The Kohl's A Minute for Kids campaign is a way for Kohl's Department Stores and Dayton Children's to bring health, safety and prevention information to children and families in the region.
Safety through the ages…Learn how to use developmental concepts to better protect your toddler. Safety through the ages…Learn how to use developmental concepts to better protect your toddler.
Expert: Eileen Kasten, MD, developmental pediatrician Learn more
If your child is using a cell phone to text, make sure he or she understands the dangers of texting and “sexting.”
Expert: Greg Ramey, PhD, child psychologist Learn more
Countdown to good health 5 – 2 – 1 – 0. Learn how taking small “bites” toward good health can lead to big gains.
Expert: James Ebert, MD, lead physician, lipid clinic Learn more
This year’s flu season—with the seasonal flu and H1N1—is expected to be a long one. Learn how to best prevent the flu.
Expert: Sherman Alter, MD, infectious disease Learn more
When cleaning your house, it’s important to use products and methods to minimize asthma triggers.
Expert: Belinda Huffman, respiratory therapist, pulmonary medicine Learn more
With active kids, a hard “bonk” on the head is common. When is it more than just a “bonk?”
Expert: Laurence Kleiner, MD, pediatric neurosurgeon Learn more
Two-year-old Pierson Ward of Springfield was climing into the family car when a neighbor’s dog attacked him. Pierson suffered numerous bites to his face, ribs, spine and head. He was treated in Dayton Children’s Regional Pediatric Trauma and Emergency Center and underwent four hours of general and plastic surgery.
Unfortunately, Pierson’s story is not unusual.
Dayton Children’s treats about 240 children a year - or about 20 children a month - for dog bites.
"Most young children are about the same size as dogs and the dogs may see these children as a threat," Tom Krzmarzick, MD, medical director of Dayton Children’s Regional Pediatric Trauma and Emergency Center. "It’s critical that parents teach their children how to interact with dogs to prevent injuries. Just because a dog has never bitten, does not mean that it won’t get scared and bite in defense. Eighty-five percent of dogs who bite have never bitten before."
Teach children:
Dr. Krzmarzick recommends that parents carefully consider their decision if adding a dog to the family when children are young. If families want dogs, he says, it’s important to research appropriate dog breeds that are good with young children.
Two-year-old Pierson Ward was lucky. Today Pierson is back to his normal self - he plays outside and enjoys being a 2-year-old. Ashley, however, doesn’t let Pierson go out into the yard alone.
"I’ve learned that you can’t be too careful with anybody’s dog," she says.
For information on how read a dog’s body language and more health and safety tips from the experts at Dayton Children’s, visit our website at kohlsminutes.childrensdayton.org. You will find podcasts and other health and safety information.
Thomas Krzmarzick, MD, is medical director of the Regional Pediatric Trauma and Emergency Center. Dr. Krzmarzick is also a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics and emergency medicine at Wright State University’s Boonshoft School of Medicine. He is board certified in pediatrics and pediatric emergency medicine. He earned his medical degree at the University of Iowa School of Medicine. Dr. Krzmarzick completed his pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, where he was also chief resident in pediatrics. Dr. Krzmarzick has been the medical director of the emergency department at Dayton Children’s since 1999.