JUNE 2007 MEDIA MAILING
AAP Department of Communications Contact: Debbie Linchesky, 847-434-7084,
or Mindy Weinstein, 847-434-7131.
(Please do not reply
directly to this e-mail, as you will not receive a response. Contact
Debbie Linchesky at dlinchesky@aap.org or Mindy Weinstein at mweinstein@aap.org
if you have questions about the contents of this mailing.)
Information in this mailing is embargoed for release: Monday, June 4, 12:01 am ET, unless otherwise specified. PLEASE RESPECT THE EMBARGO DATE.
In this mailing:
The Table of Contents
(TOC) from the June issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed scientific
journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and Pediatrics
electronic pages, the Internet extension of Pediatrics. These are available
electronically and can be viewed at:
Current issue TOC:
http://www.pediatrics.org/current.shtml
Future issue TOC:
http://www.pediatrics.org/future.shtml
Also in this mailing:
AAP POLICY STATEMENTS
1. Avoiding Overuse Injuries and Burnout in Young Athletes
2. E-Prescribing Takes Guesswork Out of Illegible Handwriting
3. AAP Offers Health Insurance Program Recommendations
STUDIES
4. Many Families Not Storing Guns Safely
5. Roller Shoes Can Be Hazardous, Especially While Learning
6. Infant Swimming May Risk Future Respiratory Health
7. Brace Better Than Cast For Most Minor Ankle Fractures
8. Ethnicity and Pediatric Hospitalization Rates
NATIONAL CAMPAIGNS
9. National Medical Societies Provide Tips to Keep Kids Safe from Lawn Mower Injuries
10. ASK Day AAP SAFETY TIPS
11. Summer Safety Tips – Part II
Below is a news release and briefs on AAP policy statements appearing in the June issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). To receive the full text of these articles, contact the AAP Department of Communications. Information is embargoed until Monday, June 4 at 12:01 am ET.
1. AAP Contact: Debbie Linchesky, 847-434-7084, or Mindy Weinstein, 847-434-7131
Embargoed until Monday, June 4 at 12:01 am ET.
AVOIDING OVERUSE INJURIES AND BURNOUT: TAKING A BREAK IS A WINNING MOVE FOR YOUNG ATHLETES
CHICAGO – Too much of a good thing can be harmful, especially when it comes to children playing sports. As more children and adolescents participate in organized and recreational sports, pediatricians are seeing an increasing number of children and adolescents with overuse injuries caused by too much training and not enough rest.
A new American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) clinical report entitled “Overuse Injuries, Overtraining, and Burnout in Child and Adolescent Athletes,” defines an overuse injury as a micro traumatic injury to a bone, muscle or tendon that has been subjected to repetitive stress without sufficient time to heal or undergo the natural healing process. The risks of overuse are more serious in the pediatric/adolescent athlete because the growing bone of the young athlete cannot handle as much stress as the mature bones of adults.
The report recommends young athletes limit training in one sport to no more than five days a week, with at least one day off from any organized physical activity. In addition, athletes should take time off from one sport for two to three months each year. Taking a break from a sport allows injuries to heal and the opportunity to work on strength training and conditioning to reduce the risk of future injuries. It also helps kids take a psychological break, which is necessary to avoid burnout, or overtraining syndrome.
Symptoms of burnout include chronic muscle or joint pain, personality changes, elevated resting heart rate, decreased sport performance, fatigue, lack of enthusiasm about practice or competition, or difficulty completing ordinary activities. It’s imperative that youth athletes are educated about appropriate nutrition and fluids, and how to avoid hypothermia, hyperthermia, overtraining, overuse injuries, and burnout. Additional recommendations the report suggests include:
- Weekly training time, number of repetitions, or total distance should not increase by more than 10 percent weekly.
- Focus of sports should be on fun, skill acquisition, safety and sportsmanship.
- Join only one team per season.
- Be aware of risks associated with weekend tournaments (soccer, baseball, tennis), such as heat-related illness, nutritional deficiencies, overuse injuries and burnout.
