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President Obama Declares Swine Flue a National Emergency; Northwest Airlines Pilot Speaks About Missing Airport by 150 Miles

Aired October 24, 2009 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: What has been suspected, the mom of the so-called Balloon Boy allegedly admitted it was all a hoax. And it's all in court papers.

And one of the pilots of Northwest Airlines Flight 188 talks about what was not going on in the cockpit when the plane missed its destination.

With Swine Flu cases on the rise, and a shortage of vaccine, the president of the United States steps in.

You are in the CNN NEWSROOM, where the news unfolds live on this Saturday, October 24. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

President Barack Obama is declaring the Swine Flu outbreak now affecting 46 states a national emergency. Let's get right to CNN White House Correspondent Elaine Quijano in Washington with the very latest.

Elaine, what do we know about what this declaration actually means?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, I talked to administration officials about this. Both of them emphasized right off the bat that this emergency declaration is not tied to the current number of H1N1 cases in the United States. Officials say that this declaration basically gives the federal government more power to help states if there are communities in the future that might become overwhelmed with a deluge of H1N1 patients.

Now this declaration basically allows temporary waivers that would lift bureaucratic requirements, federal requirements, both when it comes to treating patients, as well as when it comes to moving equipment around to places where it might be needed the most.

Here are some examples of what this could mean for hospitals. They will be able to, under this declaration now, request waivers to establish alternate care sites, to modify patient triage protocols, and to modify their patient transfer procedures.

Again Fredricka, we have to emphasize, according to the administration, this is a just in case measure. It's not in response, officials say, to any new development. But what it's also doing, Fredricka, at the same time, is underscoring the absolute seriousness of the H1N1 pandemic, and the threat that it continues to pose. Fredricka? WHITFIELD: OK. Well, I know that the administration says they don't want to say it's in response to the number of cases that have already been sweeping the country. But it's hard to draw a distinction that the two are not related.

QUIJANO: It is hard to draw the distinction. This is the point that administration officials are very quick to emphasize, again and again, that this is not in response to -- rather, they say, what they have been seeing, in terms of the H1N1 cases out there. The numbers are to be expected, as sad as it is, and difficult as it is for many of the people out there who are watching this, and are perhaps fearful, and are anxiously awaiting their H1N1 vaccines.

The officials that I'm talking to are saying, look, we knew that the numbers were going to be there. What we're trying to do is basically preposition to try to cut through some of this bureaucratic red tape, so hospitals can have every tool at their disposal if it should come to a worst case scenario.

WHITFIELD: OK, Elaine Quijano, thanks so much, from the White House. We appreciate it. We know you at home have a whole lot of questions, including what does this mean exactly for me, and for my family? And what should we do now with this information kind of information?

Here is some advice worth your consideration. First, keep abreast of the flu situation where you live. Now, the second is this, the Centers for Disease Control and prevention website is a valuable resource. Flu.gov is the web address.

Also, you want to wash your hands. Personal hygiene can mean a huge difference in contracting or minimizing the spread of the virus. If you do get sick, you need to stay at home.

All this has been advised by so many doctors and experts, as well as from the CDC. Staying at home simply means that it gives you a better opportunity to recover, and less of a chance of actually infecting others.

Other do's and don'ts. Don't stock up on face masks or Tamiflu. Do get a Swine Flu shot when available in your area. That's being recommended by a lot of medical personnel as well.

If you do contract Swine Flu, don't overly worry. Most cases of H1N1 are considered mild.

So, the Swine Flu is providing an unexpected boom for one industry, that one right there, hand sanitizers. Demand for the germ fighters has soared since the H1N1 virus broke out early this year. Companies like Johnson and Johnson, the makers of Purell, are ramping up production. Johnson and Johnson is asking the public not to horde the product, however. But demand is expected to increase given the outbreak, as the flu season gets under way.

All right, the inside of an airplane is a tiny confined space, which can be a breeding ground for germs, including Swine Flu. But senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen looked into the precautions that you should be taking.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: If you want to avoid germs on an airplane, who better to talk to than the former director of the Centers for Disease Control. I hopped on an airplane yesterday with Dr. Julie Gerberding. Here is what she had to say.

