Dickerson Oxton - December 2021

816-268-1960 | 913-428-8220 www.dickersonoxton.com

DEC 2021

ANIMAL BITES

CAR ACCIDENTS

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

Give a Little Bit The end of the year is typically known as a season of giving, and it’s important we don’t restrict that giving only to our friends and family. As the holidays approach, we should remember the members of our community who don’t have the resources for an abundant celebration and help them as much as we’re able.

THE VALUE OF GENEROSITY DURING THE HOLIDAYS

BICYCLE/ MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS

they gave 19 million toys to 7.3 million children. To find out how you can donate money or unwrapped presents nearest you, visit ToysForTots.org. If you’re feeling more ambitious, Operation Breakthrough runs an annual Adopt-a-Family Program in Kansas City. “Adopters” are asked to purchase three gifts for each child in the family from a pre-selected list as well as sponsor the family’s Christmas dinner. Gifts for the parents are also welcome, should the donor choose. You can learn more about how to help at

BRAIN & SPINAL CORD INJURIES

Many of us are able to just go buy a meal when we’re hungry, but not everyone can. Giving both money and time reminds us that not everyone has the same opportunities in life. In particular, through

BURN INJURIES

giving, children learn the value of helping others and being grateful. Especially during the holiday season, which has become so commercialized, kids who have a lot to look forward to on Christmas morning need a reminder of their good fortune. In a season of “buy buy buy,” kids need to learn how to “give give give.”

OperationBreakthrough. org/how-you-can-help/ christmas-program. In the past, I’ve also volunteered at our local food bank, Harvesters, as a part of team-building activities. They have a little assembly process where food is sorted and packed into boxes, and it’s especially fun packaging Thanksgiving or Christmas meals. Someday, we plan to take the entire staff

CONSTRUCTION INJURIES

NURSING HOME ABUSE

SLIP & FALL ACCIDENTS

I’ve known several parents who go shopping with their kids for other children they don’t

to do one of those volunteer sessions. If you’d like to help make sure all members of our community are fed, you can learn more about donating or

know. Instead of having their children pick out a bunch of gifts for themselves and taking

BOATING ACCIDENTS

them home, these parents help their kids think about how other children don’t have gifts to look forward to on Christmas morning. They select a gift and then drop it off as a donation, which helps their kids build empathy and understand situations different from their own. Many great charities collect holiday gifts for underprivileged children, but the best-known is Toys for Tots. The Marine Corps started the organization in 1991 and ensures children from low-income families receive presents during the holidays. They operate all around the country, and last year,

volunteering at Harvesters.org.

If you’re able to give back this season, you’ll create a more meaningful holiday for yourself and others. No matter how you choose to go about it, helping people is good for your soul as well as your children. Find a way to make someone else’s season a little brighter, and you won’t regret it. Happy Holidays!

TRUCK ACCIDENTS

–Chelsea Dickerson

PHARMACEUTICAL & DRUG INJURIES

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Though we may not get as much snow as other parts of the country, the snowwe do get tends to stick — and that makes for dangerous driving conditions. In fact, about 70% of fatal accidents during the winter happen in cars. As another cold season begins, it’s worth recapping how to stay safe on potentially slick roads. Here are three tips to remember. Slow down. When conditions are wet and snow is on the ground, you should reduce your speed to give yourself more time to react and minimize the potential impact if your car spins out of control. But your miles per hour isn’t the only speed you should worry about. You should also accelerate at a slow and even rate to gain traction and brake slowly whenever possible to prevent skids. Finally, avoid sudden or jerky movements — all maneuvers should be gentle and gradual. Stay alert. When you’re driving, your attention should always be 100% focused on the road. But driving in snowy or icy conditions requires a constant and extra-vigilant assessment of your surroundings. While you should normally leave at least three seconds of space between you and the car ahead of you, allow 6–10 seconds Dashing Through Snow? Not So Fa Tips for Safe Winter D

NOMONKEYING AROUND Helping Hands

You’ve heard of service dogs, but what about service monkeys? For many years now, capuchin monkeys have been lending helping hands to people with disabilities! Monkey Helpers for the Win

Helping Hands Monkey Helpers, located at Monkey College in Boston, Massachusetts, is a nonprofit organization designed to help people with disabilities and mobility issues, such as quadriplegia, by pairing them with a monkey service animal. These simian helpers are specifically trained to help with daily tasks while providing companionship, happiness, and a renewed sense of purpose that many struggle with when navigating an injury or disability. When monkeys graduate, they will have developed the ability to navigate major household appliances and electronics as well as basic items within the home. They can even retrieve a canned beverage from the refrigerator, open it, and put a straw in it! A service monkey can also assist with retrieving things that are dropped or out of reach, turning pages in a book, scratching an itch, pushing buttons on electronic devices, and performing other menial tasks within the home. Each human applicant and the capuchin monkeys undergo a pairing process to find the best fit for placement! A social worker and placement specialist work together to sift through applications and determine which monkeys will be the right choice for the applicants based on lifestyle preferences and the tasks that will be most helpful to the person with disabilities. Plus, Helping Hands Monkey Helpers ensures that the monkeys are completely free of charge to the recipients! The human-animal bond created along the journey after placement is absolutely beautiful. Helping Hands Monkey Helpers brings love, companionship, and laughter to many who are fortunate enough to work with the organization. These monkeys are the best, hands down. And, monkeys, thank you for going to monkey college, and thank you for your service!

Flu Shots Protect You From Illness DON’T FORGET YOUR ‘OTHER’ VACCINATION

Vaccinations have been a hot topic for all of 2021, but in all of the excitement over the new coronavirus vaccines, flu shots have taken a back seat. Though far less deadly than COVID, we shouldn’t forget that the flu can do its own damage. Many people have already gotten their flu shot this year (experts say October is the ideal time to be vaccinated), but if you’ve put yours off, it’s not too late to get your jab. Flu season peaks in February and generally lasts through March.

