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Sippy cups, batteries send kids to ER

By WTOP Staff

Kristi King, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – Moms always say not to run with scissors, but as it turns out, there are plenty of other dangers for parents to be aware of, including batteries and even sippy cups.

Emergency rooms have seen lots tens of thousands of children for injuries around the home, according to two studies.

Enough toddlers fall victim to baby bottles, pacifiers and sippy cups to land one child in the ER every four hours.

Toddlers walking or running with bottles, pacifiers and sippy cups in their mouths are prone to injury, a study by Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio finds.

Most of the injuries are mouth related, 71 percent. 20 percent of the injuries involve a child’s head, face or neck. Sixty six percent of injuries are from baby bottles, 20 percent from pacifiers, 14 percent from sippy cups.

Researchers examining date from 1991 to 2010 say most of the injuries involve falls. To avoid accidents, parents should have toddlers sit down to drink.

Also, both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend parents should stop giving toddlers baby bottles and transition them from sippy cups to open cups when they are about a year old. Pediatricians also recommend babies limit use of pacifiers at six months. Babies using pacifiers after six months are more likely to get ear infections.

Another study, also by Nationwide Children’s Hospital, finds the number of emergency room visits related to children and batteries has more than doubled since 1990.

The study finds 84 percent of the visits involve button batteries — those small buttons found in tech gadgets.

Newer three-volt, 20-millimeter lithium batteries are twice as powerful as previous batteries. If one gets caught in a child’s esophagus, it can take less than two hours for it to burn a hole through the esophagus, causing serious injury or even death, according to researchers.

The study’s lead author notes most battery injuries are related to items used by adults:

  • Watches — 14 percent;
  • Calculators — 22 percent;
  • Flashlights — 9 percent;
  • Remote controls — 6 percent.

Dr. Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, wants manufacturers to make items housing button batteries child resistant, and recommends parents tape battery compartments shut and keep batteries out of reach of young children.

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(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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