Fact or Fiction: The Five-Second Rule

You have probably heard kids talk about it and may have even used it yourself as the excuse for still eating that M&M you dropped. The five-second rule states that if we drop food on the floor, as long as we pick it up within five seconds, it's safe to still eat.

Now I'm not sure where the five-second rule came from, but as a nurse, I was dying to know if there was any research on the subject. And to my surprise there are numerous studies.

So is the popular five-second rule fact or fiction? Well, it's a little bit of both. Studies show that food that drops on tile or hard wood DOES pick up large amounts of bacteria. Food that drops on carpet, however, DOESN'T pick up many germs but can pick up dirt and carpet fuzz (which in my opinion is just as gross).

The Art of Healing

One of the greatest blessings of being a nurse is the opportunity to participate in the art of healing. I see miracles every day, and I am always touched by stories of children who are overcoming all odds with the help of modern medical science.

I saw this story recently on CNN. Freddy Turihuano is a 15-year-old from the countryside in Bolivia who was born with a condition that prevented him from being able to walk. Thanks to an orthopedic surgeon, generous people who donated time and money, and Freddy's courageous spirit, he is now accomplishing what some thought was impossible. And Freddy's response? He hopes to grow up to be a soccer player . . . or a doctor.

Smoothies with a Twist

Smoothies are a great, healthy snack for your kids. And here's my little secret to make them even more nutritional for your kids (and you for that matter).



Just throw a handful of fresh spinach into the blender with your other smoothie ingredients. Even though it will turn the smoothie green, your kids will not be able to taste the difference. By adding spinach to your smoothies, your kids will get all the nutritional benefits of eating a large bowl of greens, which I know is hard to get most children to do.

Spinach is a super food: it is rich in antioxidants, a good source of iron, calcium, folic acid, vitamins A, C, E, K, B2, and B6 as well as magnesium, potassium, copper, protein, phosphorus, zinc, niacin, selenium, and omega-3 fatty acids, all of which are essential for keeping our kids healthy and happy.

In the News: Children's Medicine Recalled

The following is from a May 1 New York Times article:

"A unit of Johnson & Johnson has voluntarily begun a recall of certain children’s over-the-counter liquid medicines because of manufacturing deficiencies, the Food and Drug Administration said on Saturday. . . .

"Consumers should stop using certain lots of infants’ and children’s Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec and Benadryl products because some of them may contain more of the active drug ingredient than specified, the Johnson & Johnson unit, McNeil Consumer Healthcare, said in a statement late Friday. Other products involved in the recall may contain foreign particles or inactive ingredients that may not meet testing requirements, the company said."

Read the entire article here.

Also provided in the article is a Web site with a list of the recalled product lots.

Please check your medicine cabinets to make sure you are not in possession of any of these recalled products.

Treating Seasonal Allergies

The best treatment for children who suffers from seasonal allergies is to avoid the allergy-causing agent. If your child is allergic to pollen, this would include environmental modifications like keeping windows closed in your home and in the car and limiting your child's outdoor activities when the counts are the highest, like early morning for pollen.


If allergy symptoms are mild, your child may benefit from an over-the-counter allergy medication. These drugs can be found at your local pharmacy and should be taken on an as-needed basis. However, keep in mind that doctors do not recommend taking allergy medications with antihistamine for longer than 3–5 days at a time because they generally cause drowsiness.

Prescription allergy medications include decongestants, antihistamines, and steroids. Your child's pediatrician will be able to determine the type of medication and the dosing that is best for your child. There are many newer non-sedating antihistamines that work well to control allergies and have few side effects. It is important that your child take these prescription medications exactly as prescribed; they are less effective if taken intermittently or on an as-need basis.

Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies

Spring can be a miserable time for infants and children who suffer from seasonal allergies. Allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, affects nearly 40 percent of children in the United States. The symptoms may at first seem like a cold, but they are actually brought on (and worsen) with exposure to allergens, including tree pollens, grasses, and weeds.

The most common symptoms of allergies include:
• stuffy or runny nose (drainage will be clear)
• sneezing
• itchy, watery eyes
• sore throat
• morning cough
• allergic salute
• allergic shiners—dark circles under the eyes caused by nasal congestion


It is important to recognize and treat allergy symptoms in your kids, because uncontrolled allergies can lead to secondary sinus infections, ear infections, and asthma attacks. Uncontrolled allergies also can lead to irritability and poor concentration in school.

Seasonal Allergies: The Allergic Salute

The weather is getting warmer, the grass is turning green, and for many of our kids, it is also allergy season. One of the common signs of allergies in children is a small crease in the skin in the lower part of the nose that has been named the "allergic salute." The allergic salute is a result of a child suffering from an itchy nose consistently rubbing the nose upward.


Check back next week for more information on signs/symptoms and treatments for seasonal allergies in kids.