The Java Jitters: Should Your Child Drink Coffee? - St. Louis Children's Hospital

As you’re standing in line for a latte, your 10-year-old child pipes in, “Can I have one, too?” While you drink it for the caffeine boost, coffee—including the fancy, frothy coffee drinks—may not be good for kids.

The symptoms of caffeine consumption are the same in adults and children. Nervousness, headaches and trouble sleeping associated with caffeine intake can have an effect on kids.

“We don’t recommend that children drink coffee,” says Tara Todd, registered dietitian at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “Many children already drink too many caffeinated beverages. By adding coffee and sugar-filled coffee drinks to that equation, they’re not drinking milk and water and may not get enough of the vitamins and health benefits those drinks provide.”

Set the Stage to Be Caffeine Free
Parents should set rules for children regarding appropriate beverages throughout the day. That means kids ages 9 and older should drink the recommended four servings of milk per day before having a caffeinated beverage.

“Discuss with your child what he or she drinks outside of the house,” says Todd. “Don’t cut out caffeinated beverages all at once, as he or she may experience adverse side effects. But be sure to monitor how many calories and how much caffeine your kids are drinking each day.”

Click here to learn more about caffeine content in drinks.

via stlouischildrens.org

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Are 12-hour shifts safe? Donna Cardillo, MA, RN - American Nurse Today

Are 12-hour shifts safe?

Donna Cardillo, MA, RN

 

12-hour shifts have become the norm in hospitals and most nurses love them. One can work 3 days and have 4 days off, there is one less major shift change to contend with, and patients have fewer names and faces to get acclimated to in a 24-hour period. It all makes sense on the surface.

 

But is working 12 consecutive hours in a fast-paced, high stress, physically and mentally demanding environment a good idea? Does it support the clear judgment, quick thinking and reflexes, and life and death decisions that we must make in the acute care setting?

 

I know a few nurses who do three 12-hour shifts a week, at least two of the shifts on two consecutive days. Some nurses do three consecutive 12s. Factor in commuting time, shift transition (it can sometimes take 1-2 extra hours to actually finish up), time to get ready for work—never mind making time (if at all) for family or self and they’re lucky to get 5-6 hours of sleep if that. Compound that with the fact that many nurses no longer take meal breaks or even short breaks during their shift to rest and refresh because they believe they don’t have the time or they don’t make the time. This is a recipe for disaster. 

via americannursetoday.com

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FDA expected to ban alcoholic energy drinks - Health - Addictions - msnbc.com

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration is poised to announce a virtual ban of alcoholic energy drinks on Wednesday, even as a leading manufacturer is pulling its products off the market.

The FDA is expected to say that caffeine is an unsafe food additive to alcoholic drinks, a move that would effectively ban them from sale. College students have been hospitalized after drinking the beverages, including the popular Four Loko, and four states have banned the drinks.

Phusion Projects, which manufactures Four Loko, announced late Tuesday that it would reformulate its drinks, removing caffeine. While there is little known medical evidence that the drinks are less safe than other alcoholic drinks, public health advocates say they can make people feel more alert and able to handle risky tasks like driving.

The company's statement said it was removing caffeine from the drinks after unsuccessfully trying to deal with "a difficult and politically-charged regulatory environment at both the state and federal levels."

"We have repeatedly contended — and still believe, as do many people throughout the country — that the combination of alcohol and caffeine is safe," said Chris Hunter, Jeff Wright and Jaisen Freeman, who identify themselves as Phusion's three co-founders and current managing partners.

The statement did not mention several recent incidents in which college students were hospitalized after drinking the beverage. In response to such incidents, four states — Washington, Michigan, Utah and Oklahoma — have banned the beverages. Other states are considering similar action.

Four Loko comes in several varieties, including fruit punch and blue raspberry. A 23.5-ounce can sells for about $2.50 and has an alcohol content of 12 percent, comparable to four beers, according to the company's website.

via msnbc.msn.com

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