January - Tackling the Flu Season
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February - National Dental
Care Month
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- The flu season is upon us and I would like to encourage you to follow
these methods to help prevent cold and flu symptoms.
Get enough rest, exercise regularly and maintain proper eating habits.
Wash your hands frequently during the cold and flu season particularly
if a friend, co-worker, or family member is ill.
Wash you hands before meals.
Cover your mouth when coughing and sneezing and throw away used facial
tissues immediately.
Avoid warm crowded places at the height of flu outbreaks.
Don't allow your child(ren) to play with friends who are sick and do
not send your ill youngster to school.
Your child must have a normal temperature for at least 24 hours before
returning to school. - With good health habits, we will all avoid becoming ill this season
.Hoping with this information we can all "Tackle" the flu
this season.
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General Overview The annual observance of children's dental health began
as a one-day event in Cleveland, Ohio on February 3, 1941. During that
year, February 3-7 was designated as Children's Dental Health Week in
Akron, Ohio. The American Dental Association held the first national observance
of Children's Dental Health Day on February 8, 1949. This single day observance
became a week-long event in 1955. In 1981, the program was extended to
a month-long celebration known today as National Children's Dental Health
Month. Since 1941, the observance has grown from a two-city event into
a nationwide program. NCDHM messages reach millions of people in communities
across the country and at numerous armed service bases abroad. Local observances
often include poster, coloring, and essay contests, health fairs, free
dental screenings, museum exhibits, classroom presentations and dental
office tours.
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March
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April
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Bicycle Safety
The following information regarding sport and bicycle was referenced directly
from the Boston Globe Website:
Bicycle Safety Recommendations:
- Please wear your bicycle helmet. At least 75% of most serious bicycle
injuries are caused by an injury to the head.
- Always follow the “rules of the road”. Bicycles are subject
to the some of the same traffic regulations as motor vehicles.
- Riding more than one is dangerous and discouraged.
- Consider attaching a bicycle flag to your bicycle which will increase
your visibility from a distance.
- A safety checklist should be completed prior to riding. Bicycle reflectors
and proper bicycle lighting are a necessity for unavoidable night riding.
- Avoid riding during peak rush hours and on busy roadways which may
increase your risk of a bicycle accident. Most bicycle accidents occur
between the hours of 4:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M.
- Please practice courtesy while riding and enjoy.
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Sports Safety Tips
Tips Before Playing
- The focus in sports is playing the game, but there are aspects that
you should evaluate and prepare for in advance. Both parents and kids
should be involved in this process. Taking care of the details outlined
below before the season or game will add to enjoyment of the sport and
help prevent injuries.
- Questions for Parents to Ask
- Are facilities regularly checked for safety?
- Will a first aid kit, ice, and someone certified in first aid/CPR
be at all games and practices?
- Are fluids available?
- Is safety equipment available or required? If so, does it meet national
standards? Is it in good condition?
- Is there an emergency plan in case of injury?
- Tips for Parents and Kids
- Be in shape before you show up for the first day of practice or tryouts.
- Begin training slowly.
- Increase your training gradually, without overexerting yourself. If
you measure your training in distance, weight or time, increase your
training by no more than 10 percent a week.
- Choose safety equipment that fits your body and meets national safety
standards.
- Do warm-up and cool-down stretches before and after practice each
day if they are not included in your athletic program.
- Drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after participation.
- Eat properly. Good nutrition helps fuel your body and prevent injuries.
- Get plenty of sleep. Most injuries occur when you are tired.
- Take at least one day off a week to let your body recover.
- Keep things in perspective.
- Remember the most important thing: have fun. Play with safety!
Click here for more sports safety tips!
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May
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June
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Why Is Handwashing Important?
- You carry millions of microbes on your hands. Most are harmless, but
you can pick up some that cause illnesses, such as colds, flu, and diarrhea.
- When we forget to wash our hands, or don't wash them properly, we
can spread these germs to other people, or give them to ourselves by
touching our eyes, mouths, noses or cuts on our bodies.
- We can also pick up germs from objects, such as doorknobs and stair
railings, touched by other people who aren't good handwashers. Think
about all the things you touch each day and how many people may have
touched them before you.
- You can learn more about what happens when people don't wash well
or often enough by reading the Press Release on WashUp.org (scroll down
the page to the section labeled Handwashing Fact Sheet near the bottom).
Or check out this video on handwashing made by students at River Ridge
High School in New Port Richey, Fla.
