“WASHINGTON, D.C. – As families across the nation prepare for festive Halloween fun, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is reminding consumers to focus on safety when selecting and creating costumes and home decorations.

Over the past three years, CPSC estimates that an annual average of 3,200 Halloween-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments.

Here’s how the injuries break down:

• 55% were related to pumpkin carving;
• 25% were due to falls while putting up or taking down decorations, tripping on costumes or walking while trick-or-treating;
• 20% of the injuries included lacerations, ingestions and other injuries associated with costumes, pumpkins or decorations, and allergic reactions or rashes.

Among the injured, 54 percent were adults 18 years and over, 46 percent were under 18 years old, and about 10 percent of all injuries were to children 6 years old or younger.

Fire safety is important year-round, with special awareness during holiday seasons.

Pumpkin Carving (If not done already):

• Leave pumpkin carving to the adults. Child helpers can grab a spoon and scoop out the inside or use a marker to trace the design.
• When your jack-o’-lantern masterpiece is ready, use battery-operated lights or glow sticks rather than an open-flame candle.
  • If using open-flame candles, keep them away from curtains, decorations and other combustibles that could catch fire.
  • Never leave burning candles unattended.

Did you know the night before Halloween has names like:

Mischief Night is an informal holiday on which people engage in jokes, pranks, vandalism, or parties.^[1] It is known by a variety of names including Devil’s Night (particularly in Detroit), Gate Night, Goosey Night, Moving Night, Cabbage Night, Mystery Night and Mat Night.

Halloween Candy Safety Tips

Parents should take precautions about Halloween candy safety, but its also important to have a realistic sense of harm. Its easy for the media to give us the sense that the world is a more menacing place than it really is. In the 1980s, a myth spread about the serious risk of troubled people using poison and razor blades to tamper with Halloween candy. Almost all reports were discredited.

But no amount of debunking can completely alleviate parent anxiety. After all, however rare, it could happen.  Some Halloween candy safety precautions include:

• For young children, remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys.
• Instruct your children to show you all their candy before eating it so that you can carefully inspect it for tampering.
• Tell your children not to accept or eat anything that isnt commercially wrapped.
• Throw out candy or treats that are homemade, unwrapped, or have torn wrapping.

And managing the Halloween candy craze? First, to reduce trick-or-treat munching, give your children a snack or light meal before you leave the house. Decide ahead of time how many pieces of candy they can eat on Halloween night.

Pumpkin Carving Safety Tips

• Carve pumpkins on stable, flat surfaces with good lighting.
• Have children draw a face on the outside of the pumpkin and then do the cutting yourself.
• Place lighted pumpkins away from curtains and other flammable objects, and do not leave lighted pumpkins unattended.
• If you set jack-o-lanterns on your porch with candles in them, make sure that they are far enough out of the way so that childrens costumes wont accidentally set on fire.
• Artificial lights and candles are a safer alternative to real candles.

Halloween Costume Safety Tips

• If possible, have your children wear clothing that is bright, reflective, and flame retardant.
• If your child is carrying a prop, such as sword or pitchfork, make sure that the tips are smooth and flexible enough to not cause injury if your child falls on them.
• Avoid long, baggy, or loose costumes to prevent tripping.
• Insist that your children wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes. Mom’s high heels are better for costume parties, not trick-or-treating.
• Securely fit hats and scarves to prevent them from slipping over your childrens eyes.
• Apply a natural mask of cosmetics rather than have your child wear a mask that might restrict breathing or obscure vision. If you use a mask, make sure it fits securely and has eyeholes large enough to allow full vision.

Have a happy and safe Halloween!

BE SAFE WITH YOUR ANIMALS!

“Halloween is one of the most popular days in the U.S. with people of all ages taking part in trick-or-treating, decorating homes, attending parties and other festivities. But while Halloween is filled with fun and excitement, there is one statistic that casts a shadow over the festivities:

Children are more than twice as likely to be struck and killed by a vehicle on Halloween than on any other day of the year.

It’s a sobering reality, and one the American Red Cross hopes to help change. Here are a few answers to commonly asked questions to help everyone have a fun and safe Halloween.

