Super Bowl prep tip: check your TV so it won’t fall on a child
Every 45 minutes in the United States, a child is rushed to the emergency room for injuries caused by television sets that are not appropriately secured.
Three years ago, a toddler in Jersey City died when a TV fell on her.
To bring awareness to the problem and educate parents and caregivers on the simple things they can do to make their homes safer, Safe Kids New Jersey is launching National TV Safety Day on Saturday, Jan. 31, the day before Super Bowl XLIX, the biggest TV event of the year.
“We don’t want any parent to have to endure the loss or injury of a child due to a TV tip-over” said Marissa Fisher, RN, Injury Prevention Manager for the Trauma Division at Jersey City Medical Center – Barnabas Health. “National TV Safety Day is a time for families to conduct a quick TV safety check and learn what to do with older TVs that can be dangerous for young kids.”
Many TV tip-overs, said Fisher, are a result of televisions not being properly secured or placed in an unsafe location. From 2008 – 2012, 12 children in New Jersey under the age of 5 were killed and 33 children were hospitalized due to TV/furniture tip-overs. Nationally, nearly 2,000 children under age five visited ERs during this period due to tip-overs.
Safe Kids encourages families to include TV safety as part of their childproofing plans by placing CRT TVs on low, stable pieces of furniture. If families no longer use their CRT TV, consider recycling it. For families with flat panel televisions, Safe Kids recommends mounting TVs properly to the wall to reduce the risk of TV tip-overs.
“This is a time of year when many people buy new televisions because they want to watch the game at home on a large screen TV,” said Fisher. “If you’re unsure, get professional help in installing it. You don’t want to look back and say ‘If only I had done this properly.’ ”
Hindus seek Diwali holiday in New Jersey schools
Hindus are urging New Jersey public and private schools with a significant number of Hindu students to include Diwali, the most popular Hindu holy day, as a school holiday in their 2015-2016 school calendars and beyond.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed said in a statement that it was unfair to Hindu pupils and their families who must attend school on their most popular festival while many schools in the state were closed on other religious holidays.
Zed, who is president of the Universal Society of Hinduism, argued that holidays of all major religions should be honored and no one should be penalized for practicing their religion. He stressed that it was important for Hindu families to celebrate Diwali day together at home but did not want children to be deprived of any privileges at school because of absences on this day.
Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents, said Zed, with about three million Hindus in the U.S. New Jersey has the highest concentration of Hindus of any state in the country. Diwali is also celebrated by Sikhs, Jains, and some Buddhists. The holiday falls on Nov. 11 in 2015.
11th Annual Guma Foundation ‘Casino Night’ coming on Feb. 28
The Guma Foundation will host its 11th annual Casino Night on Saturday, Feb. 28 at LaReggia’s Restaurant in the Meadowlands Plaza Hotel, 40 Wood Ave. Proceeds will benefit The Tomorrows Children’s Fund and children with brain tumors. Tickets to the event, which starts at 7 p.m., are $100 per person and entitle the bearer to an evening of casino-style gaming with casino chips, live music performed by “The Fez,” open bar and buffet, and prizes too numerous to list, according to Pat Guma, president of The Guma Foundation. Attire is business casual with jacket optional.
Youngsters with brain tumors are the main recipients of donations from The Guma Foundation, which honors the lives of the late Ralph Guma Sr. and Ralph Guma Jr. Diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of nine, Ralph Guma Jr. survived to age 33, attended local schools and earned a college degree.
The fundraising organization’s mission began in 1991with the awarding of the RMG Scholarship that resulted in more than $30,000 over the years being given to deserving high school graduates to help defray the costs of their post-high school educations.
“The Guma Foundation eventually changed its mission and we redirected our energies,” said Pat Guma. “As a result, to date we have contributed over $100,000 to the Tomorrows Children’s Fund at Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC). With my sons and the support of family and friends, we have committed the Foundation’s efforts to providing at least $10,000 annually to the Tomorrows Children’s Fund. In addition, since 2000, The Guma Foundation has donated more than another $10,000 directly to the families of sick children to help support the youngsters’ needs and fulfill some of their dreams.”
The Guma Foundation is a registered not-for-profit organization. To purchase tickets and pay online, or for further information about the Foundation, visit its website at www.gumafoundationinc.org.
Health seminar on treatment options for overactive bladder set for Feb. 10
Does your overactive bladder keep you from living your life to its fullest? Nearly 40 million Americans suffer from overactive bladder. This common, sometimes disabling condition sends signals to your bladder at the wrong time, resulting in urine leakage, the strong sudden need to “go right away,” and “going” far too often.
Attend a free seminar on May 15 to learn about the many treatment options available, including the latest advance in using Botox to treat overactive bladder symptoms. The featured speaker is board certified Urogynecologist Dr. Sam Hessami (director, Continence Center at Palisades, and associate clinical professor, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine). The event will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m. at Palisades Medical Center, 7600 River Rd. Check-in is at 6:30. Free food and refreshments will be provided. Parking and admission are free, and transportation will be provided free from 60th St. and Bergenline Ave. starting at 6 p.m. To register, call (201) 854-5702.