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^ Qrono Weekly Times, Wednesday, Fcbruaiy 23, 2000 - 13 Durham Region Reducing the risk of SIDS Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) refers to the sudden and unexpected death of an apparently healthy Infant under a year old. No one knows how to prevent SIDS, but according to Durham Region Health Department, the latest research shows that there are a number of suggestions to help make your baby safer during sleep. "SIDS is a devastating experience," said Durham Region Health Department Public Health Nurse Joanna Lau. "According to Health Canada, each week three babies in Canada die of SIDS. Following simple measures measures can help families reduce this risk." Health Canada's publication publication "Back to Sleep" explains that parents should avoid having soft mattresses, fluffy pillows, comforters, stuffed toys, plastic mattress wrapping wrapping and bumper pads in a baby's crib. Such items could prevent proper air circulation around a baby's face. "While infants need warmth and protection, babies should not become too hot as this can affect breathing," explained 'Ms. Lau. To hëlp prevent over- ■ heating of infants , the Health Department recommends that babies should be dressed and covered with a lightweight blanket, even if the baby is sick. New research indicates that a healthy baby should be placed on their hack, on a firm fiat surface for good air and heat flow. In the past, it was recomm'endedhtiiat • a baby be placed on their side or stomach while sleeping. "Although some parents are concerned about their baby choking if they sleep on their back," explains Ms. Lau, "current research shows that a baby is not at increased risk of choking when sleeping on their back." In addition to these recommendations, recommendations, Health Department officials also stress the importance of providing providing a smoke and drug free environment, for a baby. "Maintaining a smoke and ding free home may also help reduce the risk of SIDS," said Ms. Lau. "The use of these substances should also be avoided by mothers while breastfeeding." Research shows that breast milk helps to strengthen the immune system, which may help to protect against SIDS and has significant nutritional and psychological benefits for the health of infants. Durham Region Health Department public health nurses are available to answer questions and concerns concerns from parents regarding SIDS and often speak with parents during home visits, telephone calls or at parenting parenting support groups offered by the Health Department, such as Information Babyville. If' you have any questions or concerns about your baby and .SIDS, contact the / Durham Region Health Connection Line at (905) 723-8521 or 1-800-841- 2729, ext, 2158. For additional additional information, parents can call 3 800-END SIDS (363-7437) or go online at w w w h'c sc.gc.ca/hppb/childhood- youth. Novel test for food hazards hi store Imagine your peace of mind if the 'food in your refrigerator could, tell you when it had gone bad. ; That's the concept behind a diagnostic food wap technology technology being developed by Ontario company Toxin Alert. The polyethylene packaging, packaging, similar in appearance to a plastic sandwich bag, can be tailor-made to detect the presence of common food- borne pathogens, such as salmonella, listeria or E. coll. The wrapping is impregnated impregnated with a coloured antibody antibody test which changes into an alert sign, such as an "X", when the contents 'become contaminated. The company is in the process process of licensing the diagnostic diagnostic food wrap to several food and food wrap manufactures. manufactures. Future versions of the wrap will target pesticide. Furzer estimates that the product will be on supermarket supermarket shelves by early 'next year. A ■ number of leading research organizations and industry players are onboard onboard for ABIC 2000 including including Joint Venture sponsors The ABIC Foundation, Ag- ■W'est Biotech Inc., Dow: AgroSciencs Canada, DuPont, Ernst & Young LLP, Ontario Agri-Food Technologies (OAFT); Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRÀ), the Royal Bank of Canada, the Saskatchewan , Opportunities Corporation (SOCO) and VWR Cantab. Recently joining the list of high-profile sponsors are the Ottawa life Sciences Council, Performance Plants Inc. and the Crop Protection Institute of Canada. tkù IgaL uMyid interview by Myno Van Dyke During the summer of 1998,1 was seconded from my regular duties as a police trainer/instructor to assist our Human Resources Branch in hiring 25 new police officers. We utilized a lengthy and fairly complex standardized standardized process which included pre-interview assessments, aptitude tests, written communications as well as assessing physical skills and abilities. My job was to conduct a competency interview with the candidate as well as do a thorough background investigation. All very time consuming but necessary to ensure we obtained the best possible candidates. While doing this task, I started reminiscing about my first job interview in August, 1965 and my, how times have changed... I had finished, high, school and had planned on working at home ! on our farm. Just prior to school ending, my parents and I had made the trip to Guelph, Ont. to look over the Ontario Agricultural College. 1 decided to enroll in the 3 year diploma course in horticulture. After spending much of the summer hoeing turnips, thinning apples and forking manure out of the barn, my interest in going to Guelph diminished. 1 noticed an advertisement advertisement in the .local newspaper newspaper for "Craftsmen" at the Bell Telephone Company. I wasn't certain what the term "craftsmen" meant (obviously, no consideration consideration was made for "craftswomen") so I decided decided to visit our "across the road" neighbour, Margaret Davis, who was employed by Bell. Margaret Was responsible responsible . for hiring "females" in our area of Southern Ontario. Most of her candidates candidates were applying for jobs as operators and repair clerks. Margaret explained that a craftsman worked in installation or repair. This interested me, so I explained that 1 would like to work for a year. I would get a car, save some money, (this demonstrates how bright 1 was) and then go to the Agricultural College. She immediately discounted discounted this plan advising me that after working for a year, the likelihood of returning to school was somewhere between slim and nil. "Get an education and then come back and see me aboüt a job." she said. I insisted 1 would stick by my word, so she told me to come back the following Saturday at 1 p.m. She advised that she had just hired eight new operators and .they, along with "the man that hires the men" would be there for lunch that day. When Saturday came, I put on a clean shirt and pants, and hopped into my 1949 Chev "hot rod". This was a car that my friend Rick Dixon and I had purchased a few years previous for $ 15.00. The car had' no roof, no doors, no fenders and no windshield. It had a homemade homemade floor shift, large wheels and tires on the rear and Morris Minor leather bucket seats. This car was not roadworthy, .however, we had pienty of roadways and lanes on the farm to drive around. Since the Davis's lane was directly across from ours, (and the fact that an O.RR cruiser appearing on our side road was a rare occurrence) I decided to take the "hot rod" across the road. (Yes, even then 18 year olds wouldn't walk...). As I turned down their lane I noticed Margaret entertaining the young ladies on the front lawn with a very elegant looking tea party. The noisy straight pipe exhaust on the car riveted riveted their attention to me and several of them put down their tea cups and walked over to the car. "Can we have a ride?" they asked. So I took them all for a ride around the property except for 'the man that hires the men'. After the last ride he walked over to me and looked over the car. "Did you build this thing?" ' "Well, ray friend Rick and I did," I replied. "If you can do this, you'll have no problem fixing fixing phones. Come and see me Monday morning, I think we'll have a job for you," he addeef. After making'sure I wasn't wasn't colour blind they gave me a job. Rick and. I never bothered with the '49 Chev after that and I never thought about going to Guelph again either. , I bought a brand new car and as Margaret Davis predicted, predicted, a year turned into a lifetime... lifetime... Myno Van Dyke is a recently recently retired police officer residing in Newcastle, Ontario. «12 NES Cali me to buy or sell... Orono and area's real estate representative... Krystyna Jones 983-6013 ImIMM , ASSOCIATES ® (DURHAM)lnc. I960 Simcoe St. N.. #103, Oshawa TEL: (985) 721-2112 ? B * Mew Listing... Cute Orono' Village Bungalow, . > 3+ Bedrooms■ Garage, Super Lot! $124,500!