Poison Alert

Have you seen the detergent pods that are out on the market now? At first sight they seem like a fabulous and easy alternative to traditional laundry and dish washing detergents. They are easy, no mess, individually packed, perfectly sized packets of cleanliness. No more over "soaping" the dishwasher or washing machine. Dishes and clothes alike come out clean without much hassle. The problem comes in that these packets are on the rise in accidental poisonings in children. 

The pods are colorful and squishy and very inviting for little fingers. Poison control centers around the country have found that the inviting packages are being mistaken for candy. They are also easy to puncture which adds to the possibility of them being ingested or even to have the detergent shoot into a child's eyes causing other potential problems. 

If you use these detergent pods please remember to have them locked away in a secure place. Put them up high and out of reach for those little hands you love so well. Convenience is welcome but safety of our little ones is much more important. 

Flu Shots Now Available!

Utah County Health Department now has Flu Shots available at all of our locations!

Type of Flu Shots 

Traveling Clinics

School Immunzations

Can you believe that summer is coming to a close and school is just around the corner? With summer winding down your "To Do List" is probably growing, with preparations for school taking up most of your time. As you create your list don't forget about one very important "To Do", school immunizations!

Did you know that the Health Department has opened a satellite office in American Fork and that they are offering multiple clinics throughout the county this fall for immunizations? If you want to find out if there will be one in your area go to the new blog, utahcountyshots.blogspot.com

Protection against Whooping Cough

Protect yourself and your children by receiving the Pertussis Vaccine

Whooping cough is on the rise and Utah County is NOT an exception.
Recently, the CDC reported there have been over 18,000 confirmed cases of whopping cough (Pertussis) already this year, the highest it has been in 5 years. Whooping cough, also know as the 100 day cough, is very contagious and can easily be spread from one person to the next.

With kids returning to school in a few weeks the opportunity to spread and/or be infected with Pertussis may increase. It is very important to take the time to make sure your children are up to date on all of their immunizations, especially Pertussis, before school starts.

Parents and other adults should also receive a booster shot as medical research has shown that immunity for Pertussis decreases over time. This is especially important because whooping cough may not present itself the same way in adults, they may think they only have a cold and can unknowingly spread the disease to smaller children and babies.

If you have a new baby it is especially important for friends, family and anyone who may be in contact with your baby to be immunized before they see or hold the baby.

TDap (Tetnus, Diptheria, and Pertussis) is available at the Utah County Health Department in Provo and at our new satellite office in American Fork, both locations are walk-in clinics.

If you have any questions, you can call the Utah County Health Department (UCHD) Immunizations Clinic at 801-851-7025.

UCHD Provo
151 S University Ave
Provo, Utah
Hours: 8:00am-4:30pm Monday through Friday

UCHD American Fork
599 S 500 E
American Fork, UT
Hours: 8:30am-4:00pm Monday through Friday
Closed for Lunch from Noon-1:00pm

Firework Safety

July 4th is next week and in light of all of the fires burning throughout the state, I thought it would be a good idea to give a few reminders on fire and firework safety.

• Only use fireworks outside and away from buildings and dry grass
• Have a large bucket of water and a hose hooked up and ready to use before lighting fireworks
• Never let children light fireworks
• Use safety goggles and read all "Caution" labels before lighting fireworks
• Never hold a child on your lap while using Sparklers
• Be aware of local laws, many restrictions have been placed because of the heat and dry weather. 

Below I've placed links for firework restrictions for individual cities in UT County. If you don't see your city here go to their city web page for up to date information. 

Alpine

Cedar Hills

Eagle Mountain

Genola

Highland

Lehi

Lindon

Mapleton

Orem

Payson

Pleasant Grove

Provo (Fireworks banned on all parts of BYU campus)

Santaquin

   News Release

Spanish Fork 

Springville

Utah County

Fun in the Sun

With summer here most of us will spend as much time as we can outside enjoying the sunshine and warm weather. Swimming, running through sprinklers, riding bikes, hiking, baseball games, bbq's, hide n' go seek and just watching the clouds go by are some favorite activities for kids! As fun as it is to be outside enjoying the weather it is extremely important for us to remember to  protect those little ones and ourselves with sunscreen. 





