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have_you_heard From Acetaminophen to Zoonoses, up to date and interesting topics for you to use for the health and well being of your family.

Information for Parents, Teachers and all those who care for children

Therapists who treat childhood trauma said on Friday that parents talking to their children about the mass shooting should address the news directly and soon.

Children sense the anxiety and tension in adults around them. And, like adults, children experience the same feelings of helplessness and lack of control that disasters or crisis can bring about.

Unlike adults, children have little experience to help them place their current problems into perspective.

Each child responds differently to disasters, but it’s easy to see how an event can create a great deal of anxiety in children of all ages because they will interpret the disaster as a personal danger to themselves and those they care about.

Whatever the child’s age or relationship to the damage caused by disaster or crisis, it’s important that you be open about the consequences for your family, and that you encourage him or her to talk about it.

Children and Disaster: Helping Children Handle Crisis-Related Anxiety

Los niños y las catástrofes: Cómo ayudar a los niños a manejar la ansiedad relacionada con una crisis

Frequently Asked Questions

For more information

California Department of Education: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ss/cp/tragedy.asp

National Association of School Psychologists: http://www.nasponline.org/

http://www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/terror_general.aspx

Talking with kids about what’s on the news: http://www.pbs.org/parents/talkingwithkids/news/

From The New York Times: Tips for Talking to Children About the Shooting - http://nyti.ms/Wcgf9S

Behavioral Health Bureau's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/montereycountybehavioralhealthbureau

From the Children's Mental Health Network

A brief listing of excellent resources you can use to help in your efforts to talk with youth and families about the shooting that took place in Connecticut on Friday. Special thanks to the following people for rallying quickly and consulting with experts to identify a few key resources

Review the resources and download what is most applicable to your needs.

The Children's Mental Health Network wishes to express gratitude to Alfredo Aguirre, Director of Mental Health Services, San Diego County & Network Advisory Council Member, Wayne Lindstrom, President & CEO, Mental Health America, and Robert Abramovitz, Co-Director National Center for Social Work, Trauma Education and Workforce Development, Hunter College.

FDA Drug Safety Communication: Eye drops and nasal sprays

Serious adverse events from accidental ingestion by children of over-the-counter eye drops and nasal sprays

Safety Announcement

[10-25-2012] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning the public that accidental ingestion (swallowing) by children of over-the-counter (OTC; available without a prescription) eye drops used to relieve redness and nasal decongestant sprays can result in serious harm. The eye drops and nasal sprays that have been involved in the cases of accidental ingestion contain the active ingredients tetrahydrozoline, oxymetazoline, or naphazoline. These products are sold under various brand names, as generics, and as store brands (see List of Products below).

Facts about OTC redness-relief eye drops and nasal decongestant sprays

These products contain the active ingredients tetrahydrozoline, oxymetazoline, or naphazoline.
In the eyes, these ingredients work by narrowing blood vessels to relieve redness due to minor eye irritations. In the nose, they work by narrowing blood vessels to relieve nasal congestion due to the common cold, hay fever, or allergies.
These products are safe when used in the eyes or the nose as directed, but if ingested, they may cause serious and life-threatening adverse events.

The cases of accidental ingestion reviewed by FDA occurred in children 5 years of age and younger (see Data Summary below). No deaths were reported; however, serious events requiring hospitalization such as coma, decreased heart rate, decreased breathing, and sedation (sleepiness) have occurred. Ingestion of only a small amount (1-2 mL; for reference, there are 5 mL in a teaspoon) of the eye drops or nasal spray can lead to serious adverse events in young children. Most of these redness-relief eye drops and nasal decongestant sprays currently do not come packaged with child-resistant closures, so children can accidentally ingest the drug if the bottles are within easy reach.

Consumers should store these products out of reach of children at all times. If a child accidentally swallows these eye drops or nasal decongestant spray, call the toll-free Poison Help Line (1-800-222-1222) and seek emergency medical care immediately.

To protect young children from ingesting these products, earlier this year the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published a proposed rule¹* requiring child-resistant packaging for redness-relief eye drops and nasal decongestant sprays.

*The proposed rule also covers products that contain xylometazoline; however products containing xylometazoline are not currently marketed.

Additional Information for Consumers and Parents/Caregivers

Serious harm may result from accidentally swallowing over-the-counter (available without a prescription) redness-relief eye drops or nasal decongestant sprays containing the active ingredients tetrahydrozoline, oxymetazoline, or naphazoline. These products are intended for use in the eyes or nose only.
If a child accidentally swallows these eye drops or nasal decongestant spray, call the toll-free Poison Help Line (1-800-222-1222) and seek emergency medical care immediately.
Store these products out of reach of children at all times (see List of Products below).
Report side effects or medication errors from the use of these eye drops or nasal decongestant sprays to the FDA MedWatch program, using the information in the "Contact FDA" box at the bottom of this page.
Read more...

Funding Public Health Infographic

Rare cases of serious burns with the use of over-the-counter topical muscle and joint pain relievers

FDA Drug Safety Communication

[9-13-2012] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting the public that certain over-the-counter (OTC) products that are applied to the skin for the relief of mild muscle and joint pain have been reported to cause rare cases of serious skin injuries, ranging from first- to third-degree chemical burns, where the products were applied. These OTC topical muscle and joint pain relievers are available as single- or combination-ingredient products that contain menthol, methyl salicylate, or capsaicin. The various formulations include creams, lotions, ointments, and patches.

