KIDS
Q
Where should I take my child for
emergency care?
A
The emergency room is the
best place in a true medical
emergency. For non-emergency
situations you do have another choice:
an urgent care center. You may be able to
see a nurse practitioner or doctor more
quickly—and for less money—at an
urgent care center than at a hospital.
Consider urgent care for things such as:
›
A cold or cough that doesn’t get better
in several days or a cold that gets worse
and is accompanied by a fever
›
A minor cut that might need stitches
›
A rash, especially with fever
›
A bout of vomiting and diarrhea that
lasts for more than a few hours
›
A severe sore throat or a problem
swallowing
›
A minor bone fracture
›
An insect or animal bite
But you’ll want to call
911
or go to the
emergency room if your child has signs
of a medical emergency. These include
difficult breathing, chest pain, fainting,
severe vomiting or diarrhea, severe pain,
or uncontrolled bleeding.
At AAMC’s pediatric ER, pediatricians
are available 24/7.
Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; American
College of Emergency Physicians; National Association
for Ambulatory Care
Michael
Clemmens, MD,
is
a board-certified
pediatric hospitalist
with Doctors
Emergency Service,
PA, at AAMC.
Naeem Newman, MD,
is a fellowship-trained
surgical oncologist
with AAMC Surgical
Oncology.
Charlotte Wallace, RN,
is the sustainability
coordinator at AAMC.
askAAMC.org «
15
SKIN CANCER
Q
My teen wants to go to a tanning
salon before prom. Should I
allow it?
A
Commercial tanning beds and
lamps give off harmful ultraviolet
(UV) rays that can be as strong as, or
even stronger than, the sun’s UV rays.
And overexposure to UV rays—from any
source—has been linked to melanoma.
Doctors are increasingly diagnosing this
most deadly form of skin cancer in young
women, which may be caused in part by
indoor tanning.
The more often a teen goes to a
tanning salon, the higher the risk. Teens
who tan even just once a month increase
their risk of melanoma by 55 percent.
The risk continues to go up with every
single trip to a tanning bed.
If you’re the parent of a teenager, one
of the best things you can do to help
save your child’s skin is to ban indoor
tanning. And if your teen begs you,
remember this: Melanoma is now the
second most common form of cancer in
women who are 20 to 29 years old.
Sources: American Academy of Dermatology;
JAMA Internal Medicine; U.S. Food and
Drug Administration
Q
How do I know if the water where I
live is clean?
A
As Marylanders, water is not just
for drinking—it’s often a part of
our recreation.
There are many local watershed
protection organizations that monitor
our recreational beaches during the
summer months. Contact your local
watershed protection organization or health
department for information.
Here are some tips from the Maryland
Department of the Environment:
›
Avoid swimming near storm drains along
the beach and within 48 hours of a heavy
rain event or until the water clears.
›
Try not to swallow beach water.
›
Always shower or bathe after swimming.
›
Dogs may not be allowed at some
beaches, so check before you go. If you
bring a pet to the beach, dispose of its
waste properly.
›
Avoid swimming if you feel ill or have
open cuts or sores. Cover your open
cuts or sores with waterproof bandages.
›
If they are available, use diaper-changing
stations in restroom facilities, or
change diapers away from the water’s
edge. Wash your hands after using the
bathroom or changing a diaper.
›
Take all trash with you off-site in a bag.
Two websites that share
regular updates about water
advisories and bacteria levels are
MarylandHealthyBeaches.com
and
TheSwimGuide.org
.
CLEAN WATER
&
ask
theexperts
Health and Wellness Advice From AAMC
Need a doctor? Visit
askAAMC.org/FindaDoc
or call
443-481-4000
and find the doctor who is right for you.
