Fact Friday - Reach Out and Read Utah Fun Run for Reading

**Reach Out and Read Utah is part of the national organization Reach Out and Read. Reach Out and Read is an evidence-based nonprofit organization that promotes early literacy and school readiness in pediatric exam rooms nationwide by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud.

Reach Out and Read Utah builds on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers to develop critical early reading skills in children, beginning at 6 months of age. The 3.8 million families in the United States served annually by Reach Out and Read read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten better prepared to succeed, with larger vocabularies and stronger language skills.

Reach Out and Read Utah will be hosting their first annual "Reach Out and Read Fun Run for Reading" on Saturday, November 13th, starting at 9:00 am.  There is a 10K or a 5K run/walk along the Jordan River Parkway, starting in Murray, to support the Reach Out and Read program!  Registration for this event is $25 ahead, or $30 the day of the event.  You can register online at http://www.active.com/ or by mail. 

If you have any questions or need further information, you can contact the Reach Out and Read Utah program coordinator, Anna Farnsworth at 801-647-8038. 

Many of our Willow Creek employees and doctors will be participating in this wonderful event!  A special thanks to Dr. Lynch for providing the information to us!

** Information provided by http://www.reachoutandreadutah.org/

Introducing Dr. Steve Lynch!

This week we would like to spotlight Dr. Steve Lynch!

Dr. Lynch has been practicing medicine for over 20 years!  He loves being a pediatricians because it is a great opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child.  Aside from his work with Willow Creek, Dr. Lynch also teaches the pediatrics course for the University of Utah Physician Assistant program.  He also donates his time to the community by volunteering pediatrics services at the Maleheh Free Clinic, since its opening in 2005.

Dr. Lynch has been married to his lovely wife, Joann, for 24 years.  They have two gorgeous dogs, Sophie and Hannah!  Their favorite place to travel is Off-The-Beaten-Path (Bhutan and Papua New Guinea).  Dr. Lynch's favorite books are The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down, Three Cups of Tea, and The Omnivore's Dilemma.  Some of Dr. Lynch's favorite food and snacks include Thai food and anything apple!  Some of his favorite hobbies are skiing, running, travel, photography and spending time with his dogs.  One thing that is still on Dr. Lynch's "bucket list" is to go dog sledding!

Dr. Lynch is a great asset to Willow Creek Pediatrics and his patients adore him, as does his staff!

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Lisa Weeks for winning our October Facebook contest for a $50 Target gift card! 

If you have not already joined us on Facebook, you may want to do so today!  Continue to follow us on Facebook as we will continue to have monthly contests with great prizes through the holiday season!  We will be announcing our November contest next week, so join us on Facebook and tell your friends to follow us as well so you don't miss out!

Fact Friday - Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween is such an exciting time of the year for kids and we all want to make sure that children have a safe holiday with the following tips from the AAP. Dr Lynch found this article and asked we share it with our "blogging" friends!

"13 Halloween Safety Tips for Little Ghost and Goblins"

ALL DRESSED UP

1- Because they can obstruct a child's vision, mask are not recommended. If a child wears makeup, parents should look for non-toxic, hypoallergenic kits.

2- Costumes should be flame-retardant and fit properly. Avoid oversized shoes, high heels and long skirts or pants that could cause a child to fall.

3- Children who will be trick-or-treating after dusk should have reflective tape on their costumes and carry a flashlight.

CARVING A NICHE

4- Small children should never carve pumpkins. Children can draw a face with markers, then parents can do the cutting. Under parents' supervision, children ages 5-10 can carve a pumpkin with cutters equipped with safety bars.

5- Battery operated lights or votives are best for candlelit pumpkins.

6- Lighted pumpkins should be placed on a sturdy table, away from curtains and other flammable objects and should never be left unattended.

(....blogger note, my children are small so we carved orange peppers and it was great because they have a softer skin and look very similar to a pumpkin)

SWEET TREATS

7- Children shouldn't snack while they're trick-o-treating. Parents should check treats at home.

8- Watch for signs of tampering, such as small pink holes in wrappers and torn or loose packages.

9- Parents of young children should get rid of choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies or small toys.

HOME SAFE HOME

10- To keep their home safe for visiting trick-or-treaters, parents should remove anything a child could trip over such as a garden house, toys, bikes or lawn decorations.

11- Parents should check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.

12- Wet leaves should be swept from sidewalks and steps.

13- Remember that Halloween is for children all ages....so get involved with your little ghost or goblin!!

Have a safe and Happy Halloween from all of us at Willow Creek Pediatrics

**www.aap.org

Halloween Candy Solutions

Ever wonder what to do with all of that extra Halloween candy that you don't want to keep around your house?  Maybe we can help with that!  There are numerous dental and orthodontic offices around the valley that will pay you for your leftover Halloween candy!  Most of the offices who participate in this will donate the candy to a charitable cause.  There is even a dentist in our building that is paying people for their Halloween candy for the entire week after Halloween!  This particular office is donating all of the candy they collect to our troops overseas.  So if you are wanting to get rid of some of those mountains of candy, call up your dentist office and see if this is something they do!

UFAN Annual Halloween Party!

Utah Food Allergy Network is gearing up for their annual "food-free" Halloween party!  This is a great opportunity for children and families with food allergies to enjoy some Halloween festivities without worrying about possibly being exposed to something they are allergic to!  There will be many activities to participate in, including a costume parade, creative holiday crafts, and many festive Halloween games!

The party is this coming Friday, October 29th from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm.  It will be held at the Carmen B. Pingree School, on 780 South Guardsman Way. 

**For more information and a detailed map, you can visit the UFAN website at http://www.utahfoodallergy.org/.

Teething Tablets Recall

Today we received word on a current recall that we wanted you to be aware of. The FDA states that Hylands Teething Tablets are being recalled because they contain a small amount of belladona which is a substance that can cause harm in large doses.

To read more about this current recall click on this link

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm230762.htm It is a great idea to check http://www.fda.gov/ for other updates and recalls on a weekly or monthly bases. It has several tips and great ideas. If you have any other questions please call our office.