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Indian River Healthy Start Coalition

A Glimpse of Dance

Indian River County Healthy Start Coalition Presents
“A Glimpse of Dance"
Prelude to Dancing with Vero’s Stars

Did you miss last year's wildly popular inaugural Dancing with Vero's Stars?  Are you excited to meet this year's Star Dancers?  Do you like to "cut a rug"?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are invited to attend Indian River County Healthy Start Coalition's "A Glimpse of Dance."

"A Glimpse of Dance" - a prelude dance party to Dancing with Vero's Stars is a special event being held on Thursday, February 4, 2010 from 6:30-9:00 pm at Holy Cross Catholic Church Parish Hall.  Glimpse is a way for people to dance the night away, meet the new 2010 Star Dancers and enjoy professional dance performances from last year.  Hors d' oeuvres will be served along with a cash bar.  Tickets are $40 each or $70 for two.

The Healthy Start Coalition and their community partners have pregnancy and postpartum services that support a healthier future for moms, babies and the families.  Proceeds from this event will benefit Healthy Start Coalition programs and services (TLC Newborn is one!).  For more information and exciting sponsorship opportunities, call 772-563-9118.

Breastfeeding Rocks for Moms

Pregnancy and Oral Health

Did you know the health of your teeth and gums plays an important role in the health and well being of your unborn baby?  Daily brushing and flossing is always important but it is particularly so during pregnancy.  Bacteria from your mouth can actually travel through your bloodstream to the placenta and begin colonizing there.  So put regular flossing and brushing on your daily schedule to protect your health and that of your baby.  Click here to see the complete article.

It's Tax Time and Help is Available!

VITA SERVICE

(Volunteer Income Tax Assistance)

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY

What could you do with $5,657?

• If you earned under $43,279 and have three or more qualifying children, OR

• If you earned under $40,295 and have two qualifying children, OR

• If you earned under $35,463 and have one qualifying child, OR

• If you earned under $13,440 and have no qualifying children

get your taxes filed free and claim your EITC and CTC for as far back as 2007

OR

If your income was $49,000 or less in 2009 you can get your taxes filed for free

BY TRAINED, CERTIFIED, VITA TAX PREPARERS HERE IN

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY STARTING JANUARY 19, 2010

VITA SITES:

United Way Indian River County, Mondays & Wednesdays plus Wed. evenings

phone 567-8900 ext.20 for appointment

EOC of IRC (hablan espanol), Tuesdays, phone 569-1030 for appointment

North IRC Library, Sebastian, Tuesdays 9am – 12 noon, plus alt. Tues. 5pm – 8pm

Fellsmere City Hall (hablan espanol), Thursdays 9am – 3pm

RCMA , Fridays 1pm – 4:30pm

Graco Recalls 1.5 Million Strollers

The recall was prompted by a finger amputation risk involving the stroller's canopy hinge. 

This follows a recall of nearly 1 million Maclaren strollers last November for the same problem.  Follow this link for complete information.

Cell Phones and Driving Don't Mix

Whether you are texting, making a call or accepting a call while you are driving you are much more likely to be involved in a wreck.  It's not a coordination thing, it's a brain thing.  People are just not capable of focusing on driving to the degree necessary to remain safe and competent if they are focusing somewhere else.  It's just not possible.  Please follow the link to learn first hand from the people involved in tragic accidents caused by a mere moment of inattention.  See why distracted driving ranks with chemically impaired driving when it comes to likelihood of being involved in an accident.

600,000 Cribs Recalled

20 models of Dorel-Asia cribs with drop side as well as fixed side rails sold through Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Sears and others have been recalled due to the death of a 6 month old child in Iowa. Side rail connecting hardware failed and the baby became entrapped between the mattress and the rail.

Please follow this link to read the full story and learn how you can get the repair kit if you or someone you know is using one of these cribs

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

So you're breastfeeding and have tackled many challenges, including breastfeeding in public... wonderful!  Now it's the holiday season and you're invited to the big family Christmas party at a relative's house.  Breastfeeding with passing strangers is one thing but in a room full of family and friends is quite another.  Do you go with gusto and dare anyone to express their opinion about breastfeeding?  Do you simply pass this year?  How about just making an appearance, planning your visit between feedings?  Don't torment yourself too much, the worry won't change anything.  Make your decision understanding there is no perfect plan.  That said, you can prepare by thinking ahead. 

You decide to pass this year; don't fret about the decision and don't play the martyr:

• Cheerfully ask someone to send you pictures from the event.  That's such an easy request, you'll probably receive more than you ever bargained for!
• Don't feel you have to explain yourself.  Having a new baby in the home is reason enough for anyone to understand without going into too much detail.  'Tis the cold and flu season afterall!
• Everyone doesn't have to stay home.  Send older children, husband, and others off with a kiss and your promise to keep your feet up and just relax with baby.
• Keep your promise!

