Help: Missing Dog!

Please help us out!

One of the employee's at Willow Creek has a lost dog!

Hannah is a brown, wire-haired pointer.

She weighs around 60 pounds.

She is wearing a red collar with a tag on it.

She was last seen on Wednesday, June 29th in the afternoon from Laird Way to the Foothill Village area.

If you have any information please contact the office at 801-942-1800 or if it is after office hours, you can call 801-652-9079.

Healthy Habits Checklist - #3 Food and Drink

The 3rd item on our F.U.N. checklist is food and drink. Children develop their eating habits at an early age, so it is important to teach them to appreciate healthy foods. Some ideas to encourage healthy eating include letting your child participate in food preparation and do not use food as a reward or a punishment. You can click here to find more tips and ideas to help promote healthy eating habits with your children.

Healthy beverages are also important in your child's healthy development. It is recommended to avoid sugary drinks and make room for milk and lots of water. Click here for more tips and ideas on how to incorporate healthy drinks into your children's diet.

Also, don't forget, you only have 4 days left to enter our summer blog contest for a chance to win 4 day passes to Lagoon Amusement Park!

*Information provided by http://healthykidshealthyfuture.org/

Lawn Mower Safety Reminder

Whether they are riding with an adult or just playing nearby, children should never be in close proximity to a running lawn mower. In a recent article in HealthDay News, it warns accidents can be devastating but can be preventable.
"Kids should never be around a running lawn mower. And children under the age of 16 should not be allowed to operate either a riding lawn mower or walk-behind mower," Dr. Edwin Harris, pediatric podiatrist with the Loyola University Health System, said in a university news release. Harris, who has treated children who have lost toes or portions of their feet in lawn mower accidents, pointed out that although such mower mishaps are devastating, they are totally preventable. Yet according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), over 200,000 people, including 16,200 kids, were injured in lawn mower accidents in 2007 alone.
This summer, Harris concluded, parents and guardians could prevent their child from becoming another grim statistic by following the CPSC safety guidelines regarding lawn mower safety:

**Children should be supervised by another adult who isn't mowing the lawn and kept away from the mowing area.
**Lawn mowers should be turned off if a child approaches the mowing area.
**Anyone operating a mower should look behind the mower and down for small children -- especially when moving backwards.
**Children should never sit on the lap of someone operating a ride-on mower -- even when the blade is shut off.
**Don't let young kids ever operate any type of lawn mower.
**The person operating the lawn mower should be mindful of the fact that blind corners, shrubs and trees could block their view of a child.
**Sturdy shoes with rubber soles or good traction should be worn to prevent any slipping while mowing.
"As we head into the peak of the lawn mowing season, I'm hoping operators of lawn mowers will follow these common-sense precautions," Harris said.

--Info provided by Dr Jopling, article from June 18th, HealthDay News
For More information The American Academy of Pediatrics provides additional tips on lawn mower safety.
Remember only a few days to enter into our "Lagoon Family Give Away"...click here for more details!!! We hope you are having a safe and FUN summer!

Dr. Ashton and Anita's Retirement Party!

Earlier this month the staff of Willow Creek Pediatrics put on an amazing retirement party for Dr. Ashton and his nurse Anita! The night was a Hawaiian themed party, full of great company. So many people came out to show their love for Dr. Ashton and Anita and had so many wonderful stories and things to say about them. It was definitely a night for the books! Here are some pictures from the evening:

Dr. Ashton's daughter, Erin

Dr. Ralston from our Cottonwood office

Dr. Ashton and his wife Joanie

Dr. Christensen

Dr. Ormsby

Dr. Jopling's nurse, Traci

All of the people who came to celebrate

Dr. Ashton's wife, Joanie

Anita

Dr. Ashton sporting his "retirement" hair!

Dr. Owen's from our St. Mark's office, and her husband

Dr. Ashton

Dr. Memmott

Wasatch Pediatrics administrator, Janis, and her husband

Dr. Lynch

Dr. Ashton's daughter, Brodi

Dr. Ashton's wife, Joanie, with Dr. Christensen and his wife

Dr. Ashton and Dr. Jopling

This truly was such an amazing night! We would like to thank Dr. Ashton and Anita for the many great years that they have spent making our office a better place! We love you and will miss you both!

