Back pain is not limited to adults! Parents and students shopping for a new school backpack this month may want to consider important safety tips to prevent back, neck and shoulder injuries.
Backpacks, the preferred choice for students to carry all of their daily school necessities, help distribute the weight of the load among some of the body’s strongest muscles. However, if not worn correctly, they also can be the source of injury. In fact, more than 28,000 people were treated in hospitals and doctors’ offices for injuries related to backpacks last year. More than 8,300 of those injuries were kids between the ages of 5 and 18, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
One of the best ways to avoid injuries is to lighten the load of backpacks, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA).
Use both shoulder straps to keep the weight of the backpack better distributed, and adjust the shoulder straps to keep the load close to the back. Choosing a crossbody bag can also be a good alternative. Depending on the child’s commute and accessibility of school, roller bags may be an option.
Consider these tips from the AAOS and POSNA to help eliminate discomfort and reduce the risk of backpack-related injuries:
Remove or organize items if too heavy and pack the heavier things low and toward the center.
When lifting backpacks, bend at the knees.
School backpacks are for schoolwork. Carry only those items that are required for the day. If possible, leave books at home or school.
At home and at school, keep walkways clear of backpacks to avoid tripping over them.
Parents also can help with backpack-related pain:
Encourage your child or teenager to tell you about numbness or tingling in the arms or legs which may indicate poor fit or too much weight being carried.
If the backpack seems too heavy for the child, have them remove some of the books and carry them in their arms to ease load on the back.
Purchase a backpack appropriate for the size of your child.
Watch your child put on or take off the backpack to see if it is a struggle.
Encourage your child to stop at their locker throughout the day, as time permits, to drop off heavier books.
We all need shots (also called vaccinations or immunizations) to help protect us from serious diseases. To help keep our community safe, Bon Secours Health System is proudly participating in National Immunization Awareness Month.
Shots can prevent serious diseases like the flu, measles and pneumonia. It’s important to know which shots you need and when to get them. Everyone age 6 months and older needs to get a flu vaccine every year. Other shots work best when they are given at certain ages.
* If you have a child age 6 or younger, find out which shots your child needs
* Find out which shots adults and teenagers need
* Use this chart for adults to see if you are up to date on your shots
* If you are pregnant, check out this recommended immunization schedule
Talk to your doctor or nurse to make sure that everyone in your family gets the shots they need. To find a provider to meet your needs, visit www.goodhelpdocs.com or call 804-359-WELL [9355].
What better time to help employees recharge than summer? There are endless ways to relax. But the season of sun and fun also means changes in routine. Temptations like BBQs and beach excursions make it easy to overindulge or spend the day lounging.
Here are nine top tips that’ll help your employees stay well and continue building healthy habits this season – and make sure they get the most out of their fun in the sun: Tip 1: Take it Outside – Take a dip, take a hike…take in all that nature has to offer in the summertime. Tip 2: Skip the Sugary Snacks – Ice cream’s a summer staple. But treat yourself sparingly. Skip the stand and pack your beach-day cooler with fruit and vegetables instead. Tip 3: Keep your Cool – Hot summer nights may make it hard to sleep. Turn on the A/C or a fan to keep your room as cool as you can…then it’s off to dreamland. Tip 4: Find Clarity – Daily routines change during the summer. Camp drop-offs, vacation planning, hosting backyard BBQs…take care not to get overwhelmed, and focus on the most important task of the day. Tip 5: Don’t Sweat It – Manage life’s daily stressors with some rest and relaxation at the lake or by the pool. Tip 6: Be a Lifelong Learner – Can’t wait to dig your toes in the sand, sit back, and dive into a new book? Beach reading is also the perfect chance to brush up on some new skills you haven’t had time for recently. Tip 7: Run with the Pack – It’s easy to skip an exercise when you go at it alone. Find a workout buddy who’ll help give you that extra push. Tip 8: Lend a Hand – No man is an island. Support your community by volunteering at upcoming fairs and events. Tip 9: Know Where You’re Spending – Taking that summer vacation? Set up a budget so you don’t overspend on souvenirs or room service.
If summer heat and stress get the best of you, schedule an appointment with your primary care physician. Visit goodhelpdocs.com or call 804-359-WELL [9355] if you need help finding a provider who meets your needs.
World Hepatitis Day is July 28th. Every year, approximately 15,000 Americans die from liver cancer or chronic liver disease associated with viral hepatitis. Despite these statistics, viral hepatitis is not well-known. In fact, as many as 75% of people with chronic viral hepatitis do not know they are infected. Without knowing they are infected, these individuals cannot receive lifesaving care and treatment.
3.5 to 5.3 million Americans are living with chronic viral hepatitis-hepatitis B or hepatitis C. Most of them do not know that they are infected, placing them at greater risk for severe, even fatal, complications from the disease and increasing the likelihood that they will spread the virus to others.
A specific blood test is the only way to know if you have viral hepatitis.
Hepatitis B and C viruses can cause chronic hepatitis, leading to cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.
Anyone can get hepatitis B or C, but some populations are disproportionately burdened with these infections, including African-Americans, Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders; past and current injection drug users; persons born between 1945 and 1965; and gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.
To recognize World Hepatitis Day, Bon Secours encourages you to get tested. If you are interested in a screening, call 804-359-WELL [9355]. Our Bon Secours Liver Institute of Virginia provides medical care for patients with all forms of acute and chronic liver disease.
Bon Secours Liver Institute of Virginia
Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital
5855 Bremo Road
MOB North, Suite 509
Richmond, VA 23226
Phone: 804-977-8920
Fax: 804-282-2918
Did you know that orofacial clefts are one of the most frequently occurring birth defects in the United States? Each year about 4,400 infants are born with a cleft lip with or without a cleft palate, and about 2,700 are born with a cleft palate alone. That is about 1 in 700 births. Craniofacial defects are present at birth and affect the structure and function of a baby’s head and face. Cleft lip or palate occurs when the tissue that makes up the upper lip or roof of the mouth does not join together completely. Craniosynostosis occurs when the bones in the baby’s skull fuse too early. Microtia occurs when the external portion of the ear is missing. These are three common defects, but there are also many more complex, life-threatening craniofacial conditions.
Causes of orofacial clefts and craniofacial defects are mostly unknown but it is thought to be a combination of genes and other risk factors such as diabetes (prior to pregnancy), smoking, maternal thyroid disease, and certain medications. Prevention strategies include control of diabetes and prevention of tobacco and alcohol exposure during pregnancy. Orofacial clefts and craniofacial defects have a significant effect on families and health care systems. They affect a child’s appearance, speech, teeth, eating, hearing, and ability to develop socially. Although orofacial clefts are usually surgically repaired in the first year of life, many children need additional surgeries, feeding support, and speech therapy. They also require special attention to dental care throughout their lives including routine care, orthodontics, and often, oral surgery and prosthodontics. The complexity of services needs to be provided in a coordinated manner throughout childhood and adolescence as well as into adulthood. This is best provided by an interdisciplinary cleft and craniofacial team comprised of professionals from a variety of health care providers.
The Cleft and Craniofacial Team at Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital is an American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA) accredited program. Our team provides a specialized, interdisciplinary and family-centered approach to treat patients with craniofacial differences. For more information, please visit stmaryscleftteam.com.