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♦ FRIDAY, JULY 28, 2006 6A Houston Healthcare to hold annual Family Fair Special to the Journal Join Houston Healthcare for Family Fair 2006 Aug. 5 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Galleria Mall in Centerville. More than 50 exhibit booths will be on display offering health screen ings, information, freebies and tips on keeping families healthy. “Family Fair is truly an event for the entire family. Our goal is to pro mote health and wellness informa tion, along with other tips and ideas on successful parenting and main taining a healthy family to families and individuals while they are in the mall for back-to-school shopping,” Are you, your Special to the Journal Vaccines help prevent infec tious diseases and save lives. Childhood immunizations have been responsible for the eradication and control of many infectious diseases that were once common in the United States, including small pox, polio, measles, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), rubella (German measles), mumps, tetanus, and others. While the U.S. currently has near record low cases of vac cine-preventable diseases, the viruses and bacteria that cause them still exist. Because children are partic ularly vulnerable to infection and disease, most vaccines are given during the first five to six years of life. Infants and young children need to receive the following recommended immunizations on time in order to be protect ed against diseases that can disable and kill: ■ Hepatitis B vaccine - three to four doses recommended with the last dose given after 24 weeks of age. ■ Diphtheria-tetanus-per tussis (DTaP) vaccine - four doses recommended by 18 months of age, with an addi Insect stings, snake bites: Know when it's time to seek medical attention Special to the Journal Summer months mean fun in the sun and lots of outdoor activities. Unfortunately, the more time a person spends out doors, the more likely they are to encounter some of nature’s more painful and poisonous creatures. But when does a bite or sting require a trip to the Emergency Department? While most insect bites are harmless and cause only minor swelling or itching, some individuals are allergic to insect stings from wasps or bees which can cause a life threatening allergic reaction. Knowing when to seek emergency medical care for an insect bite or sting could save a person’s life. Call 911 immediately if a person shows signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives; swelling of the eyes, lips, or inside of the throat; trouble breathing; and dizziness or confusion. “People who are allergic to bee or wasp stings do not have ‘mild’ allergic reac tions,” explains Karen Talton, RN, MSN, Nurse Manager for Perry Hospital’s Emergency Department and ICU. “They will have a severe allergic reaction that can be fatal. However, in most of those cases, the person knows they are allergic and will have an epinephrine pen with them for emergencies. These pens also need to be checked regu larly to ensure the medicine has not expired.” To ease the symptoms of an insect bite, Emergency Department staff suggest the following: ■ Try to remove a stinger that can be seen. Use a fingernail, a knife edge or credit card to scrape against the skin. DO NOT squeeze or pull the stinger. ■ Apply ice or a cold compress to reduce the pain and swelling (keep a thin cloth between the cold source and the skin). Another common creature encountered during the sum mer is the snake. Most snake bites are usually harmless, but a few can be deadly. In the United States, poisonous snakes include rattlesnakes, cottonmouths, copperheads, and coral snakes. Even non poisonous snake bites may says Mary Jane Kinnas, director of marketing for Houston Healthcare. “We want this to be an educational event but also a fun time for children. Highlighting this year’s event, along with clowns and face painters, will be Court TV’s Digital Fingerprinting for children sponsored by Cox Media from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.” In addition to helping host the Family Fair, Middle Georgia Technical College’s Adult Literacy Program will host their second annual “Read for Your Life” 5K Relay/One Mile Fun Run on Saturday, August 5. The event will raise funds for schol arships to help the program’s GED tional dose at four to six years of age. ■ Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine - three to four doses recommended by 15 months of age. ■ Inactivated poliovirus vac cine (IPV) - four doses recom mended by six years of age. ■ Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) - four doses recommended by 15 months of age. ■ Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine - two doses recommended before six years of age. ■ Varicella (chickenpox) vac cine - one dose recommended before 18 months of age. ■ Influenza vaccine (the flu shot) - one or two doses recom mended annually for healthy children six to 23 months of age and for children six months and older with certain medical or other risks. ■ Hepatitis A vaccine - two doses recommended in select ed states and where the rates of hepatitis are at least twice the national average. Some parents may be hesi tant about having their child immunized because they are concerned that their child may experience a serious reaction sometimes cause an infection or allergic reaction. If someone is bitten by a snake: ■ DO NOT cut into the bite with a knife or razor. ■ DO NOT try to suc tion the venom out by mouth. ■ DO NOT put ice or a cold compress on the bite. ■ DO NOT apply a tight bandage, or tourniquet. For ANY snake bite, call 911 immediately. While wait ing for emergency services to arrive, do the following: ■ Stay calm. ■ Remove any rings, watches and tight clothing. ■ Keep the bitten area lower than the person’s heart. ■ Be alert for symp toms of poisoning, such as purple coloration, swelling, and severe pain near the bite. The type of medical treat ment a person receives upon arrival at the Emergency Department depends on the type of bite and how severe it is. The bite will be cleaned and inspected for the presence of venom. Depending on the type of snake, the person may be given antivenin. A tetanus shot may also be administered if the person has not had one in the last five years. According to Talton, the Perry Hospital Emergency Department sees from one to three poisonous snake bites each summer, mainly from copperheads. However, they see bites from pet snakes year round. “For snake bites, our staff needs to know what type of snake it was, the shape of its head and eyes, and the color of the snake,” explains Talton. “If at all possible, bring the snake with you to the hospital. We prefer them