Child Passenger Safety Week

The leading cause of death for children in the U.S. are road injuries. Having a child in a proper car seat and buckled properly can reduce infant fatality in a crash by 71%. September 19th-25th is national child passenger safety week so there is no better time to make sure your children are riding safe every time they are in a car! Experts estimate that over half of car seats are installed incorrectly.

Checking your car seats:

• Take advantage of car seat safety checks

• If you are pregnant, have your seat installed by a certified tech and have them show you how to properly install the seat.

• The life of most car seats are about 6 to 10 years. Always check for the expiration date on the seat. Get rid of any that are past that date.

• Ensure your seat is not under recall. That can be done by visiting  https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/childseat.cfm or by registering your seat, so all recalls come straight to you.

• Always refer to care seat manufacturer instructions and your vehicles instructions on how to position seats and secure children properly.

• The harness straps should be snug enough that excess cannot be pinched between your fingers

• Always make sure the chest clip is at armpit level

• NEVER use items in, on, or around a car seat that do not come from the car seat manufacturer. They may prevent the seat from working properly in a crash

• Make sure your child is not wearing a coat or other bulky clothing when buckled into their seat. These items may prevent the harness from working properly in a crash

• ALWAYS replace car seats after a crash of any kind

Ensure all passengers are safe:

• All children, 12 and under, should ride in the back seat especially if they are in any kind of child restraint.

• Don’t negotiate seat belts or car seat restraints with your child; don’t drive until they are buckled properly

• Wear your own seat belt to model to children that buckling up is important

• Air bags can be life saving to adults and older children but can be deadly to young children

  • Make sure young children don’t sit in the front seat

  • NEVER install a rear-facing car seat in a front seat near an airbag.

Follow Missouri laws:

• Children less than 4 OR less than 40 pounds should be in an appropriate child safety seat

• Children ages 4-7 who are at least 40 pounds must be in an appropriate child safety seat or booster seat UNLESS they are 80 pounds OR 4’9”

• Children 8 and older OR weighing 80 pounds OR 4’9” should be secured with a lab and should seat belt or booster seat

• ALWAYS check the height and weight of car seat and booster seats to ensure the seat is still appropriate for the child.

Protecting children in a car doesn’t have to be difficult! If you would like a certified tech to check your car seat or help you install a new car seat please call 636-797-3737. If you are struggling to afford a proper seat please visit https://www.jeffcohealth.org/community-health and fill out the form. A tech will reach out to you for more information and help find a seat that is right for you!

For more information on when to change seats, how to install a seat, or how to find the right fit please visit https://ucsg.safekids.org/

About the Author: Megan Winkelmann has been a Community Health Educator with the Jefferson County Health Department for just over two years. She attended Truman State University earning a bachelor’s degree in Health Science with a minor in Biology. While working for JCHD she attended A.T. Still University to earn her master’s degree in Public Health. Megan was born and raised in Jefferson County and enjoys creating programs that encourage healthy habits in the place she was raised. Megan likes to spend her free in time in the presence of family and friends.

Children Capitalizing on Calcium

Did you know that we stop building bone mass around the age of 30? After this point, the goal switches to maintaining as much of that bone mass as possible for as long as possible. For this reason, it is important to focus on bone health throughout childhood. The two main contributors to building healthy bones are consuming a variety of nutrients and weight-bearing exercise.

Calcium and Vitamin D are especially important to consume. Vitamin D fortified milk is a great source of both of these nutrients. Other sources of calcium include cheese, yogurt, almonds, and broccoli. Additional sources of vitamin D include egg yolks, mushrooms, salmon, and tuna.

Weight-bearing exercises also promote bone growth. This is another great reason to find your favorite way to get your body moving- whether it be running, jump roping, basketball, or even dancing!

For additional information, feel free to check out the article below:

https://www.eatright.org/health/wellness/preventing-illness/now-is-the-time-to-build-your-childs-bone-bank-account

About the author:

Megan Lash has been a Registered Dietitian with the Jefferson County Health Department for approximately two years. She provides individual and group nutrition counseling as well as community presentations. Megan’s favorite ways to stay active are lifting weights and walking her dog, Tucker.

National Immunization Awareness Month

Get back on track with routine vaccinations.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). This annual observance highlights the importance of getting recommended vaccines throughout your life. We know the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all aspects of life, including your ability to attend important appointments and receive routine vaccinations. During NIAM, we encourage you to talk to your doctor, nurse or healthcare professional to ensure you and your family are protected against serious diseases by getting caught up on routine vaccination.

We also encourage you to visit CDC’s Growing Up with Vaccines interactive guide, which provides information on the vaccines recommended during pregnancy, throughout childhood, and into adulthood.

As your children head back to school this fall, it’s particularly important for you to work with your child’s doctor or nurse to make sure they get caught up on missed well-child visits and recommended vaccines.

Remember to take care of yourself too! Make sure to receive any vaccines you need to stay healthy. Use CDC’s adult vaccine assessment tool to see which vaccines might be right for you.

