Vaccination, Disinfectants Important This Flu Season

(MS) -- By Dra. Aliza Lifshitz, Internist, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles

Perhaps no issue has made more headlines this year than the flu. At the core of those headlines is the 2009 H1N1 virus, otherwise known as swine flu virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hundreds of deaths have already been associated with the 2009 H1N1 virus, and the coming months figure to prove even more deadly as flu season approaches.

What's most troubling about the coming flu season, particularly for the nation's large Hispanic population, are the warnings that the season could prove to be the worst yet. According to the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, the coming flu season could pose a serious health threat. For Hispanics, that's especially concerning, as a recent Associated Press report noted Hispanics are four times more likely to be hospitalized as a result of the 2009 H1N1 virus. Despite that, a September 2009 poll conducted by Garcia Research indicates that 56 percent of Hispanic adults said they were "not concerned" about the flu. In addition, fewer than 4 in 10 indicated that they were "very likely" to get vaccinated for the seasonal flu.

Why Get a Flu Shot?

The flu is highly contagious, easily spreading from person to person, and can be especially harmful to children. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the "single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year." The flu vaccine can prevent influenza among 70 to 90 percent of healthy adults by protecting against common types of flu viruses that are in circulation.

Who Needs a Flu Shot?

In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can and should get vaccinated. The CDC recommends that all children ages 6 months to 18 years be vaccinated. In addition, household caregivers -- including moms, dads, grandparents, nannies, and other child care providers -- should get vaccinated.

When Should You Get Vaccinated?

Yearly flu vaccination should begin in September or October before flu season peaks, but the flu shot can protect you even if you get vaccinated late in the flu season into December, January and beyond. While flu outbreaks can happen as early as October, flu activity typically peaks in January or later.

How Can Exposure

to the Flu Be Reduced?

In addition to getting vaccinated, there are myriad ways individuals can help prevent exposure to the flu virus.

* Sing and Scrub. Make sure kids wash their hands often. They should wash frequently with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds (the time it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice).

* Cough and sneeze into elbows, not hands. If they don't have a tissue, teach kids to cough and sneeze into the inside of their elbows. Coughing into hands is more likely to spread bacteria and viruses through touch.

* Disinfect Hot Spots. Kids and adults alike can touch many surfaces in a short period of time. To reduce risk of spreading the flu virus, disinfect hard surfaces as directed using an EPA registered product that is effective against the influenza A virus, such as Clorox(R) Clean-Up(R) Cleaner with Bleach and Clorox(R) Disinfecting Wipes, on commonly touched surfaces. Plastic children's toys, doorknobs, phones, computer keyboards, remote controls, and faucets can all be sources of the influenza virus, and an individual can still get infected 2-8 hours after the virus was initially deposited on the surface. So be sure to make disinfecting such areas a part of your daily household routine.

* Continue living a healthy lifestyle. Eating right, exercising and getting plenty of sleep help boost the body's ability to fight the effects of the flu viruses.

For more information about helping to protect yourself and your family during flu season, visit www.VidaySalud.com, www.cdc.gov/flu, www.clorox.com, www.Cloroxenespanol.com, or www.cdc.gov/flu/espanol.

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Kids Party 101

Chances are if you have children, you'll be hosting a party for kids at least once this year. Some children's birthday parties now rival weddings in scale and cost, with elaborate cakes tipping the scales at $2000 or more.

But what to do if you're more of a do-it-yourself mom or dad, or simply do not have the budget for an ostentatious affair? Children's parties are more about making memories than how much money is spent. And chances are you can pull together an event that will be memorable and fun.

1. Start with a theme. A theme is the foundation upon which all of the other components of the party will be built. Because it is the common factor, it will help make purchasing favors, deciding upon colors and selecting games that much easier. Involve your child in the process. Figure out what he or she enjoys the most and go with that theme.

"My son absolutely loves SpongeBob Squarepants," says Marie, mom to a 4 year old. "So it was a no-brainer for me what theme to use for his birthday party. From a 'Pin the Pants on SpongeBob' game to yellow favor bags, it was easy to work within the theme."

2. Select the venue. Hosting the party at home is often the least expensive option, but one that will require the most clean-up. If you have a finished basement or a big backyard, you have a versatile space for the party. Party centers may offer maximum convenience in terms of supplies, events and clean-up, however, they will likely be the most costly options per head.

