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Healthy ChildrenEspanolHealthy Children Keeping children safe and healthy is the goal of every parent, health care provider and school system. Countryside Public Health is also concerned about your child's health and we ask you to consider several areas. 
Regular CheckupsIt is important to establish a relationship with your medical clinic through well child exams before your child needs to see a physician due to illness or injury. Regular checkup should be done
CTC Child & Teen Checkups (CTC) are checkups for children and teens, birth to 21 years of age, who are enrolled in Medical Assistance or MinnesotaCare. If your child is eligible, inform your medical provider when you make the appointment for a physical. (Click here for more information about CTC), You may also call the Countryside Office in your county or email Nurse@countryside.co.swift.mn.us Dental Care It is recommended that a child visit the dentist around 1 year of age. This will help find out if your child's mouth is healthy. As your child gets older, the dentist can apply 'sealants' to help stop cavities. Sealants are thin coatings painted on the teeth so germs can not cause tooth decay on the molars. Fluoride is very important and is found in tap water and in toothpaste. It helps make the teeth strong and prevent tooth decay. If you have your own well, test your water for the presence of fluoride, as some of our counties do have natural occurring fluoride. If you use bottled water, make sure it the fluoride has not been filtered out. Supplemental fluoride taken orally or painted on the teeth can be added if there is no fluoride in the water you drink. Brush your child's teeth twice each day with a small, soft brush until the age of 4 or 5. Be sure not to use more than a pea sized amount and teach your child to spit out the toothpaste. Being a parent can be a tough job. It is full of many rewards, beautiful moments, great sharing, laughs and love, but the reality of raising children today is that parents become overwhelmed, exhausted and stressed. Here are some good web sites that offer trusted parenting tips and information: Is My Child Normal? Health Tracks are newsletters that provide information specifically related to the age of your child. These are available on line or if you live in the counties served by Countryside and would rather receive it by mail, contact us at Nurse@countryside.co.swift.mn.us
Immunizations Immunizations are important to keep your child healthy. Children need to be vaccinated against certain germs that could cause serious illness or death. New vaccines are being added regularly. Vaccines are also called 'immunizations' or 'shots' and are an important and safe way to keep your child healthy. We encourage visit your medical clinic for the needed vaccines. Immunizations are also available from your local Countryside Public Health Office. Call for an appointment. MIIC-Minnesota Immunization Information Connection is a confidential, computerized information system for health care providers, parents, public health and schools for immunization records. This provides health care providers access to one complete record a individual's shots so that vaccines are not missed or an extra shots are not given. known as an immunization registry. Most medical providers participate in this immunization registry. If you would like to check your immunization record or need a copy, contact your medical clinic or Countryside Public Health New Eligibility Guidelines for Minnesota Vaccine for Children (MnVFC)
* Minnesota based health insurance companies are required to provide full coverage of vaccinations, regardless of deductibles or co-pays. Disease prevention: You can help your children avoid getting sick by insisting that they wash their hands properly and frequently. To get kids into the habit, teach by example. Wash your hands with your children and supervise their hand washing. Place hand-washing reminders at children's eye level, such as a chart by the bathroom sink for children to mark every time they wash their hands. Tell your children to wash their hands for as long as it takes them to sing their ABCs, "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" or the "Happy Birthday" song. This works especially well with younger children, who may rush when washing their hands. The Mayo web site discusses children's illness, the five top causes of missed school and prevention tips at this web site: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/childrens-conditions/CC00059 Illness like colds, ear aches, sore throats, etc are often caused by viruses. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses. Overuse of antibiotics is becoming a concern as more and more organisms are developing a resistance to the antibiotics for more information: http://www.minnesotaarc.org/ill/abx.html Healthy Homes Staying healthy is important to you and your entire family. Follow these easy, low-cost steps to help stop many infectious diseases before they happen! Seven Keys to a Safer Healthier Home Here is an excellent home safety check list. http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/fh/mch/fhv/safety.html Safety Car Seats Motor vehicle injuries are the greatest public health problem facing children today. In fact, they are the leading cause of death among children in the United States. Children should ride in child safety seats (car seats and boosters) as long as possible, and until they properly fit in an adult safety belt.
Bicycle Helmets. The greatest number of recreational injuries to children occurs while the child is riding a bicycle. Most of these 415,000 injures are bruises (contusions). Broken arms and wrists are also common. There are more than 125,000 fractures among bicycle riders. Falling off the bike and colliding with a fixed object such as a wall or with another bicycle are the most common causes of injuries. To reduce your chances of being injured while riding a bicycle:
Poisoning If you saw your two year old with an open prescription bottle, would you know what to do? Be prepared; visit the Minnesota Poison Control System: http://www.mnpoison.org/ for important information on poison prevention. If you have an emergency, call 1(800)222-1222. If the child is not responding call 911. Nutrition Proper nutrition in childhood can reinforce lifelong eating habits that contribute to your children's overall well being and help them to grow up to their full potential and a healthy life. WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) is a nutrition education program that provides free supplemental foods which promote good health for eligible children up to age 5. Your child may be eligible. (See WIC Information) or call Countryside at 1(800)244-6026. WIC clinics are held in each county monthly. WIC schedule These sites are excellent trusted sources for information on nutrition for children. Check them out or call your county Countryside office with any questions.
Exercise When most adults think about exercise, they imagine working out in the gym on a treadmill or lifting weights. But for children, exercise means playing and being physically active. Kids exercise when they have gym class at school, soccer practice, or dance class. They're also exercising when they're at recess, riding bikes, or playing tag. Children should be engaged in active play for at least 2 hours a day. To find out more about the importance of physical exercise for your child check out this site. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3028660 A good website to know: Minnesota Department of Health has an excellent web site to provide trusted parenting information, resources and activities to help you child grow and develop. http://www.parentsknow.state.mn.us/ Minnesota Vaccine for Children can provide low cost vaccines at your medical provider or public health if you age eligible for the program. Prevent exposure of your baby to lead Pregnant women with high blood lead levels can transfer lead to the baby through the placenta or through breast milk. Lead can cause damage to the developing brain. Learn how to lower your baby's risk of lead exposure. More information from Mn Department of health: Lead Information Remodeling homes is a common cause of elevated lead levels in children. This link has great information on remodeling safely http://www.epa.gov/lead/ |
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Have a Question? Just pick up the phone and give us a call! Ortonville - 1-866-277-5587 Montevideo - 1-800-894-0192 Madison - 1-800-255-0736 Benson - 1-800-657-3291 Granite Falls - 1-800-407-3628 WIC - 1-800-244-6026 Monday-Friday 8:30 am to 4 pm |
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