Phone:

(403) 823-3345

Address:

140 Riverside Dr E, Drumheller, AB, T0J 0Y4

Health, Home, Image, Medical, Mental Health, Posts with image, Research, standard, Text posts Jamie Gerlinger

Day-Light Savings Ends November 3, 2024

The end of daylight-saving time is on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 2 a.m. As parents of young children, gaining an extra hour in the day takes on a new meaning.
Below are some guidelines to help you and your child adjust to the time change.
For babies & toddlers
– For young children who are still napping, stretch their normal first nap time (according to the new clock – if they usually nap at 10 a.m., try to make it as close to the new 10 a.m. as possible). Even if your child is awake longer than usual and they want to nap earlier, do what you can to keep them awake and occupied.
– Do the same thing for subsequent naps and bedtime -it will likely mean dealing with some cranky moments, but it will be worth the effort. By getting your child to nap at their regular time(s), you will help them achieve their regular bedtime without becoming too overtired By going to bed at the usual time, your child is less likely to wake early.
For preschoolers & children
– If your child is no longer napping, they may have a longer day ahead of them, be sure to spend the day keeping to your child’s routines, activities and meals at the usual times (according to the new clock).
– The night before the time change put your child to sleep at night a little later. For example, based on a 7:30 p.m. bedtime, bedtime would be moved later by 15 to 30 minutes to 7:45 or 8:00 p.m.
– On the night of the time change and for the next couple of nights, adjust bedtime earlier, working towards regular bedtime. For example, if your child’s usual bedtime is 7:30 p.m., start with a 7:00 p.m. bedtime (which will feel like 8:00 p.m. to the child) and gradually increase to 7:30 p.m. over next few nights.
– To help you and your child sleep later, as sunrise is about one hour earlier after the time change, ensure that your child’s room is very dark, otherwise you may find your child continuing to wake early in response to morning light.
With patience and consistency this fall time change will soon be a distant memory.
Pleasant dreams!
Health, Home, Image, Medical, Mental Health, Posts with image, standard, Text posts Jamie Gerlinger

Halloween Safety: Tips to Protect Little Ghosts and Goblins By Misty Harris

Good-natured frights are half the fun of Halloween—but not when it comes to kids’ safety. On Oct. 31, let’s limit the scares to haunted houses, ghost stories and overly filtered Instagram selfies. By following these Halloween safety tips, you can help protect children from everything but the inevitable sugar rush.
See and Be Seen
• Promote visibility by choosing light-colored costumes and using glow sticks, flashlights or reflective tape.
• Masks are a recipe for more spills than thrills, so try using face paint instead.
• When crossing the street, use designated intersections and crosswalks, and always look both ways.
• Trick-or-treating in a group will help drivers see you more easily. It’s also way more fun.
Spiriting Away
• If your older ghosts are flying solo, walk through the route with them early in the week, and have set times for them to check in.
• Dashing from house to house is treacherous business if a costume is too long. Be sure to choose an outfit that won’t drag or get caught on things easily.
• Reinforce to your children that if someone invites them to come inside their house or vehicle to warm up, they should say no and immediately report it to a trusted adult.
• Be sure to check your children’s candy when they come home to ensure it’s safe (this includes guarding against potential choking hazards and allergens).
Driving Diligence
• Drivers should try to make eye contact with pedestrians. Masks, costumes and ‘Candy Distraction Disorder’ can diminish a child’s view of the road.
• Avoid in-vehicle distractions such as cell phones, loud music.
• If you’re planning to party, put the keys away and ensure you have a safe ride home.
• Watch your speed in residential areas—especially near playgrounds or schools, which often serve as neighborhood meeting spots.
• Be on the lookout for kids darting out from between parked cars.
With a little preparation and extra caution, we can make this a frightfully fabulous Halloween for everyone. Just watch out for that sugar rush—it’s a bedtime-killer.
Health, Home, Image, Medical, Mental Health, Posts with image, Research, standard, Text posts Jamie Gerlinger

