“If your holiday plans include fun in the water, make sure every member of your family is water smart ─ has swimming skills and knows how to help others in an emergency.
The American Red Cross offers these tips to help keep you and your loved ones safe during the upcoming 4th of July holidaay:
FIREWORKS SAFETY The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public fireworks show put on by professionals. Many states outlaw most fireworks, so consider celebrating with glow sticks, noise makers or silly string instead. If you choose to set fireworks off at home, follow these safety steps:
Never give fireworks to small children, and never throw or point a firework toward people, animals, vehicles, structures or flammable materials.
Always follow the instructions on the packaging.
Keep a supply of water close by.
Make sure the person lighting fireworks always wears eye protection.
Light only one firework at a time and never attempt to relight “a dud.”
Store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from children and pets.
Never use fireworks around pets, keep pets indoors. Exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns or trauma, and many pets are also fearful of loud noises and can become lost, scared or disoriented.
WATER SAFETY If your holiday plans include fun in the water, make sure every member of your family is water smart ─ has swimming skills and knows how to help others in an emergency.
Everyone should learn to swim. Classes are available for both children and adults.
Prevent unsupervised access to water. Always designate a “water watcher” to keep a close, constant eye on everyone in and around the water until the next water watcher takes over.
Avoid distractions when supervising children. If a child is missing, check the water first. Drowning behavior is typically fast and silent. Unless rescued, a drowning person will last only 20 to 60 seconds before submerging.
Reach or throw, don’t go! In the event of an emergency, reach or throw an object out to the person in trouble and tell them to grab on. Don’t go in! You could become a victim yourself. Without putting yourself in danger, rescue and remove the person from the water. Have someone call 911 if needed.”
Were saying to celebrate the 4th of July but what we are saying is be SAFE, SAFE, SAFE!
The Fourth of July is a time for America to commemorate the passage of the Declaration of Independence and often celebrated with parades, concerts, firework shows, family road trips, barbeques, and parties where participants toast to the nation.
Sadly, these holiday festivities can lead to potentially deadly consequences on the roads, especially when alcohol is thrown into the mix. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, 812 people died in motor vehicle crashes involving drunk drivers during the July 4th holiday period from 2014-2018.
“Many of our service members and their families will take to the roads in hopes of celebrating our nation’s birthday someplace special,” said Michael Ballard, chief of occupational safety, Air Force Safety Center. “I urge leadership at all levels to take time to engage with Airmen and Guardians about having a plan to reduce the risks associated with their holiday weekend activities.”
On average, 10,200 home fires are started by a grill each year, with gas grills contributing to a higher number of fires than charcoal grills, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
The USFA reported that almost half (49%) of grill fires on residential properties occur between 5 and 8 p.m., with more than half (57%) occurring between May and August.
Nearly a third (32%) of grill fires on residential properties start on patios, terraces, screened-in porches or courtyards, while an additional 24% start on exterior balconies and unenclosed porches.
The leading power source of grill fires is “gas fuels,” with fires primarily being fueled by propane, according to the USFA.
The leading factors contributing to the ignition of these fires are mechanical failures or malfunctions, misuse of materials and operational deficiencies.
The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal advises everyone to take the following steps to help ensure safe grilling:
Propane and charcoal grills should be used only outdoors.
The grill should be placed away from the home or deck railing, and out from under the eaves of your home and overhanging tree branches.
Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grilling area.
Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in the trays below the grill.
Never leave your grill unattended.
Always make sure gas grill lids are open before lighting it.
Check the gas tank on your propane grills and hoses for leaks each time before using.
If you smell gas while grilling, immediately get away from the grill and call the fire department.
Make sure charcoal grill coals are cool before disposing of them in a metal container.
Always have a fire extinguisher, bucket of water or garden hose nearby or know where you can access one quickly.
Campfires need to be built at least 25 feet way from tents, shrubs and anything that can burn. Make sure fires are allowed in the area where you are camping.
Use of chimneys, outdoor fireplaces and fire pits need to be at least 10 feet away from your home or anything that can burn.
You can find an easy-to-follow grill safety guide published by the USFA here.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), July 4th is historically the deadliest day of the year for traffic fatalities in the United States. This is primarily due to a combination of increased travel and alcohol consumption. The National Safety Council (NSC) projects that in 2025 alone, as many as 599 people could die in motor vehicle crashes during the holiday weekend.
