The Staples

There are three main items that you want to keep in any first-aid kit you bring with you.

•Benadryl

•Hydrocortisone cream

•Neosporin with Band-aids

Some medical professionals believe that Benadryl is the single most crucial over-the-counter medication you could have in your aid kit. While not treating severe allergic reactions like anaphylaxis, Benadryl works excellent for minor reactions and keeps situations calm.

You’ll want to pack Anti-itch ointment to deal with any itchy bites. It will also help soothe an itchy rash, like poison ivy.

Keep a tube of antibiotic ointment packed away; it’s great to treat cuts, scrapes, and burns and provide some protection to the wound. Be sure to have a few different sizes of band-aids handy to cover up these minor wounds.

Items to Keep for Wounds

There are a handful of more specific items you’ll want to keep in your first-aid kit:

•Gauze: Sterile gauze pads are handy for a variety of injuries to keep them clean and covered.

•Tape: Bandage tape will ensure you’ll wrap up any cuts and won’t miss any playtime.

•Pain Relievers: Keep a little of both Ibuprofen and Tylenol in liquid forms for kids. If you don’t feel like packing extra for the adults, check the bottle’s dosage, and get an adult amount. It’s typically about double.

•Numbing Spray: Any OTC wound-numbing spray comes in handy for any burns, sunburns, or nasty cuts.

Odds and Ends

A few extra items that are good to carry if you have the room, but don’t have a single category to keep them in:

•Ace Bandage: For sprains and strains. Wrapping any aches up and apply pressure.

•Small Scissors: To cut and size out gauze and cloths to dress wounds and cut tape and more.

•Tweezer: For splinters and dealing with some things that fingers are just too big for.

•Pedialyte: Great for rehydration, especially when unable to keep food or other liquids down well. Suitable for all ages.

Be sure you check your first-aid kit before leaving on a trip to ensure it has everything it needs. Sometimes an item gets used at home and doesn’t find its way back to the kit. Keep a list of required medications in case you find yourself without them for any reason.

Keeping in the habit of having a first-aid kit nearby, whether at home or anytime you leave the house, is an excellent way of being prepared. It may not always be needed, but you’ll be thankful its there when you do. The peace of mind knowing that you have just the right thing when your child runs up to with tears in their eyes is invaluable.

For injuries that require a little more care than a first-aid kit can provide, Quick Care Med Urgent Care is there. From sprains to cuts, from dehydration to nausea, Quick Care can help get back on your feet quickly. Drop by one of our 10 locations or click here to schedule a Telemedicine visit.

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Now, throw in some social distancing, and it can make for some interesting celebrating this Father’s Day.

We’ve decided to compile a list of things you can do for dear dad to make him feel special on his day. Take a look below for ideas that won’t break the bank, optimize family time, and are great for forming memories.

1. Personalized Gift Basket

You know what dad likes. Maybe he works long hours and wishes to remain horizontal on his day off. Try putting together his favorite snacks so he can stretch out in his recliner for some Netflixing. You can share the best part of the experience, but remember – dad chooses the show.

1. Let Him Sleep In

This is a given for all the dads out there who are busy day in and day out dadding. The charm about this is what you’re doing while he’s sleeping. Corral the kids and make dad his favorite breakfast, complete with a fancy coffee drink. Have the kids tidy their rooms and pick up those pesky Lego pieces sharp enough to take off a toe.

1. Make Dad the Star of the Show

If dad likes to grill out, set things up for him to do what he loves with minimal effort. Marinade the kabobs and prepare the sides ahead of time. All dad has to do is put the meat on the grill and cook it to perfection. The best part is that he takes credit for such a wonderful meal without the prep work. Then help clean up so that dad can relax pool-side or in front of the game.

1. Make Dad a Card

This point pretty much speaks for itself. The significant part is that you can use whatever medium you have on-hand, even binder paper with lines. The charm behind this idea is the IOU card that you put inside your creation. Maybe it’s a fishing day or a foot rub, or one steak dinner to be redeemed in the future. You can be creative and generous as you feel fit. Not all celebrating has to happen right on Father’s Day.

1. Family Game Day/Night

Do you have a family game that you play? If not, then maybe it’s time to dust off one of those board games on your top shelf, like Monopoly. It doesn’t matter what you decide to play as long as you do it together. Make a point of laughing at dad’s corny jokes and take lots of pictures of the family festivities. If you’re extra nice, let dad win so the day can end on a high note.

