Happy New Year's!

We will be in the office all weekend for those kiddos who love to get sick over the holiday weekends! We will be in the office on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day to see patients with urgent medical problems! We will have one doctor in the office seeing patients and will book appointments in consecutive order. We will stay in the office until our latest scheduled appointment. As with all weekend, weeknight, and holiday appointments, any appointments scheduled on these days will be considered after hours. There is a $28 after hours fee, which will be billed to your insurance. It is your responsibility to know how your insurance will cover this. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the office!

The doctors and staff of Willow Creek Pediatrics would like to wish all of our patients and their families a very happy and healthy 2011!

21 Healthy NEW YEAR'S resolutions for kids

Can you believe that 2011 is right around the corner? It is that time of the year again to start thinking about the new year, new goals and reflect on the past year. The following New Year tips are from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). There are some great tips to start showing children how to make goals and to stick with them. Here are just a few ideas....

Preschoolers

-I will clean up my toys and put them where they belong.
-I will brush my teeth twice a day, and wash my hands after going to the bathroom and before eating.
-I won’t tease dogs or other pets – even friendly ones. I will avoid being bitten by keeping my fingers and face away from their mouths.

Kids, 5- to 12-years-old

-I will drink 2% milk and water three times each day, and limit soda and fruit drinks to once each day.
-I will apply sunscreen before I go outdoors on bright sunny days. I will try to stay in the shade whenever possible and wear a hat and sunglasses, especially when I’m playing sports.
-I will try to find a sport (like basketball or soccer) or an activity (like playing tag, jumping rope, dancing or riding my bike) that I like and do it at least three times a week!
-I will always wear a helmet when bicycling.
-I will wear my seat belt every time I get in a car. I’ll sit in the back seat and use a booster seat until I am tall enough to use a lap/shoulder seat belt.
-I’ll be nice to other kids. I’ll be friendly to kids who need friends – like someone who is shy, or is new to my school
-I’ll never give out personal information such as my name, home address, school name or telephone number on the Internet. Also, I’ll never send a picture of myself to someone I chat with on the computer without my parent’s permission.

Kids, 13-years-old and up

-I will eat at least one fruit and one vegetable every day, and I will limit the amount of soda I drink to one glass daily.
-I will take care of my body through physical activity and nutrition.
-I will choose non-violent television shows and video games, and I will spend only one to two hours each day – at the most – on these activities.
-I will help out in my community – through volunteering, working with community groups or by joining a group that helps people in need.
-When I feel angry or stressed out, I will take a break and find constructive ways to deal with the stress, such as exercising, reading, writing in a journal or discussing my problem with a parent or friend.
-When faced with a difficult decision, I will talk about my choices with an adult whom I can trust. -When I notice my friends are struggling or engaging in risky behaviors, I will talk with a trusted adult and attempt to find a way that I can help them.
-I will be careful about whom I choose to date, and always treat the other person with respect and without coercion or violence. I will expect the same good behavior in return.
-I will resist peer pressure to try drugs and alcohol.
-I agree not to use a cell phone or text message while driving and to always use a seat belt.

**American Academy of Pediatrics, 12/10

Happy Holidays!

Just a reminder, for your convenience, the Willow Creek office does have holiday hours! We will have a doctor available on Christmas Eve to see patients with URGENT problems! Our phones will turn on at 8:00 for you to schedule an appointment or to speak to a nurse for medical advice. We will book appointments in order and stay until our latest scheduled appointment. We will be closed on Christmas day (there will be a doctor available for phone calls for urgent medical advice) and we will reopen on Sunday, December 26th. Please remember that all holiday and weekend appointment are considered after hours. There is a $28 after hours fee that we will bill to your insurance. It is your responsibility to know how your insurance will cover this.

We will also be in the office on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day to see patients with urgent problems as well!

The Willow Creek Pediatrics doctors and staff would like to wish all of our patients and their families a happy and safe holiday season!

"Parents should play it SAFE over the holidays"

Four more days until Christmas.....We have one more tip to go along with all your holiday plans. Thanks to Dr. Jopling for sharing this article.

James Schmidt, an emergency room physician at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters, sees plenty of avoidable accidents at this time of year — and all year round.

"Each year," he says, "parents are warned of holiday hazards, including toxic mistletoe and dangerous toys. Unfortunately most of the holiday hazard stories miss the larger point regarding children's safety. Most of the household injuries that occur during the holiday are the exact same types of injuries that occur commonly throughout the year -— poisonings, chokings, falls and burns."

