With the new school year quickly approaching and students getting ready to return to in-person classes, it is important to make sure your child’s vaccination records are up to date. Most schools require vaccination records to be submitted before your child can attend classes – to protect teachers, staff, peers, and your own child from illnesses that may spread. Keep reading to learn more about the vaccinations that are necessary for children to receive before they head back to school.

TDaP

The TDaP vaccine is a combination vaccine that aims to prevent children from contracting diphtheria, which is an infection of the nose and throat, tetanus, a bacterial infection, and pertussis, also known as whooping cough. It is recommended for children to receive this vaccination five times: one dose at 2 months old, one dose at 4 months, one dose at 6 months, one dose between 15 and 18 months, and one dose between 4 and 6 years of age.

MMR Vaccine

The MMR vaccine is intended to protect against measles, a serious viral infection, mumps, a viral infection that affects the salivary glands, and rubella, a viral infection that causes a rash. It is recommended children receive two doses of this vaccine: one between 12 and 15 months, and one between 4 and 6 years of age.

Inactivated Polio Vaccine

Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus that can invade the brain and spinal cord causing paralysis or even death. With vaccination, polio has been eliminated in the United States, but it is still a threat in some other countries. It is recommended children get four doses of the polio vaccine: one at 2 months old, one at 4 months, one between 6 and 18 months, and one between the ages of 4 and 6 years of age.

Varicella Vaccine

The varicella vaccine provides protection from chickenpox, which is an intense, itchy full body rash. Chickenpox is extremely contagious, so it is crucial children receive this vaccination to avoid spreading the illness to others. It is recommended children receive two doses of the varicella vaccine with the first dose administered between 12 and 15 months, and the second between 4 and 6 years of age.

Hepatitis B Vaccine

The hepatitis vaccine provides protection against hepatitis B, a serious liver infection caused by a virus. It is recommended children receive three doses: one dose at birth, another between the ages of 1 and 2 months old, and the third dose between 6 and 9 months.

Hepatitis A Vaccine

The hepatitis vaccine provides protection against hepatitis A, a contagious liver infection caused by a virus. It is recommended children are given 2 doses of the hepatitis A vaccine between 12 and 23 months.

Meningococcal Vaccine

The meningococcal vaccine is a vaccine that protects against severe illnesses caused by bacteria. It is recommended children receive this vaccine from 11 to 12 years of age, with a booster dose at 16 years of age.

Making sure these vaccinations are up to date should be an essential part of any parent’s back-to-school checklist. If you are unsure if your child has had all of their necessary vaccines, check with your primary care provider to get their updated records.

 

Umbrella and two multi colored beach chairs on a sun setting breach.

Summer is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the outdoors. While there are countless benefits of spending time outside, there is also the potential for risk when temperatures start to climb. The summer season is notoriously filled with hot and humid weather, so read along to find out how you can stay cool in the heat!

Stay Hydrated

Drinking plenty of ice cold water is crucial for dealing with the summer heat. Sweating is a way for the body to cool down its temperature in order to maintain homeostasis, or a regulated state, so it is important to replenish the liquids that your body is sweating out. Although we recommend drinking water, any liquid is better than no liquid in the summer heat. While drinks like sports drinks can help you stay hydrated while outside in the summer sun, drinking coffee and alcoholic beverages, which are diuretics, can dehydrate your body quicker.

Dress Accordingly

Clothes play an important role in maintaining a decent body temperature and can determine how hot or cool your body gets. Try wearing loose, breathable clothing that will not cause your body to overheat. Also, loose footwear is recommended to avoid excessive sweating. Lighter colored clothing is best opposed to darker, because it will reflect the light from your body. Incorporating hats into your outfit can also provide shade and help avoid sunburn to your head and face. Sunglasses not only look stylish with your outfit, but they also provide protection against harmful UV rays.

