DadTalk

Health Care Expenses Exceed Housing, Food, Times Reports

“ ‘The kid isn’t that sick; her temperature is only 102.’ ”
– Dr. Richard Lander, a pediatrician in Livingston, N.J. explaining how parents are responding to rising health insurance costs.

Rising gas prices are an inconvenience. There are ways around higher food prices, however unpalatable. But how do families cope with rising health care costs when it is too costly for Americans and their children?

It’s hard for me to fathom, but consumers are now spending more money on health care than food or housing, reports The New York Times:

Since the recession of 2001, the employee’s average cost of an annual health care premium for family coverage has nearly doubled – to $3,300, up from $1,800 – while incomes have come nowhere close to keeping up. Factor in other out-of-pocket medical costs, and the portion of the average American household’s income that goes toward health care has risen about 12 percent, according to the consulting and accounting firm Deloitte, and is now approaching one-fifth of the average household’s spending.

More Moms Try Nursing

More American mothers tried breast feeding, though they’re not sticking with it, reports The New York Times on a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study. The 77 percent rate of moms who attempt nursing is a high point.

By six months, though, most women have given up on nursing despite health organizations urging moms to continue for up to 2 years. (For the record, Seth and Lael were nursed for about 2 years.) Studies have shown that breast feeding can pass numerous health benefits on to children.

Perhaps the most interesting tidbit comes at the end of the article:

Dr. (Barbara) Philipp said that while doctors and nurses were doing a better job of emphasizing the benefits of breast-feeding to patients, most continue to offer new mothers free diaper bags containing infant formula when mothers go home with their newborns.

“That’s a problem because at least five studies have shown that when a doctor or nurse hands the family that bag, even if they take the formula out, that mother will have less success with breast-feeding,” Dr. Philipp said.

Food Recalls Malt-o-Meal Recalls Puffed Wheat, Rice

While sick with the flu, I let slide a recall of cereal contaminated with salmonella. How Puffed Rice and Puffed Wheat cereals could become contaminated with salmonella is something of a mystery to me, but reports of illnesses continue to spread two weeks into the recall.

At least 21 cases of salmonella agona in 13 states have been reported, according to All American Patriots. So far, the mainstream media, beyond TV News, has not made much effort to cover this recall.

The cereal, which is being recalled by Malt-O-Meal, is sold under a variety of brand names and packaging styles. See the link above for details on recall specifics: there are hundreds of UPC codes listed.

Recalls Magnets Pose Danger in 870,000 Dart Boards

I’ve been quiet on this front for a while, but it’s hard to ignore when 870,000 dart boards are recalled because the small magnets can fall out and be eaten by children. Although there have been no reports of injuries with this toy, magnets can rip through intestines after being swallowed.

Similar dart boards were recalled in February and in March, MEGA Brands recalled 2.4 magnet toys, according to Consumer Reports.

The Chinese-made toys in this week’s recall were sold from September 2002 through March 2008 at Family Dollar stores nationwide, reports the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Food recalls FDA Expands Recalls of Honduran Cantaloupes

When we moved to California in 1998, we quickly gave up cantaloupe and honeydew melons. Why? Because those two fruits have become the white-bread of the melon world.

Instead, we feasted on Crenshaws, Ogens and Santa Claus melons. One taste of those and our interest in over-commercialized cantaloupes and honeydews quickly disappeared.

Sadly, I live in Chicago now. This winter I finally gave in and bought a cantaloupe two weeks ago and a honeydew this week. They tasted sugary, yet flavorless.

At least I did not get salmonella poisoning. Cases of the illness have been linked to a Honduran grower named Agropecuaria Montelibano, which has been fighting massive recalls in this nation and Canada. (Fortunately for me, the cantaloupe and honeydew I ate were from Guatemala.)

Honduras enlisted its President, Manuel Zelaya, to prove they are safe, reports CNN:

Why I Bought Obscenely Expensive Water Bottles

I hate plastic. I really, really hate plastic. Before having kids, most of my plastic use involved garbage bags, water bottles and lunch containers. Despite my better sense, though, I’ve managed to consume several lifetime supplies of petroleum-based products.

