Posted by: drmolly in safety, outdoors, job, chores on
Sep 03, 2009
Did you know 16,000 children each year seek emergency care for injuries that result from lawn mower use? Cutting the grass is one of those weekly chores on many families' "to do" lists, so knowing when a child is ready to tackle the job and precautions to take are important.
I remember when my brothers were finally old enough to use the lawnmower and cut the grass at our house. The first week or two, they were thrilled. Using a motorized
In the late summer and early fall mosquitoes are abundant and so are those pesky, itchy bug bites. But sometimes the bug bites can cause severe illness, too.
Even in a dry summer like the one we have had, millions of mosquitoes emerge each evening around dusk and each morning near dawn to feast on the animals and people out and about. Mosquitoes are indiscriminate feeders and will bite anything with blood flowing. Sometimes, these bitten
Posted by: drmolly in skin, rash, poison ivy, outdoors, nature on
Aug 28, 2009
With summer hiking, exploring grasslands near the beach or digging in a neighborhood park comes the possibility of running across poison ivy, oak or sumac. These summertime scourges look like unassuming ground cover but can cause up to three weeks of itchy, blistery discomfort.
Michigan is chock full of these unassuming plants that are chock full of urushiol, the oil that when it comes in contact with skin, causes a significant allergic
I love being outdoors. Every chance I get, even in the winter, I am dragging my poor kids on a hike, bike ride or a swim. I want my kids to love being outdoors and being active, but I also want them to make safe choices about the things they choose to do.
I never want to discourage a child from being active. If a kid likes to bike, I say go for it! If a child loves to skateboard, head to a skatepark and go to town! Swim every day if you
Ahh, spring! It is finally upon us and with it comes warmer weather, budding trees, bike rides and bugs. Mosquitoes don't make their debut until next month but spiders are here already as are fleas on our pets.
We react to bug bites with itching, swelling and redness because we are allergic to the bug's saliva or stinger. Some of us are more allergic than others and as a result, our whole face or arm or leg might swell as a result of the bug
Posted by: drmolly in sunscreen, skin, outdoors, infant on
Apr 07, 2009
I have a confession to make. Even though I am a very fair skinned Irish American woman in my mid 40s, I love the sun and actively seek it out whenever possible, to soak in the warmth and develop a radiance to my skin that the cool and damp climes of my genetic roots didn't prepare my skin for. When I was a child, sunscreen as we know it today barely existed and most people just used tanning oils and even tin foil covered surfaces to increase
Posted by: drmolly in outdoors, nature, camp on
Mar 10, 2009
Even if you didn't go to summer camp, you have an image of what it looks like: wooden cabins with bunk beds, a mess hall and rustic bathrooms frame the picture. The camp is idyllically set in a beautiful wooded area with access to a lake and all the fun that entails. Sing alongs, campfires, counselors and lifelong friendships round out the image. These are accurate images of fantastic camps all over the state and the country but most go well