Avoid Long Exposure to Sun

The sun is the hottest during the early afternoon, between the hours of 11am to 2pm, which is typically the time people are outside. This is the most common time for sunburns to occur, so make sure you are wearing plenty of sunscreen if you have to be outside. When outside during these hours, we recommend taking breaks by seeking shade or enjoying the air conditioning inside. Long sun exposure can increase your chances of overheating and forming a sunburn.

Eat a Popsicle

What a fun way to cool down! Whether making your own popsicles or enjoying one you’ve purchased, popsicles are a fun and easy way to cool down in the summer heat. There are endless recipes you can make by incorporating different fruits that are delicious for adults and children. This easy tip to cool down will bring you back to your childhood days!

Eat Lighter Summer Fare

Lighter summer meals are a must when out in the hot weather. Avoid cooking hot meals by the stove or grill, which may increase your chances of overheating. Consume smaller meals more frequently and increase snacking to maintain energy while in the heat. The best summer meals are salads, fruits, vegetables and low fat dairy products. These are quick meals and snacks that involve little to no prep time.

Whether attending a picnic, going to the pool, or going for a walk, the summer months are the best time to enjoy the outdoors. Follow these simple tips to stay cool during any outdoor activity!

The Fourth of July is one of the highlights of summer, a weekend when Americans gather to enjoy the warm weather, parades, cookouts and fireworks with family and friends. No matter how you celebrate, following these tips will help you enjoy a safe and healthy day!

Swimming Safety

While swimming is a great family activity, it can also be dangerous if the proper safety measures aren’t followed. To ensure safety, always accompany children and teach them to ask permission before going near the water. Make sure children are wearing swim floaties or a life jacket. It is also a good idea to enroll children in swimming lessons to teach them how to properly swim.

Sun Safety 

Whether you’re at a parade, on the beach or enjoying a backyard barbeque, most Americans will spend their fourth of July in the sun. Sunscreen is crucial for avoiding the harmful effects of prolonged sun exposure and painful sunburns. Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before outdoor activities and reapplied every two hours. You should also reapply sunscreen after exiting the pool or if you are excessively sweating. Another essential when partaking in outdoor activities is wearing sunglasses, which will help protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. And don’t forget to find shade often throughout the day to take a break from being in direct sunlight.

Grilling Safety

Barbeques and picnics are staples of every Independence Day celebration! While food cooked on the grill is delicious, it is important to make sure you are staying safe while cooking. Grilling should always be done outdoors to prevent fire hazards. Avoid grilling too close to something that can easily catch on fire. Make sure you supervise the grill at all times. While preparing food, always wash your hands with warm water for 20 seconds before and after handling raw meat and be sure to use clean utensils and clean plates when taking fully cooked food off the grill. Use long utensils specifically made for grilling to avoid any burns on your hands. And remember, the only way to truly know if meat is fully cooked is by using a food thermometer. To ensure safety when grilling food, become familiar with the temperatures meat must reach to be safely consumed.

Bonfire Safety

Bonfires are a fun way to gather with family and friends on warm summer nights, but it comes with risks if the proper precautions are not taken. If high winds are expected in the nightly forecast, you may want to reconsider your bonfire. Ensure your fire pit is in an open area away from all brush to prevent the fire from spreading out of control. Keep the fire at a manageable size and do not stand too close – flames can be unpredictable. Never use an accelerant for the fire such as gasoline or kerosene, and do not pour lighter fluid on the fire once it has already started. When it is time to wind down and end the fire, make sure you fully extinguish it by stirring the ashes and drenching it with water. These safety measures will ensure you have a fun night!

Fireworks Safety

Fireworks are one of the best ways to celebrate Independence Day, but safety precautions must be taken. Store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from children and pets. Always have responsible adult supervision. Never give fireworks to small children, and never throw or point a firework toward people, animals, vehicles, structures or flammable materials. Always follow the instructions on the packaging. Light only one firework at a time and never attempt to relight “a dud.” Always have a bucket of water or a hose nearby in case of emergency. Once the firework has been shot off, soak in water to fully extinguish.

