DOCSLIB.ORG

Health Matters Online

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Health Matters Online J u n e 2 0 1 6 Welcome to our June issue of Health Matters Online. You may be surprised to learn that preventable injuries kill more CHILDPROOFING YOUR HOME. children every year than any other disease. The good news is PLAY SAFE! there are easy steps we can all take to keep children safe. In NEVER LEAVE A CHILD ALONE IN A recognition of Safe Kids Week (May 30-June 5th) this issue is VEHICLE all about safety at home, at play and on the road. KEEP KIDS SAFE ON THE ROAD SOURCES AND WHERE TO GO FOR MORE INFO S i g n u p / Unsubscribe Get Health Matters Online delivered right to your inbox! Send us an email to sign up or to suggest a topic you'd like to see in an upcoming issue. [email protected] If you would like to stop receiving our newsletter you may unsubscribe at any time. CHILDPROOFING YOUR HOME Children learn and change quickly and parents may find themselves both amazed and overwhelmed by how much they need to know (and do) to keep their children safe. Childproofing your home helps create a safer environment. Childproofing is an ongoing process that involves removing as many hazards as possible. How to childproof? Get right down on the floor and crawl around on your hands and knees at your child's level. This will help you see dangerous things that may get your toddler's attention. Check for: Small objects that could be swallowed and cause choking. If it's small enough to fit through the cardboard tube inside a toilet paper roll, it is a choking hazard. Any potential poisons or hazards within reach. Medications, vitamins, alcohol, drugs, cleaning supplies and personal care products and certain houseplants can be poisonous to children. Keep these items locked up, out of sight, and out of reach. Cover electrical outlets with child-proof covers. Cords, strings, or ribbons longer than 15 cm (6 in.). Cords on blinds and drapes should be removed or tied up so your child cannot reach them, even when he climbs on the furniture. Drawstrings on clothing can also be very dangerous. Remove all hood and neck strings from your child's clothes. Drawstrings can get caught on things like the corner posts of a crib or playground equipment. Large or heavy items that could be pulled down on top of them. Examples include aquariums, animal cages, electronics and small appliances. For more information check out parachute.ca. PLAY SAFE! The nice weather is here and it's time to go outside and play! Community playgrounds are a great place for your toddler to run, climb and swing. They also get a chance to meet and learn to play with other children. Healthy Families BC offers up some great advice to keep the experience safe: The equipment: Make sure the playground equipment is in good condition, well anchored, and the right size and height for your toddler. If your toddler can't reach the equipment without help, it's too big. Children younger than five should use playgrounds designed for preschoolers. The equipment should be no more than 1.5 metres (five feet) high. Make sure the equipment doesn't have sharp points, corners, hooks, or joints that could catch clothing. Look for guardrails, barriers and soft seats. These all help prevent injuries. The grounds Look for playgrounds with lots of space around the equipment. Playgrounds with sand, wood chips or synthetic materials on the ground are safest. Teach playground safety: Always accompany your toddler to the playground and provide proper supervision. Playground falls are a major cause of serious injuries. Teach your toddler not to cross the path of a moving swing. Check the temperature of a metal slide with your hand. A metal slide standing in the sun can get hot enough to burn the skin. Playing is fun and we all need to play more. Check out Bring Back Play for more play information and inspiration. For more information on playground safety see Healthy Families BC. NEVER LEAVE A CHILD ALONE IN A VEHICLE Hot cars are dangerous places for children. Even on days that may seem relatively mild, it takes only minutes for the inside of a vehicle to reach extreme temperatures. Children are especially sensitive to heat exposure. When exposed to heat, a child's body temperature rises much faster than an adult in the same conditions putting them at risk of heat-related illness which can result in seizures, unconsciousness, organ failure, and even death. Cars heat up fast! When the outside temperature is 34°C (93°F), temperatures inside a vehicle can rise to 52°C (125°F) within 20 minutes. Leaving the car windows slightly open will not keep the inside of the vehicle at a safe temperature. Always look before you leave. Children are