kids in the keys

An Information Guide  to Activities, Attractions, and Family Friendly Accommodations in the Florida Keys Kids Travel Health and the Florida Keys

CLICK image Above for LODGING Hotels and motels Florida Keys and Key West FLORIDA KEYS BEST   KIDS IN KEYS NAVIGATION BAR         INDEX PAGE FOR KIDS IN THE KEYS MESSAGE BOARD   BEACHES NATURE WALKS CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS WATER SPORTS DOLPHIN INTERACTIONS KAYAKING GOLF BOATS TOURS SNORKELING - SCUBA -SNUBA   CHILDRENS' PROGRAMS ATTRACTIONS BIKING AND SKATING FISHING CHILD HEALTH TRAVEL ICE CREAM READING MOVIES KIDS AND RESORTS DISCOUNTED LODGING HAWK'S CAY LINK E-MAIL TO KIDS IN THE KEYS MORE EXTENSIVE FAMILY GUIDE

HEALTH ADVICE FOR KIDS TRAVELING IN THE FLORIDA KEYS   TRAVELING TO THE FLORIDA KEYS! Destinations in the United States generally require little or no special preparation. Families need not worry about health and hospital access, finding doctors, and obtaining medication at pharmacies when visiting the Florida Keys. In the case of children's health safety it doesn't hurt to be prepared. Here is a list of hospitals with emergency rooms, and physicians that specialize in child medical care, or welcome tourists and walk-ins. Rescue Squad locations and phone numbers are also listed. Advice on health considerations a parent must entertain in their travel planning for trips outside the United States is also provided. HOSPITALS Mariners Hospital - MM 89 - 852-4418 Fisherman's Hospital - MM 48.5 - 743-5533 Lower Keys Health - MM 5 - 294-5531   PHYSICIANS FOR CHILDREN There are over a hundred physicians with various specialties (pediatrics, surgeons, family practice, orthopedics) practicing medicine in the Florida Keys. ( Refer to the Yellow Pages) Here, listed by Mile Marker, are just a few who handle children, welcome tourists and handle minor emergencies. A more extensive list can be found at http://www.floridakeysbest.com/families/florida_keys_doctors.htm Dr. Stanley Zuba - 453-3812 - MM 102 - 102970 Overseas Highway - Key LargoCerified in Pediatrics, Advertises that "Kids love Dr. Zuba" Dr. John H. Deagle - 852-4767 - MM 99 - 90290 Oversea Highway Suite 106 Turrek Building - Tavernier child friendly family health care plus kids can watch the operating model trains Dr.Craig Warner - 664-0820 - MM 83 - 83224 Oversea Highway - IslamoradaWalk-Ins welcome, minor emergencies Dr. Kristi Bagnell - 664-3780 - MM 83 - 83224 Oversea Highway - Islamorada Certified in Pediatrics, care for infants, children and adults, Walk-in accepted Dr. John O'Connor - MM 81.5 - 743-9436 - Florida Keys Medical Complex - 8151 Overseas Highway Marathon Walk-ins welcome, Adults and Children, minor emergenies, suturing Dr. David Parsons - 743 -2253 - MM 48.5 - 2855 Oversreas Highway - MarathonTourists Welcome, minor emergencies, family practice Dr. David Grider - Big Pine Medical and Minor Emergency - MM 30 Oceanside 872-3321Family Health Care, Minor Injuries Dr. Michael Hernandez - 872-0504 - MM 29.5 Gulfside - Big PineChildren's Clinic Truman Medical Group - Dr. Gilbert Shapiro and Dr. Raymond McNight - 540 Truman Ave., Key West 296-4399 Walk-In Center minor surgery   DIVING - Upper Keys RecompressionChamber Diving Emergencies ................... 911 Divers Medical Emergencies 852-4418 ext 345 ............. 1-800-NO-BENDS   RESCUE SQUADS (Non-Emergency) and FIRE DEPARTMENTS Key Largo Volunteer Fire Department (south) ..........367-4357 Key Largo Volunteer Ambulance Core .......................451-2700 Tavernier Volunteer Fire Department .........................852-9860 Islamorad Volunteer Fire Department ........................664-4559 Layton Volunteer Fire Department ...............................664-4667 Conch Key Volunteer Fire Department .......................289-1313 Marathon Volunteer Fire Department .........................743-5266 Big Pine Volunteer Fire Department ...........................872-2844 Sugarloaf Volunteer Fire Department .........................745-4001 Big Coppitt Volunteer Fire Department ......................294-9419     Traveling with children presents many challenges. Traveling outside of the United States adds a number of health considerations a parent must entertain in their planning. International travel including the Caribbean usually calls for more extensive planning. The following suggestions are offered for parents planning on traveling outside the United States.  . Immunization Consideration Several months before travel check with the children's doctor to review their immunization shots. Since many illnesses which are rare in the United states are still prevalent in other countries, you'll want to make sure your children will be current in their immunizations to protect against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough as well as MMR - measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles). The young travelers should also be up to date in immunization in H. Influenza type B (HIB), polio, and hepatitis B. A booster dose of vaccine for measles, mumps, and whooping cough usually precedes the child's start of schools around the age of four, but may be given earlier if the family physician decides the destination of the young traveler warrants it.  . Medical Care Considerations When traveling with children to locations outside the United States parents should consider the level of medical care and medical access available to them at their planned destination. When traveling to locations with limited medical access, parents should discuss with their family doctor what medications to bring and see that the child has a general health evaluation. Additional vaccinations or updates for other diseases such as chicken pox and tuberculosis may be warranted.  . Special Immunizations Depending on the planned vacation destination and the length of stay some special immunizations may be recommended. You or you physician should check with the Center for Disease Control to see if they have special recommendations about disease prevention and immunization.  . Prevention Measures Good Habits Children should be reminded about good health care prevention and good habits such as washing hands before meals should be reinforced prior to travel. Safe Water Children should only eat cooked foods and peeled fruit, drink bottled beverages, avoid ice cubes that have been made with tap water nor brush their teeth with local water. Despite preventive measures children vacationing outside the U.S. often come down with Traveler's Diarrhea. This most likely was caused by exposure to bacteria in their drinking water or on their food. Consult with your child's physician about bringing antibiotic and other diarrhea medications.   The Florida Keys - America's Caribbean   Some residents of the Keys humorously refer to the Florida Keys as "America's Caribbean but with modern sanitation and health facilities." For more information dealing with travel abroad, click on the "Don't Worry, Be Happy" Vacation Website. The "Don't Worry" web pages provide details on  . health risks travelers may face when vacationing in the offshore Caribbean Islands,  . provides documentation and helpful tips for travelers going to the offshore Caribbean  . as well as the alternative of a worry free vacation in the Florida Keys.     HEALTH CARE FOR "MEDICALLY HOMELESS" KIDS IN THE FLORIDA KEYS   CLICK HERE - Make a child in the Florida Keys a gift of Health Care.  Adopt a "Medically Homeless" child in the Florida Keys. There are over 5,000 uninsured children living in the Florida Keys (Monroe County). These children are "Medically Homeless", receiving no regular health care and are 25 times more likely to miss school and 8 times more likely to go to the emergency room for medical help.     ACTIVITIES and PLACES TO VISIT for CHILDREN and FAMILIES in the FABULOUS FLORIDA KEYS  To find out more about Kids' activities and places to see to make your children's visit to the Keys a rewarding and worthwhile experience, CLICK on the links in the navigtion bar to the left or provided below. GUIDE INTRODUCTION . KIDS AND RESORTS . BEACHES . NATURE WALKS . MUSEUMS . WATER SPORTS . MOVIES . DOLPHINS . KAYAKS . GOLF BOATS TOURS . SNORKEL . DAY PROGRAMS . ATTRACTIONS BIKING AND SKATING . FISHING . CHILD HEALTH TRAVEL . ICE CREAM . READING . MESSAGE BOARD    GIVE TO A FLORIDA KEYS' CHARITY The links below are for charity organizations providing services for children in the Florida Keys. [ CHILDREN'S SHELTER ] [ FLORIDA KEYS KIDCARE ] [ KIDS IN SPECIAL SIUTUATIONS ] [ GUARDIAN AD LITEM GUILD ] [ OPERATION BRAVE KIDS ]   THIS PAGE CREATED BY FLORIDA KEYS BEST COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL_ http://www.floridakeysbest.com email@floridakeysbest.com Florida Keys Best 386 East Seaview Drive Marathon, Florida 33050 305-289-1872