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Tips to Prepare for the New School Year

by Mary Toothman It’s that time of year again: School supply aisles will be flooded with parents and children, clutching lists of what is required. First-day-of-school outfits will be carefully selected by many students. Late-morning sleep-ins will be replaced by early wake-up calls. Back to school means many things to parents and students — some…
Beating the Odds: Asher Camp Battles a Spinal Disease while his Mother Advocates for Others who are Suffering

When Asher Camp was born five years ago, life was good for his parents, Amanda and Jeremy Camp, and their two girls. They welcomed their new son and watched him grow and progress. But when he hit six months, his parents began to realize he wasn’t progressing as their daughters did. Concerned, they sought medical…
Pop Quiz: Facts and Stats about Firework-Related Injuries

Thinking about shooting off fireworks this upcoming Fourth of July? Make sure to test your knowledge on some facts and stats about injuries related to fireworks before setting any off this Holiday. It’s always best to have more knowledge about a product before operating it. There are a few states that have regulations put in…

Editor’s Dose: A thank-you letter to nurses

FROM MID-FEBRUARY to about mid-April, my family was at the doctor’s office a lot. The late-spreading flu season (although none of us in our household ever actually caught the flu — thank goodness) must have carried with it many other viruses, because we’ve certainly experienced our fair share. In fact, a few nurses on staff…
Healthy Skin: May is Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month

“C’MON, DOC. What’s a little sunburn?” is a question I frequently hear from the public. The answer is, if you’re lucky, that’s all it is. But a little sunburn is one of the easiest skin cancer risk factors to avoid. If left untreated, skin cancer, or melanoma, can progress to the point that it’s disfiguring…
Cautions for two of your favorite summer activities

SPRING IS THE TIME OF YEAR in Florida when temperatures begin to warm and the weather is perfect outside. With the sun shining and a gentle breeze blowing, this beautiful weather also marks the beginning of swimming season for Polk’s residents. Swimming and boating are two of the most popular summer activities for people living…