Holiday Safety Tips with Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care

Earlier this month, I worked with Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care to bring together a group of my fellow parenting bloggers for a lunch & learn on their services and holiday safety tips in which we can all benefit. With 6 locations in the city, Northwell Health-Go Health Urgent Care is an important medical resource here in the city, especially when health concerns arise & you need to see a provider quickly.

Here are some of my key takeaways from the event:

First, on the topic of urgent care. Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care provides immediate walk-in healthcare for non-life threatening injuries & illnesses (bronchitis, cold & flu, ear or sinus pain, infections, nausea, etc). Backed by the entire Northwell Health system, you'll see an experienced clinician to receive the most efficient, highest quality care. Sick child this winter? As long as they are older than 6 months of age, you can bring them in for treatment.

Regarding health insurance, Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care accepts many commercial insurance plans, including employer-sponsored and individual plans, Medicare, Medicaid & motor vehicle insurance. For patients without health insurance, they offer affordable self-pay rates.

Now, on to the holidays! A few things to keep on your radar, friends, especially those of us with young children.

Did you know that the holly berry is the most dangerous type of plant during the winter season? Me, neither. Berries can cause vomiting and/or diarrhea (and in rare cases, death) in children that eat 20 or more, so keep them out of reach of curious toddlers...

Toy injuries resulted in 185,000 visits to the emergency room in 2015. So on that note, select toys that are appropriate to your child's age, and don't give electronic toys with heating elements to children under the age of 8. Look for sturdy construction and tightly secured parts.

Replace smoke & carbon monoxide detector batteries annually. One way to remember? Pick an annual event or holiday and set a reminder to take care of it then. Never use space heaters or portable generators indoors without proper ventilation.

Lastly, and this is for the mamas out there: SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is a REAL thing. More common in women, this disorder generally comes in the winter months due to lack of sunlight. Leading to grumpiness, lack of sleep and trouble concentrating, there are ways to keep SAD at bay by making time for yourself, having a support system, getting sunlight when you can, getting enough sleep and laughing as often as you can. I could use this advice all year long!

Special thanks to Handzies, an alcohol-free cleaning wipe that's perfect for keeping hands clean all year long, not just through the winter, and Pipsnacks, a delicious snacking popcorn that's made with all-natural, gluten-free and non-GMO ingredients, for providing samples in everyone's goody bags.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care. All opinions expressed herein are my own.