We cannot give into fear. We need to be prepared. Know the signs. Have a plan.

Before the storms even start it is important that you have a plan for your family’s safety.

You need to pick a safe room in your home where your family can gather. The safest place is a basement or storm cellar but these are pretty rare in North Texas so you need to pick an interior space in your house on the bottom floor like a closet, bathroom or hallway where there are no windows. You want to put as many walls between you and the storm. The biggest source of injury in a tornado occur from being struck with flying debris so if you can pull a mattress into your shelter space or cover with heavy blankets or sleeping bags you will increase your protection. Contrary to popular belief you do not have to pick an area in the southwest corner of your house. Just pick the safest area in your house. Also you do not have to open or crack windows to equalize the pressure in your house. You are just increasing your risk of getting hit by flying debris.

If you live in a mobile home get out! People are 15 times more likely to die in a mobile home than any other location. Try to take shelter in a permanent structure if you can. As a last resort if you cannot find a permanent structure for shelter then go to a low lying area like a ditch and cover your head.

If you are at work, take shelter in an interior room, stairwell, or bathroom on the first floor and away from windows. Your office should have an inclement weather plan and remind employees of it twice a year.

If your child is at school they will be instructed to follow the school’s tornado plan. Schools will go on lockdown mode and move the children to the safest area possible. Follow your school’s tornado and inclement weather plan. It is the best way to ensure your child’s safety as well as your own. Your child has gone through numerous safety drills at school and knows to follow the schools plan. Reassure them that this is the safest thing to do. Remind your children to follow what their teachers have taught them. The best way to reassure your child is to help them understand the importance of following the direction of the adults who are caring for them.

If you are outside, try to find shelter in a permanent location. If you cannot find structural shelter get in a low lying area and cover your head with your hands and arms. Try to pick a spot away from trees and other potential projectiles.

If you are in your car and cannot get to a structural shelter, the American Red Cross recommends staying in your car. They recommend pulling off the road. Leave your seat belt on and crouch down away from the windows. Try to cover your face and head with a coat or blanket is possible. They do not recommend trying to take shelter under an overpass or bridge. Do not try to flee a tornado that is moving toward you. They also note if your car is near a low-lying ditch or culvert it may be safer to leave your vehicle and get to the lowest point possible. Always remember to cover your head with your hands and arms.

It is important to know the difference between a TORNADO WATCH and a TORNADO WARNING.

TORNADO WATCHThis means that the conditions are present that make a tornado possible over the next several hours. This does not mean a tornado is about to occur. It is a caution to be vigilant as you go through your day.

TORNADO WARNING

This means an actual tornado has been spotted or that meteorologists have picked up rotation on their Doppler radar. Your city’s safety alert siren will sound if a tornado warning is occurring. This is a sign to go to your safe area.

I highly recommend you get the American Red Cross app for your phone. This is a free app that will alert you if a TORNADO WARNING is occurring in your area. It also has excellent tips about tornado preparedness and the ability to set up a blast message you can send to friends and family to let them know that you are safe. It will send the message via email, Message, Twitter, and Facebook.

It is a good idea to create an emergency- preparedness kit. The American Red Cross recommends you include the following basics:

• Water – at least a 3-day supply. One gallon per person per day.
• Food – at least a 3 day supply of nonperishable easy to prepare food
• Flashlight with batteries
• Battery powered or hand crank radio
• First aid kit
• 7 day supply of all necessary medications
• Copies of personal documents
• Family and emergency contact information
• Extra set of clothing and study shoes
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items

You have a Plan.You know the signs. Be safe. Have Faith.

Sandra C. Peak, M.D.

Learn what you shouldn't do during a tornado here.

In the state of Texas, it's illegal for anyone under 18 years of age to use an indoor UV tanning facility, even with a parent's permission. But recent studies show that the use of tanning beds can become an obsession and parents need to make sure their child is not finding a way to work around the law.

Why?

The dangers of cancer:

• Ultra-violet (UV) light in tanning bed is known to cause cancer.
• Every year, more than 170,000 cases of skin cancer related to indoor tanning are diagnosed.
• One indoor tanning session increases your risk of getting melanoma skin cancer by 20 percent.
• Melanoma is the second most common type of invasive cancer in teens and young adults and is the leading cause of cancer death in women ages 25 to 30.
• One indoor session increase your riks of getting squamous cell carinoma by 67 percent.

"While all tanning is bad, tanning bed usage exposes people to ultraviolet A rays," said Sandra Peak, M.D., a Cook Children's pediatrician in Lewisville. "UVB rays cause sunburn, but UVA rays penetrate much deeper into the skin."

Other icky health risks may also be found at your local tanning salon, including bacteria that can lead to staph infection. Regular trips to the tanning bed can also change skin texture and cause sunspots, which probably aren't what your teen is after.

So what if your child begs you to go? It's time to talk.

"Parents should sit down and discuss the risks of indoor tanning with their children," Dr. Peak said. "Melanoma has become the cancer of young people."

Instead encourage your children to use a self tanner to get that summer glow, and urge them to always apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor of 15 before heading outdoors, even during winter months. Dr. Peak recommends staying away from spray tans, since the chemicals can damage delicate mucus membranes.

About the author

Sandra Peak, M.D., joined Cook Childrens Physician Network in Lewisville in 2004. Dr. Peak enjoys gardening, yoga, and boating and in her spare time can be found at the lake with her husband Jay, stepson Sage and the world’s most amazing Lab, Sugar Mae.