Putting sunscreen on only takes a few extra moments but provides much needed protection. The CDC suggests using SPF 15 or higher. Using sunscreen greatly diminishes the possibility of sunburn which in turn decreases the amount of time spent indoors treating those painful sunburns and increases the amount of time you can spend having fun with your kids! So take a minute, put on sunscreen, protect yourself and your beautiful children and have a fabulous day.

Free Car Seat Safety Check This Saturday!

With all of the fun summer activities in full swing, I would plan for one more that may save the life of your child. Tomorrow, June 9th, Utah County Health Department is sponsoring a FREE car seat check event at RC Willy in Orem from 10am-Noon.

So come by for a free hot dog lunch and take a few minutes to make sure your child's car seat will keep them safe through all of your fun summer plans!

Oh, What Do You Do In The Summer Time

Summer is here! School is getting out, the weather is warming up and some parents may be wondering where they can find fun kid friendly activities in Utah County. Well I did some research and here are a few local options for this weekend. I will post additional ideas in the coming weeks.  Enjoy!

Saturdays from June 2nd to Oct 27th
Provo Farmers Market
Pioneer Park, 500 W Center St, Provo
9am-2pm

June 3rd-24th every Sunday Night
Utah Premiere Brass Band Series
North Park, 500 N 500 W, Provo
7pm

June 1, 2012
Provo Gallery Stroll
452 W Center St, Provo (Covey Arts Center)
6pm-9pm

June 2, 2012
Utah Lake State Park Festival
4400 W Center St, Provo UT
10am-2pm

Celebrating Celiac Disease!

It is Celiac Disease Awareness Month and I want to celebrate! You may be thinking, "Celebrate Celiac Disease? What is there to celebrate?" Well, I'll tell you. 

1. There IS a Celiac Disease Awareness month! This in and of itself is amazing, we are getting the word out and helping people figure out why they are sick and giving them hope for a healthier future.

2. Even though eating gluten free can be overwhelming at times, whether you've just been diagnosed or have been eating gluten free for years, there are more and more "good tasting" options and  resources available everyday!

3. Restaurants are starting to pay attention and there are quite a few here in the county that offer gluten free menu's and that work hard at stopping cross contamination.

*PF Changs *Costa Vida *Pizza Pie Cafe *Chili's *Barbacoa Mexican Grill *Outback Steak House

GIG Chef to Plate Listings (on the left you will see a state list, click on Utah and scroll through to find addresses and phone numbers of participating restaurants)

4. Being on a GF diet clears up most if not all of my, oh so uncomfortable, symptoms from celiac disease.

5. With CD being genetic more often than not some of your other family members have to eat GF too so you aren't alone.

6. If you don't know how to cook, you get to learn a new skill!

7. Many of our local grocery stores now have Gluten Free sections: Macey's, Harmon's, Good Earth, Sunflower Market, and even Walmart, making cooking at home even easier!

8. I have learned that gluten free brownies can taste better than regular brownies, really they can, and they don't make me sick!

9. I love talking to others about cooking gluten free and really love helping them see that it is not as hopeless as they feel it is. I especially like giving gluten free treats to people who don't have celiac and then having them ask me for my recipe!

10. There are fun activities next week for the community!
             
 Thursday, May 17th we will be having a gluten free cooking class. See our previous post for information.

 Saturday, May, 19th the Gluten Intolerance Group of UT county will be holding a Gluten Free Food Fair @ University Mall  See the flyer below.

 I love hearing about why you celebrate celiac disease and being gluten free! Please let me know how you plan on celebrating this month.

Gluten Free Cooking Class

May is Celiac Disease Awareness Month and we will be holding a gluten free cooking class! The class is free and open to the public.

We will be making bread and talking about modifying recipes, snack ideas for kids, and much more. Space will be limited so please sign up for the class by commenting here or by calling 801.851.7058.


FYI: The class is held in the County Admin Building, in the basement level, which is the USU Extension offices.

4th National Medicine Take Back Day

Saturday April 28th is a great day to clean out your medicine cabinets and dispose of all your old medications. Utah is participating in the 4th National Medicine Take Back Day and there are locations throughout the state where you can bring your expired or unused medications and have them disposed of properly and safely.

This is a great opportunity to help keep your kids safe! Every year children are poisoned by getting into unused portions of medications both over the counter and prescription.

