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Pediatric healthcare is a constantly changing field. Accordingly, pediatric nurses need to keep up with current health trends and professional training (e.g. PALS certification). Arizona pediatric health trends show that certain health conditions, like obesity and unintentional injuries, are on the rise. Here are four trends that every AZ pediatric nurse should know.

1. Why PALS certification? Arizona (AZ) childhood obesity is a growing problem.

According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, more than 30 percent of children in Arizona are either overweight or obese – Arizona’s childhood obesity rate is comparable to the national rate. Childhood obesity is growing problem that could potentially lead to other health issues for Arizona’s population down the road – individuals who are overweight or obese are at a higher risk for heart disease and diabetes, among other health conditions.

2. Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death among children.

Victims of unintentional injuries are frequently treated by healthcare professionals with PALS certification. Arizona Department of Health Services’ 2009 report on mortality rates showed that unintentional injuries were the leading cause of death among children under the age of 15. The top causes of injury resulting in death included:

• Motor-vehicle accidents
• Drowning
• Suffocation

3. Drowning deaths are most common among infants and toddlers.

According to data from the Arizona Department of Health Services, nearly 20 percent of all drowning victims in 2009 were between the ages of 0 and 4. This age group showed the highest rate of drowning deaths. A vast majority of the drowning deaths in 2009 were due to accidental causes. 

4. Asthma is prevalent among children and adolescents.

Arizona exceeds the national rate for children and adolescents with asthma. A report on the most common reasons for E.R. visits from the Arizona Department of Health Services showed that there were approximately 43,152 emergency room visits from asthma patients between the ages of 0 and 18 in 2009 alone.

 About Health Ed Solutions and PALS Certification: Arizona (AZ)

Health Ed Solutions (HES) is the leading source for PALS certification and PALS recertification courses online (Arizona, and other states, require pediatric healthcare professionals to maintain this certification). HES designed these courses for healthcare professionals. Learn more about PALS certification online and PALS recertification online.