family wellness

While pregnant, my heightened sense of smell picked up even the slightest scent of smoke and made me nauseous. And, maybe more than a few of our lilsugar readers felt the same way as 58 percent of you said the sight of a pregnant woman smoking incensed you more than catching a woman with child sipping a cocktail. Medically speaking, we should be just as leery of lil ones being around cigarette smoke. It doesn't matter if a parent, caretaker or stranger indulges. According to WebMD, there is evidence that no amount of smoke inhalation is without repercussions. It said:

The findings add to the growing body of evidence that suggests that there is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke, also called environmental tobacco smoke, contains an array of harmful chemicals, including nicotine, which have been shown to increase one’s risk for cardiovascular disease. Exposure to such smoke causes upwards of 50,000 heart disease deaths in adult nonsmokers every year in the United States, making it a major public health concern.

Do you make an effort to keep your kids in a smoke free environment?

The warm weather months mean picnics, pool parties, barbecues and unfortunately for some, more exposure to bees. I'll never forget being at the beach with my aunt and baby cousin years ago when a bee flew in his mouth and stung him. So as Summer approaches, prep yourself on what to do if a yellow jacket stings you or your youngster.

According to WebMD, most bee stings only require self-care. They offer the following advice*:

• Avoid further stings by wearing protective clothing, using insect repellent, and avoiding infested areas.
• Remove any stingers remaining in the skin (most likely from bees) immediately. Some experts recommend scraping out the stinger with a credit card. However, it is probably more important to get the stinger out as quickly as possible than to be overly concerned about how it is removed.
• Application of ice to the sting site may provide some mild relief. Ice may be applied for 20 minutes once every hour as needed. Cloth should be placed between the ice and skin to avoid freezing the skin.
• Consider taking an antihistamine such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or a nonsedating one such as loratadine (Claritin) for itching.
• Consider taking ibuprofen (Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain relief as needed.
• Wash the sting site with soap and water. Place an antibiotic ointment on the sting site.
• If it has been more than 10 years since your last tetanus booster immunization, get a booster within the next few days.
• Most insect stings require no additional medical care. More serious reactions may need immediate medical care.
• If you have been stung by a bee or wasp and have previously had a serious allergic reaction, seek medical attention. Consider taking an antihistamine such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or a nonsedating one such as loratadine (Claritin) as soon as possible. If any allergic symptoms develop, consider using the epinephrine part of an emergency allergy kit (EpiPen) if previously prescribed by a doctor.

*Consult your pediatrician before giving your child medication.
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