Follow the link below for information on your local drop-off area.

Medicine Take Back Day



Drop-off Locator

Medicaid Information Breach

As many of you know the Utah State Medicaid system was breached recently and a hotline has been set up for  those seeking information and to find out if your Social Security number was one of those stolen.

The toll free hotline number is : 1-855-238-3339 

It is staffed 24/7 and is available in English and Spanish.

For up-to-date information on the security breach and for help in protecting yourself and your credit you can access www.health.utah.gov/databreach.

Easter Activities

With Easter this weekend there are multiple activities in Utah County and many of them are free to the public. I have compiled a list below with links to UtahValley.com for more details on the activities themselves.

Friday April 6th
Annual Community Easter Concert
American Leadership Academy
898 W 1100 S, Spanish Fork
7:30pm, Free and open to all ages

Saturday April 7th

Easter Egg Hunts

Hee Haw Farms
150 S 2000 W, Pleasant Grove
10am, $5 dollars per person 3yrs and older

Orem City
Mountain View High School Football Field
665 W Center St, Orem
9am, Free and activities are for children 0-11yrs old

Payson City
439 W Utah Ave, Payson
All Day, Free to the public

Spanish Fork City
Spanish Fork Sports Complex
295 W Volunteer Dr
9am, Free to the public

Eagle Mountain City
Nolan Park
Sparrow Hawk Way, Eagle Mtn
10:30am sharp, Free and activities are for children 0-12yrs old

Provo City
Pioneer Park
500 W Center Street, Provo
10am, Free for 0-10yrs old

The Shops at Riverwoods 
Pancake Breakfast & Egg Hunt
4801 N University Ave, Provo
8:30am-11:30am, $2.99 for pancakes/person

Thanksgiving Point Electric Park
3003 N Thanksgiving Point Way, Lehi
10am-3pm, $9.00/child

Let's Go Fly a Kite!

The weather forecast for Utah tomorrow calls for warm but windy weather. If you are looking for something to do with your kids, tomorrow would be a great day to go out and fly kites! For those of you who want easy and cheap, most dollar stores carry kites these days. If you want to make a fun project out of it you can easily make kites and then go fly them. I remember that being one of my favorite pastimes as a young girl, especially decorating my kite. 

Below is a video I found on YouTube.com that gives instructions on how to make a traditional kite. 

If you don't have a lot of time this option is quick, easy, and fun!

(If you are here in the area be aware that the winds are supposed to pick up even more in the late afternoon so plan accordingly as they may be too strong for small children to have fun.)

We would love to see pictures of your kites! You can submit pictures to be posted on our blog by emailing welcomebabyutahcounty@gmail.com.

Spring Has Sprung!

Happy Spring!  I am excited to say that the random "day before spring snowstorm" has come and gone and the sun is out again and warming up Utah Valley. I don't know about you but I am excited for the warmer weather, longer days, and outside fun. I decided to compile a few fun activities you and your kids may enjoy.

1. Neighborhood Sidewalk Chalk art shows: get all the kids together in the neighborhood and have them "chalk it up".
2. Attend the Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday April 7th at Pioneer park in Provo.

3. Go on a bike ride or rollerskating
4. Have a picnic in your backyard

5. Walk around the neighborhood and look at the flowers blooming and the leaves coming out on the trees.
6.  Have story time outside in the sunshine
7. Make homemade bubbles

Did you know that there are multiple parks in Utah County that have "Born Learning Trails" . (For more information click on the link above to go to United Ways webpage)

• Bicentennial Park (Provo)            1400 S 1600 E
• Orchard Elementary (Orem)         1035 N 800 E
• Dry Creek Trail (Payson)             West Park at Dry Mountain Park, one block up
• Sports Park (Spanish Fork)          295 W Volunteer Dr (950 S Main Street)
• Olympic Park (Lehi) 1650 N 2650 W- Parkside subdivision
• IHC DayCare (Provo) 1041 N 500 W
• IHC DayCare (American Fork) South of American Fork Hospital

I hope you will go out and enjoy the sunshine as much as I will and don't forget the sunscreen!

St Patrick's Day Activities

Saturday is St Patrick's Day and I thought it would be fun to offer a few ideas for kids of all ages.

