Public Health Nerd

Happy National Public Health Week

• Facts for the week 
• Take Action - join Generation Public Health  
• Check out President Obama's NPHW Proclamation 
• Take the Challenge! - Get involved in the Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge 
• Join the National Public Health Week 2016 Twitter Chat - #NPHWchat on April 6
• Download the NPHW infographic  
• MORE!

 

Click Below

Keep Children Safe from Medication Poisoning in Your Home

National Poison Prevention Week, March 16-22, 2014

Medical advances have allowed researchers to develop a wide variety of medications designed to help keep us healthy. All medications, however, can be harmful if not taken as recommended. More than 67,000 children are seen each year in an emergency department in the U.S. for a medication exposure, which includes children taking medication while unsupervised and dosing errors. National Poison Prevention Week highlights how to properly store, use, and dispose of medications in your home.

You don’t have to toss out all of your medications to keep your kids safe—just follow these tips.

Safe Storage

• Choose a place that is too high for children to reach or see, and consider using a lock to make sure children cannot access medications. 
• Check the cap on each medication to be sure it is one that is designed to keep a young child from easily opening it and that it is closed tightly. 
• Put medications away immediately after every use. 
• Never leave easy-access containers, such as daily pill boxes, within a child’s reach.
  

Safe Use

• Check the medication’s or your doctor’s instructions for the right dose for your child. 
• Use the measuring device, such as a dosing cup or oral syringe, that comes with the medicine or ask a pharmacist to recommend one. 
• Teach your child to only take medication with help from an adult. 
• Know the phone number for poison control: 1-800-222-1222
  

Safe Disposal

• Check the expiration date before using medications. 
• Dispose of expired or unneeded medications according to any specific instructions on the label. Do not flush medicines down a sink or toilet unless instructed. Check with your local government’s trash and recycling services to see if a medication take-back program is available in your area.
  

For more information on this and other child injury prevention topics, visit
www.PreventChildInjury.org.


Blog post provided by Prevent Child Injury

Zika: Taking Precautions - Men, Women & Children

Zika: Snapshot

1. Zika virus is mainly spread through mosquito bites
• It can also be spread by a man to his sex partner
2. How do you prevent Zika virus? The best way is to not get bitten! 
• Learn how to protect yourself from bites
• What insect repellent is right for you and safe for pregnant women and children?
• Everyone should take precautions to prevent getting sick and infecting others.

Everyone Should Take Precautions

Zika is a concern for pregnant women or people trying to become pregnant because Zika is possibly linked to microcephaly. Pregnant women are advised by the CDC to not travel to any areas where the Zika virus is spreading. Also, pregnant women are advised by the CDC to avoid sex or use condoms with their male partner if he has traveled to an area where the Zika virus is spreading as the Zika virus can be spread by a man to his sex partner.

Even if you are not a woman who is pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant, everyone (that means men and children, as well) should take precautions to help minimize the spread of the Zika virus! It's a group effort! If you have Zika, protect others from getting sick.

The CDC recommends that "if you have traveled to a country where Zika has been found, make sure you take the same measures to protect yourself from mosquito bites at home as you would while traveling."  This is because "during the first week of infection, Zika virus can be found in the blood and passed from an infected person to a mosquito through mosquito bites" (5 Things You Really Need to Know About Zika).

How to Not Get Bitten by Mosquitoes

Here are some tips from the CDC on avoiding mosquito bites:

• Use insect Repellent
• Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats.
• Stay and sleep in screened or air-conditioned rooms.
• Use a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors. 

• Avoiding Bug Bites
• Avoiding Mosquito Bites
• How to Protect Against Mosquito Bites

The Right Bug Spray

The CDC recommends EPA registered insect repellent. Just look on the product label of the insect repellent to see if your insect repellent has an EPA registration number. Find EPA registered insect repellent right for you 

https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-insect-repellent-right-you

Pregnant, Breastfeeding or Have a Child?

According to the CDC "when used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are proven safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women."

The CDC advises that if you have a baby or child do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months of age. According to the EPA insect repellent containing DEET is approved for use on children.

