January 2025

Vol. 4, Issue 1

We hope you took some time for yourself during the holiday break and enjoyed your time away. The New Year is always an opportunity for a fresh start and new opportunities. In light of the New Year, we are incorporating a new section in the newsletter called "Tuesday Tidbits." This fun, lighthearted piece is just our way to give you a little something extra each month - maybe you can impress your students with your new fun facts. As always, we hope you find this edition of The Pulse informative and that it can support you as you take great care of your students this year. You are amazing and we appreciate all of your hard work and dedication.

The Monthly Spotlight

Winter Safety Tips

With the winter season comes new safety tips to keep you safe at home and on the roads. As the outdoor temperatures continue to drop, and the use of indoor heaters and fireplaces increase, we must make sure our carbon monoxide detectors are functioning properly. We should also be mindful of carbon monoxide emissions when warming our vehicles - do not leave vehicles running inside a garage.¹

Indoor space heaters and fireplaces can also be fire hazards. It is suggested that indoor space heaters not be placed within 3 feet of any flammable materials.²

While outdoors, we want to bundle our children up so they stay warm - their bodies are smaller than ours, so they will lose heat more quickly.³However, if your child rides in a car seat, you need to remove their winter coat before putting them in the car. Thick winter coats can create extra room in the child's harness causing a looser fit, putting the child at risk of injury in the event of a crash.⁴Choose lightweight materials to ensure a snug-fitting harness, and bundle your child up with a blanket or coat once they are properly harnessed in their car seat.

For more information on Winter Safety and to view the Cold Weather Safety Checklist, visit Safe Kids Worldwide.

National Human Trafficking Prevention Month

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Human Trafficking, also known as Modern Day Slavery, is the exploitation of a person through force, fraud, or coercion.¹ Human trafficking occurs in every state, including Alabama, with more than 200 signals being received by the National Human Trafficking Hotline in 2023 from Alabama.²

Children's of Alabama's CHIPS Center (Children's Hospital Intervention and Prevention Services) presented at our School Nurse Workshop in 2022 on Human Trafficking, and discussed the signs to look for in the school setting.³ The CHIPS Center promotes health and healing for those affected by suspected child abuse and neglect. Click here to learn more about the CHIPS Center. To view the previous recording on Human Trafficking, visit myschoolnurse.net.

#URKEYS2DRV

Children's of Alabama partners with multiple state agencies to provide FREE teen driving safety summits to schools throughout Alabama. Join us for our next summit on February 11 in 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

Tuesday Tidbits

Did you know...

January 20th is National Penguin Day.¹ There are approximately 18 species of penguins, and they range from 15 inches to 3.5 feet in height.²

School Nurse Recess

Skin naturally becomes drier during cold weather, as many of you may be experiencing yourself. Because of all of the handwashing, hand sanitizing, and extra time being spent indoors this time of year, it is the perfect time to review a few winter skincare tips.

Hydration is essential, as it adds moisture back and helps replenish the skin.¹ Keep a good hydrating product nearby, and make sure you drink plenty of water. Make sure to reapply lotion often, as frequency matters. For those prone to drier skin, a thicker cream moisturizer is recommended during the colder months.²Another factor to keep in mind, hot water makes dry skin worse. Try using warm water instead to avoid further dry-out damage.¹The tip sheet above offers additional suggestions to help with your skincare needs during the cold winter months.

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.