February 2025

Vol. 4, Issue 2

Throughout the month of February, you can feel love in the air and happiness all around. We know that as a school nurse, you give from your heart every day. The care you provide your students day in and day out is what makes a difference and truly helps them conquer their day. On behalf of everyone at Children’s of Alabama, we would like to wish you a February filled with love and kindness. Thank you for what you do for your students every day.

The Monthly Spotlight

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is February 24 - March 2, and serves as a time dedicated to raising awareness and shaping the conversation around eating disorders. Eating disorders are marked by severe disturbances in a person's eating behaviors.¹ Not only are eating disorders serious, they can be life-threatening. People with eating disorders are at a higher risk for other illnesses including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorder. ¹ Eating disorders can be caused by a variety of factors, including biological, psychological, and social factors; however, it is not a lifestyle choice.² Eating disorders can affect anyone, including people of all ages, races, genders, and ethnicities.²Treatments are available, and early detection is essential to a full recovery.¹

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...

Approximately 145 million Valentine's Day Cards are sent in the United States each year.¹This doesn't even include all the Valentine's kids exchange in the classroom.

Hallmark - Valentine's Day

School Nurse Recess

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, it seems fitting that February is American Heath Month. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, with one person dying from heart disease every 33 seconds. ¹^,² In 2022, 1 in every 5 deaths in the United States was caused by heart disease. ³ Some of the key risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking.⁴ Healthy habits are the best defense against heart disease, and can help reduce some of the risk factors.⁵ Throughout the month of February, do your part to protect your heart and help raise awareness on heart disease.

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.