From our Quick Care Med family to yours, have a wonderful Father’s Day. Remember, we have ten urgent cares across four counties to ensure everyone is well this Father’s Day. We offer office and Telemedicine visits. Click here to schedule a Telemedicine appointment.

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These are great memories to have, and yes, we probably shouldn’t have eaten as much sugary cereal for breakfast when we were kids.

Now that we’re a little bit older, we want our kids to have their own memories of eating their favorite sugary cereal while we continue to snack on our old favorite cereals, too.

I mean, it is a snack after all, so it isn’t harmful, is it?

On the outside, sugary cereals may seem fun, friendly, and completely harmless. Even though our favorites may appear to be healthier, many of them still contain a high level of sugar.

A diet that’s High in Sugar can Make you Sick.

High sugar levels can lead to a myriad of health problems, such as diabetes, obesity, and even heart disease.

Regularly consuming high amounts of sugar builds up resistance to insulin, regulating your blood sugar levels. This resistance to insulin causes blood sugar levels to rise, increasing your risk of diabetes.

High sugar levels in the form of fructose can also lead to excessive fat buildup in the liver. Fructose, unlike glucose, is broken down solely by the liver. The fructose that is not converted into energy is stored in the liver, which leads to an excess of fat buildup.

Not only our bodies, but high consumption levels of sugar also impact our minds. High sugar levels speed up the decline of cognitive functions, leading to an increased risk of dementia, and can even lead to an increased risk of developing depression.

Moderation is Key

Although continually snacking on our sugary favorites can lead to health problems, all hope is not entirely lost. Instead of frequently indulging in our favorite sugary cereal, let’s occasionally eat them as a snack or indulge responsibly.

And if you’re at a loss for what to snack on, we have a few healthy ideas for you here:  Top 10 Healthy Snacks 

It is okay to eat snacks and to enjoy our childhood cereals occasionally. Just remember to consider your health and make safer choices.

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It’s hard enough to get kids to do their homework, let alone being responsible for guiding them through an entire curriculum. We’re going to take a moment to give you some tips on keeping your juniors motivated, positive, and productive.

Routine and Consistency are your Friends

Set a routine and see things fall into place, day after day, and in this instance, week after week. Perhaps learning is done in the morning, while fun activities are in the afternoon.

Please communicate with your kids and let them know what’s expected of them. Better yet, set goals and reward them once schoolwork has been accomplished.

Rewards can be simple, like additional playtime with a favorite game or activity, or a favorite food for dinner. Mix it up and spend time with your kids that involve out-of-the-ordinary adventures, like exploring the field behind your house or allowing the family dog to sleep in your child’s room.

Empower your Kids

What’s critical is that you empower kids to make up their rewards; however, you’re bound to get some pushback in some instances and be prepared to listen and empathize with frustrations. Allow your kids to feel involved with the learning-reward process on all levels.

Sometimes you won’t budge on rules, which is why a simple explanation can help your kids accept specific guidelines. Tantrums and nagging are bound to happen, so taking defiance in stride is essential for the family dynamic and your sanity. Take a breather and give your child a break before you reintroduce the problem topic.

Try to remain positive and know that as our communities continue to reopen, you will have more resources available to keep your kids occupied and mentally stimulated.

Remember to stay vigilant regarding handwashing, practicing social distancing, and wearing a face covering. If you or your kids feel sick, feel free to drop by one of our locations in central Florida, or schedule a telemedicine visit by clicking here. 

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Our kids react differently

Researchers in China have investigated the rates at which children have acquired the virus and the symptoms they exhibited. What they found was that about 4% of children were asymptomatic, 51% had mild illness and 39% had moderate illness. About 6% had severe or critical illness, compared to 18.5% of adults.

Reasons for these findings are unknown. Researchers have two hypotheses why our children are affected differently by the coronavirus:

• They are exposed to more viruses thus having a higher antibody count prepared 
• COVID-19 virus doesn’t bind to children’s cells the same way it binds to an adult’s cells

Some kids are asymptomatic 

Research data suggests that young people who have tested positive for the coronavirus have shown little to no symptoms; sometimes exhibiting symptoms similar to a mild cold.