- You can choose the 2.2M high bandwidth version or, if you're using
a modem, the 513K low bandwidth version might be a lot faster for you.
You'll need the Quicktime player to view these video files. You can
download it for free here.
- Handwashing with warm water and soap can greatly reduce the chances
of spreading or getting germs. The mechanical action of scrubbing loosens
up the dirt and microbes on our hands and the soap picks them up and
binds to them so that the water can wash them away.
- Handwashing with warm water and soap can greatly reduce the chances
of spreading or getting germs. The mechanical action of scrubbing loosens
up the dirt and microbes on our hands and the soap picks them up and
binds to them so that the water can wash them away.
When You Should Wash
- Before you:
Prepare or eat food
Treat a cut or wound
Tend to someone who's sick
Put in or take out contact lenses
Do any kind of activity that involves putting your fingers in or near
your mouth, eyes, etc.
After you:
Go to the bathroom
Handle uncooked foods, especially raw meat
Eat
Blow your nose, cough or sneeze
Handle garbage
Tend to someone who's sick
Change a diaper
Play with or touch a pet, especially reptiles and exotic animals
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Fun in the Sun
- Babies under 6 months:
Avoiding sun exposure and dressing infants in lightweight long pants
and long-sleeved shirts and brimmed hats are still the top recommendations
from the AAP to prevent sunburn. However when adequate clothing and
shade are not available, parents can apply a minimal amount of sunscreen
to small areas, such as the infant's face and the back of the hands.
- Young Children:
Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside, and use sunscreen
even on cloudy days. The SPF should be at least 15.
Older Children:
The first, and best, line of defense against the sun is covering up.
Wear a hat with a three-inch brim or a bill facing forward, sunglasses
(look for sunglasses that block 99-100% of ultraviolet rays), and cotton
clothing with a tight weave.
Stay in the shade whenever possible, and avoid sun exposure during the
peak intensity hours - between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Use a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 or greater.
Be sure to apply enough sunscreen - about one ounce per sitting for
a young adult.
Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.
HEAT STRESS IN EXERCISING CHILDREN
Source: http://www.aap.org/policy/re9845.html
- The intensity of activities that last 15 minutes or more should be
reduced whenever high heat and humidity reach critical levels. (See
policy statement for details)
- At the beginning of a strenuous exercise program or after traveling
to a warmer climate, the intensity and duration of exercise should be
limited initially and then gradually increased during a period of 10
to 14 days to accomplish acclimatization to the heat.
- Before prolonged physical activity, the child should be well-hydrated.
During the activity, periodic drinking should be enforced, eg., each
20 minutes, 5 oz of cold tap water or a flavored sports drink for a
child weighing 88 lbs, and 9 oz for an adolescent weighing 132 lbs,
even if the child does not feel thirsty.
- Clothing should be light-colored and lightweight and limited to one
layer of absorbent material to facilitate evaporation of sweat. Sweat-saturated
garments should be replaced by dry garments.
BOAT SAFETY
Source: http://www.aap.org/family/tippslip.htm
Your children should wear life jackets at all times when on boats or
near bodies of water.- Make sure the life jacket is the right size for your child. The jacket
should not be loose. It should always be worn as instructed with all
straps belted.
- Blow-up water wings, toys, rafts, and air mattresses should never
be used as life jackets or life preservers.
- Adults should wear life jackets for their own protection and to set
a good example.
BUG SAFETY
- Don't use scented soaps, perfumes or hair sprays on your child.
- Avoid areas where insects nest or congregate, such as stagnant pools
of water, uncovered foods and gardens where flowers are in bloom.
- Avoid dressing your child in clothing with bright colors or flowery
prints.
- To remove a visible stinger from skin, gently scrape it off horizontally
with a credit card or your fingernail.
- Insect repellents containing DEET are the most effective.
- The concentration of DEET in products may range from less than 10
percent to over 30 percent. The benefits of DEET reach a peak at a concentration
of 30 percent, the maximum concentration currently recommended for infants
and children. DEET should not be used on children under 2 months of
age.
- The concentration of DEET varies significantly from product to product,
so read the label of any product you purchase.
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July
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August
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PLAYGROUND SAFETY
Source: http://www.aap.org/advocacy/archives/maytra.htm
Source: http://www.aap.org/family/playgrd.htm
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Carefully maintain all equipment.
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Swings should be made of soft materials such as rubber, plastic
or canvas.
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Make sure children cannot reach any moving parts that might pinch
or trap any body part.