Fact Friday: Portable Pool Safety

About two dozen children each year drown in portable pools, according to a study published this month in Pediatrics. Nearly all are under age 5.

Unlike permanent pools, portable pools aren't typically required to meet any local safety standards, says study author Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

Smith notes that portable pools are increasingly popular and come in all sizes. Hard-plastic wading pools, which hold about 18 inches of water, may cost only a few dollars at a local drugstore. Family-size, inflatable pools, nearly as large as a small, in-ground pool, can cost closer to $1,000, he says.

These pools pose unique risks, says Meri-K Appy, president of Safe Kids USA, an advocacy group. Few people, for example, are willing to invest in building a safety fence around a portable pool — one of the best ways to prevent drownings — because a fence could cost more than the pool itself.

"These pools are too small for people to invest in an isolation fence but too large to drain every time," Appy says.

**About 11% of all pool drowning deaths in kids under 5 take place in portable pools, the Consumer Product Safety Commission says.

**Children drowned in as little as 2 inches of water, according to the study, based on data from a total of 209 deaths from 2001 to 2009.

**About 43% of the children were being supervised when they went under water; 39% were unsupervised; and 18% of kids died during a "lapse" in supervision.

"Parents don't always understand that it just takes a couple of minutes for children to be submerged under water for their breathing and heart to stop," Smith says. "What's different about drowning is that it's quick, it's silent and it's final."

When supervising kids in the water, Appy says, caregivers need to give children their full attention and be only an arm's length away. Children have died at swimming parties, surrounded by others, because adults weren't within reach.

Drowning is the leading cause of death from unintentional injuries in children ages 1 to 4, causing 29% of these deaths — more even than traffic accidents, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They include not only pools and lakes but bathtubs. Parents also should learn CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, says Susan Baker, professor with the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy. The study notes that few parents even attempted CPR, perhaps because they doubted their skills.

Full article click here or for additional information check out www.aap.org
**info from Pediatrics and USA today and CDC

Healthy Habits Checklist - #2 Screen Time

It's time for another way to incorporate F.U.N. into your daily lives with your family!

This weeks healthy habits checklist item involves screen time. While the television and video games may be an easy way for mom or dad to keep the kids busy so they can get things done around the house, it is only recommended for young children to get no more than 1 to 2 hours a day of screen time at home. It is also recommended for babies and toddlers under 2 years old to have no screen time at all, as it may interfere with learning, as well as healthy social and physical development.

A few tips for when kids do spend time in front of the television or video games:

• Avoid watching while eating


• Make it "quality programming"


• Communicate with other parents to find and share ideas about quality educational shows and DVD's.

You can read more on this here.

Also, don't forget to read up on F.U.N. and enter our summer contest for a chance to win 4 day passes to Lagoon Amusement Park! Entry deadline is July 4th and the winner will be announces on Tuesday July 5th! Happy Summer!

*Information provided by http://healthykidshealthyfuture.org/

Swimmer's Ear

Swimming is a great way for kids to stay active, especially during the summer months. However, the combination of heat, humidity and water can lead to an ear condition called acute otitis externa, more commonly known as swimmer’s ear.

The infection often is caused by bacteria being carried into the outer ear canal. Symptoms of swimmer’s ear include redness, swelling, itching, drainage of pus and pain.

Following are some tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prevent and treat swimmer’s ear:

Keep your ears as dry as possible.

Use a bathing cap, ear plugs or custom-fitted swim molds when swimming to keep water out of ears.

Dry your ears thoroughly after swimming or showering.

Use a towel to dry your ears well.

Tilt your head and hold each ear facing down to allow water to escape the ear canal.

Pull your earlobe in different directions while the ear is faced down to help water drain out.

If water is still in the ears, consider using a hair dryer to move air within the ear canal. Be sure the hair dryer is on the lowest heat and speed/fan setting, and hold it several inches from the ear.

