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Fun and Healthy Easter Treats Doctors Recommend

3/28/2019

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Great news!
Spring is right around the corner, and you know what that means… Easter Candy!!
Kids love Easter, from the brightly decorated eggs to the chocolatey treats.
Unfortunately, excess sugar and fructose are linked to multiple health concerns including childhood obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and tooth decay.
No one wants to be the monster parent, depriving their children of holiday fun, but at the same time, your child’s health is important.
So, what to do?


Are artificial sweeteners the answer?

The safety of artificial sweeteners has been hotly debated for decades, and, while nothing has been conclusively proven, there have been numerous studies linking artificial sweeteners to obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Essentially, the same effects as sugar minus the tooth decay…
Results may not be conclusive, but why take the risk?


Fortunately, there are natural solutions available.

Recently, some manufacturers have started using fruit juice or honey in their sweet treats. Although they contain sugar (glucose) and fructose, studies indicate that fruit juice and honey do not contribute to diabetes or obesity. This may be because, unlike sugar which is refined (i.e., no nutrient value) fruit juice and honey are natural, wholefood sweeteners which still contain healthy nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and bioflavonoids.
Other natural alternatives include stevia and monk fruit. Both are zero calorie, natural sweeteners that do not spike insulin and therefore do not contribute to the health risks mentioned previously.
In studies, stevia is shown to have numerous health benefits, and it acts as an antioxidant in the cells.
Monk fruit has been used in Asia for hundreds of years. It is extracted from the luo han guo fruit. In Chinese medicine, luo han guo is prized for its ability to support the lungs and is often used for respiratory disorders.
Monk fruit sweetener is usually a mix of monk fruit and erythritol (a sugar alcohol). Neither of these substances is absorbed by the body (we don’t have the enzymes to break them down).  Erythritol acts as an insoluble fiber and may be beneficial for constipation. An excess can cause temporary indigestion so don’t overdo it! Monk fruit sweeteners work well mixed with stevia, fruit juice or other natural sweeteners to assist in increasing the sweetness of sugary treats.


So, all this information is great but what is the practical application?

Luckily there are several health-conscious companies that strive to make healthy food available and convenient.
Sprouts, Wholefoods, Amazon and Thrive Online Market are great resources for these products.

Recommended Sweet Treats
  1. Smart Sweets- gummy worms, gummy bears and sweet fish. All are sweetened with a mix of fruit juice and stevia
  2. Heavenly Organics Chocolate Patties- sweetened with honey
  3. Lily’s Chocolate- sweetened with stevia
  4. Lakanto Chocolate- sweetened with monk fruit and erythritol
Be careful when sourcing candies or chocolates and always read the labels. Many companies advertise as being “fruit juice sweetened” and still contain significant quantities of refined sugar. The quality of “healthy” sweets can easily be assessed by scanning the ingredients list. If sugar is one of the first ingredients listed, then the product is unlikely to contain a beneficial amount of fruit juice and should not be considered as a healthy alternative.

Currently, companies are not manufacturing sugar-free, naturally sweetened, holiday-themed candies, but there is a simple solution.

Tools and Ingredients
 1.Silicone Easter egg candy mold (purchase from Michael’s, Amazon, Target or Walmart)
 2. Lily’s stevia-sweetened chocolate chips
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Instructions

Fill Easter themed molds with chocolate chips and microwave until melted.
Press down chocolate and shape to mold
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 Refrigerate overnight or until hard
ENJOY!


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​Note: Monk fruit can be used in recipes as a sugar substitute on a 1 to 1 ratio and is easily adapted into any traditional candy recipe.
Life is a balancing act. Do you want to be the “fun” parent or the “responsible” parent? Luckily with these healthy Easter tips, you can be both!