Trick-or-treaters need to be easily visible and able to see clearly. Try these tips to help keep them safe:

• Use face makeup instead of masks whenever possible.
• Choose light-colored clothing if you can.
• Add reflective tape to costumes and treat bags .
• Select flame-resistant costumes and wigs.
• Walk on sidewalks whenever possible.
• If there are no sidewalks, walk on the edge of the road facing traffic.
• Look both ways before crossing the street, and cross only at corners or crosswalks.
• Never cross between parked cars, cut across yards, or use alleys.’

American Red Cross (Q&A: How to Have a Fun and Safe Halloween)

Halloween pot lucks, parties, and trick-or-treating can be sneaky business—even for your young ones trying to keep them healthy with the neighbors and other family or friends kids. The scariest part is you trying to avoid the kids’ treat bags full of candy, chocolate, and chips but yet making it fun for all.

However, you can still get your great Halloween treats on without terrorizing your healthy diet if you infuse the holiday with these scary (good) tips and even more important for the young ones with even possibly having the kids ask you to tell their mom of the great recipe. It is all in your creativity and taking the time as opposed to picking up a bag of treats in a plastic bag you dump in a bowl.

1. Use your creativity on healthy foods alone or with candy in place of the “Classic Halloween Candy”

It’s fairly easy to give classic Halloween candy the creativity of using fruit. For example take the PUMPKIN – the maskcot of Halloween, which happens to be a cultivar of a squash plant, most commonly of Cucurbita pepo, that is round, with smooth, slightly ribbed skin, and deep yellow to orange coloration. The thick shell contains the seeds and pulp. This kind of creativity is to make a healthier, more natural form of candy corn layer a wedge of pineapple, a wedge of cantaloupe, and a piece of banana on wooden skewers. You can also make healthy apple monsters by using a melon baller to carve out eyes, mount them on toothpicks, and use a large apple slice as a mouth with slivered almonds to create the toothy grin. Again it’s all in your creativity. Without making all fruit you could even add dark chocolate on the fruits or any candy that mixes with the taste of the fruit you use. Again make it fun and delicious so its utilized with decreasing everything being candy, which isn’t good for anyone’s else.

2. Create homemade candy treats that are healthier than the store

In the store you find candy trans fat or refined sugars or high processed or even regular milk chocolate as opposed to dark chocolate (healthier). Make homemade candy treat bags at the parties with these creations of yours. I know it takes time but making it know your helping a another individual which should make you feel could and trust me many will appreciate you like the other moms.

3. Add Just a Touch of your Creativity Sweetness

Sometimes there can be just too much sinfully sweet ingredients in Halloween desserts. One of my favorites is chocolate chunks in double chocolate tombstone brownies. However, you can satisfy a sweet tooth without killing your entire diet by creating a healthy dessert with just a touch of sweetness. You can either make those dark chocolate brownies and cutting them into finger size pieces as opposed to a regular size brownie with making them have a Halloween effect look on them. Another idea going more health wise is creating spooky bananas by using 2 dark chocolate chips for eyes and a dark chocolate kiss as a surprised mouth on ½ of bananas or make witches caldrons by coring apples and filling with quick oats, raisins, and a touch of maple syrup. Take oranges or mandarins putting celery sticks in the top center to make pumpkins. For a sweet treat that will satisfy your haunted Halloween cravings—try whipping up batches of pumpkin inspired cookies, brownies, cakes, and muffins. Pumpkin is actually a nutritionally fuelled substitute for butter, margarine, and oil in a lot of lower fat recipes. Use your minds depth in making Halloween creations.

5. Carve Up Spooky Veggies

Who says that vegetables can’t be festive? In addition to buckets of candy and chocolate at your Halloween party, feature a platter of carrots, cucumbers, and pepper pieces cut into spooky shapes—such as ghosts, witches hats, bats, cats, and pumpkins for dipping into healthy hummus, salsa, and guacamole. Or spoon salads into cored peppers carved into mini Jack-o-lanterns.

6. Make healthy creative dips

With fruit, healthy chips, vegetables with salads and create healthy dips. For blood effect salsa, for green goblin effect guacamole dips, orange effect from carrot veggie dip to bean veggie dip. Than there is fruit cherry dip to green apple dip to orange or mandarin or pumpkin dips.

