Be Child Safe

Category: Public Service Announcement

  • Children, the Flu, and the Flu Vaccine

    Children, especially those younger than 5 years, are at higher risk for serious flu-related complications. The flu vaccine offers the best defense against getting the flu and spreading it to others. Getting vaccinated can reduce flu illnesses, doctor’s visits, missed work and school days, and prevent flu-related hospitalizations and deaths in children. Information on this page summarizes vaccine recommendations for children. Visit this page to learn more about vaccine benefits.

    Note: Frequently Asked Flu Questions 2017-2018 Influenza Season for flu and flu vaccine information specific to the current flu season.

    Influenza is dangerous for children

    Influenza (“the flu”) is more dangerous than the common cold for children. Each year, millions of children get sick with seasonal influenza; thousands of children are hospitalized and some children die from flu.

    • Children commonly need medical care because of influenza, especially before they turn 5 years old.
    • Children younger than 5 years and especially those younger than 2 years are at high risk of serious influenza complications.
    • Children of any age with chronic health problems like asthma, diabetes and disorders of the brain or nervous system also are at high risk of serious flu complications.
    • Flu seasons vary in severity:
      • CDC estimates that since 2010, flu-related hospitalizations among children younger than 5 years ranged from 7,000 to 26,000 in the United States.
      • While relatively rare, some children die from flu each year. Since 2004-2005, flu-related deaths in children reported to CDC during regular flu seasons have ranged from 37 deaths to 171 deaths. Information about pediatric deaths since the 2004-2005 flu season is available in the interactive pediatric death web application.

    The single best way to protect your children from the flu is to get them vaccinated each year.

    The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. Traditional flu vaccines (called “trivalent” vaccines) are made to protect against three flu viruses; an influenza A (H1N1) virus, an influenza A (H3N2) virus, and an influenza B virus. In addition, there are flu vaccines made to protect against four flu viruses (called “quadrivalent” vaccines). These vaccines protect against the same three viruses as the trivalent vaccine and an additional B virus.

    What kinds of flu vaccines are available for children?

    Influenza vaccine options for the 2017-2018 season are listed in “TABLE: Influenza vaccines — United States, 2017–2018 influenza season. Different products are approved for different age groups, including children as young as 6 months of age.

    Note that while there is a quadrivalent nasal spray vaccine that is FDA approved for the U.S. market, ACIP and CDC recommend that nasal spray vaccine not be used during the 2017-2018 season because of concerns about how well it works.

    Your child’s health care provider will know which vaccines are right for your child.

    • CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get a seasonal flu vaccine.
      Keep in mind that vaccination is especially important for certain people who are high risk or who are in close contact with high risk persons. This includes children at high risk for developing complications from influenza illness, and adults who are close contacts of those children.

    For the complete list of those at high risk, visit People at High Risk of Developing Flu–Related Complications.

    There are special vaccination instructions for children aged 6 months through 8 years of age

    Some children 6 months through 8 years of age require two doses of influenza vaccine. Children 6 months through 8 years getting vaccinated for the first time, and those who have only previously gotten one dose of vaccine, should get two doses of vaccine this season. All children who have previously gotten two doses of vaccine (at any time) only need one dose of vaccine this season. The first dose should be given as soon as vaccine becomes available.

    The second dose should be given at least 28 days after the first dose. The first dose “primes” the immune system; the second dose provides immune protection. Children who only get one dose but need two doses can have reduced or no protection from a single dose of flu vaccine.

    If your child needs the two doses, begin the process early. This will ensure that your child is protected before influenza starts circulating in your community.

    Be sure to get your child a second dose if he or she needs one. It usually takes about two weeks after the second dose for protection to begin.

    Recommendations on the control and prevention of influenza are published annually, in late summer or early fall. Existing recommendations are available at Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Resources for Health Professionals.