What makes this time so hazardous? For one, over 43 million Americans are expected to travel during the holiday period, the majority of them by car. Heavy traffic, long travel times, and drivers unfamiliar with their routes create an environment ripe for accidents. Add alcohol into the mix, and the risks escalate dramatically.
In fact, over 40% of July 4th crash fatalities involve alcohol impairment. Drivers aged 21 to 34 are the highest risk group, who account for nearly half of all alcohol-related crash deaths during this period.
How to stay safe on the road:
Always wear your seatbelt. Seat belts reduce fatal injury risk by 45%.
Don’t drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Plan your route ahead of time to avoid getting lost or fatigued.
Avoid driving late at night when impaired drivers are more likely to be on the road.
If you’re going out drinking, use a designated driver, rideshare app, or public transportation.
Never use your phone while driving.
Come on back for part II tomorrow on continuing with facts and safety tips!
“Question Does acetaminophen use during pregnancy increase children’s risk of neurodevelopmental disorders?
Findings In this population-based study, models without sibling controls identified marginally increased risks of autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) associated with acetaminophen use during pregnancy. However, analyses of matched full sibling pairs found no evidence of increased risk of autism (hazard ratio, 0.98), ADHD (hazard ratio, 0.98), or intellectual disability (hazard ratio, 1.01) associated with acetaminophen use.
Meaning Acetaminophen use during pregnancy was not associated with children’s risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability in sibling control analyses. This suggests that associations observed in other models may have been attributable to confounding.”
Is Tylenol Linked to Autism? As early as 2008, researchers discovered a potential link between Tylenol and postnatal autism, and noted a rise in autism since 1980. During that period, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended substituting aspirin instead of acetaminophen for infants.
“Readers have asked whether Tylenol (acetaminophen) is connected to autism or ADHD, also known as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. One person forwarded a sponsored Facebook post from the page “Child Autism & ADHD from Tylenol during pregnancy” stating that “parents of children with autism or ADHD whose mother took Tylenol while pregnant may be eligible for legal compensation.” The page continues to run similar advertisements, as do various other pages. Parents have filed lawsuits against retailers of acetaminophen, stating that their children developed autism or ADHD due to exposure to acetaminophen taken during pregnancy.
Some studies have indeed shown a relationship between acetaminophen taken during pregnancy and autism or ADHD in children, but they do not demonstrate that the acetaminophen use caused the elevated rates of autism and ADHD, researchers say. For example, a pregnant person who takes acetaminophen may have a child with ADHD or autism because of other factors, such as genetics.
Experts agree that acetaminophen has a role in pregnancy but that it should be used only when necessary and in consultation with a doctor. Avoiding use of acetaminophen for fever or pain during pregnancy may have negative consequences. For instance, an uncontrolled fever in early pregnancy can harm brain development.
A Food and Drug Administration spokesperson told us via email that the available evidence is “too limited to make any recommendations based on these studies at this time.”
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said in a 2021 statement that studies “show no clear evidence that proves a direct relationship between the prudent use of acetaminophen during any trimester and fetal developmental issues.” An ACOG representative told us that the statement is the most up-to-date communication on the topic. And a 2017 Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine statement, which a representative also confirmed to be the most up-to-date document, found the evidence on a causal link between acetaminophen and neurobehavioral disorders to be “inconclusive.”
Studies of Acetaminophen During Pregnancy Have Weaknesses
Acetaminophen, called paracetamol outside the U.S., is used widely during pregnancy to treat pain and fever. It is an ingredient in many over-the-counter and prescription medications, including Tylenol, Excedrin and Vicodin, as well as some versions of DayQuil, NyQuil, Sudafed, Mucinex and Midol.
As we said, some studies have found that women who reported using acetaminophen during pregnancy were more likely than those who didn’t to have children who later developed autism or ADHD. A 2018 paper published in the American Journal of Epidemiology that aimed to comprehensively analyze data from multiple studies, for example, found a 34% and 19% higher risk of ADHD and autism, respectively, in children whose mothers took acetaminophen in pregnancy compared with those whose mothers did not.
But this doesn’t necessarily mean acetaminophen is to blame for the conditions.
These studies were observational, meaning that researchers simply noted levels of acetaminophen exposure, generally based on reports from the parents in the studies. Randomized controlled trials — in which one group receives a medication or treatment and another group receives a placebo or standard care — are the gold standard for determining whether a causal relationship exists.