Free Local Activities

Kids Club St Patty's Day Celebration: Provo Macey's from 10am to 11:30am
For children 3 to 12 years old (must be accompanied by an adult)

Go to your local library and check out books on St Patrick's Day and have reading time when you get home.

Watch a children's movie about St Patty's Day, shamrocks or leprechauns (i.e. Disney's, "Darby O'Gill and the Little People" amazon.com has it for rent on their instant video option)

(I just found out from a friend that "Darby O'Gill and the Little people" will be shown on byuTV Friday March 16th at 7pm MST)

At Home Activities


Treasure Hunt 
Draw a simple map of your home. Hide a treasure somewhere in a room, this could be a small toy, snack, or coloring page. Explain the map to your kids then put an "X" on where the treasure is and let them go look for the treasure.
Variations:
1. For multiple children  photocopy the map and place a treasure for each child in a different area of the house
2. For older children place clues at different spots in the house, making it into a scavenger hunt.


Outdoor Treasure Hunt
Make a list of "I Spy" items, (i.e. a red car, a big dog, a blossoming spring flower, a bird, etc) taking the list with you walk around your neighborhood helping your children find the items. Mark them off as you go and then have a special treat when you return home.

Draw and cut out Shamrocks and write " It's your Lucky day! From your friendly neighborhood Leprechaun!" Take one of the treats from below to a neighbor and leave it with the note, knock and run.


Fun Food Ideas
Cook pancakes or waffles for breakfast and add green food coloring to the batter.

Make mint chocolate chip cookies,  pistachio pudding, or mint chocolate ice cream

Make cupcakes with green frosting and chocolate coins for decorations

Make homemade "limeades" using lemon-lime soda, fresh lime juice and strawberries (blending them together with ice makes a delicious "frozen" drink as well)

Green Grapes, Kiwi, Golden Delicious Apples, Green Beans, avocados, cucumbers, (you get the idea)

 

Free Family Activity

EveryDay Learners 

& 

Help Me Grow 

along with Latinos in Action are hosting a Free Family Event at Mountain View High School in Orem. Families with children ages 0-12 yrs old are invited to come learn how Books, Blocks, and Balls stimulate children's development and how everyday activities can be turned into learning opportunities.

The activity is Saturday March 24th at 10am to 12pm. The address is 665 W Center St, Orem.

Dr Seuss's Birthday!

I spent the morning celebrating Dr Seuss's birthday with Mr. Steve, United Way and KBYU 11. We had  green eggs and ham for breakfast, sang songs about "Gravity" and "Someday" and most importantly, discussed how literacy effects, not only children, but our entire community.

Did you know, by the third grade, a child's reading level proficiency is a strong determinant of that child's likelihood to graduate from high school? United Way has a program to help us help our community, Everyday Learners, and they are looking for volunteers.

 Everyday Learners are people in our community that make education a top priority in their own lives and for our community. There are so many ways we can be an Everyday Learner. Maybe you read to your children before they go to bed or you may help a niece or nephew with their homework in the afternoons. Some might volunteer at the local elementary school during reading time or hold summer Shakespeare plays for the children in their neighborhood. United Way would love to know about the different things we are doing to be Everyday Learners and want to reach their goal of 10,000 Everyday Learners  for Utah County. To participate, click on Everyday Learners to link to United Ways webpage and find out more on how you can help the children of our community!

P.S. In celebration of Dr. Seuss's birthday here are a few ideas of things you can do today with your own children or kids in your neighborhood.

1. Have a Dr. Seuss reading party
2. Make special treats to celebrate his birthday, I found a few fun ideas on "Good Life Eats" blog.
3. Watch the Cat in the Hat-a-thon on PBS kids, kbyu tv channel 11 today!
4. Go to the Dr Seuss webpage to explore the many worlds of Dr Seuss with your children.

Free Breast Feeding Classes

Did you know that the Utah County Health Department offers free breastfeeding classes through the WIC program? These classes are offered in the evenings on Wednesdays and once a month in the afternoon on Fridays. The class is open to anyone from pregnant & breastfeeding mothers to those who just want to learn more about breastfeeding.

*If you are breastfeeding or pregnant don't forget to bring a support person, your mother, husband, sister or a friend. The classes are taught at  151 S University Ave room 2601, Provo.