We wanted to know what kind of germs do you face when you are on an airplane? We have this nice little airplane here. Come on. We'll get on there and talk about it. We're actually sitting pretty far apart. In a real plain, we'd be shoulder to shoulder.

Let's go with the worst case scenario. I have H1N1; I cough and cough, and I don't cover it up well. What are the chances that you'll get sick?

DR. JULIE GERBERDING, INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT: Well, there's a pretty good chance. Flu is very transmissible.

COHEN: This is a graphic simulation of a cough. The guy in red there, he's the sick passenger. And he coughs.

GERBERDING: There come those droplets. What's happening here is that the ventilation system of the plane is distributing them, and basically removing them, except for the people who are close.

COHEN: Look at these dots, they are flying everywhere.

GERBERDING: It's a great illustration of why flu is so transmissible. If you are in the strike zone, you're at risk. You good news is if you're anywhere else on the aircraft, you probably have very low risk.

COHEN: Do I need to worry about the guy sneezing ten rows behind me?

GERBERDING: You really don't. That is way outside of the zone where the droplets are going to hit you directly.

COHEN: You had an interesting experience. You were just on a flight from San Francisco to Atlanta. Tell me what happened.

GERBERDING: We were ready to taxi down the runway. The lady next to me is speaking in her cell phone and says, I know I have Swine Flu. I feel miserable.

COHEN: In retrospect, you wish you had alerted a flight attendant.

GERBERDING: I absolutely do. I ask myself, why didn't I do that.

COHEN: Could you plus offer this person a mask. I mean, it sounds so rude. GERBERDING: I really do wish I said, hello, I'm Dr. Gerberding, and I think the person next to me has Swine Flu. Could you do something about it?

COHEN: You can say that even if you're not Dr. Julie Gerberding.

Now, Dr. Gerberding told me something else she did when she sat down next to that sick person on the airplane. She reached up and turned the air vent toward Ms. Sneasy, so the germs would flow that way. That's something else to do when you sit next to someone who can't stop sneezing on an airplane.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Wow, all good tips. Thanks, Elizabeth Cohen and Dr. Gerberding. Of course, you can track the spread of the H1N1 virus online at CNN.com/Health. You can also find updates about the vaccine and learn what's being done to help boost supplies to meet the growing demand.

One of the pilots of Northwest Flight 188 is talking, but he's only adding to the mystery over what exactly happened Wednesday after the plane left San Diego, bound for Minneapolis. Air traffic controllers lost contact with the pilots around Denver. Then the plane didn't land as scheduled. In fact, it actually missed Minneapolis all together.

By the time the pilots responded, the flight was over Wisconsin. Here is what the co-pilot told CNN affiliate KGW.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD COLE, FIRST OFFICER, NORTHWEST FLIGHT 188. Nobody was asleep in the cockpit. No arguments took place. Other than that, I cannot tell you anything that went on. We are having hearings this weekend. We're having hearings on Tuesday. All that information will come up then.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No arguments took place? That's the statement that's out there all over the place.

COLE: There were no arguments at all in the cockpit. There was -- That wasn't even an issue. Absolutely not.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Oh, boy. This is the tip of the iceberg. Investigators are also talking to passengers and crew, and checking the cockpit voice recorder.

The mother of the young boy once thought to be inside a run away helium balloon says the whole thing was a hoax. That according to court documents. An affidavit shows that Mayumi Heene told deputies the incident was meant to help the family actually get media attention. Her husband Richard Heene had denied the incident was faked. The local sheriff says he will recommend charges against the couple, both of them. Some of the charges may be felonies that carry a maximum sentence of six years in prison.

A Jersey town is shaken up after a priest is found dead in the church rectory. Authorities say it looks like a homicide. Police are warning residents to be cautious.

CNN's Susan Candiotti has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a small town where no one has been murdered for almost 20 years, investigators searched bushes and backyards for any evidence that might lead to the killer of pastor Ed Hines. To those who knew him, Father Hines was a kind soul who oversaw St. Patrick's Parrish and its Catholic grad school.