sometimes left in cars completely by accident. This can happen when caregivers are distracted, tired, or when there is a change from daily routine. Here are few things that can help make sure no one gets left behind: Make a habit of checking that all occupants (people and pets) are out of the vehicle before locking and leaving. Lock your vehicle using your key, rather than a remote. Use the time it takes to lock with a key to look inside and make sure no one is left behind. Put your child's bags and other items in the front seat. With a child's belongings in plain sight, it is much easier to remember that he/she is in the car with you. If you have several kids and/or pets in the car, do a head count before you close the door to make sure everyone is out when you reach your destination. Help prevent these tragedies. One Decision is a powerful film that aims to prevent child injuries or death from vehicular heat stroke. The film is a re-enactment and no one was harmed during the making of the film. Share this film with others to help raise awareness about this important issue. KEEP KIDS SAFE ON THE ROAD When used correctly, car seats, booster seats, and seat belts, play an important role in keeping children safe and sound while traveling. Some tips to keep in mind when looking for a car seat or a booster seat: Be sure to buy your child safety seat or booster seat in Canada. Only seats bought in Canada are legal for use here. Look for the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards label on the side of the seat. Avoid buying used seats. Seats that have been involved in accidents are no longer safe to use. Be aware of the seat's expiry date. Properly dispose of expired car seats by cutting the straps so they are no longer usable. Try out a car or booster seat before you buy it. Have your child sit in the seat first to make sure it is the best fit for their height and weight, and for your vehicle. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions to ensure you install and use the child safety seat correctly. There are several different types of car seats available and each is designed for a specific purpose. Knowing a child's height and weight before purchasing a car seat is important. Make sure your infant or child is in a proper car seat for their weight and height on everytrip, even short ones. Accidents can happen anytime. For more information: Parachute Canada Transport Canada Sources and where to get more information Interior Health - Search for Health Centres under "location type" Interior Health Healthy Families BC Parachute Canada This e-newsletter is an Interior Health project to provide quick and easy health tips for new parents and caregivers of children ages 0 to 2 years. Your comments and topic suggestions are welcome! Simply email us at: [email protected]. For more info or to attend a free child health clinic, contact your local Public Health Centre. You can find contact info online at: www.interiorhealth.ca or look it up under Interior Health in the blue pages of your local phone book. Sincerely, Interior Health Authority .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Results of the National Child Restraint Use Special Study
    DOT HS 812 142 May 2015 Results of the National Child Restraint Use Special Study This publication is distributed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in the interest of information exchange. The opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Department of Transportation or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The United States Government assumes no liability for its contents or use thereof. If trade or manufacturers’ names or products are mentioned, it is because they are considered essential to the object of the publication and should not be construed as an endorsement. The United States Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Suggested APA Format Reference: Greenwell, N. K. (2015, May). Results of the national child restraint use special study. (Report No. DOT HS 812 142). Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient’s Catalog No. DOT HS 812 142 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date Results of the National Child Restraint Use Special Study May 2015 6. Performing Organization Code 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. Nathan K. Greenwell 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) Office of Vehicle Safety National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 11. Contract or Grant No. Washington, DC 20590 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA Technical Report 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE. 14. Sponsoring Agency Code Washington, DC 20590 15.
