Every year thousands of children ages 14 and under are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries. Children ages four and under account for nearly one-half of toy related injuries and almost 90 percent of deaths.

The leading causes of toy-related death among children are choking, mostly on latex balloons, and injuries associated with riding toys, mostly tricycles. Children can also suffer from strangulation, burns drowning and poisoning from toys.

Children at all ages are at risk for toy injury. To help protect children, follow these tips from the National Safe Children's Campaign:

• When selecting toys, consider the child's age, interests and skill level; look for quality design and construction; and follow age and safety recommendation labels.
• Use mylar balloons instead of latex to eliminate the risk of choking. If you must use latex balloons, store them out of children's reach, do not allow children to inflate them, and deflate and discard balloons and balloon pieces after use.
• Avoid toys with sharp points or edges, toys that produce loud noises, and projectiles (such as darts).
• Toys with strings, straps or cords longer than 7 inches can unintentionally strangle children and should be avoided .
• Electrical toys are a potential burn hazard. Avoid toys with a heating element - batteries, electrical plugs -- for children under age 8.
• Toy cap guns use caps that can be ignited by the slightest friction and cause serious burns.
• Play is most valuable when adults become involved and interact with children during play, rather than simply providing the toys or supervising the activity.
• Teach children to put toys safety away after playing. Ensure that toys intended for younger children are stored separately from those for older children.
• Inspect old and new toys regularly for damage and potential hazards. Make any necessary repairs immediately or discard damaged toys out of reach of children.
• Toys are frequently recalled for safety reasons. Check out the National Safe Kids Campaign web site for more information, www.safekids.org.

Remember that children of all ages are at risk for toy-related injury. Appropriate selection and proper use of toys, combined with parental supervision, can help to reduce the incidence and severity of such injuries.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designed two food pyramids to help ensure that children and adults get proper daily nutrition. The foods at the bottom of the pyramid should be consumed the most while those at the top should be regulated. The first pyramid is for children ages 2 to 6. It has separate guidelines because young children have different food preferences and eating patterns than older children and adults. The USDA recommends the following dietary needs for young children:

• 6 serving from the grain group (bread, cereal, rice, pasta)
• 3 servings from the vegetable group
• 2 servings from the fruit group (includes fruit juice)
• 2 servings from the meat group (includes other protein-rich foods)
• 2 servings from the milk group (includes all dairy products)
• Eat less fats and sweets

It is important to understand serving sizes. What most people think is one serving can actually be two or three. While a 2 or 3 year old should eat the same  number of servings as a 4 to 6 year old, the serving sizes will be smaller. And the serving sizes for young children in general will be less than those for older children or adults

The USDA recommends the following daily servings for older children, teens and adults:

• 6-11 servings from the bread, cereal, rice and pasta group
• 3-5 servings from the vegetable group
• 2-4 servings from the fruit group
• 2-3 servings from the meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, eggs and nuts group
• 2-3 servings from the milk, yogurt and cheese group
• Fats, oils and sweets should be eaten sparingly.

Following these dietary guidelines will help ensure that your child is getting enough calcium, iron and fiber in their diet. These nutrients are especially important to growing children. Calcium promotes strong bone growth and tooth health. Iron is important for the quick growth that occurs during adolescence. It is particularly important for teen girls to replace what iron is lost during menstruation. Fiber is an important health benefit in that is may possibly reduce the chances of heart disease and cancer. It also helps to keep bowel movements regular.

As a parent, the best way to make sure your child grows up to have good eating habits is to establish a home where nutritious meals and snacks are available. Nutrition is also an area where kids model what they see. If you eat junk food, so will they. If you eat healthy, so will they. It may take some time to adjust, but a healthy diet is possible.

Eating healthy can even be fun. Involve your child in food shopping, preparations and meal planning. Fill the house with healthy snacks options, not potato chips, cookies and candy. Fruit smoothies, frozen grapes and bananas, celery and peanut butter, carrot sticks and bran muffins are all healthy choices for snacks. Any they taste good too.

Key to proper nutrition is eating a variety of foods. Be creative. Get your child involved.

Getting your children to eat healthy meals can seem like an all-out war at times. They insist on macaroni and cheese or dinosaur-shaped "meat" nuggets. You insists on broccoli and grilled chicken. And while there does exist the child who will eat anything that is placed before them, there tends to be more picky eaters in the bunch.

So, as a parent responsible for your child's growth and development, what do you do with the picky eater? Consider using parenting magazines, kids' cookbooks, web sites and friends or family as resources for ideas. Also, get your child involved in everything from menu planning, to grocery shopping, to preparation and serving. Often times when a child feels ownership or part of the process his or her interest increases.

