Questions and Answers!
Your Training Resource

 Healthy Childcare
June - July 2001
Volume 4, Issue 4

Sickness and Health - Heat Related Illness in Children

What are the common causes of heat illness? Overdressing, running or playing hard in extremely hot weather, not drinking enough fluids, and being left in a hot environment such as a vehicle.

What is the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke? In heat exhaustion, the child is losing fluids and the body is weak and "exhausted." Heat stroke is life-threatening because the child's body is not cooling and the temperature rises quickly.

What is the treatment for heat illness? The first thing is to cool the child! If the child is conscious, give fluids (water) to drink. Call the doctor.

How can I prevent heat illness? Dress children in cool clothing. Keep children inside or in the shade during the hottest part of the day. Give children plenty of water to drink throughout the day. Never leave a child in a hot vehicle, even for a few minutes.

Safety - Safe Spaces for Infants and Toddlers:

Can I use rocking chairs in childcare? Rocking chairs are not recommended because little fingers and toes often get crushed. A well-anchored hammock or glider (with no pinch points) is safer.

Can I use a microwave to heat food? Microwaves are not recommended because food heats unevenly and it is difficult to tell the temperature of the food.

What are the most common hazards for young children? Choking and poisoning are two of the most significant hazards for infants and toddlers.

What are some safety issues with clothing? Children should not wear necklaces of any kind. Adults should avoid using perfumes and fragrances that may trigger allergies or asthma in children. Adults should avoid wearing accessories such as pins or rings that may scratch or poke a child.

Nutrition - Too Much Juice?

Why is a whole orange better than a glass of juice? The whole orange contains less calories, contains more pulp and is more filling, and takes longer to eat.

What does the 5-a-Day campaign recommend? Children should consume at least 2 servings of fruit a day.

What is the potential problem with too much juice? Children may "fill up" on juice calories and not want to eat other nutritious foods. Also, children who drink too much juice may get too many calories and have excess weight gain.

What should I look for in buying juice? Read the label and look for "100% juice." Avoid juice "drinks," "punch," or "blends."

Medicine Chest - More Thoughts about Shots:

Is the polio vaccine safe? Only injected (shots) inactivated polio vaccine is given now. The oral vaccine, which carried a slight risk, is no longer given.

Why do children need chickenpox vaccine? Chickenpox can have severe side effects. Before the vaccine, this disease was responsible for about 11,000 hospitalizations and 100 deaths each year.

Which hepatitis vaccine do children need? All children and caregivers should be immunized against hepatitis B. People who live in the Southwest region of the U.S. also should receive the hepatitis A vaccine.

What is the "ear infection" vaccine? Prevnar is a new vaccine which prevents the pneumococcal disease, which is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis and also causes blood infections and ear infections.

Staff Health - Apples or Pears

What is the difference in the "apple" and "pear" body shape? "Apples" have their extra fat in their waist, belly, or abdomen. "Pears" carry their extra fat in their bottoms and thighs.

What are the health problems associated with body shape? Generally, extra fat in the middle ("apples") is associated with more health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension.