Start the Summer Off Safe By Getting Your Child Covered With Medical Insurance
Now is a great time to get your child healthcare coverage if they don’t have any! Summer is a great time to get your child their yearly physical, hearing checks, vision screening, and dental cleaning appointments. It is also a great time to start individual and/or group mental health services, as they don’t have the pressure or stress of having to miss any school. If your child is not covered by your insurance or you don’t have insurance, I hope this information will help you in attaining insurance to support your child's healthy future.
To get a child signed up for state insurance in Michigan (Medicaid or MIChild), apply online through the MI Bridges website, which screens for eligibility for both programs. Children under 19 in low-income families may qualify for free (Healthy Kids) or low-cost ($10/month MIChild) insurance, covering doctor visits, dental, and vision. [1, 2]
Top Ways to Apply
Key Programs
Healthy Kids (Medicaid): For low-income children under 19. No monthly premiums or costs.
MIChild: For low-income uninsured children under 19 with a slightly higher income threshold than Healthy Kids. Covers comprehensive services for a flat fee of $10 per family per month. [1, 2]
Important Information for Application
What you need: You will need to provide proof of income, though parents/caretakers do not need to provide their own immigration status or social security numbers.
Timing: You can apply at any time during the year.
Response Time: You should receive a response regarding eligibility within 45 days.
Assistance: If you need help with the application process, you can reach out to organizations like the Washtenaw Health Project (734-544-3030). [1]
If you are denied Medicaid or CHIP coverage, you can explore other affordable options on the Health Insurance Marketplace within 60 days of losing coverage. [1]
Summer Safety:
Summer is a great chance to get outside and move. From riding bikes, hiking, playing at the playground, riding scooters, swimming and playing sports, and generally taking advantage of the beautiful months we get in Michigan. However, with all that fun comes more chances for injury and mishaps, and it is with that in mind that I went seeking summer safety advice to share with you.
The American Red Cross website posted this list of summer safety tips, and I thought I would pass it along! I know I am not alone at Huntington elementary school, when I say we all wish you a safe and healthy summer break and we look forward to seeing you back at school in the fall!
Sincerely, Mrs. M. Jones, Huntington School Social Worker.
The following Information was taken from the American Red Cross website: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/summer-safety.html?srsltid=AfmBOoqLOb36zb6sWeij2hR4lxkT6vYmkhRQyAV_Q9IUlceo39WUsby1
Water Safety
Every day, an average of 11 people die in the U.S. from unintentional drowning — and one in five of those are children 14 or younger according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Red Cross wants everyone to know critical safety knowledge and skills that could save your life in and around the water. We encourage families to build confidence in the water by learning to be safe, making good choices, learning to swim and how to handle emergencies.
are critical layers of protection to help prevent drowning.
providers in your community. Everyone should learn first aid and CPR too, so they know what to do in an emergency.
Download the Red Cross Swim app, sponsored by The ZAC Foundation, for safety tips, kid-friendly videos and
activities, and take the free Water Safety for Parents and Caregivers online course in English or in Spanish.
close eye and constant attention on everyone in and around the water until the next water watcher takes over.
before submerging. Reach or throw, don't go! In the event of an emergency, reach or throw an object to the person in trouble. Don't go in or you could become a victim yourself. Test your knowledge!
fishing line or apply sunscreen. For additional information about staying safe while swimming in larger bodies of water like oceans or lakes, review our beach safety tips below.
Beach Safety
Learn how to reduce the risks so your family can enjoy swimming in open water, such as the ocean and large lakes:
and away from water for 30 minutes after the last lightning flashes or thunder roars.
from lifeguards and ask them about local condition
responsibility is to keep a close eye and constant attention on everyone in and around the water until the next water watcher takes over
jackets.
Protect your neck – don’t dive in headfirst. Walk carefully into open waters. Watch out for and avoid aquatic life.
If you are caught in a rip current, stay calm and don’t fight it. Swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the
current. Then, turn and swim to shore. If you can't swim to shore, float or tread water until you are free of the rip current and then head toward shore. Draw attention to yourself by waving and calling for help.
Camping Safety
If a camping trip is in your plans, know the level of ability of the people in your group and the environment around you. Plan accordingly.
someone in your group. Take a Red Cross First Aid and CPR course and download the First Aid app so that you will know what to do in case help is delayed. You’ll learn how to treat severe wounds, broken bones, bites and stings and more.
many due to poor decision-making, lack of skill or not being properly prepared. Dehydration is also a danger. Plan ahead for these dangers.