Take the thousands of miles I’ve spent on a bike drinking from old, soft plastic water bottles. When I lived in Arizona, the water would heat up and taste really yummy, like burnt marshmallows. I’m sure the water was totally clean of dangerous chemicals.

And during most of my adult life, I’ve been a brown bagger, or would that be plastic-container bagger? I now only use the plastic to transport the food, but for most of my career, I hesitantly microwaved each meal in delicious Polypropylene.

Until a few months ago, there wasn’t much evidence that scratched plastic is even worse than shiny new plastic. Gee, I think ALL of our plastic is scratched.

Nothing in my adult life, though prepared me for the onslaught of plastic after having kids: water bottles, cups, plates and silverware are coming out of every drawer. We find them under tables, desks and even in the heaters. (Lael drops all kinds of things through the little grates.)

Recalls CPSC, Mega Brands Recall 2.4 Million Magnetic Toys

It took more than a year, but the Consumer Product Safety Commission finally persuaded Mega Brands to recall an additional 2.4 million magnetic toys, reports The Chicago Tribune. Some of the toys being recalled this go-around were replacements for previous sets.

The magnets are so powerful they can connect inside a child’s intestines, causing significant damage. To date, more than 10 million Mega Brand toys have been recalled, reports The Tribune.

The CPSC posted two separate press releases to cover the recalls:

• MEGA Brands Recalls Magtastik and Magnetix Jr. Pre-School Magnetic Toys; Ingested Magnets Pose Aspiration and Intestinal Hazards
• MEGA Brands Recalls MagnaMan Magnetic Action Figures; Ingested Magnets Pose Aspiration and Intestinal Hazards

Battat also added 7,000 magnetic toys to an earlier recall of 125,000 magnetic building toys. Here’s the link:

• Battat Recalls Additional Magnetic Construction Sets; Ingested Magnets Pose Aspiration and Intestinal Hazards

A Simple Plan to Make Most Out of Drugs Found in Drinking Water

By now, you’ve probably heard about The Associated Press probe that found all manner of pharmaceuticals in our drinking water. Since the economy sucks, I was thinking this could be good news for money-strapped Americans:

Doctor: Hello fellow Americans! I’m so glad you could join this little forum! I know the cost of drugs has gotten out of hand, so I’m here to answer all your questions on where to find the cheapest drugs.

John: Doctor, I suffer from epileptic seizures, but my insurance won’t cover “unwarranted” prescriptions. What can I do?

Doctor: Ah, this is an easy one. Just move to Southern California! There is plenty of anti-epileptic medicine in the drinking water there!

Alice: Um, Doctor? My kids keep catching strep throat at school, but I can never get a doctor’s appointment when they’re sick. What can I do?

Recalls Senate Passes Bill to Improve Toy Safety, But Will It Survive?

The U.S. Senate approved a plan this week to completely revamp product safety in the United States, reports The New York Times. The bill actually increases funding for the Consumer Product Safety Commission and increases its ability to fine and punish those who dump dangerous products on unsuspecting Americans and their children.

The bill also would allow state prosecutors to take action if the federal government fails to effectively protect consumers. And in the no-duh department, the bill also would create a product complaint database accessible to the public.

In fact, the bill is so superior to the one approved by the House, it would seem a no-brainer. And perhaps that explains why the bill is disliked by some Republicans and  a White House that seems intent on dismantling the CPSC once and for all.

Should We Listen to CDC and Get Our Kids Vaccinated for the Flu?

You probably already saw this, but just in case: a CDC advisory panel is recommending that all children, from 6 months to 18 years old, get annual flu shots, reports The New York Times.

The idea is to reduce the amount of time spent at pediatricians and to cut down on kids missing school. Equally important: protect adult family members from getting sick and missing work.

The timing is interesting to me, because I just recovered from a flu that forced me to miss work for three days. The last two weeks are a bit hazy.

Either I’m getting older, or the flu and cold viruses kids pass around today are becoming increasingly frequent and intense. My wife, was also hard hit by this last bug.

Will we jump onboard with shots next year? I’m not sure. When I had a flu shot a few years ago, I came down with the worst illness ever, which knocked me out for two solid weeks.

Vaccine-makers said, “Oops, wrong virus.” Still, it would be nice to skip the annual flu, so we’re taking the CDC’s recommendation under advisement.