Newsletter Summer 08.pub

Rocking Horse Center opened in 1999
with the goal of
providing comprehensive health care
to 1,500 patients
regardless of their insurance status
or ability to pay for
651South
enhanced medical services. Now, in 2008
, Rocking Horse has
LimestoneSt.
become the medical home for more than
Springfield,OH
10,000 children
45505
324-1111 whose visits total over 30,000 appointments each year. With
and
programs like Healthy Steps, CHAMPS
(Coordinating
Volume 1, Issue 4
Summer 2008
In This Issue!
1E.PleasantSt.
Springfield,OH
Raising Healthy
Families in a
Caring Community!
Habilitation And Maximizing Potential),
Reach Out & Read,
Child and Family Therapy and our abilit
y to coordinate and
refer, our patients receive the most
comprehensive care
available under one roof! In March of
2008 Rocking Horse
assumed adult services at the former
Community Hospital
Health Clinic site. We continue to grow
!
Please clip or rip and place in our
HORSE SENSE SUGGESTIONS BOX
located near the front desk!
I would like to read articles about:
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Back to School?
Could it really be so? Is it that time of year already? If you are noticing that
most parents (except teachers) are unusually
happy and that most kids are poised to be
dragged into the end of the month kicking
and screaming — then you know it’s true. It’s
Back To School! Why would anyone in their
right mind be excited about returning to the
land of the golden rule? How about these
reasons: 1. School drop-outs are four times
as likely to be unemployed. 2. School
drop-outs will earn $143 less per week than those who graduate. 3. 82% of
people in prison did not graduate from high school. Convincing statistics
wouldn’t you say? Don’t be a fool! Be happy to get back in school!
Haveafamilywaterballoonfight!
Please write an article about
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Safety issues for my family
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
Setupalemonadestandinthefrontyardandcharge5
centsacup!
Local items of interest
Name _____________________
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GoonapicnictoSnyderPark!
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Readonegoodbookwithoutbeingtoldto!
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GototheDrive-In
What’s going on here at RHC
Information for parents
Activities for kids
Phone _____________________
WIN FREE MOVIE TICKETS!!
Put your suggestions in the box at
the front desk for a chance to win
FREE PASSES to Chakeres Cinema 5
and Cinema 10!
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Takethedogforawalk!Don’thaveadog?
Volunteeratourlocalanimalshelter!
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Did someone Say 2
Garage Sale?
Sports Physical
Teen Scene
4
Kids Rock with
Make Your Own
Horseshoes
5
Sunscreen Savvy 6
Backpacks Are
Back!
7
• Happy fourth issue
of Horse Sense—
the newsletter
designed with you in
mind!
• Please take the
time to share with
us your thoughts
and ideas! What’s
important to you?
What do you want
to read about?
• Fill out the form
on the last page and
let us know what
your interests are!
Tis the season for the
Sale! You see it this time
of year on every street in
every block — tables and
clothes-lines and even
lawns full of goodies for
just the right price. Kid
items are especially
popular because children
outgrow things so fast.
Buying gently used items
makes sense - just go
armed with the latest
recall list (available
at www.cpsc.gov) and
the following tips
from the Consumer
Products Safety
Commission and other
internet sources.
CRIBS —
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The mattress should
be firm and tight
fitting.
Page 2
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There should be no
missing or broken
hardware or slats.
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Slats should be no
more than 2 3/8”
apart. A pop can should
not be able to fit
through.
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The seatbelt/crotch
strap should be
securely attached to
the frame.
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The stroller brakes
should hold the stroller
firmly.
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Check to make sure the
wheels are solidly
attached.
Corner posts should
not be higher than
1/16th inches high.
∗ There
should be no
design cutouts
in the headboard or foot
board.
PLAYPENS —
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Mesh playpen should be
small weave with less
than 1/4” openings.
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There should be no
holes or tears in the
mesh and mesh must be
securely attached to
top rail and floor plate
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Wooden playpen slats
should be spaced no
more than 2” apart.
STROLLERS —
∗ The base
of the stroller
should be wide to prevent tipping.
Volume 1, Issue 4
The bottom of your child’s
back pack should rest in the
curve of the lower back. It
should never be more than
four inches below your
child’s waistline.
Your kids seem to have to
carry everything but the
kitchen sink with them to
school these days. Before
you pack your youngster
off to school, take a
minute to review these
Backpack Basics provided
by the American Academy
of Pediatrics:
CHOOSE RIGHT– pick a
pack with two wide &
adjustable shoulder
straps. Look for a padded
Volume 1, Issue 4
back to protect against
sharp edges
WEAR RIGHT— Always
use both shoulder straps.
Tighten the straps so the
pack is snug against the
body, but not too tight.
PACK RIGHT — The
backpack should never
weigh more than 20% of
your child’s body weight!
Organize the pack and use
all of the compartments
to distribute the weight
evenly. Pack heavy
objects in the middle of
the pack.
LIFT RIGHT — Bend
down to lift the backpack by bending both
knees.
CARRY RIGHT — Put
reflective tape strips on
straps for low light
situations. Warn your
child to watch that
straps don’t get caught
in school bus doors.
