The Safety Mom Chronicles

Say "Boo" To The Flu

As I predicted, just a few weeks into the fall and my entire family has already had colds, stomach viruses or some variation.  While this is annoying, it's certainly not as problematic as when it develops into the flu.  In fact, according to the Centers For Disease Control, over 20,000 children under the age of 5 are hospitalized because of flu complications.  Unfortunately, many parents don't realize just how dangerous the flu can be.

 

I was just approached by a non-profit group, Families Fighting Flu, which is dedicated to educating parents about the severity of influenza and the importance of vaccinating children against the flu every year.  The group is comprised of families and health practitioners who have either experienced first hand the death of a child due to the flu or have had a child experience severe medical complications due to the flu.  As this new flu season comes upon us, they have teamed up with the Visiting Nurse Associations of America and Clorox to help families say say "boo!" to the flu and have a healthier cold and flu season.  The Say "Boo!" to the Flu program was created to help educate families on the importance of flu vaccination and other prevention tips to help scare the virus away this fall and winter. 

 

You can check out the site at www.saybootoflu.com and find some great tips on keeping your kids healthy as well as locations where you can get a flu shot.  I especially love the videos of the kids talking about getting shots!

 

 

The Safe Haven Law Shows Society Needs to Help Parents

This past Saturday another child was dropped off at a Nebraska hospital by his mother.   She drove all the way from Atlanta to abandon her son because she felt that she just could no longer take care of  him.  But this wasn't a young mother with a newborn.  This was a 12 year-old boy who had become too difficult for his family to handle.

How sad that parents are so desperate for help that they are resorting to abandoning their adolescent children.  What must be going through this boy's mind?  And will this effect his mother for the rest of her life?  I can't imagine the level of desperation she must have felt to come to this horrific decision. 

Lawmakers in Nebraska never dreamed that it would be teenagers who were being abandoned when they enacted the Safe Haven law.   Already 22 children have been left at hospitals in Nebraska since the law went into effect in July.  The majority are kids 12 and over.   Clearly this is pointing to a problem in our society - the lack of support for families with children facing emotional and mental issues.

Nebraska will be revising the law to only allow babies under 3 days old to be abandoned but is this the answer?   How many adolescents are being abandoned in their home towns because it's impossible for their parents to care for them? Some parents might consider these people monsters, but for anyone dealing with a child who has bipolar disorder or other serious mental issues they feel that they have no way out and no way of helping their children.  As a society we must reach out to other parents and offer support when situations appear overwhelming.   Whether it's acting as a sounding board, a shoulder to cry on or offering suggestions on support services we must all help. 

Tell me your thoughts...

Pirate's Cholocate Gold Coins Contains Melamine

Halloween is only a couple of days away and now we have another worry -  Melamine in candy.   Melamine is responsible for sickening thousands of babies in China and unfortunately causing several deaths.

Sold through Costco, Sherwood Brands Pirates Chocolate Gold Coins imported from China have been recalled throughout Canada.  Supposedly, none of these candies were imported here, but if you see any shiny chocolate gold coins in your child's pumpkin - you may want to toss them.

Are energy drinks safe for our kids?

Yesterday 100 scientists and physicians sent a letter to the Food & Drug Administration asking for more regulation of energy drinks.   These drinks - Red Bull, Rock Star and Monster to name a few - have cropped up all over and kids as young as 9 and 10 are drinking them.  I must admit that over the weekend I had one and it definitely sent my heart racing!

This group wants the FDA to list the amount of caffeine on the can and require warning labels.  Many parents believe that these drinks are the equivalent of a cup of coffee.  This alone is too much caffeine for young kids but many of these energy drinks have triple this amount of caffeine.  Someone who hasn't built up a tolerance to this amount of caffeine can end up with caffeine intoxication resulting in nervousness, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, tremors and rapid heart rate.  

We've become a culture and it's trickling down to our kids.  I regularly see a bunch of kids hanging out at my local Starbucks and I'm shocked how many of them are drinking Venti lattes.  Do your kids drink energy drinks?  Have you checked out the caffeine content? 

Should Flu Shots Be Mandatory?

Many parents in New Jersey are up in arms over their state's requirement for children to receive a flu shot before being allowed to enter pre-school or daycare.  So far New Jersey is the only state to require this vaccination.  Will other states follow suit?  Here are some facts from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding children and the flu:

• Each year an average of 20,000 children under the age of 5 are hospitalized because of flu complications

• During the 2007-08 flu season, CDC was notified of 86 child deaths due to flu-related complications

• Severe complications are most common in children younger than 2

• Children under the age of 5 more commonly need medical care for flu-related systems and complications

• Children with chronic health problems like asthma and diabetes are at especially high risk of developing serious complications

The CDC is recommending that all children over 6 months of age get vaccinated as well as all cargivers for children under the age of six months. 

If you have questions, consult with your pediatrician.  My pediatrician's office is highly recommending the shot for all kids over 6 months of age that are at high risk for serious complications.  Otherwise, they say it is a personal choice.  

Let me know your thoughts and what your doctor is saying.

