Halloween safety

Kids love Halloween.  It’s fun to dress up in costume and get free candy.  At my house, it’s my hubby who loves Halloween.  He likes seeing the kids all dressed up and giving out candy.  He has already bought 12 pounds of assorted candy so we are ready for the little trick-r-treaters. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics share this information on Halloween safety at http://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/news-features-and-safety-tips/pages/Halloween-Safety-Tips.aspx

In the News--Measles still poses threat to US

There are diseases which in the past killed some people and made others very ill.  Contagious diseases such as whooping cough, measles, hepatitis B (and others) are still around and could become deadly again IF we stopped immunizing people.

For example, a recent news article reported that in 2000, measles was officially eliminated in the US.  However, travelers continue to bring it into the US from other parts of the world.  Most Americans have been immunized for measles while children and should be immune.  The MMR (Measles, mumps, rubella) immunization includes the measles.   Routinely the MMR vaccine is given at 12-15 months of age with a planned booster shot.   Those people who have not been immunized face a risk of catching measles.  This article can be found at http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/09/12/measles-still-poses-threat-to-us-health-officials-warn/

For more information about the MMR immunization, see http://www.immunize.org/askexperts/experts_mmr.asp

For more information about some of the potential contagious diseases, see http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/whatifstop.htm

Immunizations save lives

Pasteur discovered how to weaken germs and make a safe vaccine over a century ago.  Since then, many lives have been saved because of the immunizations.  I invite you to watch this youtube video produced by unicef at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhm9xcVq2hI

Immunizations--a history lesson

When did immunizations (vaccinations) come about?  Here’s a history lesson for us.  According to The Little Book of Medical Breakthroughs, a chemist named Louis Pasteur gets credit for immunizations.  Pasteur recognized that something (he thought maybe germs) caused beer and wine to ferment.  In 1879 this was radical thinking.  He began to identify germs (microorganisms) and what illness different germs caused. Pasteur injected chickens with old, weakened cholera germs.  When the chickens survived, he injected the same chickens (and a second group of chickens which had not been vaccinated) with a new strong batch of cholera germs.  The vaccinated chickens did not get sick while the second group (not vaccinated) became ill. Pasteur continued experimenting with vaccines and expanded his work to include anthrax and rabies.  The first rabies vaccine was used on people in 1885.  We have Louis Pasteur to thank for the concept of vaccines (immunizations). 

Flu shot season--have you been vaccinated?

I got my flu shot this week.  I have been getting my annual flu shot for many years.  I believe it helps me stay healthy.  Have you gotten your flu shot this year? 

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) offers information about the flu vaccine at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/general.htm  (Note the comment that their website hasn’t been updated due to lack of government funding.  The information was last updated Sept 27, 2013.)

ABC News offers this article, 5 things you need to know about the flu shot at http://abcnews.go.com/Health/things-flu-shot/story?id=20358549#

The US News Health page gives 5 reasons for getting a flu shot at http://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-wellness/articles/2013/09/30/why-you-should-get-the-flu-vaccine

Taking a break from healthy food

Some days you just gotta enjoy it. (Pardon my poor grammar) 

Last month the annual district fair came to town.  This tradition dates back longer than I have been alive.  Friday nite my husband and I headed to the fair where we ate corn dogs, fried 'taters' and funnel cake.  That’s more fried foods than I have eaten –probably since last year’s fair.  Anyway, I figure once a year won’t hurt me and it was pretty yummy.