The typical COVID-19 symptoms in adults are fever, shortness of breath and cough; while 56% of pediatric patients reported fever, 54% reported cough, and 13% reported shortness of breath, compared with 71%, 80%, and 43%, respectively in adults.

A word of caution to high-risk groups

There is still reason to be cautious regarding the transmission of COVID-19. Though infected children may not show as many symptoms, they still carry and transmit the virus to other parties. For this reason, the schools are closed.

The last thing you would want is for the virus to be transmitted to a grandparent or infant through an asymptomatic carrier of the virus. These particular groups of individuals  have weakened or underdeveloped immune systems and can be hit hard by the effects of the virus.

Not much is known about the why behind the affected groups, and ratios there-in, as more research needs to be done. However, researchers are working diligently so that we may have the information we need to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

In the meantime, we can can do what we can to #flattenthecurve by practicing social distancing, wearing a mask, and exercising a consistent handwashing and cleaning regimen. 

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Steps on how to wash your hands

First, wet your hands under running water and apply soap. Then scrub your hands together for about 20 seconds; nearly as much time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice. Don’t forget to scrub between your fingers and under your fingernails. Germs like to hide in those areas! After 20 seconds, rinse your hands thoroughly and dry using a clean towel.

The when of Handwashing 

Knowing when to wash your hands is equally as important as knowing how. Wash your hands before eating or preparing food and after using the restroom, handling pets, caring for ill people and sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose. While this list isn’t all-inclusive, this should give you a good idea of critical times to wash your hands.

Soap and water over hand sanitizer 

If you think “Handwashing takes too long. I’ll just use hand sanitizer,” it is essential to remember that sanitizer does not kill all types of germs. If sanitizer is your only option, make sure that it has at least 60% alcohol. This is easy to check by looking at the label on the back of the sanitizer. Rub your hands together until all of the sanitizers have dried, which should take about 20 seconds.

By keeping these few things in mind, you’ll be on your way to preventing the spread of the Coronavirus and other germs! If you do find yourself showing symptoms, and need a provider’s care, set up a Telemedicine appointment to be seen from home.

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Seriously affordable health care – and then some

For $1 a day, you get unlimited access to urgent care services at any of our 11 locations in Marion, Citrus, Levy, and Alachua counties. That’s small potatoes when you think of the alternative: potentially large medical bills that can leave you financially strapped.

Say you have health insurance, but there’s a high deductible, then the QCARD can help in this type of situation. For basically $30 a month, plus a $10 copay that’s due at your visit, you can be seen by one of our providers.

Cover all your bases away from home

The QCARD is also an excellent option for many of our beloved snowbirds. Say your primary care physician is up north, and you’d like to have the assurance that there’s medical care close to your home down here, well, the QCARD just makes sense.

Brittany G, an administrative assistant in Crystal River, signed up for the QCARD, which she finds especially helpful for cold and flu season, “When my kids get sick, I get it. It’s hard for me to take time off work, so the faster I’m back on my feet, the better.”

Gain control over urgent care expenses

Medical bills can impact your life, leaving you short for other necessities. The QCARD is an excellent service that gives you control over your urgent care expenses for $30/month. That’s less than the cost of a cup of coffee at your local diner.

Make your health and peace of mind a priority. Want to find out more? Give our representative Sean Crump a call at (352) 513-9276 or sign up today.

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When we’re being told to practice social distancing, you can start to feel trapped. You start feeling restless, irritable and lose all motivation to…anything. There’s only so much of the usual daily routine you can handle before you can’t stand it anymore. That old-timey disorder cabin fever can affect anybody, but what can you do to beat it?

Once you are confined to your home, those times of regular relaxation only last so long, you lose your sense of time, and you run into a period where you just don’t want to do the things you usually do when you’re at home.

Time to get out of the average home routine and make a new one.

Be Productive

Give yourself goals to accomplish each day, each week. Whether it’s cleaning a room, finishing that home project you’ve put off, re-purposing your house, take some time each day to DO something.

If you can combine your goals with something that makes you use your brain, that’s another benefit to those going stir crazy. Learn a new skill, build something you’ve put off; giving stimulation to your mind reduces feelings of isolation and uselessness.