In fact, he adds, the single most dangerous item during the holidays may be grandma's purse, where her medications may be left in places accessible to children. They may even be set out for her to remember to take them, he adds. While the potential toxicity of some Christmas plants always gets attention during the holidays, according to Schmidt emergency room doctors see far more children who have ingested their grandparents' blood pressure pills than children who have eaten mistletoe.

There is however, one common seasonal injury — that's when a child pulls over a Christmas tree. Trees should be securely fastened to the wall and toddlers should not be permitted close enough to a tree to tug on it, cautions Schmidt.

Other dangers to watch for include easy access to alcohol at holiday gatherings. "During a large party, guests may leave half-imbibed cups around the house. Small children may wander the house sampling the drinks. Children often show up at ERs showing symptoms of alcohol poisoning," he says.

Schmidt further warns about the potential for mishaps in visits to homes that haven't been "child-proofed." "Parents need to be vigilant and inspect homes for unblocked stairways and other hazards non-parents may have missed," he says.

Altogether, Schmidt urges families not only to decorate safely, give age-appropriate toys, and secure their Christmas trees and candles this holiday season, but he also wants to remind parents to stay vigilant for common household dangers that cause the most injuries — and to consider how travel and visitors may impact their children.

**more info http://www.dailypress.com/topic/health/hospitals-clinics/childrens-hospital-of-the-kings-daughters-PLCUL000134.topic

Fact Friday - Flu Shots for Pregnant Women

Thank you to Dr. Jopling for providing the following article about flu shots for pregnant women!

Yale Study Says Vaccinated Mothers Have Healthier Newborns
Flu shots during pregnancy leads to fewer hospitalizations

Getting a flu shot during pregnancy is an effective way for mothers to prevent their newborns from getting the flu, according to a new Yale study.

The three-year study showed that mothers who were vaccinated while pregnant successfully kept their newborns from being hospitalized with influenza 91.5 percent of the time. The study looked at the hospitalizations of infants up to 6 months old. There are currently no flu vaccines for children under 6 months of age.

For the study, the researchers looked at the medical records of infants placed at Yale-New Haven Hospital for influenza, and another group of infants who had not gotten influenza.

Comparisons showed that, of the infants who did not come down with the flu, the overwhelming majority had mothers who had received the vaccine while expecting.

Yale medical student Marietta Vazquez, the study's senior author, said getting the shot while pregnant is an effective way for mothers to protect their infants. It's especially important, since there are no vaccines for children under six months old. And it's cost-effective, she said, since it protects two people with one shot.

Even before the new findings, which are published Wednesday in Clinical Infectious Diseases, health professionals have recommended flu shots for pregnant women since influenza can lead to miscarriages.

Also, pregnancy can make women more susceptible to the flu because of its effect on the immune system.

As far as types of vaccinations, pregnant women should get the flu shot made from an inactivated virus. The nasal spray vaccine, which is made from a live virus, is not recommended.

Recall on Infant Sleep Positioners and Drop Side Cribs!

The FDA has recently recalled all infant sleep positioners, due to suffocation risk.  This includes items such as sleeping bolsters (a flat mat with cushions on each side of the baby), wedge-style positioners (wedge shaped cushion used to elevate the baby's head), and any sort of pillows, such as Infant Head Bed, which provides supports the head for infants with plagiocephaly (abnormal shape of the head).  Along with removing any sleep positioners from your baby's crib, do not place any pillows, comforters or quilts under the baby or in the crib.  It is also recommended to place your baby on their back at night and at nap time to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrom).

You can read the full article from the Food and Drug Administration by clicking the link below:

http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/ucm227301.htm

Also, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has decided to put a ban on all drop side cribs. Starting in June, drop side cribs will no longer be sold, resold, manufactured or distributed.  Drop side cribs are to blame for the deaths of at least 32 infants since 2001.  To read the full article, click the link below.

http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20101215/drop-side-cribs-banned-safety-issues

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these recalls, please do not hesitate to call the office!

December Facebook Winner!!!

Congratulations to ALICIA WEST! She is the winner of our December giveaway! Please come and pick up this amazing basket from Kneaders.(valued at $119) We loved hearing about all of your favorite family traditions during this holiday season! We are looking forward to the new year full of new contests, new information and always new updates! If there is anything you would like information about please let us know--we want to be here to help our patients families. Have a wonderful December and again, Congrats to ALICIA!!