Kids and Household Chemicals: How to Avoid a Trip to the ER

Last updated on December 27th, 2018 at 12:26 pm

How many of us here are guilty of wanting a clean home? Or a clean classroom for our children? Or even a clean car? Please raise your hands. I am hoping that all of you raised your hands and said I do I do. Keeping the areas that your children live in and frequent clean and as germ-free as possible is an obsession of just about every parent I know. We use hand sanitizer every time we touch or think we may have touched something and we use sanitizing wipes to wipe down every surface that our kids touch and then we wipe down our kids. It’s a never ending cycle. The bottom line being that we want our kids areas clean. There is nothing wrong with having these areas clean but aside from living in a bubble, this means that you are going to have to clean and this inevitably means using some form of chemical or chemicals and that is where the danger starts.

According to Yahoo Health and Wellness, more than 7 million accidental poisonings occur each year and 75% of those involve children under age 6. Injuries vary from minor such as itching or irritation to more severe injuries such as breathing difficulties, internal injuries and sometimes even death. Household poisonings typically involve medicines, household products and cosmetics that were left out, unlocked and easily accessible. Some of the packaging and labels on these products is very close in color and animation to some of the foods our kids love to eat and is many times confused as a snack or drink when it is in fact a chemical such as glass cleaner. The whole key to trying to avoid these terrible situations is prevention. A little planning now can make all the difference later.

Some Poison Prevention Tips:

• Keep medicines and chemicals out of sight and reach of children, preferably in a locked cupboard or childproof chemical lock box.
• Wherever possible, buy products in child resistant containers
• Always store chemicals in their original containers
• Dispose of unwanted medicines and chemicals safely
• Never store chemicals near Food to avoid possible confusion.
• Write this down and memorize it: Poison Control 1-800-222-1222

What if I am unsure about what has happened and need help? I will tell you what I tell everyone who has a “what if” question about injuries. Call 911. The dispatchers can help you while the emergency crew is on the way and may even be in contact with poison control at the same time.

Kids are naturally curious and explore every nook and cranny of their homes and will unfortunately find anything you have left lying about or unlocked. While we cannot stop every injury from household items we can lessen the blow by spending some time on prevention and educating our children as to what is safe and what is not.

Child Health & Safety News 12/17: Sesame Street Muppet is Homeless

Last updated on December 27th, 2018 at 12:24 pm

In this week’s Child Health News: Parents and kids needed a better asthma test; thanks to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, it’s here bit.ly/2RZXb1J

Welcome to Pediatric Safety’s weekly “Child Health & Safety News Roundup”- a recap of the past week’s child health and safety news headlines from around the world. Each day we use social media to communicate relevant and timely health and safety information to the parents, medical professionals and caregivers who follow us. Occasionally we overlook something, but overall we think we’re doing a pretty good job of keeping you informed. Still, quite a bit happens every day – so to make sure you don’t miss anything, we offer you a recap of this week’s top 15 events & stories.

• Recently, the National Institutes of Health researchers presented initial findings from the brain scans of 4,500 participants. Here’s what we know so far about kids and screens:  yourteenmag.com/technology/kid… 2018-12-16
• What’s Medicaid Got to Do With Early Childhood Development? bit.ly/2CftsMV  2018-12-16
• Emotional Competency, Communication, And Bullying In Adolescent Technology Use bit.ly/2ULkOg6 2018-12-15
• Childhood inflammatory brain disease linked to poorer health-related quality of life bit.ly/2RXDxTZ 2018-12-14
• The Best 3 Holiday Gifts for Families with Allergies bit.ly/2EgYXrn 2018-12-14
• How an Orlando school used telehealth to stop scabies outbreak bit.ly/2Qvnpwy 2018-12-14

PedSafe Child Health & Safety News Headline of the Week

‘Sesame Street’ Muppet Lily is first to experience homelessness. The hope is that Lily’s story can not only reach kids who can identify with her, but also help others have greater empathy. cnn.it/2C7rZIz  ~1 in 20 children < 6YO experienced homelessness in 2014-15

