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Paranoia of the Week
It may be in the news or just that time of year, but here are statistics put into perspective so you know if your child is high risk or not.
True and False: A 400% increase in whooping cough cases in California and the tragic death of 5 babies there does not mean panic at the pandemic ‘du jour’.
When parents stop vaccinating, epidemics will happen. Americans always used to vaccinate for whooping cough and should.
But I hate the whooping cough immunization commercial. It accuses parents of killing their children by hugging them. It is one of the most scare mongering we have seen recently. I am not saying that any death is insignificant only that as an immediate mass killer, it is not significant although parents should immunize. But the ads and sensational media stories make whooping cough seem like the next pandemic, more frightening than H1N1, worse than any other danger by implication.
What are the facts?:
- 400% increase in cases does not mean all of the US is at imminent risk. Californian risk has increased and Nevada and surrounding states are watching closely.
- The babies at risk are too young for vaccinations or haven’t had the 5 dose vaccination.
- Those carrying for babies can wash their hands frequently and should get the vaccine.
- Having the vaccine or having had whooping cough doesn’t provide lifelong immunity.
- By all means get the immunization, but it is not on the top of the baby safety priority list, even for babies in the high risk state of California.
- Nationally, roughly 8 in 100,000 people contract whooping cough compared with less than 1 in 100,000 when we were all vaccinating. 76 in 100,000 before the vaccinations became available.
- The recent increase has been in cases in teens.
- Last year 18 people (including children) died, out of over 300 million.
Up until recently America has been vigilant about keeping immunized for whooping cough. Most children and parents have had the vaccine. Parents have got to realize that immunizations stop deaths. Kids need these! Parents falsely fear immunizations. The doctor who started the autism/vaccination scare has had his license revoked for fabricating the tests and he alledgedly took money to falsify the tests so parents could sue drug manufacturers. As parents, we need to get down to the facts and the facts are that vaccinations stop deaths.
But with whooping cough, vaccinate but also know that there are (unfortunately) many more dangerous threats to our babies than whooping cough. Properly buckling your child, getting the flu vaccine, MMR vaccine, preventing child abuse, are all good starts for really protecting our children. Protect from whooping cough, but don’t neglect bigger safety measures. And don’t panic.
The Pandemic, Tornados and Hurricanes
Obviously for your safety and security, follow the advice of health and weather alert offical announcements. They do save lives.
In the early days of the pandemic, before the flu's severity was know, the behind the scenes word from Chief Medical Officer Ned Calonge was to have 2 weeks food on hand just in case schools and businesses are closed. And now in hurricane and tornado season it is wise to have two weeks of food on hand.
But an interesting thing happened, although paranoia-driven to have two weeks of food around, the result was, with the food on hand, many families ate less convenience food and more healthy homemade meals.
So use your paranoid fears (flash flood deaths are far more likely than hurricane or tornado) to keep the two weeks of food continually stocked and you will dramatically improve your family's eating habits. Wrong reason--fantastic result.
 Nursery School Slasher Deaths
Belgium. US principals report many parents obsess about the safest classroom seat for their child. This is a major concern of parents not matched by any statistics. The ultimate tragedy, a rating topping sensational news story, it's one of the rarest tragedies that could EVER happen to your child.
 Peanut Recall
Of all the food in America, and the poor funding for the FDA, food deaths are still incredibly rare. Why aren't we as upset with 10s of 1000s of obesity deaths...FDA Peanut info
Updated FYI, you don't have to stop using peanut butter as sold in jars. Only two jars of Vitamin Cottage peanut butter were contaminated but studies show that they were almost certainly unrelated to the current contamination (that they were just stored improperly in those homes and contaminated). The bad peanuts were used in peanut butter products, from power bars to the wonderful Bare Naked granola.
So put peanut butter sandwiches back on your kids menu.
 Paranoia Stat #379
Gymnastics. Just be prepared for it: over 50% of kids in recreational (not serious) gymnastics ends up in the Emergency Room each year (that doesn't include trips to the pediatrician.)
 Paranoia Stat #005
Teengirl Suicide. Recent national news story said that Teen Girl Suicide doubled last year. They didn't say that it doubled from 52 to 104. Any is too much but it is FAR from the top danger to your teen girl. What Dr Phil to the Nightly News did not say was that for Teen Boys, it is one of the main causes of death with numbers in the 1000s. 104 is too high but keep an eye on girls' self-mutilation as that number is in the tens of thousands or higher.
 Paranoia Stat #112
Only Amber Alert child was murdered by a stranger in 2007. Aged 12.
 Paranoia Stat #205
Guns. Half of parents have guns and 98% of them do not lock them up (and most store loaded or with the ammo).
Paranoia Stat #052
72% of parents do not know how to buckle their child in their car seat properly.
 Paranoia Stat #051
10% of parents don't feel they need to buckle their child in EVER. (Their faulty reasoning is that they didn't buckle as a child and they didn't have an accident). More parents than that don't think they have to buckle their kids in town.
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