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Guest Author: Sherry Boxall

Sherry is a health writer with over 8 years of accredited training in the holistic health field and 15 years of clinical practice. Currently, Sherry lives in San Diego, CA where she helps women to lose weight and achieve health.

https://www.skinny-minx.com

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5 Tips To Help Your Child Handle A Loss

2/26/2019

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Dealing with a loss for a young child is difficult. How children cope and understand what is happening can vary greatly depending on their age and who it is. However, there are a few truths that apply to children of all ages.
Be Simple, Clear and HonestOne thing you do not want to do is say anything you will later regret. Death is a substantial, traumatic experience children as young as two years old can possibly remember. And anyone from about four years old and up is sure to remember at least partially how you handled it. If you tell a child they moved away, or some other fantastic untruth they believe now, they will remember that ten years later and these are the revelations that cause teenagers to stop trusting you. One day they reflect on all the ‘harmless lies’ that were told to protect them. Be honest, tell them the painful truth, allow them to grieve and understand what happens. It may be harder, but good parenting is not about doing what is easiest.

Have Them Help OutHaving your child participate is very important in helping them fully realize the situation. Allow them to participate in some way. This will help them better manage an unfamiliar situation. It will also help bring a bit of positivity to their mind about an unpleasant situation. It does not have to be major. Maybe recite a poem or story. Even just holding a photo or presenting a picture. This will also elicit some praise from other attendees to help them feel better.

Listen and RespondAll children are different when it comes to situations like this. A key plan is to listen to their response. Some just move on, some cry, some become very curious. Monitor child behavior in the weeks following, especially if they do not say anything but begin to act out. This is a time to put your pride aside and maybe consider therapy or group meetings. It is entirely possible they want to talk, but just not to a parent. This is not anything against the parent, but for example, talking to you about death makes them think of your mortality, and it may just be too much to process. Be sure to carefully assess their reaction, both verbal and nonverbal and do your best to respond with love and care.

Don’t Hide ItThis can be one of the worst reactions. Hiding the conversation or the news of a loved one passing has no positive benefits. Conversing in secret breeds anxiety in a child. If you think they are not aware you are keeping something from them, while you may be right, you also may be wrong. If your child discovers you are keeping secrets, that teaches the child that secrets are ok, it also builds mistrust, and when you finally do come clean, you have already sowed seeds of doubt in their mind. Eventually, they will figure it out, there is no benefit at all to keeping it from them.

Help With Long Term HealingDeath is not something that goes away overnight. Children are incredibly resilient about things, including traumas like death. They have a way of processing and moving on. But just because a child may seem fine an hour later, it does not mean the situation is over. Thoughts will come back into their mind weeks or even months later. Expect random questions even a year later or more. As a child gets older, they may have a better understanding and want clarification to new revelations. After a week or two, talk to them and ask if they have any questions, chances are they have some and just did not think of it at the time.

Remember, children are little humans. Be the guiding voice of trust and love you wish you could have in times like this. Just because the child seems to move on easily does not mean there is no pain or confusion inside. The best you can do is just try your best to guide them as they deal with it in their own way.
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Four Health Myths That Will Not Die

1/28/2019

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There are many traditional parental truths that we grow up just knowing. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that breast milk is better than formula when a child has green mucus they are sick or that spanking is generally not a good idea. Yes, there will always be parents on the outliers who do not care about facts, but in general, most parents try to raise their kids the right way. However, many common sense things are not always accurate. Do you know which example we gave above is incorrect? Go right now to the Facebook page and tell us your guess, then find out if you were right. Besides the example above, here are four common health myths we all too commonly believed.

Can't Catch a Cold From Cold
For years people have believed you can catch a cold from being out in the cold. This is false. A cold is a virus, not a change in the body, so in order to catch a cold, it has to come from the virus entering the body. There is no amount of exposure to cold weather that can cause a cold.
That said, the belief comes from people catching more colds during cold weather because cold weather does in fact, cause a reduction in immunity and the Rhinovirus tends to thrive better in cold weather. However, the direct link of simply being cold causing a cold is false.

Vaccines Cause Autism  or Other Illnesses
This is one of the more dangerous beliefs that continues to be believed is that vaccines cause autism. This is a dangerous and irresponsible belief that many continue to believe for various reasons. The vaccine/autism link has been fully debunked since immediately after it was claimed, but the belief persists. Another more reasonable believe is of the dangers of vaccines. Yes, there can be some negative side effects of vaccines, some even deadly. But they are incredibly rare. The positives strongly outweigh the negatives. It is akin to spending your entire life indoors to avoid the possibility of sunburn.