    [Show full text]
  • Bright Futures Parent Handout 4 Month Visit Here Are Some Suggestions from Bright Futures Experts That May Be of Value to Your Family
    Bright Futures Parent Handout 4 Month Visit Here are some suggestions from Bright Futures experts that may be of value to your family. How Your Family Is Doing Safety Playtime • Take time for yourself. • Use a rear-facing car safety seat in the back • Learn what things your baby likes and does • Take time together with your partner. seat in all vehicles. not like. • Spend time alone with your other children. • Always wear a seat belt and never drive after • Encourage active play. • Encourage your partner to help care for your using alcohol or drugs. • Offer mirrors, floor gyms, and colorful toys baby. • Keep small objects and plastic bags away to hold. • Choose a mature, trained, and responsible from your baby. • Tummy time—put your baby on his tummy when awake and you can watch. babysitter or caregiver. • Keep a hand on your baby on any high DEVELOPMENT INFANT • You can talk with us about your child care surface from which she can fall and be hurt. • Promote quiet play. choices. • Prevent burns by setting your water heater • Hold and talk with your baby. FAMILY FUNCTIONING FAMILY • Hold, cuddle, talk to, and sing to your baby SAFETY so the temperature at the faucet is 120°F or • Read to your baby often. each day. lower. Crying • Massaging your infant may help your baby go • Do not drink hot drinks when holding your • Give your baby a pacifier or his fingers or to sleep more easily. baby. thumb to suck when crying. • Never leave your baby alone in bathwater, • Get help if you and your partner are in Healthy Teeth conflict.
    [Show full text]
  • Ride Safe Program Guide
    Phoenix 2020-2021 Area Ride Indian Safe Program Health Service Injury Prevention Program 2020-2021 RIDE SAFE PROGRAM GUIDE 2020-2021 Ride Safe Program RIDE SAFE PROGRAM Dear Ride Safe Coordinator: On behalf of the Phoenix Area Indian Health Service (IHS) Injury Prevention Program, I am pleased to present the 2020-2021 Ride Safe Guide, a curriculum for the 2020-2021 Ride Safe Pilot Project. The goal of the Ride Safe Program is to reduce motor vehicle crash-related injuries among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children in Tribal communities by promoting motor vehicle child safety seat use. As a participant, you will receive your requested number of child safety seats, this guide and technical support from the Injury Prevention Program. The purpose of this program is to identify effective ways to promote child safety seat usage in AI/AN communities. We will be measuring the announcement, application, and implementation process of the program. The information gathered during this project will help shape future Child Passenger Safety activities conducted by our program. Contact your local District Injury Prevention Coordinator with any questions or concerns: Andrea Tsatoke Martin Stephens Isaac Ampadu Eastern Arizona District Office Reno District Office Western Arizona District Office [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 928-537-0578 775-856-6072 480-592-0091 Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we strongly encourage adhering to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance by exercising physical distancing and the use of personal protective equipment such as facial covering.
    [Show full text]
  • Baby, I've Got My Eye on You!
    Baby, I’ve Got My Eye On You! Home Safety Guide for Parents of Newborns to Five-Year-Olds from the Pennsylvania Department of Health These groups helped develop this guide: Center for Schools and Communities Child Abuse Prevention Committee of Central Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Department of Health Penn State Cooperative Extension Safe Kids Dauphin County Safe Kids Pennsylvania This project is supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). November 2011 A Mother’s Story “One night, my infant son was sitting on my lap while we had company. Everyone wanted to see the baby. My sister-in-law made me a cup of hot tea. “This was a really freaky accident. He was on my lap, and I picked up the tea cup to take a drink. My baby bumped the cup and hot tea fell right on him. “I never saw so many people react so quickly! They had the baby under the kitchen sink faucet with cold water ... they took his shirt off ... before I knew what had happened. Thanks to quick action, he never had a scar or anything.” This mom was lucky because her baby was not hurt. Most babies would have been burned. /V^JV\SK[OPZHJJPKLU[ILWYL]LU[LK&7SLHZLYLHK[OPZN\PKL[VÄUK[OLHUZ^LY Injuries are the leading cause of death to children under age 15. Injuries happen often, yet they can be prevented. Contents Ask the Doctor .................................. 2 The best thing you can do is watch over your child.
