Monthly Monitor Howell County Health Department 411 Garfield, West Plains, MO 65775 Telephone 417-256-7078 fax. 417-256-1179 Website: http://www.howellcountyhealthdept.com
<<September 07 >>	Volume 66
·    CALENDAR   WIC Checks: 4, 7   WIC Recerts:  10, 11, 14, 20, 21, 24, 27, 28 Immunizations:  12, 17   Family Planning:  6, 18, 19, 25   Willow Clinic:  5 M View Clinic: 26      Cholesterol Screenings: 4, 11   Holiday’s:  3- Labor Day Autumn Begins-September 23rd	Lead Poisoning by Carma Wheeler, DON, RN   Lead poisoning is a condition caused by swallowing or inhaling lead.  Lead is a special danger to children under six years of age.  This age group faces the greatest risk because their bodies absorb lead more easily than adults.  Babies and young children often put their hands and other objects in their mouths, which makes the current toy recall even more important.  Surface paints on the toys could contain excessive levels of lead.  Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.   Signs of Lead Poisoning are not always obvious.  If symptoms occur they may include:  Stomachache and cramps                                 Headache         Irritability                                                          Sleep Disorders Fatigue                                                             Poor Appetite Frequent vomiting                                             Difficult learning Constipation   As lead builds up in the body you may notice: o       Clumsiness o       Weakness o       Loss of recently learned skills o       Lower IQ scores o       Slowed growth o       Hearing problems There are things that you can do to protect your child: Ø      Don’t allow your child to put things in his or her mouth. Ø      Have your child wash his/her hands before eating Ø      Wash bottles, pacifiers and toys often Ø      Be alert for chipping and flaking paint Ø      Use only safe interior paints on toys, walls, and furniture. Ø      Replace plastic blinds made outside the US with a type that is lead free. Ø      Don’t store food in open cans  Ø      Feed your child a well balance diet that is high in iron, calcium, and vitamin C (it helps to protect the body against lead)
FIT WIC NEWS     Kids Know Best!  Let Your Child Decide How Much to Eat:   Does your child eat hardly anything for several days and then eat a lot on other days?   Even though this may worry you, it is normal for kids to eat this way.  Your child knows best how much he needs to eat, so don’t encourage him to eat more than he needs.   This is what you can do for your child:  >Give her/him healthy foods to choose from >Serve meals and snacks at regular times each day   Allow him/her to decide: >Which of the foods you serve to eat >How much to eat   Funny Fruit Pizza   Ingredients: >Low-fat mozzarella cheese slices >English muffins, sliced in half >Fruit washed (apple, banana, orange or seedless grapes)   What to Do:  1.  Give each child half a muffin.  Have them place a slice of cheese on the muffin 2.  Toast the muffins until the cheese melts 3.  Let children peel the bananas and oranges and take grapes off the stems 4.  An adult should cut the fruit in small pieces.  Let children top muffin with fruit.	If you are concerned about the potential threats in your home there are Lead Test Kits available.  These kits are used to check for lead on any surface including: paint, toys, mini-blinds, dishes, furniture, walls, etc.  Lead Check Swabs home test kits may be purchased at www.leadcheck.com or go to www.amazon.com and search under Lead Test Kits.   It is easier to prevent Lead Poisoning than it is to treat.  A simple blood test can detect high levels of lead.  We provide Lead testing for a charge of $10.00 per test.  If you have Medicaid then it will be covered.  Please call to make an appointment.  If you have a question, please contact a nurse with the Health Department.   Healthy Food Choices Impact Learning   As kids head back to school this month, what they eat for breakfast, lunch and snacks is vital.  Whether they take their lunch to school or eat in the school cafeteria, making healthy food choices is critical to their growth and development. Multiple studies show that proper nutrition improves a child’s ability to succeed at school, increases energy, improves performance, reduces absenteeism, improves emotional functioning, leads to improved test scores, and results in a host of other positive outcomes.   Feeding your children a healthy breakfast will ensure their day gets off to the best start.  Choose foods with fiber and avoid sugar.  Oatmeal, shredded wheat cereals, bananas or whole grain pancakes will help control your children’s adrenaline levels and improve their day. If you are packing lunches for school, ·        Allow your children to help and encourage them to make healthy choices. ·        Use unusual shapes, bright colors and interesting wrappings to make food fun. ·        Add a note, message, small toy or surprise to each lunch box.   If your children eat lunch provided at school, encourage them to make healthy choices.  Suggest they choose vegetables, fruits and whole grain bread over fried foods, salty foods and white bread.  Encourage them to drink low-fat milk or water instead of fruit juice or soda. Talk to your children’s teachers about presenting nutrition information in class.  Ask other parents to encourage their children to eat healthy as well.  Make healthy eating the “popular” choice. Encourage your teens to make good food decisions, too.  At this age growth and change is happening so quickly that nutrient requirements increase.  Adolescents need at least 1200 mg of calcium a day to develop strong bones, but most teens take in less than 1000 mg a day.     One of the most important things you can do is be a good role model. ·        Make healthy menu choices. ·        Make mealtime a fun, family event. ·        Turn off the TV and get active with your children. ·        Don’t be too restrictive. ·        Watch what your family drinks.  Limit fruit juice to 12 oz. a day.  Avoid soda and encourage low fat milk. ·        Stay positive and take small steps together as a family.   If you encourage your children to establish healthy eating patterns now, they will be more likely to continue to make good choices as they grow older.   Shape Ut Plains Shape Up West Plains               It’s time again for the annual physical activity challenge!  This year we will have our registration / kick off event at the West Plains Downtown Stroll, September 22nd from 5-8pm!  The World Famous Budweiser Clydesdale horses will be there. The challenge will run for 7 weeks starting Monday, September 24th and ending November 9th.   Participants are asked to log their Aerobic Miles each day and the goal is 50 Aerobic Miles in 50 Days!  An aerobic mile is a measure of exercise energy expended that is equal to jogging one mile.  Participants will be given a log sheet and a list of activities and how they are equal to aerobic miles. There will be activities for participants to watch and try out at the stroll such as: v     Yoga inside Healthy Lifestyles every half hour starting at 5pm and the last one at 7:30pm v     Top Mount Martial Arts demonstrating and having bags for kids to kick and punch v     Square Dancing v     West Plains Center for the Arts kids performing dancing routines Participants signing up for the challenge will be given a free tee shirt (while supplies last) and the first 50 will receive a pedometer.  For more information on Shape Up West Plains contact Dawn Hicks, HE / CEHS at the Howell County Health Department at 417-256-7078.