At first glance, news that 800,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine were being recalled will likely get many parents worried. Is there something wrong with the vaccine? Will it make their kids sick?

Fortunately, the H1N1 vaccine is still considered to be a safe vaccine, but some lots are being recalled because routine stability testing has found that they aren't as potent as they are supposed to be. This includes four lots of Sanofi Pasteur's pediatric H1N1 vaccine in 0.25 mL pre-filled syringes that were distributed last month.

Since there are no concerns about the safety of the vaccine and many of the children who got the recalled vaccine will likely still need a second dose of H1N1 vaccine, this is one recall that parents don't need to be too concerned about. Even if a child got two doses of recalled vaccine, these recalled vaccines are still thought to be strong enough to protect kids from the swine flu.

Did your child get a recalled vaccine? Your pediatrician will be able to soon learn if they have had any recalled H1N1 vaccine in their office and which patients they gave it to. Many will likely notify parents, even though no action is required by the parent, if their child received a recalled vaccine.

Also keep in mind that the vaccine in the H1N1 recall (800,000 doses) is a small part of the overall number of H1N1 vaccine doses that are now available (86 million), so you can still get your kids a swine flu vaccine, even after they remove the recalled doses.

Related:
CDC - H1N1 Vaccine Recall
H1N1 Vaccine
Swine Flu
Getting the H1N1 Vaccine

We have heard warnings about window blinds since the 1990's. Since they are still hurting kids and have resulted in the deaths of at least 8 children since 2006, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) are now recalling all Roman shades and roll-up blinds. The recall includes shades and blinds sold at Walmart, J.C. Penny, Pottery Barn, and a number of other stores.

This recall of millions of shades and blinds will hopefully allow these window coverings to become safer, since parents can now order a free repair kit from the Window Covering Safety Council.

In addition to getting their free repair kit, the CPSC also recommends that parents:

• Examine all shades and blinds and make sure that no cords are accessible.
• Consider using cordless window coverings in your home.
• Keep cribs and other furniture away from windows so that kids don't have easy access to window cords.
• Make loose window cords inaccessible to your kids.
• Install tension devices to keep looped chains or cords taught.

Related:
CPSC - Roman and Roll-Up Blind Recall
Strangulation Hazards - Hidden Dangers
Choking and Choking Hazards
Recall List
Window Safety and Preventing Falls

December 6-12, 2009 is National Hand Washing Awareness Week and is a great time to learn more about the importance of proper hand washing.

Proper hand washing is an easy way to stay healthy year-round, helping your kids avoid cold and flu viruses, bacteria that can cause food poisoning and other infections, and germs they can get from their pets or other sick kids. Review these hand washing steps with your kids to make sure they know how to wash their hands correctly.

Related:
How to Wash your Hands Properly
Avoiding the Flu
National Hand Washing Awareness Week

We have gotten used to blaming outbreaks of Salmonella and E. coli on contaminated foods, especially with the recent food poisoning outbreaks that were caused by contaminated peanut butter, pistachios, and ground beef, etc.

A new Salmonella outbreak is a good reminder that it is not only foods that can make you sick with these bacterial infections. The CDC reports that the latest outbreak is likely linked to 'contact with water frogs including African Dwarf Frogs.' Since June 2009, 48 people have been gotten sick in 25 states, the majority of them being less then 10 years old.

Although experts have long warned parents not to have frogs and turtles as pets if they have a child less then 5 years old in the home, this is a timely reminder for anyone considering a pet frog or turtle (or other amphibian or reptile) as a Christmas present for a young child.

To be safe, even older children and adults should remember to wash their hands after touching their pets or cleaning their cages or aquariums. Also, don't let these pets to roam around the house, especially in the kitchen, as that can be a good way for them to spread the Salmonella bacteria. If you do have a pet frog or turtle in your home, be sure to see your doctor if your child develops Salmonella symptoms and let them know about your pet.

Related:
CDC: Salmonella Typhimurium Investigation
Preventing Food Poisoning
Food Storage and Food Safety
Health Alert - Reptiles as Pets

With all of the different ADHD medications that are now available, such as Ritalin, Adderall XR, Focalin XR, Concerta, Vyvanse, and Strattera, etc., it is getting easier to find the right medication for children that have ADHD, both to decrease their ADHD symptoms and to minimize any side effects they may have.

Still, having another ADHD medication, such as Intuniv, a new non-stimulant treatment for ADHD, is welcome news for many parents and pediatricians.