It is possible that people who take more acetaminophen are more likely to have characteristics that predispose them to have a child with autism or ADHD — including the illnesses or other health conditions that might have prompted a pregnant person to take acetaminophen in the first place.
The authors of the 2018 study recognized this issue, writing that the results “should be interpreted with caution given that the available evidence consists of observational studies and is susceptible to several potential sources of bias.”
Sura Alwan, a birth defects epidemiologist and co-director of the Teratogen Information System at the University of Washington, told us in an email that genetic factors might also help explain the results, adding that not all studies have found an association between prenatal acetaminophen and neurodevelopmental outcomes like autism and ADHD.
In any case, she said, the studies “do not necessarily imply a causal link, which means that there isn’t enough evidence to say that taking acetaminophen causes those behavioral or cognitive concerns.”
Some researchers do think the associations are worrisome enough to caution women taking acetaminophen during pregnancy. In 2021, an international group of scientists, clinicians, and public health professionals published what they called a “consensus statement” in Nature Reviews Endocrinology, which madenews for calling for “precautionary action” based on data indicating acetaminophen might alter fetal development, with an increasing impact with increasing duration of exposure.
“We recognize that limited medical alternatives exist to treat pain and fever; however, we believe the combined weight of animal and human scientific evidence is strong enough for pregnant women to be cautioned by health professionals against its indiscriminate use, both as a single ingredient and in combination with other medications,” the researchers wrote.
The statement proved controversial, however, with other groups of scientists pushing back to add context and explain why acetaminophen might not have caused the links seen in the studies.
“In my opinion, the level of evidence out there is poor, and I do not believe that there is any causal or any other association between at least short-term use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and ensuing increased risk of childhood ADHD or ASD [autism],” Dr. Per Damkier, a professor and clinical pharmacologist at Odense University Hospital and University of Southern Denmark, told us in an interview. Damkier was one of the scientists who pushed back at the consensus statement.
Multiple factors contribute to autism and ADHD. These conditions “are variable in clinical presentation, very difficult to assess and associate with a single causal factor,” Alwan said.
Damkier emphasized that many studies do not adequately take into account whether the parents had ADHD or autism, which run in families. He pointed to one study that suggested accounting for ADHD in parents likely weakens the relationship between this disorder and acetaminophen.
Many studies also rely on questionnaires filled out by parents, Damkier said. These may identify children at increased risk of ADHD or autism but do not replace an official diagnosis.
Finally, Damkier said that even if you accepted the analyses in the studies showing increased risk as valid, “which you should not,” the risk levels — typically 20% to 30% increased risk during childhood — represent a “weak association,” especially since there is typically a fair to moderate degree of uncertainty surrounding the numbers.
A Closer Look at Cord Blood
A 2019 JAMA Psychiatry study, which is cited in legaladvertisements, did not rely on self-reported data, instead looking at concentrations of broken down acetaminophen components in blood collected at Boston Medical Center from umbilical cords at birth and stored for future study.
The children with acetaminophen exposure in the top third — meaning the highest concentrations of the drug components in cord blood — had 2.86 times higher odds of an ADHD diagnosis and 3.62 times higher odds of an autism diagnosis compared with children with exposure in the bottom third. “Our findings support previous studies regarding the association between prenatal and perinatal acetaminophen exposure and childhood neurodevelopmental risk and warrant additional investigations,” the authors wrote.
The authors themselves noted some limitations of the paper at the time of publication. The cord blood measurements did not give a sense of acetaminophen exposure throughout pregnancy, instead showing recent use by people who had just given birth. Further, “caution is needed to apply our findings to other populations with different characteristics,” they wrote. Finally, one author pointed out in a press release that the study does not show that Tylenol causes ADHD or autism.
Damkier and others said that some observations and the characteristics of the children in the study appeared unusual, making it hard to draw general conclusions. Every cord blood sample showed acetaminophen exposure, he noted, and there were extremely high rates of ADHD and autism among the children. The study also lacked information on the mothers’ use of drugs or history of psychiatric disease.
Acetaminophen Treats Pain and Fever During Pregnancy
Expert groups said that acetaminophen can have benefits for pregnant people experiencing pain or fever, and there may not be good alternatives. The ACOG statement reads: “ACOG and obstetrician-gynecologists across the country have always identified acetaminophen as one of the only safe pain relievers for pregnant individuals during pregnancy.”
