Radio spots for the week of 11/02/08.  Broadcast on KKOY, KALN, KKOW, and KIND

Topic #1

And once again, I may be a week or so late, but better late than never.  National Teen Driver Safety Week was October 19-25.  And I quote from the October 17th MMWR, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.  In 2006, a total of over 4,000 teens aged 16-19 years died, and nearly 400,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries sustained in motor-vehicle crashes in the U.S.  By delaying full driving privileges so that teens can gain driving experience under low-risk conditions, comprehensive graduated driver licensing systems can reduce fatal and nonfatal injury crashes of drivers aged 16 years by as much as 38% and 40% respectively.  Extending the learner permit period, restricting night-time driving, and limiting teen passengers each contribute to crash reductions.  Rasing the minimum drinking age to 21, and enforcing “zero” blood alcohol levels for teen drivers also have reduced motor-vehicle-related deaths and injuries.  Information about teen driving can be found on the web sites of the CDC, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  End of quote.  In the same issue of MMWR, was a report on “Car surfing”, a term coined in the mid-1980s to describe a thrill-seeking activity that involves riding on the exterior of a moving motor vehicle while it is being driven by someone else.  The CDC reported 58 deaths and 41 nonfatal injuries over the preceding 20 years.  Most reports came from newspapers in the Midwest and South, and most injuries were in males aged 15-19 years.  All I can say is, don’t do this. Parent supervision is so important during those teen years when not only is there no common sense, but there is an abundance of risk taking activities.  ‘Tis amazing the species has survived.  Be sure your kid is one of them, at least with no car surfing.  Give that kid a hug.  I’m Dr. Greta McFarland

Topic #2

“Bone up on new Vitamin D recommendations” is the name of an article in a recent AAP News, from the American Academy of Pediatrics.  It tells of new guidelines for Vitamin D supplements for kids.  The problem seems to be we are seeing an increase in rickets, a bone disease due to low levels of vitamin D.  Most recently, we’ve found that mothers are low in Vitamin D which puts breast feeding infants at risk.  At this time, studies haven’t been done on enough mothers to know how much Vitamin D they need to take to avoid this problem.  Dark skinned infants are at a particular risk.  The new recommendations are for all infants, children and adolescents to take in a minimum of 400 International Units (or IU) of Vitamin D a day.  Breast feeding babies need to start the vitamin supplement within the first few days of life.  This is a change from recommendations in the past that said we should have breast feeding babies start the multivitamin with iron and Vitamin D after 2 months of age.  Infants taking formula are already getting Vitamin D.  Now in the past, the main source of Vitamin D was through skin exposure to UVB light.  As we have tried to limit the sun exposure, so we don’t get burned and thus cause an increase chance of skin cancer, we also have limited our exposure to Vitamin D.  Use of sunblock or anything that will limit UVB light does the same thing.  The major dietary source of Vitamin D for most kids is fortified milk products.  It takes 32 ounces of fortified milk to get 400 IU.  Currently, it is recommended to get at least 3 servings of milk or 24 ounces.  Keep in mind that not all dairy products are Vitamin D fortified, so … here comes the old mantra…. “Read the label”!  Be sure your child has healthy bones, and give those bones a hug every now and then.  I’m Dr. Greta McFarland

Topic #3

Do you know your child’s BMI?  That’s the Body Mass Index, a combination of weight and height, that is thought more accurate in defining overweight, obese, or underweight.  Now, as an adult, you may know your BMI as a number, like 22, or 30.  The adult numbers stay the same after we quit growing… up that is.  A normal BMI for an adult is up to 25, while overweight is 25 to 30, and obesity is over 30.  Kids are different.  Due to growing trends, we can’t give a set number.  The BMI for kids actually decreases, or takes a dip, from ages 2 thorough about 4 years, then starts increasing.   So we use the percentiles for kids, rather than a number like for adults.  You need to know your child’s BMI percentile.  Kid overweight is a BMI from the 85th and the 95%ile.  Obesity is a BMI over the 95%ile.  Well, that was a longwinded intro to an article in the August journal of Pediatrics, where a study of almost 16,000 kindergarteners in Washington State, showed that 12% were obese.  More obese kids were in child day care settings with family, friend or neighbor care, as compared to those being taken care of daily by their parents.  The exception to this was for the Latino children who were more obese in the home setting.  I thought this important to mention, for two reasons:  one, for parents who have other people taking care of your kids, whether it is grandparents or your next door neighbor, be sure you visit with them about what you want your child to eat, and be sure it is healthy.  And, two, if you are taking care of someone else’s child, be sure you take responsibility to talk with the parent about what you are feeding.  Include those 5 vegetables and fruits, 3 milk servings and 2 proteins, and limit the sugared drinks, and sweets and salty snacks.  Oh, and if you don’t know your child’s BMI percentile, ask your doctor the next time you visit.  Give that kid a hug.  I’m Dr. Greta McFarland