My Night At The Windflower Ball

The other night, I had the honor of attending a very special event - The Windflower Ball.  This is the annual fund raiser that First Candle www.firstcandle.com hosts to raise money for research into Sudden Death Syndrome (SIDS.)  While it's always a fun evening, it's also bittersweet as I always regret that I am participating in the first place.   There are so many SIDS families in attendance - there is definitely a sense of camaraderie but it's a club that no one wants to belong to.

Two very special companies were honored - Halo Innovations - www.halosleep.com and Regal Lager www.regallager.com.  Both organizations have been extremely supportive of First Candle.  In fact the founder of Halo is a SIDS dad and was inspired to create a safe sleeping blanket for babies.  This wearable blanket has now become a staple in many homes. 

Super model and activist Emme was recognized for her work on behalf of children and women.  You can check out more of what she's doing and her passion for getting families to go green at www.emmestyle.com. 

During SIDS Awareness Month I encourage everyone to make a donation to First Candle on behalf of your own children as well as those who unfortunately never reached their first birthdays.

Halloween Tips on Treats and Safety

Halloween candy can put you and your child in a sticky situation when it comes to their teeth and braces.  It comes as no surprise that the days following Halloween are the busiest of the year for orthodontists.

There are safe alternatives to the traditional Halloween candy.  Hand out stickers, temporary tattoos, pretzels or fruit roll ups.  Stay away from the caramels or gummies as they get caught in braces and hard to reach areas, causing cavities from the lengthy exposure to teeth.  Hard candies can cause chips or cracks in their teeth not to mention the removal of brackets from braces.

Remind your child not to eat anything that they receive until they return home and it can be checked.  Anything that is not in an original wrapper should be thrown out.  Be careful that candy is not shared with younger siblings - items with nuts, caramel and raisins as well as hard candy and popcorn are all choking hazards for children under the age of five.

And, it is very important to have your children brush and rinse immediately after eating any Halloween candy.

As a way to celebrate Halloween and educate us as parents.  October has been named National Orthodontic Health Month.  This year the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) has teamed up with celebrity chef and author Michael Chiarello to provide braces-friendly Halloween recipes.  Check them out at http://www.braces.org/nohm-mom/.

No Cold or Flu Medicine for Kids Under 4 -- Is this enough?

As if last year's warnings about the dangers of giving cold medicine to kids wasn't confusing enough, the drug companies have just released a new warning advising parents not to give cold and flu medicine to children under the age of 4.  The expands from last year's recommendation for kids under 2.  If the FDA had their way - along with the majority of pediatricians - this warning would be extended to children six years of age and even as high as 12.

According to doctors, there is no proof that these medicines actually speed up the recovery process and there is definite evidence of the risks and side effects.  Needless to say the pharmaceutical companies have a vested interest in compromising and increasing the warning to children up to age 4 - this way they can still keep the 5-12 year old set.

But, do we really want to wait for the warning next year if our children currenlty fall in this age group?  Similiar to many other issues in which we hear that something is safe for our children only to find out years later that there were dangerous side effects, it's up to us to rely on our own better judgement and lead the way.

In addition we are being advised to NEVER:

• Give adult medicine to a child
• Give two or more medicines with the same ingredients at the same time
• Give antihistamines to make a child sleepy

If medicines are being used in the house be sure to:

• Give the exact recommended dose, using the measuring device that comes with the medicine
• Keep OTC medicines out of sight and out of reach
• Consult your doctor with questions

Many moms have e-mailed me wondering whether this includes fever reducing and pain reducing medication as well - it does not!  Within the recommended dosages, pediatricians feel that ibuprofens and acetaminophens such as Motrin and Tylenol are safe.

 

Is Our Stress During The Economic Crisis Affecting Our Kids?

 Just because the bailout has been approved doesn't mean that our problems are solved.  In fact, for many families, the financial crisis will continue to get worse as more people are laid off.  And it's hard not to allow the stress we're feeling to spill over into our family life.  Our kids are witnessing us losing our temper and fighting with our spouse and, without a doubt, it's affecting them.  I spoke with Dr. Stacey Radin,  a clinical psychologist, on ways that we can help keep things in perspective and talk to our kids about what's going on:

• Be a positive role model.  In times of adversity, we need to communicate to our kids that, no matter what is going on with the exception of serious health problems, we can overcome any obstacle and at times become stronger.

• Consider your priorities.  While losing a job is a terrible thing, sometimes it allows us the time to reconnect with our family.  Many people become so wrapped up in their job and their Blackberries that they've missed out on precious time with their kids.  Take a minute to breathe and enjoy some quality family time.

• Keep it in perspective.  At times, our problems seem insurmountable but we've been through crises and tragedy before - the depression, recessions, war and, most recently, 9/11.    What gets us through is reconnecting to values, our purpose and important relationships around us.

• The important things last.  This is an opportunity to teach our children that, no matter what, there are things that can never be taken away from us - our values, our family, our education, our friends.  We need to hold on to what is dear to us as we struggle to innovate and fix our problems.

As with any crisis, it helps to know that we're not alone and we can teach our children to lean on others for support.