September 20th, 2017
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ACPeds  Parent Talk

Keeping parents up to date on the latest news in child and teen health

Teen eye safety, misusing contact lenses
About 6 out of 7 US teens with contact lenses use them improperly, upping their odds for serious eye infections, according to a recent study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

In the study, 85 percent of 12- to 17-year-old contact-lens wearers admitted to at least one risky habit that could threaten their vision including
  • sleeping, napping or swimming with their contacts in
  • reusing solution,
  • rinsing lenses in tap water, or
  • not replacing lenses and storage cases as recommended.
  • Teach your children the importance of cleaning contact lenses properly and regularly take them to an eye-care provider

  • Ensure that your child's contact lenses are replaced as often as recommended by an eye doctor, and replace the case at least every 3 months.
  • Remind your children to always remove their contacts before sleeping, swimming and showering.

  • Often times slip-ups occur while traveling, so make sure to pack travel-sized supplies.
According to the CDC, about 3.6 million adolescents in the United States wear contact lenses, and although outbreaks of serious eye infections are rare in the US, 
they occur most often in people who don't take proper care of their contacts.

For more information
Today is National School Backpack Awareness Day


To help prevent pain and discomfort related to children wearing backpacks incorrectly, every year the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) chooses one day in September to spread awareness through school backpack weigh-ins and check-ups, activities, and special community events.

Tips for Healthier Backpacking


For keeping kids safe while toting books to and from school, the AOTA offers the following  tips:
  • Always select a backpack that is the correct size for your child.
  • Check that the child's backpack weighs no more than 10% of his or her body weight. If it weighs more, discuss with your child to figure out which supplies can stay at home or at school each day to lessen the load.

  • Ensure that your child always wears well-padded shoulder straps on both shoulders so the weight is evenly balanced, and if the backpack has a hip belt, make sure that is worn as well because it can improve balance and take some strain off sensitive neck and shoulder muscles.
  • Distribute weight evenly so that the heaviest items are closest to the child's back, and balance materials so the child can easily stand up straight.

By taking these simple steps, parents can help children load and wear backpacks the correct way to avoid health problems.


For more information
Helping Your Child Deal with Bullying              #WeeklyBlogPost
Parents have the power to help their children defend themselves against bullying.

They also have the power and the responsibility to control and correct any bullying that their children instigate.  


For bully-proofing strategies parents can teach to their children, 

and  please, leave a comment! 

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