Title: Swimmer’s Ear
Feed: CWKN #389, July 11, 2008
Time:  1:37
SUGGESTED LEAD: DURING THESE HOT DAYS AT THE START OF SUMMER, A LOT OF KIDS ARE SPENDING LONG HOURS IN THE WATER, EITHER THE LOCAL POOL, OR A LAKE.  AND INEVITABLY, THE NEXT DAY SOME OF THEM WILL COMPLAIN ABOUT AN EARACHE.  IT’S CALLED ‘SWIMMER’S EAR’ AND IT IS PREVENTABLE, EVEN AFTER THE KIDS COME OUT OF THE WATER.  THAT STORY IN TODAY’S CONNECT WITH KIDS.
<<PKG>>

NARR: 5-YEAR-OLD STEVEN SATTLER WENT SWIMMING, AND 12 HOURS LATER, HIS EAR BEGAN TO HURT. (:05)

SOT: Steven Sattler, 5 years old
“This ear.”  (:06)

NARR: THE PAIN GOT WORSE, AND WORSE. (:02)

SUPER: Sydney Sattler, Steven’s Mother
“When we took him into the doctor he sat in the chair, we were waiting for the doctor to come in, he screamed, I’m talking at the top of his lungs screaming, crying, even with ear infections he’s had the past, it was never like that.”  (:10)

NARR: STEVEN HAD SWIMMER’S EAR.  A BACTERIAL INFECTION OF THE OUTER EAR.  THE EAR BECOMES RED AND SWOLLEN, AND MAY ALSO DRAIN FLUID.  AND THEN THERE’S THE PAIN… (:10)

SUPER:  Dr. James Thomsen/Pediatric Otolaryngologist
“The outer ear is usually tender.  Around the area here or by pulling on the ear or pushing right in this area, usually elicits a good bit of tenderness.”  (:31)

NARR: SWIMMER’S EAR IS CAUSED WHEN WATER BREAKS DOWN THE NATURAL P-H OF THE EAR, MAKING IT LESS ACIDIC AND EASIER FOR BACTERIA TO GROW. 
 THE BEST MEDICINE: ANTIBIOTIC EAR DROPS. (:11)

SOT:  Sydney Sattler/Mother
“We’ve been on drops about 4 times a day, he’s been on oral antibiotics, and he’s been taking Tylenol at night in order to sleep.”  (:55)

NARR: EXPERTS SAY YOU CAN ROUTINELY PREVENT SWIMMERS EAR BY USING DROPS OF A DRYING SOLUTION, LIKE RUBBING ALCOHOL OR WHITE VINEGAR, IN THE EAR AFTER A DAY IN THE POOL.  THERE ARE ALSO OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATIONS THAT CAN BE USED.

BUT A WORD OF CAUTION:  DON’T USE A DRYING SOLUTION IF THE CHILD HAS EAR TUBES… OR THE INFECTION IS ALREADY VISIBLE. (:20)

SOT:  Dr. James Thomsen/Pediatric Otolaryngologist
“The best thing to probably do is to see your physician.  If the ear is tender, red or swollen, and they’ll usually start with an antibiotic ear drop.”  (1:20)

NARR:  STEVEN’S EAR IS GETTING BETTER, BUT FOR NOW, THE POOL IS OFF LIMITS. (:05)

NARR:  I’M COLLIN SIEDOR, FOR CONNECT WITH KIDS. (:03)

SUGGESTED TAG:   EXPERTS ADVISE AGAINST USING COTTON SWABS TO CLEAN EARS, BECAUSE IT REMOVES EAR WAX THAT PROTECTS AGAINST SWIMMER’S EAR AND OTHER INFECTIONS.