KATHY PHILLIPS-BRODIE, CROSSING GUARD: He put 100 percent into it. It was -- I don't know if anyone could take his place. It seemed like he blessed me. For some reason, I just have that feeling in my soul. Sorry.

CANDIOTTI: When the 61-year-old priest didn't show up to say daily mass Friday morning, a parish employee found him fully dressed and lying face up in the rectory's kitchen next door.

In an exclusive interview with CNN, the chief prosecutor described signs of a struggle and multiple wounds on the front and back of the priest's body.

ROBERT BIANCHI, PROSECUTOR: Mainly focused on the front part of his body and some wounds on the back. There was a fight that proceeded. It just was in a very localized area. Again, there's blood spatter in various locations of the kitchen, and different areas of the wall and the floor inside the location.

CANDIOTTI: Investigators say Father Hines was attacked some time after 11:00 p.m. Thursday. Earlier that night, a fellow priest said Father Hines had a meeting with someone at 7:00. But neither that priest nor police will reveal more.

(on camera): Among the questions, did someone force their way into the pastor's home? Or did Pastor Hines invite in his killer? Perhaps someone asking for help.

(voice-over): Investigators won't say, and won't reveal whether the murder weapon was found. Residents are stunned in what's described as a quiet, upscale bedroom community to New York City.

REV. PAUL MANNING, ARCHDIOCESE OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY: When you are the sole pastor in a parish, and you do most of the baptisms and weddings and funerals, people end up loving you. This will be a big loss for the parish and a big loss for the diocese. CANDIOTTI: In an eerie coincidence, on the night of Father Hines' murder, police fingerprinted children at the church next door for a crime prevention program.

Susan Candiotti, CNN, Chatham, New Jersey.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: More bullying at the ballot box, with Afghanistan's presidential run off election just days away now. New intimidation and threats from the Taliban, and calls from voters to boycott. And bank failures stack up, hitting a new low in this country.

I'm sure there was a story that you saw on any one of my show that makes you want to comment. We've made it really easy for you to do so. Just go to my blog at CNN.com/Fredricka. You can comment on anything you see. And you can also go to my Facebook page at FredrickaWhitfieldCNN.

There's yet another way. You can pick up the phone and call this number, 877-742-5760. Some of your comments will actually be used on air.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A roadside bomb killed two U.S. service members in southern Afghanistan. According to NATO, the deaths occurred Friday. The number of American troop deaths in Afghanistan this month stands at 33, according to a CNN count of military numbers.

NATO is also reporting that an Afghan International Security force killed a dozen militants in Kandahar Province on Thursday.

Afghanistan's president, Hamid Karzai, and his chief rival, Abdullah Abdullah, resumed campaigning today. Afghan voters go to the polls November 7th in a run off presidential election. But Taliban militants threaten to disrupt the vote. And they're warning potential voters that there will be consequences if they take part in this election.

CNN's Fareed Zakaria scored an exclusive interview with Afghanistan's president, Hamid Karzai. Mr. Karzai talked about the importance of next month's run off election.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HAMID KARZAI, PRESIDENT OF AFGHANISTAN: Whatever happens, this election must present a clear result. That result must be respected. But, of course, the international community and us, the Afghans, must do everything that we can to make it better, to make it much more legitimate, and to make it worthwhile for the effort of the Afghan people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Don't miss this entire exclusive interview with President Hamid Karzai on "FAREED ZAKARIA GPS," Sunday, 1:00 p.m., as well as 5:00 p.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: Let's take another look at those top stories. After days of fierce fighting, Pakistan says it has captured the hometown of a Taliban chief. The army says seizing the militant stronghold is a major prize in its offensive in South Waziristan The offensive is seen as a critical test of Pakistan's campaign to evict the Taliban from the tribal region.

A new earthquake sent residents in Indonesia running into the streets today. The epicenter is deep in the sea in the eastern section of the country. The 7.0 magnitude trembler was too far below the surface to actually cause a tsunami. That's good news.

That's little for comfort for Indonesians recovering from last month's quake, which killed more than 1,000 people.

