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Pop Quiz: Germs 101—A Crash Course for Parents

Back-to-school season is upon us, and that means your child’s chances of coming down with an illness is greatly increased. While schools are centers of learning, they are also breeding grounds for all manner of germs. However, there are ways to lessen your child’s chances of coming down with something, having to miss school due…
Tackling Mental Health Together

Establishing the West Central Florida Mental Wellness Coalition Recognizing the record number of suicide rates, substance use and opioid deaths, nearly 30 local organizations have joined forces to develop a regional mental health initiative. On June 20, BayCare CEO and President Tommy Inzina and participating leaders from other hospitals, behavioral health providers, law enforcement, government…
Working Like a Dog

Reading with Bonnie the Therapy Dog by RACHEL CHRISTIAN Cassandra Banning and Bonnie, her 10-year-old shih tzu therapy dog, have been bringing joy and happiness to people in the Plant City area for almost six years. The pair can be spotted across town visiting nursing homes, hospitals, and even Bruton Memorial Library. Unlike service animals…

Hospice Help: The Big C word

THE BIG C WORD … unfortunately, in this day and age, we all know what this euphemism means, and we all know someone who has been touched by cancer. But how much more devastating is the diagnosis when the patient is a child?
Word of Mouth: Guard your mouth this sports season

NO MATTER the season, there’s always a variety of sports for kids and adults to participate in and enjoy. While the safety equipment requirements for many sports have increased over the years to prevent risk and injury, there’s one area that could use a bit more attention from the cheering section: the mouth guard.
Healthy Smiles: Preventive care can save your money and your health

PREVENTIVE CARE care can save you thousands! It sounds incredible, but it’s true! Brushing your teeth for two full minutes and taking another minute flossing, twice a day, can help you prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Anything you do to protect your teeth and gums is time well spent. You can stop minor problems…