Helping children to deal with fear & Halloween

Many children eagerly anticipate as it can be a very exciting time exploring magic and mystery, however, for some children it can be a very scary experience.

Below are some ideas on how to help children manage any anxieties they may experience around Halloween;

• Make time to talk with your child about feeling “scared”, what this means to him/her and how they can deal with these feelings

• To dispel fears about loud noises discuss common creepy sounds with your child and be sure to explain to them what is really causing those noises

• Draw pictures of monsters, ghosts, goblins and witches with them and then discuss what is real and what is make believe

• In the week leading up to Halloween play dress up games with your children – this will help desensitise them to seeing people in costumes

As a parent you may have concerns about the practice of trick-or-treating due to things like road safety and bullying. However, the following safety advice can ensure that it is a safe and fun experince for everyone involved:

• Trick-or-treaters should always be accompanied by an adult

• Stick to well-lit familiar streets and housing estates

• Carry a torch and ID

• Where possible restrict visits to family and friends

www.idme.ie 

1 in 5 children will go missing on holidays

Child Safety ID Band

A survey* of 656 Irish parents by Childline has shown that nearly one in five childraen accidentally get separated from their parents on holidays at home and abroad.

Almost 10% of Irish parents reported they had been separated from their child or children under 10 years of age abroad.

50% of parents worried about not knowing enough about the area to find their child, while 17% said not having a command of the language was a problem in locating their missing child.

Children between the ages of 4 and 6 were the most likely to go missing, the survey found, while boys disappeared four times more often than girls.

The survey found that husbands and male partners were by far the most likely to be separated from their children.

Making sure your child is wearing an IDme ID band with your information on it will ensure a speedier and safe reunion.

*Survey carried out by Empathy Research

Safety Tips for Kids Cycling

Cycling for children

Using a bike for the first time and learning to ride has been a rite of passage for generations of Irish children. Cycling is fun and sociable and, like swimming, a life-skill that stands to children in later years.

Yet, like many activities, cycling carries an element of risk. Parents play an important role in minimising the risk by giving them proper guidance and instruction at an early age to ensure that basic safety rules are absorbed while young.

Do’s and dont's of safe cycling for children

Do ensure they:

• Cycle a bike matched to their height and experience
• Wear a safety helmet
• Wear an iDME wristband ensuring ICE info is at hand
• Use lights in dark or dusky conditions

Don’t allow them to:

• Cycle on public roads unsupervised (if under 12)
• Wear loosely-worn scarves or other clothing that could get caught in the wheels or chain-set
• Take unnecessary risks

Why you should wear an iDME ID Band

If you have or care for children, are a fitness enthusiast heading out for your daily run, have a medical condition or like to travel the world, the question should really be why don’t you?

• Child I.D.

Let’s face it, children love to wander. Most parents have experienced that dreaded moment when their heart has sank and their world stopped, even for just a moment, when they could no longer see where their child had disappeared to. Ensuring your child is wearing an iDME wristband will help you to be reunited as quickly as possible by having emergency contact information on hand.

• Sports I.D.

Carrying your I.D. is as important as putting on your seat belt when getting into car, or strapping on bike helmet to go for a ride. If you participate in swimming, cycling, jogging, walking, climbing, skating, skiing, this list is endless, then you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to carry I.D. and wear reflective safety gear, remembering to be seen, be safe.

• Medical I.D.

Alzheimer’s disease, type 2 diabetes, advanced arthritis and heart disease much more common today as we all continue to live longer. Carrying medical I.D. can inform medics as to the correct treatment to be administered and provide a record of people to call in an emergency which can be lifesaving action for the elderly and infirm.

• Travel I.D.

We are all travelling a lot more these days, for work and for fun but can still fall short of knowing the local dialect. Carrying I.D. in case of an emergency is crucial to ensure that our information is on hand if needed.

The Importance of Wearing a Sports ID band

Wearing your ID band is as important as putting on your seat belt when getting into car, or strapping on bike helmet to go for a ride. If you participate in running, cycling, jogging, walking, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, this list is endless, then you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to carry ID & wear reflective safety gear. 

Cycling Safety - Advice and tips on how to stay safe while cycling on Irish roads. Cycling is a common means of transport. It’s popular for several reasons: it’s great exercise, it’s cheap and it cuts down on travel time, especially during rush-hour. But cyclists are also a vulnerable category of road user. Every year there are several cycling fatalities on Irish roads and countless collisions involving cyclists. As a cyclist, you can reduce your risk of death or injury by following some simple advice:

• Never cycle in the dark without adequate lighting – white for front, red for rear
• Always wear luminous clothing such as hi-vis vests, fluorescent armbands and reflective belts so that other road users can see you, although you can hear a car coming and see its lights, the driver may not see you (and certainly won’t hear you)
• Wear a helmet
• Wear an iDME wristband to be easily identified in case of emergency
• Make sure you keep to the left. Always look behind and give the proper signal before moving off, changing lanes or making a turn
• Follow the rules of the road, never run traffic lights or weave unpredictably in and out of traffic
• Maintain your bike properly – in particular, your brakes should work properly and your tyres should be inflated to the right pressure and be in good condition
• Respect other road users – don’t get into shouting matches with motorists; stop at pedestrian crossings; don’t cycle on the footpath
• Watch your speed, especially when cycling on busy streets and going downhill
• Steer well clear of left-turning trucks: let them turn before you move ahead

At iDME we encourage every runner, cyclist and swimmer to wear an iDME wristband. Wearing an ID band just might save your life. Our wristbands are designed to provide vital lifesaving information to paramedics in the event you are involved in an accident or suffer a medical incident when exercising.

• Highly reflective –reflective material, essential for jogging low-light conditions 
• ID card is kept securely and discreetly within the Sport ID wristband
• Easily updated – spare ID card included 
• 100% waterproof – Perfect for outdoor pursuits
• Comfortable and discreet
•  Unisex design
• Sizes -  Small (wrist circumference 12.5cm to 15cm) Medium(wrist circumference 13cm to 17cm) and Large (wrist circumference 16cm to 21cm)

Testimonial

    "We recently received an order for our cycling club. This idea was sparked from a situation where one of our members had an accident and was knocked on conscious. We shortly realized nobody in the group had details for his immediate contact. We did not know if he was on medication, had any heart problems or had any allergies. IDME wristband gives us the flexibility to put a number of important information & data that may be helpful in any future accidents. It is now compulsory for all our members to carry a wristband when out cycling." Emmett, Secretary at Over the Hill Cycling Group, Cork