9781422288351

Protecting Your Body: Germs, Superbugs, Poison, & Deadly Diseases

Bully on Campus & Online Drugs & Alcohol Gunman on Campus Natural Disasters Navigating Cyberspace

Peer Pressure & Relationships Protecting Your Body: Germs, Superbugs, Poison, & Deadly Diseases Road Safety Sports Stranger Danger Terrorism & Perceived Terrorism Threats

Protecting Your Body: Germs, Superbugs, Poison, & Deadly Diseases

Christie Marlowe

Mason Crest

Mason Crest 450 Parkway Drive, Suite D

Broomall, PA 19008 www.masoncrest.com

Copyright © 2015 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the publisher.

Printed and bound in the United States of America.

First printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Series ISBN: 978-1-4222-3044-2 ISBN: 978-1-4222-3051-0 ebook ISBN: 978-1-4222-8835-1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Marlowe, Christie., author. Protecting your body : germs, superbugs, poison & deadly diseases / Christie Marlowe. pages cm. — (Safety first) Includes index. ISBN 978-1-4222-3051-0 (hardback)—ISBN 978-1-4222-3044-2 (series) 1. Poisons—Safety measures—Juvenile literature. 2. Home accidents—Prevention—Juvenile literature. 3. Safety education—Juvenile literature. I. Title. RA1214.M37 2015 613.6071--dc23 2014003852

Contents

Introduction

6 9

1. Real-Life Stories

2. What Makes Poisons, Superbugs, and Germs Dangerous? 3. Staying Safe and Being Prepared 4. What Can You Do to Stay Safe?

19 31 39 46 47

Find Out More

Index

About the Author & Consultant and Picture Credits

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Introduction N o task is more important than creating safe schools for all children. It should not re- quire an act of courage for parents to send their children to school nor for children to come to school. As adults, we must do everything reasonable to provide a school climate that is safe, secure, and welcoming—an environment where learning can f lourish. The educational effectiveness and the strength of any nation is dependent upon a strong and effective educational system that empowers and prepares young people for meaningful and purposeful lives that will promote economic competitiveness, national defense, and quality of life. Clearly adults are charged with the vital responsibility of creating a positive educational cli- mate. However, the success of young people is also affected by their own participation. The pur- pose of this series of books is to articulate what young adults can do to ensure their own safety, while at the same time educating them as to the steps that educators, parents, and communities are taking to create and maintain safe schools. Each book in the series gives young people tools that will empower them as participants in this process. The result is a model where students have the information they need to work alongside parents, educators, and community leaders to tackle the safety challenges that face young people every day. Perhaps one of the most enduring and yet underrated challenges facing young adults is bully- ing. Ask parents if they can remember the schoolyard bully from when they were in school, and the answers are quite revealing. Unfortunately, the situation is no better today—and new venues for bullying exist in the twenty-first-century world that never existed before. A single bully can intimidate not only a single student but an entire classroom, an entire school, and even an entire community. The problem is underscored by research from the National School Safety Center and the United States Secret Service that indicates that bullying was involved in 80 percent of school shootings over the past two decades. The title in this series that addresses this problem is a valu- able and essential tool for promoting safety and stopping bullying. Another problem that has been highlighted by the media is the threat of violence on our school campuses. In reality, research tells us that schools are the safest place for young people to be. After an incident like Columbine or Sandy Hook, however, it is difficult for the public, including students, to understand that a youngster is a hundred times more likely to be assaulted or killed

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at home or in the community than at school. Students cannot help but absorb the fears that are so prevalent in our society. Therefore, a frank, realistic, discussion of this topic, one that avoids hysteria and exaggeration, is essential for our young people. This series offers a title on this topic that does exactly that. It addresses questions such as: How do you deal with a gunman on the cam- pus? Should you run, hide, or confront? We do not want to scare our children; instead, we want to empower them and reassure them as we prepare them for such a crisis. The book also covers the changing laws and school policies that are being put in place to ensure that students are even safer from the threat of violence in the school. “Stranger danger” is another safety threat that receives a great deal of attention in the modern world. Again, the goal should be to empower rather than terrify our children. The book in this series focusing on this topic provides young readers with the essential information that will help them be “safety smart,” not only at school but also between home and school, at play, and even when they are home alone. Alcohol and drug abuse is another danger that looms over our young people. As many as 10 per- cent of American high school students are alcoholics. Meanwhile, when one student was asked, “Is there a drug problem in your school?” her reply was, “No, I can get all the drugs I want.” A book in this series focuses on this topic, giving young readers the information they need to truly compre- hend that drugs and alcohol are major threats to their safety and well-being. From peer pressure to natural disasters, from road dangers to sports safety, the Safety First series covers a wide range of other modern concerns. Keeping children and our schools safe is not an isolated challenge. It will require all of us working together to create a climate where young people can have safe access to the educational opportunities that will promote the success of all children as they transition into becoming responsible citizens. This series is an essential tool for classrooms, libraries, guidance counselors, and community centers as they face this challenge.

