DIRECTOR'S REPORT–Thomas H. Young, Director

"See you in Philadelphia!!"

Here at the Health Benefit Plan the big push is to get ready for the National Convention in Philadelphia.

With the Health Benefit Breakfast/Workshop being the first order of business, plans are well underway to make it informational and educational.

As you have all come to expect, we will have some of our very best representatives from the Plan to take care of business at our booth and be available in the Health Benefit Plan office as well where we will have terminal connections to the HBP office in Ashburn, VA to handle your special inquiries.

I am particularly looking forward to the National Convention because it presents an opportunity to meet new Health Benefit Representatives and renew acquaintances with the more experienced (not old) members of this elite group of branch officers.

So, be a part of the festivities on Monday, August 19 as we get the 63rd Biennial Convention underway.

Simultaneous with the Convention preparations, we have been working with the Office of Personnel Management to finalize the benefit and premium package for 2003.

Perhaps, as we gather in Philly, I may be able to give a flavor and some insight as to how this year’s "negotiations" fared.

Of course, we will address any legislative news that may have impact on the Plan.

So, come prepared to listen, learn, participate and EAT!

THE PHARMACY CORNER

Pharmaceutical Companies are Developing 256 Medicines to Counter Infectious Disease, Including Bioterrorist Threats

According to a report recently released by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), more than 100 companies are working on these medicines, some in cooperation with the Department of Defense. Of the 256 medicines in development, 187 are either in clinical trials or awaiting approval by the FDA. Some of the categories of these medicines in development are 32 antibiotics, 48 antiviral and 96 vaccines.

Infectious diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, even in the United States. Diseases once considered conquered, such as tuberculosis, have reemerged with a vengeance and new infectious diseases such as the Ebola virus and West Nile virus are surfacing at an alarming rate.

The threat of bioterrorism adds urgency to the need for new medicines to prevent and treat infectious diseases. We hear daily news reports of dirty bombs being developed and threats to our drinking water and food supply. That is why a number of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are working with the government to develop weapons against such things as anthrax, smallpox, plague and other diseases. In addition, they are targeting diseases that affect millions of people the world over, including hepatitis, fungal infections, influenza, malaria, meningitis, pneumonia, respiratory infections, sepsis, tuberculosis and many more.

PhRMA’s president Alan F. Holmer stated in a recent interview "as the age-old war against infectious diseases enters a new and frightening phase, pharmaceutical companies are clearly rising to the heightened challenges. Infectious diseases will never be wiped out, but new knowledge, new technologies and a huge commitment of resources by both the government and the pharmaceutical industry will help humankind meet the continuing and ever-changing threat of infectious diseases."

HEALTH IN THE NEWS

How to recognize and help treat heat-related disorders

The more you work — or play— on a hot day, the more your body heats up inside, and that can be dangerous.

Too much activity can make your body lose its ability to dispose of excess heat. The core temperature of the body rises and the heart rate increases.

OSHA has identified these types of disorders and what you can do to help someone in distress:

• Heat stroke, a life-threatening event. Signs include loss of the ability to sweat, mental confusion, hot dry skin and high body temperature. Move the person to a cool area and soak with cool water. Fan vigorously until medical help arrives.
• Heat exhaustion. Symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, nausea or headache, and moist skin. Move the victim to a cool place and give water or a sports drink. If the victim vomits or faints, seek medical attention.
• Heat cramps.
• Usually muscles used for work are affected but cramps may occur later. Drinking liquids should relieve cramps but intravenous saline solution may be necessary.
• Fainting. When people stand for a long time in a hot environment they aren’t used to, they may faint. Moving around is better than standing in one place. After fainting episode, the victim should lie down and rest.
• Heat rash. When sweat is trapped under the skin, small red bumps may appear that itch and burst to release sweat. See a doctor if they get infected.

Tips for avoiding heat stress.

