Where to go?

Where to go with your ailment? 

-Emergency, you can't drive or get them to the hospital yourself, or you need the quickest transport possible, call 911.  If there is any breathing difficulty, heart/chest pain, or signs of a stroke (drooping of face, slurred speech, change in mental status for example) would definitely be 911 calls. You will need to provide the address.

-If it is after these hours or is an Emergency, then head straight to an ER.  I obviously prefer Advocate BroMenn, but OSF has an ER as well. ERs are not supposed to give medical advice over the phone, and you will be seen by priority.  Bring ID, Social Security Number and your Insurance Info if possible. 

-If it is something urgent and not life threatening, visit a Prompt Care or an Urgent Care.
Advocate BroMenn has 2 in town, OSF has 3, plus one in El Paso. Hours and Locations Below.  

-If it is a routine, longstanding problem (headaches, itchy skin, cholesterol, physicals etc) then make an appointment with your primary doctor.  Don't have a primary doc?  Life will be so much easier for you, if you get one.  Just make an appointment, and ask to get a new patient physical. Check with your insurance provider for lists of doctors included with your plan.

-Just need advice? Call your primary doctor's or pediatrician's office number and ask to speak to the nurse.  After hours, listen to the voice mail to hear how to get a hold of the doctor on call. Someone should call you back very soon.  Again, this is where having your own doctor can come in handy again. Be prepared to give the Doctor or Nurse on the phone your symptoms including Temperature, Duration (number of days/hours) of Symptoms, your attempts at Treatment, and any pertinent history.  This will help everyone involved.


Urgent/Prompt/Immediate Cares in Bloomington/Normal. Walk-Ins Welcome. 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advocate Medical Group Immediate Care 
http://www.advocatehealth.com/bromenn/immediate-care

This is across from the Airport.

3024 E. Empire Street, Bloomington.  309.556.7556 No appointment is necessary.  

Monday through Friday, 7 am to 8 pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 8 am to 5 pm.

They can see adult and pediatric patients right away for minor injuries and illnesses including:

• Colds and coughs
• Minor burns
• Respiratory infections
• Urinary tract infections
• Cuts needing stitches
• Earaches
• Flu
• Fractures
• Sprains and Strains
• X-Rays

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other AMG Immediate Care location, located in the Medical Office Building at BroMenn Hospital

	1302 Franklin Avenue, Suite 1100, Normal   309.268.2727
	(Able to Treat the same as the above listed)
	Monday-Friday from 12:30 pm - 8:00 pm.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OSF Prompt Care (at OSF Hosptial, Eastland Plaza II) 

http://www.osfmedicalgroup.org/bloomington/promptcare/

X-rays Cold/flu/sore throat Minor burns Conjunctivitis Earaches Minor eye injuries Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea Seasonal flu vaccinations

Insect bites Minor lacerations Minor illnesses Minor cuts Minor sprains Rashes Sports physicals Asthma education

1505 Eastland Drive, Suite 1100 (309) 663-2100

Monday - Saturday 8:00AM - 7:00PM
Sunday 8:00AM - 6:00PM

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OSF Prompt Care at Nord Farms (This is off Route 9, just past Market Street Wal-Mart) 

1001 Mitsubishi Mtwy   309-828-0806 (Able to treat same as above) 

Monday- Saturday 8:00am-7:00pm  

Sunday 8:00am-6:00pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Center for Health at Fort Jesse (OSF) 

(Able to treat same as above) 

2200 Fort Jesse Road (309) 661-6280 

Monday - Saturday, 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Sunday 8:00am-6:00pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Burn, Baby, Burn...What to do

There are many different degrees of BURNS. One thing they have in common, however, is that they really...burn. I mean...hurt.

The most common type of burn, is the first degree burn that irritates the first layer of your skin. I have done this recently, reaching into an oven and touching the back of my hand to the hot rack inside. While your body is fast at sending the signal from your hand, to your brain, and back to your hand, saying "its hot!! remove hand!! now!!" It is never fast enough to prevent the damage even a minor burn can do. Burns don't have to come from hot surfaces or fires, either. They can even come from hot steam.

If this happens (a minor burn that does not break the skin).........
--Get to a sink fast and run the COOL WATER over your burn for at least 5minutes. This will decrease the temperature of your skin, and prevent further damage from the "hotness" of the area. It will also temporarily distract you from the pain.
--DO NOT put ICE on the burn, especially not directly onto the skin.
--DO NOT put any other household remedies (such as butter, eggs...who knows) onto it
--DO NOT break or pop any blisters. This can lead to infection quickly.
--DO NOT smother with a dressing, it will need air to heal. But do keep it clean.
--DO NOT use burn cream if the skin is broke open, you might need a prescription for the appropriate skin care ointment.
--Even minor burns pulse with PAIN for awhile. You can take Ibuprofen (anti-inflammatory) regularly to help keep it under control. You're not a wuss...it hurts.

Minor burns usually heal without further treatment. They may heal with pigment changes, meaning the healed area may be a different color from the surrounding skin. Watch for signs of infection, such as increased pain, redness, fever, swelling or oozing. If infection develops, seek medical help. Avoid re-injuring or tanning if the burns are less than a year old — doing so may cause more extensive pigmentation changes. Use sunscreen on the area for at least a year.

If you have a major burn (which may not even hurt right away, because of nerve damage) you need to get to an ER immediately. Try to cool the area on the way there, without getting it extra dirty if possible. Burns do extensive damage, but our amazing bodies can repair the damage over time! Know what to do.

Shannon's CPR Course Open to the Public!

