11 year old dies by suicide

An 11-year-old girl took her own life last weekend and her mom is on a mission to help other parents see the signs. It is hard to imagine someone so young even knowing how to do it. It just seems so unlikely. Isn't that only a sixth grader? Wow, it is hard to imagine.

Christina Woods said she found out after her daughter's death that Bethany had a Myspace page where she actually talked about taking her life. And some of Bethany's friends said she had mentioned it to them. Christina said she never would have imagined, "Almost all the pictures I could find of her she was smiling and laughing and dancing. She just never mentioned having anything in her life so bad she would do this."

Here are the warning signs of suicide from Suicide Prevention:

• Talking About Dying -- any mention of dying, disappearing, jumping, shooting oneself, or other types of self harm.
• Recent Loss -- through death, divorce, separation, broken relationship, loss of job, money, status, self-confidence, self-esteem, loss of religious faith, loss of interest in friends, sex, hobbies, activities previously enjoyed
• Change in Personality -- sad, withdrawn, irritable, anxious, tired, indecisive, apathetic
• Change in Behavior -- can't concentrate on school, work, routine tasks
• Change in Sleep Patterns -- insomnia, often with early waking or oversleeping, nightmares
• Change in Eating Habits -- loss of appetite and weight, or overeating
• Diminished Sexual Interest -- impotence, menstrual abnormalities (often missed periods)
• Fear of losing control -- going crazy, harming self or others
• Low self esteem -- feeling worthless, shame, overwhelming guilt, self-hatred, "everyone would be better off without me"
• No hope for the future -- believing things will never get better; that nothing will ever change

The reason you don't hear a lot about suicide on the news is because we typically don't report when it happens. Psychologists believe reporting suicides will lead to more people taking their own lives. There is research that shows many suicidal people would feed off the media attention.

Child Psychologist John Day says when it comes kids dying by suicide, many of them don't think through the consequences because that part of their brain hasn't developed yet. Dr. Day said, "It's almost like (the child is thinking) everybody will be sorry and kind of the background thinking is then I'll get what I want. But you're not going to be around to get what you want. You don't understand that part of the action."

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK.

Another thing I wanted to mention, The reporter on this story, Laura Michels, was telling me how she learned that it is offensive to say "committed suicide." She said she was told it is more appropriate to say "died of suicide." It is interesting how sayings just become mainstream and most of us don't even realize they're offensive.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.

Displaying Calories at Fast Food Chains

If you have been reading this blog, you know I am constantly thinking about ways to get my kids to eat healthier. It's not like I pour Kool-Aid down their throats or give them donuts. I just think they could eat better. Neither one of them is very fond of veggies and we do tend to eat out more than I would like.

The following ABC story looks at whether having the calories displayed on the big menu above the cash register at fast food chains will help parents make better choices. I tend to think it will. I think I have a basic knowledge of which menu items are worse than others, but a big reminder right in front of my face would probably sway my impulse decision to get greasy fries.

Knowing the calorie count in a side of fries may make you think twice about ordering it. Nationally, many cities are considering laws ordering restaurants to display the calorie information on their menus. And a new study shows the calorie counts could make a big difference in patrons' orders.

A McDonald's quarter pounder and large fries totals nearly 1000 calories -nearly half of the daily allowance. Both California and New York are considering State laws that would require calorie information be displayed on menus, and New York City implemented such a law in fast food restaurants last month. The restaurant industry has fought back, saying there is no proof that calorie counts would help patrons make healthy choices or reduce obesity levels.

But today a new study arms health workers with some strong evidence. A survey of more than 7,000 people finds that just 4 per cent of patrons noticed calorie information at chains such as McDonald's, Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut - where calorie information is not prominently displayed. However, 31 per cent of patrons at Subway chains, where calorie counts are visible right as you order, noticed the signs and they ordered food containing 52 fewer calories.

Researchers say fast food is so prevalent that reducing consumption by just 50 calories per person would make a big change nationwide.

This study is published in the American Journal of Public Health by researchers from the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.

Toxic Baby Bottles and Cups!

Many of you are in the process of getting rid of plastic cups and other food items at your house after all the warnings about the chemical Bisphenol A or BPA. I know I am. And the latest story on this makes me even more certain of my decision!

