Anyone Over 30 Should Be Dead
November 20th, 2007
Last Saturday night, my husband and I went out with some friend who had just purchased a new car. I commented that it seemed rather spacious as the 4 of enjoyed moving through the city in our own transportation escaping our usual mass transit experience. Franny remarked back, that when they have both the car seats installed and her mother-in-law in the back seat, it is really pretty cramped.
We all laughed as we recalled our childhood car experience. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that any child under 40 pounds ride in a car seat. They also suggest using a booster seat for any child under 4′ 9″ of height. I am only 5′ 2″, so presumably I would have been strapped into my booster well into my teen age years. This probably would have set me up for some very cruel remarks from my friends. Plus how would my mother have car pooled all of us around? Come to think of it, my grandmother was only 4′ 8 ” tall, should we have strapped her into a booster seat at 99 years of age?
As we slowly moved through traffic along 9th Avenue we started recounting our childhood memories about safety. None of us had worn a helmet bike riding or skate boarding. I have a very clear memory of the first time my training wheels were removed and I went zooming around our circle on my own two wheels. That is, until I panicked and forgot how to stop and went crashing into my lawn to cushion my fall. We were also belly sleepers back then and were not introduced to the world of hand sanitizers.
This of course led into the subject of vaccinations. When my friends and I were born in the early 70’s, we were subjected to only a small handful of required vaccinations. Now children are subject to 37-50 vaccination shots during their early formative years. Currently, in a Washington DC school district, parents are being jailed or fined $50 a day for not giving their children the chicken pox and hepatitis B vaccination. I personally am a little wary of the increased amount of vaccinations that are now required for children. I am also aware of the argument of “vaccinating your child will help protect the health of others.” But when a vaccine for chicken pox is required to enter school, I think we have gone too far! Yes, the chicken pox are uncomfortable and itchy, but do we really need to require people to put more chemicals and medications into the bodies of babes! When does a parent get the choice of “informed consent”? At this time, the only ways to be exempt from vaccinations is to have a note from your doctor stating that the vaccination will give an allergic reaction to the child, or claim religious or philosophical reasons. I truly feel for the parents that are put in the situation of choosing between their child’s education and their personal beliefs and values.
As our society continues to venture forward and set guidelines for how we can make our lives happier, healthier and safer, it has become abundantly clear to me…ANY OVER 30 SHOULD BE DEAD!
Entry Filed under: Anyone Over 30 Should Be Dead
3 Comments Add your own
1. AmyLee | January 5th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Wow. I have several comments on your post. First of all, the car seat issue. The national safety transportation board, (and all of their research) has SUGGESTED that children stay in car seats until 40LBS. Just as, the transportation board has SUGGESTED that all cars should be equipped with SEAT BELTS, (you DO wear one of those right). These are GUIDELINES maximizing safety in cars. Your grandmother surely didn’t do as much motorized commuting as the modern population now does, In addition, the speed at which we commute has changed–people generally drive much faster now!
Another example–People no longer smoke in the office, or in the presents of non-smokers, as they did in the past. Another guidline set forth by a safety board.
Vaccinations~ I’m a nurse, and I ALWAYS suggest people do the research on vaccinations before turning them down. Their is a difference between INFORMED CONSENT AND IGNORANCE> most people who DO NOT vaccinate do it due to religious reasons, or because they are ignorant to the dangers posed by not vaccinating. I suggest reading articles on post-vaccination epidemics, such as small pox, and influenza. Current developments with polio in other countries should be a terrifying reminder of WHY these vaccinations were developed in the first place…. And this situation also shows us what the consequences are when only a percentage of people are vaccinated, while the rest are left untreated (and its the untreated that SUFFER!). Please see http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/07/19/health/main630608.shtml and http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/10275.php
There are countless other current articles on this situation. PLEASE
2. Deb | January 6th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Hi Amy
Thank you so much for reading the blog and leaving a comment.
I did not once in the blog post suggest not using a car seat. I simply commented on the fact that when I was at the age, height and weight suggested for a car seat use, they were not being implemented and yet we all some how survived. I do wear a seat belt every time I am in a car and understand the reasons for such safety devices.
As for the vaccination issue, again, I never suggested not getting them. Again, I just acknowledged the vast difference of how things are now compared to when I was a child. I don’t however understand why you are assuming that the people that are declining the use of vaccinations are ignorant as opposed to well informed on their decision.
I was also simply expressing my empathy for those parents that have to make the tough decision between giving their child a new vaccine for chicken pox or not having their child be allowed to attend school.
Again, thank you for voicing your thoughts and opinions.
Deb
3. Jessie&hellip | November 2nd, 2008 at 3:23 pm
ontario arthritis society…
After reading your article I am left with the feeling that there is more to this topic than I originally thought….
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