The ailing banking industry is racking up more casualties. Seven more banks failed. That brings the total number this year to 106, the most bank failures in nearly two decades. Many more are certainly to come. Regulators are seizing weak banks slowly to avoid a panic.

A harsh lecture from the nation's top education administrator. But it's not aimed at students.

All over the world today, people are doing this. What's going on? Our Josh Levs will be along to explain.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, it's being called the most widespread day of environmental action ever. It's all about the number 350. Our Josh Levs is here to tell us exactly what's going on.

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. It's interesting.

WHITFIELD: Intriguing.

LEVS: It is. They are making these massive 350 signs, sometimes human signs. Let's take a look at some of these pictures you were just showing before. We are seeing these literally from all over the world. More than 180 countries, more than 5,200 events. Let's scroll through a couple more photos. You'll see these people creating 350 all over the world in this really striking way.

This, Fred, is what it's all about, 350.org is organizing today's environmental action. I have the screen open behind me. They have these continuously updated pictures. They keep showing up from all over the world. We see one here from Mongolia. They've been coming in from all the different continents.

This is ultimately what it boils down to, this piece of information here. They are talking about carbon levels in the air. If we can zoom in right here, they're saying that right now, when you measure it in terms of PPM, parts per million, that we're at 387, and that there are some climatologists, some scientists, who say they want it to be down to 350.

And 350 is a popular number among those who are pushing to reduce carbon emissions into the air.

Let me show you a couple pieces of video that have come in. Again, this group trying to draw attention to it all over the world. They had one moment today at the Great Barrier Reef, in which people got under water.

WHITFIELD: Oh, yes, I love that.

LEVS: Wild, right. That 350 sign there. Also, a really nice one we have from Kenya. Let's go to that piece of video. Listen in for a second.

(SINGING)

LEVS: They are taking part in the event as well. Lots of people doing this 350.

Now, I went to CNN.com/Environment, which talks about a lot of environmental issues. On this graphic now, I have a quote for you. I looked at when have we talked about this 350 figure? We did report last year about that Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. They put the maximum amount of CO2 levels we should aim for at 550.

Others, including NASA's top climate scientist, Dr. James Hansen, think the figure is much lower, just 350. That's the crux of what's there.

The idea here is that there are all these climatologists, including that man from NASA, who are saying it should be down to 350. But there are others out there who are saying, you know what, a lot of this is a crock.

Let's zoom in here. I want to show you what some people are writing to us today. I have been talking to people about this on our blog here.

"Josh, this 350 thing is a total farce." That's from Mick.

Let's go here on the opposite side. Kara, "the 350 Global Day of Action is terrifically important." Then she talks about what scientists are saying.

We are hearing from you on all sides. Let's show up the graphic where you can weigh in. I'll tell you, it's interesting, Fred, to see this debate going on about all these issues. CNN.com/Josh. Facebook and Twitter, JoshLevsCNN.

WHITFIELD: I guess you could debate its effectiveness. I guess this also demonstrates that a growing number of people are very conscientious about the environment. And maybe that alone is encouraging.

LEVS: Honestly, even most of the people that you hear out there who are skeptics of the concept of global warming, that kind of thing, still say, hey, it's still good to cut back on carbon emissions. They are concerned with fighting pollution, some kinds of smog that you can see.

You do find a lot of people saying there's a lot of good being done there.

Fred, we were talking at the blog there, right. While we are the blog, I have to mention this too for 4:00 today.

WHITFIELD: We love to hear people's opinions and thoughts.

LEVS: You know what we're hearing about?

WHITFIELD: The 4:00 segment.

LEVS: Our 4:00 hour today all about medical marijuana. This is how you weigh in. Also, at my page, and at Fred on Facebook, and CNN.com/Fredricka or /Josh.

Man, are they all over us about this. A lot of people saying on Twitter to me, you know, Fred, that it should all be legal. Some saying this is crazy. Medical marijuana should not be legal. We're hearing all of it from you. We're bringing it all to the table for our 4:00 hour.

WHITFIELD: I heard from one blogger who says "tell me where to get it. I have some pains that I want to alleviate."

We're going to address that, because where you get this marijuana, who actually qualifies for medical marijuana, that too is part of the discussion at 4:00 eastern time.