    [Show full text]
  • A Million Messages (AMM) Quick Reference Sheet Postpartum Home Visit and Well Child Visits
    A Million Messages (AMM) Quick Reference Sheet Postpartum Home Visit and Well Child Visits HPHC Early Years Resource Additional AMM Child Development Factors Key Safety Messages for Parents Web and Print Resources Postpartum home visit Rear-facing Car Seats Web – Car Seats and Booster Take the Rear-facing Car Seat A rear-facing car seat provides Proper use of a rear-facing child safety seat is required by law. Seats YES Test the best crash protection for a A child is safest in a rear-facing car seat until they are at least 2 years old or Print - Car seats and Booster baby’s heavy head and weak reach the maximum weight or height limit for the rear-facing seat (as stated by seats (pp 123-131) neck and back muscles. the manufacturer). Properly install the car seat in your vehicle and buckle up your child correctly every time. Install the car seat correctly by following child safety seat instructions and vehicle owner’s manual. All babies cry. There are times Coping with Crying Web - When Your Baby Cries The Crying Plan crying cannot be soothed. All babies cry. It is more important to stay calm than to stop the crying. Plan Print - When Your Baby ahead for how you will cope when the crying gets to be too much. It’s OK to ask Cries (pp. 233) for help. Never shake a baby for any reason. Babies spend a lot of time Safe Sleep Web - Safe Sleep AHS Safe Sleep Brochure sleeping. Some sleep Always put your baby on his/her back to sleep in a crib, cradle or bassinet that Print - Safe Sleep (pp.
    [Show full text]
  • Maryland Kids in Safety Seats (K.I.S.S.)
    MARYLAND KIDS IN SAFETY SEATS (K.I.S.S.) About KISS Since the 1980s, Maryland Kids in Safety Seats (KISS) has been the state's lead agency in child passenger safety. KISS is housed in the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and funded by the Department of Transportation. Our mission is to help reduce the number of needless injuries and deaths by educating the public on child passenger safety. The goal of KISS is to help people use safety seats correctly each time a child rides in a car. KISS works to achieve these goals by: Educating the public on the state's child passenger safety law Offering literature and program materials for Maryland residents Providing training and technical assistance in child passenger safety throughout the state NewsNotes KISS produces a newsletter called NewsNotes, which discusses issues and challenges within child passenger safety. The newsletter includes new product information, safety seat recalls, as well as program updates. It also keeps readers abreast of the many nuances within the field. Contact us, if you would like to be added to our mailing list. KISS Rents Safety Seats, Too! KISS coordinates loaner sites throughout the state which offer seats at a low cost to families who otherwise can't afford them. Call KISS to locate a program in your area: 1-800-370-SEAT or (410) 767- 6016. KISS Helpline (1-800-370-SEAT) KISS provides a helpline to the public. Contact KISS to find out: types of safety seats available how to properly install safety seats about safety seats and air bags seatbelt safety tips safety seat recalls how to schedule a training, presentation, or seat check KISS email: [email protected] KISS online: www.mdkiss.org IMPORTANT NOTE! As of October 1, 2003, Maryland’s Child Passenger Safety Law requires all children who are younger than 6 years old, regardless of weight, or who weigh 40 pounds or less, regardless of age, to be secured in a federally approved child safety seat according to the safety seat and vehicle manufacturer’s instructions.
    [Show full text]
  • One Minute Safety Seat Checklist
    One Minute Safety Seat Checklist Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/ChilSS/OneMinuteChecklist/Index.html Using a safety seat correctly makes a big difference. A child safety seat may not protect a child in a crash if it isn’t used correctly and installed properly in your vehicle. Take a minute to Check To Be Sure... All children age 12 and under should ride properly restrained in the back seat!!! Never place a child safety seat in the front seat where a front mounted passenger air bag is present. Do You Have and Understand the Instructions? Always read the child seat use and installation instruction manual. Read your vehicle owner’s manual seat belt and child seat installation section. Does Your Child Ride in the Correct Safety Seat? Infants, from birth to about age one, and at least 20 pounds should ride in the back seat in a rear facing safety seat. Harness straps should be at or below the infant’s shoulders. Harness straps should fit snugly. The straps should lie in a relatively straight line without sagging. The harness chest clip should be placed at the infant’s armpit level. This keeps the harness straps positioned properly. Infants weighing 20 pounds or more before one year should ride in a safety seat rated for heavier infants (some convertible seats are rated up to 30-35 pounds rear facing). Children over one year and at least 20 pounds may ride forward facing in the back seat. Children should ride in a safety seat with full harness until they weigh about 40 pounds.
