Connecticut Children's Blog

Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries in basketball athletes of all ages. And all too often, many players have to sit most of the season out depending on how severe the injury.  This is a situation no athlete and their parents, understandably, want to face. >Related: The Pressure to Win: Sports and […]

There’s never a good time for your child to need urgent care. But it’s really, really not a good time when you’re about to leave for vacation. Two days before his family’s big trip to Marco Island, Florida, 7-year-old Tyler Grad fell off a slide at his school playground. He and the slide had a […]

In New England, summer sneaks up after a long winter, which felt even longer as COVID-19 still looms. However, when the sun comes out, it’s out full force. Before you and the family head outside and “take back” summer, check out some summer sun safety tips to protect yourself and those you love against the […]

Heat-related illness like heat exhaustion and heat stroke can oftentimes send kids to the emergency room in the summer months. What should you look for and what should you do if your child is showing signs of any heat-related illness? Better yet, how can you help your child prevent these illnesses all together? Dr. John […]

By: Kevin Borrup, Executive Director, Injury Prevention We all want our children to have a fun, memorable and active summer. Water play is a major part of making summer memories and many kids are eager to splash around, swim or attend pool or beach parties. However, we need to be mindful that water can be […]

By: Sonia Chaudhry, MD, FAAOS, and Kevin Borrup, DrPH, JD, MPA Want to make sure your child’s time on the playground is as safe as it is fun? Follow these safety tips from orthopedic surgeon Sonia Chaudhry, MD, FAAOS and the Injury Prevention Center’s Kevin Borrup, DrPH, JD, MPA. Playground injuries are common, but preventable. […]

By Ashley Starr Frechette and Susan DiVietro, PhD Ashley Starr Frechette, the director of health professional outreach at Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Susan DiVietro, PhD, a research scientist with Connecticut Children’s Injury Prevention Center, share an important message about both child abuse and domestic violence. If you or someone you know is in […]

Play ball! Baseball and softball season is about to start, and we’re excited to cheer on players. Whether your child is an elite athlete or a Little Leaguer, we want to keep them injury-free. Connecticut Children’s sports physical therapist Dylan Roman, PT, DPT, shares how to spot common injuries early – and better yet, reduce […]

By Amy Watkins, MPH It’s back to school time, and that means school buses, crowded drop-offs and bicycling or walking along busy roads. Motor vehicle injuries are a leading cause of death among children in the United States, so it’s important to talk to your child now about being safe around buses and cars.  Amy […]

With schools closed and social distancing measures in place, children are turning to social media to stay connected with friends – through messaging and video chats, sharing photos and videos, and playing video games. For many, this is happening at a younger age than their parents originally planned. That can be okay, since it’s important […]

Parenting is stressful. That’s especially true during COVID-19. Families are dealing with changing work schedules, financial uncertainty and lack of basic household needs just as schools, daycares and out-of-home activities are closed. With all this pressure, parents may feel more frustrated than usual with children of all ages. A crying infant can be particularly distressing. […]

Schools across the state of Connecticut are closed to prevent the spread of coronavirus, and many parents have no choice but to return to work. If you’re one of them, how can you decide if your child is ready to be left home alone – and how will you make sure they’re safe? Kevin Borrup, […]

The busy holiday shopping season is upon us. While that can mean plenty of fun for children, it can also bring harm due to hidden hazards found in some toys. I was pleased to join Connecticut Children’s President & CEO James Shmerling; Sam Donahue and Petra Favorite of ConnPIRG; and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal at […]

By Kevin Borrup, DrPH, JD, MPA is the Associate Director of Connecticut Children’s Injury Prevention Center When you drive home on October 31st, drive more slowly than usual, watch out for kids and adults who may be out and about in places you normally would not expect them to be. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, children […]

Each year Connecticut Children’s treats young children aged 4 and under who are severely injured in incidents involving lawn mowers, some even losing limbs as a result. Garry Lapidus, PA-C, MPH, director of the Injury Prevention Center at Connecticut Children’s, notes that about 10,000 children are injured each year by lawn mowing equipment. To reduce […]

In recognition of National Poison Prevention Week, Margaret Burke, Pharm.D., CSPI shares some facts about accidental poisonings in children and what to do if you think your child (or you) has been exposed to a poison.  What to Do If You Think a Child Is Exposed to a Poison If the child appears to be […]

As a pediatric surgeon at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center who cares for injured children and adults, I see gun violence at its worst. All too often, the victims of gun violence arrive at our trauma center with irreparable injuries and all we can do is try to pick up the pieces. Like most complex social […]

With the busy holiday shopping season upon us, it’s important for physicians and consumer groups to encourage parents and caregivers to research toys to ensure the ones they plan to purchase are safe. I see the impact of dangerous toys on children through my work as an emergency physician at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and […]

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and the Connecticut Public Interest Research Group (ConnPIRG) teamed up to unveil the 32nd annual Trouble in Toyland report. The report exposes a variety of dangerous toys on local store shelves including fidget spinners full of lead, inadequately-labeled toys and balloons, and data-collecting toys that may violate children’s privacy and other […]

By Margaret M. Burke, Pharm.D., BCPPS Acetaminophen is a medicine used to relieve pain and decrease fever. It may be purchased “over-the-counter” which means you do not need a doctor’s prescription to get it. Some brand names for acetaminophen made for children include Tylenol®, Pain & Fever®, or Mapap® but there are many more available. […]