KIDS TO KNOW: Meet Maisy

Kids to Know: Maisy Kiefer

by Julie Tingley, @weemacree

If you haven’t met Maisy Kiefer yet, consider this a surprise summer gift! Maisy represents everything that is good in this world. She has the perfect innocence and softness of any 7-year-old girl but carries a level of confidence and awareness far beyond her years. Maisy’s family met her at birth and made her adoption final after 482 days. In that time, Maisy overcame setbacks and challenges over and over again. Maisy has garnered local recognition through her involvement with Gigi’s Playhouse, a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that offers the only network of Down Syndrome Achievement Centers to provide life-changing therapeutic, educational and career training programs at no cost. Her adoring family (including eight brothers and sisters!) is equally as unforgettable. Maisy with her mother, Michelle Kiefer, tell us why she is a kid to know in Tampa Bay and beyond.

TBPM: You’ve been described as “the best” from our mutual friend Sean Daly, as “magical” by your peers at the model shoot for local brand Wee Macree, and as a “blessing” by your family. Tell us more about you and why you think you’ve captured the attention and the hearts of so many in our Tampa Bay community. MAISY: I’m special because I love everybody, and everybody loves me. I make you happy. And I like my hair! MICHELLE: Maisy has a special quality that simply draws people in. She is extremely sweet, but topped off with just the right amount of sass! We've been delighted to make such wonderful connections in Tampa, including having the opportunity to participate in a super fun interview at Gigi's Playhouse with Sean Daly, where Maisy decided to take the mic and took charge of the interview! Sean was so gracious and went right along with it, following her lead. Last year while attending a Tampa Bay Lightning game (courtesy of the Lightning Foundation), Maisy was spotted in the crowd by Alex Killorn who called us down to the bench and gave her a puck. She was thrilled! She absolutely remembers that night and still talks about it! I truly believe it is Maisy's purity and approach to life that draws people to her. She embraces both life and those around her with love, acceptance and excitement. It's a cinch to be completely in love with Maisy Kay! And she's right... Her hair is phenomenal! Those curls!

TBPM: From your fearlessness to your friendliness, you inspire people, Maisy. Can you talk about what you’ve had to overcome in your life so far? Who inspires you and makes you feel excited about doing more with the gifts you have? MAISY: Yes, I went to the hospital a lot. I was sick, but now I'm all better. My family makes me happy: Mommy, Daddy, Stevie Joy, Gus, Abi, Sam, Emma, Lily, Sarah, Bryant, Bennett, Claire, Owen, MaeMae, Doodad, Aunt Julie, Uncle Tommy, Megan, Adson, Baby AJ, Molly, CC, Uncle Derrick, Ronnie, Eric, Laila, E-Mama, Judy, Wrigley, Bubbles. MICHELLE: She is a graceful little warrior that has overcome more in her seven years of life than many people have to face in a lifetime. Besides being born with her glorious extra chromosome (Trisomy 21) and having to face some of the challenges that often come along with that, she was also born addicted to meth and had to go through difficult withdrawals. Maisy has faced several surgeries, and at one point, was near death due to an abscess near her heart. Her medical issues have been the largest part of her journey in regards to challenges, but with each year her health has improved, and we are all deeply thankful. People that inspire Maisy are family, friends and those who choose to stop and to SEE her. If you take the time to pause and slow down just enough to connect and engage with Maisy, you will find that YOU are inspired by HER and you will also see that SHE is inspired by YOU. Maisy thrives on connections. She is extraordinarily perceptive and brings out the best in those around her, which in turn brings out the best in her. She is light and love! Maisy responds well to any encouragement and is fearless to try new things. Those who challenge and encourage her become her inspiration!

TBPM: Your family is so big and so diverse! Tell us about your parents, your sisters and your brothers. MAISY: I love my mommy. We like to hold hands and go to the beach and sing and dance. I like daddy. He's funny and he makes me laugh. I love my brothers and sisters. We have fun together. MICHELLE: Maisy is indeed a part of a large and ethnically diverse family! She is one of nine children, eight of which are adopted. Their ages range from 37 to 4. My husband, Steve, and I were married in 1993, and after a few years, began our journey of adoption. Through both private adoption and foster care, our family has continued to grow. We affectionately refer to the six oldest kids as the "O.G." kids, and the youngest three (including Maisy) as their "2.0" kids. This is due to the fact that we thought we were done adopting, but decided (with the strong desire and help from the older children) to re-engage in the foster care system. We have one set of twins in the family, and Maisy is considered one in a set of "fwins" (fake twins). She has a sister, Stevie Joy, that is just 6 weeks older than her. The Kiefer family has a unique and complex story and Maisy is a vital part of it.