If you can’t avoid strenuous physical activity on a hot day, you can reduce your risk of heat stress by following these pointers:

• Wear loose clothes made of cotton or a fabric like Lycra that draws perspiration away from the skin. Light colors reflect heat away from the body.
• Drink before you sweat and before you are thirsty. Begin taking in fluids at least 40 minutes before vigorous activity. If the activity lasts more than an hour, consume diluted sports drinks to replace vitamins and minerals.
• While playing or exercising, remember to keep drinking. Your body can lose a cup of fluid through perspiration every 15 or 20 minutes.

Ankle sprain is the most common joint injury.

Because of the complex hinges of bone, ligament and tendon, the ankles are the most vulnerable joints in the human body. These steps will help you avoid a sprain.

• Stretch your calf muscles. One easy method is to extend your leg while seated. Put a towel under your foot with an end in each hand. Gently pull the foot toward you, hold for 15 to 30 seconds and repeat five times.
• Strengthen lower-leg muscles with heel raises. Rise on the balls of your feet, hold for a few seconds and then lower. Work up to 20 repetitions.
• Wear supportive shoes. Replace worn out exercise shoes and shoes with run down heels. Skip the sandals. Snugly laced, high-topped shoes are best to stabilize the ankle for some active sports.

If you do get a sprain, treat it with RICE: Rest (24 to 48 hours), Ice (applied as soon as possible for 10 to 20 minutes an hour), Compress (in an elastic bandage during the day) and Elevate (as often as possible in the first few days).

The right way to burn body fat.

Whether you walk, run, lift weights or use a combination of cardio and weightlifting techniques, at a certain point your body adapts to your form of exercise. You will begin to burn primarily calories you recently consumed instead of body fat.

To burn more fat, use a routine that will vary the intensity of your workout. In the middle of your run, walk for a minute, jog for a minute, sprint for a minute, jog for a minute, and walk for a minute.

If you are a walker, you can use this method as well. Go from a moderate walk to a fast walk to a power walk as a means of interval training.

When you stay in your comfort zone, your body remains more or less the same.

For sight-saving advice, call 1 (800) 331-2020.

Founded by Prevent Blindness America, the Center for Sight fields thousands of calls from around the U.S. to answer question on eye safety and health. They give free advice on a wide range of eye health and safety concerns involving kids and adults.

Call Monday through Friday from 8:30 am until 5:00 pm (CST) or log on to: www.preventblindness.org.

Some Hints to Keep Your Summer Fun — AND— SAFE!

Safety in the Sun:

Be careful with perfumes in the sun — they can increase your risk of sunburn or rashes. Also, limes can lead to a phototoxic reaction in the sun that can cause the skin to be red and irritated wherever the lime has touched. Lemons, celery and some lettuces contain smaller amounts of these chemicals and can cause a similar reaction. The irritation caused by this may last only a few days, but skin discoloration (brown patches) can last for a few weeks.

Women who take birth control pills may be at a higher risk for melasma (darkening of the skin around the forehead and mouth). Sunscreen with an SPF of 30 can prevent these reactions. Also, if you are taking oral antibiotics, be aware that they can increase your sensitivity to the sun’s rays.

Make sure your children are protected with sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 30 and apply it every 30 minutes. You might consider one of those colored sunscreens so you can easily see if you missed a spot!! By keeping your children well protected, you can reduce your child’s risk of skin cancer by as much as 80%!

If you or your teenager has acne, summer can make it worse. Also, some acne medications (including Retin-A) are less effective in the sun. You should also use an oil-free sunscreen with SPF 15 to prevent acne inflammation and redness caused by sunburn.

Summer Allergies:

Adults may find that their childhood allergies may come back in their thirties and forties. You might want to speak with your family doctor to get tested to pinpoint the worst offenders such as grass, pollen, weeds and molds. To control your symptoms (such as sneezing, watery eyes and congestion, you doctor may prescribe antihistamines such as loratadine (Claritin) or fexofenadine (Allegra). To ease allergies, stay indoors during the peak pollen hours from two to four p.m. and on hot, dry and windy days when the weather stirs up more pollen and mold spores. You can check pollen counts in your area by calling the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology’s National Allergy Bureau at 800-976-5536.

