SPECIAL SECTION

20 Signs and Symptoms of Concussions 21 Home Fire Escape Plan 22 Pediatric Specialist Spotlight – Dr. Tabbah 24 Sports Physical Special 25 Hurley Wellness Recipe

May 2010

What is a concussion?

A concussion is a type of brain injury that changes the way the brain normally works. A concussion is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head. Concussions can also occur from a blow to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. Even what seems to be a mild bump to the head can be serious. Concussions can have a more serious effect on a young, developing brain and need to be addressed correctly.

A Fact Sheet for Parents

What are the signs and symptoms of a concussion?

You can’t see a concussion. Signs and symptoms of concussion can show up right after an injury or may not appear or be noticed until hours or days after the injury. It is important to watch for changes in how your child or teen is acting or feeling, if symptoms are getting worse, or if s/he just “doesn’t feel right.” Most concussions occur without loss of consciousness. If your child or teen reports one or more of the symptomsof concussion listed below, or if you notice the symptoms yourself, seek medical attention right away. Children and teens are among those at greatest risk for concussion.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF A CONCUSSION

SIGNS OBSERVED BY

PARENTS OR GUARDIANS • Appears dazed or stunned • Is confused about events • Answers questions slowly • Repeats questions • Can’t recall events prior to the hit, bump, or fall • Can’t recall events after the hit, bump, or fall • Loses consciousness (even briefly) • Shows behavior or personality changes • Forgets class schedule or assignments SYMPTOMS REPORTED BY YOUR CHILD OR TEEN Thinking/Remembering: • Difficulty thinking clearly • Difficulty concentrating or remembering • Feeling more slowed down • Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy

Physical: • Headache or “pressure” in head • Nausea or vomiting • Balance problems or dizziness • Fatigue or feeling tired • Blurry or double vision • Sensitivity to light or noise • Numbness or tingling • Does not “feel right” Emotional: • Irritable • Sad • More emotional than usual • Nervous

Sleep*: • Drowsy • Sleeps less than usual • Sleeps more than usual • Has trouble falling asleep

*Only ask about sleep symptoms if the injury occurred on a prior day.

To download this fact sheet in Spanish, please visit: www.cdc.gov/Concussion. Para obtener una copia electrónica de esta hoja de información en español, por favor visite: www.cdc.gov/Concussion.

hurleymc.com

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

In a home fire, can your family safely escape in just two minutes?

As the Injury Prevention Coordinator at Hurley, Nicole Matthews knows all too well the types of injuries that can result from a home fire. These two simple steps can help your family be prepared.

1. Practice your 2-minute drill from home to a safe meeting place at least twice a year. Everyone in your household should know two ways to escape from each room in your home.

2. Test your smoke alarms monthly. You should hear three beeps, letting you know the alarm is working. If not, it may be time to change the batteries. If your alarm is 10 years old, it’s time to get a new one as the sensor becomes less sensitive over time.

Scan the QR code to download your escape plan worksheet Nicole Matthews Injury Prevention Coordinator

hurley pediatric specialists

DR. MOHAMMAD TABBAH

This month’s Hurley Pediatric Specialists Spotlight features Dr. Mohammad Tabbah. He is board certified in both pediatrics and pediatric gastroenterology. With these credentials, he can treat patients for a range of issues while specializing in caring for

Dr. Tabbah has been with Hurley as a pediatric specialist since June of 2012, but has a history here stretching back twenty years prior. He completed his residency in pediatrics at Hurley from ‘92 to ‘95 before finishing his pediatric gastroenterology residency at Emory University in Georgia. He then brought that experience and expertise back to Flint, where he now teaches in Hurley’s pediatric residency programs.

When patients at Hurley need a consult regarding gastrointestinal issues, Dr. Tabbah is often called in to help. He also sees patients at the Hurley Pediatric Specialists Clinic, located on Linden Road in Flint. Common issues that patients often see Dr. Tabbah for include foreign bodies in the esophagus and stomach, chronic abdominal pain, acid reflux, and liver and pancreatic disease. Signs to watch out for include unexpected weight loss or gain, inability to play, and abdominal discomfort. Primary doctors or the Hurley Emergency Department can help identify these conditions and refer patients for specialty care in the clinic, though a referral is not always required. With a staff that includes a registered nurse and a medical assistant, the Hurley Pediatric Specialist Clinic provides outstanding clinical care with low wait times. Dr. Tabbah explains, “The Linden Road clinic is able to give patients such a high level of service compared to other offices because of the staff, and we’re able to do that with minimal wait times. So the patient and their family doesn’t have to go south to Ann Arbor or Detroit, where they would have longer wait times.”

Once he has diagnosed a patient, he is then able to work with Hurley Medical Center’s nationally recognized staff and technological innovations to give patients the best treatment options available. One example is the capsule endoscopy, a procedure which has the patient swallow a small capsule that houses a wireless camera that captures images as it moves through the small intestine. Those images are stored wirelessly on a recording device worn on the patient’s waist. He can then use those images to help diagnose, or rule out, a number of gastroenterological issues.

The combined resources of Dr. Tabbah’s specialization, the Hurley Pediatric Specialist Clinic, and Hurley Medical Center allow patients to get the comprehensive care that they need right here in Flint, eliminating the need to travel for specialty healthcare.

ANTS ON A LOG

VARIATIONS

INGREDIENTS

LOG IDEAS

• Celery, carrots, cucumbers, bananas, apples, pears, peaches

FILLING IDEAS

• Any nut butters, cream cheese, cottage cheese, hummus, mashed avocado (or guacamole), Greek yogurt, or other dips/spreads.

ANT IDEAS

• Dried fruits like raisins, apricots, dates, figs, pineapples, blueberries, etc), peas, corn, olives, cherry tomatoes, grapes, seeds, nuts (like almond slivers, pecans, walnuts)

DIRECTIONS

• Wash, slice, and prepare all “log items”

• Fill the “logs” with any of the filling choices you desire

• Select your “ants” or your toppings.

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