Upcoming Library Programs
10 years ago
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New Sunscreen Labels to Help you Get the Best Protection
Beginning next summer the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is changing sunscreen labels to make it easier for you to pick a product that offers the protection level you want. The labels will clearly tell whether a sunscreen protects against sunburn, skin cancer and signs of premature skin aging; and whether it is a broad spectrum product.
Broad spectrum sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher will protect against all three. Anything less than 15 SPF will only protect against sunburn and soon will be labeled with a warning that reads "Skin cancer/skin aging alert: Spending time in the sun increases your risk of skin cancer and early skin aging. This product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn, not skin cancer or early skin aging". Future labels will also include information on how much time a user can expect to get the declared SPF level of protection while swimming or sweating.
Spending time in the sun increases the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging. To reduce this risk, consumers should regularly use sun protection measures including:
- Use sunscreens with broad spectrum SPF values of 15 or higher regularly and as directed.
- Limit time in the sun, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun’s rays are most intense.
- Wear clothing to cover skin exposed to the sun; for example, long-sleeved shirts, pants, sunglasses, and broad-brimmed hats.
- Reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours, more often if you’re sweating or jumping in and out of the water.
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Improve the Air Quality this Summer
The Air Quality Index is a tool used to express the local air quality on a daily basis to help you determine if there are any health risks. The AQI is expressed on a scale from 0 to 500 with the higher scores indicating greater levels of air pollution and health concerns. There are six color coded AQI categories that range from "good" to "hazardous". Follow this link to check the air quality in your area and obtain important information.
Some groups (children, older adults, and people with lung or heart disease) are more sensitive to poor air quality and may need to take extra precautions by avoiding prolonged periods or heavy outdoor activity.
You can take steps to improve the air quality index this summer by:
- Refueling your car after dusk
- Limiting engine idling
- Avoiding using gas powered lawn equipment
- Conserving electricity and set your air conditioner at a higher temperature
- Combining trips or using public transportation
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Florida KidCare health insurance
Child Health Insurance
You Can Afford
Through Florida KidCare, the state of Florida offers health insurance for children from birth through age 18, even if one or both parents are working. It includes four different parts. When you apply for the insurance, Florida KidCare will check which part your child may qualify for based on age and family income.- MEDIKIDS: children ages 1 through 4.
- HEALTHY KIDS: children ages 5 through 18.
- CHILDREN’S MEDICAL SERVICES NETWORK: children birth through 18 who have special health care needs.
- MEDICAID: children birth through 18. A child who has other health insurance may still qualify for Medicaid.
Some of the services Florida KidCare covers are:- Doctor visits
- Check-ups and shots
- Hospital
- Surgery
- Prescriptions
- Emergencies
- Vision and hearing
- Dental
- Mental health
Follow this link for information on eligibility and cost.
There are several ways to apply for Florida KidCare:- Apply online or
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Featured Condtion/Disease: Heart Disease
We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Heart Disease.
Definition
Heart disease, also called cardiac disease, is a heart defect. The word cardiac refers to the heart. Cardiac or heart disease means the heart muscle can't properly deliver oxygen and other essentials to the organs and tissues. Heart disease includes many different conditions. The heart pumps blood all over the body to bring oxygen and nutrients to the cells of the body.
Evaluation/Screening
If you have a child from the age from birth to three years old, you can have your child screened for heart disease through the Florida Early Steps program. Click here to see a list of Early Steps offices in your area.
More Information
To get more information, click here.
*Most of the information provided here is from the Teach More/Love More site, click here to visit their site.
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Featured Condtion/Disease: Sciolosis
We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Sciolosis.
Definition
Scoliosis is not a disease, but rather a word describing a condition of the spine (also called a backbone) when very curved. Some curves are normal in the spine. Some places we all usually have curves are in the neck, in the upper back and in the lower back. We need these spinal curves to help the upper body maintain proper balance. Curves in the spine to the left or right are not normal, and are called scoliosis.
A child can be born with scoliosis. A child can develop the lateral curves gradually over childhood. We don't know what causes most cases of scoliosis. The curvature of the spine from scoliosis may develop as a single curve like the letter C or as two curves shaped like the letter S.
Signs
Most parents first notice that their child has a crooked back or the body looks asymmetrical (one side looks higher than the other or the child looks tilted). Things to watch for:
- Walks with the head tilted.
- Shoulder blade (a bone in the back) sticks out.
- A tilted hip bone or one hip or shoulder higher than the other.
- Leans to one side when standing or walking.
To get more information about Sciolosis, click here.
*Most of the information provided here is from the Teach More/Love More site, click here to visit their site.