LEVS: You got it.

WHITFIELD: Josh, appreciate it. Thank you.

All right, these letters, sometimes we don't like to see them. C, D, F, they are popping up way too much, apparently, on your kids' report cards. Maybe their teachers need to learn a hard lesson as well, says Arne Duncan, who is aiming to give it to them, the lesson that is. CNN's Kate Bolduan reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The country's education chief delivering a harsh lecture to not students, but the colleges preparing the nation's teachers.

ARNE DUNCAN, SECRETARY OF EDUCATION: By almost any standard, many, if not most of the nation's 1,450 schools, colleges and Departments of Education are doing a mediocre job of preparing teachers for the realities of the 21st century classroom.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some of this is from the book. Some of it isn't. BOLDUAN: Secretary Arne Duncan described the programs that train more than half the nations teachers as cash cows, most of which, he says, aren't delivering first rate instructors.

DUNCAN: Teaching has never been more difficult. It has never been more important. And the desperate need for more student success has never been more urgent. Are we adequately preparing future teachers to win in this critical battle?

BOLDUAN: In Washington, American University's dean of teaching says, yes, they are.

SARAH IRVINE BELSON, DEAN, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY: When we throw everybody into one big bucket -- this is what schools of education do -- it's as much as saying here is what every engineering program is like and here is what every university is like. But if you look closely at those teacher programs and what they are doing, then you can actually find that there are actually great pockets of excellence.

BOLDUAN: At the same time, Dean Sarah Belson agrees with one change Duncan is calling for, more firsthand training.

BELSON: We try to spend as much time as we possibly can with these teachers in the real classrooms and getting real experiences with students.

BOLDUAN (on camera): You think that's the key, hands on?

BELSON: Absolutely. Any teacher will tell you that.

BOLDUAN (voice-over): Senior Jenna Wards says she knows she's about to take on a tough job.

JENNA WARDS, FUTURE TEACHER: It's a challenge to be able to teach to the whole class, but also be able to teach to every student within that class. But I think I'm definitely ready to do it.

BOLDUAN (on camera): Secretary Duncan also talked about the need for hard numbers, test scores, grades, attendance, to name a few, to better track student progress, and train teachers how to use it to improve instruction.

Why is this all critical now? For one, Duncan warns of a massive exodus of baby boomers from the teaching profession in the next decade.

Kate Bolduan, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: You have seen the pink signs everywhere marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It's a disease that, when caught early, can be curable. Our senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen, looked at ways to prevent breast cancer in today's Help for Her.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COHEN (voice-over): Even though she has no history of breast cancer in her family, 47-year-old Ava Wilborn doesn't take chances. She gets a mammogram every year.

AVA WILBORN, PATIENT: It's a relief knowing I've done my exam and that I have nothing to worry about.

COHEN: Ava's doctors say that's a healthy attitude, because detecting breast cancer in its earlier stage is the key to successful treatment.

DR. LYNN BAXTER, BREAST IMAGING, NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL: About 80 percent of people who are diagnosed with breast cancer don't have any relatives who have had the disease. That's why we recommend yearly mammograms for everybody over the age of 40. There's really not anybody we can pick out and say, you are not at risk for breast cancer; you don't have to get your check ups.

COHEN: Breast cancer prevention begins early in life. Eating healthy and staying fit are important.

BAXTER: Breast cancer has been associated with obesity. So a woman wants to watch her diet. And breast cancer can be prevented, to a certain extent, by exercise.

COHEN: Monthly self-exams are a good way to detect early lumps. If a woman has breast cancer in her family, genetic testing can help her better understand her odds of developing breast cancer as she gets older. The tests determine whether your DNA contains a genetic change or mutation in the Braca One or Braca Two (ph) genes.

But doctors note, only five to 10 percent of breast cancers are caused by such a genetic change.

BAXTER: Those cases, we start screening every year at age 25. But otherwise -- otherwise, we would say down to about age 30. The reason fro that is that when we are younger, people who are in their 20s, the breast tissue is still developing and is more sensitive to radiation.

