Previous reports have greatly underestimated the number of children injured on school buses. The study, “School Bus-Related Injuries Among Children and Teenagers in the United States, 2001-2003,” is the first to analyze non-fatal school bus injuries using a national sample. It found more than 51,000 children – or 17,000 annually – through age 19 were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments during the 3-year period.
Evidence suggests that the stress of heating and cooling costs may adversely impact the health and nutritional status of children and other vulnerable individuals.
Parental rules and monitoring of children’s movie viewing may have a protective influence on children’s risk for smoking and drinking, over and above parental monitoring of nonmedia-related behaviors.
The cost of influenza-related hospitalizations in children may be considerably higher than previously estimated. An analysis of electronic billing data in the study, “Direct Medical Cost of Influenza-Related Hospitalizations in Children,” found that the mean total cost of hospitalizing a child for influenza-related illness is approximately $13,000 (approx. $7,000 for ward patients and $40,000 for ICU patients).
How do the disabled conquer their physical and mental constraints to step on the stage and perform drama, dance and music? Come and see the International Festival of Inclusive Arts’ drama night and you will get the answer.
In “Sleep Environment, Positional, Lifestyle and Demographic Characteristics Associated with Bed Sharing in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Cases: A Population-based Study,” researchers found SIDS cases that involved bed sharing showed more risk factors for SIDS than non-bed sharing cases of SIDS. Risk factors include the use of a couch, the presence of another child, and a higher proportion of infants placed to sleep laterally (on their side), an unstable sleep position that can result in a shift to prone (on stomach) sleep.
Does use of poison control centers reduce the number of hospitalizations in rural areas? The study, “The Potential Impact of Poison Control Centers on Rural Hospitalization Rates for Poisoning,” found a direct correlation between the use of poison control centers (PCCs) and reduced rates of hospitalization.
The Centre for Health Protection has confirmed a myiasis case involving a 97-year-old Kwai Chung woman, bringing the year’s total to 10, all local cases.
The Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau should make more use of information technology to speed up the exchange of data regarding pandemics, says Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr York Chow.
Details of the proposed plastic bag fee are being finalised and a report will be released in the first quarter next year, Secretary for the Environment, Transport & Works Dr Sarah Liao says.