BeSafe ChildTM

Smith County Fall 2009

Since 1994

2 BeSafe Child™ magazine

BeSafe Child™ magazine 3

Inside BeSafeChildCombating Childhood Obesity:Instill Healthy Habits Early...............4

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome........5

H1N1 Flu Virus...................................6

Schools And The Flu...........................7

LATCH That Car Seat.......................7

Tips To Help Children ConquerReading................................................8 Selecting Age Appropriate Video Games..................................................9

Protecting From RSV........................10

Children Online.................................11

Childcare Guide...........................12-14

CHIP/Children’s Medicaid..............15

BeSafe Publications ~ 566 C.R. 4103, Jacksonville, TX 75766903-586-3767 1-800-233-8568 Fax 903-586-0333

www.besafechild.com email: info@besafechild.comPublisher/Editor: Royce Ewing Graphic Design/Layout: Claudette Wooddell

Office: Patricia Goar ©Copyright 2009 BeSafe PublicationsWe make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information within these pages. We cannot, howev-er, assume any liability of any kind for its validity or completeness or for additional or changed infor-mation subsequent to the date the information contained herein was submitted for publication. BeSafe Publications welcomes your suggestions and inquiries. Articles from professionals in child safety and health are also encouraged. While we retain our copyright position, we do grant permission to responsible parties to duplicate our articles in the interest of child safety, health and good character.

No matter where you live, you can call and get referrals to local health and community

services.

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■ Dial 2-1-1 or 903-534-9977

2-1-1 East Texas is a collaborative part-nership of the United Way of Tyler/Smith County and the Texas Health and Human

Services Commission. Hablamos Español

Helpful Toll-Free Numbers

Texas Poison Control• 1-800-222-1222

Texas Department of Family & • Protective Services (DFPS)

Abuse Hotline: 1-800-252-5400Texas Department of State Health •

Services (DSHS)Vision & Hearing Screening 1-800-252-8023 Ext. 6687

Office of Attorney General• Child Support: 1-800-252-8014Centers for Disease Control & Pro-•

tection (1-800-CDC-INFO)1-800-232-4636Texas Youth Hotline• 1-800-210-2278Runaway Hotline•

1-800-580-4357

Child Safety Is No Accident!

www.unitedwaytyler.org

4 BeSafe Child™ magazine

Combating Childhood Obesity:Instill Healthy Habits Early

Source: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, AMA, & Evenflo

According to the Centers for Dis-ease Control and Prevention, the

number of children between the ages of 2 and 5 who are considered over-weight has nearly quadrupled over the past few decades. Today, approxi-mately 20 percent of toddlers fall into the overweight category, compared with just 5 percent a generation ago. One significant factor may be the increase in portion sizes, which have more than tripled in recent years.As the childhood obesity rate continues to rise, parents can take proactive steps to help their toddlers build a foundation of lifelong healthy habits. MyPyramid.gov, a project of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that is focused on changing the way American families eat, states that parents are the most important influences on their children’s eat-ing habits. Simple practices such as teaching correct portion control and encouraging self-serving play an important role in maintaining a healthy weight.During the toddler years, children possess the natural instinct of knowing when they are hungry and when they are full, which makes it the perfect time to encourage them to listen to their bodies and find ways to make family mealtime a fun, educational experience.Following are tips from Evenflo to help tod-dlers develop lifelong healthy eating habits:

Make portion control a priority• : Por-tion sizes are bigger than ever. Evenflo has developed a new line of toddler-feeding products called Smart Steps, designed to address portion control and teach children and parents the amount of food they need.Apply a self-serve policy• : The American Medical Association (AMA) recommends allowing children to serve themselves so that they can self-regulate their meals. Dur-ing the ages of 3 to 5, kids’ natural instinct of feeling hungry versus feeling full is

changing; now is the time to help them listen to their bodies.

