Portraits For The Holidays! and wireless service providers have been blessed with an increase in par- ents purchasing the phones as gifts. While no formal statistics exist on the number of users who are children, local sellers say the under-18 crowd accounts for anywhere from 10 to 25 percent of their business, up from almost nothing 10 years ago. Reasons for the purchase of the electronic gadget range from keeping tabs on a busy kid to safety, phone sellers say. But by and large, parents are laying down the cash and signing up for cellular service contracts for peace of mind. In fact, a recent survey found that 90 percent of the nation's 63 million cellular phone users say safety and security were their number-one rea- sons for purchasing a cellular phone, more than business and convenience combined. And 60 percent of all users have utilized their phones in cases of car problems, a medical emergency or to report a drunk driver or crime. The World of Wireless Communications reports that 83,000 calls per day are made to emergency dispatch numbers from wireless phones, almost 30 million such calls annually. Besides the safety factor, cell phones also afford the child a mea- sure of responsibility while still allow- ing the parent to keep tabs on them, said Greg Haller, director of sales in the Detroit region for AirTouch Cellular. "When I grew up, I left the house in the morning, was gone all day and didn't see my parents until night. But Families... Children... Couples... Groups... Perfect for your family... Perfect for holiday gift giving! Don't forget... we offer gift certificates, too! i tirM, KNIGHT& LODEUTSCH ' 44 PHOTOGRAPHY 248-352-7030 LIFE LINE on page 31 26571 W. 12 Mile Rd. - Southfield, MI - 48034 How to avoid high bills and accidents. Stephen Boesky said there are two ways for parents to avoid the unwanted charges. First, most phones are pro- grammable to accept only certain numbers for both dialing our and receiving, cutting down on social calls. Second, the pre-paid phone cards allow the child only so many minutes of usage. When the card runs out, another has to be purchased before the phone works again. But most importantly, parents stressed using the phone safely. Parent Ann Rosenberg suggests installing hands-free models with micro- phones mounted into the visor to avoid juggling or dropping the telephone when trying to answer it. "I am a huge proponent of the hands-free model of the car phone," she said. "It looks silly to be talking to the windshield but I think it is safer." Gayle Burstein, development director at Alzheimer's Association, said she has had a car phone for ages and uses it while driving for social and business reasons, citing safety and convenience as her reasons for its use. But she knows that she has more experi- ence driving and that this practice is really not safe for anyone. She sug- gests teaching a child not to use the phone while driving. Instead, she recommends the young driver pull into a safe parking lot to make a call. "They really need to be able to keep their minds on their driving and their eyes on the road when they are driving. They don't have as much skill at driving and can easily be dis- tracted," she said. — Jill Davidson Sklar ome Back to Caucus Club.... Enjoy such OPEN specialities as Dinner: Tues-Fri London Broil, Sauteed Perch, Dover Sole & Baby Back Ribs lunch: Mon -Fri • Weekends Available for private parties LET US CATER YOUR NEXT EVENT If you've been here before, you know — If you haven't, we are a must! Gift certificates available Please ask for Mary • 313-965-4970 Even Barbra Streisand loved it here!!! THE CAUCUS CLUB • 150 West Congress • Detroit, MI 48226 Reservations Recommended • 313-965-4970 Serving the Best Since 1952 ,A Cala lac Best Mtisic Reviews im N aNtertaiotosieNt Detroit Jewish News 11/20 1998 G29