Is it a Cold or Seasonal Allergies?

A Note from the Medical Editor (HealthyChildren.org)

Spring means flower buds and blooming trees but for many, it also brings sneezing, wheezing and watery eyes. In this edition of our newsletter we bring you information on some of the most common seasonal allergies and how to treat them. Learn how to reduce your child's exposure to the things that trigger the symptoms and nip the allergies in the bud! If you are concerned about your child's symptoms, talk with your pediatrician to find out what specific allergies your child may have and how best to treat them.   ~Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP Medical Editor, HealthyChildren.org

Please use this link for additional information: Seasonal Allergies in Children

Just in from our Tooth Tutor - Tammy Valadakis, RDH

Active Kids Healthy Teeth - Color PDF

WIND CHILL WARNING - 2/15/2015 and 2/16/2015

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ALBANY NY 624 PM EST SUN FEB 15 2015

IMPACTS: WIND CHILLS OF THIS MAGNITUDE MAY CAUSE FROSTBITE ON EXPOSED SKIN IN LESS THAN 15 MINUTES.

...WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST MONDAY...

LOCATIONS: ALL OF EAST CENTRAL NEW YORK AND ADJACENT WESTERN NEW ENGLAND 

HAZARD TYPES: DANGEROUS TO LIFE THREATENING WIND CHILLS THROUGH MONDAY 

MORNING.

WIND CHILL: 25 TO 50 BELOW ZERO TONIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING.

IMPACTS: DANGEROUS TO LIFE THREATENING LOW WIND CHILLS COULD RESULT IN HYPOTHERMIA AND FROST BITE IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

TIMING: WIND CHILLS WILL BE DANGEROUSLY COLD THROUGH MID DAY MONDAY.

WINDS: NORTHWEST 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH.

TEMPERATURES: DROPPING TO AROUND 25 BELOW ZERO OVER THE ADIRONDACKS 

TONIGHT AND 5 BELOW TO 20 BELOW ELSEWHERE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS: A WIND CHILL WARNING MEANS THE 

COMBINATION OF VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL CREATE DANGEROUSLY LOW WIND CHILL VALUES. THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA OR DEATH IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.

http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=btv&wwa=wind%20chill%20warning

Vermont's Smoke Free Law: Act 135

'Tis the season...

VT Department of Health: Ebola Update

Vermont Situation Update

The Vermont Department of Health continues to monitor a Vermonter who was voluntarily quarantined beginning on Oct. 27 after returning from West Africa. He is being monitored for fever or symptoms of Ebola.

Preparing for and responding to control the spread of disease is a core function of public health. Even though there is very low risk of Ebola in Vermont, the Health Department, hospitals, health care providers, and responders are preparing to safely respond and manage any suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola.

Related: Vermont is Carefully Montioring Travelers from Ebola-affected Regions (News release 10/8/14)

It's important to know:

• The risk of Ebola spreading in the U.S. and Vermont is very low.
• You can’t get Ebola from a person who has no symptoms.
• Ebola is spread through direct contact with blood and bodily fluids of a person who is sick with the disease.
• Ebola is NOT spread through the air, water, or food.

http://healthvermont.gov/prevent/ebola/index.aspx

CDC: Monitoring Symptoms and Controlling Movement to Stop Spread of Ebola

PURPOSE
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated their guidance on 10/27/2014 to help protect America from Ebola. This updated guidance focuses on strengthening how we monitor people who may have been exposed to Ebola and how medical professionals will oversee their care and, when warranted to protect the public health or our communities, limit their movement or activities. Through these changes, CDC and state and local health departments seek to support people who may have been exposed to Ebola, while also continuing to stop Ebola at its source in West Africa through the valor of our health care workers who serve. These changes will help ensure their symptoms are monitored and a system is in place to quickly recognize when they need to be routed to care. These actions will better protect potentially exposed individuals and the American public as a whole.

New risk levels were established and I have included the 'Low' and 'No' risk below. Please use the link at the bottom of this post for additional information about the updated guidance.

Low risk (but not zero)—

• having been in a country with widespread Ebola transmission within the previous 21 days and having no known exposure
• being in the same room for a brief period of time (without direct contact) with a person showing symptoms of Ebola
• having brief skin contact with a person showing symptoms of Ebola when the person was believed to be not very contagious
• in countries without widespread Ebola transmission: direct contact with a person showing symptoms of Ebola while wearing PPE
• travel on an airplane with a person showing symptoms of Ebola

No risk—

• contact with a person who is NOT showing symptoms AFTER that person was in contact with a person with Ebola
• contact with a person with Ebola BEFORE the person was showing symptoms
• having traveled to a country with Ebola outbreak MORE than 21 days ago
• having been in a country where there is no widespread Ebola transmission (e.g., the United States), and having no other exposures to Ebola

http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/fs1027-monitoring-symptoms-controlling-movement.html?s_cid=cs_021