www.massdental.org/forthepublic/parents-educators.aspx?id=1296.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed a resource kit on concussion prevention, diagnoses, and treatment. The Heads Up kit contains acute concussion evaluation forms, a sample care plan, and updated information on concussion for healthcare practitioners. It may be downloaded at www.cdc.gov/ncipc/tbi/Physicians_Tool_Kit.htm.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has developed a free software tool to help school systems evaluate and manage their school facilities for key environmental, safety, and health issues. The Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool (HealthySEAT) can be downloaded from www.epa.gov/schools/healthyseat/ . HealthySEAT brings together all of EPA's regulatory and voluntary programs for schools into a single, free software tool that school systems can use, if they wish, to establish and manage comprehensive school facility assessment programs. HealthySEAT is designed to be customized by states and school systems to reflect their own priorities and needs. The software will make it easier for school systems to access and implement EPA programs as well as track the status of facility conditions across all of their schools.

Partners HealthCare and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care are co-sponsoring an underage drinking campaign. They’re offering free copies of our booklet "Words Can Work: When Talking With Kids About Alcohol" to Massachusetts parents, middle and high schools, and healthcare providers’ offices.

We hope you’ll help to reduce underage drinking by visiting www.wordscanwork.com to request free booklets for your middle or high school. The Web site also offers a multi-media feature issue about underage drinking.

The Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety (DOS) has developed two PowerPoint presentations to assist in the training of public school personnel on the prevention of bloodborne diseases. One is geared to staff who would be “reasonably anticipated” to be exposed to blood in their jobs and the other is geared to those employees who would not typically be exposed. Since this past fall, DOS has made these available to public schools and would like to continue to do this.

In addition, DOS is available on a limited basis, to provide training free of charge, to school staff. Examples of school staff for whom training could be provided are custodians and bus drivers. To discuss potential training, you may call Maxine Garbo in the Occupational Health / Indoor Air Quality Program within the Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety at 617-969-7177.

If you have not already ordered a training disk, you may order one, free of charge, by either:

• Calling the Occupational Health / Indoor Air Quality Program within the Massachusetts Division of Occupational Hygiene at (617)969-7177
  
• Faxing your request to the Occupational Health / Indoor Air Quality Program at (617) 727-4581
  
• Mailing your request to:
  Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety
  Occupational Health / Indoor Air Quality Program
  1001 Watertown Street
  West Newton, MA 02465
  

"HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced a new campaign to educate more Americans about how to prevent bullying and youth violence -- behaviors that can have tremendous negative impact on children's success in school and overall well-being.

"Bullying is something we cannot ignore," Secretary Thompson said. "From the school rooms to the school yards, we must nurture a healthy environment for our children. By engaging the entire community in preventing bullying we can promote a more peaceful and safe place for children to grow."

The campaign, "Take A Stand. Lend A Hand. Stop Bullying Now!", is designed to stop bullying, including verbal or physical harassment that occurs repeatedly over time, that is intended to cause harm and that involves an imbalance of power between the child who bullies and the child who is bullied. Among boys, bullying typically involves pushing, shoving and other forms of physical intimidation. Girls tend to bully through gossiping, social exclusion and verbal teasing, but boys frequently engage in these forms of bullying as well.

The campaign was developed by HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration in partnership with more than 70 health, safety, education and faith-based organizations. In addition, a Youth Expert Panel comprised of 18 children ages 9-13 years provided creative direction during the development of the campaign."

"Whether the bully or the bullied, kids involved in this torment can have lasting social and emotional implications," Dr. Carmona said. "By engaging the entire community in this open dialogue we can begin to discuss the problems and potential ramifications of bullying, and then look for ways to prevent it in society. Kids should be able to live and learn without the threat of being harassed."

The impact of bullying on children's educational success and personal well-being is tremendous. According to the U.S. Department of Education, one in four children who act as bullies will have a criminal record by the age of 30. Studies have shown people who bully others often behave badly in school and are more likely to smoke, drink alcohol, and tend to receive lower grades.

The "Stop Bullying Now!" campaign includes a web-based, animated story featuring a cast of young people who deal with bullies in the classrooms, hallways, and grounds of a middle school. With help from teachers, parents, and other adults, the bullied characters get support from fellow students who step up to make it clear that bullying is "not cool."

"We know we need to change the culture that allows bullying to occur, particularly in school settings," Dr. Duke said. "This campaign tells educators and parents that bullying is a serious issue and provides resources that will help them put a stop to it."

In addition to the animated "webisodes," which will be updated every two weeks at www.stopbullyingnow, the campaign will feature television and radio public service announcements distributed through the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) member stations. The campaign Web site also offers camera-ready print PSAs and a Resource Kit about bullying prevention programs and activities that can be implemented at the school or community level. The Web site and Resource Kit also provide tools to help in handling individual bullying problems and for creating bullying prevention programs.

For more information on "Take A Stand. Lend A Hand. Stop Bullying Now!" go to www.stopbullyingnow, or call 1-888-ASK-HRSA.

"As part of its continuing efforts to see that patients and consumers have the information they need to make informed choices, the FDA launched a new, easy-to-use website to help consumers and health professionals find information about FDA-approved drug products more quickly and efficiently. The new interface, Drugs @ FDA is a searchable database that includes information on approved prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs and discontinued drugs. Located on the web page of FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), it is the first Web resource to offer a comprehensive overview of a drug product's approval history.

