|
|
How To Heal Cuts and Scrapes  (ARA) - It's something every parent has experienced. Your children are outside playing when an accidental scrape or minor cut turns their laughter into tears. Here's what you need to know to promote proper healing so that everyone can get back to enjoying the sun:
1) The first thing to remember is that any time there is a break in the skin, there is danger of infection, so make sure to wash your hands properly before caring for the wound.
2) Most minor wounds usually stop bleeding on their own, but if they don't, apply direct pressure to the wound with a non-stick pad or gauze pad until it stops.
3) Clean the wound using lukewarm, running water to wash away surface particles and dirt.
4) Cleaning the area around the wound with soap and water reduces the risk of infection.
5) Most minor cuts and scrapes will heal just fine without antibiotic ointment, but applying a product such as SilvaSorb Gel can speed healing and has been shown to be effective against MRSA and other antibiotic-resistant organisms.
6) Although some people may say to let the wound "breathe," standard medical advice is to cover it up with an adhesive bandage. Curad makes special bandages that are designed to fit kid-sized wounds and are filled with fun colors and characters.
7) Be sure to cleanse the wound and change the bandage at least daily or whenever it becomes wet or dirty. | Back-to-school Means Homework for Parents Too  (ARA) - As teens head back to the classroom this fall, they’ll be assigned a lot of homework in the three “Rs”: reading, writing, and arithmetic. Important to students’ success will be the homework parents do in teaching two other “Rs”: role modeling and responsibility.
“A parent’s words and actions provide powerful role modeling,” explains Lonnie Carton, PhD, director of teen and family resources for the Web-based “Warm2Kids” program and an advisory panel member of the “Family Talk About Drinking” program. “They teach teens what kind of behavior is expected of them and how to make good decisions. Responsible decisions include obeying the law and not getting involved in underage drinking.”
Although some parents think peer pressure is the major cause of underage drinking, the fact is parents, not peers, have the greatest influence on their teens’ choices related to this issue. According to the 2008 GfK Roper Youth Report(TM) , 71 percent of teenagers 13 to 17 say their parents are the No. 1 influence on their decisions about whether to drink.
“Parents who communicate with their sons and daughters regularly, openly and honestly on a variety of issues find it much easier to talk with and listen to them on sensitive subjects like alcohol,” Carton advises. “At the start of this new school year, I encourage mothers and fathers to take the time to sit down with their children. Discuss expectations, and emphasize the importance of making wise choices not only about underage drinking but about all other decisions.”
Carton offers these guidelines to parents for remaining a positive influence in the lives of teens:
Be Factual. Give teens the facts about underage drinking in a calm, clear manner. Simply say something like, “It’s against the law for anyone under 21 to use alcohol; our family obeys the law and we expect you to do the same.”
Know Your Child’s Friends and Their Parents. Being aware of other families’ values and rules will help you better understand what pressure your child’s friends may be putting on him or her.
Get Help if You Need It. Be aware of any changes in your teen’s behavior or attitude such as suddenly doing poorly in school, hanging out with a different group of friends whom you don't know, or becoming disinterested in sports, music or other activities which once meant a lot, etc. If such changes occur, seek professional advice right away.
For more tips and information on responsible role-modeling, visit www.myspace.com/positiveparenting. For “Family Talk About Drinking” materials, visit www.familytalkonline.com or call (800) 359-TALK (1-800-359-8255). The materials are provided free-of-charge as a community service of Anheuser-Busch.
Courtesy of ARAcontent | Young Kids Twice as Likely to Get the Flu as Adults  It’s Not too Early to Vaccinate Kids Against The Flu (ARA) - School-age children would rather do chores, take a test or do homework than have to stay at home sick, according to the recent MedImmune Parent-Child Influenza Survey conducted by Harris Interactive. Being sick, they say, makes them feel bored, annoyed, gross and even sad. The National Center for Health Statistics estimates 38 million school days are missed each year by kids sick with the flu - that’s a lot of unhappy children.
Parents can help kids avoid missing school because of the sniffles, aches and pains associated with the flu by making sure they get a flu vaccination every year as recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There is even more emphasis on this for the 2008-2009 season, as an advisory panel for the CDC recently expanded its flu vaccination recommendations to include all school-age children through 18 years of age. And, they recommend kids be vaccinated as soon as vaccine is available for the season.
“Unfortunately, while many parents are aware that they can have their children vaccinated against the flu, according to a recent flu survey, too few parents think their children need to be,” says Dr. Norman "Chip" Harbaugh, a pediatrician with the Children's Medical Group in Atlanta. “It’s important that parents understand that the flu can be a serious illness and they should act now to vaccinate their children.”
If flu vaccine is available at your health care provider’s office when your kids go in for back-to-school check-ups, sports physicals or annual well-child visits, see if you can check flu vaccination off of your “to-do” list for the fall. Many offices and clinics may already have a supply of the needle-free, nasal spray flu vaccine FluMist (Influenza Virus Vaccine Live, Intranasal), which is approved for eligible people 2 to 49 years of age and has been shown to help provide protection throughout the flu season, even when administered early. By vaccinating during already-scheduled visits more children can be protected, which is especially important given the expanded flu recommendations.
Regardless of which kind of influenza vaccine option you choose, the important thing is to get vaccinated -- every year. This is especially important for young children, who are twice as likely as adults to get the flu each year. The flu is more than just a cold, it’s a contagious disease that can be easily transmitted from person to person. In addition to fever, sore throat and headache, flu symptoms may also include fatigue and muscle aches that can last for more than two weeks.
Visit www.FluMist.com for more information on FluMist availability in your area as well as important safety information and complete prescribing information.
Courtesy of ARAcontent |
|