Don’t spend July 4th in the emergency room

They’re loud, exciting and colorful — steeped in the traditions of our nation’s Independence Day celebrations. We’re talking fireworks, of course. Unfortunately, they also send some 3,000 children a year to emergency rooms across the country with painful burns and blast injuries that are completely avoidable. You can still enjoy the spectacle while keeping your kids safe, said Dr. Lillian Liao, pediatric trauma and burn director at University Hospital, and assistant professor of surgery at UT Health San Antonio. “As we enjoy the company of our family and friends, barbecue and watermelon — all in celebration of our freedom this ...Read More >

Controlling leg cramps

They can strike while jogging, or sometimes in the middle of the night — for no apparent reason. A sudden, painful cramp seizes your lower leg, the muscle contracting into a knot. Cramps can occur when a muscle becomes tired from repeated activity and when there’s a fluid imbalance. Sometimes an illness or medication can cause them. To prevent cramps, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommends: Do flexibility exercises before and after you work out to stretch the muscle groups most prone to cramping. Drink plenty of fluids, especially if you’re working out or it’s hot and humid. Unless ...Read More >

An awkward conversation

Would you be willing to have an awkward conversation with another parent if it might save a life? That’s the premise of the ASK Campaign (Asking Saves Kids), which encourages parents to ask the parents of their children’s friends about access to guns in the home. One out of three homes with children has a gun, and close to 1.7 million children live in a home with a loaded, unlocked gun, by one estimate. The results can be tragic. Thousands of children nationwide are injured and killed by guns each year as a result. “We really want to educate parents ...Read More >