COHEN: Age 40 is the mammogram benchmark. Women after that age should be getting yearly mammograms, no matter what.

BAXTER: Age is probably -- is the most important risk factor that we have. It's something we can't control. We all get older.

COHEN: Studies show mammograms can lower the risk of dying from breast cancer by 35 percent in women over the age of 50. Oh research suggests that women between the ages of 40 and 50, mammograms may lower the risk of dying from breast cancer by 25 to 35 percent. That's why early detection is so important.

For today's Health for Her, I'm Elizabeth Cohen.

(END VIDEOTAPE) WHITFIELD: Thousands around the country are Walking for a Cure. In a few minutes, we'll check in on the Breast Cancer Three day here in Georgia, where one of our co-workers is actually taking part.

Perhaps you have a teenager or maybe you know one. You might be surprised at the troubles they face and what you need to know in order to help them.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: For anyone thinking the teen years are the best years, consider this: some studies show that one out of every seven kids will run away before the age of 18. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teens.

Parents and kids need to talk about some pretty tough issues. How do you do that? Steve Simpson is the author of the book, "Run Away," which is endorsed by the National Runaway Switch Board. He also runs a support group for troubled teens on Long Island. He joins us now from New York.

Great to see you.

STEVE SIMPSON, AUTHOR, "RUN AWAY": Thanks for having me.

WHITFIELD: So often, a lot of parents, loved ones will say I had no idea that my child was so troubled. That's after the fact, after something very terrible has happened. Either they hurt themselves, they ran away or worse.

So, I guess, let's begin at the beginning. How does a parent make sure that they are really in touch, in tune with their kid, to detect when something is wrong?

SIMPSON: I'm going to give you two answers to that question. The first answer is obviously changes in your child. Sometimes we attribute too much to them being a teenager. If they are depressed and they are depressed for a continual time, and it's consistent, if they have lost interest in things they used to be interested in, if they even verbalizing, even in a joking manner, but consistently verbalizing, I'm done, I want out of here, I want to kill myself; that's some of the signs.

Their parents changes, their friends changing, these are all signs of possible suicide or running away.

But the second part of my answer is this: the majority of run aways are victims of child abuse, be it physical or verbal. I've had both growing up. I can tell you the verbal was even worse than the physical, because it trashed my self-esteem.

So most parents do know what's going on. If you or your spouse is even physically or even verbally abusing your children, or they are abusing you in front of your children, that's your biggest sign. Parents denial becomes the biggest factor, unfortunately, in not seeing their children's problems. WHITFIELD: So that might be a common denominator. But what about the child that runs away where abuse was not part of the equation at home?

SIMPSON: The majority is abuse. If it's not, it could be a child getting involved in drugs and alcohol. Again, denial is there. Most will not admit their child is drinking. Never, never.

Yes. So, again, you have to be open to it. If your child got involved in drugs and alcohol, it doesn't mean you are a failure as a parent. That's the problem most parents think. So they deny it.

There's no embarrassment in that. The embarrassment is denying it and doing nothing about it until it gets critical.

WHITFIELD: So before something terrible happens, like they run away or any of the other things we just mentioned, what is a parent to do? Now you have identified that my child is joking around by using these words of suicide and running away. Now, I identified -- because you've just helped me -- identified that there's a problem. Now what do I do? How do I reach my child?

SIMPSON: Here is a bunch of choices. I would say this for a child that's watching this, as well as the parent. OK, couple things; first off, if they are still in school, most schools have a school counselor, school social worker, guidance counselor, usually more than one. They are a great source to help with this. They know more than people think.

When I was young, I used to say nobody understands me. I was wrong. The counselor really did know where I was coming from.

Community centers have a lot of outreach programs that can help the children.

And local churches. It doesn't have to be a church you belong to. A lot of churches have support groups, 12-step programs, outreach programs, so both you and your child -- that's number one that you can get help. It's critical.

Don't be fooled if they are doing great in school. If you know there's alcoholism in you household or some type of abuse, don't be fooled by that. If they get older, they can have problems in relationships, or surprise you one day with a suicide attempt.

WHITFIELD: Sorry, go ahead.

