September 30, 2024 Tips from the CDC on Preventing Respiratory Virus Spread in Schools The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a list earlier this year of everyday actions that schools can undertake to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. Learn More With the 2024-25 school year underway, the likelihood of viruses, from COVID-19 to the common cold and respiratory viruses, spreading among students at school is on the rise. The CDC has provided guidance on how students can stay healthy by minimizing the spread of infections in school. Infections often spread because of shared objects, close contact with others, students playing closely together, a lack of cleaning and disinfection routines and supplies, and lack of proper ventilation. The CDC recommends that schools emphasize: Take steps for cleaner air Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting Hand washing Respiratory etiquette Vaccinations Cleaner Air The CDC suggests improving air quality by improving ventilation in buildings or moving gatherings outside. Strategies to provide cleaner air include: Ensuring existing HVAC systems are providing the minimum outdoor air ventilation requirement in accordance with ventilation design codes Considering ventilation design and/or enhancements when remodeling or constructing new buildings to optimize clean air Opening windows to increase ventilation, as long as this does not create a safety hazard Using portable air cleaners in spaces with low ventilation Holding some activities outside, such as lunch, certain classes, or recess Keeping bus windows open when it does not create a safety hazard Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting Schools should put into place procedures for routinely cleaning and sanitizing surfaces and objects that are touched often – such as desks, countertops, doorknobs, computer keyboards, hands-on learning items, faucet handles, phones, and toys. Surfaces that are visibly soiled with blood or other bodily fluids should be immediately cleaned. Schools should consult with their state or local health department to determine how to clean and disinfect particular infectious diseases when new pathogens emerge. Hand Washing Teaching and reinforcing proper handwashing can lower the risk of spreading illnesses. Schools should set routines or scheduled opportunities for handwashing throughout the day. Schools should also provide adequate handwashing supplies – soap, water, and power towels – within easy reach of users. If soap and water are not available, hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol can be provided. Respiratory Etiquette Schools should teach and reinforce respiratory etiquette to keep individuals from getting and spreading respiratory viruses, such as influenza, RSV, and COVID-19. Teachers should reinforce covering the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and throwing the used tissue in the trash after use. If a tissue is not available, students and staff should be reminded to sneeze into the elbow, not the hands. Handwashing should be performed immediately after blowing the nose, coughing, or sneezing. Vaccinations Schools are recommended to stay up to date on vaccinations for students. All states have vaccination requirements for children attending school. Schools and health departments can promote routine and annual vaccinations by: Providing information about recommended vaccines to staff, students, and families Promote the safety and effectiveness of vaccines Establish supportive policies and practices that make getting vaccinated easy and convenient Make vaccinations available on-site by hosting school-located vaccination clinics or connect children, students, staff, and families to off-site locations More information on the CDC’s recommendations for preventing the spread of respiratory viruses can be found on its website.
August 26, 2024 CDC Issues Update on Spread of Parvovirus B19 in United States The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued an update on Parvovirus B19 activity in the United States. Learn More Parvovirus B19 is a respiratory virus that is transmitted through respiratory droplets. Infection usually causes no symptoms or mild illness, such as flu-like symptoms, rash, and joint pain. However, it can cause serious complications for high-risk groups. The CDC has issued a health alert to notify healthcare providers, public health authorities, and the public about the increases in parvovirus B19 activity around the nation. People who are pregnant, have a weakened immune system, or have certain blood disorders – such as sickle cell disease – should talk to their healthcare provider if they experience flu-like symptoms or might have been exposed to someone with parvovirus B19. Prevention The CDC recommends several preventative strategies to avoid the virus: Stay up to date with immunizations. Practice good hygiene. Take steps for cleaner air. When you have a respiratory virus, use precautions to prevent spread and seek healthcare promptly for testing or treatment if you have risk factors for severe illness.
August 19, 2024 OCDEL, Penn State Project ECHO to Host Series for Spanish-Speaking Families The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) and Penn State Project ECHO will release a new series this fall that features the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and focuses on the needs of Spanish-speaking families. Learn More The Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO), which launches in the fall, will feature the CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early program, which is aimed at serving Spanish speakers. The CDC’s tools and resources allow families and early care providers to jointly engage in the early identification of developmental delays and disabilities among children from birth through age 5. Participants in the series will learn how to help support families with developmental milestone monitoring. It will highlight the utilization and promotion of the CDC’s Milestones Tracker App, which is a free developmental tracker resource offered in English and Spanish. The series is for early care providers only and registration is not limited to those who work only with Spanish-speaking families. The series will run from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the following Wednesdays: Sept. 25 Oct. 9 Oct. 23 Nov. 6 Nov. 20 Dec. 4 More details and registration information will be announced in the September Early Ed News. Any questions should be sent to Ilecia Voughs at ivoughs@pattan.net.
