You can make a few preparations to ensure that the trip will be without too much distraction. Here are a few ideas to keep you on the road to safety as you take the long drive to relaxation.

Adjust your Leaving Time

Rather than leaving during the day, think about adjusting your sleeping pattern so that you, the driver or passenger, are awake for an overnight drive.

Driving overnight, or at least in the early hours of the morning, means that your family is more likely to spend a more significant portion of your journey asleep.

Teach your Kids to Read a Map

Avoid those pesky “are we there yet?’ questions by handing over the road map to the kids. Encourage them to look and figure out themselves just how much further you have to go.

Talk them through looking at the key and judging the distance using finger widths as measuring tools and translating them into time.

Take Frequent Stops

It may seem counter-productive to take frequent breaks from the actual driving portion, but letting your high-energy-balls-of-fury get out and run around should keep them calm when you get back to your journey.

Plan out some sites to see, or even just hit some parks along the way and let the kids run around. Twenty to thirty minutes of playtime can turn into a few hours of peace for your concentration on the road.

Break Out Snacks

The type of food you eat along your journey will make a difference in everyone’s mood and behavior while in the car. Think about packing some healthy, yet neat, snacks that everybody can snack on in the car.

Avoid stopping in the drive-thru or the road-side diner as these foods will tend to be high in fat and salt that bring the mood down as you sit in the car. Bring some nuts, dried fruit, even some homemade sandwiches are great alternatives.

There are many great ways to ensure you can keep your concentration on the road and avoid having the craziest backseat on this side of the Mississippi. Take these tips, utilize them, and use them to fit your family and their interests. Ensure that the journey is just as memorable as the destination itself, and it will be a vacation your family will remember forever.

The post Summer Vacation Travel: How to stay safe on the road and keep the kids occupied appeared first on Quick Med Care.

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. 

The post COVID-19: Affects Adults and Children Differently appeared first on Quick Med Care.

Ear infections occur when the middle ear becomes inflamed and fluid is trapped behind the ear drum. An ear infection often occurs alongside a cold, the flu, or some other type of respiratory illness, but it is possible to get an ear infection without any of these other issues present.

The ear is connected to the upper respiratory system by a pathway known as the Eustachian Tube. Because of this connection, when harmful germs grow in the nose or sinus cavity, they can travel up that tube to the middle ear. It is also common for the Eustachian Tube to become swollen or blocked, which will trap fluid in the ear where it will become stagnant and grow bacteria.

Symptoms of an Ear Infection in Infants and Children

Infants and young children cannot tell us they are having ear troubles, so watch for these symptoms:
• Irritability, and overall restlessness
• Excessive crying, especially when lying down
• Tugging or pulling the ear
• Fever
• Ear drainage
• Lack of appetite

Symptoms of an Ear Infection in Adults:

While less common, adults can also get ear infections. Watch for these signs:
• A sharp, stabbing pain, or a constant, dull pain, in the ear
• Hearing like you are under water
• Feeling like the ear is full
• Nausea
• Drainage from the ear

When to Seek Medical Advice

It is always better to seek professional medical advice when suffering from an ear infection. However, some ear infections will go away without treatment. If you experience any of the following symptoms, Quick Med Care is here to help:
• Any potential ear infection in an infant or child should be evaluated. More serious infections, or even hearing loss, can occur when ear infections are not treated
• If body temperature rises above 100.4
• Hearing seems to be affected
• Your child develops a stiff neck or becomes lethargic

Treatment Options

Only a qualified medical professional can determine whether or not there is an ear infection, and what has caused it.
Some ear infections are caused by a virus, and will just require waiting the virus out.
Those ear infections thought to be caused by bacteria will be treated with antibiotics.

Ways to Relieve Symptoms at Home

Ear infections can be very painful. To feel better quicker, try these tips:
• Lie on a heating pad, set on the lowest setting, or apply a warm compress
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers, like Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen. Follow dosing directions carefully for children
• Gargling with salt water can help clear the Eustachian Tubes
• Keep the air around you clean. Smokers with ear infections should refrain from smoking as much as possible, and children with ear infections should be kept away from second-hand smoke

As always, visit your nearest Quick Care Med location – we’re there when you need us!

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