Page 1032 - 1970S

40 The PLAIN TRUTH December 1971
avoid glare or reAect ion. Aod, fioally, wheo watching TV for
any length of time, periodjcally rest your eyes by looking away
from the set, leaving the room, or turning jt off.
• Teach Your Child How to
Telephone for Help
According to research conducted by Dr. Sam Sebesta and
Dr. Cecil Clark, specialists in reading and educational psy–
chology of the Depar tment of Education, University of
Washington, most children even as young as 21'2-years-old
can learn how to dial "0 " ( Operator) for help in case of an
emergency. Research on young children dialing a more com–
pl icated number like 999, the emergency number used in Brit–
ain, or 911, the emergency number used in some parts of the
United States, has not been completed. But some of the
same principies used to teach a child how to dial "0" may
apply.
Most children at age 2V2 should be able to learn how to
say their first and last name and give the section of the city
where they live. By 8 years of age the average child should
know his parent's full name, complete address and be able to
fully state the nature of the emergency.
In the booklet, In Case of Emergency . . . lnstmctiom
for teaching small children hoto to ttse the telephone in an
emergency, developed by Doctors Sebesta and Clark, these
basic points were given on how to teach your child to tele–
phooe for help:
1. Specially denote the "0" (Operator) on the tele–
phone dial by a red dot, so your child wiU know where to
place his finger to dial.
2. Tape down the receiver button to stop the dial tone
during the training period.
3. Demonstrate the dialing procedure to your child.
4. Help your child pick up the phooe and dial the red
dot "0" (Operator) until he can do it correctly by himself
without aid.
5. Teach him to repeat bis name and address into the
receiver. Be sure he doesn't hang up the phone after first
giving the information. In an emergency the operator may
need to ask questions to gain more pertinent information.
As the booklet explains, the child should be taught that
these procedures for using the phone are only for an emer·
geocy. He must understand that this is not a game. Through
pictures in the booklet or perhaps other magazines you can
teach your child what an emergency is and why he may need
to phone for help. This free booklet can be obtained by writ–
ing to United Graphics Publishing Division, P. O. Box
24287, Seattle, Washington, 98124. Ask for In Case of
Emergency . .. lmtmcliom for teaching small children hotv
to ttse the telephone in an emergency.
• Electrical Toys
For children under seven - and even for some older
children - it is best to buy only battery operated electrical
toys. Most toys that run on household current have battery-
operated counterparts. Be sure to check the battery for pos–
sible corrosion and acid leakage.
lf you do decide to purchase for your child an electrical
toy that runs on household current, be sure jt has the UL
(Underwriters' Laboratories) seal of approval. However,
don't read into the UL seal of approval the idea that the toy
is accident proof. Also, be sure the toy comes equipped with a
transformer or converter that lowers the operating voltage to
a safer leve! of 6 or 12 volts. Before allowing your child to
use a newly purchased electrical toy, teach him how to plug
and unplug it safely. He should be taught not to pull the plug
out of the waU socket by the cord, and that no electrical
'áppliance or toy should ever be used in or even near water or
with wet hands. Check the toy's cord periodically for signs of
fraying or cracked wires.
The Final Report of the National Commission of Prod–
ltct Safety reports that some electrical toy ovens have tempera–
tures above 300 degrees Fahrenheit on the outer surface and
600 degrees Fahrenheit on the inside. Frankly, it would be
safer and saner to teach your young daughter how to cook on
the kitchen stove with your dose supervision than it would be
to Jet her play with that type of toy oven alone!
• Driving and Old Age
Older drivers should make an honest evaluation of their
driving ability. In 1969, 17% of the 9 million drivers 65
years of age and older were involved in motor-verude acci·
dents in the United States.
Certain key safe driving prerequisites such as good
vision, reaction time and hearing often decrease with age.
Being unaware of such handicaps, or refusing to admit their
existence may create a driving hazard for everyone on the
road. Here are some important driving prerequisites every
senior citizen should be aware of:
VrsrON - Safe driving in fast-moving traffic necessitates
good vision. But according to the Motorists' Vision Com–
mittee of the American Optometric Association, 30% of all
thirty-year-old drivers, 48% of all forty-year-old drivers, 71%
of a!l ñfty-year-old drivers and 80% of al! sixty-year-old
drivers have visual problems. An older driver with incor–
rectably poor vision shoflld not drive. Likewise, since the
ability to see well at night also generally decreases with age,
older persons with that problem should avoid night driving.
SLOWER REACTJON TIME - To compensate for slower
reAex reactions, older drivers often reduce speed and become
overly road cautious. Driving too slowly can be dangerous. It
can cause traffic jams or even accidents. Older drivers should
eliminate driving in heavy traffic or on crowded freeways
when they lose competence for such driving.
HEARJNG - Poor hearing may prevent drivers from
hearing honking horns, vehicles nearby or even emergency
vehide sirens. To some extent poor hearing can be com–
pensated for by being exceptionally alert and watchful. Ad–
ding an extra side view mirror can help. But here again a
person with hearing defects should honestly evaluate himself,
and voluntarily guit driviog jf he becomes a road hazard to
himself and others.