Multivitamins
Multivitamins do not work. For some people with specific ailments that can cause vitamin deficiencies, vitamins are beneficial. But for the most part, you are ingesting processed synthetic vitamins that do little to no good for your body at all. Your body gets all the nutrients it needs from a well-balanced diet. Using multivitamins for children, and adults is just literally flushing money down the drain. In addition, vitamin pills cause your kidneys to overwork, which can cause kidney stones, dehydration, and other more serious problems later in life.

Sugar and Hyperactivity
There have been several studies done over the years all over the world that continue to conclude there is little to no correlation between sugar consumption and hyperactivity. One popular reason is times of sugar consumption often correlate with times of increased excitement, such as parties and game time. This came about from a study in the 70’s that advocated removal of artificial additives such as dyes from children's diets, sugars were lumped into the common acceptance even though the report never mentioned sugar. To this day, the myth persists. This is not to say sugar is safe, there are a host of other health problems sugar causes, but hyperactivity is not one of them.

There is nothing wrong with some false assumptions in parenting, it is bound to happen to the best of us. But it is always a good idea to remember, that if you cannot recall where you heard something or if it did not come from an authoritative source such as a doctor or government department, it is always a good idea to double check. In the days when anyone can write a blog and make any claim they want, it is important to make sure information is grounded in sound science when applying it to your children's health. As always, if you are not sure of what to believe, please call our office and we can help.

Eric A Ridenour

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Holiday Activities To Keep Your Child Occupied During The Break

12/1/2018

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Winter break is here, and with it is two weeks of children being at home. This is a mixed blessing for parents. On one hand, there is more family time together and your children get a much-needed break. On the other hand, we need to find things for them to do. For some parents, it means taking time off from work or sending them to visit family or even a daycare. If they are old enough, they can stay at home alone. Regardless of the situation, idleness can happen without school to keep children busy. Sitting around on the cell phone or playing video games is not a healthy option. Here are some ideas to keep them occupied during the break.


VOLUNTEER WORK


There are few better things one can do to celebrate what the holiday spirit exists for other than volunteering for those less fortunate. Of course, there are several homeless shelters who provide meals on this day, but that is something that often has a surplus of volunteers for. This does not mean there is nothing else. There are plenty of other areas that can use help. Are your children teens? They can volunteer to babysit for struggling parents who can’t afford other arrangements free of charge. Pet shelters can always use a hand walking the dogs.
Our recommendation? Call Dell Childrens Center where you can go as a family and visit sick children during Christmas day. Bring some small gifts and visit lonely children. Or alternatively, a retirement home to bring some youthful joy to seniors lives.



READ A BOOK

Here are some great suggestions to get you through break!

Young adult
Bridge of Clay

by Markus Zusak
In his first novel since The Book Thief, Markus Zusak tells the story of five Dunbar brothers, living on their own without adult supervision, outside of Sydney. The narrative moves back and forth through time and space, painting a full portrait of a family and its ups and downs. You’ll find yourself really getting to know the boys, their distinct personalities, and their history in this beautiful meditation on love and laughter, and loss and death.

Children:
Love
by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Loren Long
In his new picture book, Newbery Medal-winner Matt de la Peña explores all the ways that we see, feel, and experience love from the first days of life through childhood and beyond.


GO ON A HIKE


I know it is winter and it is a bit cold, but this is the perfect time and weather for a nice family hike! Not enough exercise is a problem many people have, and a good hike in cooler weather is easier to do, a great budget family activity and leaves you feeling better! Earn bonus points of you turn off your cell phones and have a conversation. Not sure where to go? There are plenty of hiking spots in Austin!

PLANT A GARDEN

People do not usually think to do this until Spring. But winter and especially early January is the height of dormancy for many plants. This is the best time for transplanting and also the time of minimum problems removing the old weeds! Head out for a weekend, and get to planting some of your favorite foods!

