It's Summer Fest in Ankeny!

We love this annual event and look forward to it every year. Congratulations to all of the families who were in the parade this year - we especially like hearing the talented bands and seeing the athletes. Some of our staff will be at the Fireworks evening so please say "Hi!" if you see us.

Dr. Rob Fornoff, Trusted Ankeny Pediatrician, Writes for Several Iowa Living Magazine Communities

Dr. Rob Fornoff has been a trusted leader in Des Moines pediatrics for years, and is now writing monthly articles on pediatric health for Iowa Living Magazine: Altoona (page 22), Bondurant (page 10), North Polk (page 16), and Pleasent Hill (page 20).

When asked why he wanted to write thse articles, Dr. Fornoff stated, "So many families in these communites come to our Ankeny Clinic that we feel like their hometown pediatric clinic. I am passionate about sharing medical information with families in Central Iowa while they are in my office, and now I can share important information with our families between office visits."

Dr. Fornoff lives with his wife Mary in Ankeny, and has two children, ages 10 and 12, in the Ankeny school system. He is one of several medical providers at the Ankeny Clinic. You can read more about Dr. Fornoff here, and can contact him at the Ankeny Des Moines Pediatric & Adolescent Clinic Location. 

Ankeny Clinic 515-964-2159

Happy 4th of July and Fireworks Safety Month!

Many families look forward to celebrating the holiday with cookouts, neighbors, family, and friends. And sometimes fireworks. Please remember some fireworks safety tips as you prepare your celebrations this week.

• Never allow children to play with fireworks. Some sparklers can burn as hot as 2,000 or 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which of course is hot enough to cause skin burns and catch clothes on fire.
• Maintain a safe distance if you are around someone who is lighting fireworks. They could potentially shoot sideways or burst low to the ground and stream sparks onto bystanders. 
• Keep plenty of water around in case something goes wrong.
• Seek medical help immediately if you suspect burns or other injuries from fireworks.

We think these fun, colorful fireworks are best left for the professionals to light, and for us to watch at a safe distance and enjoy! And finally, to turn the 4th into a fun science lesson on fireworks for your children, check out this video from Science Kids on the Science of Fireworks:

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/videos/chemistry/fireworks.html

Happy 4th of July!