    Some children are at especially high risk

    Children at greatest risk of serious flu-related complications include the following:

    1. Children younger than 6 months old
      These children are too young to be vaccinated. The best way to protect them is to make sure people around them are vaccinated.
    2. Children aged 6 months up to their 5th birthday
      Since 2010, CDC estimates that flu-related hospitalizations among children younger than 5 years ranged from 7,000 to 26,000 in the United States. Even children in this age group who are otherwise healthy are at risk simply because of their age. Additionally, children 2 years of age up to their 5th birthday are more likely than healthy older children to be taken to a doctor, an urgent care center, or the emergency room because of flu1,2,3. To protect their health, all children 6 months and older should be vaccinated against the flu each year. Vaccinating young children, their families, and other caregivers can also help protect them from getting sick.
      1CDC Influenza Vaccine Program Impact Report 2015-2016
      2Bourgeois F, Valim C, Wei J, et al. Influenza and Other Respiratory Virus–Related Emergency Department Visits Among Young Children. Pediatrics 2006; Volume 118 /Issue 1
      3Poehling K, Edwards K, Weinberg G, et al. The Underrecognized Burden of Influenza in Young Children. The New England Journal of Medicine 2006; 355:31-4
    3. American Indian and Alaskan Native children
      These children are more likely to have severe flu illness that results in hospitalization or death.4,5
      4CDC. Deaths Related to 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Among American Indian/Alaskan Natives — 12 States, 2009. MMWR. 2009;58(48);1341-1344.
      5CDC. Prevention and Control of Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2010. MMWR. 2010; 59(No.RR-8).
    4. Children aged 6 months through 18 years with chronic health problems, including:
      • Asthma
      • Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions [including disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy (seizure disorders), stroke, intellectual disability (mental retardation), moderate to severe developmental delay, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury].
      • Chronic lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and cystic fibrosis)
      • Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease)
      • Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease)
      • Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes mellitus)
      • Kidney disorders
      • Liver disorders
      • Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
      • Weakened immune system due to disease or medication (such as people with HIV or AIDS, or cancer, or those on chronic steroids); and
      • Children who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy

    Children should be vaccinated every flu season

    Children should be vaccinated every flu season for the best protection against flu. For children who will need two doses of flu vaccine, the first dose should be given as early in the season as possible. For other children, it is good practice to get them vaccinated by the end of October, if possible. However, getting vaccinated later can still be protective, as long as flu viruses are circulating. While seasonal influenza outbreaks can happen as early as October, most of the time influenza activity peaks between December and February. Since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body that protect against influenza virus infection, it is best that people get vaccinated so they are protected before influenza begins spreading in their community.

    Additional Information:

  • Keeping Foodborne Illness Away This Summer!

    Summer is coming! Barbeques, picnics, fishing and camping trips, days at the beach, family reunions, wedding receptions…and more. There are plenty of activities where you may be served food out of doors! In the heat… The longer perishable food stands out… the quicker it will become less palatable and more dangerous! Yes, dangerous to those who may consume it because bacteria like food too! Observing all the rules of good food safety are even more important when refrigeration might not be at its peak! So what can you do?

    Make sure to have enough ice, ice blocks, keep-cold bags, heavy duty aluminum foil and cold water on hand, for your cooler or to chill the foods you will serve cold. This may take preparation… Every kind of “dollar” store carries ice blocks, so does Walmart. Bags of ice can be purchased at the grocery or convenience store and toted in a cooler!

    Make sure to refrigerate foods as long as possible before serving and when people are done helping themselves at a table, cover and place food in the refrigerator or cooler until it’s time for second helpings–especially in the case of foods containing mayonnaise or mayonnaise-based salad dressings, for instance, potato, chicken, tuna, shrimp or egg salads…or sandwiches made with mayo. The same is true for meat, poultry and fish! Make sure it’s thoroughly cooked and served hot and don’t let it stand out after serving and guests have helped themselves, refrigerate and reheat in the microwave if necessary. Don’t leave it out.

    If you are carrying food in a cooler long distances, check it periodically to make sure the ice or ice blocks are still frozen! Replace with more ice if not! Wrapping foods in foil when you place them in the cooler helps too!

    Make sure not to re-freeze thawed raw meat, poultry or fish. It’s just not a good idea. If you marinate raw (meat, poultry, fish) food, please do place it in the refrigerator while marinating.

    Also, if something is past its sell-by or recommended use-by date, chuck it in the trash! It’s not worth getting sick over it.

    Wash fruit, lettuce and other vegetables, especially those served raw, thoroughly before cooking, serving or consuming! (You can even wash the skin of potatoes, cucumbers and melons.)