• Insect Repellent Use and Safety in Children
• CDC Zika pregnancy infographic

Another Great One!

Thanks for all who attended the 2016 Annual Conference!

We greatly appreciated everyone who was a part of our 2016 Annual Conference.  This was our biggest conference to date! We could not have done it without you. We are so glad you were able to join in the festivities with us.

More information

• View all of our conference pictures here 
• Please take the survey if you attended the conference! 
• Save the Date! Our 2016 Fall Conference: Posse en Esse will be help September 26-28 at the Sheraton at Capitol Square  
• Submit an abstract for our next conference at www.ohiochc.org/abstract 
• Questions? Contact us

Scalds: A Burning Issue

For an adult, spilling coffee or opening a bag of microwave popcorn might result in a minor scald (a burn caused by “wet heat” like steam or hot liquids). The area might be red and tender for a few days, but usually those types of burns take care of themselves. What is a minor inconvenience to an adult, however, might be a major injury to a child.

Children have thinner skin than adults, so hot food and drinks can burn them more easily. For example, hot drinks like coffee are often served at 175 degrees Fahrenheit or hotter. Liquid this hot can burn a young child’s skin in as little as one second. These scalds can leave lifelong scars or result in hospital stays or surgeries.

Many parents know to check bath and tap water to make sure it is not too hot for young children’s sensitive skin, but may not think about the dangers of hot food and drinks. Young children are natural explorers, testing themselves and their surroundings as they grow. Their motor skills are developing, so they’ll grab just about anything. Toddlers who are learning to walk will pull themselves up using whatever they can reach, including tablecloths that have hot foods and drinks sitting on them.
That’s why it’s so important to understand how and why common injuries like scalds happen—so parents can take precautions needed to keep their children safe. Help protect your little ones from scalds by following these tips: 

On Tables, Counters, and Other Surfaces

• Center it. Put hot food and drinks out of reach and away from the edges of counters and tables. Avoid using tablecloths and runners that children can pull down.
• Put a lid on it. Use travel mugs or cups with tight-fitting lids for coffee and other hot drinks, even when you are at home.
• Go solo. Give your children their own seats. If they are sitting in your lap, spills from your hot food and drinks can burn them too.

Around the Stove

• Turn it. Turn the handles of pots and pans so they do not hang over the edge of the stove. Cook on the back burners when possible.
• Tape it. Mark a 3-foot “No Kids Zone” around the stove with tape or a mat. 
• Block it. Use baby gates to block off busy areas, or put children in highchairs, play yards or other safe places when you cook.

Using the Microwave 

• Follow directions. Follow manufacturer instructions and limit use to kids who are old enough to follow written directions.
• Stir it. Stir microwaved food after heating to get rid of hot spots.
• Cool it. Cool microwaved food and drinks for at least two minutes before serving.

Blog Courtesy of Prevent Child Injury

Good Info to Know...Children's Dental Health

February is Children's Dental Health Month

The Challenge & Consequences

• Children with cavities in their baby teeth are 3x more likely to get cavities in adult teeth
• Dental Problems Affect School Performance
• Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease

Early Childhood Tooth Decay

• Early Childhood Caries (ECC) 
• Preventing Tooth Decay

Fluoride in Toothpaste & Water 

• Fluoride Water 
• Once an infant’s first tooth appears, start brushing with #fluoride toothpaste

Diet & Children's Teeth 

• Rethink Your Drink—Choose Water 
• Tooth-Friendly Foods for Kids
  
• Sugary Drinks: A Big Problem for Little Kids

American Heart Month!

#wearredforwomen

Did you know February is American Heart Month? Celebrate by wearing red on February 5th for Wear Red Day! Also, don't forget Heart Failure Awareness week February 14-20. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women.

You can make healthy changes to lower your risk of developing heart disease. Controlling and preventing risk factors is also important for people who already have heart disease. To lower your risk:

• Watch your weight.
• Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke.
• Control your cholesterol and blood pressure.
• If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation.
• Get active and eat healthy

More information

• Exercise guidelines for preventing heart disease
• President Obama declares February as American Heart Month
• About the movement
• Know your risks