Most people can handle keeping themselves safe, relatively speaking anyway. Others take on the safety of their spouse, children and maybe a pet or two. Still, others take on the safety of about 56,000 people just down the road. That is the feat of the University of Central Florida Public Safety and Police Department.

Through their extensive initiatives, the UCF Police Department allows for the campus to be a secure environment for its students. Sergeant Troy Williamson, community relations supervisor for the UCF Police Department, has been on the force at the school for 27 years. He says that one of the most important things they do is provide education to students about safety. “We want to educate as much as possible,” Williamson says. “We want to do all that we can to get these students from orientation to graduation.”

The various programs offered cover everything from protecting personal property to staying safe during spring break. One of the more popular classes offered - Self defense Awareness, Familiarization, and Exchange - is a class intended to teach women how to prevent being attacked. One of the instructors of the two-hour class, Officer Jeannette Emert, says the class is for beginners looking for an introduction to self defense. “The hope is that it encourages them to go on to bigger and better programs,” Emert says.

UCF also offers its students with a Safe Escort Patrol Service (SEPS), which runs Sunday through Thursday from 7p.m. to 1a.m. Students, faculty and staff members can utilize this service to get a free and safe ride across the main campus after dark. This past March there were over 700 UCF Knights who took advantage of the SEPS service.

One of the most important things the UCF Police Department does to ensure safety is the UCFALERT. This multi-media communication system arrives in the hands of students and faculty through the form of text messages or emails and provides accurate updates about emergency situations impacting the university - whether it be extreme weather or bomb threats.

A majority of crimes that occur on campus are property burglaries, but the police department is prepared for large scale disasters as well if need be. In preparation of the possibility of a school shooting, members of the UCF Police Department go to the shooting range at least twice a year for a whole day to practice firing. “It’s important to send a message to students that they are safe on this campus,” Williamson says.

The UCF Police Department has grown considerably, even over just the last several years. They moved to their new and improved headquarters this past October, which even still has left plenty of room to grow. Officers on the force has also increased as the campus population has continued to grow over the years.

Thanks their relationship with other Sheriff’s Offices, the UCF Police Department has a constant stream of information. “It’s important that we be in communication with other Sherriff’s offices in the area because a student is a student 24 hours a day,” Williamson says. “Without this Police Department being here, Orange County would have their hands full,” Williamson says. “We take care of our area and we know how to do it better than anyone else. It’s UCF and we know our students, our campus and our community.”

Article by Katelyn Schmidt

Since 1994, the Children’s Safety Village of Central Florida has kept the community informed and youngsters’ safe through its various unique and innovative programs. This summer, why not take the kids out for a day of fun and hands-on safety programs that offer a variety of safety techniques including pedestrian safety, water safety, fire safety, stranger awareness, car seat and buckle up education, and internet safety?

Designed to reduce preventable accidents, injuries, and fatalities among young children, the non-profit Children’s Safety Village raises money through programs, services, fundraisers, and donations. This past year, the Children’s Safety Village has served 8,000 school children in addition to 20,000 families through community events and health fairs. A “city” with miniature buildings, streets, sidewalks, traffic lights, a railroad crossing, and a fire and water safety complex stretch over the organization’s 8-acre property. “We teach children to practice safety through interactive activities and role-playing exercises at our facility,” says Juanita Black, executive director of the Children’s Safety Village.

Although field trips are generally more frequent throughout the school year, summer remains a hit among many camps, Boy and Girl Scout groups and neighborhood centers. With activities for ages ranging from 4 to 14-years-old, programs are selected according to grade level. Currently, the most popular programs include bike and helmet safety, stranger awareness, and fire safety.

Water safety becomes more prevalent throughout the summertime, where children have the opportunity to help someone in trouble without getting in the water themselves. Black explains, “By using brooms, noodles, and even coolers, each child is able to practice water safety using the tips and tools supplied.” Shifting gears and gaining attention among older children is the internet safety program.  “This recent program discusses cyber web bullying, and provides instructions to follow when online conversations become uncomfortable or an individual wants to meet in person,” says Black.

The on-site agenda comprises of 90 minutes of activity and includes a lunch break at the picnic pavilions. Groups also may take advantage of outreach programs the Children’s Safety Village offers. With budget cuts, and no method of transportation, these 30-minute programs are a great alternative to learn and experience safety tips hands-on.

In addition to offering safety courses for children, the Children’s Safety Village assists parents with essential car seat and child passenger safety guidelines. “We invite anyone to make an appointment to have your car seat inspected at the monthly free community car seat checkup event,” says Black. You may also have a Certified Car Seat Technician install one for a minimum fee. Any funds received from each service help provide new car seats at a discounted price for children of local families in need.