Don’t put objects, including cotton-tip swabs, pencils, paperclips or fingers, in the ear canal.

Don’t try to remove ear wax. It helps protect your ear canal from infection.

If you think the ear canal is blocked by ear wax, consult your pediatrician rather than trying to remove it yourself. Consult your pediatrician if your ears are itchy, flaky, swollen or painful, or if you have drainage from your ears.

**Info from American Academy of Pediatrics.
Thanks Dr O'Mara for providing this information on swimmer's ear. If you have any questions please call us.

Tips for International Travel with Infants

With summertime here, many people have big travel plans while their kids are out of school. For a lucky few, these plans may include traveling outside of the country. Traveling with an infant can be very stressful for a parent and usually comes with a lot of questions! The following is an article from the Centers for Disease Control to help parents of infants preparing for international travel.

Safe travels
Help parents prepare for international trips with young infants
Harry L. Keyserling, M.D., FAAP

When traveling outside the United States, young infants are at significant risk for serious infections, including pneumonia, acute gastroenteritis, measles, tuberculosis, malaria and other parasitic diseases. Risk of infections depends on regions of the world visited, health status and age of the child, length of stay, and activities undertaken. Travelers to developing countries are at greater risk of health problems than those visiting developed countries. Optimally, physicians should counsel caregivers and initiate interventions as early as possible before families leave the country. If parents are immigrants, physicians may consider asking them at the time of the child’s birth if they plan to travel to their country of origin. Referral to a travel medicine clinician is an option.

Insects, arthropods

Protection against mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and other insects and arthropods is advised depending on country-specific and seasonal disease risk. Infant carriers draped with mosquito netting with an elastic edge for a secure fit are available. Bed nets should be used inside dwellings. For infants older than 2 months of age, DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) can be applied to the skin. Formulations should not exceed 30%. Avoid eyes, mouth and hands, and apply sparingly to the ears. DEET should be washed off when returning inside. Chloroquine is the drug of choice for malaria prophylaxis in areas with no chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum. Options for children traveling to areas with chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum include mefloquine and atovaquone/proguanil. All three anti-malarial medications are available only in tablet form in the United States and have a bitter taste. Mixing the pulverized powder with breast milk or formula will facilitate compliance. Malaria prophylaxis should not be administered to children less than 5 kilograms or 6 weeks of age; travel should be discouraged for these young infants.

Infectious diseases

For infants who are breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding with no water supplementation is the safest form of nutrition to prevent food- and waterborne disease. Breastfed infants younger than 6 months of age do not need water supplementation, even in hot climates. If formula is used, it should be mixed with water that has been brought to a rolling boil for one minute (no longer). In addition, bottles should be sterilized. If an infant develops gastroenteritis, it is important to have oral rehydration packets available that can be given by bottle or spoon until appropriate medical care is obtained. Anti-motility agents should not be used. Handwashing after handling diapers will decrease transmission to other individuals. To decrease the risk of disease acquisition, hand hygiene before contact with an infant should be encouraged, and contact should be minimized between infants and anyone with a febrile illness, upper respiratory infection, acute gastroenteritis or other infectious syndromes. Pacifiers, teething rings and toys should be cleaned often and after any contact with the floor or other surface. Bedding should be washed regularly using detergent and hot water.

Immunizations

Immunizations have a limited role in preventing disease in children younger than 6 months of age. Vaccines that are not recommended for these children include measles-mumps-rubella, varicella, typhoid, influenza, yellow fever, hepatitis A, meningococcal and Japanese encephalitis. An accelerated vaccine schedule can be provided that includes two doses of hepatitis B, at least four weeks apart. In addition, the following routine vaccines can be initiated at 6 weeks of age, with subsequent doses given at four-week intervals: rotavirus; diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis; Haemophilus influenzae type b; 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate; and inactivated poliovirus. For infants who travel for an extended period of time, vaccines may be given at age-appropriate times in the destination country. For information on measles vaccine schedules, see article on page 11.

Other considerations

For children with chronic conditions, appropriate arrangements should be made for medications and necessary medical follow-up. Insurance coverage for international travel is variable. Infant car seats should be used consistently during vehicular travel to minimize the risk of injury.

