PedSafe Weekly Tweet Roundup: 03-26-2012 to 04-01-2012

Welcome to Pediatric Safety’s “Weekly Tweet Roundup”- a recap of the past week’s child health and safety news from around the world.

Each day we strive to tweet relevant and timely health and safety information for parents, medical professionals and other caregivers. Occasionally we may miss something, but we think overall we’re doing pretty well at keeping you informed. But for our friends and colleagues who are not on Twitter (or who are but may have missed something), we offer you a recap of the past week’s top 15 tweet-worthy events.

• Chicks and Germs – think twice before giving a baby chick for Easter – by DrAMommyMD http://t.co/hcPKIRZf great post!! 2012-03-31
• Should a Child Diet for a Magazine? � Your Children’s Health WebMD http://t.co/w5ZTgzm6 2012-03-31
• Canadian Preschoolers urged to reach and move for health – at least 180 mins per day http://t.co/OJwyfjlC 2012-03-30
• Child Health Groups Praise Introduction of BPCA and PREA Reauthorization Act of 2012 http://t.co/7m2UKWSk 2012-03-30
• A Wrenching Issue, A Rating Controversy, And A Social Media Sensation: Behind the Movie “Bully” http://t.co/gSeVyOaH 2012-03-30

PedSafe Tweet of the Week:

SIDS Risk Factors Undergo Shift http://t.co/oSCz00AR rise in multiple-risk-factors as a cause rather than back-sleeping as the single cause

• The Doctor Will See You Now, On Screen – Videoconferencing brings pediatric care to rural CA http://t.co/Ri7WE2J5 amazing! 2012-03-30
• Time for teens: boys, puberty, and breasts | Confessions of a Dr. Mom http://t.co/hEXQek44 2012-03-30
• Safety 1st Child safety locks recalled, even children as young as 9 months old can easily pick them | http://t.co/EqltRux9 2012-03-30
• Special goggles designed to enable pediatric patients to watch videos during MRI procedures http://t.co/VDosDiwP Nice! 2012-03-30
• “I Choose” Anti-Bullying Campaign – choose not to bully – the choice starts here http://t.co/APCRqDjM 2012-03-29
• New News on Household Cleaners | Healthy Child Healthy World http://t.co/maaKAtFY 2012-03-27
• Adoptions, foster care Can Change a child’s life http://t.co/LdEXuCIj 2012-03-27
• More than 3 out of 4 Georgia 4th-graders in schools around Augusta exposed to second-hand smoke http://t.co/uSv1Ndmb wow! 2012-03-26
• The SWAN children: Each year it affects 6,000 British children but no doctor can diagnose or cure it http://t.co/ceKhllkU 2012-03-26
• Natural Gas Wells Proliferation Poisoning Children’s Air, Research Suggests http://t.co/M2mFydL1 2012-03-26

Is Your Kid a Twitter Addict?

Social media certainly has its place in a teen’s life. But as a parent, one of our most important roles these days is not to let our teens become “twidiots” or twitter addicts.

With its infamous 140-charater limit, Twitter hosts stars with millions of followers (hello, Charlie Sheen, Oprah, Kim Kardashian). When teen idol Miley Cyrus decided to fire up her Twitter account again a couple of months ago, it became semi-big news.

Twitter and Facebook dominate the news far too much, if you ask me. The media’s love affair with social media knows no bounds — and it’s out of control.

The problem is there are real dangers that your Twitter-obsessed teen – or anyone who uses the microblogging service – must keep in mind. Here are the two big ones:

Phishing Scams: First of all, Twitter users are repeatedly the target of phishing scams. Scammers send direct messages or tweets that include a generic message (such as “You’re on this video” or “I think I see you here”) to get people to click on a link. The link takes you to a fake Twitter page that asks you to log in with your username and password, which the scammer then uses to hijack your account.

Malware:  Second, fake Twitter profiles have been used to spread malicious software (known as malware). Many times, scammers use fake celebrity profiles or fake news about celebrities to lure you in. These profiles and tweets look legit. But they are created to infect your computer with malware that lets the scammer use your computer to send spam, install spyware, steal your identity or launch attacks on other computers.

