“A-B-C-1-2-3 Healthy Kids in Tennessee:

Let’s Be Aware Every Day”

Awareness

Revised 1/2012

About This Module

o The Awareness module of the A-B-C-1-2-3 Healthy Kids in Tennessee: Let’s Eat Well, Play, and Be Aware Every Day program focuses on three components:o Being aware of how we treat ourselves and

others, through compassion and respect, and treating ourselves and others well

o Childhood cancer – awareness of signs and symptoms*

o Tobacco use and avoidance of secondhand smoke

*Parents and caregivers participate in the childhood cancer component, but not children.

Objectives

o To promote awareness of other components of healthy living which includes childhood cancer awareness (parents and caregivers), compassion, respect, and treating others well (children), and avoidance of tobacco and secondhand smoke (parents and caregivers and children).

Objectives for each participant

o For children, to learn about compassion and respect for people who appear different from themselves, and to treat themselves and others well, by listening to the Zink the Zebra story and participating in selected activities; to learn about the dangers of tobacco and secondhand smoke by participating in selected activities.

o For parents, to explore Zink the Zebra activities that can be done with children at home; to learn about the dangers of tobacco and secondhand smoke.

o For parents and teachers, to increase awareness of childhood cancer and possible signs for which they should be alert and provide resources to communicate this information to parents and caregivers; to learn about the dangers of tobacco and secondhand smoke.

“Zink the Zebra” – Compassion, Respect, Treating Ourselves and Others Well

Zink’s Overall Message?

“Together, we need to help produce generations of students, parents, and adults who will have respect for themselves and for other people who are perceived as different.”

-Zink The Zebra Foundation Inc. 2000

Zink’s Message to Parents and Childcare Providers

All of us face cancer in our communities. Raising awareness of adult and childhood

cancers will help to save lives.

Zink’s Message to Children

We all may be different on the outside, but we are the same on the inside. We

should treat ourselves and others well and with compassion and respect!

Classroom Activities

o Teacher reads Zink the Zebra and completes several lesson plans from the curriculum (see next slide). The program is best completed within one week.

o The story communicates a powerful message of “differences,” whether due to illness, handicaps, size, beliefs, or any other defining characteristic.

o The Zink story and activities will teach compassion and understanding and to treat oneself and others well.

Lessons with Zink the Zebra

Four lesson plans are included:

o Lesson 1: Meeting Zink the Zebra

o Lesson 2: Kindness Comes from Within

o Lesson 3: The Zebra In Me

o Lesson 4: Re-enact the Storyfrom Zink the Zebra

Parent/Child Activities

o Expand on Zink lessons at home with take-home activities provided

o Enjoy other suggested stories with similar themes (such as The Little Engine That Could)

Childhood Cancer – Signs and Symptoms

How Does Zink the Zebra relate to Childhood Cancer?

o Kelly Weil wrote Zink the Zebra when she was 11 years old and undergoing treatment for cancer.

o Kelly wanted to tell others how it feels to be different and emphasized the importance of kindness and sensitivity.

Sharing with Parents, Caregivers, and Childcare Providers

o Kelly’s message leads us to a discussion among adults regarding cancer in our community.

o The following handouts are included that may be shared with parents and caregivers:

o Differences in Adult and Childhood Cancers

o Possible Signs of Childhood Cancer

o Important Points

o Did You Know?

o Did You Know You Can Help?

Differences between Adult and Childhood Cancers

Adult Childhood Prevention/Early Detection No tobacco use;

Diet/exercise; Sun safety; and Screening tests (mammogram, colonoscopy, etc.)

None– causes of childhood cancer are unknown. However, good habits to prevent adult cancers start at birth.

Frequent Types Lung, Breast, Colon, Prostate, Skin

Leukemia, Lymphoma, Brain, Bone

Incidence Per Year 1,000,000 12,500 ~ 5-Year Survival Rate 68% 81% % of Patients in Clinical Trials 3% 70% ~ Length of Treatment 6 months to 1 year Up to three years Long Term Effects of Treatment

Typically less severe;varies based on treatment

70% of survivors suffer serious long-term effects (heart failure, learning disabilities, increased risk of other cancers)

Citations listed on next slide.

Differences in Adult and Childhood Cancers (citations)

Possible Signs of Childhood Cancer Continued weight loss

Headaches

Increased swelling or pain in bones, joints, etc.

Lump in abdomen, neck, chest, pelvis, or armpitsDevelopment of excessive bruising, bleeding, or rash

Constant infectionsA whitish color in the pupil (middle, dark area of the eye)Nausea/vomitingConstant tiredness or palenessEye or vision changes Recurrent or persistent fevers

Source: Ped-Onc Resource Center. Available at www.acor.org/ped-onc/diseases/SOCC.html (accessed June 28, 2011).

Important Points:o Childhood cancer is rare.1,2

o It is unlikely that a child will develop cancer.2

o As a parent or teacher, being aware of possible signs can result in a faster diagnosis.

o Children need regularly scheduled well-baby/well-child check ups.

