BUTLER PEDIATRICS, L.L.C.
901 East Brady Street
Suite 101
Butler PA 16001
office (724)
283-4460
fax (724) 283-0208
Butler Pediatrics Moves:
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE HAVE MOVED TO
A LARGER FACILITY IN ORDER TO SERVE YOU BETTER.
OUR NEW ADDRESS IS EFFECTIVE 7/18/2011:
901 EAST BRADY STREET SUITE 101
BUTLER PA 16001
(724) 283-4460
Halloween News:
As you all know Halloween is a fun and exciting time for all
children. Butler Pediatrics wants your children to enjoy this
holiday and many more to come. Here are some Halloween safety tips
from the American Academy of Pediatrics website so that all our
patients can be safe and healthy! We look forward to seeing and
hearing about all of their Halloween fun!
ALL DRESSED UP:
* Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes
fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping,
entanglement or contact with flame.
* Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and
Trick-or-Treat bags for greater visibility.
* Because masks can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic
makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives. Hats should fit
properly to prevent them from sliding over eyes.
* When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories look for and
purchase those with a label clearly indicating they are flame
resistant.
* If a sword, cane, or stick is a part of your child's costume, make
sure it is not sharp or too long. A child may be easily hurt by
these accessories if he stumbles or trips.
* Obtain flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their
escorts.
* Teach children how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number)
if they have an emergency or become lost.
CARVING A NICHE:
* Small children should never carve pumpkins. Children can draw a
face with markers. Then parents can do the cutting.
* Votive candles are safest for candle-lit pumpkins.
* Candlelit pumpkins should be placed on a sturdy table, away from
curtains and other flammable objects, and should never be left
unattended.
HOME SAFE HOME:
* To keep homes safe for visiting trick-or-treaters, parents should
remove from the porch and front yard anything a child could trip
over such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations.
* Parents should check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.
* Wet leaves should be swept from sidewalks and steps.
* Restrain pets so they do not inadvertently jump on or bite a
trick-or-treater.
ON THE TRICK-OR-TREAT TRAIL:
* A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young
children on their neighborhood rounds.
* If your older children are going alone, plan and review the route
that is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when they should
return home.
* Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or
car for a treat.
* Because pedestrian injuries are the most common injuries to
children on Halloween, remind Trick-or Treaters:
* Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.
* Carry a cell phone for quick communication.
* Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.
* If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway
facing traffic.
* Never cut across yards or use alleys.
* Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as
recognized by local custom). Never cross between parked cars or out
driveways.
* Don't assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing
Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn't mean others
will!
* Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any
suspicious or unlawful activity.
HEALTHY HALLOWEEN:
* A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage
youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.
* Consider purchasing non-food treats for those who visit your home,
such as coloring books or pens and pencils.
* Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though
tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all
treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.
* Try to ration treats for the days following Halloween.
Tick Alert:
As you may already know Western Pennsylvania is home to a very large
deer population. Unfortunately, these deer are also the
primary haven for the blacklegged tick also known as the deer tick.
The white tailed deer is vital to the reproduction of this
particular tick. The higher the deer population the higher the
populations of the deer tick. Once the deer tick has matured
it can usually be found in tall grass or shrubs. Physical
contact is the only method that a deer tick can find a host.
In some cases they may also drop onto a potential host from a perch
as the potential host passes by. Ticks, in general, do not
jump or fly and some species have been known to aggressively stalk a
potential host by means of its eight legs (premature ticks have six
legs)! Ticks can be the host for Lyme disease. Lyme
disease is most commonly transmitted by tick bites.
Early symptoms of Lyme disease infection may include fever,
headache, fatigue, depression, and a unique skin rash. Left
untreated, it may lead to more serious issues involving the joints,
heart, and nervous system. In most cases, the infection and its symptoms are eliminated with
prescription antibiotics, especially if diagnosis and treatment
occur early in the course of illness. Late or delayed treatment can lead to late manifestations of Lyme
disease which can be
disabling
and difficult to treat.
In the event you find a tick has bitten your child you should:
-Call Butler Pediatrics to schedule an appointment for PROMPT removal of the tick.
-Please note tick removal is best if it occurs within 24 hours of
being bitten. This will help prevent the possibility of Lyme
disease.
If you believe that your child may have been exposed to a tick or is
showing any symptoms that may be tick related please call Butler
Pediatrics immediately to schedule an examination with one of our
Pediatricians.
Seasonal Allergies:
After a very long and cold winter, spring is finally upon us.
During this time of the year it is important to watch that your
child is not displaying any symptoms due to seasonal allergies.
Allergies develop in some children mainly by exposure to
specific materials or substances that cause allergic reactions.
If your child is experiencing any symptoms similar to ones they may
have during a cold (i.e. itchy eyes, cough, sneezing, etc.) please
contact us at Butler Pediatrics to schedule an evaluation.