YOU’RE GETTING VERY SLEEPY ...
ESTABLISHING A BEDTIME ROUTINE FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR
Between vacations, bonfires, and sporting tournaments, your children’s sleep schedule probably went on break when they did this summer. With school fast approaching, it’s vital to get your kids back on a proper sleep schedule. In fact, according to the National Sleep Foundation, getting enough sleep can significantly improve a child’s growth and cognitive function. But getting a restful night’s sleep is easier said than done when kids have had almost complete freedom for three months. Try these tips to get your kids snoozing through August and prepared for school. START EARLY AND GO SLOWLY When practicing this tip, think of the old adage: “It takes 21 days to break a habit.” If your kids have been going to bed late this summer, set a time when they must go to bed, but don’t make it
too far off the time they have been regularly hitting the hay. If they shuffle off to bed around 10 p.m., push their bedtime to 9:45 p.m., and then push it back to 9:30 p.m. one week later. Slowly work your way back to an appropriate time, and bedtime will be easier when school starts. MAKE IT EASY Though the days may be getting shorter, it’s still relatively light out at night, making it nearly impossible for your kids to doze off when they should. Sleep experts recommend creating a sleeping space that mimics a cave: dark, cool, and quiet. This means sunlight shouldn’t sneak into the room, and the home should be a quiet zone after bedtime. No one wants to sleep while everyone else is having fun, so it’s important that everyone in the home is quiet at bedtime. JUST RELAX This is a rule your family should follow year-round, not just when you want to reestablish a routine. At a certain time each night, begin the nightly wind-down. For example, at 8 p.m. shut off your screens, put on pajamas, and engage in a relaxing activity, like reading a book or doing some yoga. Signaling to your body and your family that it’s time for bed will help your kiddos, and you, fall asleep at an appropriate time.
GEORGIA’S LAWS, YOUR RIGHTS WORKERS’ COMPENSATION IMPROVES UNDER GEORGIA CONGRESSIONAL SESSION
Each year, Georgia lawmakers revise and formulate laws to protect citizens’ rights. Lawmakers target new issues every session, but the government continues to take a vested interest in revising workers' compensation. This spring, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 135 into law, putting its changes into effect on July 1. For workers, this bill was a tremendous victory, and for the first time in over a decade, lawmakers are building claimants’ rights. Previously, bills have eroded the rights and compensation of workers injured on Georgia worksites. In fact, this is the first time since Trey Underwood has been practicing law that lawmakers voted in favor of claimants. The bill increases the maximum temporary total disability (TTD) claims rate to $675 per week and the temporary partial disability (TPD) claims rate to $450. In addition, the maximum compensation a sole-surviving spouse can receive in the event of a worker death rose to $270,000. These jumps are great news for claimants who are unable to work after an injury. They rely on this income to live, especially in the event of a catastrophic accident. Medical benefits and treatments were also impacted by the passing of Senate Bill 135. Injured workers no longer have to worry about a set cap influencing their medical treatment after about eight years.
There are now limited exceptions on the 400-week cap in medical benefits
for noncatastrophic injuries to allow for the replacement and maintenance of prosthetics, spinal cord stimulators, pain pumps, or various other forms of medical equipment.
There are two limits with this extension, however. The item that
prompts the extension must have been acquired within 400 weeks of the injury, and the exception is limited to injuries that occurred on or after July 1, 2013. While these law changes are a step in the right direction for injured workers, proper representation can be vital to ensuring you are given the compensation you deserve and need. The experts at the Law Offices of William F. Underwood have years of experience helping clients land back on their feet after an injury. Learn more about what we can do for you or about changes to workers' compensation rights by calling 229-888-0888 or visiting PuttingPeopleFirst.law.
2 | 229-888-0888
Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog