Lessons from the Fifth-Grade School Fight Tragedy
Wednesday February 29, 2012
A fifth-grader from Long Beach, California died after a fight at school this week.
Many people were surprised, because the initial reports were that it was a quick fight, in which ... Read More
Rare Disease Day 2012
Wednesday February 29, 2012
Today, February 29, is the 5th annual Rare Disease Day, a world event in which participants join forces to promote awareness about rare diseases and the millions of people affected ... Read More
New Baseball and Softball Guidelines from the AAP
Tuesday February 28, 2012
Organized sports are a great way for kids to stay active and get their exercise. Unfortunately, they can also contribute to accidents and overuse injuries.
Even baseball and softball, which are ... Read More
New Breastfeeding Guidelines from the AAP
Monday February 27, 2012
The American Academy of Pediatrics will issue a new policy statement in the March issue of Pediatrics about "Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk."
The AAP continues to recommend "exclusive ... Read More
Why Active Video Games Likely Won't Fix the Obesity Epidemic
Monday February 27, 2012
It is recommended that kids get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day, with most of it being moderate intensity aerobic physical activity.
The National Association for Sport and ... Read More
Measles at the Country Club in Indiana - 16th Case
Saturday February 25, 2012
Although there was a report earlier this week that the Indiana measles outbreak might be waning, the Indiana State Department of Health has confirmed another case of measles.
The 16th case ... Read More
Saturday Safety Roundup
Saturday February 25, 2012
This week's Saturday safety roundup include stories about:
a 2-year-old in Fort Myers, Florida who died after being ejected from a car in an accident - she was sitting unharnessed in ... Read More
New Standard for Portable Bed Rails
Friday February 24, 2012
Portable bed rails are sometimes used when parents choose to use an adult side bed instead of a toddler bed for preschoolers and younger school age children. They can be ... Read More
RSV Season Isn't Over Yet
Wednesday February 22, 2012
As many people are waiting to see what this year's flu season is going to do, it is important to remember that cold and flu season isn't just about the ... Read More
Do movies increase teen drinking?
Wednesday February 22, 2012
As we read about the teen who died after drinking Four Loko yesterday, I'm sure most parents are looking for ways to discourage their kids from drinking alcohol. That is ... Read More
Shootings in the News
Wednesday February 22, 2012
Shootings don't often become major news stories.
A story of a woman in El Paso, who was pushing a stroller, and was hit by a bullet that crossed the border from ... Read More
Four Loko is in the News Again
Tuesday February 21, 2012
A 13-year-old who was supposed to be playing basketball with friends was instead drinking a Four Loko at an area park in Parkville, Maryland.
The teen got sick and texted his ... Read More
Indiana Measles Outbreak up to 15
Tuesday February 21, 2012
While the Indiana State Department of Health was busy confirming the 14th case of measles in Indiana yesterday, they were right back on the job today letting everyone know that ... Read More
Outbreaks Caused by Raw Milk
Tuesday February 21, 2012
The outbreak from a Pennsylvania dairy that has gotten at least 77 people sick this past month with campylobacteriosis has reminded many people about the risk of drinking raw milk.
Those ... Read More
Children with Gender Identity Disorder
Monday February 20, 2012
Children and teens with gender identity disorder (GID) have been getting more attention in recent years.
This has been helped by some media attention and articles that describe what the children ... Read More
Indiana Measles Update - Consequences of Measles Outbreaks
Sunday February 19, 2012
There is another case of measles in Indiana - bringing the total case count up to 14 already.
So in just two weeks, they have gone from 4 cases to 14 ... Read More
Flu Season Update - Is the flu really coming?
Saturday February 18, 2012
Although flu season is getting off to a late start, there are plenty of signs that it is indeed ramping up, including:
another flu report from the CDC which states that ... Read More
Saturday Safety Roundup
Saturday February 18, 2012
This week's Saturday Safety Roundup.
Take a minute or two and learn from these accidents and tragedies to try and keep your own kids safe:
a school bus crash in Chesterfield Twp, ... Read More
Child dies after parents refuse to get him medical treatment
Friday February 17, 2012
An 8-year-old boy died from Hodgkin lymphoma in Cleveland in 2008 after his parents refused to take him to a doctor over a period of at least two years.
The parents ... Read More
Infants' Tylenol Recall
Friday February 17, 2012
Many parents are still well aware of the Tylenol recalls of the last few years, especially the large 2010 Tylenol recall. That recall was because of manufacturing problems that could ... Read More
Slalom Glider Playground Slide Recall
Friday February 17, 2012
Some people complain that today's playground equipment is too safe and doesn't let kids have enough fun.
Not the Slalom Glider from Landscape Structures Inc., of Delano, Minn. About 900 Slalom ... Read More
Update on the Kidney Transplant Dispute at CHOP
Thursday February 16, 2012
Just about everyone who heard the story of Chrissy Rivera, the little girl who needed a kidney transplant, were upset when they learned that Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) led ... Read More
FDA Toothbrush Warning
Thursday February 16, 2012
The FDA has issued an alert about certain electric toothbrushes because they can cause:
chipped or broken teeth
cuts to the mouth and gums
swallowing and choking on broken pieces
injury to the face ... Read More
Why are the food police inspecting school lunches?
Wednesday February 15, 2012
It makes a great story - or at least a great headline:
Food Inspector Confiscates Kid's Homemade Lunch
Preschooler's lunch rejected by official
Food police reject preschooler's homemade lunch... in favour of chicken ... Read More
Indiana Measles Outbreak Expands to 13 Cases
Tuesday February 14, 2012
The measles outbreak in Indiana is quickly expanding to include more people.
From the initial 4 cases last week to 10 cases yesterday, the Indiana State Department of Health now reports ... Read More
Teen Driver Ed Requirements Depend on Where you Live
Tuesday February 14, 2012
Is your teenager ready to start driving yet?
Having a teen driver in the house is often a cause of extra anxiety for many parents. Sure, there is worry about the ... Read More
Valentine's Day Tips for Parents
Tuesday February 14, 2012
Parents often have a lot of different roles on Valentine's Day.
They may have to help their younger kids buy or make Valentine's Day cards to take to school, console an ... Read More
Indiana Measles Outbreak Continues to Grow
Monday February 13, 2012
The Indiana measles outbreak continues to grow and is shaping up as one of the larger outbreaks of the last few years. And since the Indiana State Department of Health ... Read More
More Drug Shortages
Monday February 13, 2012
We have heard a lot about drug shortages lately, mostly as they relate to the shortage of medicines to treat ADHD.
It turns out that plenty of other medicines are in ... Read More
Have Children Ever Gotten Enough Sleep?
Monday February 13, 2012
It is a common complaint that kids don't get enough sleep these days.
Surprisingly, it may have always been a complaint, even before the days of kids having TV sets in ... Read More
AAP Measles Vaccination Reminder
Sunday February 12, 2012
In response to the 200,000 who may have been exposed to the person with measles at the Super Bowl Village in Indianapolis last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics is ... Read More
Do Not Track Kids Act of 2011
Sunday February 12, 2012
What's the first thing that you think of when you hear COPPA?
Is it the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, a law that helps protect the personal information of our kids ... Read More
Saturday Safety Roundup
Saturday February 11, 2012
Getting hit by a car that had run a stop sign while your child is waiting for the school bus is truly a freak accident. It is hard to prepare ... Read More
2012 Flu Season - Here Comes the Flu
Friday February 10, 2012
A lot of people have been wondering what happened to flu season this year. Some have begun to question if we would even have a real flu season.
While we have ... Read More
Tassimo Single-Cup Brewers Recalled
Friday February 10, 2012
In addition to the recall of 2.1 million packages of Tassimo espresso T Discs, there is also a recall of about 850,000 Tassimo Single-Cup Brewers because "the plastic disc, or ... Read More
Tassimo espresso T Discs Recalled = Burn Hazard
Friday February 10, 2012
Kraft Foods Global Inc. is recalling about 2.1 million packages of Tassimo espresso T Discs because the "recalled espresso T Discs can become clogged and spray hot liquid and coffee ... Read More
Eating too much salt is a common problem
Thursday February 9, 2012
The CDC reports that 90% of Americans eat too much salt (sodium), often at least 1000 mg more than than is recommended.
And when you look at some of the top ... Read More
First Lady's Innovation Competition Will Combat Childhood Obesity
Wednesday February 8, 2012
First Lady Michelle Obama has been busy the last few years. Her Let's Move! events have gotten more kids running, jumping, actively playing, and eating healthier than any other health ... Read More
More Measles in the Heartland and at the Super Bowl
Wednesday February 8, 2012
After reports of 6 cases of measles in Kansas last week, there are new reports of two confirmed and two probable cases of measles in Indiana.
Of course measles in the ... Read More
ATV Crashes and Tragedies
Wednesday February 8, 2012
A warm January, one of the warmest on record, has likely done more than just postpone flu season. It may also be keeping kids on their ATVs a little longer ... Read More
Dry Skin and Eczema in the Winter
Tuesday February 7, 2012
While many parents are worried about runny noses and coughs during cold and flu season, others also have to deal with dry skin and eczema flares this time of year.
Winter ... Read More
Raw Milk Warning Highlights the Risk
Saturday February 4, 2012
While there has been no formal recall, Your Family Cow in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania has voluntarily suspended sale of raw milk, as it is thought to be linked to at least ... Read More
Safety Saturday Roundup
Saturday February 4, 2012
This past week's accidents and tragedies have some sharp contrasts. From a teen who was snowboarding on a groomed trail with a helmet, taking all safety precautions, and still suffering ... Read More
Global Measles Control - What Happened to the Progress?
Thursday February 2, 2012
The CDC has released a new report on the "Progress in Global Measles Control, 2000-2010."
First the good news. Annual measles deaths dropped from 733,000 in 2000 to 164,000 in 2008, ... Read More
Pet Turtles and Salmonella
Thursday February 2, 2012
Much of the media is reporting on an outbreak of Salmonella at a fast food restaurant chain that got 68 people sick in 10 states last month. Fortunately, that Salmonella ... Read More
Stomach Flu Closes California School
Wednesday February 1, 2012
News that a "flu outbreak" had closed a San Francisco high school wouldn't be too unusual this time of year, when we are often seeing quite a few flu cases.
This ... Read More
HPV Vaccine for Boys added to new Immunization Schedule
Wednesday February 1, 2012
The new immunization schedule from the American Academy of Pediatrics is out today, and as expected, there weren't any surprises.
The one big change is that there is a new recommendation ... Read More