According to Safe Sleep Kentucky, the state’s infant mortality rate is almost double the national average. Safe sleep practices can reduce the risk of any infant dying. What do parents need to know about safe baby sleep practices? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends infants should be placed on their backs for every sleep by…
To jump or not? Trampolines are popular fixtures in backyards, and trampoline parks are popular in cities across the U.S. But how dangerous are trampolines? Pediatric orthopedic surgeons warn about trampoline use and accidents that cause broken arms, wrists, elbows and legs, as well as knee and joint injuries. “We see an increasing number of…
Touching your face may be a habit you don’t realize you have. One study shows that a person can touch their face up to 23 times per hour. Norton Children’s wants every child to be a “Super Kid.” Being a Norton Children’s Super Kid means doing activities that prevent spread of the coronavirus. Super Kids…
Coughing and sneezing can spread illness — everything from the common cold to COVID-19. Wearing a mask is just one part of being a Super Kid; covering your cough by coughing into your elbow is another way to keep you and the community healthy. Why cough into your elbow? It’s important to teach kids to…
The hot days of summer can mean getting caught off guard by heat-related illnesses, such as dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that in the United States, over 9,000 high school athletes are treated for heat illnesses each year.Many medications and underlying medical conditions, such as…
With youth sports returning to action with precautions amid the coronavirus pandemic, pediatricians are conducting yearly sports physicals to make sure kids are healthy and fit to engage in physical activity. A sports exam includes a health history questionnaire and a check of vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, temperature and respiration. “As…
It doesn’t have to be a hot summer day for a hot car-related injury or death to occur. It can get up to 50 degrees higher than the outside air temperature inside a car, and if a child is left in a hot car for even a short time, the consequences can be deadly. Already…
To guide a child’s understanding of difficult issues, parents can talk to kids by initiating discussions and welcoming their child’s questions, according to Katy Hopkins, Ph.D., pediatric psychologist with Norton Children’s Medical Group. Avoiding talking to your kid may backfire if the child draws faulty conclusions on their own or seeks information from untrustworthy sources….
The official start to summer is coming soon; however, the temperatures and humidity levels already have arrived. As we brace for heat waves during the summer, medical experts encourage parents to heed the warning and know the signs of heat exhaustion. “Heat exhaustion and heat-related illnesses can be detrimental in children,” said Sandra M. Herr,…
Appointments with your child’s health care providers are changing, and new options may be around long after the coronavirus threat has passed. For Madeleine Wardell, APRN, pediatric nurse practitioner, the waiting room at Norton Children’s Medical Group – Crestwood isn’t used much. Parents check their child in for their appointment from their cars and go…
Many families in Louisville and Southern Indiana struggle to provide healthy meals for children. This is due to many factors, including cost, living in a “food desert” — an area where it’s difficult to find affordable fresh food — and being unable to travel to a grocery. Food insecurity has negative effects for a child’s…
Phase 1 of Kentucky’s Healthy at Work plan called for the reopening of nonurgent/nonemergency health care services, diagnostic radiology and laboratory services on April 27. The plan also recommends that telehealth appointments should be used whenever possible, rather than in-person visits. Your pediatric health care provider will review your child’s situation to assess whether a…