Flu Vaccine

The flu vaccine is your best defense against the flu. The flu vaccine is recommended every year in the fall or winter, ideally before the flu season starts.
The flu vaccine protects you by:
• helping prevent serious flu-related complications
• reducing your chances of getting the flu at the same time as other respiratory illnesses, which could make you very sick
• protecting the health care system from becoming overwhelmed during respiratory illness season
Everyone is at risk of influenza. You should get the influenza vaccine if you are 6 months or older.
Influenza can make you very sick and lead to other health problems, especially if:
• You have heart or lung conditions, diabetes, a weak immune system, a lot of extra weight, or other health problems.
• You live in a care facility, like a continuing care home.
• You are under age 5 years.
• You are age 65 years or older.
• You are pregnant.
• You are an Indigenous person.
It is important to get the influenza vaccine each year, especially if:
• You have a high risk of getting very sick from influenza.
• You have close contact with someone who is at high risk of getting very sick from influenza, such as family members and caregivers.
• You are a healthcare provider. (Getting the vaccine helps to protect you and the people you care for.)
Where to get the flu vaccine
Pharmacists can give the influenza vaccine to anyone age 5 years and older.
Children under age 5 years and their families can get the influenza vaccine for Alberta Health Services influenza immunization clinics. Clinics are open from late October to the end of March.
Health, Home, Image, Medical, Mental Health, Posts with image, Research, standard, Text posts Jamie Gerlinger

AHS – Pediatric Rehabilitation Services

AHS – Pediatric rehabilitation helps children and youth live the best life they can, build resilience, and take part in the activities meaningful to them and their families.
For information on the topics listed below please visit: https://myhealth.alberta.ca/…/Pediat…/Pages/default.aspx
– Behaviors, emotions & social skills
– Breathing
– Communication
– Daily living skills
– Developmental milestones
– Eating, feeding & swallowing
– Fine motor skills
– Gross motor skills
– Hearing
– Infant head & neck
– Injuries & pain
– Play & activity
– Supports for mobility & positioning
Health, Home, Image, Medical, Mental Health, Posts with image, Research, standard Jamie Gerlinger

October 20 to 26, 2024 – Canadian Youth Road Safety Week

This years’ focus is to encompass all youth road users, including drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists and transit users, with the goal of empowering youth ages 15 to 24 to become more involved in road safety issues, to create and support road systems in our communities that are safe and equitable.
Road crashes are the third-leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 24 in Canada, making youth some of the most vulnerable on our roads.
Factors that make roads safer and proven measures to protect young people
Safe speeds
Speed is a factor in around a quarter of fatal crashes. A pedestrian hit at 50 km/h is six times more likely to die than if hit at 30 km/h.
• Keeping speeds at 30 km/h in areas where people walk, cycle and play.
• Traffic calming measures such as speed bumps, roundabouts and road narrowing to ensure that speeds remain low.
Active transport
Walking, cycling and scooting are great ways to boost our health and reduce emissions – but we need to be able to do it safely. Youth are more likely to choose active transport when roads are built to keep them safe.
• Separated bike lanes reduce injuries and deaths by up to 90 per cent.
• Pedestrian pathways and transit connections make active travel an easy choice.
Public transit access
Cars and trucks produce 53 per cent of Canada’s transport emissions – public transit can help change that. Forty per cent of low-income residents on big cities lack access to jobs, healthcare and more. For rural and northern areas, this is an even bigger challenge.
• Expanding transit options to make travel safer and more equitable for youth.
• More transit means fewer collisions, less pollution and greater access for all.
Impaired driving
Impaired driving remains one of the leading causes of preventable crashes.
• Harm reduction methods such as designated drivers, rideshare access and public transit can prevent impaired driving.
• Youth can raise awareness of these strategies and encourage their peers to choose safe options.
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