'Tis the Sneezin'

Colds, flu, and other illnesses are “gifts” that can keep on giving throughout the holidays.

What can you do to increase your odds of staying well?

 

·  Keep your hands clean. Frequent hand-washing is your first line of defense against germs. Soap and water is best, but if you don’t have access to this, alcohol-based hand sanitizer can work. Small bottles make great gifts and stocking stuffers.

·       Avoid crowds. It’s tricky to do at this time of year but avoiding people who already have a virus or symptoms will make a difference.

·       Get plenty of sleep. When our bodies are tired and feeling rundown, it is hard to fight off viruses and infections.

·       Make healthy food choices. This is the time of year when there is an abundance of treats, rich foods, and sweets. Make sure that you take in plenty of healthy and nutritious foods as well. This also helps the body ward off nasty germs to keep you well.

·       Be active. How about walking the neighborhood to tour the holiday lights? Ice skating, skiing, snow-shoeing are just some great activities you can do to work off Grandma’s fudge. Even if you aren’t into outdoor winter exercise, sneak in some activity by dancing to your favorite holiday music, hitting the fitness center, or putting in an exercise video at home.

And, these steps will help you stay healthy anytime of the year, not just during the holidays.

However, if you do find that you need us, the Manatt Family Urgent Care will be open December 24 and 31 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. For those medical needs that do not require emergency care, Manatt Family Urgent Care will be open on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve to help care for you and your loved ones.

Top Things to Consider When Buying Safe Toys and Gifts

The national Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that in 2011, more than 262,000 children were treated in emergency rooms across the country for toy-related injuries. Because the head and face area are the most commonly injured part of the body, Prevent Blindness America has declared December Safe Toys and Gifts Month to raise awareness of the possible dangers that these can have.

What do you need to remember?

Prevent Blindness America suggests that before purchasing a toy:

·       Read all warnings and instructions on the box.

·       Ask yourself or the parent if the toy is right for the child’s ability and age.

·       Avoid purchasing toys with sharp or rigid points, spikes, rods, or dangerous

            edges.

·       Check the lenses and frames of children's sunglasses; many can break and

            cause injuries.

·       Buy toys that will withstand impact and not break into dangerous shards.

·       Look for the letters "ASTM." This designation means the product meets the

            national safety standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials

            (ASTM).

·       Avoid toys that shoot or include parts that fly off.

·       Gifts of sports equipment should always be accompanied by protective gear

            (such as a basketball along with eye goggles or a face guard with a new batting

            helmet for baseball or softball).

·       Don’t give toys with small parts to young children. Young kids tend to put things

            in their mouths, increasing the risk of choking. If the part of a toy can fit in a toilet

            paper roll, the toy is not appropriate for children under the age of 3.

·       Do not purchase toys with long strings or cords, especially for infants and very

            young children as this can become wrapped around a child’s neck.

·       Always dispose of uninflated or broken balloons immediately. According to the

            CPSC, more children have suffocated from them than any other type of toy.

For more information on safe toys and gifts for children, including the PBA Safe Toys

Check List, please go to preventblindness.org/safe-toy-checklist, or call Prevent Blindness

America at 800-331-2020.

Is it a stroke?

Potential stroke patients in GRMC's emergency department now have a specially trained neurologist "on the scene" to help diagnose the condition - thanks to a telemedicine mobile stroke detection robotic unit. The University of Iowa Stroke Center placed a robotic stroke unit in the GRMC emergency department that connects a UI neurologist and neurological diagnostic equipment to the GRMC patient. The neurologist actually sees the patient and the GRMC physician by a two-way camera and monitor. 

GRMC has had diagnostic equipment to assess patients for stroke but not fast access to a neurologist 24-7. This robotic unit provides that essential piece of the stroke diagnostic process. Faster assessment in the emergency department means faster treatment because minutes matter.

At the onset of stroke symptoms, minutes really do matter. The sooner clot-busting medications can be administered, the faster oxygen-rich blood feeds the brain and minimizes the effects of the clot in the brain. 

When you or someone around you shows signs of a stroke, call 9-1-1 immediately to get medical attention and to the hospital fast. From there, GRMC emergency staff and UI Stroke Center will take quick action to get the right care for the symptoms. 

F-A-S-T is an easy way to remember the sudden signs of stroke. When you can spot the signs, you'll know that you need to call 9-1-1 for help right away.

F-A-S-T stands for:

Face drooping -  Does one side of the face droop or numb? Ask the person to smile. Is their smile uneven?

Arm weakness - Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

Speech difficulty - Is their speech slurred? Are they unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence like, "The sky is blue." Can they repeat it correctly?

Time to call 9-1-1  If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get help immediately. Check the time so that you will know when the symptoms first appeared. 

What else?

Sometimes additional symptoms come on suddenly and may not fall into one of these more obvious signs of stroke. 

Sudden numbness or weakness of the leg

Sudden confusion or trouble understanding

Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

Sudden severe headache with no known cause

Source: National Stroke Association