Tag Archives: safety

Car Seat Safety

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Car seat safety is a big deal. While the rate of motor vehicle-related deaths have significantly decreased over the past 12 years (a 45% drop), it is still the leading cause of death for children ages 4 and older. For every 1 child who dies in a motor vehicle accident, approximately 18 more are hospitalized, and another 400 children require some type of medical intervention.

One of the more confusing aspects of choosing a car seat has to do with the lack of consistency between the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and New York State law. The confusion surrounds age and weight limits, infant versus child, rear-facing versus forward-facing, convertible versus booster, and back seat versus front seat. There are hundreds of options available when choosing a car seat. The AAP updated the car seat guidelines in 2011. These guidelines include age expansion for rear-facing car seats, as well as vehicle safety for older kids. Continue reading →

Summer Safety

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Like many of us, you may be celebrating the spring blossoms, the warmer weather, and, most importantly, the temporary relief from snow! This time of year many families are preparing for summer camps, swimming pools, and family vacations. Like many parents, you may be wondering about how to keep your children healthy and safe in the context of summer activities in a culture of ever-changing recommendations.

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ACL Tears in Young Athletes – How Can We Prevent This?

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Every year several of our young athletes at Legacy Pediatrics experience a significant knee injury. A torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) can be devastating to the athlete both physically and emotionally. The numbers of ACL injuries in young athletes, especially in teenage girls, is skyrocketing and a great deal of research is underway both to better understand the problem and to find a solution. A new study may help unlock this problem: increasing strength in supporting muscles and changing the warm up routines of young athletes before practices and games could greatly lower the risk of these athletes experiencing an ACL injury.

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