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Where kids come first, The MCH newsletter |
June 2009 Vol. 3 - No. 6 |
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Just when I thought I had come to the end of another winter of gastros, coughs, fevers,
and runny noses attacking my three children one after another (I call this the domino
effect in my house) the world is hit by a new flu virus, H1N1, a.k.a. the swine flu.
What is it? Sigh. Will it ever end? And what is a parent to do? The reality is we are
now living in a society that needs to think about how to prevent the spread of the virus.
In this issue we explain what the H1N1 flu is, and how to get you and your kids on
the prevention bandwagon.
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On a lighter note, dog therapy, clown therapy, and art therapy are increasingly gaining acceptance
as forms of healing care across North America. At the Montreal Children's we have seen the success
first hand thanks to our adorable canines Jazz and Porto, as well as Dr. Clown and our art
therapy specialists, who bring drawing to a whole new level. Learn more in this issue.
Another form of healing for some children and teens is found at specialized summer camps.
From camps for kids with juvenile arthritis to camps for kids with obesity issues, these
summer escapes include professional health care, but possibly something even more important:
the feeling of belonging. We provide the lowdown on four of these specialized camps
affiliated with the MCH.
But before sending your child off to camp this summer, don't forget the importance
of sunscreen, hats and outdoor vigilance under the blazing sun. Just as viruses are
on the rise, so is skin cancer. Prevention, once again, is the best antidote. We offer
some advice and know-how.
And have you ever wondered about the science behind all this prevention? Why not take part
in our Mini-Med School this Fall? Starting October 6, 2009, you can spend 1.5 hours a week
with six leading medical specialists from the Montreal Children's Hospital to learn about
the science behind the facts! Read on to learn how you can become science savvy.
In this sea of prevention, please remember to relax and have fun because
these are also forms of healing – and what better time to savour this
than our wonderful summer months. Enjoy!
Julia
(mom to Mya (7), Brooke (5) and Max (2))
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Miracle at The Children's: Five-month-old baby defies the odds
His heart was failing, it was nearly dead. The baby was put on a heart lung machine,
then on an artificial heart and then... his heart started to work again! Read Panagiotis's story...
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Summer should be fun-for everyone!
Canoeing, swimming, roasting marshmallows over an open fire, singing songs about summer,
and well, overall joy, joy, joy. This is what summer camp should be all about. But for some
kids trying to fit into a mainstream camp, "joy" isn't a term they would necessarily use.
Being a bit different can make for a long week – or several weeks. Not fitting in, let's
face it, is plain hard. Read more about the specialized camps affiliated with the MCH.
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Suntans are more than skin deep
Summer virtually arrives overnight in Montreal. One minute we're shovelling the
snow from our driveways, the next we're digging through our summer wardrobes.
Unfortunately too few of us reach for the summer essentials–a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
According to countless sun awareness campaigns, these three items are the key to reducing
your risk of melanoma–the most deadly form of skin cancer. Read more...
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Lawnmowers hazardous?
Many people don't realize the potential hazards of power equipment such as lawnmowers.
Here are some quick tips to keep things safe when looking after your lawn.
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For more articles on your children's health and well-being, visit the Health Info section of our website.
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What do art, clowns and a cute dog have in common? They're therapies that help sick kids heal
The MCH is renowned for its exceptional care and sometimes that includes a little alternative care too.
Read more about several new therapies that are actually helping to heal our young patients.
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The H1N1 flu virus: Questions and answers
The H1N1 flu virus (sometimes called swine flu) is a strain of the influenza virus that usually
affects pigs, but which may also make people sick. In Quebec, a number of people have become
infected; if your child is sick, you might think it's H1N1. So what should you do if you
think that's the case?
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Listen to MCH Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner Lyne St-Martin talk about H1N1 on our podcast.
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Preventing the spread of infection in hospital: It's in your hands
Germs, like viruses and bacteria, cause infections. Many of the infections children get, such as
colds and diarrhea, are contagious. In the hospital setting, precautionary measures must be taken
to limit the spread of infection from one person to another.
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H1N1: not in my camp
You thought that with the end of the school year the chances of your child getting sick were decreasing.
What about summer camp? Quebec's Ministère de la santé et services sociaux has issued guidelines
to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus. Take a few minutes to read up on these before sending your
child to camp.
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Teaching kids to wash their hands
It's hard enough to get grown-ups to wash up: studies show that only two-thirds of adults wash
their hands after they use the restroom. So how do we get our kids into the hand-washing habit?
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Mini-Med School at The Children's this Fall!
Starting October 6, 2009, you can spend 1.5 hours a week with six leading medical specialists from the
Montreal Children's Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre. If you are naturally curious about
science and medicine, Mini-Med is the school for you!
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Montreal icons join The Best Care for Life Campaign
The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) announced on June 2 that Mutsumi Takahashi and Jean Béliveau
have agreed to serve as co-chairs of The Best Care for Life Public Campaign, which will help finance the
MUHC's redevelopment on the Glen, Mountain and Lachine campuses.
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MCH Trauma website wins Award of Excellence from the SQPRP
The MCH Trauma website received a Silver Award – Reconnaissance de L'excellence tactique in the
interactive and electronic communications category from the Société Québecoise des Professionnels
en Relations Publiques (SQPRP).
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Latent tuberculosis: An international project to fight a worldwide disease
A team of researchers from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC)
has received the largest grant ever awarded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
for a clinical trial of latent tuberculosis (TB) therapy. The principal investigator Dr. Dick
Menzies, together with Dr. Kevin Schwartzman, Dr. Andrea Benedetti and Dr. Madhukar Pai from
the Montreal Chest Institute of the MUHC were awarded $4.9 million for an international clinical
trial that will study the effectiveness of a new treatment for latent TB that could help to
eradicate TB worldwide.
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