We all know that staying alert is critical on long car trips but sometimes that’s easier said than done.

The driver needs to take breaks, walk around have a snack, if he or she is the only driver.  If there is a second driver, then they can switch on and off, giving each other a rest break.

Don’t start the car until everyone’s seat belt is fastened. Stop the car if a child undoes his seat belt or if children are distracting the driver by yelling or arguing.

Never leave children alone in a parked car, even one that is locked.

Keep a spare key in your purse or wallet – if your car doesn’t have remote locking, it can be easy to lock the keys in the car.

Remove everything from the dashboard and the back parcel ledge – even small things can fly off and injure your children if you have to stop suddenly.

Traveling at night so your children can sleep isn’t always a good idea, as it isn’t safe to let them lie down on the car seats without seat belts.

Make sure the sun doesn’t shine directly on babies or young children in the car. You can hang a piece of cloth from the closed window to provide shade, or buy sunshades to fit your car’s windows.

Try not to have too many things that children need to share. Sharing is hard at the best of times, and when children are tired it can be testing! Have a pillow and a blanket each, rather than one to share.

Sit in the back with your children for some of the time, if there’s room. This makes the trip much more enjoyable for them.

Be prepared for stops if a child feels sick or needs to go to the toilet. They usually can’t ‘hang on’ until the next town.

Source: Child and Youth Health

If you have Celiac disease you need to know if there is gluten in your facial products and body lotions. According to a recent study by George Washington University researchers those with Celiac disease may not be aware that they are being exposed to gluten in lip, face and body products.

The study was prompted in part by the case of a 28-year-old woman with Celiac disease who experienced a worsening of disease symptoms, including gastrointestinal complications and a skin rash, after using a body lotion marketed as “natural.”

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. For most of us, gluten isn’t a problem, but for those with Celiac disease, gluten damages their intestines.

Researchers examined products from 10 of the leading cosmetic companies in the U.S., only finding two of the 10 companies offering detailed ingredient information. None of the companies offered gluten-free products.

“The findings are alarming because gluten-containing cosmetics can be inadvertently obtained by the consumer and use of these products can result in an exacerbation of Celiac disease,” researcher Dr. Pia Prakash said in a college news release. “This study revealed that information about the ingredients, including the potential gluten content in cosmetics, is not readily available.

Some smaller cosmetic companies specifically advertise gluten-free alternatives. Larger companies should inform consumers as to whether or not their products can be safely used by individuals with gluten sensitivity,” Dr. Prakash concluded.

(SOURCE: American College of Gastroenterology news release, Oct. 28, 2011)

Earlier this week the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the following warning about a long time favorite Halloween candy. It is reprinted here in its entirety.

Black Licorice: Trick or Treat?

Days before the biggest candy eating holiday of the year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) encourages moderation if you enjoy snacking on the old fashioned favorite.                                                                                                                                                              

So, if you’re getting your stash ready for Halloween, here’s some advice from FDA:

If you’re 40 or older, eating 2 ounces of black licorice a day for at least two weeks could land you in the hospital with an irregular heart rhythm or arrhythmia.

FDA experts say black licorice contains the compound glycyrrhizin, which is the sweetening compound derived from licorice root. Glycyrrhizin can cause potassium levels in the body to fall. When that happens, some people experience abnormal heart rhythms, as well as high blood pressure, edema (swelling), lethargy, and congestive heart failure.

FDA’s Linda Katz, M.D., says last year the agency received a report of a black licorice aficionado who had a problem after eating the candy. And several medical journals have linked black licorice to health problems in people over 40, some of whom had a history of heart disease and/or high blood pressure.

Katz says potassium levels are usually restored with no permanent health problems when consumption of black licorice stops.

Licorice, or liquorice, is a low-growing shrub mostly grown for commercial use in Greece, Turkey, and Asia. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says the plant’s root has a long history of use as a folk or traditional remedy in both Eastern and Western medicine. It has been used as a treatment for heartburn, stomach ulcers, bronchitis, sore throat, cough and some infections caused by viruses, such as hepatitis; however, NIH says there are insufficient data available to determine if licorice is effective in treating any medical condition.

Licorice is also used as a flavoring in food. Many “licorice” or “licorice flavor” products manufactured in the United States do not contain any licorice. Instead, they contain anise oil, which has the same smell and taste. Licorice root that is sold as a dietary supplement can be found with the glycyrrhizin removed, resulting in a product known as deglycyrrhizinated licorice, or DGL, NIH says.

If you have a fondness for black licorice, FDA is offering this advice:

• No matter what your age, don’t eat large amounts of black licorice at one time.

• If you have been eating a lot of black licorice and have an irregular heart rhythm or muscle weakness, stop eating it immediately and contact your health care provider.

• Black licorice can interact with some medications, herbs and dietary supplements. Consult a health care professional if you have questions about possible interactions with a drug or supplement you take.