July 29, 2024 Tips for Protecting Children During August’s Summer Sun Safety Month With the summer season in full swing and school being out – which means more youth outdoors – now is a good time to consider how to keep children safe while spending long periods of time in the sun. Learn More August is observed as Summer Sun Safety Month. So, now is a good time to learn how to stay safe while spending time in the sun and preventing sunburn, sun poisoning, skin cancer, or other heat-related ailments. Skin cancer is often caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays, which come from the sun, tanning beds, and ultralamps. UV rays are an invisible type of radiation that can cause damage to skin cells, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is important to protect children from UV rays all year-round. The rays can reach individuals on cloudy days and can reflect off such surfaces as water, cement, sand, or snow. There are a number of methods for keeping children safe while spending time outdoors on hot, sunny days. The CDC recommends: Making sure they spend time in the shade, especially when engaging in activities Encouraging the use of hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen Not scheduling outdoor activities on days when the sun is strongest or the temperatures are especially high Providing breaks during outdoor activities to allow children to reapply sunscreen and drink water More Resources Additional tips on staying safe in the sun – but also tips on water safety, bug bites, and other topics – can be found in a 2023 brochure released by Allegheny County. Below are some resources on how to protect children and yourself during Summer Sun Safety Month – and during all months when outdoor activity is prevalent. CDC Shares Sun Safety Tips for Schools, Trying Together Allegheny County Shares Summer Safety Guidance, Trying Together Summer Safety Brochure, Allegheny County Health Department, Trying Together Reducing Risk for Skin Cancer, CDC Be Safe in the Sun, American Cancer Society Sun Protection, American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Sun Protection Tips for Those with Black and Brown Skin, Boston University Sun Safety and Prevention, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
November 28, 2023 Recalled Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches Causing High Blood Lead Levels in Children Various recalled cinnamon apple purée and applesauce products with elevated lead levels have been reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The recalled products have been the cause of 52 reported cases of illness in children, as of November 22. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to advise clinicians and health departments to report cases to their local health authorities. Background FDA, CDC, and state and local partners are investigating a potential link between high blood lead levels and consuming certain cinnamon-containing apple purée and applesauce products. State partners tested multiple lots of the reported products, and test results indicated the products contained extremely high levels of lead. WanaBana, Schnucks, and Weis have initiated voluntary recalls of certain lots of the following products: WanaBana brand apple cinnamon fruit purée pouches Schnucks brand cinnamon applesauce pouches Weis brand cinnamon applesauce pouches More Information More information about the specific recalled products may be found on the FDA’s website: Investigation of Elevated Lead Levels: Applesauce Pouches (November 2023) | FDA
July 11, 2023 The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Prevention Tactics Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can have a lasting impact on a child’s life. Fortunately, agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide strategies and resources to help define ACEs and to help caregivers and child care providers prevent traumatic experiences as much as possible before they happen, identify children whom have experienced ACEs, and respond to these experiences using trauma-informed approaches. What are Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)? ACEs are traumatic events or circumstances that occur during childhood. These experiences can range from physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, household substance abuse, domestic violence, and parental separation or divorce, among others. Through research conducted by the CDC and Kaiser Permanente, it has been revealed that traumatic experiences have a tremendous impact on future violence victimization and perpetration, and lifelong health and opportunity. ACEs can vary depending on the child and environment in which the child grows and learns. Some experiences can be witnessed directly, such as experiencing violence, abuse, or neglect or witnessing violence in the home or community. These experiences can also include aspects of the child’s environment that take away from a child’s sense of safety, stability, and bonding. ACEs and associated social determinants of health, such as living in under-resourced or racially segregated neighborhoods, can cause toxic stress (extended or prolonged stress). Toxic stress from ACEs can negatively affect children’s brain development, immune systems, and stress-response systems. Recognizing and addressing ACEs is important for promoting individual and societal well-being. Creating safe and nurturing environments for children, ensuring access to quality healthcare and mental health services, and implementing trauma-informed approaches in various settings are vital steps in preventing and addressing ACEs. Risk Protective Factors Risk factors are defined as things that increase the likelihood of experiencing ACEs. Protective factors are defined as things that protect people and decrease the possibility of experiencing ACEs. Individual, family, and community factors can affect the likelihood of these experiences, but they may or may not be direct causes of ACEs. Because ACEs include many different types of experiences and traumatic events, there are many risk and protective factors that apply to the range of different ACEs. Learn more about Individual, Family, Community Risk and Protective Factors from the CDC. Prevention Strategies for Children CDC has developed a resource to help states and communities take advantage of the best available evidence to prevent ACEs. It features six strategies from the CDC Technical Packages to Prevent Violence. Strengthen Economic Supports to Families: Community organizations such as faith-based and youth-serving organizations can promote policies that support families facing financial problems or help parents balance work and family responsibilities, which reduce stress and allow parents to meet children’s basic needs. Promote Social Norms That Protect Against Violence and Adversity: Encourage community organizations such as youth-serving and faith-based organizations, coaches, and caregivers to promote non-violent attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. Ensure a Strong Start for Children: Involved parents, strong preschool programs, and good quality childcare get children started on the right foot and help them succeed later in life. Youth-serving and faith-based organizations can contribute to this as well. Teach Healthy Relationship Skills: Children and caregivers can both learn how to create healthy relationships and manage their emotions. Connect Children to Caring Adults and Activities: Community organizations connect young people with positive role models and provide activities for young people to learn leadership and other new skills. Communities can help young people grow and succeed at school and in life, such as getting children involved in after-school activities. Intervene to Lessen Immediate and Long-Term Harms: When ACEs occur, community organizations, can offer services and support to reduce harms and help break the cycle of adversity, including providing therapy to reduce symptoms of depression, fear or anxiety, and behavior problems. By recognizing and addressing ACEs, parents and child care providers can create a bright future for children and promote resilience, healing, and well-being. Visit the CDC website for more information about childhood trauma prevention and ACEs Resources.
