“Some of these kids are three or four, so if we intervene at this level we will be able to save their vision. Otherwise they would have gotten picked up in their teenage years or adulthood, and at that point we can’t do anything,” said Aparna Ramasubramanian, MD, assistant professor of ophthalmology.

Of the children screened, 73 were recommended for more comprehensive eye exams. The physicians are following up with their families to ensure they get the needed exams.

More than 20 medical residents, faculty members and medical students helped with the screenings.

“We have such an enthusiastic group of residents that are dedicated to community service. That’s why we are here to help out the community and help the kids in need,” said Sidharth Puri, MD, an ophthalmology resident at UofL.

The event also served as a learning opportunity for the medical residents.

“It’s trying to pick up when they need to do a full exam and when not, which they can’t learn in a clinic,” said Ramasubramanian. “It’s very important for the residents to learn that.”

See a video from the event below.��

The University of Louisville Police Department reminds faculty, staff, and students that there are plenty of simple actions everyone can take to reduce the chances of being the victim of a crime and to make walking, biking, or driving in traffic a safer experience.

Here are 10 tips from ULPD: 

• Call 911 for all emergencies needing Police, Fire or EMS.
• If you see something, say something. We need your help keeping our campus safe. Call the University Police at 852-6111 to report suspicious activity.��
• Sign up for the Rave Guardian Safety app and Rave text alerts. .��
• Use the L-Trail. Walk in groups or pairs. Stop and look before crossing any street or parking lot. Don’t be too consumed with your cell phone to be unaware of your surroundings.
• Use the shuttle system. Use the ULPD campus escorts, available between dusk and dawn, at 852-6111.
• Be responsible for yourself and your belongings. Do not meet any unknown individual on or off campus to purchase or retrieve items. Always maintain control of your purse, backpack, laptop, cell phone and wallet. Remember that alcohol and drugs impair
  your system and leave you vulnerable to others and crime.
• Always lock your vehicle. Don’t leave items in view within your car.
  Store important valuables in the trunk or another secure location.
• Always lock your housing unit’s or office’s doors and windows. Know who is at the door before opening. Do not allow unapproved visitors into a locked building.
• If you’re riding a bicycle, be diligent about pedestrians and obey all traffic laws. Always lock your bicycle to a designated rack with a secure lock (we recommend a “U” lock).
• If you’re driving a vehicle, be extra considerate of pedestrians, bicycles and motorcycles. Remember that alcohol and drugs impair your system – plus, driving under the influence, no matter what the distance or time, is a serious crime.

More safety resources, including programs and classes offered by the ULPD, are .��

Getting health check-ups, including dental screenings or exams, also should top the list.

“Tooth decay can be painful if left untreated, and painful teeth will affect a child’s performance in school,” said Alfonso Pozas, DDS, MSD, pediatric dental faculty at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry.

He encourages families to call 502-852-SMILE (7645) to take part in UofL’s free back-to-school promotion, where a dental provider will look in the child’s mouth for signs of decay. For kids entering kindergarten, a form will be sent home that can be turned in to the school, per Kentucky law for school entry.

“It is important for parents to brush the teeth of their children twice a day until the child is 8-years-old – hopefully by age eight, a child will have the skills necessary to thoroughly brush on their own,” Pozas said. “A parent also should help a child floss beginning no later than age 3, when the spaces between teeth start to close.”

In addition to screenings, families may choose a full dental exam for their child. This includes x-rays, a cleaning, fluoride treatment and a thorough look through the mouth. For children experiencing extreme decay, the school also offers Silver Diamine Flouride, a 58-percent solution that stops decay in its tracks.

But prevention, says Pozas, is really the key to a healthy smile. Pozas encourages parents to find a dental home for their children beginning at age one, when teeth begin to erupt.

He also advises parents to consider sealants for children between ages 6 and 10.

“Sealants go into the deep grooves of molars, the areas where cavities are likely to form. They can last several years, and are ideal for decay prevention,” Pozas said.

A healthy diet means healthy teeth, new juice guidelines

Most parents know that proper nutrition leads to healthy bodies. Eating sticky candies such as “gummies” can lead to a higher incidence of cavities. Allowing children to drink anything other than water in a sippy cup also can be problematic. Pozas says, the ph balance of the mouth is disturbed when a child is allowed to drink juice all day, for example. Better, he says, to drink juice or milk in one sitting rather than over the course of several hours.

Pozas emphasizes to his patients the new juice drinking guidelines released this summer by the (AAP).

The new recommendations urge parents, when possible, to feed their children whole fruit rather than juice, where fiber and other nutrition can be gained. And, the Academy has reduced the quantity of school juice for children according to age:

• No juice for children younger than 12 months.
• 1-3 years – Limit fruit juice to a maximum of 4 ounces per day (1/2 cup)
• 4-6 years – No more than 4-6 ounces (1/2 cup –  ¾ cup)
• 7-18 years – Limit juice to 8 ounces per day (1 cup)

*In addition to free back-to-school screenings, the school also is offering free orthodontic consultations, and a $250 credit toward the cost of braces for treatment that begins within six weeks of the initial visit for children/youth to age 21. .��