The Fidelis Care Blog

The hot summer months mean more time spent near and in the water. Water safety is important for children and adults. Here are some tips to help you safely enjoy the water: • Always watch children while they are swimming or near water. Never leave children alone near water. A child or weak swimmer can drown in less than a minute. • Teach children to always ask before they go in the water.

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Each year, more people are diagnosed with skin cancer than with any other type of cancer. There are three types of skin cancer: basal cell, squamous cell, and melanoma. They all require medical attention, but melanoma is the most serious as it is most likely to spread to other parts of the body.

May is Healthy Vision Month. This is a great opportunity to learn how to keep your eyes healthy and safe. The National Eye Institute encourages you to: • Get an eye exam. This is the best way to check your vision and know if your eyes are healthy. Talk to your eye doctor about how often you should have one. • Live a healthy lifestyle. Maintain a healthy weight and eat foods like fish and dark leafy green vegetables to lower your risk of eye disease. Don't smoke. Smoking is as bad for your eyes as it is for the rest of your body.

As a child and adolescent psychiatrist, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside families during some of their most vulnerable moments. We tend to view childhood as a carefree time that evolves into stress and anxiety once the pressures of adulthood set in. However, that is not the case. One thing remains clear: mental health is just as important as physical health — and this is especially true for children. Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week is an opportunity to reflect on how we can better support young people and break down the barriers that prevent them from thriving.

Asthma and allergies can worsen with the warmer weather. Weeds, trees, grass, and other plants begin to bloom. They spread pollen and other allergens. Allergies are one of the most common chronic diseases. They are caused by the immune system’s reaction to allergens. Allergy symptoms happen when a person with an allergy comes into contact with the allergen. This can happen by touching, eating, or breathing in an allergen.