This month, the Children’s Safety Village, in partnership with Safe Kids Orange County, will be launching a national hyperthermia program. Over the years, hyperthermia has become a rapidly growing problem, in not only Florida, but also the United States. “Children face extreme danger when left in a car for any period, as their body heats up three to five times quicker than that of adults,” explains Black. The new, ongoing national program will help raise awareness and incorporate tips to aide in the prevention of hyperthermia. Black expresses the risks associated with leaving a child unaccompanied in a car and illustrates a few precautions to take. “By leaving a purse in the backseat, or a specific item up front, parents and guardians will be reminded a child is in the car as well.”

However you choose to have some fun in the sun this summer, stay safe. And when you need to brush up on safety tips, you can always depend on the Children’s Safety Village.

Article by Carol Galbicsek

Insight Online Exclusive

Think about this morning’s ride to work or to drop off the kids at school. Did you drive 25 miles per hour (mph) in your neighbourhood or exceed the 55mph posted limits on the Beach Line? Maybe you decided to slow to the posted limit in construction zones or reduced speed a bit more when rain started.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, in 2009, 55 percent of fatal speed related crashes were attributed to driving over the posted limit with another 45 percent attributed to “driving too fast for conditions” - like when the first rains hit after a long dry spell causing “Florida ice.”

Globally, creativity reigns in the mission to control speeders. The Virginia Department of Transportation uses optical speed bars imitating the effects of a “flip book;” giving the illusion of driving faster. The quaint Town of Lockridge in the United Kingdom strategically places “dummies” to make drivers think someone is eminently stepping into traffic. Many neighbourhoods locally have adopted, or are considering adopting, speed humps. Radar remains a common enforcement tool in speed wars, while the popularity of traffic calming circles and controversial red light cameras continues to grow.

With tight budgets, in January of this year a group of concerned residents in southeast Orange County’s Avalon Park partnered with their Developer’s Office and Homeowner’s Association to come up with a positive way to encourage neighbours to drive safely through the community. “After some brainstorming, we established the ‘I Drive 25′ in Avalon Park Campaign,” says Stephanie Hodson, marketing director for Avalon Park Group, which involves the posting of yard signs on the 25^th of each month. Signage was provided by the HOA supported by a resident donated website.

“The initiative started with focus on a few streets having issues with speeders and texters in their neighbourhood, however it was never the intention just to focus on specific areas, but to encourage safe and legal driving throughout the community,” adds Hodson. At first, “Yard Sign Day” was once a quarter and has grown to a monthly activity. Additionally, several commercial tenants added support. “For instance, Kids ‘R’ Kids [stood] out at the traffic circle on Avalon Park Blvd. East on April 25, waving ‘I Drive 25′ signs. Other commercial tenants are showing support by placing yard signs in front of their businesses.”

Avalon Park created as a community, not just a subdivision, means being more than just legally responsible but also being socially responsible. “While the I Drive 25 Campaign is the driving initiative in Avalon Park right now, there are always ways to grow within the community and we hope this initiative will encourage residents to take ownership in their community and find other ways that we can continue to grow Avalon Park,” says Hodson.

With a myriad of yard signs advertising new businesses openings and church services, to keep the program fresh, Avalon Park’s HOA hires off duty police officers, aware of the program, to enforce and encourage residents to sign the pledge for participation. In turn, residents demonstrated concern for members of a heavily pedestrian-friendly community and committed to a stand against speeding.

“Since the sign day is once a month, we believe that this will keep the awareness high, as well as continuing to foster partnerships with local businesses and law enforcement to bring awareness to driving safely in Avalon Park,” says Stephanie. “Also, one of the key relationships we are looking to build is that with Timber Creek High School and local teens. We hope engaging them will give some of the younger, less experienced drivers the sense of belonging to a community, and in turn, cause them to be more cautious about their driving habits.”

Article by Monica King

You may be among 20 million Americans caught in what is called the “Sandwich Generation,” a growing number of individuals taking care of their children and aging parents at the same time. If you are, take solace in knowing that help is available.

As our population gets older, more and more people will become caregivers. According to the National Institute on Aging, 5.2 million people in the United States are currently affected by Alzheimer’s disease, and  the majority of cases are diagnosed in people older than 60. With the first wave of Baby Boomers turning 65 this year, this number is expected to skyrocket over the next several years.

As more people develop the disease, millions of others will become caregivers in need of support and guidance. They are known as the “Sandwich Generation” - those who find themselves “squeezed in between caring for their children and their elderly parents or other older family members. Recently, the challenges faced by this subset of caregivers have garnered long-overdue attention from both elder/patient care experts and the mainstream media.

A Juggling Act

The typical American sandwich generation caregiver is female, in her mid-forties, married, employed, and caring for both her family and an elderly parent. In recent years, more and more men are finding themselves caught in between the generations as well. According to the Pew Research Center, about 13 percent of Americans aged 40 to 60 are both raising a child and caring for a parent. On top of that, seven to 10 million adults are caring for aging parents long distance, which makes it much more difficult to provide consistent care. And these numbers are projected to increase. U.S. Census Bureau statistics indicate that the number of older Americans aged 65 or older will double by the year 2030, to more than 70 million.

