December 2024

Vol. 3, Issue 11

This season of giving reminds us just how much school nurses give EVERY DAY! Children’s of Alabama would like to thank you for all the boo boos and hearts you mend as you care for your students at school. Healthy, happy children can be healthy, happy learners, and you play such an important role in their lives. We hope you have a wonderful holiday season, and know that you are appreciated by so many!

The Monthly Spotlight

National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

Weekends and holidays can be dangerous times on our roadways, and Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve are just around the corner. According to the National Safety Council, these are two of the most celebrated days of the year, yet they are also among the most deadly.¹ Because of this, December has been recognized as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month.

In 2020, more than 11,000 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers - this equates to one death every 45 minutes.²Alcohol is only one cause of impaired driving, as drugs and other factors such as fatigue and stress can also cause impairment.¹ Raising awareness on the dangers of impaired driving is essential in promoting a safe and happy holiday season for people of all ages.

Handwashing Awareness Week

December 5 - 11

#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

School Nurse Recess

In 2021, nearly 122,000 children under the age of 15 were seen in emergency rooms due to toy-related injuries. That is 334 kids every day. ¹Because of that, with the holidays just around the corner, now is the perfect time to review toy safety tips!

Here are a few things to keep in mind to keep your children safe around toys:

Find the Perfect Toy for the Right Age
Don't Forget a Helmet for Riding Toys
Store Toys After Play
Sign Up to Receive Product Recalls

For more information, view the Toy Safety Tip Sheet from Safe Kids Worldwide below.

Safe Kids Worldwide - Toy Safety Tips

Toy Safety Tip Sheet

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.