Share your travel plans and locations with a family member, neighbor or friend.
Bring nutritious food items and water, light-weight clothing to layer and supplies for any pets.
Picnic Safety
Summer is a great time to get outside for a picnic. Follow these tips to prevent illness and keep everyone safe:
Wash your hands, utensils and workstation before preparing the food.
Separate uncooked meats, poultry, and seafood from ready-to-eat foods like salads, fruits, vegetables, cheeses,
and desserts. Use separate plates and utensils to prevent cross-contamination.
Bring hand sanitizer if your picnic site doesn’t have hand-washing facilities.
If you are going to cook on the grill, bring a food thermometer to be sure grilled foods are cooked enough. For
more information about safe grilling, review the additional tips below!
Grilling Safety
Though more than three-quarters of U.S. adults have used a grill — yet, grilling sparks more than 10,000 home fires on average each year. To avoid this, the Red Cross offers these grilling safety tips:
ignited.
Never grill indoors — not in the house, camper, tent or any enclosed area.
Make sure everyone, including pets, stays away from the grill.
Keep the grill out in the open, away from the house, deck, tree branches or anything that could catch fire.
Use the long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill to help keep the chef safe.
Mosquitoes and Ticks
Don’t let mosquitoes and ticks ruin your carefree summer fun. As we spend more time outdoors for activities like camping, hiking, swimming, picnicking and barbecuing, there is a greater chance of getting bitten by mosquitoes and ticks. According to the American Mosquito Control Association there are 176 known species of mosquito in the U.S.—putting Americans at risk from coast to coast. And while mosquitoes may be the most obvious detractor from summer fun – ticks are silent but dangerous. Most active during warmer months (April to September), it is especially important to be vigilant of blacklegged ticks, more commonly known as deer ticks, especially if you live in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, North-central or Northwest.
Mosquitoes and ticks are more than just itchy and annoying — if infected, these pests can pose a major health risk to people by possibly transmitting diseases. Follow these tips to prevent mosquito and tick bites this summer:
the directions on the package.
Consider staying indoors at dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active.
Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and tuck your pant legs into your socks or boots.
Use a rubber band or tape to hold pants against socks so that nothing can get under clothing.
Tuck your shirt into your pants. Wear light-colored clothing to make it easier to see tiny insects or ticks.
When hiking in woods and fields, stay in the middle of trails. Avoid underbrush and tall grass.
If you are outdoors for a long time, check yourself several times during the day. Especially check in hairy areas of
the body like the back of the neck and the scalp line.
Inspect yourself carefully for insects or ticks after being outdoors or have someone else do it.
If you have pets that go outdoors, spray with repellent made for their breed/type. Apply the repellent according to the label and check your pet for ticks often.
Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying sources of standing water outside of the home, such as from
flowerpots, buckets and barrels.
Summer and Pets
Summer’s heat can be dangerous for your family pets. Follow these steps to take to help ensure your pet stays safe this summer.
reach 120 degrees even with the windows cracked open.
snouts, like the boxer or bulldog, are especially prone to heat stroke, along with overweight pets, those with extremely thick fur coat or any pet with upper respiratory problems such as laryngeal paralysis or collapsing trachea.
down, brick red gum color, fast pulse rate and being unable to get up.
cool the animal down. The easiest way to do this is by using the water hose. Stop cooling the animal when the temperature reaches 103 degrees
damage. Download the Red Cross Pet First Aid app for instant access on how to treat heat stroke, other emergencies and general care for cats and dogs and take the Cat and Dog First Aid Online Training course.
Fireworks
The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a public firework show put on by professionals, at least 500 feet away from the show. Many states outlaw most fireworks and it's best to leave any area where untrained amateurs are using fireworks.
If you are setting fireworks off at home, follow these safety steps to help keep your community safe:
Choose a location away from buildings and trees.
Never give fireworks to small children, and never throw or point a firework toward people, animals, vehicles,
structures or flammable materials. Always follow the instructions on the packaging.
Be sure your spectators, including children and pets, stay well back.
Keep a supply of water or fire extinguisher at hand. If you live in an area that’s experiencing a drought, consider
canceling the show this year – a stray spark that lands on dry grass or leaves can lead to a wildfire.
Make sure the person lighting fireworks always wears eye protection.
Light only one firework at a time and never attempt to relight "a dud."
Store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from children and pets.