Teaching your child about nutrition and allowing for their involvement may help make the battle a little easier. For example:

• Have the good guide pyramid on display and allow your child to choose an item from each category for the meal: a protein, a grain, a fruit or vegetable and a dairy item.
• You can also try creating an exchange program. Your child can choose one meal per week if they first try two new foods that week or eat so many bites of their meals each day.
• Chopping up fruits and vegetable and placing them in more popular foods like muffins and pancakes, even burgers, can make nutritious eating easier.

The meals and snacks your child eats at home can influence what they will choose on their own. Consider the following for encouraging healthy meals:

• Buy a variety of healthy foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables and whole-grain breads and cereals. Refer to the food guide pyramid for suggestions.
• Set specific times for meals and snacks.
• Limit sugary, high-fat foods.
• Avoid adding excessive salt to foods.
• Encourage drinking water or milk instead of fruit drinks and soda.
• Avoid caffeine in the foods and drinks you give your child.

Food should not be a point of tension between you and your child. If your child doesn't eat an occasional meal or only eats one food for a few days, try not to worry about it. But, don't cater to their will and create "special" meals just for them or allow them to complain about what is being served. If they don't eat it, they'll simply be more hungry for the next meal.

Overall, a good way to introduce new foods and instill good eating habits to your children is to eat with them. Eating meals as a family can do several things: It allows you to be a role model for good eating habits and allows you to be a role model for good eating habits and allows you to monitor your child's nutrition. It also allows you to discover what food your child likes and dislikes, as well as provides the opportunity to introduce new foods. Lastly, it allows you to stay in touch with your child to know their excitements and troubles, which can affect their eating.

So, with the right tools and approach, the eating war can be a battle where everyone comes up the winner. Your kids will learn good eating habits from you and you won't have to say the same lines your parents said to you when you sat at the dinner table complaining about your meal. And remember, you are the parent, and if lima beans aren't your favorite, there's no law against eliminating one food from the table.

For more information on childhood nutrition, talk to your doctor or contact the Nemours Foundation at www.kidshealth.org

Chances are that sometime in your life, either through a talk with your mom or sister, a school program or visit to your doctor, you have been told about the importance of breast examinations for breast health, mostly for the early detection of breast cancer. Breast cancer is a disease that may take years to develop and often detection of any abnormality is so important.

To help sort our what tests should be done when, the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends a three-part screening for early breast cancer detection in asymptomatic women:

• Mammogram. Women age 40 and older should have a mammogram every year, and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health. While mammograms can miss some cancers, they are still a very good way to find breast cancer.
• Clinical breast exam (CBE). Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast examination (CBE) as part of a regular health exam by a health expert preferably every 3 years. After age 40, women should have a breast exam by a health professional every year. There may be some benefit in having the CBE shortly before the mammogram. During the exam, the doctor can show you how to learn what your own breast feels like.
• Breast self-examinations (BSE). Women should report any change in their breasts to their doctor right away. BSE is a way for women (starting in their 20's) to find changes in their breast.

If you do BSE on a regular basis, you get to know how your breasts normally feel. Then you can more easily notice changes. You should see your doctor right away if you notice any of these changes: a lump or swelling, skin irritation or dimpling, nipple pain or the nipple turning inward, redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin, or a discharge other than breast milk.

Women with a higher risk if breast cancer should talk with their doctor about the best approach for them. This might mean starting mammograms when they are younger, having extra tests, or having more frequent exams.

Since none of the above screening methods can guarantee 100% detection of breast cancers, it is important that a woman see her physician on a regular basis and discuss any changes she may have in her breasts. Be smart. Get educated about your family health history. Talk to your physician about your personal risk for developing  the disease. Follow the guidelines recommended by the ACS. Because when it comes to breast cancer, early detection can be a life saver, literally.

For more information about screening tests and early detection of breast cancer, talk to your doctor or contact the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org.

Diabetes, a Chronic Debilitating Disease.
Things you need to know.

Approximately 17 million Americans have some form of diabetes or 6.2% of our population. It is the leading cause of blindness in the United States. Diabetes can also lead to many other problems such as neuropathy or nerve damage which causes loss of feeling in the feet. Get the facts on how "Your feet can last a lifetime". Understand the symptoms and know what to watch for.

Please join our affiliated physicians of, Dr. Marin and Dr. Scavone, at Palmetto General Hospital for an informative lecture about diabetes and what you need to know. They will discuss the symptoms, the solutions, and how treatment is available right here in
your community.

There is no obligation. This information is important for a happier healthier lifestyle while living with diabetes.
Call today to make reservation.

Please join us for a valuable and informative lecture on Diabetes. Refreshments will be served. Get the facts.

Tuesday, November 19, 2002 - 6:30pm

Palmetto Medical Plaza
Ground Floor - Conference Center #1
7100 W 20th Ave., Hialeah, Fl 33016
1 block West of the Palmetto Expressway

For more information, call 800-522-5292