Page 7
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that
everyone, regardless of race or ethnicity, should protect
themselves from sun overexposure.
How Sun Savvy Are You?
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All locking
mechanisms need to
be in great working
order.
(answer True or False)
1. I don’t need to use sunscreen because I already have a fierce tan!
CLOTHING —
2. I only have to apply my sunscreen at the start of the day because the bottle says
it is waterproof and good for all day protection.
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3. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor.
4. I should use sunscreen even on a cloudy day.
5. If I use a sunscreen, I still will be able to soak up all that good vitamin D!
∗
————- ANSWERS ————-
Be sure there are no
drawstrings around
the neck piece of the
clothing.
Sleepwear should be
made of nylon or
polyester.
1. False! Even people with deeply pigmented skin, who rarely burn, should use a sunscreen.
2. False! No sunscreen is truly waterproof. A few are water resistant, but still need to be
reapplied every few hours. No sunscreen provides all day protection. Even a sunscreen with a high SPF
of 50 or more needs to be reapplied every couple of hours, if you’ve been in the water or are
sweating a lot.
3. True!
4. True! Clouds don’t block the Ultra Violet rays that cause a sunburn. These rays can be reflected
off of water, sand, snow and concrete.
5. False! Using a sunscreen does block your body’s ability to make Vitamin D from sun
exposure. Experts don’t quite agree on how much unprotected sun is needed to get enough Vitamin D.
Page 6
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Volume 1, Issue 4
BACK CARRIERS —
∗
Carrier should have
restraining straps to
secure the child.
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Leg holes should be
small enough to
prevent child from
slipping out, yet large
Volume 1, Issue 4
enough to prevent
chaffing
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Frame should have
no pinch points and
should be covered in
fabric around baby’s
face.
Lid should be hinged and
have a spring-loaded
support that will hold the
lid in any position.
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Chest should have
ventilation holes or
spaces in front or sides
should child get inside.
TOY CHESTS —
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No lid latch that
could trap the child
should he or she get
in the chest.
BABY GATES —
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Do not buy accordion
style baby gates with
diamond shaped openings
in the middle or Vshaped openings on
the top edge.
∗ Gate should have
a pressure bar or
other fastener that
will resist the
strength of your
child.
Page 3
Be a Good Sport
Get Your Physical!
Before you play, get the ok!
That’s the message sent this
time of year to teen athletes
all over the country. Most
schools require a preparticipation exam for area
teens in order to participate
in sports.
So what’s the big deal? We
all know that playing sports is
great exercise, a good way to
meet people and one of the
best ways to learn teamwork.
But, you’ve been
playing around all summer
and no one ever mentioned
taking you to the Doctor for a
physical! Why is this so
important?
Rapid changes happen to
your body during your teenage years and a sports
physical will help to minimize
the chance of any sports
related injury that could have
you sidelined for the season.
Page 4
By determining
your general health, your
current fitness level, your
existing injuries, conditions
that might increase risk of
injury and your level of
physical maturity— your
Doctor will be able to give
you the stamp of approval
you need to play organized
sports and also help with
proven recommendations to
help you avoid future
problems.
It’s very important to note
that a sports physical is
not meant to disqualify
you from playing sports—
only to ensure safe
participation! Make sure
to monitor yourself during
play and report any
changes, even if you
think they are small, to a
parent or a coach.
Now Go Suit Up!
WHAT HAPPENS DURNING A
PRE-PARTICIPATION EXAM?
1.
Your medical history is taken to determine if there
are any serious illnesses in your family, to record your
past illnesses, or surgeries, to document allergies, past
injuries and episodes of dizziness, chest pain or
trouble breathing.
2. You are physically examined to check your height,
weight, blood pressure, pulse, vision, heart, lungs,
abdomen, ears, nose, throat, posture, joints, strength
and flexibility.
Volume 1, Issue 4
Have you played
Cornhole till the cows
come home? Got an
appetite for something
new? Well, here’s a game
you’ll have to eat lots of
flavored ice and drink lots
of soda to play!
How great is that!
Let’sGetStarted!
Lay the Popsicle sticks as shown in
Diagram 1. Glue the sticks where they
overlap to create a horseshoe shape. Each
team should make two horseshoes.
Decorate your horseshoes in a different
color or pattern for each team.
Fill the pop bottles with sand or water to
stabilize them. Set the distance
between the
bottles based on
the age and skill
of the players.
Volume 1, Issue 4
Try 5 ft for younger kids and 20 ft for
older ones. Each team alternates throwing
their shoes.
HowToKeepScore
3 points for any shoe that rings the bottle
1 point for any shoe that is within 6 inches
of or touching the bottle.
LengthOfGame
Set a point limit before starting—play to
21 or decide the game should last for 15
minutes.
Tips
Make sure shoes can comfortably ring the
bottle with some clearance before glue dries.
All shoes openings should be the same. To make
sturdier shoes, double up the popsicle sticks!
Materials
Needed
Popsicle Sticks,
Large Pop Bottles
Page 5