By Wouter Rietsema, MD, vice president, population health and information services, UVM Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital. At this point in the pandemic, we’ve learned that wearing a mask is the right thing to do because it protects the people around us. When we talk, cough, sneeze or exhale, facial coverings decrease the […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked a renewed interest in canning as Americans spend more time at home and make the most of their gardening season. After all, “victory gardens” rose in popularity this past spring and summer as people sought to be more self-sufficient during quarantines and lockdown periods. Canning is a wonderful way to […]
Richard Pritsky, 74, beat a serious case of COVID-19 that put him on a mechanical ventilator in University of Vermont Medical Center’s intensive care unit. Now that he’s finally healthy again, he doesn’t intend to mess with the flu. “I’ll be getting my flu shot this year, as I do every year,” he says. “It […]
Parents have been asking me what it takes to ensure they do a good job parenting their children – especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. My answer is an easy one—but cannot be done without the help of parents and other caregivers —and that is to focus on building resilience in your children so they can turn what they feel are their […]
While available evidence indicates that most children are not at higher risk for COVID-19, there are plenty of challenges facing parents and families during the pandemic – from concerns about how to keep children healthy, to helping them stay active and get the social interactions that are part of a healthy and fulfilling life as […]
As educators and children return to school during COVID-19, there are new anxiety-inducing concerns facing families. While much of the discussion has focused on what happens inside school, it’s important to consider safety precautions when traveling to and from school. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has a great article addressing Return to School During COVID-19 focused on physical distancing, wearing masks, handwashing and cleaning surfaces, and temperature checks, but below are some new, and some more […]
COVID-19 continues to impact our communities, our country and nations across the globe. Currently, several vaccines are in development with the hopes of preventing future spread of this virus. As we field growing interest and curiosity on this topic, now is a good time to talk with UVM Medical Center Infectious Disease Specialists Kristin Pierce, […]
Most children have probably heard of COVID-19, and may have questions about both the virus and wearing masks, especially when it comes to going out in public, to daycare or returning to school. For parents, answering those questions can be a challenge. Nilgun Zimakas, MD, a pediatrician with UVM Children’s Hospital, gives us guidance on how to talk to your children about mask wearing. Part […]
We’ve had some hot weather this year, and summer is not even half over! Now is a good time to remind ourselves about the dangers of child in-vehicle heatstroke. There are several ways heatstroke tragedies can occur. And, there are steps you can take to prevent all of these. Intentionally Leaving a Child in a […]
While our communities slowly re-open, access to summer camps and childcare is still limited meaning many grandparents may find themselves providing care for their grandchildren. If you are a grandparent, you may already feel comfortable looking after your grandchildren, but if this is a new arrangement for your family, we have a few tips to […]