Don’t Graze out of Boredom 

Keeping bits of your typical day helps you maintain a sense of schedule. When we get bored, we tend to eat whatever, whenever, grazing for food throughout the day.

Eating right gives you more energy and a better sense of motivation. You may be less hungry if you aren’t out moving around as much, but if you focus on keeping a healthy diet, limiting sugary and fatty foods.

Give Mom a Jingle

Stay in touch with your friends and family. When you begin to feel caged in your home, it’s time to benefit from some of the available technology.

Reach out to your friends, video chat them, stay in touch. Get a sense of things going on outside of your home. Take the extra time you have to reach out to some people you haven’t spoken to.

Take advantage of the technology available to us to get in touch with as much of the outside world as possible.

Social distancing can be a productive and enjoyable time away from the stressors of everyday life. Remember, it’s just a brief pause in time before we’re back to our daily routines.

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Basically, bacteria are everywhere. They’re in the air we breathe, living on your skin, and on everything we touch. Most bacteria are harmless with only 1% of bacteria causing disease, according to the Mayo Clinic; however, they can make you really sick, just ask someone who has had strep throat.
If you feel like you’re getting sick, go see your provider to determine if it’s a virus or a bacterial infection. The two can share similar symptoms and there are instances where illnesses can be caused by either bacteria or viruses, such as pneumonia, meningitis, and diarrhea.
Your provider will review your symptoms, medical history and do a physical exam. He or she may also order a blood or urine test to help identify the infection. It may be a necessary step for determining a suitable treatment.

You could be doing yourself more harm than good by arbitrarily popping an antibiotic when you feel under the weather. That’s because antibiotics can’t differentiate between “good” and “bad” bacteria. We have good bacteria in our intestines that aid with digestion and help to obliterate disease-fighting microbes. Furthermore, the overuse of antibiotics has led to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.

Both viral and bacterial infections start with exposure to infected people or contact with contaminated surfaces, food or water. Although it’s impossible for us to live in a bubble, a good start to avoiding sickness is to practice a dedicated handwashing regimen: wet, lather, scrub (20 seconds), rinse, and dry.

Drop by your neighborhood Quick Care Med if you’re feeling under the weather. We offer extended hours and 10 locations to provide the best care possible to get you back on your feet and feeling better. Visit our locations page for your closest urgent care.

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Flu season starts in October and runs through to the end of March; however, you can still catch the flu in the off-months. Because of this, it’s a good idea to take year-round measures to ensure optimal healthfulness, like thorough hand washing; proper sleep; nutritious meals; and a consistent exercise regimen.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone over the age of 6 months get a flu shot. It takes about two weeks for your body to develop an immune response to the vaccine, making October is the best time to get vaccinated. Even if you’re not vaccinated prior to peak flu season, it’s still important to get a shot; particularly if you’re surrounded by sick individuals.

There’s a misconception that a flu shot can make you sick. Flu shots are comprised of an inactive virus, meaning that the virus present in the flu shot cannot infect you. However, it does take 2 weeks for the flu shot to offer protection, so it’s possible to contract the flu within this span of time. Moreover, it’s possible to catch a strain of the flu virus that’s not covered by the shot. The shot is a great defense against catching the flu, but it’s not perfect.

Side effects from getting a flu shot are minimal, and include headaches, nausea, fever, and soreness at the injection site. If you have an allergic reaction, your symptoms include hoarseness, difficulty breathing and swelling of the lips and eyes. In this type of situation, you should seek urgent care immediately.

There are tried-and-true steps you can take to remain healthy during flu season. Of course, getting a flu shot should be your go-to defense against developing the flu, but a comprehensive approach is best:

• Choose a flu shot option that fits your situation, like a “typical” flu vaccine; Flu Mist, which is a nasal spray; an egg-free flu vaccine if you have an egg allergy; or Fluzone, which is a high-dose version for individuals who are 65 years old or older.

• Wash your hands often throughout the day with warm soapy water.Refrain from touching your eyes, mouth or nose without first washing your hands.

• Do not share cups or utensils.

• Make healthy Lifestyle Choices by eating a balanced diet, getting quality sleep, and exercising regularly.

Stay healthy this flu season and be proactive in your approach to staving off the influenza virus, not only during its most active months, but year-round. Click here to find your closest Quick Care Med location.

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