YCPO - August 2018

Young Children Priority One August 2018 Newsletter

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES

A GREAT WAY TO VOLUNTEER AND HELP!

The success of the Ronald McDonald House Charities is due  to the tireless work of volunteers and the countless contributions from  donors. Ronald McDonald House Charities have  been helping improve the lives of children and their families for 37 years.

How it started:

1974

The first Ronald McDonald House opens in Philadelphia thanks to Dr. Audrey Evans, Philadelphia Eagles’ player Fred Hill (whose daughter, Kim, had leukemia), Leonard Tose, owner of the Eagles, Jim Murray, the Eagles’ general manager and Ed Rensi, the McDonald’s regional manager.

The McDonald’s owner/operators in Philadelphia made the House possible, donating proceeds from the sale of Shamrock Shakes.

RMHC makes an immediate, positive impact on children’s lives through their global network of Chapters in 57 countries and regions and through their three core programs: Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Family Room and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile.

DO YOU KNOW?

McDONALD’S FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS ARE NOT THE SOLE SUPPORT OF RMH, NOT EVEN CLOSE! RMH FUNCTIONS WWITH HEAVY DEPENDENCY ON  VOLUNTEERS!

FAMILIES ARE REFERRED BY SOCIAL SERVICES AT HOSPITALS IN ORDER TO QUALIFY TO STAY AT RMH…THERE MUST BE A NEED!

PATIENTS (CHILDREN) STAY AT RMH FOR FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENTS AND/OR OUTPATIENT TREATMENT.  ADULTS, SIBLINGS AND PATIENTS STAY AT RMH, NOT JUST ADULTS!

HOW CAN KIWANIS CLUBS HELP? (30 WAYS TO VOLUNTEER AT RMH)

#1Contact your local Ronald McDonald House and have an administrator come speak at your Club.  Find out ways Kiwanis members can help!

#2Prepare and serve a home-cooked meal for families GUEST CHEF’S NIGHT great way too volunteer with club  members go to website to find more information and sign up

#3Plant flowers, or clean up the garden at RMH

#4Bring homemade cookies or cupcakes for families. Or help children bake and decorate them.

#5Help with a “spring cleaning” spruce-up

#6Offer your professional skills to families – give free haircuts, massages, or manicures

#7Organize a craft project for children

#8Answer the phones, greet visitors or do light office work

#9Host a pizza party, ice cream social, or popcorn & movie night

#10Help the RMHC Chapter write a newsletter

#11Hold a food drive (non-perishable items) to help stock the pantry

#12Help your local RMHC Chapter with a golf tournament, auction, gala or fundraising event

#13Organize the Ronald McDonald House’s storage areas, or restock supplies

#14Host a free car wash for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House

#15Host a scrap-booking project for moms

#16Record height and weight for children visiting the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile program

#17Stuff backpacks with school supplies for children who visit the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile

#18Help children illustrate their own storybooks

#19Help decorate for the holidays

#20Lead a yoga, exercise or relaxation class for parents or kids

#21Create a “penny war” at your school to collect loose change for your local RMHC Chapter

#22Hand write thank-you notes to donors

#23Make welcome goodie bags and care packages for families

#24Collect new hotel toiletries and donate them for families

#25Collect new toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss to donate to the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile

#26Sponsor a room at the Ronald McDonald House with your coworkers or civic group. Paint, furnish and decorate

#27Donate your time and talent in accounting, computers or marketing to help your local RMHC Chapter

#28Serve on a committee or board of your local RMHC Chapter

#29Help paint or provide light carpentry and maintenance services

#30Make quilts, afghans or knitted hats and mittens for families

A great fund raising idea is to collect aluminum pull tabs (many Key Clubs are already

doing this!). Clubs can either redeem the tabs and send a check to RMHC or the pull

tabs can be delivered to a local Ronald McDonald House and they will recycle the tabs.

PLEASE CHECK WITH THE  RMH FIRST!

Please share the above ideas with your Key Clubs. They may be interested in some of the specific suggestions  for service opportunities!

There are 7 Ronald McDonald Houses in New England.

Connecticut

501 George Street

New Haven, CT 06511

Ph: 203 777-5683

Fx: 203 777-3082

www.ronaldmcdonaldhouse-ct.org

Maine

654 State Street

Bangor, ME 04401

Ph: 207 942-9003  Fx: 207 990-2984

www.rmhportlandme.org

250 Brackett Street

Portland, ME 04102

Ph: 207 780-6282

Fx: 207 780-0198

www.rmhportlandme.org

Massachusetts

 229 Kent Street

Brookline, MA 02446

Ph: 617 734-3333

Fx: 617 734-5239

www.ronaldmcdonaldhouseboston.org

34 Chapin Terrace

Springfield, MA 01107

Ph: 413 794-5683

Fx: 413 794-8199

www.ronmcdhouse.com

Rhode Island

 45 Gay Street

Providence, RI 02905

Ph: 401 274-444

Fx: 401 751-3730

www.providenceronaldmcdonaldhouse.org

Vermont

16 South Winooski Avenue

Burlington, VT 05401

Ph: 802 862-4943

Fx: 802 862-2175

www.rmh-vermont.org

If your Kiwanis Club is located near a Ronald McDonald House, I hope you will get involved in helping support the RMHC. It’s all about helping and serving children and their families.  Let’s show our Kiwanis’ hearts and just do it!