    Make sure to wash your hands when you prepare food, before you begin preparing a dish, and in between touching raw eggs, meat, poultry or fish and other foods, utensils that have touched food and counter and prep surfaces. (It might sound like a lot of hand washing, but it’s worth it!) And then, wash your hands afterward before you touch anything else, so you don’t cross-contaminate other food, utensils, etc. (Make sure not to use the same utensils when preparing different meat, poultry and fish or other foods.) Make sure the pots and pans you use are clean and dish towels if you use them as well… Clean paper towels are preferable to dish towels. If your dish sponge is dirty, ditch it! You can even put dish brushes in the dishwasher with the dishes regularly!

    Doing these things will help to reduce the chance of you, your family and your guests getting a foodborne illness! Enjoy your summer!

  • CPSC CONSUMER ALERT: CAREGIVERS URGED TO USE RESTRAINTS WITH INCLINED SLEEP PRODUCTS

    U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission – News Release

    Release Date: May 31, 2018

    Release Number: 18-171

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is reminding parents: Always create a safe sleep environment for babies in a crib, bassinet, play yard or inclined sleeper.

    In particular, CPSC is alerting consumers to be aware of hazards when infants are not restrained in inclined sleep products.

    Inclined sleep products are bassinet-like products with an inclined back to elevate the baby’s head and torso. There are many different styles of infant inclined sleep products available for infants and newborns. These can include frame-type, semi-rigid and compact inclined sleep products.

    CPSC is aware of infant deaths associated with inclined sleep products. Babies have died after rolling over in these sleep products.

    CPSC, therefore, urges consumers: Always use restraints and stop using these products as soon as an infant can roll over.

    Parents can be surprised and may not know the exact moment their baby first rolls over. Therefore always use the restraint and adjust it to fit snugly to keep the baby face up, with the baby’s face free to breathe when baby is placed in an inclined sleeper.

    CPSC encourages consumers to practice safe sleep always, and be sure to follow manufacturers’ instructions when using these sleep products.

    Caregivers should follow these simple safety steps every time baby is placed down to sleep:

    · Bare is Best: Do not add blankets, pillows, or other items to the sleep environment.

    · Back to Sleep: Always place infants to sleep on their backs.

    · Check www.cpsc.gov to find out if your crib, bassinet, play yard or inclined sleeper has been recalled.

  • Put Safety at the Top of Your List When Decorating this Holiday Season!

    As the nation gears up to decorate their homes for the holiday season, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reminds consumers of decorating dangers and provides tips for a safe holiday. CPSC demonstrated some of the hazards, including Christmas tree and candle fires at its laboratory in Rockville, Md. See CPSC’s broadcast quality video.

    “Safety should be part of all your decorating efforts,” said CPSC Acting Chairman Ann Marie Buerkle. “Make sure your live Christmas tree has plenty of water, keep lit candles away from flammable items, and use caution when standing on a ladder or a chair to hang decorations.”

    Holiday decorating-related injuries:

    CPSC estimates the following holiday decoration-related emergency room-treated injuries nationwide during last year’s holiday season.

    • 14,700 holiday decorating related ER-treated injuries. That’s an average of about 240 injuries per day during the holiday season of November and December!
    • The most frequent holiday decorating incidents involved falls (41%), lacerations (10%) and back strains (5%).
    • 3 deaths involving ladder falls.

    Fires involving Christmas Trees and Candles

    [ultimatetables 16 /]

    *Average annual estimates from 2012 to 2014 entire calendar year.
    **Average annual estimates from 2012 to 2014 for the months of November through December.

    Follow these CPSC safety tips to keep your family safe:

    Trees and Decorations

    1. Buying a live tree? Check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, its needles are hard to pull from branches, and its needles do not break when bent between your fingers. The bottom of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
    2. Setting up a tree at home? Place it away from heat sources, such as fireplaces, vents, and radiators. Heated rooms rapidly dry out live trees, be sure to monitor water levels daily and keep the tree stand filled with water. Place the tree out of the way of foot traffic and do not block doorways with the tree.
    3. Buying an artificial tree? Look for the label: “Fire Resistant.” Although this label does not mean that the tree will not catch fire, the tree is more resistant to catching fire.
    4. Decorating a tree in homes with small children? Avoid sharp or breakable decorations. Keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of small children who could swallow or inhale small pieces. Avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to try to eat them.