Facts about OTC topical muscle and joint pain relievers

Used to temporarily relieve minor muscle and joint aches and pain
Marketed under various brand-names, such as, Bengay, Capzasin, Flexall, Icy Hot, and Mentholatum

When applied to the skin, the products produce a local sensation of warmth or coolness; they should not cause pain or skin damage. However, there have been rare cases of serious burns following their use (see Data Summary below). Some of the burns had serious complications requiring hospitalization. In many cases, the burns occurred after only one application of the OTC topical muscle and joint pain reliever, with severe burning or blistering occurring within 24 hours of the first application. Based on the reported cases, the majority of second- and third-degree burns occurred with the use of products containing menthol as the single active ingredient, and products containing both menthol and methyl salicylate, in concentrations greater than 3% menthol and 10% methyl salicylate. Few cases reported using a capsaicin-containing product.

Consumers using an OTC topical muscle and joint pain reliever who experience signs of skin injury where the product was applied, such as pain, swelling, or blistering of the skin, should stop using the product and seek medical attention immediately.

Additional Information for Consumers

Rare cases of serious burns have been reported to occur on the skin where over-the-counter (OTC) topical muscle and joint pain relievers were applied. These products contain the active ingredients menthol, methyl salicylate, or capsaicin.
Of the burns that have been reported, the majority of second- and third-degree burns occurred with products containing menthol as the single active ingredient and products containing both menthol and methyl salicylate, at concentrations greater than 3% menthol and 10% methyl salicylate. Few cases reported using a capsaicin-containing product. Some of the burns had serious complications requiring hospitalization.
The skin injuries described were recently assessed by FDA. Existing Tentative Final Monograph does not at this time require labels of OTC topical muscle and joint pain relievers to carry a warning that use of the products could result in serious burns.
If you experience pain, swelling, or blistering of the skin where an OTC topical muscle and joint pain reliever was applied, stop using the product and seek medical attention immediately. These products should not cause pain or skin damage. These products produce local warmth or coolness.
When applying OTC topical muscle and joint pain relievers to the skin, do not bandage the area tightly and do not apply local heat (heating pads, lamps, hot water in bags or bottles) because doing so can increase the risk of serious burns.

Do not apply OTC topical muscle and joint pain relievers to wounds or damaged, broken, or irritated skin. Also do not allow contact with eyes and mucous membranes (such as the skin inside your nose, mouth, or genitals).
Talk to a health care professional if you have any questions or concerns about using OTC topical muscle and joint pain relievers.
Report side effects from the use of OTC topical muscle and joint pain relievers to the FDA MedWatch program, using the information in the "Contact FDA" box at the bottom of the page.

Additional Information for Health Care Professionals

Rare cases of serious burns have been reported to occur on the skin where over-the-counter (OTC) topical muscle and joint pain relievers were applied. These products contain the active ingredients menthol, methyl salicylate, or capsaicin.
Of the burns that have been reported, the majority of second- and third-degree burns occurred with the use of products containing menthol as the single active ingredient and products containing both menthol and methyl salicylate, in concentrations greater than 3% menthol and 10% methyl salicylate. Few cases reported using a capsaicin-containing product.
When recommending OTC topical muscle and joint pain relievers to patients, counsel them about how to use the products appropriately and inform them about the risk of serious burns. The skin injuries described were recently assessed by FDA. Existing Tentative Final Monograph does not at this time require labels of OTC topical muscle and joint topical pain relievers to carry a warning that use of the products could result in serious burns.
If a patient experiences pain, swelling, or blistering of the skin where an OTC topical muscle and joint pain reliever was applied, advise the patient to discontinue using the product.
Report adverse events involving OTC topical muscle and joint pain relievers to the FDA MedWatch program using the information in the "Contact FDA" box at the bottom of this page.

Data Summary

A search of FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) database (from 1969 through April 21, 2011), the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System – Cooperative Adverse Drug Event Surveillance (NEISS-CADES) database (from 2004 to 2010), and the medical literature¹ identified 43 cases of burns on the application site associated with the use of over-the-counter (OTC) topical muscle and joint pain relievers containing the active ingredients menthol, methyl salicylate, or capsaicin. The products associated with these cases include patches, balms, and creams. All cases in this series include burns that were confirmed by a health care professional. In the case series, there were reports of burns ranging from first-degree to third-degree, but many cases did not specify the degree of the burn. Many cases occurred following one application of the OTC topical muscle and joint pain reliever, with severe burning or blistering occurring within 24 hours of the first application of the product. A majority of the second- and third-degree burns were reported with the use of products containing menthol as the single active ingredient or products containing both menthol and methyl salicylate, where the concentration of the ingredients was greater than 3% menthol and 10% methyl salicylate. Few cases reported using a capsaicin-containing product.

Reference

Heng MC. Local necrosis and interstitial nephritis due to topical methyl salicylate and menthol. Cutis 1987;39:442-4.