- Multi-sport athletes who use the same body parts for different sports especially need to take a break between seasons to avoid overuse injuries.
- Getting caught up in making the professional leagues or Olympics is unrealistic. Children and adolescents train year-round on multiple teams of one sport often with the hope of earning a college scholarship in that sport or becoming a professional athlete, but less than 1 percent of high school athletes make it to the professional level.
The report also addresses youth participation in endurance events such as triathlons, marathons and half-marathons. Triathlons are reasonably safe as long as the events are modified to be age appropriate. Specifically, such events should be of shorter duration/length, and careful attention should be given to safety and environment conditions. It is fine for youth athletes to run marathons as long as training involves gradually increasing total weekly mileage, and they enjoy it. The report concludes that lifelong fitness and enjoyment of physical activity should be the overall goal of participating in athletics.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
END
2. E-PRESCRIBING TAKES GUESSWORK OUT OF ILLEGIBLE HANDWRITING
Reading a doctor’s handwritten prescription can sometimes be frustrating, time-consuming, and potentially hazardous. A new AAP policy statement, “Electronic Prescribing in Pediatrics: The Rationale and Functionality Requirements,” is recommending the use of electronic prescribing applications in pediatric practices. E-prescribing systems can check for drug allergy, drug interactions, and correct dosing before the prescription is sent to the pharmacy. Some e-prescribing systems can calculate appropriate drug dosage based on the patient’s age and weight, and alert prescriber if an incorrect dose is prescribed. As with any new technology, this practice should be continuously monitored.
EDITOR’S NOTE: A related technical report, “Electronic Prescribing Systems in Pediatrics: The Rationale and Functionality Requirements,” discusses the potential benefits and limitations of electronic prescribing systems.
3. AAP OFFERS HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM RECOMMENDATIONS
A new American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement offers federal and state policy recommendations for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). SCHIP is a successful 10-year-old program that provides health insurance coverage to 4 million children nationwide. As Congress must renew the program this year, the AAP policy statement, “SCHIP Achievements, Challenges, and Policy Recommendations” identifies strategies to improve the program in such areas as ensuring adequate funding, extending eligibility and enrollment, improving provider payments and strengthening quality of care.
Below are briefs on studies appearing in the June issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). To receive the full text of these articles, contact the AAP Department of Communications. The embargo date for this information is Monday, June 4, at 12:01 am ET.
Note: Please attribute the source as the journal, Pediatrics when covering the following studies.
4. MANY FAMILIES NOT STORING GUNS SAFELY
There are between 192 and 200 million privately owned guns in the United States, and over 33 percent of all U.S. homes have at least one gun kept inside the home. The study, “Firearm Ownership and Storage Patterns Among Families With Children Who Receive Well-Child Care in Pediatric Offices,” found that few families reported safe firearm storage in both rural and non-rural areas across the United States. The survey covered 3,745 children aged 2-11 years from across the country, whose parents brought them to routine well-child care visits. Results indicate that 23 percent of families reported firearm ownership, and only one-third of these families reported safe firearm storage. Storage patterns were most influenced by the type of firearm owned, family history of guns in the home, and the age of the child.
5. ROLLER SHOES CAN BE HAZARDOUS, ESPECIALLY WHILE LEARNING
The orthopedic department of one hospital in Dublin, Ireland, saw 67 children for injuries suffered while using “roller shoes” during the 2006 summer vacation. Roller shoes are a popular type of sneaker with a convertible or removable wheel in the heel. According to the study “Heelys and Street Gliders Injuries: A New Type of Pediatric Injury,” girls were much more likely than boys (56 and 11 respectively) to be injured from using roller shoes. The ages of injured children ranged from 6.2 to 14.9 years, with arms, wrists and shoulders being the most common location of injuries, including fractures and dislocations. More than half of the injuries occurred the first time the child used his or her roller shoes or while learning to use them. None of the children had been using protective gear when injured, and most said they would continue “heeling” or “street gliding” after their injuries healed. The study authors recommend close supervision during the learning curve and use of protective gear at all times.