GO OUT AND PLAY

There was a time when our ancestors had these objects called toys. They came in all shapes and sizes, and they were given to children to go out and play. Children would then journey outside and move around with these objects. Our forefathers called this ‘playing’ as an ode to our ancestors, some parents still turn off the television and cell phone and have their children go out and play.


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Child Depression

12/1/2018

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During the holidays, there is an uptick in talk about depression. A topic covered far less is depression in teenagers. Often dismissed in younger kids without a thought and dismissed in teenagers as being moody or having an attitude, quite often, mood changes, and yes including that of the 'typical teenager' are often signs of depression that should be addressed rather than punished.

The first thing to remember is that while teenagers are often almost full grown on the outside, their minds still have up to ten years or more to develop fully. Many teenagers are going through chemical changes in the body and brain which cause stress all by itself. Yes, mere existence is stressful for a teenager based on biological changes.

Next, there are outside factors. We see things that cause teenager stress and anxiety and often laugh at the 'simple problems' of teenagers, ignoring two significant considerations: The first is the chemical changes in the brain that make things more stressful. A teenagers brain is more akin to an adult brain coming off of a 100 hour work week. With the workload of school, combined with puberty causing sleep disruptions alone, a teenage mind is in a constant state of exhaustion. Remember those days when you fly into a rage at something simple like forgetting to empty a dishwasher after an unusually long day? The teenage brain is like that for five years straight.

Another thing to consider is the impending doom of adulthood soon. As we talked about above, we have the teenager seemingly unable to cope with the simplest of choices such as what to eat or wear. Now imagine this level of stress on such a small issue and then apply it to the problems of adulthood. In just a few short years, this child who can barely manage waking up and getting dressed in an orderly fashion is going to have to be working and paying bills and managing their own house. We parents stop and reflect on this throughout our lives in terror with years of experience. Now image the prospect of being thrown into the void as a child.

Teen suicide and other dangerous behaviors are at all-time highs. We no longer have the luxury of ignorance and ignoring our children's mental well being. It is crucial to be mindful of your teen's mood and to take steps to help rather than ignore or punish depression and its related behavior.

The main things to look for are many of the same signs you see in adults. Loss of appetite or sleep, an increase in wanting to be alone, weight changes, low self-esteem and problems at school are all common signs.

It is also important to remember that exhibiting some signs of depression may not necessarily mean they are depressed. Recognizing the symptoms is why it is critical to talk to your kids. Having an open and honest relationship with your child is important as they reach the teenage years. If you do not have a positive relationship, trying to create one when you get worried is too late. Before you make any assumptions, it is good to find out why behavior changes are occurring. Sometimes there may be perfectly reasonable explanations for some behaviors which you will not know without conversation.

If your teen is facing depression, it is essential for them to feel safe and secure in talking to you and finding a responsible remedy. Some depression is normal in teens, but if this is an ongoing or severe problem that can cause further problems, help may be needed. It is critical that we raise our children to understand there is no shame in getting help before it is too late. If you are worried about your teen and are not sure how to approach the situation, please call our office, and we can discuss how to help.

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Halloween Safety Tips For Austin Children

10/23/2018

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Halloween season is here with the day right around the corner.  And if there is nothing we like to see more during the season is for Texas kids to be safe, especially ours in the Austin area. Thankfully, Halloween is a mostly safe event every year, especially locally with many local events such as the Spooktacular Bash and Family Night at Thinkery, there is plenty of fun, safe adventures for everyone in Austin. However, for those who like to go the traditional house to house route, remember to keep some necessary safety measures in place.

PLAN A ROUTE IN ADVANCE

Before leaving, plan a route out of where you plan on going. Make sure you tell others of your proposed route. If there is an accident or an emergency, it is good to have a backup way to locate you in case cell phones are not working or die.  This is also beneficial for retracing your steps if you lose something while walking around the neighborhood.

KEEP YOUR HOME SAFE

Remember, there will possibly be several young children passing through your neighborhood and on your property. Keep things well lit, remove sticks, hoses and other tripping hazards from your walkways and lawn. If you have sprinklers set to go off at dusk, you should shut off the timer. Whether you plan to be home or not for the night, please remember to leave your home safe for the community.