7. DIY Your Favorite Halloween Snacks

If there’s one snack I just can’t resist, it’s peanut butter rice crispy treats! However, instead of getting mine from a box, I choose to make a healthier version in my own kitchen, and I use nutritious ingredients—like raw almond butter and whole-wheat rice crisps—to redeem my Halloween sins.

8. Air Pop Your Halloween Treats

Air popped corn (especially if it’s whole grain) can provide a filling foundation for sweets and snacks without haunting you for weeks after. Indulge your taste for something sweet by air popping corn; rolling it into balls using a bit of honey or maple syrup, raisins, and chopped nuts; and drizzling with dark-chocolate and melted almond butter. Or simply serve an air popped bowl of corn sweetened with a bit of maple syrup for a healthier version of caramel corn.

Treats: Warn children not to eat any treats before an adult has carefully examined them for evidence of tampering.

Flame Resistant Costumes: When purchasing a costume, masks, beards, and wigs, look for the label Flame Resistant. Although this label does not mean these items won’t catch fire, it does indicate the items will resist burning and should extinguish quickly once removed from the ignition source. To minimize the risk of contact with candles or other sources of ignition, avoid costumes made with flimsy materials and outfits with big, baggy sleeves or billowing skirts.

Costume Designs: Purchase or make costumes that are light and bright enough to be clearly visible to motorists.

For greater visibility during dusk and darkness, decorate or trim costumes with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car’s headlights.

Bags or sacks should also be light colored or decorated with reflective tape. Reflective tape is usually available in hardware, bicycle, and sporting goods stores.

To easily see and be seen, children should also carry flashlights.

Costumes should be short enough to prevent children from tripping and falling.

Children should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes . Mother’ s high heels are not a good idea for safe walking.

Hats and scarfs should be tied securely to prevent them from slipping over children’s eyes.

Apply a natural mask of cosmetics rather than have a child wear a loose-fitting mask that might restrict breathing or obscure vision. If a mask is used, however, make sure it fits securely and has eyeholes large enough to allow full vision. Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be of soft and flexible material.

Pedestrian Safety: Young children should always be accompanied by an adult or an older, responsible child. All children should WALK, not run from house to house and use the sidewalk if available, rather than walk in the street.

Children should be cautioned against running out from between parked cars, or across lawns and yards where ornaments, furniture, or clotheslines present dangers.

Choosing Safe Houses: Children should go only to homes where the residents are known and have outside lights on as a sign of welcome.

Children should not enter homes or apartments unless they are accompanied by an adult.

People expecting trick-or-treaters should remove anything that could be an obstacle from lawns, steps and porches.

Candlelit jack-o’-lanterns should be kept away from landings and doorsteps where costumes could brush against the flame. Indoor jack-o’-lanterns should be kept away from curtains, decorations, and other furnishings that could be ignited.

Even though it’s not an official holiday, Halloween is much beloved by children and adults alike. What could be more fun than trick-or-treating, apple bobbing, or costume parties?

To make sure treats are safe for children, follow these simple steps:

Snacking: Children shouldn’t snack on treats from their goody bags while they’re out trick-or-treating. Give them a light meal or snack before they head out – don’t send them out on an empty stomach. Urge them to wait until they get home and let you inspect their loot before they eat any of it.

 Safe treats: Tell children not to accept – and especially not to eat – anything that isn’t commercially wrapped. Inspect commercially wrapped treats for signs of tampering, such as an unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers. Throw away anything that looks suspicious.

 Food Allergies: If your child has a food allergy, check the label to ensure the allergen isn’t present. Do not allow the child to eat any home-baked goods he or she may have received.

 Choking hazards: If you have very young children, be sure to remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys.

 Bobbing for apples is an all-time favorite Halloween game. Here are a couple of ways to say “boo” to bacteria that can cause foodborne illness. Reduce the number of bacteria that might be present on apples and other raw fruits and vegetables by thoroughly rinsing them under cool running water. As an added precaution, use a produce brush to remove surface dirt.