Related:
ADHD Symptoms
Vyvanse
Concerta
ADHD Medications
Understanding ADHD

Even as swine flu activity continue to decrease, which may indicate a peak in swine flu cases, it is important to remember that we are still seeing widespread flu activity in forty-three states.

And with some experts predicting another wave of swine flu cases this winter, this decrease in swine flu cases doesn't mean that you shouldn't get your kids vaccinated against the flu, especially as the swine flu vaccine is just now becoming more available.

Related:
Swine Flu Vaccine Safety and Controversies
Serious Swine Flu Symptoms
Swine Flu Timeline

Car seat safety recommendations and car seat models have changed over the years, which makes it important for parents to keep up with all of the latest information on car seats to help keep their kids as safe as possible when riding in the car.

For example, did you know that most experts recommend that:

• toddlers continue to ride rear-facing as long as possible and until they reach the height and weight limits of their car seat, which may be well after their first birthday and they reach 20 pounds
• older toddlers and preschoolers, even after they are 4 years old and forty pounds, continue to ride in a harnessed seat as long as possible if they have a car seat with a harness that has high weight and height limits, keeping in mind that many parents move their kids out of their harnessed car seats and into a booster seat too soon
• school age children ride in a booster seat until the car's seat belts fit them correctly, when they are about 4'9" tall, which may not be until they are between 8 and 12 years of age, keeping in mind that many parents move their kids out of their booster seat and start using regular seat belts too soon
• avoid having your child wear heavy clothing, like a winter coat, that may interfere with proper harnessing

To keep your child safe, in addition to choosing the right type and model of car seat, it is important that you use your car seat correctly by following the above car seat best practices.

Related:
Car Seats
Registering Your Car Seat
Car Seat Mistakes
Winter Coats and Car Seats

The CDC updated there estimates of H1N1 (swine flu) counts this week, now stating that there have likely been about 22 million cases of 2009 H1N1 since April 2009, about 98,000 H1N1-related hospitalizations, and about 3,900 2009 H1N1-related deaths, including about 540 deaths in children.

We got some good news too though, as the CDC also reported that 'influenza activity decreased slightly,' although there is still widespread flu activity in forty-six states. Hopefully that means that swine flu activity will continue to decrease over the next few weeks, but that doesn't mean that we are out of the woods yet and that your kids don't need to get a swine flu vaccine. Many experts are still concerned that we could see another wave of swine flu cases later this winter, so getting a swine flu vaccine and a seasonal flu vaccine now, or whenever you can, can protect your kids for the rest of this flu season.

Although swine flu vaccine has been hard to get, the CDC also reports that there is now just over 40 million doses available, with more and more vaccine available each week. That should make it easier to get a swine flu vaccine for your child now and in the weeks to come.

Related:
Swine Flu Symptoms
Swine Flu Map
Swine Flu Vaccine
Find Flu Shots

Maclaren USA, Inc. and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have announced the recall of about one million Maclaren strollers because the 'stroller's hinge mechanism poses a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child when the consumer is unfolding/opening the stroller.'

There are reports of at least twelve fingertip amputations in these Maclaren single and double umbrella strollers that were sold nationwide from 1999 through November 2009 for between $100 and $360. Strollers involved in the Maclaren stroller recall have the word 'Maclaren' printed on the stroller, including the Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, TechnoXLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller Maclaren strollers.

Consumers should stop using the recalled Maclaren strollers until they can fix them with a free repair kit.

Related:
CPSC Alert:Maclaren USA Recalls to Repair Strollers Following Fingertip Amputations
Recent Recalls and Alerts
Baby Product Recalls
Strollers

Fairbank Farms has voluntarily recalled about 545,699 pounds of fresh ground beef because it may be contaminated with the E.coli O157:H7 bacteria.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the CDC discovered the possible link while investigating a small cluster of E. coli infections which may have already sickened 28 people and caused at least one death.

Recalled ground beef was sold at grocery stores in the northeast and mid-Atlantic states, including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, New York, and Vermont, with a sell-by date from September 19 through 28, 2009. Although already past their expiration dates, consumers who have the recalled ground beef in their freezer should not eat it and can return it for a refund. Recalled ground beef products include those sold by ACME, BJ's, Ford Brothers, Giant Food Stores, Lancaster and Wild Harvest, Price Chopper, Shaw's, and Trader Joe's.

Parents should keep in mind that in addition to people with weak immune systems, the very young can be very susceptible to food poisoning, including E. coli infections, which makes it very important that they watch for these types of recalls.

Related:
USDA: Fairbanks Farms Ground Beef Recall
Food Poisoning Symptoms
Preventing Food Poisoning
Food Storage and Food Safety
E . Coli Symptoms