Don’t forget to change your clocks on Sunday, Nov. 6! Safe Kids Mid-South, led by Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, reminds you that now is a good time to check the batteries in all of your smoke alarms, too.  It could save your life.

Did you know that having a working smoke alarm reduces a person's chance of dying in a fire by half? For the best protection, install smoke alarms on every level of your home, outside every sleeping area and in every bedroom. Smoke alarms should be mounted high on walls or ceilings and tested monthly.

It's important to replace smoke alarm batteries once a year, unless they're 10-year lithium batteries. Even if your smoke alarms are hardwired, replace the batteries in case of a power outage.

It’s also a good idea to check the batteries in your home’s carbon monoxide (CO) detector. About 400 people die each year from CO poisoning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As last year proved beyond a doubt, influenza can be unpredictable. Consequences of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic factored into CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' (ACIP) vote earlier this year to recommend universal influenza vaccination for all persons 6 months of age and older.

How does this affect you? Because all people age 6 months and older are now recommended to receive annual influenza vaccination. Vaccination efforts should begin as soon as vaccine is available and continue throughout the influenza season.  This year's vaccine will include the 2009 H1N1 strain as part of the regular seasonal vaccine. Communication science research conducted this summer has shown us that consumers may have safety concerns about the 2009 H1N1 strain being included in the vaccine, which can be a barrier to seeking vaccination. This year's flu vaccine is made in the same way as past flu vaccines. An average of 100 million doses of influenza vaccine have been used in the United States each year and flu vaccines have an excellent safety record.

While everyone is now recommended to receive influenza vaccine, your high-risk patients—pregnant women, those with asthma, diabetes, or other chronic conditions—remain at risk for serious complications from influenza. CDC, and state and local public health agencies, will continue to reinforce efforts to emphasize the crucial importance of vaccine for these groups while simultaneously promoting annual influenza vaccination for everyone in the community.

Parents are encouraged to make sure they vaccinate themselves and their family members too, perhaps utilizing options that might be available through pharmacies, schools, workplaces or other local partners. Information on the flu vaccine is available at www.cdc.gov/flu and www.flu.gov. 

Vaccination continues to be the best protection against influenza and your efforts will be reflected in a healthier community—yours.

In an article published in October 2009, the Associated Press discusses the possibility that new research may suggest giving babies Tylenol to prevent fever when they get childhood vaccinations may backfire and make the shots a little less effective. We asked Dr. Keith English, Chief of Infectious Disease at Le Bonheur Children’s in Memphis and the University of Tennessee Medical Group to explain.

“When a routine dosage of Tylenol is given to infants before vaccinations are administered, the research does show that there is a very small chance it may make the vaccine a little less effective. In saying 'routine dosage', that is when a health care worker would automatically give a dosage of Tylenol right before or after administering the shot.” However, he stressed the importance of recognizing that the study only looked at this type of preventive use of Tylenol – not whether it is OK to use after the vaccines are administered for the relief of mild symptoms.

“The Centers for Disease Control hasn’t published any research that would indicate giving a child Tylenol for the relief of a sore arm or a fever after vaccines presents a problem. The study only suggests against routinely giving Tylenol, and that is based on a very small percentage of instances.”

“As always, parents should talk to their pediatrician and remember to let their instincts guide them. If your child seems uncomfortable a few hours after he or she has received immunizations, there seems to be no adverse effect on the vaccine by giving them a dose of Tylenol to relieve the symptoms.”