Turn off the TV• : Just like adults, children will consume more calories when they eat in front of the television. Kids are more likely to pay atten-tion to signs of fullness when they aren’t distracted

by a favorite cartoon character.Don’t worry if at first you don’t suc-• ceed: MyPyramid.gov recommends feeding children a wide variety of healthy foods, but it’s normal for kids to balk at unfamil-iar choices. You may need to offer the new food up to 10 times before it is deemed familiar and acceptable, so remember to try, and try again. It’s also helpful to introduce a new food in tiny portions, so that little ones can “taste” without being overwhelmed.

For more information about toddler nutrition, visit www.evenflo.com/smartsteps.

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BeSafe Child™ magazine 5

Doing What We Can To Prevent Sudden Infant

Death SyndromeAnne L. Christian, M.D., Board of Certifi ed

Pediatrician. ETMC First Physicians, 5th Street Pediatric Clinic.

During the past 13 years of Pediatric Practice, I have had the privilege of observing up-close, the changes which

families go through during the fi rst year after the birth of a new baby. Whether it is the birth of a fi rst child, or the fi fth child; the fi rst year is fi lled with parents focusing on keep-ing the new baby healthy, and safe. While avoiding diaper rash, choosing the best car sear, and feeding your baby the right foods are very important aspects of these overall goals, there is a silent threat to the actual life of a new baby that we need to devote our attention to also. This silent threat is Sud-den Infant Death Syndrome or S.I.D.S. The best way to do everything you can to avoid S.I.D.S. is to learn more about it. Why is S.I.D.S an important topic for new parents? SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants aged 1–12 months, and it is the third leading cause overall of infant mortality in the United States. What exactly is Sudden Infant Death Syn-drome (S.I.D.S.)? The American Academy of Pediatrics (A.A.P) defi nes S.I.D.S. as: “the sudden death of an infant under 1 year of age that remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation, including complete au-topsy, examination of the death scene, and review of the clinical history.” When do parents need to be the most attentive to reducing a baby’s risk for S.I.D.S? During the entire fi rst year of life, there is an increased risk for S.I.D.S. How-ever, the most deaths occur between the 2nd and 3rd months of age. What are the risk factors for S.I.D.S? Ac-cording to the Centers for Disease Control and the A.A.P., the following items increase an individual baby’s risk for S.I.D.S.:1. Sleeping Position on the Tummy or the Side: Infants who are put to sleep on their tummy or on their side are more likely to die from S.I.D.S 2. Smoking: Infants born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy are at increased risk of S.I.D.S. Also, infants exposed to smoke at home or at daycare.

3. Bed Sharing: Sharing a bed increases an infant’s risk for S.I.D.S.4. Pre-term and low birth weight infants: In-fants born premature or low birth weight are at a high risk.5. Overheating: Overdressed, have too many blankets on, or are in a hot room.6. Soft sleep surfaces: Sleeping on a water bed, couch, sofa, or pillows, or sleeping with stuffed toys.7. Loose bedding: Sleeping with pillows or loose bedding such as comforters, quilts, and blankets. What steps can a parent take to lower their baby’s risk of S.I.D.S? 1. Place babies to sleep on their backs. Use the back sleep position every time. Avoid side sleeping.2. Place your baby on a fi rm sleep surface, such as a safety-approved crib mattress cov-ered with a fi tted sheet.3. Avoid exposing babies to any cigarette smoke, both during pregnancy and after birth.4. Babies should sleep in the same room with parents but in separate beds. 5. Offer your baby a pacifi er. Using a pacifi er during sleep reduces S.I.D.S.6. Keep soft objects, toys, and loose bedding out of your baby’s sleep area.7. Avoid letting your baby overheat during sleep—Dress your baby in light sleep cloth-ing and keep the room at a temperature that is comfortable for an adult. What groups are most at risk for SIDS? The C.D.C says these groups are at most risk:1. Babies who are placed to sleep on their stomachs or sides are at higher risk for S.I.D.S. than babies who are placed on their backs to sleep. 2. Babies who are born before 37 weeks ges-tational age are at higher risk for S.I.D.S.3. African-American babies are more than two times as likely to die of S.I.D.S. as Cau-casian babies. 4. American-Indian/Alaska Native babies are nearly three times as likely to die of S.I.D.S. as Caucasian babies.

