Free Eye Assessment For Infants

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Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2578 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 Free Eye Assessment For Infants Tips For Saving Lives And Property From Wildfires (NAPSA)—Learning about the reality of wildfire danger can help save your home and those you love. According to experts, wildfires across the country are burning hotter and faster than ever before. After a severe 1985 fire season that saw 1,400 homes burned nationally, the National Fire Protection Association, through an agreement with the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Association of State Foresters, created the Firewise Program—to offer simple ways by which community members can work together to prevent their properties from becoming fuel for a wildfire. “By learning about how wildfires spread and taking simple steps to reduce damage, we can adapt to the inevitability of wildfire danger,” said Michele Steinberg, Firewise Program Manager in Quincy, Mass. “Wildfires do not have to burn everything in their paths. You can prepare your home simply and effectively.” Residents can reduce the risk of their home’s ignition by simply modifying their homes and immediate surroundings. For example, to make a home’s landscape Firewise, create space around the home to reduce wildfire threat. Reduce vegetation surrounding a home (30-100 feet, depending on the area’s risk of wildfire) and prune large trees so that the lowest branches are 6 to 10 feet high to prevent a wildfire from spreading up to the treetops. When planting, choose low-growing, carefully placed shrubs and trees so the area can also be more easily maintained. Even something as simple as cleaning gutters and eaves of leaves and debris can prevent an ember from igniting a home. No-Bake Cheesecake In Nearly No Time (NAPSA)—Time is on your side when it comes to preparing fresh, delicious desserts. That’s because it takes less than 10 minutes to whip up a decadent No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake with all the flavor of traditional cheesecake. If you’re planning a party, this tasty dessert can be made in advance, leaving you more time to enjoy your guests. Homeowners can minimize the risk of damage by a wildfire if they modify their homes and immediate surroundings. Also, when possible, choose Firewise construction materials for homes, decks, porches and fences. The most protective roofing materials will be rated “Class-A,” including asphalt shingles and metal, cement and concrete products. Wall materials most resistant to heat and flames include brick, cement, plaster, stucco and concrete masonry. Double-paned or tempered glass windows also make a home more resistant to heat and flames. Our increasingly damaging wildfire seasons may be caused by rising temperatures that in turn create drier wildfire fuels such as scrub, grass and brush. Also, millions of people are moving into formerly rural and wild areas vulnerable to wildfire, which presents added challenges for firefighters. For more information on taking real action to reduce wildfire damage in your community, visit www.firewise.org. No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake 22 oz. Kozy Shack Strawberry pudding 1 premade graham cracker crust pie shell 8 oz. low-fat cream cheese 1 teaspoon vanilla extract cup powdered sugar With a mixer, beat cream cheese, vanilla extract and powdered sugar for 3–4 minutes until light and fluffy. Fold in pudding. Pour into premade pie crust, garnish with fresh strawberries. Serves 8. For more quick recipe ideas, visit the Kozy Shack website or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kozyshack. (NAPSA)—While most moms know about well-baby visits at the pediatrician’s office, one well-baby visit that’s not so well known is the baby’s first trip to the eye doctor. Studies indicate that one in every 10 children is at risk from undiagnosed eye and vision problems. Unfortunately, many children at risk for eye and vision problems are not being identified at an early age, when many of those problems might be prevented or more easily corrected. And since babies are not born with clear vision, they need to learn to see over a period of time. A complete eye assessment for babies between 6 and 12 months of age can determine healthy visual development. InfantSEE , a public health program managed by The AOA Foundation, is designed to ensure that eye and vision care becomes an integral part of an infant’s wellness care. Optometrists who participate in this program provide a one-time, comprehensive eye assessment for babies in their first year of life. These eye and vision assessments are provided at no cost to all families, regardless of a family’s ability to pay or access to insurance coverage. “As a mother and an optometrist, I understand the true value these assessments provide to an infant’s overall development,” said Dr. Valerie Kattouf. “Even though your baby doesn’t know the letters on a wall chart, an eye doctor can perform nonverbal testing to assess visual acuity, detect nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, and evaluate his eye teaming and alignment.” InfantSEE assessments complement the well-baby exams received from a pediatrician or family physician. Optometrists have the training to identify areas of risk that are critical to vision development and the skills to identify conditions that might not be detected in a routine pediatric wellness exam. Help protect your baby’s windows to the world by scheduling an InfantSEE assessment before his or her first birthday. To learn more about the InfantSEE program or to find a provider near you, visit www.InfantSEE.org or call (888) 396-3937.