Now is your chance to do what you've always known you meant to do...take a CPR course! Don't miss this opportunity to learn what to do in an emergency situation and feel confident in your skills. This is an express class, designed for the average person who doesn't have the time or money to invest in an all-day emergency prepardness course.
I will teach you the basics of how to save a life!

Heartsaver AED Course
This course is designed for the non-medical workers and lay (public) rescuers; such as daycare services, construction workers, teachers, families & friends etc. The participants will learn the American Heart Association's Chain of Survival and the warning signs of a stroke and a heart attack.
Course includes Instructor-led….
1. AED (Automated External Defibrillator) Training/Demonstration
2. CPR Skills for the Infant, Child and Adult Victims
3. Heimlich Maneuver for the Child/Adult and Infant Choking Victims

With the successful completion of this course including return skills-demonstrations by the participant, a card of certification will be awarded through the mail, valid for 2 years.

The course should last about One and a Half Hours, depending upon class size. The course fee (which includes payment for the certification card) is only $37.00 for a Single (1) participant. There is a Couple's Discount for (2) participants (with cards) for only $64.00. Invite your Family, Friends and Babysitters to join you!

See Paypal's "Buy Now" Button on the rightside of this blog, and choose Single or Couple's Rate. Please note the participant(s) names in the Note's Section. Course must be paid in full to secure your spot in class.

Course will be Thursday March 8th from 6:00-7:30pm on the Second Floor conference room at the Central Illinios Regional Airport (CIRA) in Bloomington. Space is very limited, so sign up now!

Questions? Shannon@TeachUsCPR.com

Double Ear Infection, Ohhh.

Our 18month old was extra clingy, whiny, and wouldn't sleep well at night. She didn't want much to eat, and was happiest if we just held her. This was totally out of character for our independent little sister.

She was a little warm, but wouldn't let me take her temp in her ear. Her behavior was the main reason we suspected that something wasn't right. I took her in (which I've learned that the first appointment right after lunchtime, is the golden time to see a pediatrician. That slot is rarely behind schedule...) and he peeked down her throat, felt her glands and looked in both ears.

Double Ear Infection. Bingo.

So..what happens with the Classic Acute (not repeating) Ear Infection {Otitis Media} is this:

Usually after a runny-nose-type cold or allergies, a baby/child is susceptible to ear infections. The ear canal connects directly to the throat, and if it is clogged with mucus, the fluids won't drain like it usually does. The fluids builds up behind the Eardrum, and can create an infection.

Ear Infections can sometimes heal themselves, but usually are treated with an antibiotic. Our 18month old was prescribed one that was a syrup, that had to be kept in the fridge. It was Amoxicillin, which I am allergic to myslef, but apparently med-type allergies are rarely passed onto the child. Also Interesting.

We could also give her oral Tylenol for the Pain. (See previous post for Pain-Meds Info)

Not much you can do to prevent Ear Infections. They are not from the water or the outdoors, and are not contagious. If you can prevent colds through good hand washing and decrease contact with public places, you will help a lot. Supposedly babies who lay on their backs with bottles and pacies are more at risk. Whatcha gonna do.

Temporary Tattoos

Im pretty sure Baby Oil will take them off. My kids like to sneak into the bathroom and put a whole strip of them on their legs or arms. Just a little FYI in case you want them removed!

Head Injuries and Concussions...!

A situation I most get asked about, is when someone (usually a little someone) falls and bonks their head. I get asked, if they should "go in" to the hospital or not.
Please follow your instincts if you thing something is seriously wrong..but if you want some guidance on making that decision, read on.

After a Head Injury:
Pay Attention to how the child is ACTING.
This is more of an indicator, than how big the bump is, or what the cause was.

If the child has a glazed-over look, cannot focus their eyes, cannot control their head, will not open their eyes, will not respond to your voice, there is bleeding from the nose or ears, the pupils will not respond to dark or light/or are unequal in size or are dilated, these are signs of concern. These signs may be immediate, or they may even be delayed. You probably want to quickly get them into an ER for examination and follow-up.
In the meantime....
You will need to help them re-gain orientation and alertness. Call their name, look them in the eye etc. Do not shake them or let them fall asleep or leave them alone. If you drive (hopefully not alone) to the ER, be sure to alert the check-in Triage staff that your child had a head injury and is not fully alert. You should be seen immediately. The ER medical staff will be monitoring and/or testing them for additional signs and symptoms of a more serious head injury.
One sign they will be watching for, is if the child can tolerate food without vomitting, If they do/did vomit, they will most likely be getting an MRI to check for internal bleeding. They will also be evaluating their alertness. They will want you to be able to tell them if the child is acting normally again or not. They will check their pupils, temperature, and nose and ears for bleeding.
Most likely, a child has suffered a Concussion. This occurs when the brain is shaken up or hits the inside of the skull. Concussion is given supportive care, and they should get better as time goes on. You will need to monitor them carefully by waking them every 2hours at night, never leaving them alone and watching for any unusual behavior or symptoms.
Head injuries are Scary and it is good to be Familiar with them before they occur!
Always call 911 if you are not sure!!

Safe Crib Sleeping... cont'd

In addition to the toys, blankets and pillows...also be sure to remove these before naptime

-Pacy Clips/Strings
-Sweatshirts with Hoods
-Necklaces
-Earrings (unless secured)
-Hair Accessories
headbands can get around the neck, or little pieces fall off
barretts and clips
-Beware of Buttons
-Toys with Small Pieces
-Books with Pages that can Rip
-No Snacks in the Crib

Also, be aware of nearby cords for monitors, humidifiers etc. I am also not a big fan of crib bumpers either, they are more likely to cause suffocation/entanglement than they are preventing a head bumping against a rail. Its just not worth it to me, so we go without.

Sorry, Baby!