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and aspirin, can have risks during pregnancy. Taking these drugs during later portions of pregnancy can lead to problems including insufficient amniotic fluid volume and premature closing of a major blood vessel in the fetus. Opioids can also harm the fetus and lead to withdrawal at birth, as well as pose risks for the mother.
Avoiding acetaminophen could have consequences for both mother and child. Fever early in pregnancy can lead to defects in the neural tube affecting the formation of the brain or spinal cord, Alwan said, noting that it is “critically important to treat fever in pregnancy.”
The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine statement calls acetaminophen “a reasonable and appropriate medication choice for the treatment of pain and/or fever during pregnancy.”
The authors of the 2021 Nature Reviews Endocrinology statement suggested doing more research into acetaminophen during pregnancy and cautioned women to “forego APAP [acetaminophen] unless its use is medically indicated; consult with a physician or pharmacist if they are uncertain whether use is indicated and before using on a long-term basis; and minimize exposure by using the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time.”
This advice is in line with longstanding recommendations for pregnant people. “ACOG’s clinical guidance remains the same and physicians should not change clinical practice until definitive prospective research is done. Most importantly, patients should not be frightened away from the many benefits of acetaminophen. However, as always, any medication taken during pregnancy should be used only as needed, in moderation, and after the pregnant patient has consulted with their doctor,” the ACOG statement said.
“It is important for pregnant women and all women of reproductive age who may become pregnant to always consult their health care provider to find the best treatment option for pain or fever in pregnancy, which may be taking the recommended dose of acetaminophen and making sure to stay well hydrated and getting lots of rest,” Alwan said. People with questions about medications during pregnancy or breastfeeding can contact organizations like MotherToBaby, she added.
An FDA spokesperson told us in an email: “The FDA is aware of and understands the concerns arising from reports questioning the safety of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicines when used during pregnancy. As a result, we evaluated research studies on acetaminophen published in the medical literature and determined that they are too limited to make any recommendations based on these studies at this time. Because of this uncertainty, the use of pain medicines during pregnancy should be carefully considered. We urge pregnant persons to always discuss all medicines with their health care professionals before using them. Acetaminophen labels contain the following information regarding pregnancy: ‘If pregnant or breast feeding, ask a health professional before use.’ The FDA continues to review the published literature and to monitor the potential impacts of acetaminophen.”
The spokesperson concluded by sharing a link to a 2015 Drug Safety Communication describing an FDA review of the risks of pain medicine during pregnancy. The document noted that severe and persistent pain, when not treated effectively, can lead to depression, anxiety and high blood pressure for the pregnant individual.
Correction, May 30: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that acetaminophen is an ingredient in oxycodone. Oxycodone is an opioid that is sometimes combined with acetaminophen. We thank the reader who brought this to our attention.
Clarification, June 6: An earlier version of this article listed drugs that contain acetaminophen, but did not make clear that acetaminophen is only in some versions of several of the drugs. We have updated the article to clarify this point. We thank the reader who brought this to our attention.
Editor’s note: SciCheck’s articles providing accurate health information and correcting health misinformation are made possible by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The foundation has no control over FactCheck.org’s editorial decisions, and the views expressed in our articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the foundation.”
In my opinion as a acute nurse 37 years this topic needs much more research to put the blame only on Tylenol but for decades in general, drugs unless absolutely necessary should not be used during pregnancy because drugs taken by a pregnant woman can reach the fetus with side effects and be permanent possibly but in some cases it is necessary and not just Tylenol. The pregnant women is the one also to say if she will allow it. So the reason it was taken goes case by case. Ending line more research is needed. For example look at Covid and the vaccination with shutting down over a year, just saying.
Sources
Acetaminophen – ASD/ADHD Products Liability Litigation. MDL No. 3043. Transfer Order. United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. 5 Oct 2022.
“There’s been some confusion around the safety of using acetaminophen (commonly known as Tylenol or paracetamol) during pregnancy, with many people afraid to use Tylenol while pregnant in their first trimester.
While older studies suggested that taking the drug too often during pregnancy could increase your future child’s risks for developing autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a recent 2024 study found that taking acetaminophen while pregnant doesn’t increase your child’s risk of these neurodevelopmental disorders.”
Taking Tylenol during pregnancy associated with elevated risks for autism, ADHD
A Johns Hopkins study analyzing umbilical cord blood samples found that newborns with the highest exposure to acetaminophen were about three times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD or autism spectrum disorder in childhood
A new study from researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has found that exposure to acetaminophen in the womb may increase a child’s risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or autism spectrum disorder.
