Take sleeping mats for instance, maybe you would prefer an inflatable air mattress or an off-the-ground cot? The days of simply laying down a blanket or two for protection from the ground are long gone. Tents have also become incredibly well-thought-out and can be as simple or sophisticated as you need. Want an ultra-light solo shelter that’s easy to hike in with? Or maybe you’re camping with family and would prefer to experience more spaciousness; there are so many options to choose from. I’m particularly fond of the gear that works up clever dual purposes, such as the firestarter/bottle opener and walking sticks that can also act as a monopod for your camera. How clever is that?

The main thing to do before heading out is to give your old gear a once-over to see how your needs may have changed since you last camped. What might have seemed like luxury just a few scant years ago could quite possibly feel like necessity at this point.

The European Commission has launched its final episode for their Anti Tobacco campaign. The animated ‘Helpers’ are back to raise awareness amongst young people about tobacco issues. The series depicts three super-heroes who try to save smokers and non-smokers from the negative effects of tobacco.  In this final episode the Helpers storm the tobacco industry’s annual general meeting that boasts thriving sales and huge profits. Since the Helpers have been on the scene, things are not quite so straightforward and a showdown seems unavoidable…the Helpers refuse to back down!

Youths today are heavily influenced by everyone and everything that goes on around them, constantly looking for role models and ways to fit in. The Helpers highlight how the corporate tobacco industry manipulates this in order to monetise and monopolise.

Young smokers are often unaware of the damage they are doing to themselves and others when smoking… as the Helpers are about to remind us! The EU has effectively identified the effect that friends, family and society have on our lifestyles, both positive and negative. Make the right choice for you, make a stand and take action!

See through the eyes of Loona, Chuck, Tapas and Skinny, and use your own eyes to see the harmful and long term effects that smoking has on your health. Watch this video to see how the Helpers stub out smoking once and for all by rocketing the baddies into outer space!

If you’re the parent of a teenager, you know just how hard life can be during this time. With school, sports, clubs, new friends, relationships, and plenty of other things, life can really be difficult during teenage years. In some cases, teenagers aren’t able to cope with the new stresses and new life experiences, which then cause them to become troubled. Many times a trouble teen will become very introverted. Sometimes they even become angry teens, which can lead to even more issues. Here are some very common signs that your teen may be troubled.

 1.       Questionable friends – As a parent you probably know who your teenager hangs out with and you’ve probably been introduced to a few of his/her best friends. Many times a teen has friends that he/she has known for years and years. However, if you start to notice that your teen is hanging out with a newer group of friends you may be a little worried. It’s not often that a teen will abandon old long-time friends for new ones unless something is going on. Sometimes these new friends can bring nothing but trouble.

 2.       Bad performance at school – Keep an eye on your teen’s performance in school. If you notice that grades are dropping and teachers are complaining of truancy or attending class late, you definitely want to check into it. If your teen is known for doing well in school and then starts to do poorly, something could be going on. Your teen may be skipping school and getting into trouble.

 3.       Lying – Have you found that your teen has lied about their whereabouts? Do you find that they are hiding things from you? If this is the case, your teen has definitely become defiant. Even if the lie is about something small, you never know what else they could be lying about.

 4.       Mood swings – Of course teenagers will be moody seeing as how hormones are changing and day-to-day life can be hard sometimes. But if you see that your teen is having extreme highs and extreme lows, you definitely want to monitor things. It’s never healthy or a good sign when someone is extremely happy and extremely sad on a daily basis.

 5.       Financial changes – Has your teen come home with more money? Does your teen have a job but you’ve noticed that the flow of money has been extremely low? Changes in your teen’s finances could mean they are spending money on unnecessary things; possibly drugs or alcohol, or they may even be engaging in selling drugs to make money.

 6.       Isolation – Does your teen like to spend a lot of time at home alone inside his room or in front of the television or computer screen? If so, your teen may be slowly becoming an introvert. You want to ensure your teen is able to communicate with you as well as others.

 7.       Violence – A huge red flag of a troubled teen is one that has become very violent. If your teen has harmed someone else or has made threats to harm someone, counseling is a must before your teen gets into serious trouble and faces jail time.

 8.       Depression – If your teen has becoming increasingly sad, you may definitely have one who is becoming troubled. If you are concerned that your teen might be having suicidal thoughts, definitely seek help ASAP.

9.       Concealment – Does your teen hide things from you? Have you found inappropriate objects in your teen’s purse or room? If so your teen is not only lying but is trying to hide things from you, which could mean they are hiding even bigger things that can cause issues in the future.

 10.   Criminal behavior – Have you caught your teen stealing from a store? Or have you seen him going into your purse or wallet and taking money without asking or notifying you first? This is definitely a suspicious activity that may mean your teen is becoming troubled.

 Remember, there is plenty of help out there for a troubled teen. As a parent you could decide to attend family counseling or consult some other type of therapist that may be able to intervene and help guide your child on the right path.

When the weather is warm children are outside more playing with friends and doing what kids do.  These summer months are when more personal injuries happen.  On the list of accidental deaths among children, drowning is number one.  No matter how shallow the water is, your child should always be supervised when in the water.  Those who own swimming pools must have it fenced and rescue equipment must be accessible.
Camp fires are another way for an injuries to occur. Adults should be the ones in charge of the fire pit at all times.

Taking your child to the playground is supposed to be an enjoyable trip.  As a parent, it is up to you to look for potential safety hazards.  Guardrails should be in place on bridges and slides so that the kids are safe.  Watch also for splinters on playground equipment or rusted parts that need to be replaced.

The sandbox is always an area that should be checked before entering and if your child is injured by the equipment at a public playground, you might have a case to file for a personal injury.  For more on injury claims visit Irwin Mitchell solicitors.