Is the swine flu vaccine safe? The 2009 H1N1 vaccine isn’t really a new drug, any more than the regular (seasonal) flu vaccine is. That vaccine is made from scratch each year using the strains of influenza virus most likely to circulate in the coming season, and decades of evidence show that it’s quite safe and moderately effective (some years are better than others) at preventing cases of the flu. The H1N1 vaccine is just like the regular vaccine, except it contains the new virus that causes the swine flu. Learn more in the full Health blog post.
Swine flu: Who should get the vaccine? The swine flu is especially dangerous to children and pregnant women. While pregnant women make up only 1 percent of the population, they’ve accounted for 6 percent of deaths due to swine flu this year. Children, too, appear to be at a greater risk: Since May of this year, swine flu has killed at least 76 children, according to the CDC, and flu season probably hasn’t even peaked yet. Learn more in the full Health blog post.
Mercury and flu vaccines. Some formulations of the swine (H1N1) and seasonal flu vaccines contain thimerosal. Numerous studies have found no association between the mercury-containing preservative and autism or other health problems. But if you want to reduce your or your children’s overall exposure to mercury, manufacturers do offer H1N1and seasonal flu vaccines that contain no thimerosal. Learn more in the full Health blog post.
Green spaces are beneficial to children. Having few green areas nearby may increase the risk of depression and other health problems, a new study reports. Children (and some adult groups) in the study were especially likely to benefit from living near green spaces because they tend to spend more time close to home. Learn more in the full Health blog post.
Gardasil approved for preventing genital warts in males. The Food and Drug Administration has approved the Gardasil vaccine for preventing genital warts in boys and men, from ages 9 through 26. Gardasil was previously approved for the prevention of cervical cancer and genital warts in girls and women ages 9 through 26. Learn more in the full Health blog post.
Do you or someone you know need a flu vaccination? Click on one of the links to the local public health agencies below to get more information on when and where vaccinations will be available for your area:
Shasta: http://www.shastaflushots.com
Butte: http://www.buttecounty.net/publichealth/
Tehama: http://www.tchp.org/members/TCHA/PHWEB/publichealth6.html
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It's National School Bus Safety Week, and a good time to remember some essential safety tips on and around school buses.
Be aware of the bus danger zone. This is the area on all sides of the bus where children are in the most danger of being hit. Your child should stay as far away from the bus as possible unless he is boarding or exiting. At a minimum he should stay 10 feet away from the front and sides of the bus and should never walk behind it. Teach your kids to take five giant steps out from the front of the bus and then wait for the driver to signal that it’s OK to cross.
Move away from the bus carefully after exiting. Even though drivers are not supposed to pass a bus as children are leaving it, some still do. Your child needs to make sure that no cars are passing the bus before she moves away from it. After the bus driver signals that it’s OK to cross in front, your child should then look to her left and right to make sure no other vehicles are passing before she crosses the street.
Tell your child to take his time getting on or off the bus. He should never hurry. You don’t want him to trip and fall under, behind, or in front of the bus. And he should wait for the driver to signal that it’s OK to board. Children should board the bus one at a time.
Horseplay should not be allowed around the bus stop. It takes only a moment for a child to fall in front of or under a bus.
Never pick up something near a bus. Tell your child that no matter how important the item is, she should never bend down to pick it up. The driver can’t see herm and she could be hit by the bus or slip under it. If she drops something, she should tell the driver and let him or the bus monitor retrieve it.
Get more safety tips in Consumer Reports Guide to Childproofing and Safety guide.
Last week our son came home from school saying someone in his class had the Swine Flu. A couple of days later we learned that our friend had been “diagnosed” with it as well and had been confined to home for a week. What we have learned through the news, etc. is that it appears that medically, if you have the flu, they are calling it the swine flu since this is the prevelant strain going around this season.
Well…with our son home and coughing, with a sore throat and the chills, I decided to go online to the Center for Disease Control’s website at http://www.cdc.gov to find out exactly what the symptoms are and what to do if you think you may have contracted H1N1, the “Swine Flu”. They have a great printable flyer that might be good for workplaces, etc. around Redding that shows symptoms, what to do if you think you may have the virus, and how to keep from spreading the virus. To see and print the flyer just CLICK HERE!
Hope this helps someone and remember to carry antibacterial hand sanitizer in your pocket or purse to help keep you from contracting the virus!
You may have seen part 1 of childproofing you bathroom last Friday.
Here are more ways to keep your baby safe in the bathroom:
Prevent scalding water. You can reduce the risk of a burn by setting your water heater at 120 degrees F, or, if you live in an apartment building, ask the superintendent to do so. If the super can’t help, you can purchase an anti-scald device the screws into place between the shower pipe and showerhead. The device senses water temperature and blocks the flow if water becomes too hot. There are also anti-scald valves for the shower and tub that stop the flow by sensing water-pressure changes. These are best for new construction, but a plumber can use them to replace existing valves. To turn down the temperature on a gas water heater, look for the appropriate knob on the outside of the heater. For an electric water heater, twist the temperature control screw you’ll find behind one or two panels.
Place a spout cover over the bathtub faucet. These soft covers can prevent injury if your child accidentally knocks his head on the spout. They also protect your child from a hot spout and sharp edges. Some spout covers are soft plastic in the shape of an animal. Others are inflatable plastic printed with a kid-friendly design.
Buy bath mats and rugs with nonslip bottoms. Many mats can act like banana peels when placed on slippery bathroom floors, a hazard for adults and children alike. Place a nonslip bathmat immediately in front of the shower stall or bathtub. People of any age might sometimes have trouble finding their footing when exiting the bath or shower. And place a slip resistant mat in the shower stall or bathtub to give your little one (and the rest of the family) more grip.
