Tag: children

Nicotine is an addictive drug, no matter how you ingest it

On By idhwmediaIn Public HealthLeave a comment

 Electronic cigarettes and vaping have become increasingly popular over the last several years. But no matter where you stand in the debate about whether an e-cigarette is healthier than a traditional cigarette, there’s no denying that both are extremely efficient at delivering nicotine, which is a highly addictive drug, into our bodies.

Here’s a short Q&A that highlights the reasons public health officials are so concerned about vaping.  Continue reading “Nicotine is an addictive drug, no matter how you ingest it” →

Idaho earns an ‘A’ on the March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card

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Each year, the March of Dimes releases a “Premature Birth Report Card” for every state and territory in the nation to help raise public awareness and measure progress toward reducing premature births. Each state’s premature birth rate is compared to the March of Dimes goal and given a grade based on the comparison.

The premature birth rate is calculated by taking the number of premature births divided by the total number of live births with known gestational age and multiplied by 100. Idaho’s premature birth rate for 2014 was 8.1, which is equal to the March of Dimes goal for 2020. Idaho was one of only four states that received an “A” report card rating. The other states are Oregon, Washington and Vermont.  Continue reading “Idaho earns an ‘A’ on the March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card” →

Idaho Poison Center can answer your Halloween safety questions

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HalloweenGhostOne of the most common calls to the Idaho Poison Center at this time of year involves glow sticks. Parents often give them to their children to make them easier to see in the dark as they trick-or-treat. However, they are soft to chew on and can break open easily. If the liquid comes into contact with your child’s mouth or the eyes, it can cause stinging and a burning sensation, but there is no need to run to an emergency room. Call the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 and a nurse will help.

The Poison Center managed 134 calls about glow sticks last year, and the calls are on track to reach that number again this year. No spells will be cast on young spooks this Halloween with a few sensible tips from the Idaho Poison Center.  Continue reading “Idaho Poison Center can answer your Halloween safety questions” →

Parents in Idaho may want to consider lead poisoning testing for their children

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It’s National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, so it’s a good time to educate yourself on lead poisoning and have your children tested, especially if you live in a home that was built before 1978. Lead poisoning is considered the most preventable environmental disease among children, but about half a million kids in the United States have dangerous levels of lead in their blood.

The most common way lead gets into our bodies is from dust in older homes and buildings and hobbies like reloading and making bullets. The dust comes from deteriorating lead-based paint and contaminated soil that gets tracked into the places we live and work. Older homes and buildings are the most common places for exposure because of lead-based paint, but the metal also can be found in soil and water and is used to make batteries, bullets and metal products, such as pipes.  Continue reading “Parents in Idaho may want to consider lead poisoning testing for their children” →

Idaho Child Support Services website gets a new look, more features

On By idhwmediaIn Welfare / Self RelianceLeave a comment

child support blog

Child Support Services has launched a redesigned website that makes it easier for parents to:

  • Find information about services
  • See account balances
  • View or print a payment history
  • Access messages from Child Support Services
  • Update contact information

This change will only affect how information is displayed and printed. It does not change  how child support payments are collected or distributed. Continue reading “Idaho Child Support Services website gets a new look, more features” →

Do you know the ABCs of Safe Infant Sleep?

On By idhwmediaIn Public Health1 Comment

It’s scary to think that you could put your baby down for a nap and he might never wake up. But it happens more often than we would like. About 3,500 infants die suddenly and unexpectedly each year in the United States. The cause of death for many of these babies can’t be determined, but there are factors that can put your baby at higher risk.

October is Safe Infant Sleep Awareness Month in Idaho, so it’s a good time to learn the ABCs of Safe Infant Sleep. They are:

A for alone. Babies should sleep alone, not with adults who can roll onto them.

B for back. They should sleep on their backs without blankets, bedding or stuffed animals that could interfere with their breathing.

C for crib. They should sleep in a crib with a firm surface and in a cool room (70 degrees). If you’re worried about whether they are warm enough, keep them comfortable with clothing or put them in a sleep sack.

S for smoke-free. They should sleep in a smoke-free environment. Continue reading “Do you know the ABCs of Safe Infant Sleep?” →

Mom is right: Eat your fruits and veggies!

On By idhwmediaIn Public Health1 Comment

It’s harvest time! We have more fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables to choose from at this time of year than at any other time of year, it seems. Eating a plant-based diet is important for our overall health, and yet most of us don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables every day. But with all the different kinds of fresh produce available now in our gardens as well as markets and grocery stores, now is a great time to make a point of eating more fruits and veggies.

FruitsVeggies

Idahoans aren’t all that different from residents in other states; we all need to eat more fruits and vegetables, which would help manage many of our health issues, including  obesity. Just about 29 percent of adults in Idaho are obese, according to Better Policies for a Healthier America. Idaho ranks 29th compared to other states; Arkansas has the highest adult obesity rate at 35.9 percent, while Colorado has the lowest, at 21.3 percent. Continue reading “Mom is right: Eat your fruits and veggies!” →

Idaho Foodbank estimates an additional 6-8 truckloads of food will be needed for change in SNAP issuance

On By idhwmediaIn Welfare / Self Reliance4 Comments

Lots of communication and extra food donations at community pantries and the Idaho Foodbank will be needed as Idaho transitions from issuing benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on the first day of the month to issuing them over the first 10 days of the month.

Planning for the change continued this week as the multi-day transition work group met to determine how grocery stores and community organizations such as the Idaho Foodbank and other food pantries across the state would be affected, and what can be done to support them if SNAP recipients run out of food or are unaware that their benefits are not available before they shop.

“More than anything, we don’t want anyone to be surprised,” said Karen Vauk, president and CEO of the Idaho Foodbank. Continue reading “Idaho Foodbank estimates an additional 6-8 truckloads of food will be needed for change in SNAP issuance” →

Some Idahoans receiving child support payments will get a new card in the mail

On By idhwmediaIn Welfare / Self RelianceLeave a comment

ReliacardIdahoans who already receive child support payments can expect to get a new US Bank ReliaCard® Idaho Family Support Card in October. New customers will receive their cards in November. Both should be on the lookout for a plain white envelope with a return address from Indianapolis, IN. This card replaces the current JP Morgan Chase Idaho Family Support Card. Continue reading “Some Idahoans receiving child support payments will get a new card in the mail” →

Idaho leads the nation for number of immunization exemptions for kindergartners

On By idhwmediaIn Public Health3 Comments

New vaccination exemption data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows Idaho led the nation for school immunization exemption rates during the 2014-2015 school year. The recently published data show 6.5% of Idaho kindergarten students had an exemption on file for at least one vaccine when they registered for school.

Idaho allows immunization exemptions for religious, medical, or philosophical reasons. Of the 6.5% of Idaho’s kindergarteners with an exemption on file, 5.6% were for philosophical reasons, while 0.3% were medical and 0.6% were religious exemptions.

The high exemption rate is concerning for public health and school officials, along with parents of children attending schools.  “Having a high percentage of students who are not fully protected from preventable diseases is concerning, especially for other children who cannot receive vaccine protection because of medical conditions,” says Dr. Christine Hahn M.D., Idaho Public Health Medical Director.  “Many parents sign an exemption for convenience; it may be the path of least resistance when registering a child for school who is behind on their vaccine schedule. However, that path can lead to serious illness to their children or classmates. We believe Idaho can do better.”

2014SchoolEntryExemptions

Continue reading “Idaho leads the nation for number of immunization exemptions for kindergartners” →