photo credit: Megan Renee Photography

TBPM: What do you want to be when you grow up? MAISY: I wanna be taller than mom. I will do fashion shows and be a dance teacher. MICHELLE: We also asked her if she wants to be modeling on the catwalk when she is grown, and she responded with a passionate "YEAH BABY!"

TBPM: What is your favorite thing to do in school? MAISY: I like to write my name and I love drawing pictures. I count and say my ABCs. MICHELLE: Maisy is homeschooled and has just completed the first grade. One of Maisy's favorite things to do in school is to "fake sleep" by putting her head on the table and loudly snoring to interrupt the lesson when she is bored. She loves to make people laugh! Maisy is a hard worker and has spent this school year focusing on learning the alphabet, counting, spelling and writing. She loves books and being read to as well. A big part of Maisy's educational experience are her therapies. Maisy spends quite a bit of time in speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy. Although these therapies are often challenging for her, she greets each session with determination and usually with joy. Occasionally she chooses to be noncompliant and grouchy, which is a great reminder for us all that she is like everyone else... she has good days and bad days, and that is perfectly okay!

Sharing Our History and Culture with Our Children

by Rodrigo Díaz, photos provided by Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library

An important part of parenting is passing down historical memory and cultural heritage to our children. Through the public library, your family can enjoy timely and relevant cultural events and classes that showcase our community’s diversity. At your local branch, books, eBooks, DVDs, streaming content and online classes can help you and your family discover more about our community’s history and culture. Hillsborough County’s museums and parks also offer families the opportunity to share cultural experiences, learn about the past and deepen their appreciation of our rich community heritage. Here are eight suggestions of places to go. Also, check out our list of art and history books available from the library that parents can share with their children before or after they visit.

HENRY B. PLANT MUSEUM: Located on the University of Tampa campus, the museum pays homage to the days when the school was a hotel that catered to America’s wealthy and famous. One exhibit commemorates the hotel’s role during the time that Tampa served as a military staging ground for the Spanish-American War. TAMPA MUSEUM OF ART: Nestled on the east bank of the Hillsborough River across from the University of Tampa, our city’s premier public gallery features works by nationally and internationally renowned painters, photographers, sculptors and multimedia creators as well as local artists. There are also permanent exhibits of art and artifacts from ancient civilizations, including an Egyptian sarcophagus. TAMPA BAY HISTORY CENTER: Near Amalie Arena lies the largest history museum in Tampa. Its three floors house exhibitions that recount different parts of our community’s story. One permanent exhibit narrates an early encounter between Spaniards and the Tocobaga people of Tampa Bay, while another uses animatronics and film to relate the events of the Second Seminole War. FORT FOSTER INTERPRETIVE CENTER: In 1836, the U.S. Army constructed Fort Foster, a small garrison on the Hillsborough River. Today, part of Hillsborough River State Park is located on the site of the old fort. The park features a small museum dedicated to the garrison and to the war between the Seminoles and the United States military. The museum includes artifacts left by the Seminoles, American soldiers and settlers. VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK: Off U.S. 301 sits a Hillsborough County park that commemorates those who served in America’s armed forces. Tree-lined paths wind through a plaza of statues, plaques, flags and monuments that honor the service and sacrifice of those in uniform.

SULPHUR SPRINGS MUSEUM AND HERITAGE CENTER: In Mann-Wagon Memorial Park is a small museum that preserves and interprets the legacy of a Tampa neighborhood that was once a local tourist hub. The museum highlights the contributions of African Americans from the area and also includes natural history exhibits, including shells, arrowheads, fossils, minerals and a Lepidoptera collection. YBOR CITY MUSEUM: The museum is a Florida state park housed in the historic Ferlita Bakery building. Its exhibits tell the history of a neighborhood founded in the 1880s as a multi-ethnic and multi-racial immigrant enclave. PARQUE AMIGOS DE JOSÉ MARTÍ: Within easy walking distance of the Ybor City Museum, this small park commemorates the site of a boarding house that sheltered poet and Cuban revolutionary José Martí 130 years ago. The boarding house was owned by Paulina Pedroso, an Afro-Cuban immigrant who gave safe haven to Martí, a Cuban revolutionary and one of the most beloved poets of the Spanish language. A statue of Martí, Cuba’s tragic hero, presides over the grounds.