February 17, 2022 CDC Updates Developmental Milestones for Young Children The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have revised developmental milestones for infants and young children in the Learn the Signs. Act Early. program, which helps parents identify autism and developmental delays in their children. Learn More According to a news release distributed by the CDC and the AAP, the previous developmental milestone checklists used 50th percentile, or average-age, milestones. Using this approach meant only half of children could be expected to achieve that milestone by that age. Thus, clinicians and families with concerns would at times choose a wait-and-see approach, leading to a delay in diagnosis. The revised developmental milestones identify the behaviors that 75% or more of children can be expected to exhibit at a certain age based on data, developmental resources, and clinician experience. Updates Changes to the guidance include: Adding checklists for ages 15 and 30 months; now there is a checklist for every well-child visit from two months to five years. Identifying additional social and emotional milestones (e.g., Smiles on their own to get your attention, age four months). Removing vague language like “may” or “begins” when referring to certain milestones. Removing duplicate milestones. Providing new, open-ended questions to use in discussion with families (e.g., Is there anything that your child does or does not do that concerns you?). Revising and expanding tips and activities for developmental promotion and early relational health. More Information The process behind the revised milestones is detailed in an article titled “Evidence-Informed Milestones for Developmental Surveillance Tools” published in Pediatrics. Full resources and checklists are available on the CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early. page.
January 13, 2022 COVID-19 Isolation Guidance for ECE/Child Care Programs The Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) is reminding ECE and child care programs that they should continue to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) COVID-19 recommendations regarding child care and early learning settings — particularly around isolation. CDC Guidance The change in isolation guidance issued by the CDC to decrease to five days was focused on the “general population,” where a greater number of individuals have the ability to become vaccinated. However, the CDC’s guidance child care and early learning settings continues to advise the following: “The length of time the child should stay out of an ECE program depends on whether the child has COVID-19 or another illness. In most instances, those who have COVID-19 can be around others after 10 days since symptoms first appeared and 24 hours with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and other symptoms of COVID-19 are improving. Children who test positive for COVID-19 but do not have symptoms can be around others 10 days after their first positive COVID-19 test.” More Information The full current recommendations can be found on the CDC website.
January 4, 2022 CDC Isolation and Quarantine Updates As of Monday, December 27, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is shortening the recommended time for isolation for the public. People with COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days and if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours), follow that by 5 days of wearing a mask when around others to minimize the risk of infecting people they encounter. The change is motivated by science demonstrating that the majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs early in the course of illness, generally in the 1-2 days prior to onset of symptoms and the 2-3 days after. COVID-19 Exposure The CDC has updated the recommended quarantine period for anyone in the general public who is exposed to COVID-19. For people who are unvaccinated or are more than six months out from their second mRNA dose (or more than 2 months after the J&J vaccine) and not yet boosted, CDC now recommends quarantine for 5 days followed by strict mask use for an additional 5 days. Alternatively, if a 5-day quarantine is not feasible, it is imperative that an exposed person wear a well-fitting mask at all times when around others for 10 days after exposure. Individuals who have received their booster shot do not need to quarantine following an exposure, but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure. For all those exposed, best practice would also include a test for SARS-CoV-2 at day 5 after exposure. If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19. Additional Information Individuals should refer to the CDC website for updated information on protocols following a COVID-19 exposure or positive test.
October 5, 2020 Pittsburgh Welcomes Trick-or-Treating with Precautions On October 5, the City of Pittsburgh announced that it welcomes trick-or-treating this Halloween but urges residents to follow safety protocols to reduce risk and avoid the spread of COVID-19 in Pittsburgh communities. About The official trick-or-treating hours will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 31. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many behaviors will have to change this year to meet safety guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Residents are urged to: trick-or-treat only with family members; wear cloth facemasks, in addition to Halloween masks; carry and regularly use hand sanitizer; distribute candy by leaving it outside, and avoid in-person, face-to-face interactions at the door; follow social distancing guidelines (at least six feet from others) on sidewalks and when approaching homes where others are getting candy; and avoid indoor costume parties. Like any other year, motorists are asked to be especially vigilant on Halloween night, decrease speeds, and increase awareness of trick-or-treating children and families. Read the Full Release This information was provided by the City of Pittsburgh. To learn more, read the full press release.
