OCCPTA Health and Safety

Summer Fun!!

2008-05-28T16:46:00.002-04:00

Summer is here and it is time to enjoy the fun and sun. If your fun takes you in or around water, please make sure you and your family is staying water safe.

When out on the lakes, rivers, and open seas, ensure that every person on board has a properly fitted life jacket...AND THAT THEY WEAR IT! The jacket does no good if you are in the water and the jacket is in the boat.

For those that don't know how to swim, learning can be a great way to cool off from the summer heat. Find a course and enroll today. In a state that has water on three sides of it, everyone should be able to swim.

Finally, don't forget to hydrate. Plain water is best when you feel thirsty. Should you decide to have juice or soda, you might want to keep them to a minimum. One could always keep a balance of 2 oz. or water for each oz. of anything else.

Stay safe and have a great summer!

Panel Urges Schools To Replace Junk

2007-05-07T14:40:00.001-04:00

By Sally Squires
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, April 26, 2007; A03

A prestigious scientific panel urged the government yesterday
to ban soft drinks, sugary snacks and other junk food from
schools, saying the typical fare available in vending machines,
at snack bars and at class birthday parties is contributing to
the growing obesity of America's children.
The Institute of Medicine report, which Congress requested,
said less-nutritious items should be replaced with healthier
stuff such as fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products. It
emphasized adding snacks with more whole grains and less
sodium, saturated fat and added sugar.

Federal officials recently proposed raising the nutritional
standards for school lunches or breakfasts, but the recommendations issued yesterday are the first national attempt to address the healthfulness of "competitive" school foods -- snacks and drinks that often are sold to raise money for schools.

In place of potato chips, chocolate bars and other popular snacks, the report said, schools should sell healthier options such as apples, carrot sticks, raisins, low-sugar cereals, whole-grain tortilla chips, granola bars and nonfat yogurt with no more than 30 grams of added sugar.
The proposed guidelines also urge limiting the calorie content of snacks and drinks -- to no more than 200 per portion -- and switching to items that contain no trans fats, lower levels of sugar and sodium, and no more than 35 percent of calories from fat, less than 10 percent from saturated fat.

The report by the institute, a branch of the National Academies, also urged eliminating sports drinks, soft drinks and caffeinated drinks. Instead, the guidelines call for schools to provide free, safe drinking water or give
students the opportunity to buy nonfat or low-fat milk or limited amounts of 100 percent juice.
After hours, high schools would be allowed to sell less nutritious snacks and drinks such as baked potato chips,
whole-wheat pretzels, seltzer water or caffeine-free diet soda.
But the committee recommended against making fortified water available and urged that sports drinks be
available only at the discretion of coaches and for students who engage in an hour or more of vigorous activity.
The recommendations will help the food industry by providing "a uniform set of guidelines that can be accepted
throughout states and agencies for competitive school foods," said Dennis M. Bier, chairman of the institute's
Food and Nutrition Board and a member of the committee of experts that drafted the report.
The Agriculture Department, which sets the standards for school lunches, has no authority to regulate snacks,
but nine senators are co-sponsoring the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act to give the
USDA that power. If passed, school districts would be required to meet the guidelines or face fines or loss of
school-lunch funding.

"For the first time, we have gold standard recommendations for school nutrition standards from one of
America's most distinguished scientific bodies," said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), a lead sponsor of the bill with
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). "And as it turns out, they are just common sense -- promoting fruit and
vegetable consumption and also seeking to reduce things like calories, fat and sodium."
The measure has been endorsed by the American Cancer Society, the American Dietetic Association, the
National PTA and the National Education Association. A matching bill is expected to be filed in the House.
"Legislation is never easy," said Margo Wootan, nutrition policy director at the Center for Science in the Public
Interest, an advocacy group that supports the bill. "We have more than 100 health groups signed on. We're
getting education groups. We're getting good responses from Republican offices, and we've started negotiations
with the food industry that probably lays out standards that they can live with. . . . I think that the prospects are
pretty good."
"Children eat 30 to 50 percent of their calories at schools on school days," Wootan said. "When parents send
their kids to school with lunch money, they don't want to worry that it will be spent on Cheetos and Gatorade."
Susan K. Neely, president of the American Beverage Association, said the report "puts an important focus on
school nutrition, and we agree. In fact, our industry is already changing the mix of products in schools across
America to cut calories and control portion sizes.
But J. Justin Wilson, an analyst for one food-industry group, the Center for Consumer Freedom, called the
recommendations "misguided food regulation" that threatens to make class birthday parties a thing of the past.