You decide to go with gusto; realize everyone has a right to an opinion even if their opinion isn't right so:

• Remember your baby above all else.  Added attention, noise, lights, and distractions may disrupt the well maintained rhythm between you and baby and things may not flow as usual.
• Don't take it upon yourself to use this day to change any dissenting opinions in your family in regard to breastfeeding.  Your continued success will speak louder than any momentary verbal skirmish.
• Remember your family isn't against you.  They want you to be a good Mom so just accept their advice and opinion at every baby peep as proof they care.
• Practice nodding and smiling politely while doing what you know is right anyway.

You decide to go show and tell with an exit plan carefully orchestrated between baby's somewhat typical feeding times... but:

• Realize this is family and friends.  Everyone will want to speak to you and baby and this will probably be the day baby decides to change the typical.
• Since you feed on demand, this means the plan is now moot.
• SO be prepared by asking the host either before or on arrival if there's a quiet, discreet place you can retreat to take care of important matters when the need occurs.
• OR at least have a hasty exit strategy planned at early feeding cue signs, even if that means a 180 degree turn upon arrival!  (Practice your princess wave and use it as you pass.)

This time of year can bring enough to fret over so don't make your breastfeeding an issue.  Make your decision and carry forth with the same determination that has gotten you this far, making your adjustments as needed. 

And remember... breastfeeding is a gift you give your baby that will last a lifetime.

FREE! FREE! FREE!

Stork Craft Crib Recall

The Stork Craft website was down when I checked but that may be temporary.  Their listed contact number is (877) 274-0277 for a free repair kit or go HERE for ordering the kit on-line.

Following are some links regarding this serious recall:

The Consumer Product Safety Commission report  from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Article and video from CBS news website, (click the play video button).  Video from CBS the early show.

Please check your crib and take note of all these safety concerns!!

Pregnant Women and the FLU - H1N1 and Seasonal

Visit the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology website to see their latest recommendations for pregnant women and swine flu.  And if you have not already done so, please get vaccinated - the shot, not the mist, is safe for you and your baby during pregnancy. 

Public Vaccination Clinics Begin in Indian River County

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Contact: Larry Macke

IRCHD Public Information Officer

772-794-7400, ext. 2130



INDIAN RIVER COUNTY H1N1 PUBLIC VACCINATIONS BEGIN NEXT WEEK WITH CLINICS FOR SIX MONTHS OF AGE THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL



October 27, 2009 – The Indian River County Health Department (IRCHD) will begin H1N1 influenza public vaccination clinics for residents in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) target groups, starting with clinics for children on November 3, 4, and 5, 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM, at the Health Department’s Vero Beach facility at 1900 27th Street. There will be a mass vaccination clinic for the five CDC target groups on November 14 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Indian River County Fairgrounds. A second public mass vaccination clinic will be held later in November if IRCHD receives sufficient quantities of vaccine.

Next week’s clinics will be open to all children six months of age to school age and those children attending Indian River County schools through high school age. Those younger than 18 years of age cannot sign the required consent form and must be accompanied by a family member or legal guardian authorized to provide consent. The vaccination is voluntary and free. Children represent one of the groups identified by the CDC as being at highest risk for complications related to H1N1 influenza. Children aged six months through nine years need to receive two doses of the H1N1 vaccine separated by an interval of 28 days (minimum 21 days) in order to develop the same level of immunity that older people attain from a single dose.

A second round of children’s clinics is planned for December 1-3, 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM, at the IRCHD Vero Beach facility. All clinics are subject to vaccine availability.

Indian River County received its first shipment of H1N1 vaccine on October 8, and so far it has been targeted to pediatricians and obstetricians. Pregnant women are another CDC priority group; others include household and caregiver contacts of children younger than six months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, persons aged six months through 24 years of age, and persons aged 25 through 64 years who have medical conditions associated with a higher risk of influenza complications such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and kidney disease.

Production complications have limited delivery of H1N1 vaccine to the public health entities responsible for distribution. IRCHD will have 400 doses available for each of the clinics for school children on November 3, 4, and 5, and 1,500 doses for the public clinic on November 14.

“Because we currently have limited amounts of vaccine, we are asking people to be patient and to understand that our first public mass vaccination clinic on the 14th is for those in the CDC’s priority groups: those who are at higher risk of disease or complications, those who are likely to come in contact with novel H1N1, and those who could infect young infants,” said Miranda Swanson, health department administrator.

Plum Organics Baby Food Recall

Possible botulism contamination in portable pouches of apples and carrots