Try this new spin on apple bobbing from FightBAC.org: Cut out lots of apples from red construction paper. On each apple, write activities for kids, such as “do 5 jumping jacks.” Place a paper clip on each apple and put them in a large basket. Tie a magnet to a string. Let the children take turns “bobbing” with their magnet and doing the activity written on their apple. Give children a fresh apple for participating.

If your idea of Halloween fun is a party at home, don’t forget these tips: 

• Beware of spooky cider! Unpasteurized juice or cider can contain harmful bacteria such as Salmonella. To stay safe, always serve pasteurized products at your parties.
• No matter how tempting, don’t taste raw cookie dough or cake batter that contain uncooked eggs.
• “Scare” bacteria away by keeping all perishable foods chilled until serving time. These include finger sandwiches, cheese platters, fruit or tossed salads, cold pasta dishes with meat, poultry, or seafood, and cream pies or cakes with whipped-cream and cream-cheese frostings.

Bacteria will creep up on you if you let foods sit out too long. Don’t leave perishable goodies out of the fridge for more than two hours (1 hour in temperatures above 90°F).

“Flu is a contagious respiratory illness that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. Some people are at higher risk of developing serious complications from flu. If you are at higher risk, flu vaccination is especially important. When you get vaccinated, you reduce your risk of getting sick with flu and possibly being hospitalized or dying from flu. CDC recommends prompt flu antiviral treatment for people at higher risk of serious flu complications who have flu infection or suspected flu infection.

Here are some factors putting people at higher risk of getting the flu:

• Adults 65 years and older
• Children younger than 2 years old
• People with asthma
• People with chronic lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and cystic fibrosis)
• People with neurologic and neurodevelopment conditions”

Center for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC (People at Increased Risk for Flu Complications | Influenza (Flu) | CDC)

As of January 2018 here is what was factual about the flu:

Influenza A still is the most common type of flu!

When someone dies directly from the flu, it happens very quickly, Adalja added.

The flu can also kill indirectly, meaning that the virus makes a person more susceptible to other health problems, and these health problems lead to death. For example, getting sick with the flu can make certain groups of people, such as older adults and people with chronic illnesses, more susceptible to bacteria that cause pneumonia, according to the Mayo Clinic. “Pneumonia is the most serious complication” of the flu and can be deadly, the Mayo Clinic says.

When a person with the flu gets pneumonia, the pneumonia is considered a secondary bacterial infection, Adalja said. (Pneumonia can be caused by either a virus or bacteria; in the case of a secondary infection after flu, it is caused by bacteria.) Death from such secondary infections usually occurs about a week or so after the person first got sick, because it takes time for the secondary infection to set in, Adalja said.

The flu can lead to death in other ways as well. People with the flu can experience “multiple organ failure” throughout their body (in order words, multiple organs stop working properly), which can be deadly, Adalja said.

The flu can also trigger other serious complications, including inflammation of the heart, brain or muscle tissues, according to the CDC. Infection can also lead to an extreme, body-wide inflammatory response known as sepsis, which can be life-threatening, the CDC says.

The 2017–2018 flu season has been particularly harsh, partially because the predominant strain of flu that’s spreading, H3N2, tends to cause more severe symptoms than other strains, Live Science reported the month of January 2018. And although the flu strains circulating this 2019 do match up with those covered in the season’s flu vaccine, an odd phenomenon may have occurred during the vaccine-making process inside chicken eggs. During that process, flu strains can acquire genetic changes, and this may have happened for the H3N2 component of the vaccine, Adalja said previously.

When we had not reached the end of February 2019 yet, we reached a point by CDC stating the following:

“Influenza activity in the United States during the 2017–2018 season began to increase in November and remained at high levels for several weeks during January–February. While influenza A(H3N2) viruses predominated through February, and were predominant overall for the season, influenza B viruses were more commonly reported starting in March, 2018. The season had high severity with unusually high levels of outpatient influenza-like illness, hospitalizations rates, and proportions of pneumonia and influenza-associated deaths.

CDC estimates that the burden of illness during the 2017–2018 season was also high with an estimated 48.8 million people getting sick with influenza, 22.7 million people going to a health care provider, 959,000 hospitalizations, and 79,400 deaths from influenza. The number of cases of influenza-associated illness that occurred last season was the highest since the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, when an estimated 60 million people were sick with influenza.

