National Turnoff Week

This week, September 19-25th, is National Turnoff Week. The Center for Screen-Time Awareness organizes this challenge which is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Families are challenged to turn off their television sets, computers, electronic games and other electronic devices for the entire week. Most people in the United States, children included, watch too much TV and spend too much time in front of their computers.

Besides the negative health effects from these sedentary activities, studies have shown that children who watch too much TV are more likely to have behavioral and aggression problems. The AAP recommends that children have no more than 2 hours of “screen” time per day (TV, computer time, video games, etc.) and that children younger than the age of 2 years watch no TV at all. Despite these recommendations, the average American child watches 3 hours of television a day.

This week, think about stepping up to this challenge. Right now, you are probably thinking, “what on earth are we going to do instead?” Think about reading books, playing board games, putting together puzzles, doing an art project or redecorating a room in the house. If the weather is nice, take a nature walk, visit the zoo, clean up your neighborhood or plant some flowers. Visit an apple orchard, pick some apples and make an apple pie together. The possibilities are endless! The goal is to have fun and reconnect as a family.

Once you have done this for the week, think about making this part of your routine. Pick two or three days a week to unplug the electronics and “tune in” to each other. Your family will be happier and healthier because of it! Are you and your family up to the challenge?

I would love to hear what you think about this challenge and what activities you and your family have planned! Post your comments under the article on facebook.com/meriter.

Dr. Nicole Baumann-Blackmore
Pediatric Hospitalist
Meriter Hospital
meriterkids.com

What to Watch for: Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

Summer is a time for children to play outside, be active, and enjoy freedom from the classroom. However, summer is also the season when some of the most common pediatric illnesses rear their ugly heads. One of these illnesses that is showing up recently in children in the Madison area is Hand, Foot and Mouth disease (HFMD).

HFMD is a viral illness that typically occurs during the summer months in children ages 10 years and younger. The usual symptoms include fever, mouth sores and a rash. The fever is often the first symptom to develop. This is typically followed by the development of blisters in the mouth, and sometimes on the hands and feet (hence the name!). Some children may also develop this blistery rash on their buttocks and genitals. As one can imagine, with these blisters, children may refuse to walk, eat or drink and may cry with urination.

Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment for HFMD. The most important steps a parent can take to help their child through this illness is to give acetaminophen or ibuprofen for comfort and fever reduction and to make sure that the child is getting plenty of fluids. Children with HFMD are at risk for dehydration because the mouth pain prevents them from drinking enough liquids. Offering popsicles or soup can help to soothe the throat while also providing fluids.

If you fear that your child may have become dehydrated or have other complications from HFMD, please contact your child’s primary care provider.

The best way to fight HFMD is through stopping the spread of the virus. Help children have a happy and healthy summer…teach them good hand washing!

Dr. Nicole Baumann-Blackmore
Medical Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program
Meriter Hospital
meriterkids.com

What is the Meriter Pediatric Center?

I am so excited! Not only is this my first opportunity to write a blog, but also the long-awaited opening of the Meriter Pediatric Center is only a day away! On Tuesday, May 18th, the hard work of so many over the past two years will finally come to life. A Pediatric Center is a new concept for many of us, so I thought I would take this opportunity to explain what you can expect of a visit to the Meriter Pediatric Center.

The Meriter Pediatric Center is an 8-bed unit, located adjacent to the Emergency Department, which is staffed by Nurses, Physician Assistants, Pediatricians, and Emergency Physicians, all of whom are trained to care for children. The Center was designed specifically with children and their families in mind, and will centralize care for the majority of children receiving emergency and inpatient services at Meriter Hospital. For children 17 years of age and younger who come to Meriter for non-life-threatening emergency visits, there are 5 exam rooms dedicated to their care, along with a pediatric-only waiting area. There are also three inpatient beds which will be reserved for children 15 years of age and younger who require hospital admission for observation, further treatment or post-surgical care.

Outside of the Pediatric Center, children will continue to be cared for across the entire hospital for a host of other services, including outpatient surgical procedures, medical imaging procedures, and therapy visits. In addition, patients with severe illness and injury will continue to be cared for in the main emergency department. Children ages 16 and 17 years who require hospitalization will be admitted to the appropriate specialty unit, but will be cared for by pediatricians, surgeons or family medicine physicians.

I hope that you and your child never need the services of the Meriter Pediatric Center. But if you do, know that your child will be in the excellent hands of caring and professional staff who are all dedicated to providing the best care possible for children.

Have a Happy and Healthy Summer!

Dr. Nicole Baumann-Blackmore
Medical Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program
Meriter Hospital
meriterkids.com