6 BeSafe Child™ magazine

H1N1 Flu VirusIn 2009, we saw the emergence of a

new H1N1 influenza virus causing illness in people. This virus is spread-ing from person-to-person worldwide, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a pandemic of 2009 H1N1 flu was underway. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infect-ed by touching something – such as a surface or object – with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.The symptoms of 2009 H1N1 flu vi-rus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting. Severe illnesses and death has occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus. Seasonal influenza can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Each year, in the United States, on average 36,000 people die from flu-related complications and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related causes. Of those hospital-ized, 20,000 are children younger than 5 years old. Over 90% of deaths and about 60 percent of hospitalization occur in people older than 65.So, what are local health officials rec-ommending to protect the East Texas Community? “We are working very closely with our hospitals, physicians, schools, cities, and counties to monitor the situation and to prepare for the up-coming flu season; as well as plan for both seasonal and H1N1 vaccinations.” Says George Roberts, CEO, Northeast Texas Public Health District.

The Health District has emergency flu plans in place that have been exercised with all of our community partners.However, it is up to each member of

the community to protect themselves by following a few simple guidelines:• Get your flu shot.• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way. • Try to avoid close contact with sick people.• If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. If a person that is experiencing flu-like symptoms reports to their physician and tests positive on the rapid flu A test, it is highly probable that this flu is H1N1 because that is the only flu strain we are seeing right now and this is not the typical flu season.

The Northeast Texas Public Health District will follow the guidelines set by CDC regarding the H1N1 vaccine. We encourage our communities to remember to receive their seasonal flu vaccine and we will work with the me-dia to get the information out about the H1N1 vaccine as soon as we receive this information from CDC.Dr. Jonathan MacClements, Smith County Health Authority reports, “We will continue to see the virus spread because influenza is highly transmis-sible from person to person. Local Health Officials continue to encourage our citizens to use common preven-tative methods; such as proper hand washing, covering a cough, and social distancing. These are the most effec-tive precautions to contain the spread in our area.”Ref: www.cdc.gov/ www.who.int

BeSafe Child™ magazine 7

Schools And The FluSource: Nancy Jones, RN at Tyler I.S.D.

An interview with Nancy Jones, RN gave us the following information

for parents:Make sure your child’s school has • your current phone numbers and cor-rect address. This is important. The school needs to be able to reach you without delay if your child became ill.Nancy Jones encourages the same • steps as Health Authorities; making sure your kids know the proper eti-quette for sneezes and coughs. Mak-ing sure they wash their hands often.Parents need to know that your • schools are taking the proper precau-tions with strong germicides to clean desks, door knobs, etc. to fight the spread of flu germs.If it becomes necessary to close any •

school based on the cases of flu ill-ness it will be done. Closing schools, however, has not proven to be an effective way to keep children from spreading the flu. So many of the older students end up congregating at the mall or other public places or in each others homes.If your child has the flu he/she will • need to be at home 24 hours after the fever has returned to normal, without any medication, before returning to school. Expect five to seven days of missed school time.Get your child’s flu shots; both H1N1 • and the seasonal flu.

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According to the National High-way Traffic Safety Administration

(NHTSA), three out of four kids are not as secure in the car as they could be because their car seats are not being used correctly.While it’s certainly true most parents want to do everything in their power to protect their children, it’s also true they may not know about a simpli-fied anchoring system that’s built into most new cars to help make it easier to install car seats. Known as LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Chil-dren), the system was developed to make it easier for parents to correctly install child safety seats into vehicles. Yet 40 percent of parents still rely on the vehicles’ seat belts when installing their car seat rather than using LATCH. In addition, only 55 percent of parents report using the upper tether, which provides additional attachment of the child safety seat to the vehicle and has been shown to reduce forward move-ment of the child’s head, minimizing risk of head impact.For additional information about the

LATCH system and other safety mea-sures, visit www.safercar.gov. The site includes instructional videos and help-ful informational resources.