3. Decide on the guest list. It's understandable to want to invite every friend and family member to a children's birthday party. However, due to space and budget constraints, this isn't often possible. One rule of courtesy to follow is that if you invite at least half of your child's school class to the party, you should respectfully invite them all in this case so no one feels left out. It's also perfectly acceptable to limit the party invites to family members with children in the same age bracket. Singletons or aunts and uncles will have to wait for another event for which to visit.

4. Time the party for the age group. Younger children who get antsy later in the day when it may be nap time could benefit from an early party, while older children may want a late-afternoon party, which could work to your advantage since you won't have to provide a meal. Also, time the party so that you give guests ample time to arrive, enjoy themselves and be on their merry way without feeling rushed or bored. For the youngest children (ages 1, 2 or 3), a rule of thumb is not to have the length of the party exceed their age otherwise you could have meltdowns and temper tantrums on your hand from tired children.

5. Food and fun are essential. Guests attend parties for the enjoyment factor and what food will be served. Certain games are tried and true birthday classics (musical chairs, etc.). However, use your imagination to fit games to the theme of your party. A superhero themed party, for example, may feature an obstacle course where the villains must go up against a team of heroes. Or base your festivities on the time of year. Summer backyard parties can have plenty of wet water fun by way of sprinklers and slippery slides. Just be sure to indicate the type of activities on the invitations so that gusts can dress accordingly.

In terms of food, pizza is definitely the ultimate standby in terms of party fare. However, changing up the menu to other finger foods, such as chicken nuggets, small sandwiches, or make-your-own creations can add something different to your event.

6. Take the cake. The popularity of documentary cake-baking shows on television could lead to cake anxiety for party throwers. It's nice to have a visually perfect cake that guests can ooh and aah over, but it's not a necessity. A home-baked cake or a sheet cake purchased from a store can be an affordable option. Use toys or your own decorating savvy to make the design of the cake fit in with your theme with minimal fuss. For an even easier time of it, individual cupcakes eliminate the need to stand, slice and serve cake to all of the guests.

7. Don't forget the favors. Enable guests to take away something from the party. Scour discount stores, online bulk retailers and more for inexpensive finds. Stores like Target, for example often have party packages with favor ideas for guests.

CAPTION: Food and fun are key components to a children's birthday party.

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Reclaim the Dinner Hour with Online Meal Planning Tool

(MS) -- Today's families are busier and more budget conscious than ever. Each family member has a host of activities filling the calendar and responsibilities that make it challenging to find quality time together. And with everyone working harder to make ends meet, the most significant "connecting time" can get shoved out of family life -- dinnertime!

Planning a weekly dinner menu, shopping for groceries on a budget and preparing meals at home are very difficult to accomplish amid busy workloads. Oftentimes, families resort to grabbing a meal on the go or fast food in a pinch. However, these strategies aren't money or health saving, and they do not promote quality time as a family. It takes intentional planning and preparation to ensure that dinner is shared as a family on a regular basis.

There are ways to make meal planning and dining at home as a family possible and easy. Here are a few ideas:

Get the stress off of your plate and healthy food on it. Since planning and shopping for regular family dinners can be so stressful, most families just need a practical tool that is convenient and easy-to-use. A very easy and organized system that is helping families to solve the dinner dilemma is E-Mealz.com. E-Mealz provides a variety of easy weekly meal plans, complete with delicious dinner recipes and a corresponding grocery list that you just print and go!

Have a plan before heading out. Write your own plan or have it done for you. It does wonders to have it off your mind and on a piece of paper. Shopping with a list in hand -- and sticking to it -- drastically reduces the number of trips to the grocery store, saves time shopping and limits impulse buys. Going to the grocery store without a list or plan is money down the drain. The number one way to save money on your grocery bill is to have a plan ... period!

View dinnertime as more than just eating. Breakfast may be the most important meal in terms of nutritional value and jump starting the day, but dinner could be the most important for an entirely different reason: strengthening your family. Mealtime gives family members a chance to converse, connect, and relate to each other -- face-to-face and side-by-side around the dinner table. Recent research reveals that the number of family dinners a teen has in a typical week is a powerful indicator of substance abuse risk. Teens who have fewer than three family dinners in a typical week are more than twice as likely to do poorly in school.

Savor good food while you savor your most important relationships. The dinner hour at home is the prime, and typically the only, opportunity to connect with your family -- discussing, laughing, and lingering around the table. Making dinner happen sends the message to your kids, "You matter, our family matters, and you are worth the effort and loved!" Strong families can be raised eating on paper plates. A good meal, a sturdy table, and your family -- put those three ingredients together every night, stir in some love -- and that's all you need!