Here's the latest on the chemical Bisphenol-A from WHOI:

The National Institute of Health will imminently release a federal report on Bisphenol-A, or BPA, a chemical that causes cancer, obesity and neurological disorders in animals. BPA leaches into food and drinks from most hard plastics, including 95 percent of baby bottles. Because babies and children are developing at such a rapid rate, even extremely low doses of BPA pose a threat.

In response to the growing scientific consensus about the dangers of BPA, safe alternatives and state legislation to ban the chemical have emerged nationwide. Nine states (California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York and Pennsylvania) are currently considering bills related to BPAs dangers to children. Several companies, including the fastest-growing baby bottle company in the country, BornFree, are now producing safe BPA-free bottles. (Those are the ones I bought.)

You can find more information at NewBornFree.com

There is also a blog called Z Recommends that seems to do a lot of research on Bisphenol A products.

And here's the Bisphenol-A website that says the plastic is still safe to use.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.

Have you ever heard of Dry Drowning?

I got a forward about a 10-year-old boy from South Carolina who drowned more than an hour after he went swimming. He even walked home from the pool! Drowning is certainly something parents think about this time of year. I am sure you've heard your kids can drown in less than one inch of water. But drowning more than an hour after your child gets out of the pool? That's not something I have ever worried about!

Here is part of the story from NBC:

The tragic death of a South Carolina 10-year-old more than an hour after he had gone swimming has focused a spotlight on the little-known phenomenon called “dry drowning” — and warning signs that every parent should be aware of. “I’ve never known a child could walk around, talk, speak and their lungs be filled with water,” Cassandra Jackson told NBC News in a story broadcast Thursday on TODAY.

On Sunday, Jackson had taken her son, Johnny, to a pool near their home in Goose Creek, S.C. It was the first time he’d ever gone swimming — and, tragically, it would be his last. At some point during his swim, Johnny got some water in his lungs. He didn’t show any immediate signs of respiratory distress, but the boy had an accident in the pool and soiled himself. Still, Johnny, his sister and their mother walked home together. “We physically walked home. He walked with me,” Jackson said, still trying to understand how her son could have died. “I bathed him, and he told me that he was sleepy.”

Later, she went into his room to check on him. “I walked over to the bed, and his face was literally covered with this spongy white material,” she said. “And I screamed.” A family friend, Christine Meekins, was visiting and went to see what was wrong. “I pulled his arm and said, ‘Johnny! Johnny!’ ” Meekins told NBC. “There was no response. I opened one of his eyes and I just knew inside my heart that it was something really bad.”

Johnny was rushed to a local hospital, but it was too late. Johnny had drowned, long after he got out of the swimming pool. According to the Centers for Disease Control, some 3,600 people drowned in 2005, the most recent year for which there are statistics. Some 10 to 15 percent of those deaths was classified as “dry drowning,” which can occur up to 24 hours after a small amount of water gets into the lungs. In children, that can happen during a bath.

Dr. Daniel Rauch, a pediatrician from New York University Langone Medical Center, told TODAY’s Meredith Vieira that there are warning signs that every parent should be aware of. Johnny Jackson exhibited some of them, but unless a parent knows what to look for, they are easily overlooked or misinterpreted.

Three Important Signs of Dry Drowning:

• Difficulty breathing
• Extreme tiredness
• Changes in behavior
• All are the result of reduced oxygen flow to the brain.

Rauch said that the phenomenon of dry drowning is not completely understood. But medical researchers say that in some people, a small amount of inhaled water can have a delayed-reaction effect. “It can take a while for the process to occur and to set in and cause difficulties,” Rauch said. Victims of dry drowning are treated by having a breathing tube inserted so that oxygen can be supplied under pressure to the lungs.

Here's more on what to look for from ABC affiliate WJBF-TV:

Claudia Collins, Augusta Family Y Lifeguard Instructor said, "First things first: if you see someone having trouble, fighting to keep their head above water... Get them out of the water, get them calmed down, get them able to breathe well, and not have any problems."

If you do notice breathing problems, be aware. Just because they didn't drown, doesn't mean they're out of danger.

Claudia Collins: "If a child has an event while they're in the water, they're gasping, coughing, difficulty breathing, they tell you they're short of breath, that's probably somebody that's aspirated water." Even then, the child could be okay, but after what's called a near-drowning event, pay close attention to the child.

Dr. James Wilde, MCG Emergency Medicine: "If the child's complaining of difficulty breathing as you're going home, being sleepy, those are the symptoms of a near-drowning. That patient needs to be taken right to the hospital. That person needs to be monitored and may need to be put on a ventilator in case their breathing gets worse." Dr. James Wilde says parents should not think swallowing a bunch of water is going to harm their child in the same way as a near-drowning event, which can be fatal hours after the child leaves the water.