6. INFANT SWIMMING MAY RISK FUTURE RESPIRATORY HEALTH
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has long recommended against infant swimming lessons due to the false sense of safety that this practice gives regarding the risk of drowning. Now a new study may add another reason to avoid infant swim lessons. “Infant Swimming Practice, Pulmonary Epithelium Integrity, and Risk of Allergic and Respiratory Diseases Later in Childhood,” examined the role indoor chlorinated pools play in the development of asthma and reduced lung function. The study, conducted in Belgium, found that trichloramine – a chlorine byproduct that gives indoor pools their distinctive “chlorine” smell – is one of the most concentrated air pollutants to which children of developed countries are regularly exposed. The study asserts that this pollutant along with other aerosolized chlorine-based oxidants can be associated with airway changes that predispose children to asthma and recurrent bronchitis later in childhood. They encourage more study and possible regulation of the air quality in the indoor pool environment.
7. BRACE BETTER THAN CAST FOR MOST MINOR ANKLE FRACTURES
Acute ankle fractures are common in children. Most of these are stable and have a low risk of problems in the future. Even though these fractures are benign, these injures are often placed in a below the knee walking cast. However, this might not be the best form of treatment for these injuries. The study, “A Randomized, Controlled Trial of a Removable Brace Versus Casting in Children with Low-Risk Ankle Fractures,” examined the pros and cons of casting versus bracing minor ankle fractures. Out of 104 children, 54 received a removable brace, while the others received a standard cast. Within four weeks, significantly more children in the brace group had higher activity scores compared to the casted group. In addition, the brace was better tolerated, preferred by most children and cheaper in the long run.
8. ETHNICITY AND PEDIATRIC HOSPITALIZATION RATES
Numerous studies have shown racial/ethnic disparities in health care, but no such studies exist in pediatric emergency care. In the study, “Differences in Severity-Adjusted Pediatric Hospitalization Rates Are Associated With Race/Ethnicity,” results show that white pediatric patients are over-admitted to the hospital when not severely ill. Prior to the study, the authors were concerned that minority patients were being denied admissions when severely ill, but the results showed that minorities are being admitted at rates expected based on severity. However, white pediatric patients are being admitted at higher than expected rates when they are not very ill. Unnecessarily admitting patients increases health care costs and can be harmful to patients.
Below is a news release on a joint public education campaign from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (ASRM), the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). The embargo date for this information is Wednesday, May 30, at 12:01 am ET.
9. AAP Contacts: Debbie Linchesky, 847-434-7084, or Mindy Weinstein, 847-434-7131
Embargoed until Wednesday, May 30 at 12:01 am ET.
MOWING THE LAWN CAN BE A DANGEROUS CHORE FOR KIDS
National Medical Societies Provide Tips to Keep Kids Safe from Lawn Mower Injuries
Chicago – Many parents may be planning to hand over lawn mower duty to their children this summer; however, this routine task can be dangerous if proper safety precautions are not taken. More than 220,000 people – approximately 16,500 of them children under age 19 – were treated in doctors’ offices, clinics and emergency rooms for lawn mower-related injuries in 2006, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports.
To help prevent injuries, the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (ASRM), the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have teamed up to educate parents, adults and children about the importance of lawn mower safety during National Safety Month, June 2007.
“Having been in practice for almost 25 years, it never ceases to amaze me how our emergency rooms continue to see the devastating injuries that lawn mowers can cause,” said ASRM President Lawrence Colen, MD. “Most, if not all, of the injuries seen are preventable. Partial lower limb amputations, facial/eye injuries and mutilating hand trauma caused by these machines can change the lives of the afflicted forever.”
“Lawn mowers can be dangerous if not used properly,” said AAOS President Jim Beaty, MD. “It is important to follow a few simple safety tips to prevent injuries from occurring.”
The ASRM, AAOS, ASPS and AAP offer the following tips to help prevent lawn mower-related injuries:
Children should be at least 12 years old before they operate any lawn mower, and at least 16 years old for a ride-on mower.
