March 6, 2020 by John Fernandez
Back-to-School Tax Holiday, Powdered Caffeine Warning, 105-Year-Old Pitcher & Other News
Mark your calendar: This year, Florida’s annual tax holiday for back-to-school shopping takes place Friday, Aug. 1 – Sunday Aug. 3.
Tax holidays for school supplies have been a tradition in Florida since 2007, and similar tax-free shopping days are held in other parts of the country, according to Kiplinger, a finance publication, which offers a state-by-state guide of tax holidays.
But when you fill up your shopping cart, avoid over-stuffing your child’s backpack, according to medical experts at Baptist Health.
No child should carry more than 20 percent of his or her body weight, says Roger Saldana, M.D., who specializes in pediatric orthopedics. And that ratio should go down if the child complains of discomfort.
Children should secure their backpacks properly over both shoulders. Habitually carrying backpacks over one shoulder will make muscles strain, stressing the middle back, ribs and lower back — more on one side than the other.
To learn more about backpack safety and other back-to-school issues, check out this Baptist Health lineup of stories:
Powdered Caffeine Warning
Here’s another safety alert from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The agency has issued a warning about powdered caffeine supplements — 100 percent pure caffeine — now sold through online vendors. The caffeine powder is potent, and consuming just one teaspoon is like drinking 25 cups of coffee.
The FDA issued its warning after the fatal overdose of a teen from Ohio who had taken the powder and suffered cardiac arrhythmia and a seizure.
“Pure caffeine is a powerful stimulant, and very small amounts may cause accidental overdose. Parents should be aware that these products may be attractive to young people,” according to a statement from the FDA.
Symptoms of caffeine overdose include:
Energy drinks can also cause health problems, according to our experts: A Dangerous Dose of Energy?
Senior Citizen & the Padres
She’s still got game. That’s the word in the stadium when 105-year-old Agnes McKee tossed out the first pitch at a recent Padres baseball game, according to Yahoo Sports.
Could a baseball diamond be in your future? This round-up of Baptist Health stories offers healthy prescriptions for living:
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