Christmas is just around the corner, meaning a time of excitement and joy for children. However, that happiness can be destroyed when children are injured by some of things that bring about the holiday cheer.
The American Academy of Pediatrics gave parents some tips to ensure a safe and happy holiday for everyone.
TREE:
What would Christmas be without a tree? However, from 2003 to 2006, the U.S. fire department responded to an average of 240 home fires that started because of a Christmas tree. The National Fire Protection Association says that these fires resulted in an average of 16 deaths, 25 injuries and $13.1 million in direct property damage. The AAP recommends that parents buying artificial trees that are fire resistant and live trees that are fresh to reduce the risk of fires.
LIGHTS:
The AAP reminds consumers to check labels to ensure they are safe to be outside.
TOY SAFTEY:
It is important that toys suit each child’s age, abilities and skills. Toys that are too advance can cause a safety hazard for children. Remember, small children can choke from small pieces and toys.
Get more safety tips on the American Academy of Pediatrics website.
How is your child spending their time? How much time a day do they spend watching television compared to actually being physically active? How many hours a week do they spend playing video games, on the Internet or listening to their iPods? You might be surprised. Think about it and then take this quiz posted on the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/09/14/health/20080914_WELLQUIZ.html
Once you’ve taken the quiz think about how you want your child spending their time. Now more than ever children are diagnosed with health problems related to obesity. It might be time to turn off the television, computer, Wii or iPod and start being active as a family.
Premature births are births that occur before the 37 weeks of gestation. According to March of Dimes, preterm birth is the primary cause of death in the first month of life in the States.
The preterm birth rate has increased about 20 percent since 1990, and costs the nation more than $26 billion a year, according to the Institute of Medicine report issued in July 2006.
Premature births affects more than 530,000 babies each year in the United States, causing not only death, but is a major cause of lifelong disability.
“During November, the AAP is partnering with the March of Dimes and other organizations to observe Prematurity Awareness Month. On November 12, the 6th Annual Prematurity Awareness Day, the March of Dimes releases the first of what will be an annual state-by-state report card on preterm births, comparing actual rates to the Healthy People 2010 goal.”
Illinois received a D on this years state-by-state report card.
National Prematurity Campaign Alliance Members
• American Academy of Family Physicians
• American Academy of Periodontology
• American College of Nurse Midwives
• American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians & Gynecologists
• American Public Health Association
• American Society of Reproductive Medicine
• Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs
• Association of Reproductive Health Professionals
• First Candle/SIDS
• City MatCH
• National Association of County & City Health Officials
• National Association of Neonatal Nurses
• National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health
• National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
• National Birth Defects Prevention Network
• National Black Women’s Health Imperative
• National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition
• National Healthy Start Association
• National Indian Health Board
• National Perinatal Association
• National Medical Association – Obstetrics & Gynecology Section
• National WIC Association
• RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association
• Sidelines National Support Network
• Society for Gynecologic Investigation
• Society of Maternal and Fetal Medicine
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states:
When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, so does her unborn baby. There is no known safe amount of alcohol to drink while pregnant and there also does not appear to be a safe time to drink during pregnancy either. Therefore, it is recommended that women abstain from drinking alcohol at any time during pregnancy.
However, a new study out of Britain says that drinking one or two drinks, once or twice a week during the second and third trimester has no behavior or cognitive effects on children.
CNN provided a good overview that compared the two points of view. To find out more watch the following video:
There are mixed reviews on what researchers say about preschool programs and day care centers.
According to a September 15, 2008 NY Times article most child development specialist believe that a children’s participation in preschool and day care programs helps to develop a better memory, improve language skills, prepares them for kindergarten, and gives children and academic advantage that lasts through elementary school.
A study conducted in Tulsa, Okla., found children who attended preschool were up to 9 months ahead in pre-reading skills and 5 months ahead in math compared to their counterparts who did not attend preschool.
The High/Scope Perry Preschool Study in Ypsilanti, Mich., began tracking the lives of African-American children in 1962, and found that preschool programs aimed at low-income children have benefits up through adulthood, including high school graduation and employment.
If you are looking for a day care provider, you should seek out a program that is certified by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN. They should know about the qualification of each teacher, the staff turnover rate, and the child-to caregiver-ratio.
According to a recent study, children are being given more drugs to fight chronic conditions such as asthma and hyperactivity.
More children are taking medication then ever before. Children are given drugs to fight chronic conditions, such as diabetes, asthma and hyperactivity. The study was published in November’s issue of Pediatrics.
