Videos

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there are an estimated 11 drowning deaths per day in the United States. That number comes to a total of approximately 4,000 fatal drownings a year.

Staggering stats like that are exactly why UTMB Health providers like Laura Ellender, nurse practitioner with the UTMB Health Pediatric and Adult Primary Care, South Shore clinic, are passionate about spreading water safety information.

To help keep children safe when swimming, Ellender recommends that adults:

• Always supervise children closely while they are swimming.
• Ensure that proper vests or flotation devices are used for inexperienced swimmers at all times and for all swimmers in large bodies of water, such as lakes.
• Discourage children from playing games in the pool that require prolonged periods of holding your breath.
• Encourage children to keep away from all pool drains.
• Keep children from swimming when sick.

For more information on children's health and wellness measures --including care options -- visit the UTMB Health Pediatrics page.

UTMB Health provider Laura Ellender on swimming safety

Laura Ellender, MSN, RN, CEN, FNP-C is a board-certified family nurse practitioner at UTMB Health.

UTMB Health Pediatric and Adult Primary Care, South Shore clinic

In the wake of the cardiac arrest episode experienced by NFL player Damar Hamlin, UTMB pediatric cardiologist Dr. Ashraf Aly took some time out to visit with our friends at Houston Moms to answer some important questions surrounding the heart and how it works, including, the differences between a heart attack and cardiac arrest, what an AED is, what parents of athletes should know and more.  

Dr. Ashraf Aly is board-certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in both pediatrics and pediatric cardiology. He specializes in pediatric cardiology and sees patients with possible congenital heart diseases from the fetal life throughout adulthood.

Cardiology

As a pediatric surgeon, Dr. Bindi Naik-Mathuria, chief of the UTMB Health Division of Pediatric Surgery, has seen her fair share of accidents land kiddos on the operating table, so she’s passionate about spreading awareness and educating individuals about how to prevent those types of situations in the first place. During a recent chat with Meagan Clanahan of Houston Moms, Naik-Mathuria covered some common seasonal safety tips to help everyone have a happy, healthy, uneventful holiday season. Additionally, the high points have been outlined in this helpful Houston Moms post

Dr. Bindi Naik-Mathuria is triple board-certified in pediatric surgery, general surgery and surgical critical care. She is an experienced pediatric surgeon with over a decade of clinical experience in general pediatric abdominal and thoracic surgery, pediatric surgical oncology, and pediatric trauma.

Pediatric Surgery

UTMB's Dr. Yusif Hajiyev, pediatric ENT, recently sat down with Meagan Clanahan of Houston Moms to discuss all things related to ear tubes in children. From what conditions might prompt the need for tubes to the rules for swimming and bathing after the procedure.

Dr. Yusif Hajiyev specializes in providing the newest medical and surgical treatment for the full spectrum of pediatric ENT disorders, including hearing loss and ear infections, cochlear implants, airway and breathing issues, swallowing dysfunction, allergies, sinusitis, and sleep apnea.

Pediatric Otolaryngology

Bindi Naik-Mathuria, MD, Pediatric Surgeon, emphasizes keeping children safe on Halloween by maximizing their visibility so drivers can see pedestrians crossing the street. Pedestrians should also use crosswalks and be mindful of how masks can prevent a costumed person from seeing approaching cars. Children should learn to look left, then right, then left again before crossing streets, use sidewalks, and watch for cars reversing or turning. According to Safe Kids, twice as many children are killed while walking on Halloween than any other day of the year.

This piece was originally produced in conjunction with our partners at i45Now. View the original post on their page.

While annual vision screenings conducted at school and during annual checkups are great, the American Academy of Optometry recommends children between the ages of 6 and 17 years old have an annual comprehensive eye exam.

Dr. Ashton Ehlers covers that and more in this interview with Houston Moms.

Pediatric Eye Care

Dr. Ehlers' clinical interests include pediatric optometry including amblyopia, strabismus, myopia control, special needs eye care and post-brain injury vision rehabilitation.

Pediatric Eye Care