September 2024

Vol. 3, Issue 8

We hope your school year is off to a great start, and you are starting to settle into your new rhythm. What you do to keep your students healthy and thriving is so important - your efforts help ensure every child has the opportunity to flourish both in and out of the classroom. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help you along the way. We cannot thank you enough for the work you do every day for your students.

The Monthly Spotlight

National Suicide Prevention Month

September is National Suicide Prevention Month - a time to remember those we've lost, acknowledge those who struggle with suicidal thoughts, and raise awareness on suicide prevention. ¹ Everyone can play a role in preventing suicide - know the warning signs for both youth and adults.¹ Help is available - the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7 free and confidential support to those in need.² Adults and community providers can call Children's of Alabama's Psychiatric Intake Response Center (PIRC) with questions and assistance in finding the appropriate level of mental health care.³ You can also visit KidsHealth for more information.⁴

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

National Sickle Cell Awareness Month

Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited blood disorders that affects the hemoglobin in red blood cells.¹Healthy red blood cells are normally disc-shaped and move easily through blood vessels to carry oxygen throughout the body. However, in sickle cell disease, these red blood cells are C-shaped, and do not bend and move as easily through the blood vessels which can cause blood flow to the rest of the body to be blocked. ¹^,² The UAB Division of Hematology Oncology team at Children's of Alabama cares for nearly 1,000 children in our state with sickle cell disease.³ To learn more about sickle cell disease, how it impacts the body, and treatment options, please visit our website.

Click here to learn more

National Concussion Awareness Day

This year, National Concussion Awareness Day is September 20. As a refresher, a concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that is caused by a bump or hit to the head or other part of the body that causes the head and brain to rapidly move back and forth which can lead to damage of brain cells.¹ According to the CDC, as many as half a million kids are treated in emergency departments for traumatic brain injuries each year in the United States.¹ It is important to remember that concussions can occur with or without loss of consciousness, as fewer than 10% of concussions actually result in loss of consciousness. Common signs of concussion can include headaches, nausea/vomiting, dizziness, confusion, blurred vision, and sensitivity to lights and noises.¹ The majority of pediatric patients with a concussion have symptoms resolve within 7-10 days; however, symptoms lasting longer than this can lead to academic difficulty.² To learn more about the Concussion Clinic at Children's of Alabama, please visit our website.

Click here to view the 2023 School Nurse Workshop Concussion Update

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 Women's Health and Fitness Day

National Women's Health and Fitness Day is celebrated every year on the last Wednesday of September, and was created to promote the importance of regular physical activity and health awareness for women. This year, National Women's Health and Fitness Day is on September 25. The FDA's Office of Women's Health suggests the following steps to create a routine to form new health and fitness goals:¹

Make a commitment
Do a health inventory
Set realistic goals
Find someone who can support you
Continually check in on your progress

To learn more on other women's health topics, visit www.fda.gov/womens.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Women's Health - 5 Ways To Restart Your Fitness Routine and Stay Active

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.