The study reported that the increase of medication could indicate that chronic conditions could be on the rise. However, it also reported that the trend could also be the way doctors are prescribing drugs, and better screening which can identify more chronic conditions.
The results were based on insurance claims for 3.2 million children between the age of 5 and 19.
INCREASES IN MEDICATION:
• Medications for type-2 diabetes doubled from 2002 to 2005.
• Asthmas medications rose by 46 percent from 2002 to 2005.
• Medication for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder increase by 40 percent.
• Cholesterol-lowering drugs have raised 15 percent.
Medical errors are one of the Nation’s leading causes of death and injury. Rates of medication errors and adverse drug events for hospitalized children were comparable to rates for hospitalized adults in a 2001 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. However, the rate for potential adverse drug events was three times higher in children, and substantially higher still for babies in neonatal intensive care units. Studies of medical errors outside the hospital are just getting underway.
1. The single most important way you can help to prevent errors is to be an active member of your child’s health care team.
That means taking part in every decision about your child’s health care. Research shows that parents who are more involved with their child’s care tend to get better results. Some specific tips, based on the latest scientific evidence about what works best, follow.
Medicines
2. Make sure that all of your child’s doctors know about everything your child is taking and his or her weight. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, and dietary supplements such as vitamins and herbs.
At least once a year, bring all of your child’s medicines and supplements with you to the doctor. “Brown bagging” your child’s medicines can help you and your doctor talk about them and find out if there are any problems. Knowing your child’s medication history and weight can help your doctor keep your child’s records up to date, which can help your child get better quality care.
3. Make sure your child’s doctor knows about any allergies and how your child reacts to medicines.
This can help you avoid getting a medicine that can harm your child.
4. When your child’s doctor writes you a prescription, make sure you can read it.
If you can’t read the doctor’s handwriting, your pharmacist might not be able to either. Ask the doctor to use block letters to print the name of the drug.
5. When you pick up your child’s medicine from the pharmacy, ask: Is this the medicine that my child’s doctor prescribed?
A study by the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences found that 88 percent of medicine errors involved the wrong drug or the wrong dose.
6. Ask for information about your child’s medicines in terms you can understand—both when the medicines are prescribed and when you receive them at the hospital or pharmacy.
* What is the name of the medicine?
* What is the medicine for?
* Is the dose of this medicine appropriate for my child based on his or her weight?
* How often is my child supposed to take it, and for how long?
* What side effects are likely? What do I do if they occur?
* Is this medicine safe for my child to take with other medicines or dietary supplements?
* What food, drink, or activities should my child avoid while taking this medicine?
* Is the dose of this medicine appropriate for my child based on his or her weight?
* When should I see an improvement?
7. If you have any questions about the directions on your child’s medicine labels, ask.
Medicine labels can be hard to understand. For example, ask if “four doses daily” means taking a dose every 6 hours around the clock or just during regular waking hours.
8. Ask your pharmacist for the best device to measure your child’s liquid medicine. Also, ask questions if you’re not sure how to use the device.
Research shows that many people do not understand the right way to measure liquid medicines. For example, many use household teaspoons, which often do not hold a true teaspoon of liquid. Special devices, like marked oral syringes, help people to measure the right dose. Being told how to use the devices helps even more.
9. Ask for written information about the side effects your child’s medicine could cause.
If you know what might happen, you will be better prepared if it does-or, if something unexpected happens instead. That way, you can report the problem right away and get help before it gets worse. A study found that written information about medicines can help people recognize problem side effects. If your child experiences side effects, alert the doctor and pharmacist right away.
Hospital Stays
10. If you have a choice, choose a hospital at which many children have the procedure or surgery your child needs.
Research shows that patients tend to have better results when they are treated in hospitals that have a great deal of experience with their condition. Find out how many of the procedures have been performed at the hospital. While your child is in the hospital, make sure he or she is always wearing an identification bracelet.
11. If your child is in the hospital, ask all health care workers who have direct contact with your child whether they have washed their hands.
Handwashing is an important way to prevent the spread of infections in hospitals. Yet, it is not done regularly or thoroughly enough. A study found that when patients checked whether health care workers washed their hands, the workers washed their hands more often and used more soap.
12. When your child is being discharged from the hospital, ask his or her doctor to explain the treatment plan you will use at home.
This includes learning about your child’s medicines and finding out when he or she can get back to regular activities. Research shows that at discharge time, doctors think people understand more than they really do about what they should or should not do when they return home.
Surgery
13. If your child is having surgery, make sure that you, your child’s doctor, and the surgeon all agree and are clear on exactly what will be done.