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Make sure metal slides are cool to prevent children's legs from
getting burned.
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Parents should never purchase a home trampoline or allow children
to use home trampolines.
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SKATEBOARD AND SCOOTER SAFETY
Source: http://www.aap.org/advocacy/archives/marskate.htm
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Children should never ride skateboards or scooters
in or near traffic.
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All skateboarders and scooter-riders should wear a
helmet and other protective gear.
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Communities should continue to develop skateboard
parks, which are more likely to be monitored for safety than ramps
and jumps constructed by children at home.
LAWN MOWER SAFETY
Source: http://www.aap.org/family/tipplawn.htm
- Try to use a mower with a control that stops the mower from moving
forward if the handle is let go.
- Children younger than 16 years should not be allowed to use ride-on
mowers. Children younger than 12 years should not use walk-behind mowers.
- Make sure that sturdy shoes (not sandals or sneakers) are worn while
mowing.
- Prevent injuries from flying objects, such as stones or toys, by picking
up objects from the lawn before mowing begins. Have anyone who uses
a mower wear hearing and eye protection.
- Do not pull the mower backward or mow in reverse unless absolutely
necessary, and carefully look for children behind you when you mow in
reverse.
- Always turn off the mower and wait for the blades to stop completely
before removing the grass catcher, unclogging the discharge chute, or
crossing gravel paths, roads, or other areas.
- Do not allow children to ride as passengers on ride-on mowers.
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September
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October
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Welcome Back to School!!
The beginning of a new school year brings all the excitement of back
to school shopping. When purchasing all the school supplies that your
child will need for the upcoming year, please keep in mind one important
purchase that often becomes a fashion statement rather than function:
Backpacks
- Doctors have been sounding the alarm for a while now about how book-laden
packs can cause back problems in kids. When choosing the right backpack
the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends to look for the following:
- Wide, padded, shoulder straps: Narrow straps can dig into shoulders.
This can cause pain and restricts circulation.
- Two shoulder straps: Backpacks with one shoulder strap that runs across
the body cannot distribute weight properly
- Padded back: A padded back protects against sharp edges on objects
inside the pack and increases comfort.
- Waist strap: A waist strap can distribute the weight of a heavy load
more evenly.
Backpack itself should not add much weight to the load
- To prevent injury when using a backpack, the American Academy of Pediatrics
recommends doing the following:
- Always use both shoulder straps. Slinging a backpack over one shoulder
can strain muscles. Wearing a backpack on one shoulder may increase
curvature of the spine.
Tighten the straps so that the pack is close to the body. The straps
should hold the pack two inches above the waist.
- Pack light. The backpack should never weigh more that 10 to 20 percent
of the student's total body weight.
- Organize the backpack to use all of its compartments. Pack heavier
items closest to the center of the back. Empty unnecessary articles.
- Additional Resources:
The back to school tips section of this web site offers tips on selecting
and wearing backpacks. Great Schools.Net
- "A Pain in the Back:
Backpacks Create Health Problems For Kids."
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HALLOWEEN SAFETY
With the weather changing and the leaves falling comes one of my favorite
holidays: Halloween. To ensure that your holiday is filled with fun and
laughter, please keep in mind these safety rules when allowing your child
to trick-or-treat:
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Make sure costumes fit properly: ensure that hems of costumes are not
dragging and masks fit properly.
Advise your children to take extra precautions with costume accessories.
Avoid swinging wands or other items that may injure an eye.
Inspect small children's costumes for accessories that are easily dislodged
and may become a potential choking hazard.
Trick-or Treaters and their escorts should have flashlights.
Instruct your child not to cross lawns where they might trip on tree
roots or hoses.
Wear clothing that is easy to see in the dark or wear reflective tape
on your costume.
Advise your older children to stay together.
Walk on the left side of the road facing the traffic if there are no
sidewalks and watch for traffic.
Trick-or-Treaters and their escorts should take note of jack'-o-lanterns
and other outside decorations that are lit with candles. Flowing costumes
could easily ignite.
Costumes and costume parts, wigs, capes, etc., should be made from flame-resistant
material.
Educate your child that pets may act differently toward costumed visitors
and may be overly excited with all the people coming and going. Trick-or-Treaters
should not approach any pets.
Tell your child not to eat any treats unless you have inspected it first.
Any unsealed package should be discarded. If you suspect your child
has ingested a tampered food item, you should seek medical attention
immediately.- Instruct your child to trick-or-treat at homes you are familiar with.