I’m not suggesting that your teen should never tweet. I’m just advocating social-media life balance. Tell your teen why it’s a good idea to take his eyes off the screen and take a break from Twitter. Then, set some clear Twitter rules for your kids:

• Post no more than one or two tweets per day. Unless your kids have a very compelling reason for sending more (they won’t), this shouldn’t be an issue.
• Don’t auto-follow everyone. Are more than a couple of hundred followers really necessary? Do you really want a bunch of strangers constantly knowing what your kid is doing and thinking?
• Beware of phishing and malware. Educate your kid about the phishing scams and malware risks out there. Knowing what to look for will help them avoid trouble.
• Know that mom/dad is watching. Let your kids know you’ll be following them too. 

PedSafe Weekly Tweet Roundup: 03-19-2012 to 03-25-2012

• Prenatal Pollutants Linked to Childhood Anxiety, ADHD by the time they reach school age http://t.co/Ixz32Ios 2012-03-24
• Common Respiratory Virus Affecting Many Young Children – No vaccine but hand washing can help prevent spread http://t.co/aHWxvwNF 2012-03-24
• Navigating a Sunscreen Wonderland | Healthy Child Healthy World http://t.co/44sDjltS 2012-03-23
• Family Volley: Centering-Part 3 of 5 how to “be in the moment” with your kids… http://t.co/4KEY11Ia Nice! 2012-03-23

PedSafe Tweet of the Week:

**RECALL: CPSC recalls over 1 million Safety 1st Push ‘N Snap child safety cabinet locks http://t.co/oZHNWWvi

• Research Reveals Medications Are the Leading Cause of Accidental Poisoning Deaths Among Children Today http://t.co/4vN78sgY 2012-03-22
• RT: An infant can drown in 2″ of Water – please share this wonderful public service announcement http://t.co/Sf945d14 via @YouTube 2012-03-22
• RT @ems1: Paramedics deliver twins in ambulance http://t.co/LbzucxLT Always nice to share good news!! 2012-03-22
• RT @safekidsusa: If you have an #emergency related to poisoning call 1-800-222-1222 or get connected w/ the poison control hotline… 2012-03-22
• Euro NCAP improves child safety tests | Introduces larger crash test dummies representing older kids http://t.co/WrcTQesl 2012-03-22
• Report: Synthetic marijuana a health danger to teens http://t.co/UP79MWYj 2012-03-22
• Colds vs. Allergies: how do you know? | Confessions of a Dr. Mom http://t.co/Koq97utd 2012-03-22
• Eight Steps to Purging Toxic Chemicals from Your Home | Healthy Child Healthy World http://t.co/upbENbDi 2012-03-22
• Mysterious nodding disease in Uganda debilitates children – http://t.co/zL3dEia5 http://t.co/KzPo2Fkz 2012-03-21
• RSV Prevention & Baby Etiquette 101 – Leslie Loves Veggies http://t.co/qXGxwi0b Wonderful Post! Please Read & RT!! 2012-03-21
• Schools retool mental health counseling tack – Private therapists enlisted to help troubled students http://t.co/Onq2xh6p thoughts?? 2012-03-21
• Cell phone radiation during pregnancy: Effect on newborns needs authentic research http://t.co/i6nMGBAG 2012-03-20
• Advocates push for better insurance coverage for NY children with bleeding disorders | http://t.co/O19ukqRf 2012-03-19
• This week the FDA considers a BPA ban: Join @healthy_child & support EWG petition! http://t.co/u6TgfL2k 2012-03-19
• Utah to fund pilot program for autism treatment without mandate http://t.co/1DcuHcIq Well done! 2012-03-19
• New study: Families of kids with Autism earn 28% less (moms earn 56% less) than those with no health problems http://t.co/UbUUvrQu Wow! 2012-03-19
• Child safety: How to protect kids from stair-related injuries http://t.co/dJfv6fnm 2012-03-19
• 10 Easy baby safety steps for baby proofing http://t.co/QqU5USdk most are common sense, but never hurts to have reminders 2012-03-19
• Lead Poisoning Prevention Funding Slashed, Costly Consequences For Children’s Health http://t.co/xPYy3VDY 2012-03-19
• A holistic approach to child health care | Fox News http://t.co/M96fAmIO 2012-03-19

Are Used Bike Helmets Safe to Buy for Kids?

