By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH
Originally published July 10, 2007, The Maine Switch
Mr. Sun: friend or foe? The results of a recent study indicated that for some individuals, sunshine is as effective as an antidepressant. This was no surprise to me. I love light and warmth—give me a beach vacation over an arctic expedition any day. Despite my predilection for sunny skies, I am all too familiar with the drawbacks of solar exposure. As I mentioned in last month’s column, my forward-thinking physician father slathered me with SPF 15 from an early age. Now that I’m a thirty-something doctor, I’ve come to understand the root of his cautious ways.
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By Lisa M. Belisle, MD, MPH
Originally published July 2007, Parent & Family
It is a sun-soaked summer day, and the beach beckons. You tote the tots down to the shore and slather on the sunscreen, opening the latest Harry Potter installment as your kids wade into the waves. Before you begin perusing pages, consider this: a study from the National SAFE KIDS Campaign found that 88% of childhood drowning victims were under supervision at the time of their accident. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1–14. It kills more than nine hundred kids a year. How do we prevent this terrible tragedy? Pack your beach books away and…
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