Pair your visit with one of the titles on this book list: bit.ly/HCPLC-CommunityCulture DISCOVERY PASS IS BACK!

The Library’s Discovery Pass program gives you FREE admission or tour pass to select local museums and attractions, and it is now available through a new, easierto-use digital system accessible through your smart phone, tablet, computer, or by visiting your local library and using one of the public computers to reserve your pass. HCPLC.org/Discovery Pass.

Strong Schools – Stronger Hillsborough

During the height of the pandemic, many parents saw firsthand the true challenge of our teachers.

It’s become even more evident that teachers are heroes – the first responders that our children go to for answers or just a kind smile. But like most school districts across the nation, Hillsborough County Public Schools is experiencing critical staff shortages including teachers, bus drivers, and support staff. Just this year, we had a 240% increase in teacher vacancies.

While teachers enter the profession due to a calling, many are leaving for financial reasons. According to EdWeek, teacher salaries are not keeping up with inflation. The national average teacher salary for 2021-22 was $66,397 – a 1.7% increase from the previous year. But when adjusted for inflation, the average teacher salary decreased by an estimated 3.9% over the last decade.

Mid-career teachers in Hillsborough County earn salaries only slightly higher than early career teachers, prompting many of them to seek new jobs outside of education or in other school districts where salaries are more competitive. Twenty-one Florida school districts have successfully implemented a millage referendum, gaining a competitive advantage over Hillsborough in attracting high-quality teachers and staff. Other school districts considering a referendum or renewal in 2022 include Pasco, Sarasota, Duval, Brevard, and Palm Beach. On the August 23rd primary ballot, Hillsborough County voters will decide on increasing the ad valorem tax by one mil. What could this mean to our school heroes? 75% of the district’s share of the funds over the 4-year term will

be used to increase pay for teachers, bus drivers, custodians, support professionals, and other staff. The remaining 25% will be used to protect and expand art, music, PE, and workforce education programs.

Florida is ranked 48th in average teacher pay

No Rest for the Referendum!

by Laura Cross, Hillsborough County Public Schools

Ask most of our students and staff what they’re up to this summer and the answer will probably be: The beach! Camp! Traveling! FUN! Ask the men and women working for Reno Boyd and Carruthers & Associates and their answer will be: “Making our schools better!” That’s right; while we’re at rest, our referendum dollars are hard at work.

A quick refresher before we go into more detail about our hard-working education referendum cash. In 2018, voters in Hillsborough County passed the education referendum. The money is earmarked solely for improving the facilities and other capital projects in our schools such as replacing air conditioning units, improving old roofs, enhancing security systems and repaving parking lots, among other necessary projects. So far, more than $355 million dollars have gone into our schools to make them better!

That number will jump substantially after this summer, because this summer’s project list is massive. Let’s look at the summer to-do list for just one school in particular: Ballast Point Elementary in Tampa: ● Complete air conditioning overhaul ● Adding a ramp to the front of the campus where there was no ADA access ● Replacing flooring in main office to remove termite and moisture damage ● Installing new carpeting in media center and media lab ● Replacing flooring in cafeteria ● Replacing flooring in 32 classrooms ● Revamping the water collection system to keep unwanted moisture out of the building

Crews began work on Ballast Point Elementary Memorial Day weekend. Work is expected to be complete by Aug. 2, just in time for teachers and staff to return.

The same thing is happening in many of our schools over the summer.

Our district operations team, along with the Citizens Oversight Committee, has spent the past few months interviewing companies and getting the very best bids for the work. Local companies are given the highest consideration, along with minority owned businesses.

Reno Boyd Building Company is based out of Tampa, as is Carruthers & Associates Architecture. Together, those companies are working on Ballast Point Elementary and Madison Middle School this summer. When the work is complete, more than $10 million referendum dollars will be invested into those two schools.