• Pediatric Experts Help Families Navigate Difficult Conversations About Health and Illness During the Holidays bit.ly/2EgQ7K1 2018-12-12
• Trouble With Self-Regulation: What You Need to Know u.org/2rueI6A 2018-12-12
• 2018 CNN Hero of the Year cnn.it/2Qqf9O2 For Dr. Ricardo Pun-Chong, being a physician isn’t just about treating patients — it’s about how you care for their families 2018-12-11
• Sex education needs to evolve to keep pace with trends like sexting, experts say ab.co/2G8jD7t Research published this year suggests one in seven teenagers have sent explicit texts and one in four have received them 2018-12-11
• Parents urged to reconsider artificial sweetener for kids bit.ly/2RPxXTL The report found that artificial sweeteners—previously linked to weight gain in children—may actually be stimulating children’s appetites and leading to overconsumption 2018-12-11
• In Remote Villages, Surprising New Measures – rapid diagnostic tests, a suppository drug and a bicycle ambulance – Save Children With Malaria nyti.ms/2QrPBjR 2018-12-10
• How to Foster Empathy in Children nyti.ms/2B755PI 2018-12-10
• No change to how Child Protective Services handles parent marijuana use bit.ly/2EcAxzj 2018-12-10
• Why You Should Not Give Milk to a Child on an Antibiotic bit.ly/2LblgAc 2018-12-10

The Best 3 Holiday Gifts for Families with Allergies

Last updated on December 27th, 2018 at 12:24 pm

Each year, many of us are stressed during the holidays trying to figure out what to get for others. When a person has allergies, this can make it even trickier to find a gift that will also keep them safe. The last thing that anyone strives to do is to give a gift that will be linked to a negative memory. Holidays are very often focused on food however; a gift can be many things. This year, why not think beyond what we can share on our plate. Here are my top three holiday picks that are all allergy-friendly, budget-friendly and even come with a mission to help others:

1. Veta Smart Case & App – This is, in my opinion, allergy worries meets digital technology. This device reminds those with food allergies to bring their auto injectors with them. Utilizing Bluetooth technology, these electronic cases offer immediate notifications whenever the person who should be carrying epinephrine forgets it, goes too far without it, has it in the wrong temperature and more. It’s like having someone following you around, tapping you on the shoulder and telling you that you need to make sure your epinephrine is  cared for to keep yourself prepared. The Veta Smart Case app has the ability to set up multiple user profiles to strengthen your support circle and it even has a visual aid to help someone administer epinephrine if it is needed. The Veta Smart Case can be found on Amazon . This is a gift that will allow those with food allergies to LIVE with food allergies.
2. Land of Not– Having food allergies can make us forget the positive side of life. This book is one of the newest ways to share your passion for helping while teaching children that food allergies is not about who they are with the allergy, but rather who they can be with the allergy. This book is part of a national campaign to raise food allergy awareness, bring people together while they are reading and learning and includes a mission to share this book in schools everywhere. The book is subtly humorous in its setup while being very kid-friendly, making it a must-have for people of all ages. Purchase a book to donate at a school near you, read it in your child’s class or keep a copy for your personal library. You can order Land of Not right on the Land of Can Whichever you decide, this book is an amazing gift option that will be perfect for reading together.
3. Backpack Health – Because so many of us are spending more and more of our time on electronic devices, why not put all of what we really need at our fingertips? Think of this app as your health empowering you to have all of your medical history in one spot while also having the ability to engage in true to life research for multiple health issues. Backpack Health gives you the ability to download all of your personal health information while also doing the same for anyone else in your family that you would like to include. Simply put “Your health information belongs to you. You have a legal right to it, and that means with the right tools, you can make the most out of your own health narrative. Our goal is to help you do just that.” The Backpack Health app offers multiple languages to ease the stress of trying to translate health concerns while traveling and empowers it’s users to take control of their health. This user-friendly app can be found at the App Store , Google Play or directly on their website. Helping yourself while helping others each and every day is the greatest gift of all.