    [Show full text]
  • Safety Seat Smarts Choosing and Using the Best Safety Seat for Your Child
    Safety Seat Smarts Choosing and using the best safety seat for your child Safety Seat Tips Important Reminders for Every Parent . All safety seats and vehicles are different, so read . If a safety seat is more than 6 years old or has been . Children under age 13 should ride buckled up in and follow the safety seat’s instructions and your involved in a crash, replace it according to the the back seat. vehicle owner’s manual to make sure your child’s manufacturer’s instructions. safety seat is properly installed. Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, even . There are two ways to install safety seats in a for a short period of time. The most common mistake people make when vehicle—with either a vehicle’s safety belts or the installing a safety seat is not getting a tight fit. To LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether for Children) correct this problem, use one hand to press down system. The LATCH system has metal anchors in the child safety seat while you use your other hand the vehicle (where the seat cushion meets the seat to pull on the safety belts or lower anchor straps back) and top tether anchors (see your owner’s that hold it in place. manual). Attach connectors to metal anchors, and connect tether straps to tether anchors. Rear-Facing Seats or For the best protection, keep infants in the back seat, in rear-facing child safety seats, as long as possible up to Stage 1 the height or weight limit of the particular safety seat.
    [Show full text]
  • Child Safety Seat Counseling: Three Keys to Safety FRANCES BIAGIOLI, M.D., Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon
    Child Safety Seat Counseling: Three Keys to Safety FRANCES BIAGIOLI, M.D., Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon The number one cause of death for children younger than 14 years is vehicular injury. Child safety seats and automobile safety belts protect children in a crash if they are used correctly, but if a child does not fit in the restraint correctly, it can lead to injury. A child safety seat should be used until the child correctly fits into an adult seat belt. It is important for physicians caring for children to know what child safety seats are available and which types of seats are safest. Three memory keys will help guide appropriate child safety seat choice: (1) Backwards is Best; (2) 20-40-80; and (3) Boost Until Big Enough. “Backwards is Best” cues the physician that infants are safest in a head-on crash when they are facing backward. “20-40-80” reminds the physician that chil- dren may need to transition to a different seat when they reach 20, 40, or 80 lb. “Boost Until Big Enough” emphasizes that children need to use booster seats until they are big enough to fit properly into an adult safety belt. (Am Fam Physician 2005;72:473-8,479-80. Copyright© 2005 American Academy of Family Physicians.) Patient information: utomobile crashes are the lead- when (1) the lap belt portion is low and tight A handout on car safety ing cause of death for children across the hips or upper thighs; (2) the shoul- for your child, written by the author of this article, younger than 14 years, but safety der portion crosses the midsternum and the is provided on page 479.