"Better information for consumers and healthcare practitioners is one of this agency's top priorities," said FDA Commissioner Mark B. McClellan MD, PhD. "Consumers, healthcare professionals and product developers will now be able to locate the complete profile of a product with just a few easy clicks."

Drugs @ FDA makes all drug approval information available on one site so users no longer have to visit several web pages for information on brand name and generic drugs. The database incorporates information from all parts of CDER's website, including consumer information sheets, medication guides, labeling and other information for patients. Eventually, information on recalls, warnings and drug shortages also will be included. You can visit the website at www.accessdata.fda.gov."

The Starbright Foundation is offering a free asthma program to schools. The program consists of the Starbright Asthma CD-ROM Game: Quest for the Code and corresponding Implementation Guide that offers tips for using the program as part of a coordinated school health program.

Quest for the Code is an educational CD-ROM program in English and Spanish that uses an engaging storyline, high-end gaming technology and the talent of eleven top celebrities to capture kids attention while helping them learn key asthma management concepts. An interdisciplinary team, led by Dr. Gary Rachelefsky, helped shape the program's educational content. The program was developed for children and teens ages 7 to 15. Quest for the Code begins with an animated tour of the lungs that uses 3D graphics and animation to depict how asthma and asthma medications affect the lungs.

The program also includes information about:

• Identifying and avoiding asthma triggers in different environments
  
• Distinguishing between the early warning signs of asthma and asthma symptoms and what actions to take for each.
  
• Understanding the difference between asthma myths and true statements about asthma
  
• How to use different medications and devices
  
• Managing asthma at home, school and at play
  
• How to talk with others about asthma
  

The following information appeared in the FDA Consumer / Sept. - Oct. 2004, p.39:
"...on www.ready.gov are tips on what to do in the event of an attack if you are in a moving vehicle, a high-rise building, or at work or school." The FDA also has an online gateway to other helpful information on its counterterrorism web site: www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/bioterrorism.html" .

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has released a patient fact sheet, "20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors in Children." Please visit: www.ahrq.gov/consumer/20tipkid.pdf.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society offers a program entitled, "The Trish Green Back to School Program for Students with Cancer". We also offer a service-learning program called our "Pennies for Patients" program. Please find a brief description of both programs below. (For more information on these programs please go to www.schoolandyouth.org.)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is pleased to announce the availability of four free brochures to help parents, teachers, and principals increase physical activity among elementary and middle school-aged youth. These colorful brochures contain photos, motivating messages, and specific activity ideas for home, school, and community. The parents' brochure is available in English and Spanish versions. To print or order copies, go to www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/PhysicalActivity or call toll-free 888-231-6405.

More than 1.1 million people sustain mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBIs) each year. Physicians can play a key role in helping to prevent MTBI and in improving patient outcomes when it does occur. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), working with a number of partners, has developed a new tool kit to improve clinical diagnosis and management of MTBI. Heads Up: Brain Injury in Your Practice, is now available free of charge to you and your colleagues. The kit contains practical, easy-to-use clinical information, patient information in English and Spanish, scientific literature, and a CD-ROM. To order your free tool kit, please email jpmcdonald@cdc.gov or fax 770-488-4338, Attn: Jane McDonald.

MASSTART is a free consultation and technical support service for parents whose children have complex health conditions or students who are assisted by technology, school nurses and other school or health care personnel. Services provided by this program include staff training and consultation/information on health care technologies such as tube feedings, ventilators, oxygen, and also diagnosis-specific health management in the school. MASSTART also provides child-specific consultation regarding health care and emergency planning for students who are assisted by technology or have complex health conditions, with the family's permission and involvement.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Family and Community Health, Division for Special Health Needs funds the MASSTART Program. Please contact the provider in your region or the Clinical Coordinator for more information, or to make a referral.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health's web site offers a variety of communicable disease fact sheets which can be printed and viewed. The site also includes numerous other materials. You may access the site at www.magnet.state.ma.us/dph.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a guide for school asthma management. "Strategies for Addressing Asthma Within a Coordinated School Health Program" outlines strategies for schools to help students with asthma.

The six strategies for schools are to:

• Establish appropriate management and support systems.
  
• Provide appropriate health and mental health services for students with asthma.
  
• Offer a safe and healthy school environment to reduce asthma "triggers".
  
• Provide asthma education and awareness programs for students and staff.
  
• Establish safe, enjoyable physical education and activity opportunities for students with asthma.
  
• Coordinate school, family and community efforts to manage asthma symptoms and reduce absences.

The director of CDC's adolescent and school health program, Lloyd Kolbe, Ph.D., commented, “Schools have an important role in helping students with asthma by adopting 'asthma-friendly' policies and procedures. Schools can also coordinate their services for students with asthma and provide asthma education for students and staff." The guide can be downloaded at: www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/healthtopics/asthma.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
November 19, 2002
www.ccdc.gov

The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, has released "Short- and Long-Term Consequences of Adolescent Victimization," a research bulletin analyzing National Youth Survey data. The report explores the affects of youth victimization on later adult behaviors such as violent and property offending and victimization, domestic violence perpetration and victimization, drug use, and mental health problems. The report is available online at www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/ojjdp/191210.pdf, or can be ordered free from NCJRS, #NCJ191210.