Disclosure: I have received information about the TYLENOL® SMILING IT FORWARD™ program from McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc., the makers of TYLENOL®. The opinions stated are my own. This is a sponsored post for Latina Bloggers Connect.
One of the best feelings as a parent is when your sick munchkin is on the road to recovery, am I right? When they finally stop looking sluggish and they start wanting to eat and play and when they SMILE. When my son finally starts being the happy little boy he usually is and the sickness is leaving his body it is like a weight is lifted off my shoulders.
Recently, I felt like this… my son had a fever for over 10 days. It was awful. When he finally started feeling better, I was the happiest mama, what a relief!
Are you Ready for Cold and Flu Season?
Cold and flu season has started; it is so important to be prepared.
Last week I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Aliza Lifshitz in NYC to learn more about how to protect our kids during cold and flu season. Dr. Lifshitz is a renowned physician and Founder and Editor in Chief of vidaysalud.com and latinahealthletter.com. She has also authored the bilingual guide, “Mamá Sana, bebe sano – Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby,” which was published in 2006.
Dr. Aliza shared tips about caring for our little ones when they are sick. She also discussed the difference between a cold and the flu, two terms which are erroneously used interchangeably, especially in Spanish… people sometimes use the word “gripe” to mean both. In actuality, a cold is a “resfriado” and the flu is caused by the influenza virus.
When asked how to describe the difference between the cold and flu, Dr. Aliza Lifshitz said:
A cold will not kill you, the flu can kill you. A flu starts and gets worse, with fever, body pain and chills.
How do you prepare for cold and flu season?
I am taking the necessary precautions and will be getting my little one vaccinated. Another super effective way to avoid spreading germs is HAND WASHING! Another great thing to teach our kids? Have them cough or sneeze into their elbow not into their hand!
Inevitably, sometimes our little ones do get sick… when they do, it is super important to have them drink a lot of fluids and of course, the little weapon all Latina moms love, a little bit of Baby Vicks for a congested chest! Finally, it is important to have a fever reducer/pain reliever on hand, one of my favorites is Tylenol which has been a trusted brand for nearly 60 years.
The brunch was not only an opportunity to learn more about protecting our children during the cold and flu season, Tylenol also wanted us to learn more about Smiling it Forward, a campaign that is raising funds for The Children’s Health Fund (CHF). Tylenol realized that parents were sharing pics of their little ones smiling once they were feeling better, that is what sparked Smiling It Forward campaign . Tylenol decided to donate $1 for every photo parents donated to the campaign, and will donate up to $100,000 to benefit CHF.*
What is the Children’s Health Fund?
The Children’s Health Fund was created in 1987 by Paul Simon (yes, that Paul Simon.) He discovered that there was so much homelessness and wanted to make a difference, and decided the way to do that was to provide medical care for underserved children and families.
Today, the Children’s Health Fund has 50 medical mobile units serving hundreds of locations across the United States. They operate on a schedule and go to remote or rural areas, where access to healthcare might be difficult. They also go to homeless shelters and schools. In NYC for example, they go to a homeless shelter in Chelsea and are also present in the South Bronx.
We had an opportunity to visit the medical mobile units and let me tell you, I was impressed. The mobile units are fully equipped and because they are on a weekly schedule, patients can get continuity of care. Mobile units are also equipped with electronic patient files which allows health professionals to treat patients with chronic illnesses in an effective way.
How can you support CHF?
Easy as snapping a picture! All you have to do is go to the Smiling It Forward Facebook app and and upload your Smiling It Forward picture, and Tylenol will donate $1 to the Children’s Health Fund. Make sure to ale check out the Spanish TYLENOL® website
For more information on the Children’s Health Fund, check out their site.
Please tell your friends to head over and share a pic too! Go to the Smiling It Forward Facebook app today! The Smiling It Forward campaign ends on November 30th, 2014!
Share with us! How do you keep your kids healthy and prevent colds and flus this season?
*Between June 23, 2014 and November 30, 2014, McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc., the makers of TYLENOL® is inviting anyone 18 and older to upload a “smile” photo on the TYLENOL® Facebook page. Each approved “smile” will trigger a $1 donation from TYLENOL® to Children’s Health Fund, with a minimum donation of $75,000 and a maximum donation of $100,000. Review Terms and Conditions for complete program details. For information about Children’s Health Fund, visit www.childrenshealthfund.org.