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Children's Eye Health & Safety Month
Did you know that one in twenty preschoolers and one in four school-age children are affected by problems with their vision? Many vision problems begin at an early age. If you look closely at your child's eyes, would you be able to recognize a visual impairment? It's not unusual for even the most vigilant parents to miss a problem or for a child to be unable to describe a problem. Problems left untreated can worsen and lead to permanent vision loss and delayed development. There is a better chance that treatment will be successful and normal sight restored the sooner impairment is identified. Some signs of possible visual problems can include rubbing eyes constantly, sitting too close to the TV, squinting eyes or frowning. Other indicators may include extreme light sensitivity, difficulty doing close-up work, blinking more than usual, and eyes that don't line up. It's important to remember that your child might still have an eye problem even if there doesn't appear to be any unusual signs or complaints.
Vision is one aspect of your child's eye health. Also consider keeping those eyes safe from injury. Each year, thousands of children age five and under have eye accidents that occur at home, in the car, or while playing. Ninety percent of eye injures can be prevented through understanding, safety practices, and the use of proper eye protection. Take steps to reduce the likelihood of an injury that might impair your child's sight and even cause blindness. Read labels to ensure that toys are age appropriate. Avoid toys that shoot or have parts that fly off. Be sure that your child wears the proper safety goggle for racket sports and basketball. Keep items like cosmetics, kitchen utensils, and desk supplies out of reach. Watch your child closely, keeping them away from household cleaning products. Protect them from potential falls against the furniture or on the stairs. Identify potential eye hazards at your child's playground or in their play area. Purchase sunglasses for your child to wear to ensure protection from the harmful effects of the sun. Choose glasses that are large enough to keep the eyes shielded from most angles. For more information on children's eye health and safety, go to www.preventblindness.org. For information on eye research related to the prevention and treatment of eye disease, go to www.rpbusa.org. www.preventblindness.org or www.visionispricesless.org
Source: Prevent Blindness America & Research to Prevent Blindness
Summer Awareness Tips
It's August and we are still feeling the heat of summer! Summer offers endless opportunities to have fun and exercise. Bike riding can be a healthy way to have fun with your family while burning calories and providing overall fitness benefits. Nothing beats splashing around a pool with friends and family; a perfect time to take swim lessons. Start a walking group. Even the littlest family member can enjoy walking. Take up a new activity like gardening, playing golf (only if you walk), and badminton. Consider playing tag or similar activities with your kids; a great way to connect with them while keeping fit. Volleyball is another way to contribute to healthy bones, muscles, and joints. Whatever activity you choose to do, it is important to wear loose fitting clothing, drink plenty of water, use sunscreen when in the sun, and on hot days, avoid vigorous exercise between 10am and 4pm. Skip caffeinated drinks such as coffee, tea, and cola, which increase the rate that water is excreted from your body. Be aware of heat exhaustion symptoms which include sweating, clammy skin, dizziness, rapid pulse, throbbing pressure in your head, chills, flushed appearance, and nausea. Seek medical help if any of these symptoms continue. Heat exhaustion can progress quickly to heat stroke, a potentially fatal condition. A healthy diet and exercise are keys to being fit, even during warm months. On those hot days when you crave something cold, remember that a frosty alcoholic beverage could add more calories than what meets the eye and is dehydrating. Instead, enjoy a non-alcoholic beverage like lemon-flavored water with club soda or plain water laced with a splash of cranberry juice. Hot dogs and hamburgers are staple items of any summer barbecue. Hot dogs and cheeseburgers with a bun are packed with lots of calories and fat. Consider a turkey frank or veggie burger on a roll, a chicken breast without the skin, or grilled fish and such as salmon. Ice cream is another summer staple item. Choosing nonfat or low-fat yogurt as well as sorbet is a better choice for satisfying that summer sweet tooth. Grilling is a favorite summer method of cooking. Barbecue sauce, a popular boost to grilling pork and beef, tends to contain an assortment of sugar and fattening extras and adds calories. Apply sauce lightly which will reduce calories and fat content. There is no limit to what can be grilled. Poultry, fish, vegetables, and even deserts can be cooked over the open flame. The dog days of summer can be energy draining but there is no excuse to stop moving and eating unhealthy! Balance exercise with good nutrition and have fun while you're doing it!
Source: WebMD 2007, Healthy Day 2005
If you are interested in a Lunch & Learn or Health Matters at Work on any of these topics, please call Community Health Charities at 877-CHC-FLA7 (242-3527).
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