Whichever item you choose to share this season, all of them offer the same mission for those with allergies- be prepared.

Study after study has shown that being prepared is the first line of defense. Stand up for your allergies, stand up for the right to know how to have the upper hand for situations before they happen and embrace anyone that is willing to lend you a helping hand in doing this. Nobody asks to be given allergies but everyone asks how they can make their weakness into strength. All you need are the right tools and someone who offers them to you.

Child Health & Safety News 12/10: For Gifted Kids, Hands On or Off?

Last updated on December 27th, 2018 at 12:25 pm

In this week’s Child Safety News: Trouble In Toyland – 33rd Annual Toy Safety Report  bit.ly/2RNy7La 

Welcome to Pediatric Safety’s weekly “Child Health & Safety News Roundup”- a recap of the past week’s child health and safety news headlines from around the world. Each day we use social media to communicate relevant and timely health and safety information to the parents, medical professionals and caregivers who follow us. Occasionally we overlook something, but overall we think we’re doing a pretty good job of keeping you informed. Still, quite a bit happens every day – so to make sure you don’t miss anything, we offer you a recap of this week’s top 15 events & stories.

• Schools fight to dispel health misperceptions that it’s safer, ‘vaping epidemic’ bit.ly/2RNfZRA 2018-12-09
• Sufficient sleep in childhood may lead to healthy BMI later bit.ly/2E9AAf2 2018-12-09
• ‘Kids are falling off’: Why fewer children have health insurance now https://nbcnews.to/2EmtZis 2018-12-08
• 7 Easy Ways to Boost Your Child’s Health | Times Square Chronicles http://bit.ly/2L7GoHn 2018-12-08
• Ooredoo unveils new safety devices for children, pets http://bit.ly/2QoCjEO parents and pet owners in Qatar can now keep tabs on their children and their pets any time of the day or night 2018-12-07

PedSafe Child Health & Safety News Headline of the Week
For gifted kids, better to be hands-on or -off? https://cnn.it/2RPQuzj 

• Volunteer Projects Children Can Do to Help Those in Need bit.ly/2UejGBH 2018-12-06
• Medical Experts Gather in Atlanta to Improve Clinical Care for Children with Chronic Kidney Disease prn.to/2BTWOQS 2018-12-06
• Could My Child Have Hypothyroidism (and Will It Go Away)? cle.clinic/2KYgdmx:  2018-12-05
• Regular bedtimes and sufficient sleep for children may lead to healthier teens http://bit.ly/2QnYBX6 2018-12-05
• Universal Pre-K Became State Law In 2014 — But Vermont Is Losing Child Care Capacity http://bit.ly/2QpqT3D  2018-12-04
• New Nebraska Child Car Seat / Booster Safety Restraint Law in effect Janurary 1st. http://bit.ly/2EauP0N 2018-12-04
• Winter Safety Advice For Parents And Kids http://bit.ly/2EmhOlL 2018-12-03
• The Techniques of a Predator: Part 2 – Bribery and Threats bit.ly/2AkWCIc 2018-12-03

Why You Should Not Give Milk to a Child on an Antibiotic

Last updated on December 31st, 2018 at 02:07 pm

For any drug or medication to be effective it must reach the gastrointestinal tract where it will be absorbed through the stomach or intestinal lining and enters the blood stream.  It then circulates in the bloodstream to get to the site where it can affect the infection or other issue for which it is being used, in the right concentration to be maximally effective.  If this process is interrupted or altered in any way the effectiveness of the medication may also be altered and therefore the infection might not be treated adequately.