August is also a critical time for those who are eligible to get vaccinated against COVID-19. To learn more about COVID-19 vaccination, check out the following websites:

• Your COVID-19 Vaccination | CDC

• COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens | CDC

As the Summer Heats Up, Keep your Cool about Water Safety

Your favorite swimming spot can be a great place to cool off during the sweltering summer heat. However, before you dive in you should be aware of all the potential water hazards at both your neighborhood swimming pool and the local river that can potentially put you and your family at risk.

Being safe around water has always been a close and important issue of mine. I grew up swimming all summer at my local pool. Then through my high school and college years I worked as a lifeguard and pool manager, spending hours upon hours scanning pool waters keeping others safe and looking for any potentially distressed swimmers, teaching countless number of kiddos in swim lessons, and training dozens of lifeguards the lifesaving techniques we hoped would never have to be used. In my eight years I was lucky to witness only a few close calls! Most of the time I saw firsthand how easy it was to be safe while still having fun. By preparing yourself and your family before you head to the local swimming hole, you can help keep everyone safe.

Often times we think of the public pool when we think of water safety, however other common swimming destinations like rivers and lakes require more knowledge due to their additional potential hazards. There are many important safety tips to remember, some of the most important ones are:

Be aware of potential hazards of the area you are going and take appropriate precautions:

• Unexpected changes in weather

• Fast moving currents

• Hazards such as dams, underwater obstacles, rocks, or debris

• Vegetation that could entangle your feet

• Rapid drop – offs (or shallows)

Establish and Enforce Rules and Safe Behaviors:

• Always enter unknown water cautiously and feet first

• Dive only in water clearly marked as safe for diving, at least 9 feet deep with no underwater obstacles.

• Do not enter the water from a height, such as a bridge or boat.

• Be careful when standing to prevent being knocked over by currents or waves.

• Swim sober.

• Supervise others sober and without distractions, such as reading or talking on or using a cell phone.

• Swim with a buddy.

Take these Water Safety Steps:

• Have layers of protection including barriers to prevent access to water, life jackets, and close supervision of children to prevent drowning.

• Ensure every member of your family learns to swim so they at least achieve skills of water competency: able to enter the water, get a breath, stay afloat, change position, swim a distance then get out of the water safely.

• Know what to do in a water emergency – including how to help someone in trouble in the water safely, call for emergency help and CPR.

 Spending time outdoors at the lake or pool are great ways to spend the warm summer months and remembering to properly prepare will make sure each outing is fun and safe! If you would like additional safety tips on keeping you are your family safe around water, which you can find them here on this easy one page list! https://www.usbr.gov/watersafety/docs/RedCrossWaterSafety.pdf

Author: Adam Peters

Adam is the Community Engagement Team Lead/Health Educator at the Health Department. Adam has been with JCHD for over 3 years, and in the field of public health for close to 6 years! He has lived all over the Midwest; after growing up in Nebraska and earning a bachelor’s in Psychobiology from the University of Nebraska – Kearney, he went on to Indiana to earn his master’s degree in Public Health with a Social and Behavioral Sciences Emphasis from Indiana University. Adam enjoys working with county youth to help build strong, healthy habits they can take with them for the rest of their lives! In his free time he enjoys woodworking and hiking with his wife Morgan.

 Sources: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/water-safety/lake-river-safety.html

May is Mental Health Month

This past year presented so many different challenges and obstacles that tested our strength and resiliency. The global pandemic forced us to cope with situations we never even imagined, and a lot of us struggled with our mental health as a result. The good news is that there are tools and resources available that can support the well-being of individuals and communities.

Now, more than ever, we need to combat the stigma surrounding mental health concerns. That’s why this Mental Health Month we are highlighting #Tools2Thrive - what individuals can do throughout their daily lives to prioritize mental health, build resiliency, and continue to cope with the obstacles of COVID-19.

Throughout the pandemic, many people who had never experienced mental health challenges found themselves struggling for the first time. During the month of May, we are focusing on different topics that can help process the events of the past year and the feelings that surround them, while also building up skills and supports that extend beyond COVID-19.

We know that the past year forced many to accept tough situations that they had little to no control over. If you found that it impacted your mental health, you aren’t alone. In fact, of the almost half a million individuals that took the anxiety screening at MHAscreening.org, 79% showed symptoms of moderate to severe anxiety. However, there are practical tools that can help improve your mental health. We are focused on managing anger and frustration, recognizing when trauma may be affecting your mental health, challenging negative thinking patterns, and making time to take care of yourself.

It’s important to remember that working on your mental health and finding tools that help you thrive takes time. Change won’t happen overnight. Instead, by focusing on small changes, you can move through the stressors of the past year and develop long-term strategies to support yourself on an ongoing basis.

A great starting point for anyone who is ready to start prioritizing their mental health is to take a mental health screening at MHAscreening.org. It’s a quick, free, and confidential way for someone to assess their mental health and begin finding hope and healing.

Ultimately, during this month of May, Jefferson County Health Department wants to remind everyone that mental illnesses are real, and recovery is possible. By developing your own #Tools2Thrive, it is possible to find balance between life’s ups and downs and continue to cope with the challenges brought on by the pandemic.

For more information, worksheets, and resources, visit www.mhanational.org/may.