June/July 2023

Vol. 2, Issue 6

Warmest wishes to our school nurse friends! Whether you are vacationing,

relaxing or finally having time for some of your favorite hobbies, we hope

you are having a great summer! So sit back, relax, and let the sunshine in.

We have enjoyed planning our summer workshops for you and we hope you

will find the content useful as you care for your students. Enjoy the rest of your summer and know that Children’s of Alabama appreciates all that you do.

The Monthly Spotlight

UV Safety Awareness Month

July is UV Safety Awareness Month, so this is the perfect time to review some sun safety tips. UV rays are an invisible kind of radiation that comes from the sun and can damage skin cells.¹ Although UV rays are the strongest during the summer, it is important to protect ourselves year round, as UV rays also reflect off of snow and water, increasing the risk of sunburn.¹^,²Some methods of UV protection include covering up with protective clothing, wearing sunglasses, and using sunscreen.² When choosing sunscreen, look for one that is water-resistant and "broad-spectrum," meaning it protects against both UVB and UVA rays.² The American Academy of Dermatology also recommends that you choose a sunscreen with an SPF rating of 30 or higher, and reapply every 2 hours.³

1. Centers for Disease Control - Sun Safety

2. Kids Health - Sun Safety

3. American Academy of Dermatology - Sunscreen FAQ's

Scoliosis Awareness

Because June was Scoliosis Awareness month, we also wanted to highlight scoliosis. Scoliosis is the sideways curvature of the spine, causing the spine to appear “S” or “C" shaped rather than straight.¹ While scoliosis can affect people of any age, it is most often diagnosed in adolescents between 10-15 years of age resulting in more than 100,000 children in the United States being diagnosed each year.²^,³^,⁴ Though scoliosis occurs equally among both males and females, females have a much higher risk of the curve of their spine worsening and requiring treatment.⁵ Children who have mild cases of scoliosis are monitored closely, but usually do not require any treatment at all.⁵Scoliosis can progress quickly, so early detection is key to prevent progression that may require more extensive treatment methods.

If you have any questions concerning school nurse workshops or any other school nurse resources available at Children's of Alabama, please reach out to our School Nurse Liaison, Ginger Parsons, via telephone at (205) 638-6287 or email at ginger.parsons@childrensal.org

Did you know...

Our latest spotlight on Asthma in the School Setting and all of our workshops from last summer are available on myschoolnurse.net.
Our website houses numerous free resources you can access at any time, including full recordings of previous school nurse workshops.

Visit our website for more info

Think First Alabama is part of a National Injury Prevention Foundation dedicated to preventing brain, spinal cord and other traumatic injuries. This program is available to your school free of charge, and is designed to provide age appropriate injury prevention education for children of all ages.

For more information, or to schedule a session at your school, you can reach out to Julie Farmer via telephone at 205- 638-2729 or email at julie.farmer@childrensal.org

Children's of Alabama partners with multiple state agencies to provide FREE teen driving safety summits to schools throughout Alabama. Join us this fall at the location

nearest you:

September 22: Enterprise

October 27: Monroeville

November 8: Trussville

November 30: Oxford

For more information

Need help educating your students and parents?

Check out KidsHealth

Printable resources with advice on children's health, behavior, and growth from before birth through the teenage years
Information on a variety of topics including how the body works, homework help, and more
Approved by doctors, and has separate sections written specifically for parents, teens, and kids

If you have any suggestions on future content you would like to see featured in our newsletter, please reach out to us via email at healthedu.safety@childrensal.org.

Inside Pediatrics

Inside Pediatrics is a free monthly podcast series featuring specialists at Children’s of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Episodes cover topics related to child health and wellness, research and treatment, and frequently complement articles appearing in Inside Pediatrics magazine.