© 2007 The Washington Post Company

Panel Urges Schools To Replace Junk Foods - washingtonpost.com
4/27/2007
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/25/AR2007042500762_pf.html

Help Save A Life!!!

2006-12-13T15:19:00.000-05:00

From Florida Blood Centers:

Dear Donor:

I am sending this message to make you aware of our critically low supply of blood right now. We are doing an "all call" to every eligible donor. We would appreciate anything you can do to help spread the word. Right now we are booking blood drives for the upcoming year. If you have already scheduled your blood donation, thank you. If you need to schedule your donation, below are instructions on how to schedule an appointment to donate at one of our branches.

Thank you and have a safe holiday!

Beth Eggen
Donor Development Coordinator
beggen@floridasbloodcenters.org
407-427-5781 cell

To make an appointment to donate log on to www.fbcdonor.org

Florida Kid Care

2006-12-05T15:58:00.000-05:00

Florida KidCare is our state’s children’s health insurance program for uninsured children under age 19. It is made up of four parts: MediKids, Healthy Kids, the Children’s Medical Services (CMS) Network for children with special health care needs, and Medicaid for children. When you apply for the insurance, Florida KidCare will check which program your child may be eligible for based on age and family income.

For more information visit www.floridakidcare.org and to apply go to www.healthykids.org/apply/

CPR for citizens

2006-05-18T16:33:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, May 20, the Fire Rescue Department will hold a CPR for Citizens Program that teaches citizens basic life support for emergencies. Class is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Barnett Park Recreation Center, 4801 West Colonial Dr., Orlando. The program is offered in English and Spanish and will include Adult and Pediatric CPR. Note *Pre-registration is required for attendance.

Fire Rescue firefighters and paramedics will teach the American Heart Association curriculum called, “CPR for Friends and Family.” The CPR for Citizens program provides CPR instruction to residents who wish to know what to do in an emergency. Statistics prove that the ability to successfully revive patients in cardiac arrest depends heavily on whether or not the patient has received CPR prior to the arrival of emergency responders. The program is not designed to meet requirements for employment; the course has no test and there is no course completion card.

The Fire Rescue Department holds CPR for Citizens classes at regular intervals throughout Orange County. Citizens interested in attending the next CPR for Citizens class can visit www.ocfrd.com. For more information call Luis Garcia-Mercado, Life Safety Education Bureau at 407-836-9886.

Hurricane Tax Exemption

2006-05-03T10:46:00.000-04:00

This is the time to review your emergency plans and gather your supplies. 2006 is the first year there will be a sales tax exemption for certain items. It might be a good idea to take advantage of this exemption early. Many stores are fully stocked right now, but as the season goes on, the shelves might not be as well stocked.

Visit the Florida Department of Revenue website for information on items that qualify for this sales tax exemption.

Smoke Alarm Recall

2006-05-03T10:31:00.000-04:00

As you prepare for hurricane season please find out about a recent smoke alarm recall. http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml06/06151.html

Teenage Drinking: A Preventable Problem

2006-03-29T08:47:00.000-05:00

Proms and school dances are on the calendar, graduation parties may be in the works, pool parties are fast approaching—and underage drinking may be on the guest list. According to a 2002 report by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, underage drinkers account for 11 percent of all the alcohol consumed in the United States.

