Posts for category: Child Safety

- Apply pressure to the cut for five minutes. If it’s still bleeding after five minutes, it probably needs stitches
- The cut is more than ½-inch deep or longer
- The cut is around their eye
- The cut is on their face or neck and is longer than ¼ inch
- The cut is gaping open
- There is an object sticking out of it, including debris or glass
- The cut is spurting blood
When should I call the pediatrician?
If in doubt about whether or not your child may need stitches, call your pediatrician. With the introduction of telehealth visits, many pediatricians can now look at images of the injury or wound through a simple online appointment and determine whether the child or teen needs to come in for stitches. While the warning signs above are telltale indicators that your child may need stitches, even if the cut doesn’t need stitches, you should still see the doctor if:
- The cut was made by a rusty or metal object
- There is redness, swelling, pus, or other signs of infection
- The child has been bitten by an animal
- The cut hasn’t healed within 10 days
- There is still severe pain after a few hours
If you still aren’t sure whether or not your child should get stitches, it doesn’t hurt to give your pediatrician a call. Let us know the symptoms your child is experiencing, and we can determine if their injury requires a closer look from our team. Call us today; we can deal with your child’s urgent medical matters.

While tetanus can cause some serious symptoms including “lockjaw," it is completely preventable with a vaccination. The DTaP vaccine is used to prevent tetanus (along with diphtheria and pertussis) and your child will get their first series of shots at 2, 4, and 6 months. Your child will also need another tetanus shot between the ages of 15 to 18 months old and between 4-6 years old.
Most children will develop symptoms within two weeks of exposure to the bacteria. Symptoms of tetanus include,
- Painful and severe muscle spasms
- Shoulder, jaw, and neck stiffness
- Difficulty breathing and swallowing
- Rapid heart rate
- Fever
Do your part to stop the spread of coronavirus among children and teens.
With COVID-19 cases on the rise across the country, it’s important that we make our best efforts to keep our families safe and reduce the spread of the virus in our communities. The hardest part is knowing when one might be exposed, especially when children may be asymptomatic yet capable of sharing the infection. We are providing testing for our patients, using both a quick antigen test performed on-site with results within a few hours, and the more sensitive PCR test which is sent to the reference lab and may take a few days to get a result. However, prevention is the best medicine and there are familiar routines we advocate that can help.
Wash Your Hands
Nothing works better than hand washing. It is most effective when using soap, washing the front and back of the hands, and doing it for 20 seconds (the time it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song twice). If there isn’t soap and water available, make sure that your child has access to hand sanitizer that has at least 60 percent alcohol. Then have them wash their hands properly when possible.
Wear a Mask
Wearing a face mask over your nose and mouth dramatically reduces the spread of the virus. Wearing a mask when out in public or in any group setting outside of your home down to age 5, and younger if they are willing and able. This is a big commitment and, for some, an inconvenience, but even if it reduces the likelihood of spread by 10%, it can save lives. Help your kids get used to and feel good about wearing a mask. Put one on their favorite stuffed animal. Praise them for their good behavior. Find fun and interesting masks that they can choose and feel good about wearing.
Keep Your Distance
There is no more effective way to prevent infection or spread of the virus than social distancing. That starts with staying at home more, at least until we see this pandemic recede. If you are in a group setting, the common advice of a 6-foot perimeter and limited numbers of people in gatherings is the smart way to go. If you are not in contact with infected people-and many do not know they are infected and spreading the virus because they are asymptomatic-you will not get it!
When to get tested
There are many situations where testing for COVID-19 is appropriate and even required. If you are notified that someone you or your child was around has tested positive, testing should be considered. It is important to know who in your household is at high risk for severe disease and to understand how to deal with a positive test. Our offices are available for telemedicine visits (virtual visits from your home or other location) and we can provide testing in the offices and offer “curbside” services at our Fairfax, Herndon, and Aldie locations. Please call the office to arrange an appointment and we will accommodate your needs as quickly and conveniently as possible.
If you have questions about COVID testing or any of the other services we offer, simply call us at (703) 573-2432.


Types of Car Seats
Before your child can just start buckling up like a big kid, they need to use car seats. Children from birth until 3 years old will use a rear-facing car seat. From 3-7 years old children will upgrade to the forward-facing car seat. Then the booster seat is typically used anywhere from 5-12 years, depending on their height and manufacturer’s guidelines. Children should be at least five years old, weigh at least 40 pounds and be over the height and weight requirements for their forward-facing car seat to be ready to upgrade to a booster seat.
Choosing the Right Car Seat
When it comes to choosing a car seat, we know that it can be difficult to narrow it down. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides useful information to help you find the right car seat by comparing different ones on the market. You can also talk to your pediatrician, who can provide you with a wellspring of information and advice on choosing the right car seat for your little one.
Installing Your Child’s Car Seat
Before starting, it’s important to read the manufacturer’s installation guide so that you can better understand the car seat and how it should be installed. Along with following the installation guide that comes with the car seat, the NHTSA also provides some helpful safety tips for a successful installation.
Did you know that once you have your car seat in-place that you can have it inspected to make sure that it’s properly installed? This can provide families with the peace of mind that they need to know that their child is safe every time they buckle up.
From booster seats to booster shots, you must be doing everything possible to keep your child healthy and safe. This also means finding quality pediatricians that you trust to provide you with the tips, advice, and care to support your child’s health.