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RadioPA Roundtable

Radio PA Roundtable 12.14.12

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On this week’s Radio PA Roundtable, Brad Christman and Matt Paul break down Governor Tom Corbett’s big decision on a health care exchange and look ahead to possible Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act.  Also, Matt speaks with US Seantor Bob Casey about the gift card regulations he’s pushing this holiday season.

Radio PA Roundtable is a 30-minute program featuring in-depth reporting on the top news stories of the week.

Click the audio player below to hear the full broadcast:

[audio:https://s3.amazonaws.com/witfaudio/radiopa/Roundtable12-14-12.mp3]

Holiday Season is also Start of Fire Season

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Most house fires in the  United States occur between December and February according to the National Fire Protection Association and the holiday season bring additional risks.

It’s not just that broken string of lights, unattended candle or dried out Christmas tree that can increase the risk of house fires. Routine activities coupled with the busy distractions of the holiday season can also pose a risk. Lorraine Carli, Vice President for Communications at the National Fire Protection Association, says cooking is the leading cause of home fires.  She says most happen when cooking is left unattended.  She says people can become more distracted around the holidays with more visitors or phone calls.

Carli adds that other heat sources including   wood burning stoves, fire places and space heaters can also raise your risk of fire unless they’re in good working order and used properly.

Property losses from Christmas tree fires have been on the increase and candle-related fires have caused dozens of deaths and millions in damage since 2008. Carli says live trees must be watered frequently and holiday lights should be checked for damage. About one third of tree fires are caused by electrical problems.

Give Miracles this Holiday Season

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Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals want you to check out a new holiday catalog full of electronics and toys.  I know what you’re thinking… But these electronics include heart monitors to check the vital signs of sick babies, and these toys are used to brighten a child’s day during a long stay at the hospital. 

The Give Miracles campaign uses crowdfunding to add a twist of social media to your holiday gift giving.  “What if people could actually get together and donate in groups of people,” asks CMN Hospitals Chief Concept Officer Craig Sorensen, “maybe you have $20 to give, $100 dollars to give, or $100,000 dollars to give to your local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, but you could go all in together and crowdfund an item.” 

The platform being used for the Give Miracles campaign is Fundly, and CEO Dave Boyce says the model treats the $100 dollar donor like the $100,000 dollar donor.  “The thing that’s frustrating for most of us mere mortals who donate $50 or $100 at a time is that we never know where our money goes, and we never get any of the psychic benefit that we thought we were going to get from donating,” Boyce explains.

That’s all changing now, because donors will not only choose which hospital they want to support – but they’ll decide where they want their money to go, and whether to fund a specific need completely or become part of a larger project.  Campaign subscribers then receive regular updates on their chosen project, which allow them to track where their money is going and who else in their social networks is joining them.   

In Pennsylvania, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, Saint Vincent Health Center and Geisinger’s Janet Weis Children’s Hospital are all a part of this unique campaign. 

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is actually one of eight hospitals, nationwide, which are being featured for an Ultimate Gift.  “We have one of the very best autism research and treatment programs in the world,” says CHOP’s Chief Development Officer Stuart Sullivan.  “We thought if we got a significant investment from a donor we could do even more.”  Their goal: $7.5-million dollars.     

Children’s hospitals help more kids than any other organization in a community, according to Craig Sorensen, who also notes that they aren’t always top of mind as a cause organization.  That’s why Sorensen hopes the Give Miracles campaign becomes an annual tradition.

Wilkes Prof. Makes Holiday Sales Forecast

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It’s only October, but consumers are already browsing for their holiday purchases, and Wilkes University’s Dr. Anthony Liuzzo is already out with his 2012 Holiday Retail Sales Forecast.  “I’m predicting that sales with increase by 3%, and that would be same store sales for November and December,” Liuzzo tells Radio PA.  2011 holiday sales increased by 4.1%. 

Liuzzo says consumers want to spend more this year, but consumer confidence remains low and economic conditions may prevent them from opening their wallets too wide. 

In addition to consumer confidence, a litany of variables goes into Liuzzo’s holiday sales forecast.  For instance, the fact that this is a presidential election year is a good thing for retailers.  “Whether it’s Barack Obama or Mitt Romney it really won’t have an impact.  There’s still a certain sense of euphoria, there’s a certain sense that things are going to get better.” 

Another positive for retailers is the day on which Christmas falls.  “We’re going to have our Christmas on Tuesday and that gives us five full weeks [of shopping].  Actually, there are 32-shopping days in this Christmas season.  That is the most there can possibly be, because Thanksgiving falls out very early. 

Consumers spend about $1,000 dollars during the holiday retail sales period, on average.  That breaks down to $700 on family; $150 on friends; $50 on co-workers and $100 on everybody else.

Holidays Can Be a Stressful Time for Kids with ADHD or ADHD-like Behaviors

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The holiday season can disrupt a family’s routine and can lead to more ADHD symptoms, according to a parenting group.  It can be challenging for both children and parents because there are many things that upset the family’s schedule and established routines according to Stephanie Donaldson-Pressman, co-founder of Good Parent Good Child and Clinical Director of the New England Center for Pediatric Psychology.

Donaldson-Pressman  says anxiety is a key player in ADHD symptoms,  and establishing a routine gives children a sense of safety, security and predictability. She says not every child with symptoms requires medication, but they do need a regular bedtime and a bedtime routine that goes from more active to less active. She says the child also needs to sleep in their own bed all night. 

Medication for ADHD symptoms is recommended for about 1 in 3 children in the United States, but Donaldson-Pressman  says only about 9% have actually been diagnosed. 

For children with ADHD, Donaldson-Pressman says the word to always remember is consistency. She says if parents have a good established routine, perhaps the time of that routine might be changed during the holiday season. But she says the routine itself needs to remain the same.   

Donaldson-Pressman says when taking children with ADHD to family gatherings, it’s important to have certain safety mechanisms such as a favorite DVD, game or book. She says this allows the children to go off and have a little quiet time by themselves and be entertained.

You can learn more at goodparentgoodchild.com. Donaldson-Pressman says it’s full of tips not only from their child psychologists, but also from other parents.

She says the watchword for families is setting up routines that work and keeping them consistent.  She says it isn’t always easy to set up these routines, but it is so worth it in the long run.

State Capitol Christmas Tree Arrives

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The 22-foot state capitol Christmas tree will be lit on Dec. 6th.

The 22-foot state capitol Christmas tree will be lit on Dec. 6th.

Pennsylvania’s Capitol Christmas Tree arrived in the rotunda Wednesday morning, and was hoisted into place by a team of workers from the Department of General Services.   

Over the next few days the tree will be prepped and decorated in time for a tree lighting ceremony on December 6th. 

The 22-foot concolor was grown by Strathmeyer Forests in York County, and donated by the Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association.