First of all, the medication (antibiotic) must be in the effective chemical form to enter the gastrointestinal tract and be absorbed, and so most medicines are combined with a chemical to aid in ingestion and absorption.  Children obviously have problems with pill form medications and therefore liquid preparations have been developed for just about any medications.  If that medication causes nausea and/or vomiting the chain is broken and adequate delivery of the antibiotic cannot be established.  One must also be aware of the local climate in the stomach and intestines; any variety in the acidity or other factors can alter the absorption of the medication. If there is disease process affecting the lining of the stomach or intestines such as malabsorption, short bowel syndrome after certain surgeries, acid reflux disease, hyperacidity, and other issues, this may also affect absorption of medications. Any food or fluid taken with a medication may alter the effectiveness of the medicine and therefore it is very important to follow directions on the prescription bottle placed there by the pharmacist, the expert in such matters.

---

This brings me to the topic at hand today:

Because of the calcium content of certain foods, and because calcium can bind to certain medicines making them more or less effective, there are certain antibiotics that should absolutely not be taken with milk, cheese or other milk products. 

Tetracycline (doxycycline and other forms) can be deactivated or inactivated by concurrent ingestion of these milk products.  To some extent some other antibiotics may also be affected by milk, etc. so it is again very important to follow the pharmacist’s directions; ask any questions you may have regarding these directions because occasionally taking some antibiotics along with food can enhance the absorption.

Just to be absolutely clear – before you leave the pharmacy, ask your pharmacist the following two questions: “should this be taken with food?  Does my child need to avoid milk products while taking this?”

Child Health & Safety News 12/3: Birth Control “Gel” for Men?

Last updated on December 27th, 2018 at 12:25 pm

In this week’s Child Health News: Number of Uninsured Children Rose for the First Time This Decade bit.ly/2E5KsqZ 

Welcome to Pediatric Safety’s weekly “Child Health & Safety News Roundup”- a recap of the past week’s child health and safety news headlines from around the world. Each day we use social media to communicate relevant and timely health and safety information to the parents, medical professionals and caregivers who follow us. Occasionally we overlook something, but overall we think we’re doing a pretty good job of keeping you informed. Still, quite a bit happens every day – so to make sure you don’t miss anything, we offer you a recap of this week’s top 15 events & stories.

• What Should You Teach Your Child About Personal Hygiene? bit.ly/2FRdcp9  2018-12-02
• Experts warn of new online safety risks for kids bit.ly/2U43y5z 2018-12-02
• Lawmakers press for fingerprinting of staff running detention facility for migrant children bit.ly/2QacXug The contractor running Tornillo has not put its staff through FBI background checks, and is allowed to have one mental health clinician for every 100 kids 2018-12-01
• “Kids Who Care – Issue #15 – When Kids Recognize a Friend in Need…” getrevue.co/profile/pediat… (via @revue) – Just in time to start the weekend smiling… 2018-12-01
• How to Help Your Baby or Toddler Clear a Stuffy Nose cle.clinic/2E6Uxnp 2018-11-30

PedSafe Child Health & Safety News Headline of the Week
Birth control for men: researchers test a male contraceptive gel https://nbcnews.to/2FXMEmj

• The ‘smart’ baby technology raising today’s children https://bbc.in/2G00jt7 2018-11-29
• Fortnite Has Invaded the Modern American Classroom Like No Other Game – IGN bit.ly/2E0EgRf   2018-11-29
• Is there an ROI on wishes granted through Make-A-Wish? This study says yes  http://bit.ly/2BQvxih  2018-11-28
• New Government Report Suggests 1 In 40 Kids May Have Autism bit.ly/2r81096 While difficult to pinpoint the best data reporting method- it’s estimated that the correct number is between 1 in 40 and 1 in 59. 2018-11-27
• November is Child Safety and Prevention Month. One way to keep your child safe is to have an evacuation plan in case of a natural disaster. Learn more: https://bit.ly/2yWzCzs  2018-11-27
• Largest pediatric study shows obesity increases asthma risk in children bit.ly/2TPXCNg 2018-11-26
• Dog Acting Strange? Change Affects Every Member of the Family bit.ly/2BvVTWu 2018-11-26
• Thousands of booster, car seats recalled from different manufacturers including Graco, Britax, Harmony, Diono… http://bit.ly/2Qaq3re 2018-11-26

« Previous Page — Next Page »