Here is the schedule for the next few months. This is a wonderful resource and we hope to see you there!

Schedule for Classes


Wednesday Night Classes @ 6:00pm
Feb 29th
March 14th, 21st, 28th
April 11th, 18th, 25th
May 2nd, 9th, 16th, 30th

Friday Afternoon Classes @ 1:00pm
March 9th
April 6th
May 18th

Sing & read with PBS Kids Mr. Steve!

If you and your children like to read, sing and play games we have something for you!

Mr. Steve from PBS Kids will be here in Utah County this Thursday and Friday, March 1 and March 2, 2012.

The event is FREE but tickets are limited, please reserve them HERE through KBYU TV channel 11. 

Give Kids a Smile Day!

 

Give Kids a Smile Day is a national program offering free dental work to children from low income families. Utah is celebrating throughout the state on Saturday February 25. 

In Utah County the event will be held at the Utah County College of Dental Hygiene located at: 1176 S 1480 W Orem, UT.  To find out more or to donate to a great cause (100% of donations go directly to helping children receive free dental care) check out their webpage http://givekidsasmile.wordpress.com/. 

Babies and RSV

I don't know about you but this winter hasn't felt much like winter to me. With the warm weather and sunshine it's easy to forget cold/flu season is in full swing and it's important to protect ourselves and the little ones in our lives. A common illness that spreads easily is RSV. In fact, most children will catch RSV at least once before their 2nd birthday. For babies that are healthy and strong, the infection will last 1-2 weeks, for those babies at higher risk of serious infection it often can lead to hospitalization and complications.
* Remember anyone can catch and spread RSV but with a little know how you can reduce the risk of infection for your children.

                                                    

  

         

          What it RSV?

1. RSV is a virus that attacks the respiratory system including the lungs and breathing passages.
2. Anyone can catch and spread RSV  
3. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia in children under 1 year of age in the United States.     CDC.GOV/RSV

          Common Symptoms for Babies

• Fever above 100.4 degrees in infants younger than 3 months 
• Bluish lips or fingertips
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Trouble breathing
• Rapid breathing
• Gasping for breath

Remember that depending on what part of the respiratory system is attacked RSV can show up as a common cold,  bronchiolitis, or pneumonia but it is equally contagious.

How do I protect my baby from RSV?

• Wash your hands well before holding or touching your baby
• Keep your baby's toys, clothes, bedding and crib rails clean
• Don't share your baby's pacifiers, bottles, toys, or utensils
• Don't smoke or allow others to smoke around your baby
• Keep your baby away from anyone with a cold or fever

Information taken from CDC.GOV and a handout from MedImmune, LLC

Want to see where Utah's numbers are for cases of RSV? Click here

Welcome Baby Utah County Blog

We are very excited to introduce our new blog! 

Our hope is to offer:

Up to date information on our programs and classes

Provide educational resources

Bring three of our nursing programs together in one place 

Welcome Baby, Baby Your Baby, 

& 

CHEC (Childrens Health, Evaluation and Care) 

Each offer unique services to families in Utah County. 

Please feel free to comment and offer suggestions for topics and information you may need.*

*We reserve the right to delete or edit comments we feel provide incorrect or harmful information, use profanity or demeaning language, or promote practices inconsistent with current Health Department and health care provider recommendations.

Immunization Clinics in February

During the month of February there will be 3 immunization clinics serving Nebo School District. The clinics are open to all. Please remember to bring immunization records and insurance information.


Feb 7, 2012            Taylor Elementary in Payson

Feb 9, 2012            Park Elementary in Spanish Fork  

Feb 23, 2012          Westside Elementary in Springville

3:00pm-5:30pm

Flu Shots
All ages
Billed to insurance
$10 for those w/o insurance or where insurance will not pay

7th Grade TDap (Tetanus & Pertussis)
Billed to insurance
$14 for those w/o insurance or where insurance will not pay

Kindergarten immunizations available. If your insurance does not pay for childhood immunizations only Flu and TDap can be provided at the clinics.

The following will be accepted:

Medicaid/Medicare                                    Humana/Choice Care
Select Health/ CHIP                                  PEHP
United Healthcare                                     Altius
Blue Cross Blue Shield                              DMBA
Educators Mutual                                     No insurance