Whether you are attending a parade, concert, picnic on the beach or backyard barbeque, we recommend you keep these tips in mind. Independence Day is a day for celebration and by following these safety tips, you can ensure a safe and healthy gathering!

June is Men’s Health Month, which helps foster awareness of and conversations about the health issues all men face. This list includes the five most common health concerns men worry about. Read along to find out how to help prevent them.

Prostate Cancer

Being diagnosed with prostate cancer is a major health concern for men. Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer death in American men. The good news is, if detected and treated early, the survival rate is nearly 100%. Although many risk factors can’t be controlled (such as age, ethnicity, family history, etc.) and there is no sure way to prevent it, there are some things you can do. Eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight and taking vitamins such as Vitamin E might lower your risk. It is also recommended men receive a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, which helps your doctor determine if you need further testing or if you are considered to have a healthy prostate.

Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer is by far the number one cancer killer in men and women, making up almost 25% of cancer deaths. Smoking is the leading risk factor. Others include exposure to secondhand smoke, family history, and exposure to air pollution and asbestos. The best way to reduce your risk of lung cancer is not to smoke and to avoid breathing in other people’s smoke. No matter what your age or how long you’ve smoked, quitting may lower your risk of lung cancer and help you live longer. The American Cancer Society recommends an annual lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT scan (LDCT) for certain people at higher risk for lung cancer who meet certain conditions.

Heart Disease

Heart disease causes about 1 in 4 deaths, making it the leading cause of death in the United States. Risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, smoking and physical inactivity. While heart disease can be deadly, it’s also preventable in most people. By adopting healthy lifestyle habits, you can potentially live longer with a healthier heart. To improve your circulatory health, exercise at least 3 to 4 times a week for 20 to 40 minutes, along with maintaining a healthy diet.

Arthritis and Joint Issues

The most common signs and symptoms of arthritis involve the joints. Signs and symptoms include pain, stiffness, swelling and decreased range of motion. There are a few healthy habits you can practice to reduce your risk of developing painful joints as you get older. Many of these practices — like exercising, eating a healthy diet and controlling your weight — prevent other diseases as well.

Suicide and Depression

Mental health is important in every stage of life. Depression is a common and serious issue that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Both men and women get depressed, but their willingness to talk about their feelings may be very different. It may take longer for men to realize they are experiencing it, and family and friends may recognize it first. Some behaviors to look out for are anger, aggression, risk-taking behavior and substance and alcohol abuse. Regular exercise, staying positive, maintaining similar daily routines, counseling and surrounding yourself with people you can talk to help. Although women are more likely to attempt suicide, men are more likely to die by suicide because they use more lethal methods and act more impulsively. If you are thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

These are the five most common health concerns men worry about. Although each has risk factors, most are lifestyle changes. Through these simple changes, many of these issues can be prevented.

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of Southwoods Health helping patients not only find the right treatment, but the right way to be treated. Our services, network of physicians, and facilities have dramatically expanded since June 1996, but our caring and compassionate professionals remain focused on the individual needs of each patient – and we’ll continue to make the patient experience our main focus for the next 25 years.

While the compassionate care at Southwoods hasn’t changed, the world around us definitely has! Keep reading to see how different the world was 25 years ago in 1996.

