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May through August can be a dangerous time of year for children, according to Safe Kids Worldwide.

The following recommendations can help keep your kids safe and sound.

Water rules

Every year, thousands of Americans drown, with young children having the highest death rate. Here's how to keep your children safe around water:

• Never leave them alone near water. That means at the pool or beach, or near a river, deep bucket, or…

Cases of autism are on the rise across the country. And many Americans find they have more questions than answers regarding this mental disorder.

Autism is not one single disorder, but refers to a group of disorders known as autism spectrum disorders. At one end of the spectrum are children with little impairment. At the other end, children can be severely limited in their communication skills and social abilities.

"It affects individuals differently and to varying…

If your child catches more than his or her share of colds or gets colds that linger beyond the usual week or two, he or she could have allergies. Colds and allergies share many of the same symptoms, including:

• A runny or stuffy nose
• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Fatigue
• Sore throat

How can you tell the difference between the two? Colds sometimes trigger aches, pains, and fever. Allergies never cause those symptoms, but they usually trigger…

As a new mom, Thea Jackson was overjoyed to give birth to her daughter, Michelle Jackson-Byers, in May 2010. But when the Lakewood resident brought Michelle in for an unrelated issue, nurse practitioner Margaret Quinn, CNP, noticed that the baby's head had grown too much since her last checkup. She also had "sunsetting" eyes,…