Among the influences on teen choices to drink is alcohol marketing through popular TV shows and in magazines. (See “Drinking It All In: Alcohol Advertising and Youth” for more information.)

So are your teen’s peers. The article “Teens and Alcohol: Preventing that Lethal Combination” has information about peer pressure, provides tips to help kids say “no” to alcohol, and offers guidelines parents may wish to consider for parties and other social events.

A wealth of information about alcohol and other substance abuse can be found at the American Medical Association website. In addition, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) has made its booklet Make a Difference: Talk to Your Child about Alcohol available online.

Be sure to visit the Parent Resources area of National PTA’s website, www.pta.org for articles on drugs and alcohol and other topics to keep your family safe and healthy.

3rd Annual Mission Possible

2006-03-14T13:30:00.000-05:00

Saturday, April 1, 2006 from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm the City of Orlando Citizen Corps and Medical Reserve Corps are partnering with the American Red Cross, and Orange County Citizen Corps, for the Third Annual Mission Possible... A Community Prepared, which will take place at the UCF Downtown Campus (36 W. Pine St.). This is a FREE public event for individuals and families to receive training and prepare for a hurricane or other disaster through five 20-minute interactive presentations. Participants will receive hands-on training in the five disaster preparedness steps:

Make a plan
Build a kit
Get trained
Volunteer
Give blood (optional)

Sessions begin at 10 a.m., then every half hour until 1:30 p.m. and last approximately two and one half hours. Space is limited, so please RSVP by contacting Jennifer Njenga at 407-894-4141 ext.5630 or jennifern@centralfl-redcross.org by March 27.

School Zone

2006-02-13T13:02:00.000-05:00

It appears that throughout the county school traffic zones differ not only in size, but also signage. Please write back to me and tell me about your school zone. Is it too big or too small? Do you have a school traffic zone at your school?

Your response will be compiled with other responses as I examine the issue of safety around our school traffic zones. You can e-mail me at ptafamilychair@msn.com

Secondary School SAFE Survey

2006-02-13T12:52:00.000-05:00

OCPS in an effort to better understand safety concerns for middle/high schooler would like your input with an online survey. Please visit www.ocps.net and go to Related Links. You should see the Secondary School SAFE Survey. The survey will be available until February 28, 2006.

These responses will help prioritize safety-related projects and programs in OCPS schools. A presentation of the survey results will be available at the Superintendent's Annual Safety Summit on April 5, 2006, at the Rosen Centre.

2nd Annual “Mission Possible… A Community Prepared”

2005-11-09T11:21:00.000-05:00

Free, interactive event to increase emergency preparedness. The American Red Cross of Central Florida, City of Orlando Citizen Corps and Medical Reserve Corps, Orange County Citizen Corps and Florida's Blood Centers are partnering for the Second Annual Mission Possible: A Community Prepared.

The Westin Grand Bohemian Orlando will host the event at 325 South Orange Avenue on Saturday, November 12 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Event sessions will begin at 10 a.m., 10:40 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 12 p.m., 12:40 p.m. and 1:20 p.m. and last approximately three hours. Beverages and snacks will be provided.

Space is limited, so please RSVP by contacting Adolfina Ortiz at 321-235-5437 or Adolfina.Ortiz@cityoforlando.net by November 9.

Health Centers: Video Gallery

2005-11-01T08:46:00.000-05:00

Discovery Health Channel
Streaming video clips address issues concerning obesity and children. Includes expert advice, diet and fitness plans, and answers to pressing weight-related questions.

http://health.discovery.com/centers/kids/obesity/obesity.html

Searching for a Flu Shot?

2005-10-31T10:25:00.000-05:00

The American Lung Association’s Flu Clinic Locator at www.flucliniclocator.org can tell you where to get a flu shot in case you miss local announcements on the locations of distribution centers. The flu shot locator website also lists criteria for who should consider a flu shot based upon specific risks. If in doubt, ask your doctor. The flu is not a bad cold; its symptoms include a high fever, cough, sore throat, and body and muscle aches.