The 2017–2018 influenza season was additionally atypical in that it was severe for all ages of the population. The burden of influenza and the rates of influenza-associated hospitalization are generally higher for the very young and the very old, and while this was also true during the 2017–2018 season, rates of hospitalization in all age groups were the highest seasonal rates seen since hospital-based surveillance was expanded in 2005 to include all ages. This translated into an estimated 11.5 million cases of influenza in children, 30 million cases of influenza in working age adults (aged 18-64 years), and more than 7.3 million cases in adults aged 65 years and older.

Our estimates of hospitalizations and mortality associated with the 2017–2018 influenza season continue to demonstrate how severe influenza virus infection can be. We estimate overall, there were 959,000 hospitalizations and 79,400 deaths during the 2017–2018 season. More than 48,000 hospitalizations occurred in children (aged < 18 years); however, 70% of hospitalizations occurred in older adults aged ≥65 years. Older adults also accounted for 90% of deaths, highlighting that older adults are particularly vulnerable to severe disease with influenza virus infection. An estimated 10,300 deaths occurred among working age adults (aged 18–64 years), an age group that often has low influenza vaccination.”

CDC further states for 2024 and today the following:

• “The week ending January 25, 2024, was the first time that the percent of deaths for influenza (1.7%) was higher than the percent of deaths for COVID-19. The percent of deaths for influenza has continued to increase and is 2.6% for the week ending February 8, 2025.
• Eleven pediatric deaths associated with seasonal influenza virus infection were reported this week, bringing the 2024-2025 season total to 68 pediatric deaths.
• CDC estimates that there have been at least 29 million illnesses, 370,000 hospitalizations, and 16,000 deaths from flu so far this season.
• CDC recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older get an annual influenza (flu) vaccine.¹
• There are prescription flu antiviral drugs that can treat flu illness; those should be started as early as possible and are especially important for patients at higher risk for severe illness.²
• Influenza viruses are among several viruses contributing to respiratory disease activity. CDC is providing updated, integrated information about COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity on a weekly basis.”

What does this all mean?  Get the Influenza Vaccine for PREVENTION of the flu and Prevention of an Epidemic rising.  Help yourself and community!

References: CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention & Health Day

“The three most common types of spina bifida include spina bifida occulta, meningocele, and myelomeningocele.

Each year, about 1,278 babies are born with spina bifida, or 1 in every 2,857 births.1Hispanic women have the highest rate of having a child with spina bifida compared with non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black women.

Data from birth defects tracking programs were used to estimate the total number of pregnancies affected by spina bifida in the United States and are estimated as follows:

• Hispanic: 3.80 per 10,000 live births
• Non-Hispanic black or African-American: 2.73 per 10,000 live births
• Non-Hispanic white: 3.09 per 10,000 live births”

Center for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC (About Spina Bifida | Spina Bifida | CDC)

How is Spina Bifida Diagnosed:

In most cases, spina bifida is diagnosed before birth (prenatal). However, some mild cases may go unnoticed until after birth (postnatal). Very mild forms of spinal bifida are found when doing tests for other conditions or may never be detected.

PRENATAL DIAGNOSED:

The most common screening methods used to look for spina bifida during pregnancy are maternal serum alpha fetoprotein (MSAFP) screening and fetal ultrasound.  A doctor can also perform an amniocentesis test.

• Maternal serum alpha fetoprotein (MSAFP) screen.  At 16 to 18 weeks of pregnancy, a sample of the mother’s blood is taken to measure the level of a protein called alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), which is made naturally by the fetus and placenta.  During pregnancy, a small amount of AFP normally crosses the placenta and enters the mother’s bloodstream.  Abnormally high levels of AFP may indicate that the fetus has spina bifida or other neural tube defect.  This test is not specific for spina bifida and cannot definitively determine that there is a problem with the fetus.  This means that a high AFP level alone is not enough to be sure the fetus has a neural tube defect.  If a high level of AFP is detected, the doctor may request additional testing, such as an ultrasound or amniocentesis.