Wilde said, "Initial drowning event damages the lungs and then, in response, the lungs fill up with fluid and that's what event can kill you if you don't get medical attention." Dr. Wilde has treated a patient before who was the victim of a near-drowning, and initially checked out okay. But, 2 hours later, still at the hospital, her condition drastically dropped. She survived, but without that medical treatment, could have become a drowning victim, herself.

Dehydrating in the water is more common during the summer. It sounds unlikely, but experts say you lose 6 ounces of water every hour you're in the water.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.

Bunk Bed Injuries

My four-year-old keeps asking for bunk beds, but I keep refusing because I am worried he'll get hurt. He already broke his collar bone when he jumped out of his crib as a toddler! It was so scary! I took him to the ER and he got an X-ray and it was so sad. I felt like a horrible parent. At this point, I don't want to do anything that I know could lead to another Emergency Room visit. However, I do love the idea of bunk beds. We'll see!

Here's a new study on bunk bed injuries.

Investigators at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio found although three-quarters of the children who sustain bunk bed-related injuries are younger than 10 years of age, there is a surprising spike in injuries among individuals between the ages of 18 and 21 years. (I guess I can never buy bunk beds then!)

There are around 36-thousand cases of bunk bed injuries each year. Bunk bed-related injuries occur most frequently among boys, and half of the cases analyzed involved children younger than 6 years of age. Children less than 3 years of age were 40 percent more likely to sustain head injuries than older children.

Here are tips to avoid injuries:

• Make sure guardrails are used on both sides of the upper bunk
• Guardrail gaps being 3.5 inches or less to prevent entrapment and strangulation
• Ensure the mattress foundation is secure and the proper size mattress is used
• Don't permit children younger than 6 years of age to sleep in the upper bunk
• Discourage children from playing on bunk beds
• Use night lights to help children see the ladder at night
• Removing hazardous objects from around the bed
• Don't place the bunk bed too close to ceiling fans or other ceiling fixtures.

The study is published in the June issue of Pediatrics.

The Center for Injury Research and Policy (CIRP) has more information.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Organic Baby Formula Update

I got this follow-up via email to a story we talked about a couple weeks ago on cane sugar in organic baby formula.

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3), chairwoman of the Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Subcommittee, urged the Food and Drug Administration to examine the long-term health and safety implications of sucrose-sweetened infant formulas in a letter to FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach. The inquiry stems from a New York Times report last month about a major brand of organic infant formula, which uses the much sweeter cane sugar, or sucrose.

“Sucrose is much sweeter than sugars used in other infant formulas, so there is an increased likelihood that babies will become accustomed to the sweeter taste and forsake solid foods. While there may not be any immediate health risks associated with the use of sucrose in infant formulas, the long-term health implications raises serious concerns over its continued use,” DeLauro writes in the letter. “The concerns outlined in the New York Times article would indicate that this issue deserves serious examination.”

Below is the text of the letter.

Dear Dr. von Eschenbach: (Food and Drug Administration Commissioner)

I am writing to express concern regarding a recent report in the New York Times about a major brand of organic infant formula that is sweetened with cane sugar, or sucrose. As you know, sucrose is much sweeter than sugars used in other infant formulas, so there is an increased likelihood that babies will become accustomed to the sweeter taste and forsake solid foods. While there may not be any immediate health risks associated with the use of sucrose in infant formulas, the long-term health implications raises serious concerns over its continued use.

As has been reported, sucrose can not only erode tooth enamel faster than other sugars, but some studies suggest that its inclusion in infant formulas also could result in excessive consumption and rapid weight gain in the first year. This is especially disturbing given recent findings by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that suggests that childhood obesity rates may have plateaued. I fear that the increased use of sucrose in infant formulas would diminish the minimal gains that are being made in the battle against childhood obesity.

Another troubling aspect of this situation is the organic labeling associated with the infant formula containing sucrose. While organic labeling is not under FDA jurisdiction, it is an important component of this issue since consumers purchase organic products because they believe it is healthier. This connotation is especially critical to parents who purchased the so-called organic infant formula containing sucrose mistakenly believing that they were providing a healthy food source to their babies. As Dr. Gary K. Beauchamp, Director of the Monell Chemical Senses Center, asserted in the New York Times article, “The entire enterprise of formula is the attempt to make it as close as possible to human milk. Making sweeter formula so that babies like it more seems to me contrary to the ethos of organic food, as a doctor and as a grandfather.”