Vendors and the Jessica Lunsford Act

2005-10-21T08:22:00.000-04:00

Contact Orange County Public School Procurement Services regarding questions about vendors and the Jessica Lunsford Act. The website address is www.procurement.ocps.net. The website also has a section of frequently asked questions that should address many of your concerns.

The office can also be reached by phone at (407) 317-3219.

Satellite Seminar and Live Teleconference on Local School Wellness Policies

2005-10-10T08:17:00.000-04:00

In June 2004, President Bush signed the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 into law, requiring all local education agencies that receive federal funding for their meals programs to establish school wellness policies. Parents, school personnel, and community members must be involved in the development of these school wellness policies, which must be in place before the start of the 2006-2007 school year. At a minimum, the policies must cover

* Nutrition education goals,
* Physical activity goals,
* Nutrition guidelines for all foods available on campus,
* Other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness, and
* Plans for evaluating the school wellness policy.

As the deadline approaches, many parents and community members are wondering how they can get involved in the development of the wellness policy for their local education agency. In an effort to answer this and many other questions about the wellness policies, the National Food Service Management Institute at the University of Mississippi is presenting “Local School Wellness Policy: A Team Approach,” a two-hour satellite seminar and live interactive teleconference, on Tuesday, October 18. The seminar is open to parents, teachers, school administrators, child nutrition professionals, nurses, community partners, and others interested in wellness policy development. The primary goal of the seminar is to provide child nutrition professionals and other key players in the school and community an opportunity to hear the most current information on school wellness policies. The program will feature school districts that have health and wellness efforts already under way. Participants will also be able to call in and have their questions answered by a panel of experts.

Participation in the seminar is free. If you wish to establish a viewing site, you must register before October 18 at http://www.nfsmi.org/. To find a viewing site in your area, contact Amy Casteel at (800) 321-3054 or acasteel@olemiss.edu.

Neighborhood Disaster Preparedness Fair

2005-09-15T09:35:00.000-04:00

Central Florida Fairgrounds’ Craft Hall, September 24, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

September is National Preparedness Month! For National Preparedness Month, the Orange County Citizen Corps Council is pleased to announce their First Neighborhood Disaster Preparedness Fair. The purpose of the Fair is to show how the community Emergency Response teams, Citizen on Patrol Teams, Neighborhood Watch groups and the Medical Reserve Corps can work together and aid first responders when a disaster situation takes place, such as a hurricane or terrorist attack. Everyone is encouraged to attend, especially leaders of Homeowners Associations.

It's Time to Play

2005-08-30T11:12:00.000-04:00

Parents can find creative ways to help their children be active every day. Simply making sure that your kids spend part of their day playing can help. Here are some easy ways to incorporate play into your family's lifestyle:

Not all activities have to involve setting aside an entire afternoon. Ten minutes here, ten minutes there--suddenly, over the course of a week, your kids will have played the equivalent of a few hours.

Take advantage of the local environment. Live near a beach? Play some volleyball, or build an obstacle course made out of sand castles. Live near a big hill? Climb it!

Remember that you can have fun indoors too. Play hide and seek, build a pillow fort, or play a favorite CD and make up a crazy dance routine that includes one move from each family member.

Break up mundane errands with some quick, fun stops. En route to the grocery store, why not stop at the park for a quick ride on the swings?

If you have to perform a small chore, make it a fun challenge. If you are mailing a letter, see how fast you can get there and back…or see if you can get all the way to the mailbox by hopping on one foot.

These tips are courtesy of Nickelodeon's Let's Just Play campaign. Visit the campaign website for more tips and ideas, as well as information about how your community can get involved in Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play, which will be held on October 1, 2005.

Help Kids Carry Their Loads: Backpack Safety

2005-08-30T11:10:00.000-04:00

Aching back and shoulders…weakened muscles…tingling arms…stooped posture. Does your child have these symptoms after wearing a heavy school backpack? Carrying too much weight in a pack or wearing it the wrong way can lead to pain and strain. Parents can take steps to help children load and wear backpacks the right way to avoid health problems.