  1. The cost of bread was $0.88, milk was $1.56, and a dozen eggs were $1.11.
  2. The average price of a new car was $16,300 in the United States. Today, that average is $40,000.
  3. The average cost to purchase a new home was $140,000. 25 years later, the average price is $372,400.
  4. The average cost for a gallon of gas was $1.23.
  5. In January 1996, there were only 100,000 websites compared to the 1 billion websites that exist on the internet today.
  6. The popular dance song, “The Macarena” became a worldwide sensation.
  7. The Olympics were held in Atlanta, Georgia – the last time they were held in the United States.
  8. The New York Yankees won the World Series, ending an 18 year dry spell.
  9. The Dallas Cowboys won the Super Bowl.
  10. The Chicago Bulls were the NBA Champions and Michael Jordan the Finals MVP.
  11. Minimum wage was $4.75/hour.
  12. If you had a baby in 1996, these were the top ten name choices among parents: Emily, Jessica, Ashley, Sarah, Samantha, Michael, Matthew, Jacob, Chris, Topher, Joshua.
  13. The medical drama ER was the number one show on television.
  14. Independence Day was the biggest movie of the year, while The Nutty Professor and Mission: Impossible were among the 10 highest-grossing films of the year.
  15. Jay Z, the Spice Girls and the Backstreet Boys released their debut albums.
  16. The must-have Christmas gift in 1996? Tickle Me Elmo.
  17. Michael Jordan made his cinematic debut in a movie called Space Jam.
  18. Now a household staple, Febreze first began test-marketing.
  19. On July 5, 1996, Dolly the Sheep was the first mammal to be successfully cloned.
  20. EBay started its online auction and shopping website. 25 years later, there are 185 million active buyers.
  21. DVDs were launched in Japan.
  22. The Hubble Space Telescope revealed images of Pluto’s surface for the first time.
  23. The popular gaming system, Nintendo 64, was released.
  24. The McDonald’s Teenie Beanie Babies giveaway sparked a craze across the nation.
  25. The North American Blizzard of 1996 was a massive snowstorm that moved up the Atlantic coast of the United States and into the Northeast dumping several feet of snow across several states.

As you can see, the world is a different place than it was 25 years ago when Southwoods opened its doors, and so are many aspects of Southwoods Health. While the world around us will continue to change and Southwoods will continue to grow, one thing will remain the same: the values of each and every individual at Southwoods Health and the compassionate care they offer to our patients. Because at Southwoods, It’s not just about the treatment, but how you’re treated!

 

Summer is almost here and while we’ll all be out enjoying the sunshine soon, it is important to remember to protect your skin while you’re having fun. The sun has several positive benefits for overall health, but there are also many dangers when it comes to our skin. Follow these tips to stay sun-safe, and find out how you can protect your skin while having fun all summer long.

Use Sunscreen

The best way to protect exposed skin from harmful UV rays is to wear sunscreen. The higher the SPF number, the greater the protection. We recommend using at least SPF 30 to protect from sunburn and long term effects from sun exposure, but if you are prone to sunburn a higher SPF can be beneficial. It is also important to reapply at least every two hours, and immediately after swimming or excessive sweating. Also remember to apply sunscreen to every part of your skin that is exposed. It’s easy to forget to coat your lips, eyelids and ears, but these areas that can easily burn.

Wear a Hat

If you don’t have a shaded area to duck into during peak sun hours, which are between 10:00am and 2:00pm, you can always create it yourself! Using an umbrella or wearing a larger brimmed hat can provide adequate shade for you to enjoy the sun while not being harmed by it. Hats can protect the delicate skin on your face as well as shade your ears from the sun.

Stay Hydrated

Did you know staying hydrated can actually help protect you from the sun? The intense heat of the sun, especially in the summertime, can very easily dry out your skin. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to start sipping water, as this can be an early sign your body is already dehydrated. Staying hydrated will keep your skin from getting too dry, which can increase damage to your skin.

Beware of Medication that Increases Sun Sensitivity

Certain daily medications can increase your sensitivity to the sun and make you more likely to get sunburnt. Common medications like benadryl, acne medications, and even ibuprofen can have an impact on your skin’s sensitivity. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to find out if any of your medications may increase your sensitivity to the sun.

Perform Skin Checks

Checking your body regularly is always a good idea, even if you aren’t concerned about damage that the sun can do to your skin. Performing body checks will make you aware of a mole or spot that may not have been there before. If you do find something strange on your skin, make sure to contact your doctor or dermatologist for a check up.

While the sunshine during summer months is enjoyable, it can be harmful if you don’t take the correct precautions. Here at Southwoods, your health and safety are our highest priority, no matter the situation. We hope your summer is full of fun, but make sure to stay safe while enjoying the outdoors!