SIMPSON: The other thing I was going to say, if there is an abuser in the household -- I, myself, personally, when I was moved from the abuse, I went from being the worst student to literally the best student, from failing everything to being the National Junior Honors Society, being made student of the month. They hung my picture up as a model student. That would be a dart board in a teacher's faculty room two years prior.

So, again, whether you have to ask the abuser to leave the house or you have to leave them, that's important. Your children have to come before your own co-dependency.

WHITFIELD: We're talking about this because this is talk to your child month or talk to your kid month, as they call it. Next month is National Run Away Prevention Month. Let's talk about prevention. What do you do? Now that you know there are sources, places to go, et cetera, counselors -- there are phone numbers to call. There's a National Run Away Switch Board, 1-800-Run-Away. There's the National Suicide Prevention lifeline, which is 1-800-273-Talk.

What are the other preventive measures you can take?

SIMPSON: It is Talk to Your Child Month. A lot of parents will say, I can't talk to them. They shut me right down. We get into an argument. Here's a simple suggest I found from my own experience being a volunteer over the years. If your child lashes at you and says, you did this and you didn't do that, before you get in a fight and tell them they are wrong -- worst thing you can do is begin the conversation.

Acknowledge, well, I'm sorry you feel that way. Maybe I was remissed in this. Maybe I did do this. You'll find when you become human and admit some things you might have done wrong, they calm down and the blood pressure goes down and you can talk.

WHITFIELD: As opposed to approaching it like I'm the expert, I'm the adult here, and I got all the answers.

SIMPSON: It's not going to work. They shut you right down. You're going to get into a screaming match. Yes. Just admit, I think I'm having problems like you, too. I think I need to get help, also. Let's do this together. I -- I -- I. Keep it to the Is. Admit that you have made mistakes, too, and your child will be much more receptive to speaking to you. You become a friend then.

WHITFIELD: I think right now in a lot of families that are dealing with all sorts of things -- we're talking about bad economy, lost jobs, money is tight. Not sure I'm going to be able to cover mortgage next month. Sometimes the kids are hearing that.

SIMPSON: Great point. Even healthy households ...

WHITFIELD: ... taking on a lot of stress, too.

SIMPSON: Even healthy households are making this mistake. Your children are not your peers. Please do not say to them or in front of them, I might lose my job; if I lose my job, I might lose my house. You're putting such a burden on your teenagers. You deal with that. You're the adult.

WHITFIELD: So you're saying to the parent too who says, I want to make sure are no secrets here; I want to make sure that my kids understand why they are not going to be able to get that Game Boy next month.

SIMPSON: There's a way you word things. You can say things are tight and we have to tighten our belts. There's nothing wrong with that. You teach them about finances.

But when you use hopeless sayings, like I hope we don't lose the house like the neighbor down the block. I hope dad doesn't lose his job. That is a horrible burden you're putting your children. They can't focus on their schoolwork anymore. They aren't going to sleep anymore. They take on guilt.

Understand something, I did it when I was a child. They are going to feel guilty for the whole situation. You can tell them things are tight, but don't use hopeless terms.

WHITFIELD: OK. One more time, on phone numbers, where do you actually turn if you need some help? National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-Talk. The National Run Away Switch Board, 10800- Run-Away.

Steve Simpson, thanks so much. Great help. Anything you want to add to help out a lot of parents?

SIMPSON: Absolutely. The holidays are coming up. The best gift you can give your child is work on their problems now. Admit maybe things that weren't going right in the household.

Anyone watching this, too, anyone I have known -- I've known many who thought of suicide -- was always glad they never do it. Every one of them -- things get better. You just have to take the first step and get help yourself.

WHITFIELD: Steve Simpson, thanks so much. Appreciate your time.

SIMPSON: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: President Barack Obama has declared a national emergency to deal with the H1N1 Flu Virus. The move allows the Department of Health and Human Services to temporarily waive some bureaucratic requirements to help hospitals enact emergency plans if needed. The move is similar to emergency declarations issued before potential disasters such as hurricanes.