The article also noted that the European Union’s Scientific Committee on Food found that sucrose provided no particular nutritional advantages, and might lead to excessive consumption. As a result of this finding, and the subsequent committee recommendation, the 27 countries of the European Union will be banning sucrose-sweetened infant formulas by the end of 2009.

The concerns outlined in the New York Times article would indicate that this issue deserves serious examination. If this is a problem that the FDA already is investigating, please let me know the status of the agency’s work If the FDA is not currently looking into this issue, I strongly urge you to begin examining this problem to determine the long-term health and safety implications of sucrose-sweetened infant formulas.

Thank you very much for your consideration of this matter. I look forward to receiving a prompt reply.

Sincerely,

ROSA L. DeLAURO
Chairwoman
House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration,
and Related Agencies

Here's a link to the original blog on this topic.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

New HPV Article

If you are following the Gardasil controversy and the girls who say they have had serious side effects like paralysis, there is a new article on the topic from Dallas News looking at both sides of the issue. Here's a portion:

Jennifer Allen, a spokeswoman for New Jersey-based Merck & Co.'s vaccine division, which makes Gardasil, said Thursday that the company conducted clinical trials for 10 years and that it remains confident in its product.

Gardasil was approved by the Food and Drug Administration two years ago for females between ages 9 and 26. It protects against sexually transmitted diseases caused by the human papillomavirus, or HPV, responsible for 70 percent of cervical cancers and 90 percent of genital warts. Females are encouraged to get the vaccine before they become sexually active.

Three shots are given over a six-month period. The company said 16 million doses have been administered since its approval. And it lists nausea, vomiting and pain following the shot among the side effects.


The HPV vaccine has generated debate across the country and in Texas. Gov. Rick Perry issued an executive order in February 2007 requiring that all sixth-grade girls get the HPV shot. But angry parents and conservative groups fought the mandate, fearing it condoned premarital sex and took away parental rights. The Legislature defeated the order last April.

The National Vaccine Information Center heralded the decision, saying that testing of the vaccine was not extensive enough in girls under 12. The nonprofit center had already started warning about the possibility of adverse reactions such as extreme fatigue, arthritis and loss of consciousness.


Barbara Loe Fisher, co-founder and president of the center, said she's frustrated that the CDC has "assumed safety" for Gardasil, which has been tested only in conjunction with the vaccine for Hepatitis B. Today, girls often receive the Gardasil shot at the same time as a meningitis vaccine and another new booster that immunizes against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.

The FDA has approved all the vaccines separately, but studies on administering them together are still ongoing. "Not only was Gardasil put on the fast track and licensed quickly," said Ms. Fisher, "but to say safety is assumed and you can give any vaccine with it is even more shocking."

I only posted a portion of the article. You can read the full article here.

-NewsAchorMom Jen

Creating a bond between siblings

A couple weeks ago we talked about establishing a bond between siblings. Dr. Eric Ward mentioned that it's a good idea to start fostering that relationship when the kids are young.

NewsAnchorMom.com reader Jennifer asked:

"Exactly how do you do that, is what I am wondering? When my kids were toddlers and early grade school age they got along really well. They played together daily and hardly fought at all. Now, as middle schoolers they often argue and I'm not sure if it's just indicative of their age or the state of their relationship and I'm not really sure, what, if anything, as a parent I can do."

Dr. Ward said he would recommended encouraging your kids to talk to their siblings like they do their friends. He said at a young age, take ten minutes a day to play a board game or play catch with them. For young kids, say "That is very good how you told your brother thank you or that is a really nice way to talk to your sister." If the kids don't react appropriately, tell them a better way to say that is xxxx" Older kids might have an idea what how to say something politely, but don't feel comfortable doing it. Making sure siblings spend quality time with each other is a good way to create that bond. (these days we have to set aside time for everything, don't we?) Dr. Ward also said to make sure no one else comes into the room and interupts this special time.

Dr. Ward said to talk to the older child and let him/her know they are the one who needs to set a good example on how to be friends. "Treat your family members how you would treat someone at work. This scenario might be why kids who are home schooled often have closer relationships with their siblings. The home schooling parent has to teach social skills," he said.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen