Ode to February

Happy February – the fastest month you ever did see. If we all took a vacation from February 29-31 would anyone notice? Hmmmmm. Here’s hoping the shortage of days is a good thing and you’re not scrambling to fit it all in. The good news is, Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow this year, so if your weather pattern has been unseasonable lately, an early spring might get things back to whatever “normal” is for you.

As for us, it’s been 11-below zero outside but we’re still basking in the warmth that landed in the Realityworks Star mailbox last month. Well, okay, a few people asked to be removed from our mailing list (can you believe it?!) but a pile of Star Trivia entries and Share Your Story contest submissions poured in.

It’s rewarding to hear that we’ve helped you, it’s impressive to learn about the important work you do, and it’s enlightening to receive your comments. This company evolved because of feedback and interaction with our customers, so don’t start being a stranger now! We’re listening.

First Lady of Dominican Republic Using RealCare® Parenting Program to Prevent
Teen Pregnancies

The RealCare® Parenting Program was launched in the Dominican Republic last May as a pilot project at a public school in the capital city of Santo Domingo. The program is being used in a neighborhood considered at risk, and is being reported a success already. The office of First Lady Margarita Cedeño de Fernández believes the program will help reduce unplanned pregnancy in adolescents and help reduce child mortality. The first lady has been impressed enough with the pilot program to extend it to more schools throughout the Dominican Republic.

We’ll be following this program along with many other first-time programs in countries new to the RealCare® Parenting Program. Currently our infant simulators are used in about 35 countries around the world.

Parent Applauds Baby Program

In our last issue we told you about the teacher in Alaska who won the 2006 Share Your Story contest. We left you hanging with the mention of an enthusiastic review of the RealCare® Parenting Program from the parent of one of her students. We can’t have you wondering if we’re making this stuff up, now can we?

The Backstory:

One of Kathleen Vik’s child development students at Chugiak High School took Baby home for a weekend and received a terrible score, with more than 600 minutes of crying time and lots of mishandling. The student’s father wrote a note to Kathleen, reprinted below with his permission.

Says Kathleen, “These kinds of letters warm the hearts of us FACS (Family and Consumer Sciences) teachers because we know the student has really gotten the message.” 

The Parent Letter:

Ms. Vik,

Jessica advised me she has failed her experience with “Elizabeth.” This was a surprise to me as she was so responsible the three days she had the child. She previously completed the Red Cross babysitter course and has cared for infants in the past. I do understand the 24/7 experience is different. Though she may have failed the numerical score of caring for the child, I do believe she has learned a valuable lesson as to the effects a baby can have in a young person’s life.

The three-day experience was physically draining for Jessica. On the first evening she was up at 3:15 a.m. and 5:45 a.m. caring for a crying child. Jessica has always been one who needs lots of sleep. This resulted in her being tired in class, moody to her family and friends, and behind on her class assignments. She also missed out on volleyball practice and a match because she could not get her child to stop crying. But I think the real eye opener for Jessica is when her boyfriend broke up with her on Wednesday because he was tired of her following him around with a noisy baby. It must have been embarrassing for him. This has really devastated Jessica, especially just before Homecoming.

It is my hope Jessica is able to see how this experience with a baby has affected the rest of her family. We had to move her to our guest room as her baby was making too much noise and preventing her brothers from getting a full night’s sleep.

But, most important, I believe what Jessica experienced this week was real world. These are the things that happen in life when you have a child of your own. I hope one day she will see that if a boy breaks up with her over something like this, he probably was not the right boy for her. Unfortunately, that is not what she is seeing at this time.

When Jessica is assigned her next turn at “Elizabeth,” I would appreciate it if we could schedule it to encompass a [different] weekend, and hopefully allow her a better opportunity to focus and succeed.

Thank you for being Jessica’s teacher in these important lessons of life.

