Family advocacy helps parents understand stress

  • Published
  • By Carol O'Malley
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Luke's Family Advocacy Outreach Program helps parents learn skills to cope with the stresses of parenthood. Classes offered are New Parent Support, Dads 101 and 1-2-3 Parent Magic, according to Frank Pavone, 56th Fighter Wing Medical Operations Squadron Family Advocacy Program manager.
 
Education about shaken baby syndrome is key to good parenting instruction, he said. "SBS is a form of child abuse that occurs when an infant or young child is violently shaken.  The shaking may only last a few seconds, but it can cause severe brain damage or even death. It usually occurs when a frustrated caregiver loses control with a crying baby."
 
Violently shaking a baby forces the head and brain to whip back and forth, causing the brain to swell and blood vessels in the brain and eyes to tear and bleed. These injuries can cause learning disabilities, seizures, paralysis, coma, blindness and death. 

"Shaking injuries require massive, violent force," Pavone said.  "SBS is not caused by bouncing a baby on your knee, tossing a baby in the air, jogging or bicycling with a baby, sudden stops in a car or driving over bumps, or even from the baby falling off furniture or down stairs." 

Parents who find themselves losing control with crying babies should call Military Onesource day or night at (800) 342-9647, or log onto www.militaryonesource.com.
 
For more information about Luke's FAP classes, call Pavone at (623) 856-3417.