This weekend’s expected winter weather could cause problems across North Texas. If you are a member of Parkland Community Health Plan, there are services available to help you. Important Phone Numbers For medical emergencies, call 9-1-1. For information on evacuations, shelters, and recovery assistance, call 2-1-1. Call Member Services (available Monday - Friday, 8 am to 5 pm) if you need to Get an emergency prescription refill. Replace necessary medical equipment, services, or supplies. Get a new copy ...
For most people, technology is an important part of daily life. While it can be helpful in many ways, there are also times when it can be harmful, especially for children and teens. As a parent, you want to make sure your child is staying safe online and making healthy choices about the time they spend on electronic devices. Looking for tips on how to manage technology use? Try the steps below to get started. Define “healthy” technology use for your family. Set limits on how long your child ca...
If you’re a parent or caregiver, you know it’s important to keep your children safe. And when it comes to being safe on the road, having the right car seat is essential! What kind of car seat does my child need? Your child will need different types of car seats as they grow. If the seat is too large or too small, it may not offer enough protection. When your child reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer, they should move to the next type of car seat. Rear-facing car...
Your baby’s bath times may be some of your favorite moments of their first years. While you’re washing their skin and hair, you are also making time to bond with your new son or daughter. There’s another important goal for bath time—safety. Babies can drown in just a few inches of water. While drownings are rare, it is much more common for babies to suffer other types of injuries in the tub. Are you ready to make bath time as risk-free as possible for your baby? Read through the safety tips below. Start...
For many women, pregnancy can be an exciting time as they get ready for the birth of their baby. Unfortunately, some women have high levels of stress and worry during pregnancy as a result of intimate partner violence. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 6% of women who have recently given birth experienced emotional, physical, or sexual violence during pregnancy by a current intimate partner. In some cases, the partner may feel jealous about how much attention ...
Texas is known for its hot summer days. And Texans know how to beat the heat during normal summer days. The rules are different, however, for extreme heat. “Extreme heat” means two or more days that are much hotter than average. According to the American Red Cross, extreme heat kills more people than any other weather event. Air conditioning and fans can help you to stay cool—unless the power goes out. Plan now with the tips below so you and your family can stay safe during an extreme heat emergency. Le...
Spring has arrived in North Texas – and the warmer weather can also mean a chance for severe storms in our area. Are you and your family are prepared to deal with the impact of bad weather? Check out these tips for staying safe and healthy during a storm. What Can You Do Before Storms Arrive? Make an emergency plan. Decide what family members will do during the storm. Know where everyone will meet if you split up. Write down emergency contacts and your family’s important personal information. Rem...
Most children are drawn to animals. As soon as they can walk, children try to pet, play with and feed treats to the family dog, the neighborhood cat, wildlife or pets owned by friends. Unfortunately, animals can—and often do—bite. Even if the wound seems small, it can become seriously infected. What can parents to do help their children stay safe around dogs, cats and other animals? What should parents do if their child is bitten, scratched, or injured in some other way? Get answers by reading th...
Using medicine for illnesses and injuries are a normal part of raising a family. This could include treating headaches, sore throats, infections, nausea, poison ivy, allergies, or many other conditions. Medicines come in many forms, including: Sometimes you will need a prescription from a doctor. You can also buy many medicines at your local store or pharmacy. These are called “over-the counter” drugs or medicines. To make sure you buy the right medicine, you will need to read the label. To learn more a...
Sleeping next to your baby may seem natural – but it can be dangerous for the baby. Every year in the US, about 3,400 babies die from sleep-related causes. Many of these deaths occur while newborns or babies are sleeping with parents or other caregivers. When you are extra tired from the demands of caring for a baby, it’s easy to fall asleep holding them in your own bed, on a couch, or in your favorite chair. Don’t do it! Keep your baby safe while they’re sleeping. Learn more with the safe sleeping tips...
If you’re like most families, you spend more time at home than anywhere else. So it’s no surprise that many childhood injuries, from cuts and scrapes to burns and falls, happen there. The good news is, with a little planning and effort, you can childproof every room in your home. Learn how with these tips from Dr. Sheila Capre-Franceschi, MD, a board-certified pediatrician in North Texas. Safety Tips for Every Room in the House Even before they start walking, your babies and toddlers can move ver...
It’s almost time for summer fun outdoors. Whether you like team sports, a solo bike ride, or enjoying the warm weather as a family, summer has something for everyone. As you plan your outdoor exercise, be sure to keep safety in mind. That way, you’ll prevent the accidents and injuries that can keep you from your favorite activities. Learn more: Check out these summer safety tips from Dr. Mary Strength, a pediatrician in north Texas. How to stay safe at the playground For young children, a trip to the pl...
Taking Care of Your Mental Health If you have mental health needs, it’s important to deal with them, especially before they get worse and become a crisis. No mental health journey is the same – but the information below can help you lead a peaceful life. Depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder are some of the most common mental health conditions. These conditions can be managed with counseling and/or medication. Most people who have symptoms of depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder can successfull...
