October 2024

Vol. 3, Issue 9

This time of year we have so much to look forward to, including some great weather and fun fall festivities. We hope you will find some time for yourself and get out and enjoy the season with family and friends. Thank you for your endless compassion, and for making sure your students get the very best care. We hope you have a very spooktacular Halloween, and know that you are definitely the sweetest treat in the bucket.

The Monthly Spotlight

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month

Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating due to an irregular heart rhythm - this causes breathing to stop and the individual becomes unconscious.¹ Sudden cardiac arrest can occur in anyone at any age. Thousands of school age children die from sudden cardiac arrest each year, and only five to 10 percent survive without immediate treatment.²Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) can increase the survival rate by 50%, but simply having an AED is not enough - cardiac arrest preparedness is essential.² To learn more about Sudden Cardiac Arrest and how you can help prepare your school, please join us on Tuesday, October 22 for our virtual School Nurse Spotlight. Registration information is below.

ADHD Awareness Month

October is Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Awareness Month. According to the CDC, ADHD is one of the most common nuerodevelopmental disorders in childhood, and symptoms can often last into adulthood.¹Most kids start school before they are diagnosed with ADHD, which means teachers are sometimes the first person to notice possible ADHD symptoms in children.² Symptoms in children can include talking too much, squirming or fidgeting, and daydreaming too much.³ Every student with ADHD is different, so often times parents, healthcare providers, and the school can work together to develop the right treatment plan for a child.²^,⁴

#URKEYS2DRV

Children's of Alabama partners with multiple state agencies to provide FREE teen driving safety summits to schools throughout Alabama. Join us for one of our upcoming summits at the location nearest you.

October 9: Tuscaloosa

October 25: Bay Minette

February 11: Florence

Do you have students who have diabetes whose providers are at Children's of Alabama?

If you have students with diabetes whose provider is located at Children's of Alabama, please read the following notice regarding dietary needs in the school setting.

Read the notice here

School Nurse Recess

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day was created to encourage the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes in an attempt to prevent medication misuse and opioid addiction.¹ Alabama had 47 collection sites during the last National Take Back Day in April 2024.² The next Take Back Day is on October 26. To learn more, or to find a collection site near you, visit www.dea.gov/takebackday.

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 additional information, view the Think First Alabama flier, or to schedule a session at your school reach out to Julie Farmer via telephone at 205- 638-2729 or email at julie.farmer@childrensal.org

In the video above, you will find a more comprehensive overview of the ThinkFirst program.

Need help educating your students and parents?

Check out KidsHealth

NEW Back-to-School Center
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.