Never let a child carry more than 15 percent of his or her body weight. This means a child who weighs 100 pounds shouldn't wear a loaded school backpack heavier than 15 pounds.

Load heaviest items closest to the child's back (the back of the pack).

Check what your child carries to school and brings home. Make sure the items are necessary to the day's activities.

On days the backpack is too loaded, your child can hand carry a book or other item. Select a pack with well-padded shoulder straps. Shoulders and necks have many blood vessels and nerves that can cause pain and tingling in the neck, arms, and hands when too much pressure is applied.

Adjust the shoulder straps so that the pack fits snugly to the child's back. A pack that hangs loosely from the back can pull the child backwards and strain muscles. The bottom of the pack should rest in the curve of the lower back. It should never rest more than four inches below the child's waistline.

Excerpted from American Occupational Therapy Association, "Backpack Strategies for Parents and Students: Pack It Light, Wear It Right," 2002.September 21, 2005, is National School Backpack Awareness Day. Learn more, and find out if an event is scheduled in your community.

The Decline of Physical Activity: Why Are So Many Kids Out of Shape?

2005-08-30T11:08:00.000-04:00

Parents play a significant role in promoting physical activity among young people. Parents can strictly limit TV watching, computer and video game use, and consumption of fast food, and can encourage their children to walk more, play outdoors, and participate in organized physical activities. Read more about how you can keep kids in shape at home and at school.

2005 Festival in the Park

2005-08-03T16:06:00.000-04:00

The Black History Committee of Orange County, Inc. presents its 10th Annual "Festival In The Park." This year's theme is "PROMOTING EDUCATION, HEALTH AND JOB'S." This year's festival is in partnership with the Black History Committee of Orange County, Inc., The City of Orlando, and Goodwill Industries, Inc.

Several companies will be on hand interviewing residents of Orlando/Orange County to hire for positions that are available in their company. Come join us for a day of fun to include an education, health, and job fair, family fun and games, live entertainment, vendors will be on hand selling their food, clothing and accessories, and much, much more. Parking and entry to this event is free. For further information please contact Stephanie Brown at 407-836-7741, Cassandra Snell-Ritter at 407-836-5644 or Malcolm Brintley 407-758-6283.

CPR For Citizens: Fire Rescue Offers Free CPR Instruction Program

2005-08-03T16:01:00.000-04:00

The Orange County Fire Rescue Department will be holding CPR for Citizens classes at regular intervals throughout Orange County. Citizens interested in attending the next CPR for Citizens class can visit any Orange County fire station during normal business hours and pick up a registration form, or by visiting our website at http://www.ocfrd.com/. For more information call Luis Garcia-Mercado, Life Safety Education Bureau at 407-836-9886.

Is that appropriate?

2005-07-21T08:42:00.000-04:00

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) ratings are designed to provide information about video and computer game content, so you can make informed purchase decisions. ESRB ratings have two parts: rating symbols suggest age appropriateness for the game, and content descriptors indicate elements in a game that may have triggered a particular rating and/or may be of interest or concern.

Visit www.esrb.org to check the rating on games. You can search on a gamebefore you rent/buy it to see if it fits within your family's level of acceptance.

Nicktrition

2005-07-12T08:14:00.000-04:00

http://www.nick.com/myworld/nicktrition/

Nickelodeon Students can watch streaming videos of healthy eating and lifestyles, play a nutrition quiz game, talk with other kids online about nutrition at the message board, and get tips on how to stay healthy.

Junk Food Issue

2005-06-07T15:28:00.000-04:00

For those who remember the Coke/Pepsi debate from a few years back, this will ring a bell. Finally, a State that is bold enough to do something concrete to fight childhood obesity. They are taking the fight to where it must be fought...the school! Google news stories.

Anyone have information on OCPS doing something similar?