To learn how to reclaim the dinner hour for your family, visit www.e-mealz.com.

CAPTION: Save money and reclaim your family time with a practical on-line meal planning service.

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September 28th is Family Day, A Day to Eat Dinner with Your ChildrenTM

(MS) -- Today's families are busier and more budget conscious than ever. Each family member has a host of activities filling the calendar and responsibilities that make it challenging to find quality time together. And with everyone working harder to make ends meet, the most significant "connecting time" can get shoved out of family life -- dinnertime! The annual Family Day is a national movement to remind parents that Dinners Make A Difference!

However, planning a weekly dinner menu, shopping for groceries on a budget and preparing meals at home are very difficult to accomplish amid busy workloads. Oftentimes, families resort to grabbing a meal on the go or fast food in a pinch. However, these strategies aren't money or health saving, and they do not promote quality time as a family. It takes intentional planning and preparation to ensure that dinner is shared as a family on a regular basis.

There are ways to make meal planning and dining at home as a family possible and easy. Here are a few ideas:

Get the stress off of your plate and healthy food on it. Since planning and shopping for regular family dinners can be so stressful, most families just need a practical tool that is convenient and easy-to-use. A very easy and organized system that is helping families to solve the dinner dilemma is E-Mealz.com. E-Mealz provides a variety of easy weekly meal plans, complete with delicious dinner recipes and a corresponding grocery list that you just print and go!

Have a plan before heading out. Write your own plan or have it done for you. It does wonders to have it off your mind and on a piece of paper. Shopping with a list in hand -- and sticking to it -- drastically reduces the number of trips to the grocery store, saves time shopping and limits impulse buys. Going to the grocery store without a list or plan is money down the drain. The number one way to save money on your grocery bill is to have a plan ... period!

View dinnertime as more than just eating. Breakfast may be the most important meal in terms of nutritional value and jump starting the day, but dinner could be the most important for an entirely different reason: strengthening your family. Mealtime gives family members a chance to converse, connect, and relate to each other -- face-to-face and side-by-side around the dinner table. Recent research at Columbia University reveals that the number of family dinners a teen has in a typical week is a powerful indicator of substance abuse risk. Teens who have fewer than three family dinners in a typical week are more than twice as likely to do poorly in school. Furthermore, Columbia University has consistently found that the more often kids eat dinner with their families, the less likely they are to smoke, drink or use drugs.

Savor good food while you savor your most important relationships. The dinner hour at home is the prime, and typically the only, opportunity to connect with your family -- discussing, laughing and lingering around the table. Making dinner happen sends the message to your kids, "You matter, our family matters, and you are worth the effort and loved!" Strong families can be raised eating on paper plates. A good meal, a sturdy table, and your family-- put those three ingredients together every night, stir in some love -- and that's all you need!

See how to celebrate Family Day and reclaim the dinner hour for your family at www.e-mealz.com.

CAPTION: The frequency of family dinners in a typical week is a powerful indicator of substance abuse and poor school performance risk for kids.

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Charity a Choice for Children, Too

This article gives some tips on involving children in charity, to get kids into giving.

When it comes to charity, everyone involved benefits. From those on the receiving end to those doing the giving, charity pays dividends for all concerned.

Parents can even reap greater rewards when involving children in charity. To get kids into giving, consider the following tips.

* Start kids young.It's never too early to involve children in charity. Instilling a charitable nature in kids can start as soon as parents see fit, and will encourage kids to make charity a lifelong pursuit. To get kids started, bring them along on your own charitable pursuits, such as to the local soup kitchen on a weekend morning, or involve them in other charitable activities such as a coat or food drive.

* Involve everyone. Parents are well aware that kids emulate adults' behavior. Younger children also tend to look up to their older siblings. So both Mom and Dad should make sure charitable efforts are a family affair, with both parents and older siblings all getting involved.

* Keep a donation jar around the house. Another way to get kids excited about charity is to keep a daily donation jar around the house. Kids will get excited as they see that jar slowly fill up with loose change or spare dollar bills.

* Let kids make some decisions. Kids will likely be more enthusiastic about charity work when they're working with a charity of their own choosing. For example, many children are very fond of animals. That said, they might be more enthusiastic about working with the local kennel than they would a soup kitchen. Let kids choose their own charities and encourage them to actively and continually participate.