WEAR REFLECTIVE CLOTHING

Remember, Halloween night is not just a night of children trick or treating, but it is also a night of adults driving them, and unfortunately, even heading to adult parties and drinking. People are heavily distracted on holidays, especially one involving several small creatures scurrying about the land. It doesn't matter what your costume is, it is not worth getting hit by a car. Add reflective tape to the pants of your children if their costume is very dark. Or even better, choose a brighter outfit. This is also helpful for any stranger danger; a brightly colored child is harder to turn up missing than one who blends in.

FOOD ALLERGIES

There is a new movement around, the houses and businesses with teal pumpkins have special treats for children with food allergies! This is a great idea that has been gaining in popularity in recent years which makes us very happy to see. It is also a good idea to let the businesses and homes you visit know about allergies just in case they have alternatives for you.
We hope these tips are helpful to you this Halloween and you all have a happy and safe trick or treat night this year. Please also remember to keep your ID with you as well as our phone number at 512-454-4545 with you in your phone or pocket in case of an emergency.
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4 simple ways to get kids to eat their vegetables.

9/26/2018

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If there is one constant problem parents seem to have, it is getting a child to eat anything healthy. Children tend to learn that health food is not as tasty as other foods. Many children will shun any food they see as healthy. Before, we discussed how to deal with children who are picky eaters, now we will discuss your child’s veggies in particular.

Hide It In Other Foods

The first very effective method for getting a child to eat vegetables is to hide it in other foods when cooking. Spinach shredded and placed in ground beef is rarely discovered. Cauliflower in your starch is always a winner. shredded and mixed with rice or mashed potatoes, and the child (or adults!) will never even know! Mixing some vegetables into scrambled eggs may help as well. There are even veggie pastas you can buy and the kids have no idea each serving includes vegetables! There are so many ways you can sneak in veggies into your children's food. Pizzas are great as well, very few children refuse pizza. Add a blend of meat and vegetables to the pizza and make sure they get all or nothing works almost every time. Also, do not forget the power of sauces!  Variety being the spice to life starts early. If you continue to introduce a variety of foods into your child's meals, they will be less resistant as you introduce them with regularity. You can even make it a special event, one day per week or month, or have a special food night. If you can get the child excited over the event, with a balloon on his chair, a candle in the food, and dessert night with the new feature food, your child will be more likely to expect the excitement and even welcome the new food or veggie night!

Mess With Their Reality

Double up the amount A child needs to have 3 servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit per day. A good psychological trick is to give them double the servings of vegetables for a meal and then tell them they only have to eat half. This works as a great negotiation tactic, especially when there is something else they do not care for. They do not like the meat, they can hold off on the meat or starch if they eat the other serving of vegetables.

Make Eating Fun!

Making a game out of eating is not ideal, but works as a last resort. If you make eating fun, they are more likely to finish the game. Make animals and smiley faces out of the food. Another fun game is to tell them the broccoli is a tree, and the dinosaur nugget needs to eat the trees. Making eating fun takes some of the attention off of the taste and helps clear that plate.

Smoothies Are A Treat And Are Nutritious

Smoothies are an almost guaranteed winner for fruit and veggie intake in large amounts all in one shot. In one smoothie you can pack two servings of fruit and two vegetables in one glass, making that final vegetable serving a snap. There are so many smoothie recipes out there, it is almost impossible for your child to oppose them all. Here is a handy list of kid friendly smoothies 

In the end, with these tips alone, you can have the child drink a smoothie in the morning, hide one serving in food, and then make them eat one serving a day. You can provide all the vitamin nutrition necessary for a healthy child. Remember, variety is key. three servings of only cauliflower per day is almost as bad as nothing at all. If you are ever having difficulty with your children’s vegetable intake, be sure to give us a call or schedule an appointment. We can figure out a plan together to help your child’s healthy food and vitamin intake.
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5 Back To School Health And Safety For Austin Students

