Each year more than 230,000 kids are injured by holiday toys. Bright flashing balls or even this year's most popular Zhu Zhu pets pose possible danger, especially to young children. The newest toys that delight youngsters each year can become a deadly hazard for unwitting parents.

The US Consumer Products Safety Commission recommends checking each toy in the Kid Safety section of their website, www.cpsc.gov. Hundreds of unnecessary emergency room visits happen each year because of unsafe toys. Riding toys proved to be the most hazardous, with smaller toys, causing airway obstruction in younger children, following a close second.

The Consumer Produces Safety Commission also offers links to other sites such as www.parents.com for vital information concerning toy recalls. Take a look, too, at www.Goodguide.com, a comprehensive website enabling parents to research the safety of most children's toys currently on the market.You will find a comprehensive listing of the safest and the most dangerous Christmas toys.

All of us at Lewis & Daggett wish you a safe and happy holiday season. Most of all, we hope you will keep your children safe. Check these important websites to make sure their toy gifts don't come with dangerous consequences.

Happy Holidays from our family to yours!

Thanksgiving Traditions 

       What Thanksgiving traditions are important to you and your family? This past week we discussed some of the Thanksgiving traditions of members of our Lewis & Daggett team and their families, and thought we would share some of them with you.

      First, let’s remember to have a safe Thanksgiving. We previously discussed some tips at Giving Thanks Safely. Of course, we also need to remember to be thankful, which we previously reviewed in Are We Thankful?

Veteran Appreciation

      Have you taken time to thank a veteran? Veterans Day seemed to sort of slipped by this year. We probably tend to take for granted the sacrifices of our living veterans who served honorably so that we all can be free.

An 87 Year-Old Veteran with First Graders

      Maybe we can all learn along with the first graders. Veterans Day was originally Armistice Day which was to commemorate the end of World War I on November 11, 1918. In 1954, after World War II, it was changed to Veterans Day to honor veterans of all wars. It is a day to honor and thank all of those who have served and sacrificed for our country.

Work, Home And Holiday Fire Safety 

       Fire safety is a topic that should be discussed and reviewed regularly at work and in our homes. Last week our Lewis & Daggett team had a fire safety presentation by officers from the local station, complete with their fire truck!

      First, local firefighters are more than accommodating to help us all learn more about fire safety. They gladly welcome us to the station to learn fire safety for our homes and family. They particularly enjoy having children visit so they can show off their equipment, fire pole, and fire trucks.

       We were fortunate to have Captain Rick Jarvis, Fire Technician Rusty Walser, and Fire Engineer　Chris Belcher make a presentation on safety at our office. Since they were on duty at the time, they showed up with the fire truck which was exciting even for a group of adults.

Good Nutrition Month

        November is Good Nutrition Month! Perhaps immediately following Halloween and heading into the holidays is a good time to brush up on our nutrition. Please join our Lewis & Daggett Team as we work on our nutrition.

    Nutrition and physical activity are two keys to improved health. We hope to offer some simple tips in addition to what we previously discussed in Healthy Nutrition. Drink lots of water and limit sugared drinks. Eat lot of vegetables and grains instead of fried or fatty foods. Enjoy dairy products, but choose low fat or non-fat....

Safe and Happy Halloween

     Our Lewis & Daggett team wishes a safe and Happy Halloween for you, your guests, and your children. Safety tips combined with common sense can help ensure that your Halloween season is safe and enjoyable for your children and you!

     Kids love Halloween! They get to dress up and get free snacks and goodies. Children look forward to Halloween for many months in advance. Following a few simple safety guidelines will give your children precious Halloween memories that they will have for life. 

Be Involved

     Being involved in community activities makes us better – both individually and collectively. The Safe Sober Prom Night Program gives an opportunity for students to be involved. The 2010 T-shirt and video design contests are underway.

     Being involved is an important element of the Safe Sober Prom Night Program. Participation influences others. This positive peer pressure is one of the founding hallmarks of our program.

Impressive Youth 

        Our Lewis & Daggett team was honored to participate with the North Carolina YMCA Youth and Government program this past weekend. Wow, what an impressive gathering of youth!

      The Youth and Government program is a national program for high school students. The program enables young people to prepare for moral and political leadership through training in the theory and practice of developing public policies. The high school program includes the Youth Legislature, and a Conference on National Affairs. This creates a great opportunity for leadership training, legislative experience, as well as providing opportunities for debate and public speaking.

 Team Appreciation 

       We are proud of our team at Lewis & Daggett. This past week we held our annual Employee Appreciation Week, which includes some extra fun, a few surprises, and ended with a Saturday cookout for everyone and their families.

2009 L & D Volleyball Champs

      One of the traditions that has developed over the last several years in the annual volleyball tournament. The winning team is pictured above. The event is fun for those who play, and the spectators as well. it is fun enjoying the friendly competition, the fellowship, and enjoying each others’ families.

 Smart Decisions Year Round 

     Our students are making smart decisions year round! Our Lewis & Daggett team spent some time with a group of local high school students last week as part of our fall Safe Sober Prom Night efforts. Wow, are they impressive!

     As impressive as our students are, we are also starkly reminded of the need for continuing, including year round, encouragement and support.