Erlanger Community

Erlanger East is proud to announce the arrival of the first baby born in 2012 in the Chattanooga area.

Jeanne and Kevin Hartzog, from Ringgold, Ga., welcomed their new baby boy into the world at 2:30 a.m. Graham Hartzog is 19.5″ and weighs 8 lbs.

 ”He was a very unexpected surprise,” explained Jeanne. “We were actually scheduled for a c-section on January 5.”

Jeane went into labor around 11:40 p.m. on New Year’s Eve; right after Auburn won their football game and just before New York’s ball dropped.

“Graham knew what his priorities were,” said Kevin. “He actually waited till the end of the game.”

Graham is the couple’s second child. Big sister, Jillian, is three-years-old and is very excited to have a brother.

Graham celebrates the same birthday with his uncle who was also born on January 1.

When asked what the family hopes for in the new year, Jeane said she wishes for a healthy family.

Chattanooga,Tenn.–Chattanooga’s Kohl’s Department Store and Children’s Hospital at Erlanger Safe and Sound Program are presenting a holiday safety fair on Saturday, December 3 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Kohl’s Department Store onGunbarrel Road. 

 “Kohl’s Safe and Sound for the Holidays guarantees to be a festive holiday safety fair featuring bike and helmet safety, fire safety with the Chattanooga Fire Department, toy and battery safety and information on poison prevention,” said Cindy Jackson, Safe and Sound Program Coordinator for Children’s Hospital at Erlanger. 

The Kohl’s A-Team will also be on hand with activities for children such as snowflake crafts and ginger cookie decorating, addedJackson.

A check presentation from Kohl’s for $56,330 to Children’s Hospital representatives will take place at noon.  Kohl’s has been a proud partner of Children’s Hospital since 2000 donating $230,127 to educate the public about pediatric healthcare and safety.  This year’s donation will go towards Children’s Hospital’s injury prevention program, Safe and Sound, to educate families about the importance of keeping their children safe with prevention tips and educational opportunities. 

Kohl’s commitment to Children’s Hospital is made possible through the Kohl’s Cares cause merchandise program. Through this initiative, Kohl’s sells $5 books and plush toys where 100 percent of net profit benefits children’s health and education programs nationwide, including hospital partnerships like this one. Kohl’s has raised more than $180 million dollars through this merchandise program. In addition, Kohl’s Cares features a scholarship program, which recognizes more than 2,100 young volunteers with a total of $410,000 in scholarships and prizes.  Through Kohl’s Associates in Action volunteer program, more than 385,000 associates have donated more than 1.2 million hours of their time since 2001 and Kohl’s has donated more than $35 million to youth-focused nonprofit organizations. Kohl’s also offers fundraising gift cards for schools and youth-serving organizations. For more information, visit www.Kohls.com/Cares.

 About Children’s Hospital at Erlanger

As the only medical center in theChattanoogaand tri-state region devoted solely to children, Children’s Hospital at Erlanger provides the best in children’s healthcare by viewing the world from a unique perspective of children and understanding what they need. Children’s Hospital is aComprehensiveRegionalPediatricCenter, the highest designation in the state for pediatrics.  The hospital offers a full range of pediatric subspecialists, as well as a pediatric ER, ICU, and Level III neonatal intensive care unit, providing the highest level of care in the region for premature and sick infants.

About Kohl’s Department Stores

Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) is a family-focused, value-oriented specialty department store offering moderately priced, exclusive and national brand apparel, shoes, accessories, beauty and home products in an exciting shopping environment. With a commitment to environmental leadership, Kohl’s operates 1,097 stores in 49 states. In support of the communities it serves, Kohl’s has raised more than $180 million for children’s initiatives nationwide through its Kohl’s Cares® cause merchandise program, which operates under Kohl’s Cares, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kohl’s Department Stores, Inc. For a list of store locations and information, or for the added convenience of shopping online, visit www.Kohls.com.

Chattanooga,Tenn.– The official start of the holiday season is already here, and the busiest shopping day is just a few days away.  Before you head out with your decorations and toy list, Children’s Hospital at Erlanger Safe and Sound injury prevention program and Safe Kids of Greater Chattanooga want to remind shoppers the importance of reading labels, making sure parts are not choking hazards and preparing your home for children. 

While candles, Christmas trees, and other decorations are part of the holiday spirit, they can pose fire and poisoning hazards, especially to curious children.  Home owners should never leave fire items unattended.  Candles should never be placed on trees or natural wreaths or near fabric that could catch on fire.  Matches and lighters should remain locked and out of children’s reach. 

“If you would like to use decorative lighting, only use it outdoors if it is labeled for outdoor use and make sure it is labeled with the seal of an independent testing lab,” said Cindy Jackson, Safe and Sound Program coordinator.  

For many children, the holiday season means one thing: toys.  Approximately 50 percent of all toy purchases in the United States occur between the Friday after Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Safety should always be at the top of the parents’ wish list.  Each year, an estimated 169,300 toy-related injuries in children ages 14 years and younger are treated in hospital emergency rooms in the United States.  While federal toy safety standards have greatly improved since 2008, shoppers should still read labels on toys to ensure the toy is age appropriate and follow important toy safety guidelines.  Toys that are not age appropriate may have small parts that could present choking hazards for younger children. 

“Remember any toy or toy part that can pass through a toilet paper roll is a choking hazard for children under three years of age,” said Jackson.  “Adults should also actively supervise children when they are playing or riding toys.  Simply being in the same room is not the same as keeping the child in sight and in reach while paying undivided attention.” 

There’s a little-known risk hidden in many of the devices that are a big part of daily life for a small child.  Inside the battery compartment of mini remote controls, small calculators, flameless candles, singing greeting cards, flashlights, and other electronics, may be a very powerful coin-sized or button battery.  When swallowed, these batteries can get stuck in the throat and cause severe burns and even death. 

“When evaluating toys, decorating the home or purchasing electronics, parents need to be advised on the types of batteries the item uses and that the battery compartment is securely screwed tight or is out of sight and out of reach of small children,” added Jackson.   

 A few extra steps when preparing for the holiday season could literally mean life or death for a child.  Children’s Hospital hopes the following tips will help make your season a safe and healthy one. 

 Tips if you decorate your home:

• Decorate with children in mind. Do not put ornaments that have small parts or metal hooks, or look like food or candy, on the lower branches where small children can reach them. Trim protruding branches at or below a child’s eye level, and keep lights out of reach.
• Natural Christmas trees always involve some risk of fire. To minimize the risk, get a fresh tree and keep it watered at all times. Do not put the tree within three feet of a fireplace, space heater, radiator or heat vent.
• Never leave a lit Christmas tree or other decorative lighting display unattended. Inspect lights for exposed or frayed wires, loose connections and broken sockets.
• Do not overload extension cords or outlets and do not run an electrical cord under a rug.
• Do not burn Christmas tree branches, treated wood or wrapping paper in a home fireplace.

Tips to prevent poisoning:

• Keep alcohol, including baking extracts, out of reach and do not leave alcoholic drinks unattended.
• Color additives used in fireplace fires are a toxic product and should be stored out of reach. Artificial snow can be harmful if inhaled, so use it in a well-vented space.
• Mistletoe berries, Holly Berry and Jerusalem Cherry can be poisonous. If they are used in decorating, make sure children and pets cannot reach it.
• In a poison emergency, call the national Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222.

Tips for making sure children’s toys are safe: 

• Before shopping for toys, consider the child’s age, interest and skill level. A fun, but inappropriate toy for a particular child can be dangerous. 
• Make sure toys intended for older children are stored separately from those for younger children. 
• Keep toys with small parts away from children under age 3. They can choke on small toys and toy parts. 
• Check regularly for damage that could create small pieces that are choking hazards. Make any necessary repairs immediately, or discard damaged toys out of the reach of children. 
• Actively supervise children when they are playing with riding toys as well as any toy that has small balls and small parts, magnets, electrical or battery power, cords and strings, wheels or any other potential hazard. 
• To stay informed about harmful products in the marketplace, parents can go to www.recalls.gov and sign up for email alerts on recalled children’s products. 
• If secondhand toys are purchased, or received from friends or relatives, parents can visit www.cpsc.gov and make sure the toy hasn’t been recalled for safety reasons. Used toys should also be in good condition with all original parts and packaging, if possible.

 Facts to remember regarding button and coin lithium batteries:

• It takes as little as two hours to cause severe burns once a coin-sized lithium battery has been swallowed.

• Once burning begins, damage can continue even after the battery is removed.

• Kids can still breathe with the coin lithium battery in their throat. It may not be obvious at first that something is wrong.

• Repairing the damage is painful and can require multiple surgeries.

In case your child has swallowed a button or coin battery:

• Go to the emergency room immediately. Tell doctors and nurses that your child may have swallowed a battery. If possible, provide the medical team with the identification number found on the battery’s package.

• Do not let the child eat or drink until a chest x-ray can determine if a battery is present.

• Do not induce vomiting.

• Call the National Battery Ingestion Hotline at 202-625-3333 for additional treatment information.

For more information on button or coin battery safety, please visit www.thebatterycontrolled.com.

Chattanooga,Tenn.– Surgery can be scary for little children on any day of the year.  But, what about the children scheduled for surgery on Halloween? Children’s Hospital at Erlanger Surgical Service employees helped their patients have a little fun on Halloween.

“We decorated Children’s Outpatient Department to have a little fun and help the kids who have to have surgery on Halloween feel special,” said Connie Rinehart, R.N. 

Nurses and staff members dressed up as Dalmatian puppies, following the lead of the nurse manager, Cruella Deville, from the movie, 101 Dalmatians. Paw prints and Dalmatian Plantation signs greeted the families as they entered the waiting room.  Approximately 75 “puppies” could be found scurrying about as they remained attentive to every child’s need.  The children were all smiles when saw the floppy polka dotted ears and twitchy noses.