8/22/2018

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Back to school. Possibly the most stressful time of the parents year. Clothes, school supplies, haircuts, transportation, and babysitters. So many things to arrange for your child, and every year you have to start it all over again. Then there is your child's health. Last month, we helped you with the vaccination schedule, and now it is time for everything else.
Proper Sleep
The school sleep routine is the easiest. A child needs between 8 and 10 hours of sleep per night, sometimes more for proper health and concentration. Many children do not get enough sleep at night, and it is harmful to their development. A good night sleep is crucial for growth, energy, and concentration. Make sure your child is going to bed early enough to be well rested the next day.
School Sports
Parents need a sports physical for your children if they plan on playing extracurricular sports. Be sure to schedule an appointment soon if you need to be ready for the beginning of school. Austin pediatricians provide thousands of sports physicals at the beginning of every school year, so being seen on time is important!
Safe Medication
Having a medication plan ready for the school is vital. In case you do not know, your child is not allowed to have medication at school, not even a multivitamin. Medications are typically only administered by the school nurse. Make sure you have a schedule in place to make sure your child is taking his medications on time and safely.
Healthy Lunches
School lunches are an important thing to consider. Does your child have a common allergy that can be substituted at school? Is there a more rare allergy you need to be careful of? Will you be packing a lunch instead? All these questions need to be answered as well as researching healthy options for packing a lunch. It may be a good idea to shop for lunch supplies together, this way you can plan healthy lunches they will actually eat. A healthy lunch does no good if the child will not enjoy it.
Sunscreen And Water
An often overlooked thought for children is sun protection. The beginning months of school still see the tail end of the summer heat, so sunscreen and hydration are important. Be sure to apply sunscreen before school on the hotter days and give them a water bottle to stay hydrated.

Finally, it also may be a good time to get vision and hearing checked. There are many learning issues that can arise if your child is not able to read the board or hear what the teacher is saying. Both of these things can be done as part of an annual physical before school starts. Remember, if you have any needs to attend to, We here at Capital Pediatric are here to help. We can provide the answers to simple questions or provide most of your back to school medical needs. Call today to speak to one of us about your needs!


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Have You Vaccinated Your Child For School?

7/22/2018

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​Before your child starts school, you may need to get your child vaccinated. While there seems to be some debate among people on vaccine effectiveness and causes and effects, outside the rumor mill, the science is reasonably sound and reliable. This office is dedicated to a safer community in Austin through regular immunizations. Vaccines are beneficial and save lives. Please get the proper vaccines for your children before starting school.
A total of seven vaccines are needed throughout school years in Austin, Texas. Here is a list of what is needed for local schools:
Note: Vaccine list and notes have been copied directly from Texas DSHS Website for clarity. Please see https://www.dshs.texas.gov/immunize/
And https://www.dshs.texas.gov/immunize/school/school-requirements.aspx for full information)
DTaP(Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis):
For K — 6th grade: 5 doses of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine; 1 dose must have been received on or after the 4th birthday. However, 4 doses meet the requirement if the 4th dose was received on or after the 4th birthday. For students aged 7 years and older, 3 doses meet the requirement if 1 dose was received on or after the 4th birthday.
For 7th grade: 1 dose of Tdap is required if at least 5 years have passed since the last dose of tetanus-containing vaccine.
For 8th — 12th grade: 1 dose of Tdap is required when 10 years have passed since the last dose of tetanus-containing vaccine. Td is acceptable in place of Tdap if a medical contraindication to pertussis exists.
Polio:
For K — 12th grade: 4 doses of polio; 1 dose must be received on or after the 4th birthday. However, 3 doses meet the requirement if the 3rd dose was received on or after the 4th birthday.
MMR(Measles, Mumps, and Rubella):
For K — 12 grade: 2 doses are required, with the 1st dose received on or after the 1st birthday. Students vaccinated prior to 2009 with 2 doses of measles and one dose each of rubella and mumps satisfy this requirement.
 
