medical myths

Put away the spoon-full of sugar. Turns out this busted myth doesn’t help the medicine go down after all.

› By Laurel Gillum

Parenting guidelines are not the same as they once were. In fact, many of the so-called nifty medical practices your grandparents swore by, according to a new study by the Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New York, are outdated. See if you can correctly answer true or false to these common medical misconceptions.

true or false?

YOU SHOULD DRINK true or false? PUTTING ICE ON A MINOR BURN IS A GOOD FIRST-AID REMEDY. False. Putting ice on a burn can cause frostbite and damage the skin. For relief from minor burns to the skin, try running cool water over the area. true or false? ICE BATHS CAN BE USED TO BRING DOWN A VERY HIGH FEVER. False. Babies or children should never be put in ice baths as they can pose a hypothermia risk.

AT LEAST EIGHT GLASSES OF WATER A DAY.

False. In 1945, the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council said adults should take in about 2.5 liters of water a day, or eight glasses. It was overlooked, however, that most of the 2.5 liters comes from food sources, including fruits and vegetables. According to the Mayo Clinic, you should drink six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water or other liquid throughout your day.

true or false?

BUTTER IS A GOOD FIRST-AID REMEDY FOR MINOR BURNS. False. Putting butter on a burn can make it harder for the wound to cool. This causes more damage from the retained heat. The best way to release heat from the skin is with cool water.

true or false?

Babies get fevers when they are teething.

true or false? SCRAPES AND CUTS HEAL BETTER IF THEY REMAIN COVERED WITH A BANDAGE.

True. The best way to protect and heal cuts and scrapes is to cover the wound with a thin layer of antibacterial ointment and a bandage.

true or false?

THE BEST SLEEPING POSITION FOR NEWBORNS AND INFANTS IS ON THEIR SIDE.

False. Babies should sleep on their backs. An incorrect sleeping position is a major risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), the leading cause of death among babies between 1 month and 1 year of age.

False. This medical myth can potentially pose a high threat to newborns and infants. Parents shouldn’t write o a baby’s fever as teething. Research has not shown a strong relationship between teething and high body temperatures. Always contact your child’s doctor if the fever is high, lasts several days or is accompanied by other symptoms.