Quote, "we weren't sleeping. We weren't arguing," end quote. So what were we doing? "I would rather not say right now." That's what one of the pilots of Northwest Flight 188 is saying after their flight overshot their destination by 150 miles. That was Wednesday.

First Officer Richard Cole says the details will come out in National Transportation Safety Board hearings beginning next week.

People in Puerto Rico are being urged not to go outside, as firefighters battle a huge fire. It started with an explosion at a fuel storage complex near San Juan and is still burning 36 hours later. The wind has shifted, putting more people at risk for smoke inhalation. The cause of the explosion is not known.

He was executed for setting a fire that killed his three kids. But was he innocent? Troubling new questions about a Texas man who may have been wrongly accused. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: He was the man -- he was the man that Cameron Todd Willingham depended on to keep him alive, his defense attorney. But even he apparently thought his client was guilty of torching a house with his three kids inside. So did Willingham get a fair trial?

Our Randi Kaye is Keeping Them Honest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Cameron Todd Willingham charged with arson homicide for a fire that took the lives of his three little girls was facing a death sentence. He was counting on this man to save him.

(on camera): Did you think Todd Willingham was guilty?

DAVID MARTIN, WILLINGHAM DEFENSE ATTORNEY: After I had seen all the evidence, it was overwhelming that he was guilty.

KAYE (voice-over): David Martin was one of Willingham's court appointed defense lawyers at his 1992 trial. So Keeping Them Honest, what exactly did Martin do to defend Willingham?

(on camera): The prosecution had two arson investigators to prove that Willingham was guilty. Did you have an expert testify?

MARTIN: We couldn't find one who said that it wasn't arson.

KAYE (voice-over): Couldn't find one. But since the fire, nine -- that's right -- nine different arson experts have concluded the fire was not arson.

(on camera): What evidence did you present to help defend Willingham?

MARTIN: What evidence would you have us present? The witnesses were dead, the kids. Every time you cross examine a witness, you're presenting evidence.

KAYE (voice-over): Martin says he did his best, but admits he believed the prosecutors' expert who say they found patterns on the floor, indicating an accelerant had been poured. But again, nine leading forensic experts, since, have said those patterns were not the result of an accelerant.

What about this? One of the jurors told us she had alerted both the prosecution and the defense that her family was friendly with Deputy Fire Marshall Doug Fog (ph), whose testimony helped send Willingham to death row.

(on camera): Today, would that be cause for a mistrial?

MARTIN: No.

KAYE: Not a conflict of interest?

MARTIN: In a small town like Corsicana (ph), lots of people knew Doug Fog. Almost everybody knew Doug Fog. And I don't remember the details about the jury selection. Don't know why she wasn't stricken.

But so what? Let's say OK, she was friends with Doug Fog.

KAYE: So what?

MARTIN: So what? Look at the evidence that was presented at trial. Would any reasonable mind conclude after the presentation of the evidence that he was not guilty?

KAYE: She now has doubts and doesn't sleep at night. And she wonders if Todd Willingham really was guilty.

MARTIN: She need have no doubts, in my mind. He really was guilty. It doesn't matter how many people talk about it. The evidence is irrefutable.

KAYE: You sound like the prosecutor, not the defense lawyer.

MARTIN: What is it people expect the defense lawyer to do? I have said this before, go in there and swallow the story? No.

KAYE (voice-over:) Randy Kaye, CNN, Austin, Texas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Texas Governor Rick Perry is battling criticism over the Cameron Todd Willingham execution. Perry told reporters in Austin last week that Willingham was, quote, a monster and a bad man. The governor says Willingham's conviction and death sentence was upheld by the courts every step of the way.

A three day, 60 mile trek. We'll see how thousands of walkers are doing in the fight against breast cancer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: It's one of the deadliest wars, fought mainly on city streets, and the victims are often young.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kale's (ph) theory in practice. As someone in London or Los Angeles gets high on Coke, a young man in Medayin (ph) gets pumped with bullets.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Maybe these youngsters live until they are 20. They will grab what they can until they are 20. If they survive longer, it's a bonus. If they die, they always knew that was the risk.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Wow. In a few minutes, an eye-opening look at the Colombian cocaine wars. You'll see it right here on CNN.