In the spirit of Children’s Health Month, TRICARE wants to let parents know how to keep their children healthy this season. October is a great time to reevaluate our children’s health and lifestyle for a number of reasons:
• They are back in school, and exposed to plenty of germs
• Winter and flu season are arriving, increasing your child’s exposure to illness
• Halloween is just around the corner, and safety at night is a concern every year
• Holidays are approaching, and not-so-healthy food is abundant
• With the colder months, kids will be spending more time indoors with their electronics, not getting the exercise they need
The list could go on. Our children’s health is a priority, and getting the word out about Children’s Health Month was the focus of recent Public Service Announcements (PSA) that the U.S. Surgeon General and I taped about battling one specific problem – childhood obesity. You can view them at MG Granger PSA and RADM Galson PSA.
Childhood Obesity
Recent data shows that one in three American children is either overweight or obese. These statistics put the United States ahead of all others in the world. While there are many factors that lend to childhood obesity, two elements remain constant:
- Poor Nutrition
- Lack of Physical Activity
If your kids see you making healthier eating choices and engaging in physical activity, they are more likely to do the same. Check out the new partnership Web page that addresses childhood obesity for practical tips on how to effectively prevent and battle this growing problem. Keep in mind that obesity is a risk factor for a number of health problems. Eliminate this factor, and you will lower the risk of many future health problems.
While TRICARE ensures our dependant children receive the best in medical, dental, prescription, vision and mental/behavioral health care, Children’s Health Month is the perfect time to remind parents that setting healthy examples for their kids is a key to their future health.
Flu Shot for Kids
The flu is a potentially deadly virus. Influenza kills about 36,000 Americans each year and about 20 percent of the population will be infected. Another important step toward keeping children healthy is the recent recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that all children from six months of age to 18 years get the flu vaccination.
Previously, the CDC recommended that children from the ages of six months to 5 years should be vaccinated against the flu. Now all school-aged children are encouraged to have it.
TRICARE covers the vaccine in two forms:
- The flu shot – An inactivated vaccine containing a killed virus and given with a needle. This form of the vaccine may be used in all age groups.
- The nasal-spray flu vaccine, or Flu Mist – A vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu. This form of the vaccination is limited only to healthy people who are not pregnant aged five to 49 years.
Both of these vaccine forms are appropriate for children.
The CDC has created a guide to help parents navigate the flu season – which varies, but typically runs from October until after January.
Overall Children’s Health
Maintaining your child’s health not only includes getting the flu shot, eating healthy and increasing physical activity, but deals with safety and wellness inside and outside the home. The CDC has created a resource – “Parents: The ABCs of Raising Safe and Healthy Kids” that covers everything from steps for parents to take during pregnancy to tips on discouraging your kids from underage drinking.
In addition, there is an overall guide for children’s health found on the U.S. National Library of Medicine, through the National Institutes of Health that guides parents through the many questions that may pop up over the years. From coping skills to specific conditions to screenings, parents can learn how to keep their children healthy.
As you can see, there are plenty of ways to keep your children healthy this year. Let October serve as a “Children’s Health” reminder, but remember to keep up the pace all year long.