Dr. Ronald Stephens Executive Director National School Safety Center www.schoolsafety.us

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Words to Know asthma: A breathing disorder than can be triggered by smoke, humidity, exercise, and many other factors.

precautions: Things you do ahead of time to avoid danger. medicinal: Something with medicine in it; having a healing effect. fluid: A liquid, especially one from inside your body.

Chapter One

Real-Life Stories

O ne summer night, Caleb’s parents were throwing a party. The family had a large back- yard and invited some friends and neighbors for a pool party. Caleb and his family had just moved into the neighborhood and this was the first time their friends would see their new home. That day, Caleb’s parents were very busy making sure everything was ready. Caleb’s older sister was given the chore of cleaning the f loors and windows of their home. Ca- leb’s father made sure the pool had enough chemicals. Caleb’s mother bought coals and lighter f luid for the grill. This all seems very normal. Caleb’s parents wanted the house to be clean to impress their friends. They made sure the pool had enough chemicals so it wouldn’t be dirty. They bought coals and lighter f luid so that they could serve food to their guests. But the products Caleb’s family used all have one thing in common: they are all poisonous. CALEB POISONS HIMSELF Before this night, Caleb had no idea how many poisons he lived around every day. Many of the things we have around us—like fuel, glue, hair-care products, soaps, cleaning products, certain plants and berries, or even medication—can be poisonous if eaten or used improperly.

9

Many household cleaners and other products have chemicals in them that are poisonous, but sometimes it’s hard to tell just from looking at the bottle.

Protecting Your Body: Germs, Superbugs, Poison, & Deadly Diseases

10

Poison Control Centers A poison control center is a service that offers free expert treatment advice about potentially poison- ous substances. Calling 1-800-222-1222, like Caleb’s parents did, will lead you to a poison control center in your area. These poison control centers make medical experts available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Most contacts with poisonous substances can be dealt with right over the phone. If you think you have eaten or inhaled anything that could possibly be poisonous, call this number immediately!

Caleb’s parents understood the dangers of poisons. They also understood that Caleb, who was only eight, might not be old enough to handle these products safely. That was why he wasn’t given any of the chores that involved these potential poisons. Instead, they asked him to clean his room and tidy the house. But Caleb’s parents still had a few more chores to do before they could feel ready for the party. His father decorated the yard with lights so that their guests could continue to enjoy the pool at night. He set up tiki lights around the pool. These lights are filled with a special kind of fuel, which Caleb’s mother picked up at the store when she was buying the coals and lighter f luid for the grill. By the time guests started to arrive, everything was ready. The night was filled with food, fun, swimming, and laughing. Caleb’s parents were proud of their home and glad the night was turn- ing out so well. Sadly, the night would not end as happily as it began. After swimming and playing for hours, Caleb climbed out of the pool feeling very thirsty. By one of the tiki lamps, he noticed a plastic bottle. It looked like those that usually held his favorite juices. He picked up the clear bottle and saw a liquid that looked a lot like apple juice. He opened the bottle and took a large gulp. He quickly knew something was wrong. The liquid tasted awful and made him choke. He wasn’t able to swallow the liquid, and it made his lungs burn. He ran to his parents, crying from the pain. They asked him what was wrong, and he showed them the bottle he drank from. Knowing their son was in danger, his parents acted quickly. They quickly searched the Internet and found the phone number for the Poison Help Line (1-800-222-1222). This phone number led them to their nearest poison control center. The doctors at the poison control center told them to give Caleb some water and take him directly to a hospital. In the car ride to the hospital, it was hard for Caleb to drink the water, because he was coughing so much. His mother was very angry, and that made him very upset. She couldn’t believe Caleb’s father hadn’t put the bottle of fuel away in a safe place. She was angry the company that made the torch fuel would sell it in a bottle that looked so much like those that contain drinks. And though she knew it really wasn’t fair, she was mad at Caleb for not taking the time to read the warning labels on the bottle.

Real-Life Stories

11

Hospitals are kept as clean and safe as possible, but because they are filled with sick people, there is always some risk of catching a disease.

Protecting Your Body: Germs, Superbugs, Poison, & Deadly Diseases

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Scientists work in labs to learn more about how to deal with diseases and germs—but there are always new germs coming into existence.

Caleb was quickly admitted to the emergency room. The doctors treated Caleb, but despite their quick treatment, they were too late to prevent the damage that was done to Caleb’s lungs by choking on the fuel. They were able to prevent any further damage from the poison, but he will have asthma for the rest of his life. CONTRACTING A SUPERBUG By the time Erin went to the hospital to give birth to her new son, she thought that she fully un- derstood the dangers of germs. Germs are very tiny creatures that can enter our bodies and make

Real-Life Stories

13

Antibiotics are one of the most important types of medicine we have. With them, we have beaten many diseases that used to kill many people.

Protecting Your Body: Germs, Superbugs, Poison, & Deadly Diseases

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