Children should never be passengers on ride-on mowers.
Always wear sturdy shoes while mowing – not sandals.
Young children should be at a safe distance from the area you are mowing.
Before mowing, pick up stones, toys and debris from the lawn to prevent injuries from flying objects.
Always wear eye and hearing protection.
Use a mower with a control that stops it from moving forward if the handle is released.
Never pull backward or mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary – carefully look for others behind you when you do.
Start and refuel mowers outdoors – not in a garage. Refuel with the motor turned off and cool.
Blade settings should be set by an adult only.
Wait for blades to stop completely before removing the grass catcher, unclogging the discharge chute, or crossing gravel roads.
Many lawn mower-related injuries require a team of physicians from various specialties to properly repair them. Often, patients must endure painful reconstructive operations to restore form and function.
“Many people don’t realize how extensive lawn mower-related injuries can be – they can really take a toll on families,” said ASPS President Roxanne Guy, MD. “Physicians in plastic surgery, microsurgery, pediatric surgery, and orthopaedics often repair these injuries which may involve multiple surgeries, significant recovery time and rehabilitation. As the physicians called to treat these injuries, it is important for us to arm parents with information to help keep kids safe this lawn mowing season.”
“Lawn mowers severely injure thousands of children every year,” said AAP President Jay E. Berkelhamer, MD, FAAP. “So many of these tragic injuries could have been prevented with just a few simple precautions.”
The American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery is a not-for-profit organization consisting primarily of orthopaedic and plastic surgeons that perform microneurovascular surgery and other complex reconstructions. With more than 500 members, the ASRM mission is to promote, encourage and advance the art and science of reconstructive microsurgery and other complex reconstructions. The ASRM serves as a forum for teaching, research and free discussion of reconstructive microsurgical methods and principles. For more information, please visit www.microsurg.org.
With more than 30,000 members, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (www.aaos.org) is the premier not-for-profit organization that provides education programs for orthopaedic surgeons and allied health professionals, champions the interests of patients and advances the highest quality musculoskeletal health. Orthopaedic surgeons and the Academy are the authoritative sources of information for patients and the general public on musculoskeletal conditions, treatments and related issues. An advocate for improved patient care, the Academy is participating in the Bone and Joint Decade (www.usbjd.org) – the global initiative in the years 2002-2011 – to raise awareness of musculoskeletal health, stimulate research and improve people’s quality of life.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world. With more than 6,000 members, the Society is recognized as a leading authority and information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. ASPS comprises more than 90 percent of all board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States. Founded in 1931, the Society represents physicians certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery or The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. For more information, please visit www.plasticsurgery.org.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. (www.aap.org)
END
10. ASK DAY
Thursday, June 21 - the first day of summer - marks ASK Day, an annual national day of focus on the Asking Saves Kids (ASK) Campaign. The ASK Campaign is a public education collaboration between the AAP and PAX -- an organization dedicated to ending gun violence in the United States -- that urges parents to ask about guns where their children play. ASK Day comes as summer approaches and children will be out of school spending more time playing at friends’ homes. It's estimated that 40 percent of homes with children have guns, and many of those guns are stored unlocked or loaded. For more information on ASK Day activities, including obtaining ASK brochures and safety advisories, please contact PAX at ask@paxusa.org.
11. SUMMER SAFETY TIP SHEET – PART II
Now that summer’s around the corner and kids are out of school, they have more opportunities for warm-weather activities. Biking, swimming, boating and playing outside all make great summer activities – especially when they’re done safely. The AAP is offering tips for parents on keeping summer safe. The tips cover topics such as how to enjoy the Fourth of July, rules for all-terrain vehicles and boat and water safety. The tips can be found at http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/summertips-p2.htm.
The FAAP designation following a pediatrician's name stands for Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Pediatricians with a FAAP designation have obtained board certification in pediatrics and made an ongoing commitment to lifelong learning and advocacy for children.
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