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h the ast. Driving

in snowy conditions. Pay attention to whether the road is shiny or dull — a shiny road is much more likely to be slippery. And be especially careful when crossing any bridges or overpasses; that’s where ice is most likely to form. Know your ABS system. Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) use an onboard computer to optimize the car’s ability to brake during extreme conditions, and they have been required on new cars in the U.S. since 2012. If your car has an ABS and you lose control, slam the brakes as hard as you can and hold the pedal down. The pedal will generally shudder — this can be frightening the first time it happens, but it’s totally normal and you shouldn’t lift your foot. Your car will not stop immediately, but rather as quickly and safely as it can. Continue steering your car as you brake and trust your ABS. With these best practices in mind, you can keep your family safe and enjoy a happy winter. Most importantly of all, if the trip is unnecessary and the roads seem dangerous, stay home! You’re always better safe than sorry. Most years, between 20,000 and 60,000 people die in the U.S. from the flu. That number last year hit an all-time low, with less than 1,000 deaths reported. The steep reduction was likely due to masking and social distancing implemented as protection against the coronavirus. With most U.S. adults now vaccinated against COVID and gathering more frequently, experts aren’t quite sure what to expect from this flu season. But many doctors are concerned about a possible “twindemic.” If COVID-19 surges again and this year is a bad flu season, hospitals could be overrun with patients from both viruses. Since coronavirus, flu, and cold symptoms are all so similar, anyone who develops them is likely to experience extra anxiety. High numbers of influenza cases could also result in crowded doctors’ offices and testing sites. Plus, experts (and most employers) recommend you stay home if you show any symptoms that could be coronavirus related, so being vaccinated against flu makes you less likely to develop a cough or runny nose that could make you miss work. The same goes for your kids, who could be kept out of school. As with all vaccines, getting your flu shot won’t guarantee you don’t get sick. But you’re about 40–60% less likely to become ill with the flu — and if you do, you’ll likely experience a milder case than someone who wasn’t vaccinated. Contrary to popular myth, the injectable flu vaccine cannot give you the flu.

TAKE A BREAK

DIY Holiday Eggnog

Inspired by TastesBetterFromScratch.com

Making your own eggnog is easier than you think! This creamy, delicious drink will be a hit with your holiday guests.

INGREDIENTS • 6 egg yolks • 1/2 cup sugar • 1 cup heavy whipping cream • 2 cups milk

• 1/2 tsp nutmeg • 1 pinch salt

• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract • Cinnamon and whipped cream, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar until light and creamy. Set aside. 2. In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together the cream, milk, nutmeg, and salt. Bring to a simmer. 3. Add a spoonful of the milk mixture to the egg mixture. Whisk vigorously and repeat, one spoonful at a time. 4. When most of the milk is whisked in, add the egg mixture to the saucepan. 5. Whisk until the liquid thickens slightly or reaches 160 F. Remove from heat and add vanilla extract. 6. Pour the eggnog into a glass container and cover. Refrigerate. 7. When the eggnog has thickened, pour it into glasses, garnish, and enjoy!

Do everything you can to stay healthy this winter by getting a flu shot. Your friends, family, and community will all appreciate it!

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INSIDE

THIS ISSUE

Giving Back This Holiday Season

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Helping Hands Monkey Helpers for the Win

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Tips for Safe Driving in Snowy Conditions

PG2

Why Getting a Flu Shot Is More Important Than Ever

PG3

DIY Holiday Eggnog

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How Rudolph Became a TV Institution

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BEHIND THE EVERGREEN CHRISTMAS SPECIAL You know Dasher and Dancer, and you Rudolph, You’ll Go Down in History

prospector, and of course, Bumble the abominable snowman. GE hired innovative Japanese animators to create the film using stop-motion techniques that were highly advanced for the time. GE invested the modern equivalent of $4.5 million into the production of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and the special first aired in 1964. Those who are familiar with the film know that it ends with Rudolph enlisting Santa to save the Misfit Toys from earlier in the movie — but it didn’t originally. The version that aired in 1964 concludes with Rudolph leading Santa’s sleigh but forgetting all about his homeless friends. The backlash was swift, and viewers wrote in to express displeasure at the heartless resolution. GE decided the special had to be corrected and played again with the proper ending in 1965. And so, a tradition of annual airings was born.

Today, “Rudolph” is the longest-running Christmas special in history, and our favorite

definitely know Rudolph. Everyone’s favorite red-nosed reindeer was first born as a 1939 short story, but he truly shot to fame when his tale was adapted into a song by Gene Autry in 1949. Rivaling even the song’s fame is the Rankin/Bass stop-motion special that airs like clockwork every year around Christmas. Generations have now grown up with Rudolph, so it may be surprising to learn that his journey to the small screen started as a General Electric promotion. The company had a running television special on NBC called the “GE Fantasy Hour,” which they used to market their products directly to viewers. The better the story they told, the more viewers they got — and the more toasters they could sell.

misfit deer shows no signs of slowing down after 57 years. The movie has transformed into a marketing bonanza, with new Christmas decorations, figurines, and toys being produced each year. Though it’s somewhat shocking to our modern sensibilities to see Santa bullying his reindeer employees and their children, fond childhood memories mean that parents continue to pass the special down to their kids. Even as we recognize its flaws, the dazzling animation and famous songs continue to bring joy and Christmas spirit to households around the country. Just as sure as Santa comes every year, so does Rudolph.

The script introduced crucial new characters like Hermey the elf, Yukon Cornelius the

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