For many kids, the summer is a three-month-long outdoor adventure, and they celebrate the warm weather and free time by riding bikes, hiking and playing sports. But as the school year begins, it can become harder for families to carve out the time to be active and stay healthy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, kids are getting less physical activity and more junk food than ever, which can lead to a ...
September is Healthy Aging Month, and AFC Urgent Care Methuen is dedicated to helping our patients maintain healthy and happy lives as they age. As you age, your healthcare needs become more unique. Situations might arise that are scarier as a senior adult than they would have been if you were 20 years younger. At AFC Urgent Care Methuen, we understand the special nature of senior adult health concerns, and we are equipped to provide ...
As a parent, you want your child to do well in school. The best way to ensure their success is to give them the tools and the fuel they need to do well, both in the classroom and in life. We’ve got you covered there, with our blog last week on back-to-school health kits, and now we’ve got more information for you! The team at AFC Urgent Care Methuen has put together a ...
When your child returns to school, it can often mean a renewed exposure to germs and possible injuries. AFC Urgent Care has a tried and true list of recommendations to keep your kids healthy, even when they aren’t with you. Here is our back-to-school health kit, a complete list of the portable tools and items that can make the school day much healthier, without much effort on your part. This health kit can fit ...
Summer’s down to its twilight hours as there are just two more weeks until school begins again. This means it’s time for us to slowly transition back to the school season mentality. Therefore, we at AFC Doctors Express Urgent Care Methuen have prepared a back to school checklist that parents and children alike should consult prior to the return to school. Backpack Tips Pack light – lockers exist for a reason! Arrange the straps ...
Vaccinations are one of the biggest public health innovations in history. Because of the myriad vaccines we have available, we have completely or nearly eliminated several devastating diseases, saving countless lives in the process. Diseases like measles, mumps, whooping cough and chickenpox can be debilitating, or even fatal. In order to keep your children — and other students— healthy, you must ensure their vaccinations are up-to-date before school starts. AFC Urgent Care is there for you ...
" If your child plays team sports through their school, you are probably looking forward to cheering them on during their season, and planning out your schedule around their practices. But have you planned for their sports physical yet? The pre-participation sports physical is required almost universally in the United States. Sports physicals help prevent risk and assess the health and fitness of children to ensure the activity will be healthy for them. Here’s why ...
" The summer equinox, also known as the longest day of the year, was June 20, and the rest of summer is looking pretty bright. With the sun shining that much, most people will be applying more sunscreen than usual. But here at AFC Urgent Care, we know that you need just as much sunscreen on cloudy days and during the winter as you do now. Sun damage can sneak up on your skin if you ...
Summertime is the best time for grilling outdoors with family and friends. But while you’re grilling and chilling, we at AFC Urgent Care want to make sure you are staying safe, as well. So take some time to remember these tips for your next summer barbecue, and you’ll be better prepared to keep you and your family safe around the grill. Grill Away from Your House It may come as no surprise that ...
Zika virus is a growing concern for people traveling this summer, as it has begun spreading rapidly through new regions in Central America and the United States. Zika virus typically has very mild symptoms, but it can put people at risk of complications such as infant microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome. There is currently no cure or vaccine for the Zika virus. AFC Urgent Care wants you and your family to be protected while on vacation ...
Dehydration tends to sneak up on you, especially during the summer. The hotter weather and higher humidity in the summer can make it hard to stay hydrated, so while your family is enjoying time outside in the summer sun, you need to keep hydration top-of-mind. This summer, AFC Urgent Care wants you to stay safe in the heat by using these tips to stay hydrated. Why Is It Important to Stay Hydrated? Proper hydration makes ...
Last week, the team at AFC Urgent Care Methuen had the pleasure of attending the Methuen Lower and Upper Grammar School End of the Year Picnic. The picnic celebrates another successful school year and simultaneously welcomes in the beginning of summer. While we were there to donate water, we felt like we were part of the fun, as we participated in a number of fun activities that the school provided. There was also a giant ...
Summer is prime time for beach action, and for good reason! The surf and the sand are so much easier to enjoy when it’s warm enough to play in them. But there are some risks you might not know about lurking in the depths. As we reach the end of Rip Current Awareness Week on June 5 through June 11, 2016, it’s important to remember to practice safe beach behaviors any time you ...
Last week, the team at AFC Urgent Care Urgent Care Methuen took a trip down memory line by sponsoring the Pvt. Albert E. Thompson Elementary School Fun Run on June 1st. We then returned to Thompson Elementary on Friday, June 3rd to help out at their annual Field Day, which celebrates the conclusion of another successful school year. As the sole sponsor of the Fun Run, we had the honor of spending the day with ...
Plants can brighten up a landscape, but some can be dangerous! This summer, AFC Urgent Care wants you to watch out for these poisonous plants, and to know what to do if you come into contact with them! Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac are the big three when it comes to poisonous plants — all have a similar chemical make-up that makes them very unpleasant to meet when you’re out hiking! All three ...
World No Tobacco Day is May 31, 2016. How will you be celebrating? What would the world be like with no tobacco use? For one day, the World Health Organization (WHO) wants us to try and find out. WHO coordinates the annual World No Tobacco Day with the goal of eliminating tobacco use around the world. This year, the goal of World No Tobacco Day is to encourage countries to legislate the packaging allowances for ...
Gorgeous spring and summer weather means it’s time for the whole family to head outside! But your family members aren’t the only ones wanting to enjoy the warmer weather — this time of year is when all kinds of bugs like to come out in full force. While we love seeing all the pretty ladybugs, buzzing bumblebees and beautiful butterflies, there are some creepy crawlies that we wish we could avoid. In addition to ...
Injuries can happen when you least expect them — and they can be disorienting and chaotic when they do occur. You may be in too much pain to help yourself, or it may be during a time when your primary care doctor’s office is closed. So how can you get help when you need it? And what can you do to treat the injury on your own? Find out what to do in the event ...
" Mother knows best when you’re growing up, but even the most informed and well-meaning mothers sometimes gave us advice that we later discovered wasn’t quite right. We here at AFC/Doctors Express took a list of some of the most popular pieces of motherly health advice and evaluated them. Read on to find out which pieces passed muster, and which ones we can leave behind! Put hydrogen peroxide on that scrape! Verdict: Not ...
In the mind of children, the idea of summer elicits emotions of joy, leisure, and never-ending freedom. For millions of kids, these feelings are captured each year by summer camp. Whether it be day camp or overnight camp, the start of camp marks a whole new set of adventures, friendships, and valuable life lessons. Due to insurance reasons, camps require its participants to receive a physical examination prior to the start of camp. For parents ...