To complicate matters further, an ever-growing segment of sandwich generation families live in rural communities - removed from readily available and professionally organized support services and care networks. But regardless of where you live, providing for both young children and elderly parents requires a positive attitude and a proactive approach to caregiving issues.

Ease Your Burden

The demanding role of caring for loved ones can take a serious toll. Stressed to their limits, many suffer from frustration, anger, guilt, loneliness and/or exhaustion. Common concerns include:

• How do I split my time between my children/family and my elder loved one?
• How do I find time for my marriage?
• How do I find time for me?
• How do I find the right resources for myself and my loved one?
• How do I deal with feelings of guilt for not being perfect?

In order to alleviate some of these stressors, you first need to recognize that you need time to meet your own physical and emotional needs. Womenshealth.gov, the federal government source for women’s health information, suggests the following tips to help caregivers ease their stress:

• Identify resources in your community.
• Ask for and accept help.
• If you need financial assistance, don’t be afraid to ask family members to contribute their fair share.
• Say “no” to requests that can drain your energy, such as hosting holiday meals.
• Don’t feel guilty that you’re not the “perfect” caregiver; there’s no such thing.
• Prioritize, make lists and establish a daily routine.
• Stay in touch with family and friends.
• Make time each week to do something that you want to do.
• Take some time to be physically active, eat a healthy diet and get enough sleep.
• Keep your sense of humor.

We often don’t choose the responsibilities that are thrust upon us, but the way we respond to them makes a big difference in our overall quality of life. Caring for loved ones, although full of challenges and frustrations, can also be very rewarding. By creating a healthy balance in your life, you can realize a host of positive benefits - including improved relationships, satisfaction from doing a job well, and a heightened sense of value and self-esteem.

Article by Nancy Squillacioti

Nancy Squillacioti is the executive director of the Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Center, a nonprofit agency that has been serving caregivers and families of those with Alzheimer’s and related dementias for 27 years.

Popsicles are melting in terror, iced tea is being consumed by the barrel and the air conditioners are huffing heavily with overtime. It’s about that season: scorching Florida summer heat is striking mercilessly all around us. Naturally, we’re starting to shift our glistening eyes to pools, ponds, lakes, beaches and basically any soothing body of water that can offer us relief. It might even entail a less glamorous soak in the tub. Whatever your particular fancy may be, it’s important to remember that there is always a risk for danger, especially when you have little ones around the house. But what can you do to help prevent a problem before it starts?

Unfortunately, according the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the leading cause of deaths for infants and young children between the ages of one and 4-years-old. Hitting closer to home here in Florida, drowning surpasses all other causes of death to children 14-years-old and younger. Understandably, it can be overwhelming to think about if you’re a parent. So what’s the solution to beating these statistics? One of the best solutions is local swimming lessons.

Pioneered by a doctorate degree in behavioral science from the University of Florida, Dr. Harvey Barnett established groundbreaking theoretical knowledge to craft the Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) program and the Self-Rescue^TM method. To say the least, it’s astonishing to watch infants learn to float and swim to safety before they can even fully grasp the ability to walk or crawl. Spanning from a wide array of children from the ages of six months to 6-years-old, ISR has had more than 177,244 cases that have gone through the program since 1966, tallying millions of safe and effective lessons to their credit.

“I first heard of ISR when my son was two. With all of the ponds and backyard pools in our area, we knew he needed more than just swimming skills, but life saving ones, too,” says East Orlando local and certified ISR instructor, Michelle Martinez. “It was amazing for me to watch him learn the necessary survival skills and become independent in the water in just six weeks. I was so inspired by ISR through the entire process that I knew I immediately I wanted to make a difference in a child’s life.” Later that summer, she gained her certification and has been teaching in Avalon Park ever since.

After signing your child up for the survival program, you can expect daily 10 minute sessions, scheduled Monday through Friday for four to six weeks, according to Martinez. Depending on their particular age, they’ll learn a different skill set:

• For infants 6-12-months-old, the child will focus on learning how to roll onto their back to float, rest and breathe and how to maintain this life-saving position until help comes to their aid.
• For children 1-6-years-old, the child will focus on learning a swim-float-swim survival sequence. Bowing their heads down to swim, children will then roll onto their back to momentarily float, rest and breathe, and then continue swimming until the water’s edge is within reach.

To date, ISR has 790 documented cases of children using ISR’s survival swimming techniques to save themselves from drowning. The numbers don’t lie; it’s a tried and true tactic to keep your tiny loved ones safe from the water’s potentially dangerous clutches.

Beat the summer heat without any if’s, and’s or but’s blocking your fun and relief from the sun.

Article by Kristina Hadsock