The work is so intense, even the principal works offsite in order to stay out of the way. Beth Hastings has been principal at Ballast Point Elementary for seven years. She says her entire school came together to make sure everything was ready for the summer work to begin. “Our families and staff are phenomenal,” she said. “During the most hectic time of the year – the end of the year – we all showed up to pack up rooms, purge, move technology and music equipment to other areas so construction could get started as soon as that final bell rang!”

Hastings says everyone is excited to get back on campus in August and see the improvements in the school.

That’s what it is all about. Our staff and students spend a majority of their day, five days a week, in these buildings. Thanks to the education referendum, we are able to make them a more comfortable place to prepare our students for life!

When enough is enough

How to get involved with Moms Demand Action

by Laura Byrne

It still feels raw. We are all sharing in the grief and anger about the senseless murder of 19 children and two teachers at a Texas elementary school—at the hands of a madman who was practically a child himself; a person who, upon his recent 18th birthday, was able to purchase the guns he allegedly used in the deadly shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Many of us are left asking: How? Why? And what can we do? We recently reconnected with Wendy Malloy, the co-leader of the Moms Demand Action Florida chapter of moms, to learn more about how families in Tampa Bay can get involved in the fight for common sense change so no other family has to endure the unimaginable heartbreak of losing a child to gun violence. And, so no child has to go to school in fear for their lives.

Wendy Malloy

TBPM: For those who may not be familiar with Moms Demand Action, tell us more about the organization and its mission.

WENDY MALLOY: Moms Demand Action started in 2012, the day after the Sandy Hook shooting that killed 20 first-graders and six teachers and administrators. Our founder, Shannon Watts, started a Facebook page to begin a conversation about solutions to the country’s gun violence epidemic.

Now, almost 10 years later, we have 8 million supporters nationwide. We have a chapter in every state and a presence in every state house. We work on several fronts: ● Advocate common sense gun laws at the local, state and national level ● Work to elect Gun Sense Candidates ● Support gun violence survivors with the Everytown Survivors Network ● Educate the public about secure firearm storage with our Be SMART program ● Support and partner with community violence intervention programs (such as Safe & Sound Hillsborough and Rise

Up for Peace) and more

TBPM: How has the most recent tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, changed the messaging from Moms Demand Action?

WM: Our message remains the same: Common sense gun laws save lives. If more guns made people safer, the U.S. would be the safest nation on the planet. Instead, 110 people every single day die by guns. And most shocking and enraging: Gun violence is the Number One cause of death for American children and teenagers.

Our hearts are broken for the families and loved ones of victims in Buffalo and Uvalde, and the 110 people killed by guns every day in America. We’re holding them close as we work to honor their lives with action.

TBPM: How can families get involved with the local chapter and what can we expect to do?

WM: There are two active Moms groups in the Bay area – one in Tampa and one in St. Pete. There are several ways to connect: ● Text ACT to 644-33 ● Download our Demand Action app ● Check out our Moms Demand Action website: momsdemandaction.org TBPM: As a member of Moms Demand Action, you have been part of this fight for quite a while. How are you feeling right now?

TBPM: It’s incredibly frustrating for so many families who have seen this news cycle repeat itself without any real change. What else can we do?

WM: I share your frustration. Believe me, we all want meaningful change at the federal level. But it’s important to know that the gun violence prevention movement is absolutely making progress across the U.S., state by state, school board by school board, city council by city council.

Here are just two examples of our wins in Florida, just in the past few months: ● The Hillsborough County Tax Collector shares gun violence prevention info and stats on digital screens in all eight offices across our region, serving 1.5 million Floridians every year. And every concealed permit applicant (2,400 last year) goes home with Be SMART info about secure firearm storage. ● Duval County Schools passed a Momsled resolution to send Be SMART materials home with every student (130,000 countywide) at the start of the school year.

WM: Heartbroken that two more American communities are experiencing the devastation and trauma so many have suffered.

Furious that so many elected officials have chosen blood money from the gun lobby over the lives of their constituents – little children watching a Disney movie in the last week of school, grocery shoppers on a spring afternoon … and the list goes on.

Determined that this time, we will NOT let the gun lobby and its lackeys in Congress get away with hollow thoughts and prayers. We demand action on common sense laws that save lives.

TBPM: What else do you want our readers to know?

WM: Thousands of new volunteers have joined Florida Moms and we’re ready to put them to work. Join us: Text ACT to 644-33.