The researchers analyzed data from the Boston Birth Cohort, a 20-year study of early life factors influencing pregnancy and child development. They found that children whose cord blood samples contained the highest levels of acetaminophen—the generic name for the drug Tylenol—were roughly three times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD or autism spectrum disorder later in childhood, compared to children with the lowest levels of acetaminophen in their cord blood.
Previous studies have found an association between maternal use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and increased risks of adverse childhood outcomes, including neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD—which is marked by hyperactivity and difficulty paying attention or controlling impulsive behavior—and autism spectrum disorder, a complex developmental disorder that can affect how a person socializes, communicates, and behaves. Because these studies relied on mothers self-reporting their acetaminophen use, critics have said the findings may be affected by recall bias or lack an objective measure of in-utero exposure. As a result, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has refrained from making recommendations regarding the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy.
“People in general believe Tylenol is benign, and it can be used safely for headaches, fever, aches, and pains,” says Xiaobin Wang, a professor in the Bloomberg School’s Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health and the study’s corresponding author. “Our study further supports the concerns raised by previous studies—that there is a link between Tylenol use during pregnancy and increased risk for autism or ADHD.”
For the study, which was authored by Johns Hopkins postdoctoral fellow Yuelong Ji and colleagues, the team measured the biomarkers of acetaminophen and two of its metabolic byproducts in umbilical cord blood samples from 996 individual births. Every sample analyzed contained some level of acetaminophen—confirming the drug’s widespread use during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. The researchers then divided the study children into three groups based on the amount of acetaminophen and its metabolites present in their cord blood samples.
Related coverage of what scientists know about autism—and what they’re still working to discover
Compared to the group with the lowest amount of acetaminophen exposure, the children in the middle third group were about 2.26 times more likely to have an ADHD diagnosis and 2.14 times more likely to have an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Those with the highest levels of exposure were associated with 2.86 times the risk of ADHD and 3.62 times the risk for autism spectrum disorder, compared to those with the lowest exposure.
The researchers found consistent associations between the drug and the disorders across a variety of other factors that correlate with ADHD and autism spectrum disorder diagnoses, such as maternal BMI, preterm birth, child sex, and reports of maternal stressors and substance use.
Wang points out that although the study found a consistent association between biomarkers of acetaminophen and its metabolites in cord blood and child risk of ADHD and autism spectrum disorder, it should not be interpreted that the Tylenol use causes these disorders.
“More studies are clearly needed to further clarify the concern,” Wang says. “Until it is certain, parents and providers may want to consider the benefit and potential risk when making a decision on the use of acetaminophen during pregnancy or the peripartum period.”
“Join the National Safety Council in June for National Safety Month – the annual observance to help keep each other safe from the workplace to anyplace. Since 1996, NSM has provided free safety resources to highlight leading causes of preventable injury and death. Let’s make people safer this June and all year long!”
In 1996, the National Safety Council (NSC) established June as National Safety Month in the United States. The goal of Summer Safety Month is to increase public awareness of the leading safety and health risks that are increased in the summer months to decrease the number of injuries and deaths at homes and workplaces.
Anyone can be at risk for a heat-related illness. Follow these summer safety tips, like taking extra breaks and drinking lots of water (the best thing to drink and if you’re like me and not crazy about room temperature water than try with ice in it which to me tastes a lot better).
Moderating your exposure to heat goes beyond reapplying sunscreen and covering up. You will want to take extra steps to avoid being outside for long periods in the sun and heat, especially during the peak hours of strongest ultraviolet (UV) rays, during the hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The following are summer safety tips to prevent you and your family from going to the emergency room & stay safe!
The most important TIP is always beat the HEAT. To do that you avoid strenuous exercise on particularly hot days. To watch out for heat exhaustion look for dizziness, nausea, fatigue, headache, & confusion.
Some further tips for National Safety that is the month of June:
1. Stay hydrated; Dehydration is another safety concern during the summer months. Be sure to drink enough liquids throughout the day, as our bodies can lose a lot of water through perspiration when it gets hot out.
2-Remember to always have adult supervision for children. Whether they’re in the pool or playing in the sand at the on the beach at the seashore, having someone who can help them — should an emergency arise — if essential. You should always have a first aid box in REACH.