The second trimester MSAFP screen may be performed alone or as part of a larger, multiple-marker screen.  Multiple-marker screens can look for neural tube defects and other birth defects, including Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities.  First trimester screens for chromosomal abnormalities also exist but signs of spina bifida are not evident until the second trimester when the MSAFP screening is performed.

• Ultrasound.  A fetal ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create a picture of the developing baby inside the womb.  It is highly accurate in diagnosing some birth defects during pregnancy, including spina bifida.  Fetal ultrasound can be performed during the first trimester (usually between 11-14 weeks) and the second trimester (usually at 18-22 weeks), and diagnosis is more accurate during the second trimester.
• Amniocentesis.  In this test, a doctor removes a sample of the amniotic fluid that surrounds the fetus and tests it for protein levels that may indicate a neural tube defect and genetic disorders.

POSTNATAL DIAGNOSED:

Closed neural tube defects are often recognized at birth due to an abnormal fatty mass, tuft or clump of hair, or a small dimple or birthmark on the skin at the site of the spinal malformation.  Spina bifida occulta is usually found when x-rays are done for another reason.

In rare cases, myelomeningocele and meningocele are not diagnosed during routine prenatal tests.  The baby will be diagnosed when they are born with a bubble on their back.  Babies with myelomeningocele and closed neural tube defects may have muscle weakness in their feet, hips, and legs that result in joint deformities first noticed at birth.  Mild cases of spina bifida (occulta, closed neural tube defects) not diagnosed during prenatal testing may be detected postnatally using ultrasound or X-ray imaging to look at the spine.

Doctors may use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a computed tomography (CT) scan to get a clearer view of the spinal cord and vertebrae.  To evaluate for hydrocephalus, the doctor will request a head ultrasound, CT or MRI to look for extra cerebrospinal fluid inside the brain.

HOW SPINA BIFIDA CAN BE PREVENTED, THE BEST TREATMENT TO GIVE YOUR BABY; being FOLIC ACID!

Women of childbearing age can reduce their risk of having a child with spina bifida by taking 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid every day pre-conception. Because it is water soluble, folic acid does not stay in the body for very long and needs to be taken every day to be effective against neural defects. Since half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, folic acid must be taken whether a woman is planning a pregnancy or not. Research has shown that if all women of childbearing age took a multivitamin with the B-vitamin folic acid, the risk of neural tube defects could be reduced by up to 70%.  If you can prevent this the quality life is sure to be the best!

TREATMENTS FOR SPINA BIFIDA:

Some children with myelomeningocele and closed neural tube defects will need surgery to improve the alignment of their feet, legs, or spine.  Children with myelomeningocele usually have hydrocephalus and may require surgery to help drain fluid in the brain, such as the placement of a shunt or ETV.  Multiple surgeries may be required to replace the shunt, which may become clogged, infected, or disconnected.

Some individuals with myelomeningocele or closed neural tube defects require assistive devices for mobility such as braces, walkers, crutches, or wheelchairs.  The location of the defect on the spine often determines the type of assistive devices needed.  Children with a defect high on the spine will have little movement of the legs and will use a wheelchair for mobility.  Children with a defect lower on the spine usually have more strength in the legs.  They may be able to walk independently, or they may use crutches, leg braces, walkers, and wheelchairs depending on the activity.  Children with myelomeningocele usually have some degree of delayed mobility, so they are referred to physical therapists early on to maximize their strength and function.

Treatment for bladder and bowel dysfunction typically begins soon after birth.  Children with myelomeningocele and some closed neural tube defects have damage to the lowest spinal nerves which control typical bowel and bladder function.  Some children may be able to urinate typically, but most will need to drain their bladders with a catheter or thin tube 4-6 times a day to remain dry in between and to prevent kidney damage.  Kidneys are monitored closely so that medications or surgeries can be performed to prevent renal failure.  To prevent bowel accidents many people with myelomeningocele and closed neural type defects will use rectal medications or large volume enemas to have planned bowel movements.  Close follow-up with a spina bifida specialty clinic is recommended to develop a safe bowel and bladder program.

Treatment for progressive tethering of the spinal cord (called tethered cord syndrome) can be treated with surgery to help prevent further neurological deterioration.