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Outdoor safety tips for summer

Just in Time for Fireworks and Grilling Season According to the American Pyrotechnics Association’s National Council on Firework Safety, each year in the United States, fireworks cause 20,000 fires and almost 10,000 people are injured from activities related to fireworks. On average, four people die from their injuries each year. What is extremely eye opening…
A campaign to help those with hearing loss

How the ‘Loop Florida’ Initiative Will Create Better Quality Hearing for those in Need “Loop Florida” is a phrase that you will be hearing more often from now on. On April 17, the Loop Florida initiative was officially launched. Spearheaded by the Central Florida Speech and Hearing Center with participation by the Hearing Loss Association, Lakeland…
Spring cleaning for your skin

4 Bad Habits and How to Fix Them Dr. Marci Pepine, a board certified dermatologist at Adult and Pediatric Dermatology in Lakeland and a Polk County Medical Association member, has certainly seen her share of skin related problems and needs. What strikes hardest for her is that so many of the problems she encounters are…

Publisher’s Note: Depression cases in our local Medicare population

MENTAL ILLNESS can refer to several afflictions that affect the state of our minds, but usually the first one we think of is depression. While clinical depression can be caused by many individual factors (or a combination of several), there are some medical conditions that put a person at greater risk for the disease.
Family Health: Urgent vs. emergency care

WHEN A SUDDEN illness or injury strikes, it can be stressful to decide where to seek medical attention. Though your primary-care physician is the best place to start, illness and injuries don’t always occur during office hours or on schedule. It’s important to understand your options for immediate medical care before symptoms strike, as it…
Medical Advice: Back-to-school tips and the 5-2-1-0 program

AS STUDENTS and families prepare to return to school, the Florida Department of Health in Polk County (FDOH-Polk) would like to take this opportunity to remind them to take the proper steps to stay healthy this school year. Good health is important for students in order to maintain regular school attendance and be ready to…