dead, of course, but we have had people bring their live pet snakes in with them to the ED. Proper containment for live snakes is greatly appreciated!” Another concern with both insect stings and snake bites is infection. That is why seek ing prompt medical treatment is crucial. “We are seeing a number of cases of community acquired staph infections in patients coming to the ED with what graduates continue their educations at Middle Georgia Technical College. “We believe adult literacy is a wor thy effort that enriches our com munity,” says Emily Taylor, Health Literacy Coordinator for Middle Georgia Technical College. “Our event last year created Book Money Scholarships for 10 of our 2006 GED graduates.” Registration for the 5K Relay/Fun Run will start at 8:30 a.m. at the Watson Boulevard entrance to the Galleria Mall. Trophies will be awarded for the quickest running times by age and gender categories, for the highest children up-to-date? Vaccinate! or that their child may get the illness the vaccine is supposed to prevent. Then there is the concern that, in some children, vacci natioris or the organic mercury compound thimerosal that has been used as a preservative in vaccines since the 19305, may cause autism, a developmental disorder characterized by mild to severe impairment of com munication and social interac tion skills. “Numerous studies have no found no such link between vaccines or thimerosal and autism,” explains Dr. Larry D. Stewart, a pediatrician on the medical staffs of Perry Hospital and Houston Medical Center. “In an effort to reduce childhood exposure to mer cury and other heavy metals, thimerosal was removed from children’s vaccines beginning in 1999. Today, vaccines for infants and young children contain very little or no thimerosal. Immunization is also not just for infants and young chil dren. There are a number of vaccines that are recommend ed for adolescents and adults, particularly those who may have missed receiving any rec- they think is an insect bite or an infected cut or wound,” you have a wound that does see your family physician for sting when in fact they have comments Talton. “Any time not heal properly you need to medical treatment.” *mam mmm I | 1 | H 'mmm ■f ■■f , -rr IBf _ Ain I ' *;• Y ■■ ■ : % % Wwm --wlgiM I 5 LOCAL ommended vaccines as infants or young children. These vac cines include: ■ Hepatitis A vaccine - rec ommended for adolescents and adults who live in certain states or communities, or who have liver disease or clotting-factor disorders, use illegal injecting or non-injecting drugs, travel to developing countries where Hepatitis A is common, or work in Hepatitis A research labs or with Hepatitis A-infect ed animals. ■ Hepatitis B vaccine . -- recommended for all ado lescents who have not previ ously received this vaccine and for adults, such as healthcare workers with certain medical or exposure risks. ■ Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) - recommended for travelers, laboratory and health care workers, and oth ers who may have contact with polioviruses. ■ Influenza vaccine (the flu shot) - recommended for all adolescents and adults 50 years or older including preg nant women, residents of long term care facilities, those who have chronic heart, lung, liver or kidney disease, asthma, or diabetes, health care work Houston Healthcare Houston Medical Center • Perry Hospital • Houston Heart Institute • hhc.org individual fundraiser, and for the highest team fundraiser. Taylor sug gests a minimurh donation of $lO per person, but encourages everyone to help spread the word about literacy by fundraising throughout the com munity. Following the run, MGTC’s Adult Literacy Program will be available during the Family Fair for anyone needing information about the pro gram. For more information about the “Read for Your Life” 5K Relay, call 929-6796. For more information about this year’s Family Fair, call Houston Health Source at 923-9771. ers and household contacts of people at risk for influenza related complications. ■ Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine - two doses are required for adolescents entering many middle and high schools and post-second ary institutions such as col leges and vocational schools. At least one dose is recom mended for all adults born after 1956 who have no medi cal history of receiving the vac cine or of actually having the disease. ■ Meningococcal vaccine - required or recommended by many colleges for incoming students, particularly those living in dormitories. ■ Pneumococcal vaccine - recommended for all adults 65 years or older as well as people 19 to 64 years old with diabe tes or chronic heart, lung, liver or kidney disease. Also recommended for Alaska Natives and certain American Indian populations, residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. ■ Tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccine - a booster dose is rec ommended every 10 years after the initial series of shots for both adolescents and adults. I if may be your heart, bones, blood, breast, knee or any organ. What is your doctor looking for? Quality and clarity. The best diagnosis and treatment start from high qualify images and test results. You have Hie power to help. Choose Houston Healthcare and its exceptional diagnostic technology. We offer a full range of Diagnostic Imaging, | and Cardiology Services including: • PET/CT Scan • 1 5 Tesla strength MRI • Nuclear Imaging * Cardiac Catheferizafion • Echocardiograms ' Ultrasound • Interventional Radiology *CT Scan Tell your doctor The <|ualify and clarity they want is at Houston Healthcqdßr * imi •’ * • Seeing is Healing. ■■ ■T HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL Heai^ 9 ■ Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine - recommended for teachers of young children, day care workers, residents and staff in institutional set tings, ‘non-pregnant women of childbearing age, students living in dormitories, military personnel, health care work ers and household contacts of immunocompromised persons or young children if they are unvaccinated or have never had the disease. “Vaccines are key to a healthy life for people of all ages and cultures in our com munity,” explains Dr. Gerald K. Brantley, an internist on the medical staff of Perry Hospital. “If you’re a healthy adult, you may not spend much time thinking about immunization. But getting the recommended adult immunizations is one of the most effective ways to stay healthy. For more information about immunizations, including which ones are recommended for children and adults, ask your pediatrician, family phy sician, or your local health department. For a referral to a physician, call Houston Health Source at 923-9771.