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November
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December
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Food Safety Reminders:
- Buy from trusted sources.
- Choose fresh or frozen chicken and turkey products that are clean,
cold, well-wrapped, sealed tight without rips or leaks, and sold from
a refrigerated or freezer poultry case.
- Refrigerate or freeze poultry quickly after purchase, if possible
within half an hour.
- Defrost chicken or turkey in the refrigerator, not on the counter,
allowing a few hours to a full day depending on size.
- Do not allow raw poultry or its juices to touch other foods.
- Cook chicken and turkey thoroughly, using a meat thermometer to gauge
doneness.
- Safe Temperatures:
- 180 F. = dark meat cooked through
170 F. = white meat cooked through
165 F. = ground chicken & turkey cooked through
140-165 F. = foods held warm to serve
- Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Keep hot foods at 140 F. or
hotter; keep cold foods at 40 F. or colder.
- Wash cutting boards, tools, the sink, all work surfaces and hands
in hot soapy water before and after handling raw poultry.
- Serve cooked poultry using a clean platter and utensils, never ones
touched by raw meat.
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Holiday Candle and Tree Fire Safety
- Choose a fresh tree.
You can test the freshness of a cut tree by bouncing the trunk on
the ground two or three times. Only a very few needles should fall.
The branches should bend easily and not break.
- Cut two inches from the tree's base.
This will open up the pores which have been clogged by sap and make
the tree more able to absorb water.
- Use a stand that holds plenty of water.
Put the tree in water as soon as possible. Water the tree daily. Don't
let the stand go dry. Once the water dries up, the tree trunk will
seal over and it cannot draw more water.
- Place you tree well away from any wood stove, fireplace, heater
or heat register.
Constant radiant heat will dry out a tree quickly and make it very
hazardous. Use only cool burning or miniature type tree lights to
reduce drying.
- Make sure your tree is not blocking an exit.
It should not be placed in front of a door or in a hallway.
- Put the tree close to an outlet so you will not need to use extension
cords.
If you have more than one string of lights, use only heavy-duty extension
cords.
- Use only lights in perfect condition and that have a tag showing
that they are approved by Underwriters Laboratories for safety.
- With the lights unplugged, check all lights and cords for broken
sockets or bare wires.
Lay the lights on a fireproof surface and leave them switched on for
15 minutes. Check for signs of overheating such as smoking or melting.
Don't take a chance! Throw away any strings of lights that show signs
of wear or overheating. Even the smallest spark from a frayed light
cord can ignite a dry tree.
- Never use electric lights on a metal tree.
There is a danger of electrical shock! If you do buy an artificial
tree, be sure it is labeled as fire-resistant. Look for the UL fire
safety label.
- Always unplug the lights before going to bed or leaving the house.
Your tree will dry out faster if you leave the lights on for long
periods of time.
- Never burn a candle on or near a Christmas tree.
Keep all candles, matches and lighters away from small children. Many
Christmas tree fires have started by children playing with matches
or candles near the tree. Also be sure that all presents under the
tree are kept away from lights.
- When needles get brittle and dull or begin to fall, this is a sign
that the tree is beginning to dry out and should be removed.
- After you have taken your tree down, never burn your tree in a
fireplace or wood stove.
A dry tree can explode into flames, causing a chimney fire or igniting
other objects in the room.
- Never hang stockings near a fire-place that will be used.
- All decorations should be flame-resistant.
- Candles need sturdy nonflammable holders. Place them where they
will not be easily knocked over.
- Candles should be put out before leaving the room or the house,
or going to bed.
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Wear the Gear
Safety equipment may reduce injuries, but protective gear is often not
worn due to lack of awareness, inappropriate or unavailable equipment,
or lack of money to buy the equipment. As parents, coaches and players,
we can become better informed and prepared to have our children participate
safely in sports activities.The following list includes gear recommended
for youth sports. Use safety equipment at all times, including practices.
Helmets prevent or reduce the severity of brain and head injuries. They
have been either mandated or recommended for the following activities:
auto and motor sports, equestrian sports, in-line skating, snowmobiling,
baseball, football, rugby, softball, bicycling, hockey, skateboarding,
wrestling, boxing, lacrosse, skiing. Check the inside of the helmet
before you buy it to make sure it is certified by one of the following:
National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE),
American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), Snell Memorial Foundation
(SNELL), and American National Standards Institute (ANSI). And beginning
in February 1999, all bicycle helmets will be required to meet U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) safety standards.
Hockey face protectors prevent tens of thousands of injuries annually.
