One of the huge challenges of parenthood is trying to keep your child safe. Children under the age of 6 years are at the highest risk because they do not understand the consequences of touching something hot such as a heated stove-top or steaming hot water from a faucet. Even the most vigilant parent can be briefly distracted. In a brief moment, a toddler can be accidentally injured. Read the full article by Drs. Beach and O'Donohoe.

As a community, how can we come together to provide essential life skills for our youth? Galveston ISD, Family Service Center of Galveston County, Teen Health Center, and UTMB’s Center for Violence Prevention, bring expertise and resources together through an initiative called Causeway Galveston. Learn more about Causeway Galveston and see how they help create a supportive culture that empowers youth to thrive in our community.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention release parent-friendly versions of the 2020 Recommended Vaccinations for birth to 18 years of age in English and Spanish. Download, share and learn about vaccine-preventable diseases and the vaccines that prevent them. Click the heading above to view immunization schedules in English and Spanish.

UTMB Health invites you to join in celebrating our planet. Artwork submissions are now being accepted to mark the start of the UTMB Health Earth Day Art Contest. The art contest is open to all students grades K-12. Winners will be announced during the event. You and your family are invited to attend and participate in various activities. Read the full announcement for details.

The illness we call the common cold is caused by a virus that infects the upper respiratory tract (nose, throat, and upper airway). There are no drugs available that kill these viruses. A cold cannot be “cured” by anything except time. The safest and cheapest approach is to let it run its course while you get lots of rest and drink plenty of fluids. Read full article to find out what to do and NOT TO DO.

Help develop kindness and caring. As with any skill, empathy can be taught and developed. Because cognitive abilities and life experiences develop over time, the most effective strategies to use depend on the child’s age. Learn more in this article of Keeping Kids Healthy.

We would like to recognize Dr. Terumi Midoro-Horiuti for being selected to receive the Robert G. Townley Memorial Lectureship at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology 2020 Annual meeting. This is a true testament on the quality of care you can expect to received at UTMB Health Pediatrics.

The Galveston County Daily News, January 15, 2020 In this installment of their popular column, UTMB’s Megan Berman and Richard Rupp help readers understand why it is important that adolescents receive the human papillomavirus vaccine.

Websites are NOT required to post safety warning associated with toys. When buying presents for your child, select toys that are age-appropriate. No matter how mature you think that your child is, he or she should not play with toys that are meant for an older age group. Read the full article for tips on how to choose age-appropriate toys.

RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Almost all children get RSV at least once before they are two years old. For most healthy children, RSV is like a cold, but it can be severe for some infants. Here are things you can do to prevent the spread of RSV.

The holidays are usually a happy and joyful time, but it can also be very stressful. Children stuck at home, along with an array of holiday tasks, can lead to stressful situations and spanking. Please don’t Spank Your Child for the Holidays! Several studies have shown that corporal punishment is ineffective in correcting behaviors in the long-term. Spanking has been shown to cause adverse outcomes in children during childhood and later in life.

We would like to recognize the newest Pediatric Faculty to join the AMT, Dr. Marie Dawlett. Congratulations to all our faculty members who have been selected as educators of the month during 2019. This is a true testament on the quality of care you can expect to received at UTMB Health Pediatrics.

In this Keeping Kids Healthy article, Dr. Sally Robinson discusses the myth that cold weather causes the common cold. Although it may seem that way, the cold and flu are caused by viruses. The decrease in the humidity in the air during the cold time of year allows these viruses to be more active. The best prevention against the common cold is to stay away from people with a cold and practice good hygiene.