How to talk to your kids about scary things

by Laura Byrne

It's not always easy to find the right words when our kids come to us with questions about the scary things happening in our world. And sometimes, the struggle for us is knowing that many of these things are out of our control. But, there are ways we can comfort our children and help guide them as they process current events. The most recent story that has gutted every parent was the murder of 19 children and their 2 teachers at an Uvalde, Texas, elementary school. How in the world do we explain this to our kids? In my conversations with other parents, I discovered that many of us, myself included, haven't told our kids about it yet. But—should we? To help guide us as parents, we're turning to Jennifer Katzenstein, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, the co-director of the Center for Behavioral Health at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, to learn more about how to talk to our kids about scary things.

istockphoto.com / SeventyFour

TBPM: If our kids haven't yet learned about the tragic shooting in Uvalde, Texas, should we tell them or wait for them to bring it up?

DR. JENNIFER KATZENSTEIN: It depends on the age and developmental level. For our younger kids, it is hard to understand the gravity of the event.

For those under the age of 7, a great option is to reinforce the safety plans that their school has in place. If they ask about the shooting, speak in clear terms at their level, such as "kids were hurt at school," and remind them that adults are doing everything they can to protect them.

For kids 8 years old to middle school age, again, meet them at their level and explain that many kids were killed by a shooter at school, and again, remind them that adults are here to keep them safe and reinforce school safety plans. Ask them about how they are feeling and let them express any concerns without prompts.

For our high school aged kids, this is a great opportunity to discuss legislation [and] varying opinions, and together, you can start to engage in volunteer or activist work of your family's choice.

TBPM: Kids understand things at different ages and stages. What's the best way to talk about these scary things in the news with our kids from preschoolers to high schoolers?

JK: Talking about scary things in the news varies by age and developmental level. In addition, children before 7-8 years of age often will not yet make the connection between the news and reality, so it is best at those ages to talk about scary situations more broadly, and what safety plans are. See previous question for more related to this.

TBPM: The school shooting hits home for many kids because the victims were their age and in a classroom where they are supposed to feel the most safe. How do we reassure our kids? Especially as they head back to school and go through the active shooter practice drills?

JK: A great place to start is to review family safety plans and school safety plans. Practice coping skills together, especially when we feel our anxiety on the rise, including deep breathing, meditation and muscle relaxation. Remind them that adults at school and at home are doing everything they can to keep them safe.

TBPM: If a child is especially anxious about the news, how do we best comfort them when we know most of what is going on in the outside world is out of our control? We don't want to lie to them, right?

JK: Correct. We always want to be as transparent as possible in our communication and [by] presenting language at an age-appropriate level. However, keep in mind, too much news isn't healthy for anyone, including ourselves, so limit news if it is distressful, and make sure to get news from trusted news sources. TBPM: What should a parent do if they are concerned about their child's mental health?

JK: Talking with your pediatrician or a trusted psychologist/counselor/therapist is a great place to start. I wish everyone established with a therapist when they find their pediatrician, but since that isn't what happens right now, find some trusted providers and bring your concerns. It is great to establish a relationship with people now so that when concerns arise, you know who you have a relationship with and who to go to.

TBPM: In the event of something like a hurricane (since it's hurricane season), how do we comfort our kids when again—Mother Nature is out of our control?

JK: The most important thing we can do is have a family safety plan. Make sure we have hurricane supplies on hand, and that the family is well versed in the family safety plan. Although we can't predict the future, and Mother Nature is out of our control, our kids need to have reassurance that we are doing everything we can to keep them safe.

TBPM: Anything else you want to add?

JK: Healthy parents are important for healthy kids. If we personally are feeling a lot of anxiety or experience changes in our own mood, we as parents may need support as well! Taking care of ourselves is very important, and sleep and social work are two of the biggest protective factors we can do to take care of ourselves. But, receiving our own care from a psychologist, therapist or counselor models for our kids the importance of taking care of our mental health and seeking out care when we need it.

by Anu Varma Panchal

Summer means sunshine and pool time; beach days and barbecues—a time to relax, kick back and make memories. But travel and visitors can create distractions and confusion, resulting in injuries or illness. We talked with Dr. Christina Canody, BayCare Pediatric Service Line Medical Director, and Michelle Sterling, BayCare Kids Wellness and Safety Specialist and Safe Kids Greater Tampa Coordinator, about the best ways to keep your children safe this summer. Here are their essential tips for a safe summer.

