Swim safely!

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Though it’s been so rainy here lately you could almost go boating in your back yard, it IS summer, and we know that hot days will return and the kids (and grownups!) will want to go to the pool to cool down.

Of course, you want your family to be safe, so here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re swimming this summer.

Make sure your children learn how to swim, but don’t become overconfident of their abilities. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) recommendation is that children age 4 and older should have formal swim lessons. (See their specific advice here.) Those at highest risk of drowning are toddlers and teenaged boys.
Don’t dive into anything shallow, or where you can’t see the bottom. This includes ponds and creeks, but also pools that have become cloudy. Spinal cord or other serious injuries can result.
Follow the rules set by lifeguards. It’s their job to protect your safety while you have fun with your friends.
Never allow any child to swim unsupervised. A responsible adult should always be present, even if it’s just at a wading pool. Don’t leave a wading pool with water in it.
If you have an in-ground or above-ground pool, make sure it’s properly fenced and that the gate is locked. No matter how much you tell your children not to go into the pool area alone, it can be very tempting!

That AAP article cited above contains good information about lifejackets, boating, lakes, and piers. It also spells out more about fencing, swim lessons for children younger than 4, and other water safety specifics. Check it out.

Stay cool this summer, and be safe!

Joel, age 10

Summer reading FUN!

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Is your child gaining or losing ground this summer in reading? According to RIF (Reading Is Fundamental), children who don’t read during the summer lose two months of reading achievement. That’s why teachers have to spend so much time each fall reviewing the previous year’s studies. All it takes to stop this slide in reading sharpness is, well, READING!

Summer reading can be lots of fun. Here are some suggestions.

Read with your child. Take turns reading aloud to each other. If you have older children and teens, let them suggest one of their favorite books for you to read. Then discuss it over lunch or after supper.
Show how reading can make things more interesting. With small children, teach them to read road and store signs. Write a note or make a greeting card. For older children, plan a trip, even if it’s just to the mall, with a map. As you’re driving, your child can follow along the route. Go online together and read about your destination. (Check out other summer reading ideas from RIF.)
Always pack a book—for trips to the pool, grandma’s, the doctor’s office.
Plan regular visits to the library—it’s free. They have great events, and your children can learn the joy of picking out their own books. Here are the lists of summer activities at Scott County and Lexington Public Libraries.

So, when your children tell you they’re bored this summer, help them find a good book and open up a world of learning and adventure. And be happy that you’re also keeping them on track for going back to school.

portrait of Queen Dr. Riebel and self-portrait of Princess Ava, age 5

A new take on whether or not to give Tylenol (Acetaminophen) right before or after a vaccination

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A new study has pediatricians (including us) rethinking previous recommendations about acetaminophen and vaccinations.

Often, children get a slight fever after a vaccination. This is a normal response of the immune system, reacting to the presence of something new in the body. Physicians have long recommended taking acetaminophen before, and every four hours for the first 24 after a vaccination to prevent or reduce fever and make the child more comfortable.

The study, reported in The Lancet, finds that giving acetaminophen does indeed decrease fever after the vaccination. But there was an unexpected finding: acetaminophen appears also to reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine.

More studies are required, and the reasons behind this lowered effectiveness are not fully understood. However, for now we believe it is best NOT to give doses of acetaminophen right before or within the first 24 hours after the vaccine. If, though, your child exhibits a fever of 101º or above, or experiences soreness, then it’s okay to give a small amount to ease those symptoms.

Speaking of amounts, Tylenol and other makers/distributors of acetaminophen have recently changed the concentration of their product for infants. It’s now the SAME as the concentration for children, but the dosage is of course smaller. So be sure not to use a medicine dropper from an old infant Tylenol bottle with the new infant Tylenol concentration.

Always check dosing instructions on any over the counter medication.

Stay healthy, and don’t forget to keep your immunizations up to date!

Corinne, age 3

Print this blog for your teenager to read

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Texting while driving (TWD)—are you ready for this statistic?—increases by 23 times the risk of an accident.

Even if you think you or your friends would never text behind the wheel, a new article in Contemporary Pediatrics indicates that nearly half of teens do so. Not only that, people who text behind the wheel are also more likely to drink and drive, ride with someone who’s been drinking, or not use a seat belt.

What to do about it?

Teens and parents should talk about this together. Starting the conversation before driving age is best, but it’s never too late.
Make a contract. Parents and teenagers can agree NOT to TWD, drive under the influence, or ride with someone who participates in dangerous behavior. Here is a sample of such a contract.
Eliminate the temptation. Put the phone in the back seat. If you’re expecting an important text and hear the notification, pull over at a parking lot to retrieve it.

One more issue: what do you say to a driver who’s texting? You can always give the excuse, “My parents will ground me forever if I’m riding with a texting driver. Do you mind waiting?” Or, “Hand me your phone and I’ll send a reply saying you’re driving and will get back to them soon.” If nothing works, don’t ride with that person in the future, or get your parents to come pick you up. They’d much rather be inconvenienced for an hour than leave you in a dangerous situation.

Bottom line: Don’t text and drive. It can wait.

Artwork by Wyn, age 13

A new physician on board!

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Dr. Laura Forster Georgetown Pediatrics welcomes Dr. Laura A. Forster, MD, to our practice beginning July 8.

Dr. Forster comes to us from the Wake Forest Baptist Community Physicians Group in Mocksville, NC. This is a Kentucky “homecoming” of sorts for her, since she completed medical school and residency, along with a year as chief resident, at the University of Louisville before moving to North Carolina in 2011. Her husband has just completed a fellowship in Infectious Diseases, and they are excited to be returning to Kentucky.

A board certified pediatrician, Dr. Forster is also a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She’s the recipient of several awards, including the Compassionate Pediatrician Award in 2010.

Exemplifying the compassionate aspects of her character, Dr. Forster says, “I have loved getting to know my patients and their families. While I also enjoyed the teaching/academic environment during my experience as a chief resident and hospitalist, I have found that nothing can replace the relationship between a general pediatrician and the families he or she takes care of.”

We know that Dr. Forster will be a great addition to our family of pediatricians and staff, and a compassionate physician for our patients and their families.

We are already scheduling checkups with Dr. Forster, beginning July 8. Call our office at 502-863-6426 to make an appointment.

New blog and summer sun!

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Welcome to Georgetown Pediatrics’ new blog! Every couple of weeks you can check this space for information related to your child’s health needs. We welcome your ideas for future posts.

Now that school is out, nearly everyone will be spending more time in the sunshine, which is a good thing (mostly). Sunlight elevates mood and provides vitamin D. But the sun’s rays also lead to burns now and to possible skin cancers down the road. Here are some tips to keep your children and teens healthy and happy in the sunshine this summer.

Limit exposure. Find a shady spot, use an umbrella, and cover up when possible. This is especially important for infants, who should have a hat that shades the neck, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt.
Apply a broad spectrum sunscreen. These sunscreens are rated to protect against two types of rays that damage skin: UVA (that cause wrinkles when one ages) and UVB (that cause burns). Consumer Reports recently released an excellent study that ranked sunscreens, and found that two of the least expensive brands were most effective. CBS News has the rundown here. If you use a spray, don’t spray directly on the face, but on your (or your child’s) hands, then rub it onto the face. Be sure to cover the back of the neck, the ears, and the tip of the nose. Use products with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15, though some dermatologists recommend an SPF of 40 or above. Reapply every two hours, and after swimming or sweating.
Use a lip balm that contains sunscreen.
Remember that water and sand are reflective and increase the exposure risk.

Finally, have fun! Summer only comes around once a year!