Planning ahead for severe weather is an important way to stay safe and healthy. That’s especially true if you have asthma or diabetes. Hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, floods, and other disasters can hit close to home. If you lost electrical power, would you be able to find your medication? If you had to evacuate, would you be ready to pack all medical supplies? Follow the tips here to plan ahead and take good care of yourself—rain or shine. Emergency Planning for Asthma Before the disaster: Ask your docto...
About one in five children and teens report being bullied. If your child has a disability or special health need, they are more likely to be bullied, according to stopbullying.gov . You can help your child by: Learning about the different types of bullying Making it easier for your child to discuss their experiences Finding school-based and other resources to help prevent—or stop—bullying First, it’s important to understand the definition of bullying. Bullying can be verbal, social, or physical, such as...
The holidays are a fun break from routine. You and your family might plan to visit or host friends and family, enjoy time off from school, and try new foods, games, and toys. With just a little more planning, you can prevent a trip to the emergency room during this busy time of year. Dr. Mariel Silva, a pediatrician in North Texas, explains why families end up at the ER—and how to avoid it. What are common reasons for holiday ER visits? According to Dr. Silva, parents take children to the emergency room...
Your hospital stay is over—but your recovery could continue for weeks or months. You might be back home after surgery. Maybe you stayed in the hospital for a serious illness or accident. No matter what sent you there, follow your doctor’s instructions and the tips below. We want to help you stay safe at home, so you don’t end up back in a hospital bed! Write down all instructions. New medications? Changes to current prescriptions? Write it down so you’ll remember. Make sure you have enough medication be...
Late summer is the perfect time to enjoy meals outdoors. However, on hot days, it’s more important than ever to follow food safety rules. Otherwise, bacteria inside and on the surface of food items can grow to dangerous levels. This can cause food poisoning and other serious illnesses in adults and children. Be sure to protect food—and everything that touches it—when you are preparing or serving meals or wrapping up leftovers. Just remember the four rules of food safety: Clean Separate Cook Chill Clean ...
Another school year is about to start. If your child has asthma, it’s important to make sure they have a plan to stay healthy during the school day. Get prepared by following the tips below: Work with your child’s doctor to create an Asthma Action Plan that explains how to treat different asthma symptoms when they happen. Stay up to date with vaccines. Make sure your child gets their yearly flu shot and recommended COVID shots (including boosters). Make sure to take controller asthma medicines as prescr...
For many families, summer is the best season for fun. It offers a break from school, sunny skies and extended daylight. However, when you and your children are out in the high temperatures and bright skies of Texas, you have higher risk of illness and injury. How can my family stay safe at the pool? One fun—but risky—activity is swimming. When it’s time to cool off at the pool or beach, be sure to follow good safety habits. For example, make sure each child is supervised by an adult, and that everyone l...
Skin cancer starts out small, but it can cause big problems. The good news is that, with a little effort, you can prevent it from starting—or spreading. Learn how to protect your family with these great tips. What is skin cancer? Skin cancer is an abnormal growth of skin cells. It usually starts on areas of the body that are exposed to sunlight. However, skin cancer can show up anywhere. The most common type of cancer are: squamous cell carcinoma basal cell carcinoma melanoma Melanoma is much less commo...
You teach your child to look both ways before crossing the street. You use baby gates and keep medication, scissors and hot beverages up high, out of reach. What about environmental hazards? “Environment” means both indoors and outdoors. “Hazards” are substances in the air, in water or in everyday household items that can harm your child’s health. Watch as North Texas Pediatrician Dr. Mary Strength explains different types of environmental hazards and how children can be at higher risk from them. One co...
In March, we celebrate both National Nutrition Month ® and St. Patrick’s Day. That makes it the perfect month to focus on green foods. Call them veggies. Call them “salad fixins.” Whatever you call them, leafy greens and vegetables help people of all ages to grow and stay strong and healthy. What are the health benefits of green foods? Vegetables and leafy greens taste great. They are low-cost, especially in the spring and summer. Best of all, these foods have several health benefits: Low in calories, w...
You probably already know that Texas law requires children to ride in a car seat. But did you know you can get a car seat for free? Free car seats are just one of many Value-Added Services for pregnant women and new moms enrolled in a STAR Medicaid or CHIP insurance plan. Keep reading to learn more about: Types of car seats for babies, toddlers, and older children How to get a free car seat How to get help installing your car seat Types of car seats Car seats are made by many different companies, or bra...
It’s back to school time—but there’s plenty of summer left in Texas. That means high humidity, temperatures in the 90s, and lots of bright sun. People of all ages can become seriously ill during hot days . However, babies and young children are at even higher risk. So before you head out for the day, check this list of summer safety tips. Even if you can’t follow them all 100%, every bit helps to keep your family safe and healthy. Check the weather forecast and plan ahead Whether you’re going for a walk...
Spring and summer bring picnics and eating outdoors. It also means you can find great deals on your favorite fruits and vegetables. However, hot days and nights can cause food to spoil more quickly. That can lead to throwing out food before you get to enjoy it. Eating spoiled food can also lead to food poisoning. How can you protect your food—and your family—during the warmer months? Take a look at the tips below for some easy ways to make food last longer. Check your refrigerator settings Your refriger...