show the world how we can all take action and make an impact in someone’s life. Participate in #BeThe1To for September 2016’s National Suicide Prevention Month (and beyond!), and learn how you can help someone who may be thinking of suicide by clicking here.