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All information below is informational and educational only. Please contact your healthcare provider if you suspect you have medical condition or serious health problem.
WATER SAFETY
Never leave a child unsupervised near a pool, lake, pond, or at the beach. If a child is missing, check the water first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability. Go to the edge of the water and scan the entire area, bottom and surface. Do not allow a young child in the water without an adult or appropriate floatation devices. Do not consider young children to be drownproof because they have had swimming lessons. Children must be watched closely while swimming. Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision. Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). It is an invaluable skill for everyone to have. Make it a priority for babysitters and other caretakers, such as grandparents and older siblings, to know CPR. Keep rescue equipment close by. Be sure a telephone is also near with emergency numbers posted nearby. Remove toys from in and around the pool when it is not in use. Toys can attract young children to the pool.
Never prop open the gate to a pool barrier.
WEAR SUNSCREEN
Protect your skin from the sun with a sunblock that screens both UVB and UVA light rays. Look for sunscreen that contains both titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Wearing any lotion with a SPF of 15 to 30 is still effective. SPF 30 or higher is preferred. BULLYING
With the start of the school year a perennial topic begins to surface in the pediatrician’s office: what to do about bullying? In fact, there is an increased interest in bullying and how to deal with bullies, witness the relatively recent recognition of “on line bullying” as a social problem. Wikipedia defines bullying as the willful tormenting of others through verbal abuse, physical abuse, or other more subtle methods of controlling others such as manipulation. At some point, we have all been bullied. I remember “Richard” in 6th grade who broke my pencil every day before spelling class. Bullying does not “go away” and kids often need some adult guidance to resolve the situation rather than “working it out on their own” as parents often hope. How do you know if your child is being bullied? The experts recommend looking for warning signs in your child such as: 1) torn or damaged clothing or missing objects 2) physical signs like bruises or cuts and scrapes that are not explained 3) trouble identifying a group of friends, suggesting your child may be an outsider 4) abrupt change in attitude surrounding school and interest in learning and an change in academic performance 5) emotional mood swings, especially outbursts of anger 6) declining self esteem or 7) increasing vague ailments like headaches or stomachaches. If you suspect your child is being bullied what should you do as a parent? Try asking your child in a non-direct way. Ask about his/her day. Ask about social interactions like who he or she ate with at lunch or who did he or she play with during gym/recess. Ask about whether or not they are included in group games like tag or hide-n-seek. Discuss your concerns with your child’s teacher or the school administrator to see if they have observed any changes or any incidents of bullying. What can you do to help your child if they are the victims of bullying? The HRSA (Health Resources and Services administration) and the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommend things such as: 1) Encourage your child to stand up straighter, speak in a firm voice, and look a potential bully in the eye as this projects self confidence and self control and reduces the risk of being a target. 2) Reassure your child they are not alone by sharing a past experience and being supportive. 3) Encourage friendships where the group members can watch out for one another. There is safety in numbers. 4) Role play scenarios with your child to help him/her develop skills such as: verbal responses that might diffuse the situation, ways to safely deflect the attention of a bully, and how to ask for an adult’s help. 5) Encourage your child to remove themselves from the situation whenever possible. 6) Suggest that your child tell a trusted adult when a specific bullying event occurs and 7) Speak with the administrator and adults responsible for your child to make them aware and insist on knowing what strategies they will employ to help reduce the bullying behaviors. Dr. Mathew Kraus
HUMAN TOUCH
Human touch is an important component of physical health. Holding a baby offers proven physiological and emotional benefits. A welcome hug, pat on the shoulder, or holding a hand can bring great solace. Virginia Satir, a leading family therapist, suggests that we need to get 4 hugs a day for survival, 8 hugs a day for maintenance, and 12 hugs a day for growth. A hug may provide the encouragement needed to complete a difficult task or just get through a gloomy hour!
TAKE CARE OF YOUR TOOTHBRUSH
Toothbrushes can be breeding grounds for germs, fungus, and bacteria, so change your toothbrush regularly. Most dentists agree you should change your toothbrush every three months and more often if you have gum disease. To prevent cold and flu viruses from being passed between brushes, try to keep your toothbrush from touching others when it is stored. It is important to change toothbrushes after you've had a cold, the flu, a mouth infection or a sore throat. That's because germs can hide in toothbrush bristles and lead to reinfection. Our doctors at Phillips Medical Group encourage regular visits to your family dentist.
Check out the links to other sites on this page for more tips and tricks to staying healthy! Of course, if you can't seem to shrug your symptoms, make an appointment to see your healthcare provider. Sometimes it takes more than just living healthy to get better...
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