For more information regarding travel, you can visit http://www.cdc.gov/travel/ or as always, if you have any questions, feel free to contact the office!

Fact Friday: Interesting Data about immunizations

Childhood Diseases Return as Parents Refuse VaccinesUSA

(Published yesterday, in USA today)Today (06/15/11) Szabo, Liz The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the 152 confirmed cases of measles reported so far this year mark the biggest outbreak in 15 years. Health officials and health care providers are concerned about the return of measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases, such as mumps, whooping cough, and Hib, as 40 percent of parents admit skipping or delaying their children's vaccines. Experts say vaccines have done a good job in wiping out these diseases, but some parents have become lax because they have never experienced or witnessed the consequences of these illnesses, all of which can be fatal, and do not understand they are putting the lives of other children, not just their own, at risk. In response, celebrities, such as ice skater Kristi Yamaguchi, actress Amanda Peet, and race car driver Jeff Gordon are encouraging parents to get their children vaccinated.

Thank you Dr Lynch for this article! The doctors at Willow Creek encourage vaccinations but if you have any questions, please contact your doctor to help you make an informed decision. For more information Click here

http://willowcreekpediatrics.blogspot.com/2011/02/fact-friday-aap-issues-2011.html
**article from USA today

Healthy Habits Checklist - #1 Physical Activity

Are you having a hard time coming up with ideas on how to incorporate FUN (Fitness, Unity, Nutrition) into your families summer activities? Over the next few weeks, we will give you some pointers, or a "checklist" of important healthy habits for kids and adults too!

The first item on the checklist is physical activity. It is recommended for children to have 1-2 hours of physical activity throughout the day, including playing outside whenever possible. Click here for a great resource for ideas on how to keep your kids active.

Also don't forget to read this article, written by Dr. Jopling, then post a comment on our blog telling us what you are doing to implement F.U.N. in your families activities this summer! Anyone who leaves a comment on the blog will automatically be entered to win 4 day passes to Lagoon Amusement Park!

**Information provided by http://healthykidshealthyfuture.org
***Employees of Willow Creek Pediatrics are not eligible for the contest.

Fact Friday - Summer Blog Contest!

Time for yet another awesome contest! For our Summer contest, read Dr. Jopling's F.U.N. article from Wednesday, June 8th. Then, tell us what you are doing, or what you plan to do this Summer to implement F.U.N. in your family! You must leave a comment on the blog to get your name entered in the drawing!

The winner of this contest will receive four day passes to Lagoon Amusement Park! Winners will be announced on Tuesday July 5th. Hopefully this will give you plenty of time to come up with some creative ideas for some F.U.N. in your household this Summer! Good luck!

FUN=Fitness, Unity, Nutrition

Summer is upon us and the kids are finishing up another school year and you are probably wondering "what am I going to do to keep the kids busy all Summer"? The physicians at Willow Creek like to emphasize the importance of a healthy lifestyle for children. This includes getting plenty of exercise and eating healthy. Summer is a great time to for kids to spend plenty of time running and playing outside! It is also a perfect time to get out as a family and practice a healthy lifestyle!

Click here to read an article written by our very own Dr. Jopling. This article provides great ideas on how to incorporate "F.U.N." (Family Fitness, Unity, Nutrition Activities) in your household! Read the article and then stay tuned for another awesome contest with another awesome prize....

MyPlate is the "new" food Pyramid

MyPlate is the “new generation” food icon to prompt consumers to think differently
about their food choices. ChooseMyPlate.gov contains a wealth of resources based
on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans to help individuals meet nutrient and
calorie needs and make positive eating choices. We think this website has several amazing links along with helping you understand and teach your children the new Dietary Guidelines. Here are some highlights and click here for the full information.

Balancing Calories
● Enjoy your food, but eat less.
● Avoid oversized portions.

Foods to Increase
● Make half your plate fruits and vegetables.
● Make at least half your grains whole grains.
● Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.