Wrist guards, knee and elbow pads are prudent for in-line skating and
skateboarding. Wearing protective gear for in-line skating is as important
as learning the basic skills, such as stopping properly before venturing
near traffic or crowded walkways. Kneepads also provide necessary protection
for wrestling and hockey and provide shock absorption for volleyball
and basketball, especially for female players who are more susceptible
to knee injuries.
Shinpads should be worn by soccer players.
Softer baseballs reduce the risk of ball impact injury, particularly
to the head.
Safety bases reduce the risk of injury due to sliding. Several types
exist, each of which has its own injury prevention mechanism.
Face guards for batting helmets are intended to protect the batter's
face from being hit by the ball. There were an estimated 59,400 emergency
room-treated facial injuries to children ages 5-14 associated with baseball
in 1995.
Chest protectors for batters may protect the heart (and in some designs,
the chest wall and other internal organs) from ball impact injury. Ball
impact to the chest was the most frequently reported cause of baseball-related
death in children.
Mouth guards protect the mouth, teeth, cheeks and tongue and cushion
blows that cause concussions or jaw fractures. Three different types
exist: stock mouth guard, mouth formed (boil and bite) and a custom
mouth guard made by a dentist. The three differ in cost, fit and comfort.
The stock mouth guard gives the least amount of protection. Mouth guards
are recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for all contact
and collision sports.
While you can't wear these for protection, you should know that moveable
soccer goals can hurt or kill. At least 18 children died and 60 children
were injured by moveable soccer goals during the past 15 years. Many
are unstable and are either unanchored or not anchored properly. These
moveable goals pose an unnecessary risk of tipping over to children
who climb on goals or nets or hang from the crossbar.
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On the Field
- Many factors contribute to players' safety once they begin playing,
including good sportsmanship, safety equipment, adult supervision, and
a plan for first-aid treatment.
- Here are tips for safe playing for games and practices:
Follow the rules. They were set to promote safety. Fill out emergency
information cards on each player and have them on hand. Ensure there
is an immediate "first responder" certified in first aid and
CPR and that a first aid kit is on hand. Determine if an emergency plan
has been developed and is on hand. Make sure that players are fairly
matched according to size and ability, not age. Ask if practices will
be suspended in poor weather.
- For parents, teachers and coaches: Tell athletes to stop playing if
they're in pain - a real indication something is wrong. They should
not attempt to "play" through it. Ensure players are evaluated
for injuries and informed decisions are made whether they should return,
sit out, have immediate medical attention, or be referred for medical
attention. And don't have children play if they're overtired - many
injuries occur when youngsters are tired.
Sports Injuries
- Sports injuries fall into two main categories.
- Chronic repetitive or overuse injuries, such as stress fractures,
muscle tears or progressive bone deformities.
- Acute injuries, occurring as a result of trauma from a major force,
such as fractures, dislocations, and more serious injuries like traumatic
brain and spinal injuries.
- Of all the traumatic brain injuries to children in the U.S., 21 percent
result from sports and recreational activities. Although children can
suffer injuries in any sport, some have a higher injury rate than others.
- Each year, more than one-half million children 5-14 experience sports-related
injuries during participation in the following six sports: basketball,
football, baseball, softball, soccer, and gymnastics. So if your child
is playing one of these "high-injury incidence" sports, you
need to be extra careful and attentive to safety measures.
- Age and Gender Sports injuries are three times more common for boys
than for girls. Prior to puberty, the risk of sports-related injury
between boys and girls is the same. At puberty, boys gain in both strength
and size and are injured more often and more seriously than girls. The
seriousness of injuries for both sexes increases with age and level
of competition. A less-developed child competing against a mature child
is at a greater risk for injury. Children should be matched and grouped
according to similar skill level, weight and physical maturity, especially
for contact sports.
Eye Protection
- Injuries to eyes are common. Blunt objects - paint balls, hockey sticks,
ski poles - can fit inside the eye socket and cause devastating injuries.
Objects larger than the eye can still injure, as they deform on impact.
These injuries tend to be less serious and occur in baseball, basketball,
racket sports, and soccer. Sunglasses, eye protectors, and prescription
lenses should be made of non-breakable, polycarbonate material. Where
impact with large objects may cause head and face well as eye injury
(e.g. hockey, football, lacrosse), a helmet/face mask system is best.
Protection is important for vulnerable eyes (previous surgery, infection,
extreme nearsightedness) or for those with only one good eye (vision
less than 20/40).
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