Bunk Bed Injuries Send Many to Emergency Room

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), in its June news briefs, reports that an average of 35,790 children suffer non-fatal bunk bed-related injuries each year.

A study, “Bunk Bed-Related Injuries Among Children and Adolescents Treated in Emergency Departments in the United States, 1990-2005,” found a total of 572,580 children and adolescents 21 years and younger were treated in emergency rooms for these injuries.

Children younger than six suffered the majority of injuries, the brief said, with significant injury rates also seen among college-age students.

Click here to read the complete news brief on the AAP website.

Earn Money for Your School By Completing a CYI Survey

Each year, the Winter Park Health Foundation (WPHF) provides more than $1 million to support comprehensive student health services in Winter Park, Maitland and Eatonville area schools designed to help students be the healthiest and most academically productive possible. The programs are part of the Coordinated Youth Initiative (CYI).

In an effort to make the free programs the best they can be, WPHF would like your feedback. Parents are invited to complete the electronic survey posted on this website and provide thoughts and suggestions. Your child’s school will receive $1 for each completed survey, to be used for healthy school activities.

A paper version will be included in the elementary school edition of the Healthy Kids Today newsletter that has been delivered to your homes.

Please click here to take the electronic version of the survey by June 15. Please complete no more than one survey per family per school.

The Dynamics of Smoking in a Large Social Network

The smoking, and non-smoking, habits of friends, families and co-workers impact the smoking habits of the individual, according to a study reported on by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Among the key findings–smoking cessation by a spouse decreases ones chances of smoking by 67 percent–which is significantly higher than by a sibling (25 percent) or by a friend (36 percent).

Click here to read more on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation website.

FDA to Review Safety of Contact Lens Cleaners

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is going to take a closer look at the safety of contact lens cleaners beginning this month. On June 10, the agency will ask a panel of outside experts to look at safety issues and whether new testing or package labeling should be required.

Two companies, Advanced Medical Optics Inc. and Bausch & Lomb Inc. recalled cleaning solutions within the last three years that were linked to potentially dangerous infections.

Click here to read the complete Bloomberg News story.

Earn Money for Your School By Completing a CYI Survey

Each year, the Winter Park Health Foundation (WPHF) provides more than $1 million to support comprehensive student health services in Winter Park, Maitland and Eatonville area schools designed to help students be the healthiest and most academically productive possible.

In an effort to make the free programs the best they can be, WPHF would like your feedback. Parents are invited to complete the electronic survey posted on this website and provide thoughts and suggestions. Your child’s school will receive $1 for each completed survey, to be used for healthy school activities.

A paper version will be included in the elementary school edition of the next Healthy Kids Today newsletter that should arrive at your homes this week.

Please click here to take the electronic version of the survey by June 15. Please complete no more than one survey per family per school.

Text Messages May Help Teens Remember Medication

Text messaging may be just the tool parents and medical providers need to keep teens and adolescents on schedule with medications.

A researcher at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, whose asthma patients don’t properly take their medication, is studying whether a daily medication reminder sent via text message could improve compliance.

Read the complete story on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation website.

Hookah Popularity a Concern Among Medical Experts

Hookah smoking has become increasingly popular, especially with college students, causing concern among medical experts.

Many think that hookahs, also called water pipes–made up of a long tube attached to a glass or plastic container that holds water–filter out cigarette toxins.  But experts say that is not true. They recommend prevention messages be aimed at students on college campuses.

Read the complete Medlineplus story by clicking here.

Get Your Vaccination Before Summer Vacation

The Orange County Health Department (OCHD) will offer free immunizations for children, birth to age 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 17 at the OCHD office at 832 West Central Blvd., Orlando, 32805.

Remember to bring the child’s shot record. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and a valid ID is required.

For more information on this event, call 407-836-2502, or visit : www.orchd.com

Depressed Teens Who Self-Medicate Could Develop More Serious Mental Illness

Millions of American teens report experiencing weeks of hopelessness and loss of interest in normal daily activities and many of these depressed teens are using marijuana and other drugs, making their situation worse, according to a new White House report.

The report, from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), reveals that marijuana use can worsen depression and lead to more serious mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, anxiety and even suicide.

Read the complete story on the ONDCP website.

 

Soccer’s a Winner for Building Bone Health in Girls

The sport of soccer gets an A plus when it comes to helping girls prevent low bone density when they get older.

Sports like soccer, which has a combination of weight-bearing exercise and repetitive “impact-loading” activities including jumping and running, help build bone density better than some other sports.

To read the complete HealthDay story and find out other things kids can do to build strong bones, go to the Medlineplus website.