3-Not only can injuries happen, but in heat exhaustion and dehydration that can happen more often in the summer months due to the high temperature the season has. It helps to be conditioned to the activities in which we’re preparing to engage. Warm up, stretch, gear up, go with a buddy, and remember to cool down and stretch afterwards.
4-The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light can harm the eyes. Wear sunglasses year-round whenever you are out in the sun.
Sun damage to the eyes can occur any time of year. Choose shades that block 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB light that are especially highier in the summer; since we have most sunshine in the summer. This will bring us to the next tip.
5-Use a sunscreen 30 minutes before going out. Reapply sunscreen every two hours or after swimming or sweating. Limit sun exposure during the peak intensity hours – between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Stay in the shade more often during the peak intensity hours but for some people who may have pale skin, skin cancer history, or vision problems, etc… stay in the shade whenever possible.
6-Never leave children alone around water. Always designate an adult to watch kids in or around the water. Alsways helpful is to learn how to swim but never swim alone.
7-Beware of bugs; by using an insect repellent that contains citronella or DEET. Change clothes and wash off repellent when you come inside. Avoid bug-infested areas such as tall grass and still water.
8-First, it is important to understand that In 2020, injuries related to slips, trips and falls account for 22 per cent of injuries. Of disabling injuries related to slips, trips and falls injuries from 2016 to 2020:
• The majority were due to workers falling (83 per cent), with nearly 57 per cent of falls occurring to a floor, walkway or other surface.
• Twenty-three per cent occurred in the provincial and municipal government, education and health services sector, followed by another 20 per cent in the construction and construction trade services sector. (Government of Alberta Workplace injury, illness and fatality statistics provincial summary 2020)
** Also keep in mind in 2021, slips, trips and falls remain as one of the top 3 causes of all injuries in the continuing care and senior supportive living communities, and they can have a tremendous impact on the injured workers as well as their co-workers, families, and the people they care for.
Slips and trips happen in the workplace for many reasons, that is why it is important to also know the key factors that increase your chances of sustaining an injury, in order to reduce your risk. Know your environment and keep it clean, free of clutter, and again hydrate to prevent dizziness from the heat this time of year. This month and next month with even August can put you at high risk for heat exhaustion! Not hydrating with water puts you at risk for orthostatic hypotension (changing positions from sitting or lying down to standing and becoming dizzy. This is a high potential of occurring especially if not hydrated in hot temperatures, especially the elderly.
“Undeterred by deafness and blindness, Helen Keller rose to become a major 20th century humanitarian, educator and writer. She advocated for the blind and for women’s suffrage and co-founded the American Civil Liberties Union.
Several months before Helen’s second birthday, a serious illness—possibly meningitis or scarlet fever—left her deaf and blind. She had no formal education until age seven, and since she could not speak, she developed a system for communicating with her family by feeling their facial expressions.
Recognizing her daughter’s intelligence, Keller’s mother sought help from experts including inventor Alexander Graham Bell, who had become involved with deaf children. Ultimately, she was referred to Anne Sullivan, a graduate of the Perkins School for the Blind, who became Keller’s lifelong teacher and mentor. Although Helen initially resisted her, Sullivan persevered. She used touch to teach Keller the alphabet and to make words by spelling them with her finger on Keller’s palm. Within a few weeks, Keller caught on. A year later, Sullivan brought Keller to the Perkins School in Boston, where she learned to read Braille and write with a specially made typewriter. Newspapers chronicled her progress. At fourteen, she went to New York for two years where she improved her speaking ability, and then returned to Massachusetts to attend the Cambridge School for Young Ladies. With Sullivan’s tutoring, Keller was admitted to Radcliffe College, graduating cum laude in 1904. Sullivan went with her, helping Keller with her studies. (Impressed by Keller, Mark Twain urged his wealthy friend Henry Rogers to finance her education.)
Even before she graduated, Keller published two books, The Story of My Life (1902) and Optimism (1903), which launched her career as a writer and lecturer.
After Sullivan’s death in 1936, Keller continued to lecture internationally with the support of other aides, and she became one of the world’s most-admired women (though her advocacy of socialism brought her some critics domestically). During World War II, she toured military hospitals bringing comfort to soldiers.
A second film on her life won the Academy Award in 1955; The Miracle Worker —which centered on Sullivan—won the 1960 Pulitzer Prize as a play and was made into a movie two years later. Lifelong activist, Keller met several US presidents and was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964. She also received honorary doctorates from Glasgow, Harvard, and Temple Universities. She was an inspiration to all.”