    [Show full text]
  • Primary Care Counseling About the Proper Use of Motor Vehicle Occupant Restraints and Alcohol Use to Prevent Injury: U
    Counseling about Proper Use of Motor Vehicle Occupant Restraints and Avoidance of Alcohol Use to Prevent Injury: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) makes recommendations about preventive care services for patients without recognized signs or symptoms of the target condition. It bases its recommendations on a systematic review of the evidence of the benefits and harms and an assessment of the net benefit of the service. The USPSTF recognizes that clinical or policy decisions involve more considerations than this body of evidence alone. Clinicians and policy-makers should understand the evidence but individualize decision-making to the specific patient or situation. Introduction Over the past decade, legislation and enforcement have contributed substantially to the increasing trends in the use of child safety seats and safety belts. This high prevalence of their use in the US is considered a public health success. The 1996 USPSTF recommendation addressed primary care interventions to increase the use of these restraints. This current recommendation focuses on the independent role of primary care interventions to increase the proper use of child safety seats, booster seats, and lap-and-shoulder belts (that is, safety belts that include straps across both the lap and shoulder) to prevent motor vehicle occupant injuries (MVOIs). This recommendation also addresses the effectiveness of primary care counseling to prevent alcohol-related MVOI in adolescents and adults. (Figure; Tables 1 and 2). Summary of Recommendations and Evidence Recommendation 1: Counseling about Proper Use of Motor Vehicle Occupant Restraints to Prevent MVOIs The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the incremental benefit, beyond the efficacy of legislation and community based interventions, of counseling in the primary care setting, in improving rates of proper use of motor vehicle occupant restraints (child safety seats, booster seats and lap-and- shoulder belts).
    [Show full text]
  • Newborn to 12 Months 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Car Safety for Your Baby Car Safety Begins with Your Baby’S First Ride Home from the Hospital
    25 24 23 22 21 Visits with 20 19 You and 18 17 Your Baby 16 Newborn to 12 Months 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Car Safety FOR YOUR BAby Car safety begins with your baby’s first ride home from the hospital. Pennsylvania state law requires that babies and toddlers ride in an ap- proved child safety seat. A child safety seat can save your child’s life, Vaccinations but it’s important to use it correctly. FOR YOUR BAby ◆ Always read and follow your vehicle owner’s manual and your car seat instruction manual carefully. Your baby needs to have ◆ Babies should ride facing the back of the car until they are at least shots to protect him from 1 year old and weigh at least 20 pounds. Small, lightweight infant- some diseases. Your baby only seats are designed to face only the rear. will get his first shot, the ◆ You can also use a convertible car seat, which is designed to fit Hepatitis B vaccine, be- children from birth to about 40 pounds. (Note: some car seats have fore leaving the hospital. a starting weight of 5 pounds.) You can turn the seat around to face Then he will need shots the front when your baby is at least 1 year old and weighs at least 20 pounds. every couple of months. ◆ The safest place for any child safety seat is in the back seat of the This is when your baby car. Never put a rear-facing child safety seat in the front seat of a needs to be vaccinated: car with a passenger-side air bag.
    [Show full text]
  • Project SAFE CHILD the District Department of Transportation Child Safety Belt Program
    SAFE CHILD PROJECT SAFE CHILD THE DISTRICT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Child Safety Belt Program BUCKLE UP – Every Trip, Every Time! PROJECTSAFE CHILD IT’S DC LAW: • DC’s Child Restraint Amendment Act of 2002 requires that TAKE ADVANTAGE OF children less than eight years old must be properly seated in an installed infant, toddler or booster child safety seat, and PROJECT SAFE-CHILD booster seats must be used with both a lap and shoulder belt. • DC law requires that all children ages 8 and older, as well as all adults – both driver and passengers, wear seat belts at The District of Columbia Government has all times. made it easier for District residents to protect their families. Project Safe-Child BUCKLE THEM INTO CHILD CAR SEATS is a child safety seat program for residents • Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among of the District of Columbia. The purpose children ages 2 to 14, mainly due to the nonuse or improper of this program is to provide DC residents use of child seats and seat belts. infant, toddler, and booster seats, at a • Every day, 5 children under 14 are killed and 548 injured in motor vehicle crashes. reduced rate, information, and educational • The proper use of child car seats is one of the simplest and materials on properly buckling in children. most effective methods available for protecting their lives. Your only requirement is to be a current PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN DC resident. Bring proper identification, • There are over 70 different types of child car seats on the such as a valid DC Driver’s License or market today.
    [Show full text]