Halloween is an exciting time of year for kids, and to help them have a safe holiday, here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Feel free to excerpt these tips or use them in their entirety for any print or broadcast story, with acknowledgment of source.

Children younger than 5 years of age –especially those younger than 2 years old– are at high risk of serious flu-related complications. A flu vaccine offers the best defense against getting flu and spreading it to others.

The middle of the school year is upon us, and sports season is well under way.   Many kids are spending hours each day involved in hard, physical activity--they are learning the games and how to be better at them.  Unfortunately, many kids don’t properly consider the dangers that can occur on the playing field, and therefore do not properly protect themselves during play. 

Video games are can no longer be considered a new novelty.  It’s been almost 40 years since the home gaming market kicked off in the United States, and now many companies that publish games are household names (Nintendo, Playstation, Sega, etc.) No human being alive today that could be reasonably considered a child has ever existed in a world without video games. 

Researching and understanding one’s own family medical history is a great way to learn more about our rich genetic heritage--and a great way to help prevent serious issues from arising in the future.  Our genes play a vital role in our overall health, as there is a whole host of illnesses, disorders, and conditions that are hereditary, many of which are chronic and/or deadly to leave unchecked.  Cancers, diabetes, blood conditions, cardiovascular diseases--all have some sort of connection to a patient’s particular genetic code.