* See if the child's school wants to get involved. Another way to get kids into charity is to involve their friends. Since most kids' friends are classmates, inquire with your child's teacher or principal about getting the class involved in a particular charity or activity.

CAPTION: Involving kids in charity at a young age is an effective way for parents to foster a positive attitude about charity in kids for years to come.

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Keep Kids Safe Around the Pool

When it comes to pools, kids generally love to dive right in. While parents enjoy the smiles on kids' faces as they laugh and lap it up in the backyard pool, it's important for parents to emphasize safety when kids are around the pool. To do just that, consider the following tips, courtesy of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

* Be especially vigilant with younger children. The AAP emphasizes that parents need to be especially careful with children younger than 5 years, recommending that kids that young are always within arm's length when in or around the pool.

* Keep rescue equipment and a telephone nearby. In case of an emergency, be sure to keep a first aid kit and rescue equipment within reaching distance of the pool. Also, should you need to call 911, have a phone within reach and make sure older kids bring a phone out when swimming unsupervised.

* Remove toys from the pool when no one is swimming. Leaving toys in the pool when no one is swimming could entice children to reach for them or jump back into the water to get them. Both of these scenarios could prove very dangerous, so be sure to remove all toys from the pool when everyone has finished swimming.

* Erect a fence around the pool. Many communities have laws mandating all pools be fenced in. For those that don't, it's still a great way to ensure kids don't wander into the pool area and fall into the pool. The AAP recommends gates that self-close and self-latch, and preferably a fence where the latch is higher than a child's reach.

* Don't leave kids alone. Even if it's only for a minute, children should never be left alone when in or near a pool. Adults who know CPR should be around kids whenever they're near a pool. If the phone rings or something else forces you inside, make the kids leave the pool and the pool area before proceeding.

* Cover the pool when not in use. Even if your pool is fenced in, a pool cover can be a great safety valve to keep curious kids from falling into an unattended pool. While this won't entirely prevent drowning, it can lessen its likelihood.

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First Daughter Helps Shed Light on Asthma

(MS) -- Thanks in large part to Malia Obama, the condition of childhood asthma has received renewed attention since the youngster's father took office in January.

The number of people who suffer from asthma has more than doubled in a generation. Many people are aware of common asthma triggers, such as pets, pollen, and dust, and many understand that foods like milk can aggravate the condition. But while removing these things might help, it does not explain the drastic increase in asthma because none of these offenders are new. Our parents and grandparents were exposed to pets, pollen and dust, and they drank milk.

So what happened to cause such a dramatic rise in childhood asthma? We think of technological changes when we compare our era with those past, but there are countless other changes. One is the dramatic increase in our exposure to petroleum, which is the basis for an astonishing variety of things, including plastics, pesticides and food additives. Jane Hersey, director of the non-profit Feingold Association, notes, "Petroleum has also replaced rose petals in the creation of fragrances of all types, and it provides the scent in products from plug-ins to expensive perfumes. Exposure can bring on asthmatic attacks in sensitive people."

* A child born in 1948, 50 years before Malia's birth, woke up on sheets that were dried on a clothesline -- with no perfumes or chemical softeners.

* She brushed her teeth with white toothpaste, minty powder, or baking soda. There were no brightly colored toothpastes or red disclosure tablets.

* The bathroom had white soap and unscented tissues, and was cleaned with scouring powder, not miracle sprays.

* Breakfast might have included a glass of orange juice, not a sugary orange-colored beverage with Yellow dye no. 5 and fake flavor. Cereals were beige.

* The school of 1948 had windows that opened to let in fresh air, and blackboards that used chalk, not white boards and markers with toxic solvents.

* There were no vending machines in schools, and soft drinks were an occasional treat, not the beverage of choice. Class parties were rare, and teachers did not hand out candy.

* School cafeterias served lunches that were made from actual food, not imitation meats, fake cheese, high fructose corn syrup and MSG (monosodium glutamate).

* When a child got sick her medicine was not neon pink and bubble-gum flavored. But the child of 1948 was unlikely to suffer from chronic ear infections, eczema, or ADHD, and few people had ever heard the word "autism."

For decades, medical journals have published research linking petroleum-based food additives to asthma, hives, and headaches, as well as various learning and behavior problems. The Feingold Association shows families how to find the foods and other products they want, but in versions that are free of petro-chemicals. See http://www.feingold.org/.

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