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Featured Condition/Disease: Muscular Dystrophy
We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Muscular Dystrophy.
Definition
Muscular Dystrophy (MD) is a degenerative disease in which the muscles of the body get weaker and weaker and slowly stop working. Degenerative means the condition worsens slowly over time. Your child's muscles need many different kinds of proteins to stay healthy. When you hear the word "protein" you might think of such food as meat and peanut butter that contain protein. Your body also makes proteins, and your genes tell your body how to make proteins your muscles need. Children with muscular dystrophy have genes that have the wrong information or leave out important information, so the body can't make these proteins properly. Without these proteins, the muscles break down and weaken over time. As this happens to muscles, children with muscular dystrophy begin to have problems with the way their bodies work.
Types
Among the nine types of muscular dystrophy, seven affect children. The seven types are:
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Theprotein dystrophin helps to keep muscle cells whole and healthy. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy happens when this protein is missing. It usually begins in early childhood (between the ages of 2 to 6). Duchenne eventually affects the heart and breathing muscles. Children with this kind of Muscular Dystrophy don't usually live beyond the early 30s.
Becker Muscular Dystrophy: This form of MD also happens when the body does not make enough of the protein dystrophin. It is very similar to Duchenne MD but often less severe. Many children with this type of MD have heart problems. Children with Becker's MD though usually live to middle age older.
Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy: This type is caused by a sudden change in the genes that produce proteins in the muscle cells. Each cell has a nucleus surrounded by a membrane where the proteins are suddenly changed. It usually begins by age 10. This type of MD progresses slowly. Heart complications are common.
Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy: This type is caused by a change in any one of a possible 15 genes that affect proteins the body needs for muscles to work. The beginning of this form of MD can occur anytime during childhood through adulthood. Limb-Girdle usually progresses slowly.
Faciosapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy: It is usually diagnosed by age 20. Faciosapulohumeral MD usually progresses slowly with some periods when the muscles worsen rapidly. It is caused by a missing DNA on chromosome 4. DNA is a necessary component of all living matter and a basic material in the chromosomes.
Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy: The disease appears at birth in one form, but another form begins in teen or adult years. The progress of changes in how the muscles work can last 50 to 60 years. It is caused by a repeated section of DNA on either Chromosome 3 or 19. DNA is a necessary component in all living matter.
Congenital Muscular Dystrophy: It is caused by changes affecting some of the proteins needed by muscles and can affect the eyes and brain. The disease begins at or very near birth. Sometimes this type progresses slowly, but still can cause a shortened life span.
More Information
To get more information, click here.
*Most of the information provided here is from the Teach More/Love More site, click here to visit their site.
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Featured Condtion/Disease: Spina Bifida
We are featuring a childhood/infant disease or condition informational post every other Friday. Today's topic is Spina Bifida.
Definition
Spina bifida, a condition present at birth, includes three kinds: Occulta, Meningocele (mild disabilities or problems later), and Myelomeningocele. This fact sheet is about the most serious -- Myelomeningocele.
Spina bifida occurs while the baby is still developing and growing inside the mother. The baby's spine doesn't develop correctly. At birth the spinal cord is open at the back or exposed (also called a neural tube defect). Early in pregnancy, cells form a closed tube (neural tube) that eventually becomes the baby's brain and spinal cord. A neural tube defect happens when the tube does not completely close. A neural tube defect can happen anywhere on the spine, but usually happens to the lower part of the spinal cord. A child born with a neural tube defect usually will have difficulty walking, and may need leg braces, crutches, a walker and, in some cases, a wheelchair (Gargiulo, 2001).
Spina bifida differs for every person. Many children with spina bifida have hydrocephalus (a build-up of fluid on the brain). Because children with spina bifida have problems with the spine, the fluid in the brain does not drain properly.
Other potential difficulties occurring with spina bifida include full or partial paralysis (the inability to move part or all of the body). Children with spina bifida and full or partial paralysis also may have problems with weight gain and obesity. Since children with spina bifida usually have damage to the spine, they can have problems with the nerves controlling the bladder and bowels. (These nerves are in the lower part of the spinal cord.) They may have problems controlling their bladder and bowel (unable to tell when they need to use the bathroom).
Children with spina bifida more likely have learning disabilities, problems with depression and an allergy
to latex (reaction to a common type of rubber). They sometimes have social and sexual issues because they may go through puberty at a younger age than most children.
Evaluation/Screening
If you have a child from the age from birth to three years old, you can have your child screened for spina bifida through the Florida Early Steps program. Click here to see a list of Early Steps offices in your area.
More Information
To get more information about spina bifida, click here.
*Most of the information provided here is from the Teach More/Love More site, click here to visit their site.
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