Foods to Reduce
● Compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals ― and choose the foods with lower numbers.
● Drink water instead of sugary drinks
Your food and physical activity choices each day affect your health — how you feel today, tomorrow, and in the future.

These tips and ideas are a starting point. You will find a wealth of suggestions here that can help you get started toward a healthy diet. Choose a change that you can make today, and move toward a healthier you.

Tips to help you:
• Make at least half your grains whole grains
• Vary your veggies
• Focus on fruit
• Get your calcium rich foods
• Go lean with protein
• Find your balance between food and physical activity
• Keep food safe to eat
**All info from http://www.chosemyplate.gov/

Fact Friday - Farewell, Anita!

After 23 years and 3 months of working at Willow Creek Pediatrics as Dr. Ashton's nurse, Anita has decided to retire and today is her last day! She has big plans to get some projects around her house and yard done. She will also spend some time traveling to Idaho, Arizona and Colorado to spend time with her family. She has lots of things to get caught up on and keep her busy, so she is looking forward to this time off. Anita's favorite part of her job here at Willow Creek has been working with Dr. Ashton and getting to know is his patients so well. She is going to miss her work family!

While we are sure we will be seeing a lot of Anita, as she has plans to stop by and visit every once in a while, her absence will still be felt in the office! We love you and will miss you "Grandma Rabbit"!

Allergy Season is here!

We have received many phone calls lately with parents concerned about allergies. This odd weather pattern has caused for an abnormal spring and allergies are here stronger than ever. Here are some quick tips about allergies and several links to find out more information on treatment.
Allergy describes a condition involving the immune system that causes sneezing and itching, chronic rashes, wheezing or even life threatening allergic reactions(AAP). The more you know about allergies, the symptoms, causes and treatments --the more prepared you will be to help your child.

FACTS
•Some 50 million Americans have allergies (about 1 in 5 people in this country).
•The most common type of allergy is hay fever (allergic rhinitis
•More than 17 million Americans have asthma, and about one-fourth of these are younger than 18 years. Asthma accounts for about 4,000 deaths a year.
•Seventy to 80% of school-aged children with asthma also have allergies, which are among the most common triggers for asthma, closely tied with viral respiratory infections.
•If one parent has allergies, there’s a 25% chance that a child will also be allergic. The risk is more than doubled to 60% to 70% if both parents have allergies.
Many aspects of allergies, eczema, and asthma still are not fully understood. But advances in the diagnosis and treatment of these disorders are helping millions of sufferers. (2011 AAP) Click here for the full article

What is an allergy?
An allergy is not a disease but a description of a way that the immune system reacts. Allergies happen when the part of the body that fights off illnesses overreacts to a usually harmless substance called an allergen that is breathed in, eaten, injected, or touched.

What causes allergies?
Pollen from trees, grasses, weeds, molds, dust mites, animal dander, foods or medicines and insect stings.

How can we tell the difference between Allergies or cold?
Allergies usually have these symptoms:
~itchy, runny nose with thin, clear nasal discharge and/or a stuffy nose.
~itchy watery eyes
~repeated sneezing and itching of the nose, eyes or skin that last for a few weeks or months
~no fever
~often seasonal symptoms
Cold symptoms usually have these symptoms:
~stuffy nose
~nasal discharge that is clear or colored and thick that last 3-10 days with or without a fever
~occasionally sneezing
~Feeling sick, tired or listless and having a poor appetite

How can you help your child?
Identifying and avoiding the things that your child is allergic to is best. If you child has an allergic condition try the following:
~Keep windows closed during the pollen season, especially on dry, windy days when pollen counts are higher
~Keep the house clean and dry to reduce mold and dust mites
~Avoid having pets and indoor plants
~Avoid those things that you know cause allergic reactions in your child
~Prevent anyone from smoking anywhere near your child, especially in your home or car
~See your pediatrician for safe and effective medicine that can be used to help alleviate or prevent allergy symptoms

Here are a few more links to websites that you may find helpful

http://www.kidsallergy.org/
http://www.healthychildren.org/
http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/asthma.cfm

**info from 2011 AAP Patient Information sheet
**Facts from healthychildren.org with link to full article