LATCH™ That Car Seat

8 BeSafe Child™ magazine

Tips To Help Children Conquer ReadingOh, the places students can go when

they open up a good book!Students who enjoy reading do well in school; they boast higher test scores, develop comprehen-sion profi ciency and improve analytical skills faster and better than their peers who read less frequently. But how do parents get their children to turn the pages when reading is sometimes seen as a chore rather than a reward?“No matter what the subject, good reading skills will pave the path to academic success,” says Dennis Van Roekel, president of the National Education Association (NEA), which represents 3.2 million educators. “Parents can encourage their children to enjoy reading by mak-ing it a family affair.”, NEA encourages students to be in the company of a good book and offers these tips to parents:

Don’t wait to set a good reading • example. It’s never too early to start good reading habits. Begin sharing books with children during infancy,

even as young as 6 weeks old. Have materials on hand at home. In • addition to books, stock up the house with newspapers, magazines and

other periodicals to persuade chil-dren to read instead of turning on the television or playing a video game.

Build skills and comprehension • by starting a discussion. When you read aloud, stop to discuss unfamiliar words and pause to ask questions to help your child predict what is coming next. Ask children about characters in sto-ries and why characters might act the way they do.

Make reading a daily routine. Chil-• dren are more comfortable when they know what to expect each day.Set and reward reading goals. Build • enthusiasm by providing a spe-cial treat when a reading target is reached. Positive reinforcement can help boost motivation.

“Parents play the title role in their chil-dren’s education,” adds Van Roekel. “If everyone in the family is on the same page, then magic happens.”For more information and tips, visit www.nea.org/readacross.

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BeSafe Child™ magazine 9

Selecting Age-Appropriate Video GamesSOURCE: The Entertainment Software Rating Board

With the advent of the video game rating system in

1994, parents were given a heads-up about what titles were appro-priate for their children. But as the next gen-eration of kids starts to play, and with gaming technology making the action even more realis-tic, it’s even more es-sential that parents look closely at the packages to ensure that the game fits the child.The Entertainment Software Rating Board was created to empower consumers, especially parents, with the ability to make informed decisions about the computer and video games they choose for their families through the assign-ment of age and content ratings, and to hold the computer and video game industry accountable for responsible marketing practices.

But just as motion picture ratings now feature descriptions that list the potentially offensive content, video game rat-ings also feature descrip-tors that indicate elements in a game that may have triggered a particular rating and/or may be of interest or concern. This sort of verbiage can help parents decide when their young gamer is ready to transi-tion, for example, from EC (early childhood) titles to E (everyone), which may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language.This decision can be a little

tricky, especially with young boys. That’s why Ubisoft created Jake Power, a line of games for the Nintendo DS, which let boys ages 5 to 8 play as a Policeman, Fireman or Handyman.All three games are rated E for Every-one. To learn more, visit www.ubi.com.

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10 BeSafe Child™ magazine

Protecting Children From A Common Respiratory Virus

With cough and cold season back in swing, parents with infants

and small children should be on the lookout for a common virus that may lead to potentially serious complications-RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). Nearly half of all children are infected during their first year of life, and almost all children get an RSV infec-tion by the age of 2. Accord-ing to the American Acad-emy of Pediatrics, RSV is the leading cause of bronchi-olitis and pneumonia among children under 2 years old. Recent studies suggest that there is an association be-tween RSV-induced bronchi-olitis and asthma within the first decade of life. RSV is a virus that causes acute respi-ratory illness in patients of all ages. While symptoms usually resemble the common cold and are fought off in a matter of days, cold-like symptoms accompanied by wheezing or difficulty breathing may be indicative of RSV. Among those at greatest risk from RSV are babies born prematurely, as well as children with lung or heart

disease. Infants who attend child care or day care, and those with school-age siblings, also have an increased risk for

