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Q&A with Erin Brown, Emergency Room Nurse

On What It Takes to Be a Nurse Emergency Room nurse Erin Brown, RN is dedicated to her patients at the Lake Wales Medical Center (LWMC). In January, she was awarded Employee of the Month for her dedication and exemplary service. In honor of National Nurses Week, happening May 6-12, we talked to her recently…
Nothing to Sneeze At

Investigating Ways to Survive and Thrive with Seasonal Allergies Headaches, itchy, watery eyes, runny nose, coughing— these are all symptoms of seasonal, outdoor allergies. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology estimates that more than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year. And although Florida may not be the worst place for seasonal…
Setting the dental record straight

Avoiding multiple health and social problems caused by unsightly teeth at all ages THERE ARE MANY reasons to take care of those pearly whites — at any age. Maybe an elementary student is picked on for her crooked teeth. Maybe a young athlete is in a sporting accident and needs emergency dental care. Maybe grandma…

Editor’s Dose: Tips for minimizing back-to-school stress

IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, then come early July you were already thinking about preparations for the new school year. Parents and children in the community this year are getting ready extra early because Polk County public schools moved up their calendar by one week — day one of school is August 15.
Making the choice to breastfeed

THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH in Polk County (DOH-Polk) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) recognize August as Breastfeeding Awareness Month. This is a wonderful time of year to promote breastfeeding as a vital health activity and discuss the health benefits breastfeeding provides. Although every woman has their own…
Editor’s Dose: Keeping kids’ bodies and minds active this summer

WHEN I FIRST had the twins, my mom would say, “Have a schedule for them, or they’ll have a schedule for you.” Basically, she was cautioning that I’d better keep those little minds and bodies active, or chaos would inevitably ensue. Being a mother of eight children, I think she was speaking from personal experience.…