The Happy Ending:

According to Kathleen it was other students abusing Jessica’s baby that caused the marks against her. Jessica understood this was a consequence of not being completely responsible. Jessica took RealCare® Baby home a second time and passed with flying colors. Jessica’s brothers slept soundly. Jessica’s ex-boyfriend got cooties. (Okay, that last part is the stuff we made up.)

Prime Time Baby

Did you see RealCare® Baby on TV on Feb. 19? Baby made an appearance on NBC's Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Amanda Peet's pregnant character, Jordan, was practicing her infant care skills and got a bigger lesson in responsibility. She left her simulator in the care of over-eager (and impatient) boyfriend Danny, played by Bradley Whitford, and Baby was involved in an unfortunate prop room accident! Danny nearly blew his chance to prove his worthiness, and Baby, well, lost her head. Yeah, we gasped, too, but did you notice it took a hydraulic guillotine to do it and they mentioned how "indestructible" our Babies are? Our engineers make sure that Baby withstands repeated use in the toughest environments. And our patented head and neck assembly ensures that in real life, YOUR Babies will never lose their heads.

If you want to catch Baby's show, you can see the entire episode online at http://www.nbc.com/Studio_60_on_the_Sunset_Strip/

Save a Life with the NEW
Shaken Baby Syndrome Simulator

The Shaken Baby Syndrome Simulator was inspired by Dr. Michael Turner, a pediatric neurosurgeon with the Indianapolis Neurosurgical Group, and originally developed by Nena Ray, a licensed practical nurse. Ms. Ray, of Clarian Health, Indianapolis, Indiana, brought her Shaken Baby Syndrome simulator to Realityworks because the group desired a more effective, reliable production model and a wider means of distribution. With our experience in the infant simulator market and a shared passion for prevention education, the simulator is a perfect fit for Realityworks. We are honored that Ms. Ray would bring this remarkable concept to us and are proud to represent it. The sobering fact that this could happen to any baby makes us want to educate the world.

Shaken Baby Syndrome is the tragic result of a parent or caregiver's frustration over their inability to quiet a crying, inconsolable baby. The simulator is a life-sized model of an infant between the ages of 0-3 months. A clear vinyl head offers a window into the brain. The simulator's brain contains accelerometers that measure the degree of force caused by the shaking demonstration. LED lights embedded in the brain provide immediate visual (and scientifically appropriate) response to the kind of shaking that causes Shaken Baby Syndrome. The patented head and neck assembly in our RealCare® infant simulators is used to ensure that the Shaken Baby Syndrome Simulator withstands the force of repeated, forceful shaking demonstrations.

It will be available in April with a related curriculum and other instructor materials. The core message is "never shake a baby," and tips for soothing a crying baby and techniques for anger management are covered. The simulation is disturbing and eye-opening because one firm shake from a frustrated parent or caregiver is all it takes to inflict permanent damage. One-fourth of all shaken babies die of their injuries. Many of the rest sustain life-long brain damage. Most cases occur at the age of four months. Not coincidentally, babies cry most between the ages of two and four months of age.

This simulation is ideal for anyone who educates parents, babysitters, daycare workers and future parents about infant care. Talk to us today. You could save a baby's life

We’re Here For You
Product Support with a Smile

Unlike some companies, you can call the Realityworks product support line and get a real live person to help you with your product concerns. And even though you can’t see them through the phone, they really are smiling. They can talk you through just about any issue that’s keeping you from getting things accomplished (unless your issue is that pile of laundry or the ”check engine” light in your vehicle).

In addition to the one-on-one help, we share their product support tips every month right here by the clover (because we’re lucky to have such great product support technicians, of course).

Product support hours are Monday through Thursday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Fridays 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Standard Time. Call 1.800.830.1416 or 1.715.830.2040.

Product Support Tip o’ the Month

Control Unit versus Control Center: You can benefit from both!