RSV infections. RSV is highly conta-gious. It can be spread when a person coughs or sneezes, and it can live on surfaces such as toys, countertops or doorknobs, and on hands and clothing. It is important for RSV to be diagnosed-and distinguished from other, similar illnesses with similar symptoms-so that proper medical attention can be ad-ministered to minimize infection and risk to the patient. Health care

professionals recognize the benefits of utilizing rapid RSV tests to aid clinical diagnosis and management of patient care. The QuickVue RSV test allows for the rapid detection of RSV. The test is both accurate and gives results in 15 minutes. It is manufactured by the makers of the QuickVue Influenza A+B test. For more information, visit www.rsvtesting.com

BeSafe Child™ magazine 11

Millions of youths are online, whether at home, at school, at a friend’s house, or

if they have internet access on a handheld device or cell phone—almost anywhere. If you are a parent, you are faced with a sober-ing reality: Your children are probably more comfortable in this new cyber world than you are, and they may even know how to keep you in the dark about their online activities.What Parents should know:1. E-Mails: Written messages that are sent electronically. Is a fast and inexpensiveway to correspond with friends and family. Unsolicited e-mail, often called spam, can be more than just an annoyance. Often they con-tain suggestive or blatantly obscene content.Links inside messages may prompt the user to volunteer personal information, which can lead to identity theft. Replying to such e-mail will confirm that the user has an active e-mail address, which may lead to further unsolicited e-mail.2. Web Sites: They are collections of elec-tronic pages created and maintained by organizations, educational institutions, busi-nesses, and individuals. Millions of sites are available, providing youth with endless opportunities to shop, do research, connect with friends, and play or download games and music. The Web has been exploited by un-scrupulous individuals.Many Web sites feature explicit sex, and these are easy for the unwary to stumble upon.3. Chat Rooms: Are electronic spaces for live text conversation, usually centered around a specific topic or interest. Your child can com-municate with a number of individuals whom he or she many never have met but who share a common interest. Predators commonly frequent chat rooms hoping to lure a child into an online or even a face-to-face sexual encounter.

4. Instant Messages: Is live text conversa-tions between two or more individuals. With instant messaging, a user can choose which of his friends he will converse with, select-ing from a contact list he has created. Instant message conversations can be distracting if your child is supposed to be studying or engaging in another activity that requires concentration such as driving. In addition, how can you be sure with whom your son or daughter is communicating? After all, youcan not hear the conversation. 5. Blogs: They are online diaries. Blogging gives youths the opportunity to write about their thoughts, passions, and activities. A blog is open to the public. Some youths carelessly reveal information that can be used to identify their family, school, or home address. Blogs can harm reputations, including the blogger’s own.6. Online Social Networks: Sites that allow youths to create a Web page and enhance it with pictures, videos, and blogs. Examples of these are MySpace and Facebook. Creating and enhancing a Web page enables a young person to express his or her identity. Online social networks allow young ones to meet many new “friends”. A social networking site is like an online party. Some very scary people can show up. Unscrupulous youths and adults can exploit the personal informa-tion posted on social networks. These sites do not verify a person’s age and many kids and adults use false names and ages. Internet friendships tend to be superficial.Experts believe that up to 750,000 preda-tors may be online on a daily basis, trolling Internet chat rooms and dating services. In the United States, 93 percent of youths between the ages of 12 and 17 use the Internet.

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BeSafe Child™ magazine 15

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When it comes to knowing kids, the pediatricians at ETMC First Physicians clinic on Fifth Street in Tyler are experts. They’re specially trained in the care of newborns, infants, toddlers and adolescents, with emphasis on physical, mental and social development.

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