Hepatitis B:
For students aged 11 — 15 years, 2 doses meet the requirement if adult hepatitis B vaccine (Recombivax®) was received. Dosage (10 mcg / 1.0 mL) and type of vaccine (Recombivax®) must be clearly documented. If Recombivax® was not the vaccine received, a 3-dose series is required.
Varicella:
The 1st dose of varicella must be received on or after the 1st birthday.
For K — 12th grade: 2 doses are required.
MCV4(Meningococcal) :
For 7th — 12th grade, 1 dose of quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine is required on or after the student’s 11th birthday.
Note: If a student received the vaccine at 10 years of age, this will satisfy the requirement.
Hepatitis A: The 1st dose of hepatitis A must be received on or after the 1st birthday.
For K — 9th grade: 2 doses are required.
Remember, vaccines are not just for your child, but for the other children that are not able to vaccinate. Vaccines are for the safety of all children and adults in the community, not just your own. If you have any questions regarding vaccines, please feel free to call our office with your questions and to schedule your immunizations to prepare your child for school.
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Summer Event Child Safety Tips

6/23/2018

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"Summertime and the living is easy." That is unless watching your children during summer has become a full-time job. We all do our best to keep our children happy and safe always, and especially during the summer. But, we all also know that it can take two seconds of averted eyes to lose a child forever. Another thing we all know is as parents, reading that line made your heart sink and your eyes water in fear. Nobody wants such a thing, and we do not want it for you as well.
Summertime events and festivals are all over Austin this summer. We have compiled a list of some lesser known ideas for safety.
 
Children In Public
When bringing your child to a significant event, with the large volume of people in such a small area, losing a child can happen in the blink of an eye. No matter how hard you try or what you do, unless you chain your child to yourself, it is going to happen. You can lose a child by digging for your wallet to get them a drink. It happens, it is not your fault. Yet, there are steps we can take to keep your child safe.
The first thing to do is find a meeting place. You will want to find a spot that is easy to see from a distance to meet your child at if lost. When this writer was a child we went to Disneyland every year, I was told to go to Disneyland Castle if lost. I was also told no matter where they were the first thing to do was to locate one of the Disney characters. I did get lost once with my aunt, I ran to Disney Castle, and my aunt was there a minute later to save me. It works. Landmarks and certain people such as security are easy to locate for small children. It is helpful to take advantage of what they do know.
Write their name and phone number on their wrist, along with a phone number. Next cover it with liquid band-aid so it will not wash off. This way, even a fearful child may get the phone number wrong under stress. Having a number written on the child eliminates the problem of forgetfulness.
 
Hiring A Sitter
An alternative to safety at an event this summer is to hire a babysitter. These are not the days of old where finding referral is needed for a sitter, and often someone you did not know. Today, there are apps available with proof of certifications, references; you name it. They are even location specific so that you can search for not Austin, but by zip code and distance if you choose.
Make sure your sitter is well trained in first aid, CPR and emergency protocols.
Make sure you have a stocked emergency kit, go through it with the sitter, locks, first aid, flashlights, etc.
Finally, remember everyone's safety is essential. Make sure your sitter has a safe system of transportation to and from your home as well. Security is for everyone. Offer a ride or Uber home if necessary.
 
Stranger Danger
Stranger Danger is another thought that comes to mind when it comes to keeping children safe. Recently there has been more talk about rethinking stranger danger. What is now taught is WHICH STRANGERS are a danger.
The key to keeping children safe is to teach and point out to your children which strangers are safe. Law enforcement officers and other parents are safe. Adults alone are not. If you are at a mall, make a game with your child where they locate the employees. Teach your child that if they get lost, to find the right stranger. A store employee or authority figure is better than avoiding all strangers.
We hope you will remember these tips for keeping your child happy, healthy and safe this summer. While adventuring with your child in the local Austin area or even outside of Texas, these tips will be of help.

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Central Office: 1100 West 39 ½ Street, Austin, TX 78756 Ph: 512-454-4545 Fx: 888-653-3677
North Office: 4100 Duval Rd., Bldg 4, Ste. 100, Austin, TX 78759 Ph: 512-250-0220 Fx: 888-965-0796

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Email: cappedswellchecks@gmail.com

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That’s the Capital Mission.  The Capital Promise.  And the Capital Difference.