Kidz Things

Child Safety Week

2009-06-14T05:49:48+00:00

Child Safety Week is the Child Accident Prevention Trust’s community education campaign. It aims to raise awareness of the number of accidents that seriously injure or kill children and how to prevent them.

During the week 22nd - 28th June 2009 there will be thousands of local activities to help to get the message to both adults and children. Last year it reached 4 million people through local activities - both big and small.

Anyone working with families or children can get involved, whether you work in a nursery, children’s centre, GP surgery, school, your own home, in the community, in road safety, in fire safety or somewhere else with children or families.

http://www.childsafetyweek.org.uk/

A useful website for health info

2008-11-26T12:30:25+00:00

I use NHS Direct (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk) as a first port of call for any health-related queries I have regarding my own and my daughter’s ailments. I like using the website because I know that the information on there has been provided by healthcare professionals so I trust that what I’m reading is correct (as much as it can be anyway). I type in whatever the symptoms are, or the name of the illness if I have a diagnosis from the GP already, and the information that comes back is laid out in an easy-to-read and helpful format. If you are trying to find info on a health-related problem and don’t know where to go, I recommend you try the website to see if it helps you.

Bonjela is NOT for Kids

2009-04-28T12:00:45+00:00

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a warning that Bonjela and Bonjela Cool should no longer be given to children under 16yrs old as it contains salicylate salts, which have similar effects on the human body as Aspirin. As Aspirin is not recommended for use by children (under 16s), Bonjela now falls into the same category. This does not include Bonjela Teething Gel for children, which does not have the same pharmaceutical make-up so it is still safe to use with babies and toddlers. The packaging for all of the Bonjela products will be changed to reflect the new age guidelines but, in the meantime, make sure you don’t give Bonjela to your youngsters.

Source: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090423/tuk-watchdog-says-children-shouldn-t-use-45dbed5.html

Are you Paranoid about SUPERBUGS?

2009-03-10T13:12:18+00:00

MRSA and other ‘superbugs’ are a major concern for many people who have to go to hospital for an operation, or even to have a baby. If you are worried about the possibility of contracting one of these infections, did you know that there is a new product range called HiBi that claims to be an effective antiseptic against the superbugs for up to 6 hours? You can view and buy the product range and find out more on their website: http://www.HiBihealth.com

Change4Life

2009-03-10T13:09:37+00:00

Change4Life is a fantastic initiative from the Department of Health to encourage families to change their eating and exercise habits in order to improve longevity and overall health, particularly for children. If you are interested in finding out more, please see the NHS website (http://www.nhs.uk/change4life) and have a look at the Kidz Things blog area for an article on this campaign.

Cough Medicine Warning - Products Listed Unsuitable for Kids Under 6!

2009-03-02T09:49:14+00:00

For those who may not be aware, the Mirror News article dated 2/03/2009, link given below, names the following 69 cough medicine products which should not be given to children under six years of age:

Afrazine Nasal

Allens Pine and Honey Balsam

Beechams Decongestant Plus with Paracetamol

Beechams Flu Plu

Beechams Powders

Benilyn Chesty Coughs (Non Drowsy)

Benilyn Chesty Coughs (Original)

Benilyn Dry Coughs (Non Drowsy)

Benilyn Dry Coughs (Original)

Benylin 4 Flu

Benylin Cold & Flu Max strength

Benylin Cough and Congestion

Benylin Dual Action Night Cough & Congestion

Care Pholcodine linctus

Covonia Original Bronchial Balsam

Day Nurse

Fenox Nasal

Lemsip Max Cold & Flu

Lemsip Max Day & Night Cold & Flu relief

Lemsip Max Daytime Cold & Flu relief

Lemsip Max Sinus Capsules

Non- Drowsy Sinutab

Non-Drowsy Sudafed Congestion & Headache Capsules

Non-Drowsy Sudafed Congestion Cold and Flu

Non-Drowsy Sudafed Dual Relief

Otrivine Antistin Eye Drops

Otrivine Mucron

Robitussin Dry Cough Medicine

Tixylix Dry Cough

Vicks Cold & Flu Care Daymed Capsules

Vicks Cold & Flu care Medinite Complete Syrup

Vicks Sinex Decongestant Nasal

Vicks Sinex Micromist

Vicks Sinex Soothe

Beechams Veno’s Expectorant

Beechams Veno’s Honey & Lemon

Benilyn Childrens Chesty Coughs/

Calcough Chesty

Benilyn Childrens Coughs and Colds

Benilyn Childrens Night Coughs

Benylin Children’s Dry Cough

Calcold

Calpol Night

Care Glycerin lemon & honey with Ipecac

Cofsed Linctus

Family Meltus Chesty Coughs Honey and Lemon Flavour

Galenphol Linctus

Galenphol Paediatric Linctus

Galpseud linctus

Galsud

Junior Meltus Chesty Coughs with Catarrh

Junior Meltus Dry Coughs with Congestion

Lemsip Cough and Cold Chesty Cough Medicine

Lemsip Cough Chesty

Medised for Children

Multi-Action Actifed

Multi-Action Actifed Chesty Coughs

Mutli-Action Actifed Dry Coughs

Non- Drowsy Sudafed Childrens

Non Drowsy Sudafed Expectorant

Non Drowsy Sudafed Linctus

Otrivine Childrens Nasal Drops

Robitussin Chesty Cough Medicine

Robitussin Chesty Cough with Congestion

Tixilix Cough and Cold

Tixylix Chesty Cough

Tixylix Night Cough

Vicks Cough Syrup for Chesty Coughs

Vicks Cough Syrup for Dry Coughs

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/03/02/cough-medicine-warning-list-of-treatments-not-suitable-for-children-115875-21163947/

Potential Treatment for Peanut Allergy!

2009-02-21T13:41:22+00:00

In those children with a severe intolerance, even a small amount of peanut or peanut oil can have rapid adverse effects, technically known as anaphylaxis or an anaphylactic reaction, which can be very frightening indeed for both parents and the affected child.

News of a possible treatment, outlined in the links below, is good news indeed. As a former paramedic, I am well aware of the significance if the expected further trials are successful. The accidental ingestion of peanuts, particularly by children, usually as an ingredient in a manufactured food product, such as a biscuit, cake or pastry of some sort, is more common than one might imagine. Even though manufacturers tend to place warnings about possible accidental peanut content where products are made in areas where peanuts are used in other known products, it still occurs.

The results appear very significant and hopeful, even for treating affected adults. It must be emphasized that no one should attempt this type of treatment without proper medical supervision.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/4697742/Peanut-allergy-cured-in-world-first-for-British-children.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7899383.stm

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2009/02February/Pages/Peanutallergytreatment.aspx

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122208002/abstract

Both the NHS Direct (http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/) and Kids Health (http://kidshealth.org/) sites contain links to more general information about peanut allergy.