If you’ve experienced any problems after eating licorice, contact the FDA consumer complaint coordinator in your area.

This article appears on FDA’s Consumer Updates page, which features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.

Susan Brady, Health News, recently reported on a study documenting the presence of BPA in canned foods that target children.

A new study by the Breast Cancer Fund—a non-profit organization dedicated to identifying and eliminating environmental links to breast cancer—tested six child-targeted canned products for traces of BPA (bisphenol A).

Connie Engel, science education coordinator at the Breast Cancer Fund, said that the focus was on canned products “Specifically marketed to kids: either ones with pictures of favorite cartoon characters or labels that said something about kids….. The levels of BPA we found in these canned foods were a little higher than those previously found in baby bottles and water bottles.”

BPA can be most harmful in developing fetuses, newborns and young children. Research has shown the link between the exposure of BPA and the increased risks of diabetes and heart disease, as well an association between the exposure to BPA and being obese.

The products tested in the study were:

• Annie’s Homegrown Cheesy Ravioli
• Campbell’s Disney Princess Cool Shapes, Shaped Pasta with Chicken in Chicken Broth
• Campbell’s Spaghettios with Meatballs
• Campbell’s Toy Story Fun Shapes, Shaped Pasta with Chicken in Chicken Broth
• Chef Boyardee Whole Grain Pasta, Mini ABC’s & 123’s with Meatballs
• Earth’s Best Organic Elmo Noodlemania Soup

The FDA reviewed the risk of BPA in the past and the National Institute of Health has invested $30 million to study BPA. While some states and countries have banned the use of BPA, the United States has not.

It’s recommended that if you are feeding a young child canned foods, it would be best to avoid processed items and stick with a diet of fresh foods, to prevent further build-up of the BPA in the body. Testing has shown that by eliminating all BPA-related foodstuffs for even just a few days, you can reduce BPA levels by up to 60 percent.

To avoid exposure to BPA, look for products labeled BPA free. There are more products available now than ever with no BPA, but they may cost more than the same items that contain BPA.

According to a recent report in CNN Health, 5,000+ kids are hurt each year in the U.S. from window falls.

The Journal of Pediatrics reports that the number of children treated in U.S. emergency departments for falls from windows approached 100,000 between 1990 and 2008. The research shows that the number of injuries declined during the first decade of the study period, but has since plateaued.

“We still are seeing over 5,000 children a year treated in hospital emergency departments across the country for injuries related to window falls, said Dr. Gary A. Smith, study author and director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. “That’s 14 children a day. This continues to be a very common, important problem.”

Researchers studied data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System,which is maintained by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The group monitors injuries involving consumer products treated in emergency departments nationwide. Researchers divided data from almost 4,000 patients into two groups: 0-4 years and 5-17 years.

Boys were involved in more falls from windows than girls were. In addition, the younger children made up two-thirds of the injuries. The injury rate was highest at age 2.

“These are kids who don’t recognize danger – they’re curious, they want to explore and when they see an open window, they are going to investigate,” Dr. Smith said. “Kids at that age tend to be top heavy. Their center of gravity is up near their chest and so as they lean out of the window to see what’s going on, they’ll topple.”

Many of the young children experienced injuries to their head or face, and, often times, these led to hospitalization or death. On the other hand, children in the older group were more likely to have fractures to their arms or legs.

While a few children did fall from a third story or higher, many more fell from a first or second-story window.

“What we’re finding is that most of these window falls aren’t in these really high-rise buildings,” Smith added. “These are just often homes or apartments that aren’t high-rise, where children live. This is a problem that extends to small towns and even rural areas across the country.”

He reinforces the message that a screen does not offer protection and should give parents no feeling of comfort.

Dr. Smith, who is a pediatric emergency medicine physician, suggests:

Parents of children younger than 5:
Use window guards or locks
Do not allow any window to be open more than four inches
Move furniture away from windows so children cannot climb on it

Parents of children older than 5:
Educate children and teens of the risk of climbing out of a window or jumping from it

The authors also note that the landing surface made a difference. The patients who ended up on a cushioned surface often fared better than those who ended up on a hard surface.

“Our focus should be on preventing the child from falling in the first place, but cushioning the fall can help,” Smith noted.

“If a child falls from a window and they land on bushes or a planted flower bed, that often is enough to cushion the fall so that they’ll end up with bruises or scrapes instead of a severe injury,” he said.

The study points out that great reductions were seen in New York and Boston after programs were implemented there to combat the problem. The programs involved education in the community and among parents. Window guards were also made available. In New York City, window guards became mandatory in apartments where young children lived.

“We know what works,” Smith said. “We need to now go out and implement that.”

Dr. Smith said there were limitations with the set of data, especially with fatality numbers, and therefore these numbers under represent the problem.