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Education

Using Information on the Web Site

The information provided in this web site is intended to educate the reader about certain medical conditions and certain possible treatments. It is not a substitute for examination, diagnosis, and medical care provided by a licensed and qualified health professional. If you believe you, or your child, or someone you know, suffer from the conditions described herein, please see your health care provider. Do not attempt to treat yourself, your child, or anyone else without proper medical supervision.

Interactive Safety House

Youth Smoking Prevention

Information on smoking and children

Bike/Helmet

The day you buy your child his first “big kid’s” bike. The day you remove the training wheels and watch him pedal away on his own. The day he heads to his friend’s house without asking you for a ride. These are milestones in both of your lives. So much more than a toy, a bicycle represents independence for your children.

Unfortunately, bicycles are more than a toy in another sense, too: they are associated with more childhood injuries than any consumer product except the automobile. In 2001, 134 children ages 14 and under died in bicycle-related crashes and in 2002, more nearly 288,900 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for bicycle-related injuries.

That’s why it’s so important to teach your kids bike safety as they enjoy their increased independence. You can greatly reduce your children’s risk of injury and death simply by setting some limits. A single rule – wear a helmet – can reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent. Explore the links below to learn more.

Nearly half of bike-related hospitalizations are diagnosed as traumatic brain injury.

ATV All Terrain Vehicles

Injury Facts
All-Terrain Vehicle Injury

As bigger and faster ATVs have been introduced over the past decade, ATV-related deaths and injuries have increased substantially in every age group. From 1997 to 2001, injury rates increased 23 percent for children ages 6 to 12 and 233 percent for children younger than 6.

ATVs are motorized vehicles with large, low-pressure tires. They are usually designed to carry one rider on an uneven surface and are generally used for recreation and farm, ranch and industrial work. Adult-sized ATVs have engines larger than 90cc. The average adult-sized ATV has an engine between 229cc and 649cc. These vehicles weigh between 400 and 600 pounds and can travel at speeds well above 70 miles per hour. Youth-sized ATVs come in various designs. Manufacturers’ guidelines suggest that children under age 16 should operate ATVs with engines smaller than 90cc and children ages 6 to 12 should operate ATVs with engines between 70cc and 90cc.

PREVENTION TIPS

Children under 6 should never ride ATVs.
No child under 16 should operate an adult-sized all-terrain vehicle under any circumstances. If a child operates a youth-sized ATV, it should be according to the manufacturer’s instructions on a machine that is an appropriate size for the child.
To ensure safe operation, adults should supervise all children operating ATVs.
Parents should consider a child's physical, mental and emotional maturity when deciding if the child is ready to operate a youth-sized ATV.
Children should never operate ATVs on public roads or paved surfaces. ATVs should be operated only on designated trails.
All youth-sized ATVs should employ throttle limiters and be equipped with identification flags.
Personal protective equipment for ATV operators should include U.S. Department of Transportation-approved helmet with face protection, goggles (if the helmet does not have face protection), a long-sleeved shirt or long pants, non-skid boots and gloves.
Never carry passengers on ATVs.
Children and their parent or guardian should enroll in and successfully complete an approved ATV safety course.

National SAFE KIDS Campaign (NSKC). ATV Injury Fact SheetWashington (DC): NSKC, 2004.

Sodas

According to two recent publications from the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents and schools are being cautioned more strongly than ever on the negative effects of excessive soft drink consumption.

One 12-oz. Soda can, can have up to ten teaspoonfuls of sugar and 150 kilocalories. Soft drinks have been associated with dental caries, weak bones, fractures and obesity. In fact, one study even maintained t hat drinking one can of soda per day can increase a child’s risk for obesity by 60 percent! Soft drinks interfere with calcium deposition and total body bone mass. This latter point is important because just under half of a person’s total bone mass is laid down during adolescence. Regular soda drinking can take this number down by approximately five to ten percent, making fractures more likely.

Legislation is now being forwarded to push elementary and high schools to remove vending machines that sell sodas from their cafeterias. Parents can make a difference too! As the primary food provider in your household, you can offer your child or teen healthy nutritional alternatives. Real fruit and vegetable juices, water and low-fat white or flavored milk are excellent choices.

Cited resources

“Soft Drinks in Schools”, PEDIATRICS, Vol. 113, No.1, January 2004

O’Keefe, Lori, “Policy: Students and soft drinks not a good mix” AAP NEWS, Vol.24, No.2, February 2004