We're just a little over two weeks away from Christmas! Since most of us are shopping for gifts and toys during the holiday season, we wanted to share a few details to make sure your little ones are safe from any toy-related injuries. 

 "Prevent Blindness America has declared December as Safe Toys and Gifts Awareness Month.  The group encourages everyone to consider if the toys they wish to give suits the age and individual skills and abilities of the individual child who will receive it, especially for infants and children under age three" (Health Tradition). 

Here's a few pointers to keep in mind when shopping for toys this holiday season -

• Toys made of fabric should be labeled as flame resistant or flame retardant.
• Stuffed toys should be washable.
• Painted toys should be covered with lead-free paint.
• Art materials should say nontoxic.
• Inspect all toys before purchasing. Avoid those that shoot or include parts that fly off. The toy should have no sharp edges or points and should be sturdy enough to withstand impact without breaking, being crushed, or being pulled apart easily.
• When purchasing toys for children with special needs try to: Choose toys that may appeal to different senses such as sound, movement, and texture; consider interactive toys to allow the child to play with others; and think about the size of the toy and the position a child would need to be in to play with it. Consult the “AblePlay” website at http://www.ableplay.org/ for more information.

For more details how shopping for safe toys, check out the following resources: 

Kids' Health - http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/safe-toys.html# 

Health Tradition - https://www.healthtradition.com/december-is-safe-toys-and-gifts-month/

Image Source - Fisher Price

December 1st marks the annual tradition of World AIDS Awareness Day. Globally, over 36 Million people are living with the HIV virus. Worlds AIDS Awareness Day, which was founded in 1988, is a day to remind the world that HIV still exists and it's vital that we remain awareness and active in fighting this epidemic. 

In the United States, over 1 million Americans are living with HIV, and 1 in every 7 of those infected are unaware of HIV status. Almost 20% of those newly diagnosed with HIV are women, and 45% of those women are African American and 24% are Hispanic.

Although scientists and healthcare professionals have made strides in helping to treat those with HIV, it's still important that we remain vigilant in increasing awareness surrounding the HIV and AIDS epidemic and that we continue to get regular HIV and STD testing. 

If you are eligible to receive case management services AND you are in need of getting help with treatment, counseling, support groups, or if you need a referral to an HIV testing site, please contact Pam's Kids at pam@pamskidsllc.com or via 1-800-758-8011.

Also, below are links to additional resources for more information on the HIV and AIDS virus. 

10 Facts on HIV from the World Health Organization - http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/hiv/en/

HIV Prevention and Testing Information from HIV.gov - https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics

Preventing Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission - https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/hiv-prevention/reducing-mother-to-child-risk/preventing-mother-to-child-transmission-of-hiv

blog resource: hiv.gov, image credit: www.worldaidsday.org