Always empty the tub as soon as bath time is over. It takes only a second for a curious infant, toddler or older child to go fishing for that bath toy and fall into the tub.
7 things dirtier than money. Plenty of things are just as germy as the bills in our wallets and might also spread the swine flu virus. They include library books, bathroom door handles (cover the door handle with a paper towel before turning it), and public phone receivers. Also on the list? Grandkids. Parents tend to become immune to their children’s bugs through daily exposure, but not so for grandparents who take care of the darlings only sporadically. Learn the rest in the full Money blog post.
Is it ADHD, or something else? Most people think of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as screaming and climbing the walls. It can be difficult to untangle learning and attention problems from the emotional consequences of experiencing these issues. It’s important for parents and professionals alike not to jump to conclusions about what’s causing a child’s behavior. Learn more in the full Health blog post.
Put the brakes on uncontrolled vehicle acceleration. Our Cars blog reported recently that a floor mat recall came in response to a fatal accident in which a family of four was killed in California. A suspected cause of that crash was a floor mat that became lodged under the accelerator of the loaner Lexus the family was driving while its own car was being serviced. What can you do if this happens to you? See the full Safety blog post.
Minority children at higher risk of accidental death. Minority children are more likely to die from drowning, suffocation, and poisoning than white children. Blacks, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and Asian/Pacific Islanders are all affected. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently issued a report, which said that gaps in information collected in hospitals and listed on death certificates make it harder for the government to track how and why kids are being killed. Learn more in the full Safety blog post.
More headlines and recalls (see the full Safety blog post)Preventing childhood burn injuries (Time)Between 1990 and 2006, overall numbers of burn injuries among children dropped by 31 percent, but burn injuries are still disproportionately high among younger children. 430 Daiso wooden toys (choking hazard)130 Daiso children’s toys, purses and pen cases (lead paint)
Keep these safety tips in mind when choosing your child's costume this Halloween:
Buy costumes that fit. Don’t purchase ones that are flimsy, billowing, too big, o drag on the ground. Your child will be doing a lot of walking and might be climbing a lotof steps as well. You want to be sure her costume isn’t a tripping hazard and can’t get caught in Halloween candles.
Look for flame-resistant costumes. Make sure all parts of your child’s costume are flame resistant, including any masks and wigs. Polyester and nylon are oth flame-resistant materials but also look for the label “flame-resistant.”
Avoid dangerous accessories. Make sure that no part of your child’s costume—such as a sword, scepter, cane, or knife—is sharp. All should be made of a soft and flexible material. Some accessories can cause eye injuries and are best left at home. (Besides, you’d probably end up carrying your child’s sword, anyway.)
Check masks for proper visibility. Be sure your child tries on his mask before trick-or-treating. It should be secure and he should be able to breathe through it easily. The eyeholes should allow for full vision. Additional accessories such as scarves and hats should fit and be tied properly to avoid obstructing your child’s eyes.
Your princess doesn’t need heels. While high heels may make your child feel like a princess, keep them for dress-up rather than for Halloween night. She should wear shoes that fit well and are sturdy and comfortable.
Make you trick-or-treater visible to all. Choose bright- and light-colored costumes and clothing. You want to be sure motorists can see your child. Buy reflective tape at your hardware or sporting goods store and attach it to your child’s costume and candy sack. Give him a flashlight or glow stick to carry.
Learn more about halloween safety around the house and while trick-or-treating.
Sometimes the most enjoyable events can carry hidden hazards. Rituals for Halloween and other holidays might seem innocuous enough—until a billowy costume sends a child to the hospital.
Here are some crucial tips for a safe home—and safe outings—on Halloween.
Take care with candles. Place candles only in a nonflammable and heat-resistant container, at least a foot away from other materials. Keep them out of reach of children, definitely out of a child’s room, and put matches where kids can’t light candles after they’ve watched you do so. Never leave a burning candle unattended (especially with kids around) and put them out when you leave the room and before you go to sleep.
Keep kids and costumes away from jack-o’-lanterns, whether indoors or out. Your child needs to know that the candle inside a pumpkin is not a toy and can possibly set a costume on fire. Don’t leave a jack-o’-lantern that contains a burning candle unattended and keep it away from curtains, furniture, and other items that could ignite.
Make your lawn and front steps safe for trick-or-treaters. Remove obstacles and tripping hazards such as garden hoses and lawn ornaments. Sweep and remove leaves and make sure your front steps are well lit. Keep jack-o’-lanterns away from doorsteps and areas where children can brush up against them.
Accompany children under 12 when trick-or-treating. Pin a piece of paper with your child’s name, address, and phone number inside a pocket in case she gets separated from you. Remind her where the number is located and be sure she has access to it. Older children should always trick-or-treat with a group.
Give cell phones to kids who are old enough to trick-or-treat on their own. Program all your phone numbers into it, and make sure your child knows how to use it. Teach your child only to trick-or-treat at homes that are well-lit and never to enter the home of a stranger, or even the home of an acquaintance that they haven’t previously visited with you.
Get more practical child safety and childproofing tips in the Consumer Reports Guide to Childproofing and Safety.
What child safety tips do you recommend? Share your thoughts in comments.
Free family movie and popcorn at the Redding Library “story arena”. Most are rated “g”, some are “pg”…fun for the entire family! The fun begins at 4pm at 1100 Parkview Avenue in Redding, for more information call 530.245.7253.
Kids can rock out on a virtual stage playing guitar! Geared for teens but all kids are welcome and this weekly after school event is FREE courtesy of the Redding Library located at 1100 Parview Avenue in Redding. For more information call 530.245.7253.