Doing surgery at the wrong site (for example, operating on the left knee instead of the right) is rare—but even once is too often. The good news is that wrong-site surgery is 100 percent preventable. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons urges its members to sign their initials directly on the site to be operated on before the surgery.
Other Steps You Can Take
14. Speak up if you have questions or concerns.
You have a right to question anyone who is involved with your child’s care.
15. Make sure that you know who (such as your child’s pediatrician) is in charge of his or her care.
This is especially important if your child has many health problems or is in a hospital.
16. Make sure that all health professionals involved in your child’s care have important health information about him or her.
Do not assume that everyone knows everything they need to. Don’t be afraid to speak up.
17. Ask a family member or friend to be there with you and to be your advocate. Choose someone who can help get things done and speak up for you if you can’t.
18. Ask why each test or procedure is being done.
It is a good idea to find out why a test or treatment is needed and how it can help. Your child could be better off without it.
19. If your child has a test, ask when the results will be available.
If you don’t hear from the doctor or the lab, call to ask about the test results.
20. Learn about your child’s condition and treatments by asking the doctor and nurse and by using other reliable sources.
Tummy time is the time babies spend on their stomachs oppose to their back. Since the early ‘90s, doctors recommended that babies sleep on their backs to reduce the likelihood of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). However, never putting your baby on their stomach while they are awake can cause a delay in needed motor skills. When babies are put on their stomachs they are able to develop skills such as lifting their head, rolling over, sitting, balancing, crawling and walking. In a recent survey of 400 physical and occupational therapists, two-thirds said that over the past six years they have seen a delay of motor skill development in babies. Those surveyed cited the lack of tummy time as the main reason.
Newborn to 2 months:
Tummy time will help your infant develop better head control and upper body strength, while learning to lift their head and neck.
3 to 5 months:
As your baby gets stronger, he or she will be able to push up on their arms to play. This helps prepare your baby for sitting and crawling.
6 to 9 months:
Tummy time will enable your baby to crawl and explore his or her surroundings.
Babies should experience tummy time while being supervised.
Researchers are currently recruiting pregnant women for research that will follow 100,000 children from before birth until the age of 21.
This program is called the National Children’s Study and will be used to better understand a wide variety of children’s health factors.
The study is looking to explain the rising rates of:
Premature birth
Obesity
Cancer
Autism
Endocrine disorders
Behavior problems
The study will also examine:
Genetics
Child rearing practices
Geography
Exposure to chemicals
Nutrition
Pollution
It is a federally financed program that will cost $2.7 billion to the American taxpayer.
Participating mothers and children will be given periodic interviews and questionnaires and will be asked to submit blood, urine and hair samples. Tests will also be done on the air, water and dust from their environment.
Subjects will be chosen from 105 countries in order to achieve a mix of racial, ethnic, religious, social, cultural and geographic characteristics.
Is it safe to feed your baby? Well, maybe not if you are using plastic that contain bispheonol A (BPA). Many plastic containers are made of this polycarbonate, or lined with an epoxy that contains the chemical. It is used to harden plastics, keep bacteria from contaminating foods, and prevent cans from rusting.
However, not everyone is sure it’s safe.
The FDA recently released a statement saying:
The FDA agrees that, due to the uncertainties raised in some studies relating to the potential effects of low dose exposure to bisphenol A, additional research would be valuable. The FDA is already moving forward with planned research to address the potential low dose effects of bisphenol A, and we will carefully evaluate the findings of these studies.
Consumers should know that, based on all available evidence, the present consensus among regulatory agencies in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan is that current levels of exposure to BPA through food packaging do not pose an immediate health risk to the general population, including infants and babies.
Some think that BPA may have a negative affect on infants and children in their developmental phases of life
Animal studies have shown BPA exposure does affect glands that support or secrete hormone functions. Research in Canada has determined that exposure in newborns and infants up to 18-months is so low that it would not cause any health problems. Yet, to be on the cautious side the Canadian government is taken steps to restrict BPA.
Precautionary measures from the American Academy of Pediatircs:
• Avoid clear plastic bottles or containers with the recycling #7 and the letters “PC” imprinted on them. Many contain BPA
• Consider using certified or identified BPA-free plastic bottles
• Use bottles made of opaque plastic. These bottles (made of polyethylene or polypropylene) do not contain BPA
• Glass bottles can be an alternative, but be aware of the risk of injury to you or your baby if the bottle is dropped or broken
• Because heat may cause the release of BPA from plastic, consider the following:
Do not boil polycarbonate bottles
Do not heat microwave polycarbonate bottles
Do not wash polycarbonate bottles in the dishwasher
