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Firework Safety Tips Below are fireworks safety tips: Obey all local laws regarding the use of fireworks. Know your fireworks; read the cautionary labels and performance descriptions before igniting. A responsible adult SHOULD supervise all firework activities.  Never give fireworks to children. Alcohol and fireworks do not mix.  Save your alcohol for after the show. Wear safety glasses when shooting fireworks. Light one firework at a time and then quickly move away. Use fireworks OUTDOORS in a clear area; away from buildings and vehicles. Never relight a “dud” firework.  Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of […]

June is Scoliosis Awareness Month Scoliosis is a musculoskeletal disorder in which there is a sideways curvature of the spine, or back.  People of all ages can have scoliosis, but adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (scoliosis of unknown cause) is the most common type and typically occurs after the age of 10. Girls are more likely than boys to have this type of scoliosis. Because scoliosis can run in families, a child who has a parent, brother, or sister with idiopathic scoliosis should be checked regularly for scoliosis by the family doctor.   An x ray of the spine can confirm the diagnosis of […]

When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors! Sources: National Weather Service (www.weather.gov) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov) Lightning kills over 50 people in the U.S. each year. But deaths are only part of the lightning story. Only about 10% of those struck are killed; 90% survive. However, many of the survivors suffer devastating life-long injuries. These injuries are primarily neurological, with a wide range of symptoms, and are very difficult to diagnose. Lightning also causes over $5 billion of economic loss each year in the U.S. from fires and other property destruction. Lightning strike frequencies are highest in the Southeast, […]

Celebrate National Men’s Health Month Take action to be healthy and safe and encourage men and boys in your life to make their health a priority. Get Good Sleep Adults need between 7-9 hours of sleep. Insufficient sleep is associated with a number of chronic diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression. Also, poor sleep is responsible for motor vehicle and machinery-related accidents. Toss out the Tobacco It’s never too late to quit. Quitting smoking has immediate and long-term benefits. It improves your health and lowers your risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related […]

May is National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month The teen birth rate has been steadily falling for years, but it still remains the highest teen pregnancy rate in the industrialized countries. About eighty-five percent of these pregnancies are unplanned, which in any population can increase the risk for problems. The biggest risk for teen mothers is delaying prenatal care or worse, about seven percent received no care at all. The Rates of Teen Pregnancy There were just under a quarter million pregnancies in women ages fifteen to nineteen in 2014, the most recent year for which we have data. This is a […]