Flu season is just around the corner and, this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that anyone over the age of 6 months get the flu vaccine. Many providers and local pharmacies at popular corner drug stores are already making the vaccine available. Get the facts about the flu and the 2010-2011 flu vaccine.

Thanks to a $2 million grant from the GE Foundation, the philanthropic organization of GE, school-based health centers in New Orleans will be able to continue providing valuable healthcare services. Grant funds awarded to School Health Connection, a program of the Louisiana Public Health Institute, will help provide comprehensive preventive, primary care and primary mental health services for enrolled school students. Read the full article.

It’s back to school time, which means school supplies, clothes and getting kids get the shots they need before starting school. Immunizations protect kids from a variety of ailments, and the risks of vaccinations are very small compared with the health risks associated with the diseases they prevent. Each child who isn’t vaccinated gives those germs a chance to spread to other children. If all kids get their shots, we can put an end to deadly childhood diseases. To find out which shots your child needs, visit Healthfinder.gov. For resources in Louisiana, visit Shots for Tots.com

Recent studies of school based health centers (SBHCs) show that school-based clinics positively impact different aspects of student health and life. SBHCs provide access to primary and preventative care for uninsured and under-insured students. A Michigan State University study surrounding SBHCs found that students attending schools with a clinic were more physically active, ate healthier, and were more satisfied with their health than students withoug access to a SBHC. Here in Louisiana, research on SBHCs shows that access to a SBHC helps make students less likely to engage in risky behaviors such as drug use, unsafe sexual activity, violence, and smoking. Click here to read more about the Michigan findings and click here to read more about the impact of SHBCs in Louisiana.

Baby Matters LLC has recalled Nap Nanny infant recliners purchased between January 2009 and July 2010 due to potential suffocation and falling hazards. Because infants can hang over the edge of the Nap Nanny even when properly strapped into the harness, the product is safely used only on the floor and should never be placed on a table (or other elevated area) or inside a crib or playpen. Two versions of the Nap Nanny have been produced: the first generation lacks Velcro hooks to secure the fabric cover to the foam base. These hooks here added to the second generation recliner. Consumers with a first generation Nap Nanny are advised to immediately stop using the product and to contact Baby Matters. All Nap Nanny users are advised to visit www.napnanny.com to watch video demonstrations on proper use. Click here for more information and images to help determine which generation of Nap Nanny you own.

In June 2009, Louisiana passed a law allowing children to carry their own asthma medication at school and administer it to themselves in the event of an asthma attack. A year later, the Louisiana Association of Student Councils wants to keep spreading this information across the state to make sure parents and children are aware of the law. The law gives an asthmatic child the ability to carry his/her own inhaler and use it when needed instead of leaving it with a nurse, saving precious minutes between the onset of attack and treatment. However, parents must provide written authorization for their child to carry an inhaler and certification is also needed from a pediatrician. Read more.

In some areas of the US, as many as 1 in 110 children exhibit symptoms of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ASDs are developmental disabilities that impact children’s social, communication, and behavioral development at all stages of life. Although ASDs usually can be detected before age 3, diagnoses are not made on average until age 4 1/2 because parents don’t know the early signs. To help parents become more aware of ASD signs and symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched a website to educate parents about ASDs, including information on developmental milestones that children are expected to achieve and information to help parents act early if they suspect their child may be delayed in reaching them. Read more.

Louisiana ranks near the bottom nationally for infant mortality, and improving prenatal care can help reverse that trend. Prenatal care allows doctors to both make early interventions that can improve a baby’s health after birth and help soon-to-be mothers improve aspects of their own health that impact their pregnancy. To address the state’s underuse of prenatal care services, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals’ Partners for Healthy Babies program helps mothers-to-be learn more about needed services available to them. Partners for Healthy Babies’ new “Make the Call, Because Your Baby Can’t” campaign encourages mothers-to-be to call their helpline, 1-800-251-Baby (2229), and visit www.1880251Baby.org to get the information they need to access prenatal care and have a healthy pregnancy.

How and where you put your baby to sleep can dramatically affect his/her risk of suffocation. In Louisiana, accidental suffocation is the leading cause of all injury-related deaths of infants 1 month to 12 months of age. The SIDS Risk Reduction & Safe Sleep Program has launched a new campaign urging parents to “Give Your Baby Space” by highlighting the dangers of unsafe sleep practices and promoting infant-safe sleep environments in an effort to reduce rates of suffocation. The safest place for a baby to sleep is alone in his/her own crib with no loose bedding, blankets, crib bumpers, or stuffed animals. Visit www.GiveYourBabySpace.com for more information.

Tween Brands has recalled 137,000 pieces of metal children’s jewelry because they contain unsafe amounts of toxic cadmium. The recalled pieces include necklaces, earrings, and bracelets in heart, butterfly, cupcake, peace sign, and crown shapes. Some of the items have the words “Best,” “Friends,” “Forever,” and/or “BFF” written on them. The jewelry was sold and Justice and Limited Too stores nationwide and online. The Consumer Products and Safety Commission recommends that parents immediately take the jewelry away from children and return it to the store of purchase. Click here for style numbers and images of all the recalled items.