AROUND WATER

Water is the main allure of sun-soaked summer days, but it’s also a dangerous lure for curious toddlers or anyone who cannot swim. Follow these tips to ensure happy and safe pool and beach time. ● Drowning is quick and silent, so designate a water watcher whose only job is to watch the children in the pool (no long chats with other adults; no phone scrolling). ● Install effective pool gates, fences and alarms on your pool and home, and DON’T turn off that annoying chime of the door alarm because it can alert you if your curious toddler wanders outside. ● Keep toys and floats out of the pool when not in use so young children aren’t tempted to try and get to them. ● If your child is missing, immediately check the pool and other nearby bodies of water. Toddlers are very attracted to water and can drown in very small amounts of it—even in a few inches of rain water left in the bottom of a blow-up pool. ● Not all flotation devices keep a child from drowning, even if they are marketed to do so. Around open water, opt for snug-fitting U.S. Coastguard-approved life jackets. ● Remind your children to never swim alone (even those who are experienced swimmers) and always have an adult or a buddy with them when at the water. ● A day at the beach can quickly become spoiled by lightning, jellyfish or riptides. Pay attention to warnings, flags and lifeguards, and if you hear thunder, take cover. ● Start swimming lessons for your children as early as possible—even from the time a baby starts crawling. Parents can also look into CPR training.

AROUND PLANES, BIKES AND AUTOMOBILES

Summer often means travel, whether it's by road or by plane, or whether you are renting a car at your destination. Wherever you go, remember that if an accident occurs, a safely restrained child has a much better chance of avoiding injury. ● When installing a car seat, use either the seatbelt or the latch system, not both, because that can affect the integrity of the system. Once you’ve secured it in the vehicle, give the belt path a tug to ensure it doesn’t move more than an inch or so. Make sure you’ve installed it correctly by consulting a video tutorial or a child passenger safety technician like the team at BayCare Kids Wellness and Safety Center. ● Keep kids rear facing until they are 2 years old. The child should switch from a booster to the regular car seat only when their legs make a 90-degree angle when they are sitting with their feet planted on the floor, and when the seatbelt lies across their collarbone and hips. ● NEVER leave a child or pet in the car. In Florida, car temperatures can heat up to a level 20 degrees higher than the environment outside, and this can happen within minutes. It’s hard to imagine forgetting a baby in the backseat, but it happens more often than you’d think, and it can happen to anybody, especially in the midst of a disrupted routine. Tip: when strapping in baby, place something in the back seat that you cannot leave the car without, such as your purse, briefcase or even your left shoe! ● Remind your children (and maybe visiting grandparents) that in Florida, the law states that anyone under 16 must wear a helmet when they ride a bicycle. ● Flying this summer? Consider taking along a car seat that is also an approved child safety restraint system (CRS) or harness to use in the flight. Look for a tag that says

“This restraint is approved for use in motor vehicles and aircraft” on it. Otherwise, you may have to check the car seat.

istockphoto.com/ pixdeluxe

istockphoto.com / NataliaDeriabina

Although this summer’s strain of COVID is more contagious, it is not more severe. In fact, pediatricians are seeing more and unusually high numbers of patients suffering from the flu, RSV and Human Rhino/Enterovirus this summer. As well as handwashing, masking and avoiding high-touch surfaces, here are some tips for a healthier summer: ● Keep up to date with all vaccines and boosters recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). COVID vaccines and boosters are recommended for children over 5, especially for children who will travel or attend summer school or camp. ● If your child tests positive for the flu, remember that they are contagious until after they have been fever-free for 24 hours. They have also probably been contagious for at least a day prior, so if you have other children at home, it’s a good idea to avoid camps, day care and crowded spaces to prevent spreading disease. ● If your child is ill, keep them hydrated and control their fever with Tylenol. If the fever doesn’t respond, or if the child is not eating, drinking, urinating or breathing properly, or if they have vomiting and diarrhea, take them to a doctor. Also, any baby under 6 months who is sick should be seen by their physician.

IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS

What’s awesome about Florida? 365 days of sunshine! What’s not so awesome? Sunburns, heat exhaustion and mosquitoes! ● Apply sunblock 15-20 mins before you go out in the sun. ● Children’s bodies warm up quicker than adults’ and they don’t sweat as much, so bring them inside to air-conditioning often and give them plenty of water breaks. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests 5 ounces of water (or 10 gulps) for an 88-pound child every 20 minutes, and 9 ounces (20 gulps) for a 130-pound adolescent during physical activity. ● If they do get sunburned, apply aloe and lotion for sunburn and give them Benadryl or an antihistamine for itching. If they have swelling or pain, however, seek medical attention. ● For babies from 6 months to 1 year, use a brand of insect repellent that has less than 10 percent DEET. For babies under 6 months, spray their clothes rather than their skin, and spray the underside of their stroller. You can also have your kids wear “bug bands” or citronella bracelets. ● If you’re hiking or walking in tall grass, check children’s skin at bath time for strange bites or even ticks.

If you do see a tick on their skin, safely remove it. If the tick is engorged, seek medical attention. Pack these travel must-haves

● Thermometer ● Tylenol ● Benadryl ● Hydrocortisone cream 1% to apply on bites ● A 10-day supply of extra medication in case of travel delays ● A list of the generic names of your child’s medication as drugs may be sold under different names in different countries ● Vaccination records

GUN SAFETY

This summer, you may find yourself visiting friends or family that own a gun. Or maybe you own a gun and children who are unfamiliar with weapons are visiting your home. Either way— and at any time of the year—it’s important to keep basic gun safety laws at the front of mind. ● Never keep guns lying around on nightstands or in bedside drawers. Store them unloaded and secured with child-resistant locks in a locked container. Keep this container in a place children cannot see or reach, and do not store the ammunition with the weapon. ● If you are planning to use the gun and do not want to store it, keep it with you at all times. ● Speak to family members and the parents of your children’s friends about gun safety and about their practices and your expectations.

PRESENTED BY BAYCARE

Creating Your Emergency Kits for Hurricane Season

by Rachel Dawkins, M.D., medical director of the pediatric and adolescent medicine clinic at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital

Hurricane season is in full swing and the tropics will stay active through November, so now is a very important time to prepare for a potential disaster. We hear from many families around this time of year on best ways to prepare for hurricanes, and we encourage them to build two important, potentially life-saving kits and follow these tips below.

PREP FOR THE STORM AND PACK YOUR HURRICANE KIT

Start by learning your evacuation zone and get familiar with the evacuation routes you will need to take if your family must leave, and discuss where you will go. Families with children who have special needs should register with their local health department and emergency operations offices to find out the location of their special needs shelter in case of evacuation. Also, not all shelters for the public will accept pets, so you’ll want to check in advance on which ones will accommodate your four-legged family members. Please note, Johns Hopkins All Children’s is open for emergent care, but is not a shelter.

HERE ARE IMPORTANT ITEMS TO INCLUDE IN YOUR HURRICANE KIT:

● List of important contacts and phone numbers ● Water (enough for a few days) ● Necessities for young children including formula, wipes and diapers ● Non-perishable food items, including anything needed for special dietary concerns ● Flashlights and extra batteries, including extra external phone batteries ● A weather radio ● Activities to keep kids busy (Electronics will run out of power within a few hours, so gather other distractors such as coloring books, board or card games or other favorite activities that don’t depend on batteries.) ● Prescription medications (and related medical equipment such as nebulizer/mask or spacer and mask for those with asthma) ● Bedding for a small space ● Infant or child necessities (wipes, diapers, bottles) ● Personal hygiene items ● Change of clothes ● Eyeglasses ● Important papers and valid ID; consider bringing copies of your child’s vaccination and/or medical record ● Cash WHAT TO INCLUDE IN A FIRST-AID SUPPLY KIT

When it comes to a first aid kit, think about the basics for small injuries like cuts and scrapes, but also family specific items. For example, if your child has allergies that require an epi-pen or daily antihistamine pill, or if they have asthma, don’t forget their nebulizer and/or inhaler with spacer and mask. Here is a list to get your family started: ● Bandages (in different sizes) ● Antibiotic ointment ● Gauze pads and wraps ● Compression bandage for sprains/strains ● Ice Pack (particularly for home) ● Pain relievers/anti-inflammatory medication ● Antihistamine (liquid, pill and/or topical cream for rashes, bites and stings) ● Plastic bag or small container to hold items in your first aid kit

For more tips and a printable check list, you can also visit: FloridaDisaster.org/Kit