Make Swimming Safe:

Always make sure an adult supervises children swimming in a pool or at the beach or lake. Remember that, while flotation devices such as water wings, may add buoyancy and help your child stay afloat in the water, they are not lifesaving devices. Children should always wear a US Coast Guard approved life vest (appropriate for his or her weight) when they are playing on the docks or riding in a boat.

Make sure your children don’t stay in a wet bathing suit all day’— it can lead to bathing suit folliculitis (a bacterial infection that causes a rash on the legs and buttocks).

Be sure that the pool is properly sanitized with chlorine to kill harmful bacteria.

Prevent accidents by not running by the pool or engaging in horseplay.

Keep lifesaving equipment and a first aid kit nearby. Adult supervisors at the pool or beach should be trained in CPR.

For your home pools, maintain layers of safety protection: fencing, latches, gates and pool covers.

Watch Out for Those Pesky Pests:

To reduce your chances of getting stung by bees, hornets, wasps or mosquitoes, don’t use perfumes or scented lotions. Wear white or light colored clothing’— black holds in the heat which will also attract the bugs.

If you do get stung, remove the stinger by scraping it away from the skin with a credit card. Tweezers might squeeze out more venom! Wash the site with soap and water and cover it with a bandage to keep it clean. A cold pack can help reduce swelling. If you have severe swelling or have trouble breathing, see a doctor immediately.

Keep ticks out of your yard by cutting the grass low and removing woodpiles where ticks love to live. Although it’s not yet available for children, the Lyme-disease vaccine may be the right choice for anyone over age fifteen in your family if you live in an area where Lyme disease is present.

Because of the epidemic in some areas of the United States of the West Nile virus, be wary of potential breeding groups for mosquitoes

— standing water in children’s wading pools, birdbaths or clogged drains. If you use an insect repellent for your children that is a combination of sunscreen and repellent, don’t reapply it often on your child. It can lead to an overexposure of the chemical DEET. Instead, reapply a sunscreen-only product.

The family pet needs protection too!! Flea season starts as soon as the weather gets warm and lasts until the first frost. If you live in a warm climate, flea season can last all year long. A single flea can lay two hundred eggs a day that rapidly turn into biting adult fleas. Eighty percent of all dogs and cats are allergic to fleabites, causing patches of skin irritation. Fleas can also carry tapeworms that can move into the dog’s digestive tract if the flea is swallowed. Ask your vet about the best flea-prevention treatment for your family pet.

As a part of the NALC 2002 National Convention in Philadelphia, the Health Benefit Plan will sponsor a Breakfast/Workshop on Monday, August 19, 2002 (7:30 9:30 a.m.). Tickets to this event are $17.00 each and the menu will be: Chilled juice, Scrambled eggs, Crisp bacon, Hash brown potatoes, Breakfast bakeries, Marmalades, jams & butter, Coffee or tea

This is always a very popular event and space is very limited; therefore, tickets will be sold on a first come basis. We urge you to order your tickets early by completing the form below and returning it along with your check to:

NALC Health Benefit Plan
20547 Waverly Court
Ashburn, Virginia 20149

Attention: Breakfast/Workshop

WHAT:	NALC Health Benefit Breakfast/Workshop
WHERE:	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
WHEN:	Monday, August 19, 2002 (7:30 9:30 a.m.)
COST:	$17.00 per person

 

Yes, I will be attending the HBP Breakfast/Workshop. Enclosed is my check (made payable to NALC HBP) for $________for______ tickets to this event.

Name_____________________________ Title _____________ Branch ____________

Address______________________________________________________________

City____________________________________________State______Zip_________