    Candles

    1. Keep burning candles within sight. Extinguish all candles before leaving the room.
    2. Keep candles on a stable, heat-resistant surface where children and pets cannot reach them or knock them over. Place lit candles away from items that can catch fire such as trees, decorations, curtains and furniture.

    Lights

    1. Only use lights tested for safety by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. Lights for both indoor and outdoor usage must meet strict standards that testing laboratories are able to verify.
    2. Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Throw out damaged sets and do not use electric lights on a metallic tree.
    3. Check each extension cord to make sure it is rated for the intended use and is in good condition. Do not use cords with cuts or signs of fraying.
    4. Check outdoor lights for labels showing the lights have been certified for outdoor use and only plug them into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)-protected receptacle or a portable GFCI.

    Fireplaces

    1. Use care with “fire salts,” which produce colored flames when thrown onto wood fires. Fire salts contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if swallowed. Keep them away from children.
    2. Do not burn wrapping paper in the fireplace. A flash fire may result because wrappings can ignite suddenly and burn intensely.

    Smoke alarms

    1. CPSC recommends having working smoke alarms on every floor of the home and in every bedroom. The early warning provided by smoke alarms saves lives.
    2. Test your smoke alarms every month to make sure they are working properly.
    3. Change batteries in smoke alarms every year.

    You can also find more fire safety tips and information in our fire safety information center.

  • Toddler suffers serious burns to his feet at splash pad

    On a very hot day in a Greenwood, IN, public park, a young toddler walked away from his mother onto the “splashpad” made of an asphalt like material.  The child began screaming and the mother ultimately put his shoes back on and took him to the doctor’s. He suffered 2nd Degree burns on the bottoms of his feet.​  Park officials are now warning parents that on hot days, ground surfaces will heat up!

    Read the article at AOL News

  • Police warn that drugs that look like candy may be present

    NEW YORK (FOX5NY) –

    Authorities in a city in upstate New York are concerned that drugs that look like candy may soon hit the community.

    Police in Elmira, a city in the Southern Tier, issued a press release with the subject line “Candy warning- Danger to children” about a narcotic trend that “may be present in the area.”

    Read the details at http://www.fox5ny.com/news/256481631-story

  • Rock One Sock

    Rock One Sock

    This May, we’re asking you to Rock One Sock for missing children and their families! The idea is simple – missing children’s issues don’t affect everyone directly, but anyone can show they care. When you Rock One Sock that’s your symbol of support. You can help just by raising awareness with Rock One Sock and by donating to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

    Here’s how it works:
    Wear one sock and take a picture or video to show how you rocked that sock!
    Post it to social media using the hashtag #RockOneSock
    Donate to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children to support our work to bring missing children home and challenge your friends to do the same!

    Join Us & Rock One Sock
    during the month of May to show your support in time for
    National Missing Children’s Day on May 25!
    Let’s show missing children and their families that they are not forgotten
    and that people everywhere care about them.

    Donate Here!

  • Vehicle Heatstroke Prevention

    Take Action
    Heatstroke is the leading cause of vehicular non-crash-related deaths for children under 14. In fact, each year, an average of 37 children have died from vehicle heatstroke between 1998-2015.

    While it seems like an impossible mistake to make, every parent or caregiver can potentially become distracted, and distractions often fuel this devastating situation.

    No one is immune. Yet, this tragedy is 100% preventable.

    We each have a role to play to help keep our kids safe. Help us share live-saving tips and resources with as many people as we can.

  • Smokey, the Bear, said, “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires!” And, in my view, he was right!

    Traditionally, we don’t think of springtime as a time to be particularly aware of fires and fire safety, but it is a time when we should be especially aware. As warmer weather approaches, fun involving family, friends and kids, moves to the outdoors with activities like hiking, picnicking and camping picking up steam. The more people camp, the greater likelihood of campfires. And frequently, people who are not necessarily familiar with fires and fire safety travel to wooded areas to share that first breath of spring. Ironically, that breath could be filled with smoke if people are not careful or simply don’t know… campfire safety.