1 University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Newswise. Parents Update: Pediatric Cancer Myths and Facts. Available

at www.newswise.com/articles/parents-update-pediatric-cancer-myths-facts (accessed June 28, 2011).

2 Ped-Onc Resource Center. Available at http://www.acor.org/ped-onc/diseases/SOCC.html (accessed June 28, 2011).

Did You Know That. . .o … childhood cancer is the number one cause

of death by disease in children and causes more deaths than cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, diabetes, asthma, and AIDS, combined?1

o … 46 children (equal to two classrooms) per day are diagnosed with childhood cancer.2

o … 40,000 thousand children are currently being treated for cancer.2

o … over the past 20 years, increasing numbers of children have been diagnosed with cancer.3

The causes are still unknown.

1 University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Newswise. Parents Update: Pediatric Cancer Myths and Facts.

Available at www.newswise.com/articles/parents-update-pediatric-cancer-myths-facts (accessed June 28, 2011).2 Cure Search/Children’s Oncology Group (COG). Fact Sheet. Available at www.cursearch.org (accessed June 2782011).

3 National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet. Available at www.cancer.gov(accessed July 6, 2011).

Did You Know You Can Help?

o By being aware, you could be the person who identifies a child in need.

o You can be a leader in your community for cancer issues and information.

o You can help neighbors and families facing cancer.

o You can promote understanding and compassion, as illustrated in Zink the Zebra.

Tobacco and Secondhand Smoke

Objectives for the Tobacco and Secondhand Smoke section of the Awareness module:

To understand the health risks of tobacco use and secondhand smoke

To be able to implement learning activities for preschool children about the dangers of tobacco and secondhand smoke

To be prepared to share information to educate parents, caregivers, and childcare teachers and staff about the dangers of tobacco use and of secondhand smoke

Improving the health of children ages 3–5 enrolled in child care facilities in Tennessee and their families is a goal of the A-B-C-1-2-3 Healthy Kids in Tennessee: Let’s Eat Well, Play, and Be Aware Every Day program.

Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the U.S.1

Tobacco smoke contains chemicals that are harmful to both smokers and nonsmokers. Breathing even a little tobacco smoke can be harmful.1

Source: 1 National Cancer Institute, Harms of Smoking and Health Benefits of Quitting. Accessed 6/30/2011

Why Focus on Tobacco Useand Secondhand Smoke?

There are over 7,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, and at least 69 have been known to cause cancer.1

Children aren’t able to make the decision to not breathe in smoke—it’s up to the parents and caregivers to maintain a smoke-free environment. When YOU smoke, your child smokes, too!

The U.S. Surgeon General estimates that living with a smoker increases a nonsmoker’s chances of developing lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent. Keep a smoke-free environment for the health of everyone!1

Source: 1National Cancer Institute, Harms of Smoking and Health Benefits of Quitting. Accessed 6/30/2011

Why Focus on Tobacco Useand Secondhand Smoke?

Terms You May Hear

Secondhand Smoke:

“Secondhand smoke is the combination of smoke fromthe burning end of the cigarette and the smoke breathed out by smokers.”

“When you breathe secondhand smoke, it is like you are smoking.”

“It hurts you.It doesn’t take much.It doesn’t take long.”

Source: The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A R e p o r t o f t h e S u r g e o n G e n e r a l, 2006. youwww.surgeongeneral.gov ; accessed June 30, 2011.

Terms You May Hear

Thirdhand Smoke:

oParticles from secondhand tobacco smoke that may settle onto hair, clothing, and other surfaces and remain there long after the smoke is gone.

oResearchers have proven that these particles can form more cancer-causing compounds.

oThis is a concern for everyone, but particularly for children who are on the floor playing, crawling, etc.

Source: The American Cancer Society. www.cancer.org . accessed June 30, 2011.

Health Risks of Tobacco Use

Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body and diminishes a person’s overall health.

Smoking is a leading cause of cancer and death from cancer. It causes cancers of the lung, esophagus, larynx, mouth, throat, kidney, bladder, pancreas, stomach, and cervix, as well as acute myeloid leukemia.

Smoking causes heart disease, stroke, aortic aneurysm (a balloon-like bulge in an artery in the chest), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (chronic bronchitis and emphysema), asthma, hip fractures, and cataracts.

Smokers are at higher risk of developing pneumonia and other airway infections.

Source: National Cancer Institute, Harms of Smoking and Health Benefits of Quitting. Accessed 6/30/2011

20 minutes after quitting your heart rate drops to a more normal state.

12 hours after quitting the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.

2 weeks to 3 months after quitting your heart attack rate begins to drop. Your lung function begins a series of changes to improve.

1 to 9 months after quitting your cough and shortness of breath decrease.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Surgeon General’s Report: Within 20 Minutes of Quitting, 2004. www.cdc/.gov. Accessed June 30, 2011.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking

1 year after quitting your added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s.

5 to 15 years after quitting your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker.