Sincerely,

Ava Adams, District Coordinator

Young Children Priority One

Scarborough, Maine Kiwanis Club

New England and Bermuda District

email: faithava2008@yahoo.

YCPO - July 2018

July, 2018 YCPO Newsletter

SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME

(SIDS)

Facts

SIDS is the leading cause of death among babies between 1 month and 1 year of age.

More than 2,000 babies died of SIDS in 2010, the last year for which such statistics are available.

Most SIDS deaths occur when in babies between 1 month and 4 months of age, and the majority (90%) of SIDS deaths occur before a baby reaches 6 months of age. However SIDS deaths can occur anytime during a baby's first year.

SIDS is a sudden and silent medical disorder that can happen to an infant who seems healthy. 

Slightly more boys die of SIDS than do girls.

SIDS rates for the United States have dropped steadily since 1994 in all racial and ethnic groups. Thousands of infant lives have been saved, but some ethnic groups are still at higher risk for SIDS.

https://www.nichd.nih.gov/sts/about/SIDS/Pages/fastfacts.aspx

SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME (SIDS)

Information provided by the Mayo Clinic

DEFINITION

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the unexplained death, usually during sleep, of a seemingly healthy baby less than a year old. SIDS is sometimes known as crib death because the infants often die in their cribs.

Although the cause is unknown, it appears that SIDS may be associated with abnormalities in the portion of an infant's brain that controls breathing and arousal from sleep.

Researchers have discovered some factors that may put babies at extra risk. They've also identified some measures you can take to help protect your child from SIDS. Perhaps the most important measure is placing your baby on his or her back to sleep.

Causes

Physical factors

   •    Brain abnormalities. Some infants are born with problems that make them more likely to die of SIDS. In many of these babies, the portion of the brain that controls breathing and arousal from sleep isn't yet mature enough to work properly.

   •    Low birth weight. Premature birth or being part of a multiple birth increases the likelihood that a baby's brain hasn't matured completely, so he or she has less control over such automatic processes as breathing and heart rate.

   •    Respiratory infection.  Many infants who died of SIDS had recently had a cold, which may contribute to breathing problems.

Sleep environmental factors

   •    Sleeping on the stomach or side. Babies who are placed on their stomachs or sides to sleep may have more difficulty breathing than those placed on their backs.

   •    Sleeping on a soft surface. Lying face down on a fluffy comforter or a waterbed can block an infant's airway. Draping a blanket over a baby's head also is risky.

•           Sleeping with parents. While the risk of SIDS is lowered if an infant sleeps in the same room as his or her parents, the risk increases if the baby sleeps in the same bed — partly because there are more soft surfaces to impair breathing.

The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends that  the baby sleep in the parent’s room at night for at least the first six months and ideally for the first year. Positioning the crib, bassinet, or play yard close to the bed allows one to easily reach the baby for nighttime feeding and comforting.

   

Risk factors

Although sudden infant death syndrome can strike any infant, researchers have identified several factors that may increase a baby's risk. They include:

   •    Sex. Boys are more likely to die of SIDS.

   •    Age. Infants are most vulnerable during the second and third months of life.

   •    Race. For reasons that aren't well-understood, black, American Indian or Alaska Native infants are more likely to develop SIDS.

   •    Family history. Babies who've had siblings or cousins die of SIDS are at higher risk of SIDS.

   •    Secondhand smoke. Babies who live with smokers have a higher risk of SIDS.

   •    Being premature. Both being born early and having low birth weight increase your baby's chances of SIDS.

Maternal risk factors

During pregnancy, the risk of SIDS is also affected by the mother, especially if she:

   •    Is younger than 20

   •    Smokes cigarettes

   •    Uses drugs or alcohol

   •    Has inadequate prenatal care

   

UPDATE

29th March 2018 – Babies who die from SIDS are more likely to have rare genetic mutations that cause them to have weaker breathing muscles, according to a new study.

It is not known why some babies die suddenly from SIDS, but babies being unable to regulate their breathing is thought to be an important condition.

The latest research suggests a possible genetic element to the disorder.

However, the researchers stress that further investigations are needed to understand the link, and whether medication might be suitable to prevent baby deaths.

HOW CAN KIWANIS CLUBS HELP?

   •    Educate the public  by distributing this information at Health Fairs, Pediatrician's Offices, OB/GYN Offices, Urgent Care Facilities,  Day Care Providers etc. 

Copy and paste the following in your browser. You will find a brochure on SIDS available from KPTI for distribution to the public.

https://www.floatinghospital.org/-/media/Brochures/Floating-Hospital/Patient-Care-Services/Departments-and-Services/Kiwanis-Pediatric-Trauma-Institute/Helping_baby_back_to_sleep.ashx?la=en&hash=23C326B3944BFE7C0DC5C22327165B97FEE35433

  

  

AvaAdams, District Coordinator 

Young Children Priority One (Y.C.P.O.) 

New England and Bermuda District of Kiwanis