News/Events
Think Healthy | October - November 2009
Health Briefs
Make Sure Your Child Wears a Bike Helmet
Bike injuries are a leading cause of nonfatal accidental injury in children. Kids between the ages of 5 and 14 were injured most often. Overall, most kids were treated and released from the emergency department right away. But those with head injuries were three times as likely to be admitted to the hospital as those with other kinds of injuries. Be sure your child wears a bike helmet. Research shows helmets can lower risk for head injury by 85 percent.
Be smart—protect your head! Our FREE brochure on helmet safety includes a safety checklist and what to look for in a bike helmet. Supplies are limited, so call 417-625-2000 for your free copy today!
Adult Vaccine Update
Every year the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices reviews the adult vaccine schedule to make sure it is up-to-date. For 2009, no new vaccines were added. But the schedule was revised to clarify a few points. Among them:
- Adults should receive two doses of the chickenpox vaccine if not previously vaccinated or a second dose if they have received only one dose.
- If you smoke or have asthma, you are among those suggested to receive the pneumonia vaccine.
For updates on the adult vaccine schedule, visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines.
St. John's is offering “drive thru" flu shots for adults on Wednesday, October 14, 7 to 11 a.m. Call 417-625-2000 for more information.
Kids Still Safe with Grandpa and Grandma
The number of grandparents who provide child care is on the rise. Some have raised concern that older adults might have outdated safety practices. To find out if kids are at greater risk for harm when in a grandparent’s care, researchers looked at data on 3,000 medically attended toddler injuries across the U.S. for one year. No link was found between higher injury rates and care by grandparents.
Save the date! Get the grandkids some fun stocking stuffers at the Masquerade $5 Jewelry Sale November 30 and December 1. See the Calendar of Events for details.