    [wrc_column grid=”3″ width=”2″ type=”start”]As any Boy Scout will tell you, before you build a fire in a campground or wooded area, consult the area’s Park Ranger, to see if there are particular burning or campfire rules or other information regarding fire associated with that particular Park. It may not be a good time to burn, period! Once you know the rules, you need to look around your proposed campfire site. Note your location–where you and your fire will be in case of any emergency! Are there hanging branches or dry brush within a radius of ten feet from your proposed fire or grill? Sparks or burning particles from your fire can travel on a current of air, so you had better make sure the vicinity of your proposed campfire is clear of any burnable debris, hanging branches, dry brush, and grass (or any other object!) that could burn and cause sparks to fly and that there is no wind! Make sure there are no flammable items in the area of your proposed campfire–and that includes clothing, chair pillows, toys, etc.[/wrc_column][wrc_column grid=”3″ width=”1″ type=”end”][/wrc_column]
    Once you have cleared all debris, (including grass and garbage) from a five-foot ring around your proposed campfire, so that cleared soil is exposed in that five-foot ring, you can place rocks around the ring to help contain the campfire, and begin to build your campfire.

    When building a fire, you should have water nearby (and if your camper or RV has one, as it should, a fire extinguisher is an added safety device). A shovel and a bucket, for dirt or water, to help douse the fire when you are done toasting or roasting or just keeping warm is also a necessity. Start to lay your fire by building a teepee of small firewood adding larger dry pieces of wood as the fire grows. Do not use “firelighter” or other flammable liquids or kerosene to start your fire as the fire may grow too large and get out of hand very quickly! Who’s watching the fire? Someone needs to keep an eye on the fire at all times. This is not a joke. If this is a sleep-over, make sure to put out your campfire completely before hitting the sack. Douse the fire with water and/or dirt and make sure the coals are stirred and cold before leaving that campfire site.

    We are fortunate to have excellent parks in America and areas where people can get out-of-doors to enjoy natural surroundings. We need to protect our woodland areas and parks, so that they can continue to be enjoyed by all. Remember Smokey’s warning, “Only YOU can prevent forest fires!” Please, if you smoke, remember to properly extinguish cigarettes while in a wooded area or park. Ninety (90) percent of wildfires in the United States are caused by humans.

  • It’s Storm Season! Are You and Your Kids Prepared?

    You’ve probably noticed the high temperatures throughout the Country lately, and the frequent severe thunderstorm warnings broadcast by television, radio and the Internet’s weather websites. Pay attention to these warnings. Storms have caused flooding recently in West Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Wisconsin and Minnesota, to name only a few states.

    Downpours falling into creeks, tributaries and rivers can cause flood waters to rise fast. In the end-June storm in West Virginia, at least 26 people were estimated to have died as a result of the flooding in Kanawha County. Downed trees and power lines also caused major power outages. A 4-year old was swept away by flood waters in Jackson County, and an 8-year old Ravenswood boy was killed as a result of the storm. (www.cnn.com/2016/06/24/us/west-virginia-flooding-deaths/)

    You can’t be too prepared for disastrous flooding. There are some things you can do now to help mitigate the effects of storms on you and your family. Here is a storm preparation checklist from the Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) along with a few safety tips you can use:

    Things You Need Before the Storm Strikes to Be Safe:

    1. Flashlights with fresh batteries. Test your flashlights to make sure they work.
    2. Battery-powered radio or TV, with extra batteries. Again test it to make sure!
    3. Land-line phone with cord–cordless phones require electricity. But, make sure
      if you do not have a land-line that you have a cell phone and it is charged. (However,
      remember if the cell towers are down or knocked out there may be no service.)
    4. Battery-powered or wind-up alarm clock.
    5. Accessible supply of bottled water.
    6. Non-perishable foods that require no heating.
    7. Blankets, bedding or sleeping bags.
    8. First-aid kit and your prescription medications (make sure your kit is also up to date!).
    9. Hand-operated can opener (to open those canned non-perishable foods).
    10. Any special items for infants, the elderly or family members with special needs.
    11. Some hand-tools (pliers, wrench, hammer–if you need to break a window…)
    12. List of emergency phone numbers and the phone number of your power company.
    13. ID and copies of important family documents in a waterproof container.
    14. Some cash (ATMs may be unavailable).

    The REC also recommends that you NEVER touch ANY downed electric or other wire and stay at least 50 feet from ANY downed line. Do not attempt to remove any trees or debris from downed lines. Immediately report downed power lines by calling 911.