Control Center software is the best way to program RealCare® Baby II-plus, especially if you have several Babies to prepare at once. But if you’re taking advantage of this convenient programming and reporting tool, what is the orange hand-held control unit for? It comes with all Baby packages as an option. Try this:

Try this:

Use the control unit to verify the actual voltage of Baby’s battery module. Control Center indicates battery charge level with a visual readout, and the control unit gives an actual number. It’s also a good backup if you can’t get to your computer or need to program Baby or download simulation information without it. When calling Product Support for help with infant simulators, be sure to have your hand-held control unit nearby.

Give your batteries a break

The control unit batteries will last about 30-40 consecutive days. Remove the batteries to preserve them if you won’t be using the control unit for more than a couple of weeks. Product Support encourages you to stay charged up about your Baby program!

Believe us, we’ll let you know when it’s not important.

We Like Stories (with pictures)!

Yes, we’re simple people. We still want somebody to tell us a story and show us the pictures. This year’s Share Your Story contest is underway. Start spreading your news about how you’re changing lives in your area using Realityworks products and you can be a winner, too! The prize? Our latest model infant simulator – RealCare® Baby II-plus and Control Center software - for fast, convenient programming and reports from your personal computer.

Special note: because our programs are designed for organizations and professional use, prizes cannot be not bestowed upon individual users. If your story is related to a simulation conducted through a school, organization, social service agency or other program, please enter the contest on behalf of that organization. You’ll be a hero for helping them acquire valuable products to help others like you. We’re happy to hear from young people who’ve had an experience with Baby but we need to give the goodies to their adult program leader. Thanks.

Need a Catalog?

The Realityworks catalog should have made it to your door by now. If you’re still making like Charlie Brown and staring dejectedly into your empty mailbox, it’s time to call our Little Red-Haired Girl* and have her send you a copy.

Call us at 1.800.830.1416 or email us today here.
Check out the new volume discounts, supply packs, a brand new larger mobile storage/charging cart and the new Shaken Baby Syndrome Simulator, coming in April.

Open your catalog today. It’s colorful, it’s informative, it has a handy little order form and it’s absolutely free!

*Star Trivia Question

Who is the Little Red-Haired Girl? Special bonus to the first 10 readers to reply with the correct origin of this obscure cultural reference. Email your response to newsletter@realityworks.com and include your name, organization and contact information so we can send you your very impressive, most wonderful and really useful prize!

Star Trivia Winners from last month

Congratulations to our first Star Trivia winner, Rhonda Tomko, executive director of Grace Initiatives in Toms River, New Jersey. Grace Initiatives is ministry that provides housing, guidance and support for expectant mothers, to improve their lives and the future of the unborn child. Rhonda had the fastest correct response to the January trivia question. Carol Anne was a character in the 1982 Steven Spielberg thriller Poltergeist, played by 6-year-old Heather O’Rourke. Kidnapped by supernatural beings who communicate with her through the television, her infamous line was “They’re heeeeeere.”

Other winners hailed from schools and social service agencies in Minnesota, Michigan (2), Kentucky, Illinois, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri and New York. Nice work! Your prizes are on their way.

Our votes for the most creative correct answers?

“She needed her TV watching monitored by adults.”

“When she came through the light she looked like she was covered in pink cotton candy (how do I remember this stuff?)”

“The little white-haired girl from the scariest movie ever made.”

Our votes for the best wrong answers?

“Carol Anne is the name of the [Baby] inventor’s daughter.”

“The name of the first infant simulator ever created.”

"Is she the baby who Lily Tomlin used to play on Saturday Night Live - sitting in the REALLY big rocking chair?" [Editor's note: We old folks know that was the 1960s variety show Laugh-In.]

“The personal assistant to Joan Crawford.” (who knew?)

Are You a
Guinea Pig?

Of course not! But do you feel like being a research partner? We are conducting research studies on our products all the time, and we have a need for research partners – people who know and use our products, and who can provide meaningful feedback for efficacy studies, product improvements and new product development.

Contact us at research@realityworks.com for more information.