Dommerich Hosts Healthy Foods Cook-Off

Dommerich Elementary School will host “Ready, Set, Cook and Eat”–a celebrity chef and student cook-off designed to inspire healthy family eating–at 7 p.m., October 10 in the school’s cafeteria at 1900 Choctaw Trail, Maitland.

The event was created by Healthy Kids Challenge, a national, non profit organization led by registered, licensed dietitians dedicated to getting kids and families to eat healthfully and exercise.  It will be emceed by the group’s director, Vickie James, RD, LD.

During the event, four teams of students and celebrity chefs  will be given a mystery bag of ingredients and a few simple pieces of cooking equipment and kitchenware.  They will then have about 30 minutes to prepare a healthy dish in front of the audience.

Read more about the event on the Winter Park Health Foundation website.

It’s Time to Prepare for Flu Season

With flu season just around the corner, and flu vaccine supplies plentiful, health officials are encouraging flu shots for children who need them. They say not enough kids are getting the immunizations.

To learn more about the guidelines covering who should and should not get the shots, and for information about the pain-free FluMist, go to this story from the KidsHealth website.

California Teen Drivers Banned From Using Cell Phones

The State of California is the latest to ban teenagers from using electronic devices, such as cell phones and pagers, while driving so they are less distracted and pay attention to the road.

California’s new law takes effect July 1, 2008, the same day another law, requiring all drivers to use hands-free devices while using cell phones, goes into effect.

Fifteen states and the District of Columbia ban the use of wireless communication devices by new and inexperienced drivers.  The National Transportation Safety Board has urged all states to adopt similar laws. To read more, click here.

Dieting Girls More Likely to Smoke

Dieting teenage girls are the ones most likely to start smoking, according to a University of Florida study.

UF researchers, who analyzed dieting and smoking habits of 8,000 adolescents, were not surprised. “We were expecting that this relationship was going to be stronger among females.  That has been well-documented, especially because (nicotine) can suppress your appetite,” said Mildred Maldonado-Molina, a UF assistant professor of epidemiology and health policy research and lead author of the study.

However, “this doesn’t mean if your child starts dieting they are going to start smoking,” she said. “I think (parents should) be vigilant and talk about it.  It’s looking for those changes in behavior.”

Read more about this study by going to the University of Florida website.

New Study to Focus on Possible Heart Risks with ADHD Drugs

Two U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agencies will collaborate in the most comprehensive study to date of prescription medications used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the potential for increased risk of heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular problems.

Researchers supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will examine the clinical data of about 500,000 children and adults who have taken medications used to treat ADHD to determine whether those drugs increase cardiovasculasr risks.

Go to the FDA website to learn more about the study.

Asthma Medications Worry Some Parents

Children may not be getting all of the asthma medication prescribed for them because their parents are concerned about asthma medication side effects. According to a study reported in the latest issue of “Pediatrics” magazine, some 10 million U.S. children have asthma, but only half of the prescribed medications are taken daily as directed.

Even more concerning was the fact minority parents–whose children are more at risk for asthma–were more likely to worry about the drugs’ side effects than believe in the necessity of the medication.

Read more about the study on the Integris website.

Parents Are Sometimes in Denial about Kids’ Weight

Most parents know childhood obesity is an issue facing the country, but its not unusual for parents to be unaware when their children weigh too much.

According to a “Consumer Reports” poll last summer, an estimated 91 percent of parents with children ages 5 to 17, said childhood obesity was a problem in the United States. But half of the parents with children having a body mass index (BMI) categorizing them as overweight thought the weight was not appropriate.

Some parents are in denial because they don’t want to deal with their own weight issues, according to nutritionists, while others said the doctor has never told them the child has a problem.  

To find out how to calculate a child’s BMI and for actions families can take, go to the story in USA Today.

Orange County Health Department Recommends Amoeba Precautions

The Orange County Health Department has confirmed a third amoeba infection that resulted in the death of a Florida child earlier this summer.  It is believed to be the third case in Central Florida this summer and the public is urged to take proper precautions.

Symptoms of an infection include headache, fever, nausea and vomiting, stiff neck, confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, loss of balance and bodily control, seizures and hallucinations. The public is urged to contact a medical professional immediately if experiencing any of these symptoms.

To read a complete list of precautions, go to the Orange County Health Department Report.

Food Additives and Hyperactivity in Kids Linked in Study

Drinks and foods chock full of artificial coloring and other additives may be partially to blame for hyperactive behavior in kids.

According to a British study of more than 300 children aged three to nine, behavior changed significantly when kids drank fruit drinks with food coloring and preservatives.

For more information about the study results, go to Food Additives and Hyperactivity in Kids Linked in Study.

Students Barely Pass on Clean Hands Report Card

Students are receiving less-than-stellar grades on basic hand hygiene.  Parents should hit the books too. School nurses and health professionals come out on top. And teachers aren’t far behind.

These grades on hand hygiene come from the third Clean Hands Report Card issued by The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA).

The overall grade of C shows that all of us can do better when it comes to proper hand hygiene practices (though it is a slight improvement from the overall C- given in 2006).

To check out the grades and to get a refresher course on effective hand washing, go to the story “America’s Clean Hands Report Card.”