April 2013

Prevent Unintentional Medication Poisonings

In 2012, Safe Kids Worldwide released a research report that found while the death rate among children from poisoning has been cut in half since the late 1970s, the percentage of all child poisoning deaths due to medications has nearly doubled, from 36 percent to 64 percent. The report, Safe Storage, Safe Dosing, Safe Kids: A Report to the Nation on Safe Medication examined trends in morbidity and mortality of medication poisoning among children ages 14 and under. About 165 kids or roughly four school busloads of children are seen in emergency rooms for medication-related treatment every day in the U.S., said Kate Carr, President and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide. Every one of those trips was preventable. We can and must do better. Among young children, 95 percent of medication-related poisoning visits to emergency departments are caused by a child ingesting medication while unsupervised and approximately five percent are due to dosing errors made by caregivers. Ultimately, safe storage and safe dosing mean safe kids, said Carr. Together with our partners, Safe Kids Worldwide is dedicated to reducing unintentional medication ingestions and medication dosing errors in children, as well as strengthening the poison control center infrastructure in case these poisonings still occur. The report launched an effort by Safe Kids to help prevent unintentional medication exposures, injuries and deaths in children. At both the national level and through its 600 coalitions and chapters across the nation, Safe Kids is educating parents, grandparents and caregivers about the behavioral changes they need to make related to safe medication storage and dosing. Facts from the report include: Medications are the leading cause of child poisoning today. Each year, more than 500,000 children under the age of five experience a potential poisoning related to medica tions. Among young children, one of every 150 two-year-olds is being seen in the emergency department for medication -related poisoning.

The report offers several reasons for the medication-poisoning: more medications than ever are in the home, especially prescription pain medication; the pace of todays lifestyle may prevent caregivers from immediately putting medicines away in a high, out of sight and locked location after every use; a rise in multi-generational households in which children may now have greater access to grandparents medications; working and single parents relying on multiple caregivers, who may not coordinate closely on the timing of childrens dosages; and formulation of childrens medications that are designed to taste good but may entice children to take them when unsupervised. Follow these safety tips to prevent medication poisoning: Always put medicines and vitamins away after every use. Never leave them on the counter between dosings. Dont be tempted to keep them handy in a purse, backpack, or briefcase, or in an unlocked cabinet or a drawer within a childs reach. Always read and follow label instructions when giving medicines to children. Only use the dosing device that comes with the medication. Never use a household utensil, such as a teaspoon or tablespoon, to measure medication. Up to 20 percent of pediatric poisonings involve a grandparents medication. Make sure that all medications in the childs environment are stored out of reach and out of sight. Program the nationwide poison control center number (1-800-222-1222) into your phones.
Source: Safe Kids Worldwide www.safekids.org

Is Your Home Playground a Safe Place to Play?

Facts from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:
Each year more than 200,000 children go to U.S. hospital emergency rooms with injuries associated with playground equipment. Most injuries occur when a child falls from the equipment onto the ground. Many backyard playsets are placed on dirt or grass surfaces that do not adequately protect children when they fall.

Find a Home Playground Safety Checklist by visiting the CSPC website at www.cspc.gov.

To post questions and get more ideas, recipes and resources to keep your child happy, healthy and safe, join the Healthy Kansas Kids Group page on Facebook!

Play is the Best Fit!

According to Choosy Kids, a company devoted to promoting healthy, active lifestyles early in life, research supports that physical activity can have a positive impact on behavior, suggesting that children who are physically active may behave better. Physical activity can also have a not so great impact on behavior if the activity is inappropriate. Physical activity is different for children than it is for adults. To help your child get the right amount and type of physical activity, celebrate the early years with play, not sports or exercise. Children are not little athletes, and do not need exercise for fitness. Most young children are not physically mature enough to perform adult exercises or skills, and they have difficulty understanding the concepts of team-based activities. Instead, make activity time playful, fun, creative and successful. Pretending to be a bear crawling on all fours is much more playful and fun for a young child compared to push-ups. Adults can support physical activity for all ages and abilities of young children under five by discouraging competition or any game where there are winners, losers, or eliminations. Instead, emphasize maximum participation and fun. Finally, exercise should never be used as a punishment. For more information, visit the Choosy Kids website: www.choosykids.com or connect through Social Media: www.facebook.com/ ChoosyKidsLLC and www.twitter.com/choosy kids
Source: Choosy Kids, LLC.

Ways to Help Prevent Child Abuse

One call could save a childs life. If you suspect child abuse or neglect, call the Kansas Protection Report Center at (800) 922-5330. The month of April is recognized nationally as Child Abuse Prevention Month. We all play an important role in preventing, recognizing and reporting suspected child abuse and neglect. From Prevent Child Abuse America, here are five ways you can help prevent child abuse: 1. 2. 3. 4.
5.

Be a nurturing parent. Children need to know that they are special, loved and capable. Help a friend, neighbor or relative. Being a parent isnt easy. Help yourself. Take time out. Dont take it out on your kid. Learn what to do if your baby wont stop crying. Never shake a baby. Report suspected abuse or neglect. Call your local department for children and family services or your local police department.

Source: Prevent Child Abuse America, 2012.

Healthy Eats

Clip and save this healthy recipe!

Deviled Egg Chicks You will need: 12 large hard-boiled eggs, peeled 1/3 cup nonfat cottage cheese 1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise 3 T. minced fresh chives or scallion greens black olives and carrots for garnish

1 T. sweet pickle relish 2 tsp yellow mustard 1/8 tsp salt

Cut top third off of eggs with a sharp knife. Set tops aside and gently remove the yolks. Place 8 of the yolks in food processor. Add cottage cheese, mayonnaise, green onions, relish, mustard and salt; process until smooth. Spoon about 2 teaspoons yolk mixture into each egg cup and gently place egg tops on filled eggs. Use small bits of black olive to make eyes and carrot slivers to create beaks. Chill until ready to eat. Nutrition Per serving: 34 calories; 2 g fat; 3 g protein. Recipe Source: www.eatingwell.com Photo Source: www.tacanow.org Healthy Kansas Kids, a Program of Child Care Aware of Kansas www.ks.childcareaware.org

Funding for this project was provided in part by the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, a philanthropy based in Hutchinson and the Kansas Health Foundation. The Kansas Health Foundation is a private philanthropy dedicated to improving the health of all Kansans. For more information about the Kansas Health Foundation, visit www.kansashealth.org.