It’s important to insist that your kids wear bike helmets. Research shows that wearing one while riding reduces a child’s risk of brain injury by 88 percent. But, the truth is, it’s best to buy a bike helmet new. It could have been damaged in a crash — even if you don’t see cracks — and might not be able to withstand another one. When purchasing a helmet, look for the CPSC seal, which means it meets the standards of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The helmet should sit flat on top of your child’s head and be snug enough so that it doesn’t slide down over the eyes when pushed or pulled. The chin strap should be snug. Many kids wear their helmets loose and tipped back, exposing their foreheads. But this doubles their chances of suffering a serious head injury. Never buy a helmet that’s too big so that your child can “grow into it.” It might not protect him in an accident. For an illustration of exactly how a bike helmet should fit your child, check the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) web site.

PedSafe Weekly Tweet Roundup: 03-12-2012 to 03-18-2012

• Keeping Toxic Chemicals Out Of Your Home | http://t.co/QHO4cPMx 2012-03-17
• Costume jewelry found to have high levels of toxins and carcinogens, tests show http://t.co/Jydiwch0 2012-03-17
• Guidecraft Recalls Children’s Play Theaters Due to Tip-over Hazard http://t.co/HOqBKrPo 2012-03-16
• Vaginal birth after C-section carries more risks for complications: study http://t.co/PJfnU2tF 2012-03-16
• 3 School Bus Accidents in the News: Are Your Kids Safe? http://t.co/UGOihWpg Post asks some important questions. Worth reading 2012-03-16

PedSafe Tweet of the Week:

Protect Your Child from Household Poisons – Fantastic article by EMS World
http://t.co/k6HDG9oy Please RT!

• Gardening Tips for Beginners | Healthy Child Healthy World http://t.co/DnIavsKz 2012-03-16
• Strength training does a young body good, too – http://t.co/iHDIGbuF http://t.co/o9xqdsGh 2012-03-16
• Preemies Still Receive Inhaled Nitric Oxide Despite Lack of Supporting Evidence and Standards http://t.co/lGjaHUhF 2012-03-16
• Less US kids injured on stairs than a decade ago but ER’s still see stair related injuries ~ every 6 mins http://t.co/wjDkYtwL 2012-03-16
• Research on Rare Bone Disorder Reveals New Insights into Autism http://t.co/cfWqiKZ9 2012-03-16
• Family Volley: Informing vs Tattling – how do you teach your kids to tell the difference http://t.co/XKd4Zu2p Wonderful post! 2012-03-15
• Genetically Engineered Foods at a Glance | Healthy Child Healthy World http://t.co/IjPqqC1I 2012-03-14
• Circumcision tied to lower prostate cancer risk – new study indicates future research worth pursuing http://t.co/Jb1VPZt8 2012-03-14
• Ask Dr. Mom: My toddler walks “funny” – Confessions of a Dr. Mom 2012-03-13
• First study to document potential effects of cancer on young children’s development http://t.co/b9rZK0X5 early data…but good to know 2012-03-13
• Are you tornado safety savvy? | Things families should know to keep safe!! http://t.co/HCcUK8Ei 2012-03-13
• Keeping Young Athletes Safe From Sexual Abuse: in 4 out of 5 cases, it’s someone the child knows! http://t.co/vydgXMuq 2012-03-13
• Rise in Preschool Cavities Prompts Anesthesia Use http://t.co/F1WZGNJo Dentists are seeing preschoolers with 6-10+ cavities 2012-03-13
• Concussion Symptoms Linger in Kids -may persist for up to a year after the injury http://t.co/39iAehN1 2012-03-13
• Younger kids are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than their slightly older peers in the same grade http://t.co/KkHU2JqA hmmm 2012-03-12
• Buckyballs – Another Magnet Safety Warning http://t.co/jZaVih1A These are dangerous in a house with young kids! 2012-03-12
• The law of the hand: 32 countries now ban physical discipline of children http://t.co/EI6DBQX4 thoughts??? 2012-03-12
• How to choose best food for baby? Dr. Sears’ Five Tips for a Healthy Start http://t.co/c2Nr5l33 great post! 2012-03-12
• Snoring tied to kids’ risk of behavioral problems http://t.co/EDsUFqbO If breathing problems, consult a pediatrician 2012-03-12

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