In the blazing summer heat with the full sun bearing down on us, countless parents and caregivers drape a blanket over the stroller to give babies shade. It turns out, while we think we are protecting our little ones from the sun, we may be putting them at risk for heatstroke and SIDS (Sudden Infant […]
For years we have been telling parents that if someone other than you arrives with the baby or child (in your absence) that a form should accompany them. The form is known as the Parental Consent Form. This form, allows medical personnel to initiate care for your infant or child prior to your arrival at […]
Why Does My Nanny Need CPR and First Aid Training? The question posed above is a good one. The answer I usually provide anyone who asks why their caregiver needs a life-saving course is: “Do we really have control over when bad events occur at home or anywhere else?” That answer suggests that parents stop […]
I’ve just returned from the National Drowning Prevention Alliance‘s (NDPA) 2017 educational conference and am more motivated than ever to relay this important message to you: DROWNING IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN THE 1-4 YEAR AGE GROUP It also remains a leading killer of children of all ages. For that reason, we must […]
Safety and good health in pregnancy is always a high priority. Lifestyle changes during this time often include modification in diet, exercise and adequate rest for the soon to be mom. We also take for granted the need to eliminate cigarette smoking and avoidance of alcohol and most other drugs. Yet, other areas of concern still exist. For example, […]
(From the American Academy of Pediatrics**) Children can get very sick if they come in contact with medicines, household products, pesticides, chemicals, cosmetics or plants. This can happen at any age and can cause serious reactions. However, most children who come in contact with these things are not poisoned, And most who are poisoned are not […]
Every so often the national media is alive with stories about one medical issue or another. More often than not, it is presented as a crisis – requiring immediate attention and renewed national focus. For those of us in the field of emergency pediatric care the risk of choking has always been on the front […]
This is an area of concern that ranks among the highest when I speak with parents and care providers. It is always valuable to review the recommendations to lower risk in the home and elsewhere. The following set of recommendations are endorsed by The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Red Cross, and the Center for Disease Control for […]
It sometimes takes a well-publicized drowning death to get parents and care providers re-focused on what remains a major health risk to infants & children. Well over one thousand drowning deaths occur annually to children in this country. This serves a reminder that we cannot be overly lax when it comes to water safety. We know from statistical […]
Having been very involved in both of my daughters’ extracurricular activities, I found that basic first aid is more than helpful, it’s a must! In our case, my kids played soccer and softball, rode bikes, zoomed on skateboards and much more. On occasion, one or the other took a tumble from that bike or skateboard, […]