In addition, the child who is deaf-blind will need help learning to move about in the world. Without vision, or with reduced vision, he or she will not only have difficulty navigating, but may also lack the motivation to move outward in the first place. Helping a young child who is deaf-blind learn to move may begin with thoughtful attention to the physical space around him or her (crib or other space) so that whatever movements the child instinctively makes are rewarded with interesting stimulation that motivates further movement. Orientation and mobility specialists can help parents and teachers to construct safe and motivating spaces for the young child who is deaf-blind. In many instances children who are deaf-blind may also have additional physical and health problems that limit their ability to move about. Parents and teachers may need to include physical and occupational therapists, vision teachers, health professionals, and orientation and mobility specialists on the team to plan accessible and motivating spaces for these children. Older children or adults who have lost vision can also use help from trained specialists in order to achieve as much confidence and independence as possible in moving about in their world.
Individualized Education
Education for a child or youth with deaf-blindness needs to be highly individualized; the limited channels available for learning necessitate organizing a program for each child that will address the child’s unique ways of learning and his or her own interests. Assessment is crucial at every step of the way. Sensory deficits can easily mislead even experienced educators into underestimating (or occasionally overestimating) intelligence and constructing inappropriate programs.
Helen Keller said, “Blindness separates a person from things, but deafness separates him from people.” This potential isolation is one important reason why it is necessary to engage the services of persons familiar with the combination of both blindness and deafness when planning an educational program for a child who is deaf-blind. Doing so will help a child or youth with these disabilities receive an education which maximizes her or his potential for learning and for meaningful contact with her or his environment. The earlier these services can be obtained, the better for the child.
Transition
When a person who is deaf-blind nears the end of his or her school-based education, transition and rehabilitation help will be required to assist in planning so that as an adult the individual can find suitable work and living situations. Because of the diversity of needs, such services for a person who is deaf-blind can rarely be provided by a single person or agency; careful and respectful teamwork is required among specialists and agencies concerned with such things as housing, vocational and rehabilitation needs, deafness, blindness, orientation and mobility, medical needs, and mental health.
The adult who is deaf-blind must be central to the transition planning. The individual’s own goals, directions, interests, and abilities must guide the planning at every step of the way. Skilled interpreters, family members and friends who know the person well can help the adult who is deaf-blind have the most important voice in planning his or her own future.
Inclusion in Family
Clearly, the challenges for parents, teachers and caregivers of children who are deaf-blind are many. Not least among them is the challenge of including the child in the flow of family and community life. Since such a child does not necessarily respond to care in the ways we might expect, parents will be particularly challenged in their efforts to include her or him. The mother or father of an infant who can see is usually rewarded with smiles and lively eye contact from the child. The parent of a child who is deaf-blind must look for more subtle rewards: small hand or body movements, for instance, may be the child’s way of expressing pleasure or connection. Parents may also need to change their perceptions regarding typical developmental milestones. They can learn, as many have, to rejoice as fully in the ability of their child who is deaf-blind to sign a new word, or to feed herself, or to return a greeting as they do over another child’s college scholarship or success in basketball or election to class office.
Parents, then, may need to shift expectations and perceptions in significant ways. They also need to do the natural grieving that accompanies the birth of a child who is disabled. Teachers and caregivers must also make these perceptual shifts. Parents’ groups and resources for teachers can provide much-needed support for those who live and work with children and adults who are deaf-blind. Such supports will help foster the mutually rewarding inclusion of children who are deaf-blind into their families and communities. (See section below for resources.)
Summary
Though deaf-blindness presents many unique challenges to both those who have visual and hearing impairments and to their caregivers and friends, these challenges are by no means insurmountable. Many persons who are deaf-blind have achieved a quality of life that is excellent. The persons who are deaf-blind who have high quality lives have several things in common.
First, they have each, in their own way, come to accept themselves as individuals who have unique experiences of the world, and valuable gifts to share. This fundamental acceptance of self can occur regardless of the severity of the particular sensory losses or other challenges that a person has. Second, they have had educational experiences which have helped them maximize their abilities to communicate and to function productively. Finally, these happy, involved persons who are deaf-blind live in families, communities, or social groups that have an attitude of welcoming acceptance. They have friends, relatives, and co-workers who value their presence as individuals with significant contributions to make to the world around them. For these persons with limited sight and hearing, and for those near them, deaf-blindness fosters opportunities for learning and mutual enrichment.