10 years after quitting your lung cancer death rate is half that of a smoker’s. Your risk of cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decreases.

15 years after quitting your risk of coronary heart disease is back to that of a nonsmoker’s.

Benefits of Quitting Smoking

Secondhand Smoke

In 2006, Surgeon General Richard Carmona stated that, at ANY amount, secondhand smoke is dangerous.

“There is no safe amountof secondhand smoke.”

Source: The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A R e p o r t o f t h e S u r g e o n G e n e r a l, 2006. youwww.surgeongeneral.gov; accessed June 30, 2011

The main place young children breathe secondhand smoke is in their homes. Almost three million children in the United States under the age of six years old breathe secondhand smoke at home at least four days per week.

Breathing secondhand smoke is a known cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Children are more likely to have lung problems, ear infections, and severe asthma from being around smoke.

Secondhand Smoke—Children are Especially Vulnerable

Secondhand Smoke—Children are Especially Vulnerable (continued)

Secondhand smoke contains more than 250 chemicals known to be toxic or carcinogenic.

Because their bodies are still developing, infants and young children are especially vulnerable to the poisons in secondhand smoke.

Source: Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids: Facts &  Information.www.tobaccofreekids.org. Retrieved June 23, 2011.

Child care programs have the opportunity to contribute dramatically to the improvement of the health of families they serve by

providing education on the effects of secondhand smoke on infants and children;

providing education on the effects of thirdhand smoke on infants and children;

providing information on tobacco cessation and referral services in the community; and

protecting children from the long term harmful effects of secondhand and thirdhand smoke.

How Can Childcare Centers Make a Difference by Addressing Tobacco Use and Secondhand Smoke?

Classroom Activities

Hands-on activities are included in the A-B-C-1-2-3 Healthy Kids in Tennessee: Let’s Eat Well, Play, and Be Aware Every Day curriculum package that teach children about the dangers of tobacco use and secondhand smoke.

Include these and others in your classroom activities as part of this program.

Songs

“Is Your Heart in the Right Place”

Science Project/”My Little Heart”

Smoke-free pledge take-home activity

Partner with agencies and organizations who work with tobacco control and prevention and/or other health-related concerns to come and do classroom activities with the children (local health departments, hospitals, American Lung Association, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, and others).

Provide information on programs and resources to staff and families.

See resources that follow for additional sources of information.

Incorporate classroom activities included in this curriculum into your planned activities.

Reach Out to Enhance Your Tobacco Education Efforts

Breathe Free Tennesseewww.breathefreetn.com

strives to eliminate children's exposure to secondhand smoke by promoting the adoption of voluntary smoke-free home and car policies in communities across Tennessee.

Resources for Parents, Caregivers, and Childcare Teachers and Staff

Tennessee Tobacco Quitline 1-800- QUIT NOWoIt’s free.oCallers are assigned a personal “quit coach.”oIt is a wonderful resource to share with parents, caregivers, and childcare teachers and staff.

Please share available handouts with parents and caregivers with information on the Tennessee Tobacco Quitline!

Resources for Parents, Caregivers, and Childcare Teachers and Staff (continued)

Tennessee Tobacco QUITLINE: 1-800-QUIT-NOW or 1-800-784-8669 (funded by the Tennessee Department of Health)

EX, interactive website by the American Legacy Foundation to help smokers quit. www.BecomeAnEX.org

National Cancer Institute Smoking Quitline

1-877-44U-Quit www.smokefree.gov

Cessation Resources

Breathe Free Tennessee www.breathefreetn.com

American Lung Association, www.lungusa.org 1-800-586-4872

American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org 1-800-227-2345

Nicotine Anonymous World Services, www.nicotine-anonymous.org 1-877-TRY-NICA

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kidshttp://www.tobaccofreekids.org/

Tobacco-Free Resources

Want to take A-B-C-1-2-3 Healthy Kids in Tennessee: Let’s Eat Well, Play, and Be Aware Every Day to the next level?

Now that you have the tools to implement healthy living education in your classrooms and with parents and families, what’s next?

Consider participating in the “Gold Sneakers” program, which helps you develop policy guidelines for your facility. Both programs complement each other extremely well, providing your facility with a well-rounded approach to good health!

Want to Take It to the Next Level?

To learn more about Gold Sneakers contact:

Tennessee Department of HealthGold Sneaker Initiative

615-532-7538

Want to Take It to the Next Level? (continued)

For more information or questions, please contact:

Cynthia Chafin, M.Ed., CHESThe MTSU Adams Chair of Excellence in Health Care Services

and Center for Health and Human ServicesTennessee Cancer Coalition coordinator

615-898-5493 cindychafin@comcast.net or cynthia.chafin@mtsu.edu

Phase III of the A-B-C-1-2-3 Healthy Kids in Tennessee: Let’s Eat Well, Play,and Be Aware Every Day project supported in part by funding

from the MTSU Center for Physical Activity and Health in Youth and the Tennessee Cancer Coalition, with support of the MTSU Center for Health and Human Services.