by California Casualty | Health |
For Educators, Peace Officers, Firefighters, and Nurses – people who make our communities better – taking time off work for the flu has more repercussions than it does for your average cubicle dweller. That’s why we wanted to share some tips on telling the difference between a cold and the flu, and how you can protect yourself.
As this season’s flu outbreak continues to spread, many are wondering if they actually have the flu, and how can they prevent it from spreading. Both the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Web MD agree sometimes it’s hard to tell what is causing your cough, body aches and fever but here are some things to know:
Both colds and the flu are upper respiratory illnesses. A cold is milder and will ease in a few days. Flu symptoms are much more severe, can last up to 10 days and can result in serious health problems like pneumonia and hospitalization. How can someone differentiate between the two?
COLDS
- Colds usually last a week.
- They normally begin with a sore throat that diminishes in a day or two.
- Fever is very uncommon with colds (except for younger children)
- A cough usually develops by the fourth or fifth days.
FLU
- Symptoms come on strongly and swiftly
- Sore throat
- Fever
- Severe muscle aches and soreness
- Congestion and coughs
- Swine flu also is associated with vomiting and diarrhea
The best ways to prevent the flu is to:
- Get a flu vaccination
- Wash hands frequently
- Avoid others who are sick, and stay home if you are feeling unwell
- Get plenty of sleep and stay hydrated with water, teas and other non-caffeinated drinks
- Ask your physician about antiviral drugs that can blunt flu symptoms if prescribed within the first 48 hours of your first symptoms.
One of the best resources about the flu can be found at www.flu.gov.
by California Casualty | Educators |
CT Educators See Their $7,500 School Lounge Makeover© From California Casualty
The New Year will be brighter and more comfortable for the English Department at Plainville High School in Plainville, Connecticut, after a $7500 School Lounge Makeover© from California Casualty.
The contest was won by Debbie Seibert, who discovered it while reading her NEA Today publication. She was announced as the latest winner in November and the finished product was unveiled Friday, December 20. Teachers and staff were greeted by new vibrant colors; a stylish reading area with new furniture, area rug and accent chairs; a large metal table to accommodate a microwave, toaster oven and crock pots; a work space for a “floating instructor” who has no permanent classroom; and, what is thought to be a first for the School Lounge Makeover® contest, a lactation area. “It’s now a striking, soothing area,” remarked Seibert. “Thanks to California Casualty we now have an efficient, inviting work space and lounge, including cabinetry with storage that is built at work height. This replaces the collection of scavenged desks and tables that held our equipment before. …and our instructional leader has a new chair for her office so she no longer has to tighten the screws weekly to avoid it collapsing under her,” she said.
Recognizing the lifelong impact of teachers and the current financial strain on public schools, California Casualty created the School Lounge Makeover® contest in 2011. Twice a year, one randomly drawn winner receives a major transformation of the primary space at his or her school that teachers and staff can go to rejuvenate and recharge.
Entries for the next California Casualty $7,500 School Lounge Makeover® are now being taken here . A contestant must be an active employee of a K-12 public school or school administrator and a member of NEA or ACSA, COSA, NASA, KASE or OAESA. Should a school administrator win who does not work on a school campus, he/she will have the option of choosing the public school to receive the makeover. All members at the school may also enter, thus increasing their school’s chances of winning.
by California Casualty | Safety |
Gov’t: 1 in 14 fell prey to identity theft in 2012(from AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government says 1 out of every 14 Americans age 16 or older was a target or a victim of identity theft, a crime imposing a heavy emotional toll on many of its victims. This comes from a national survey of 70,000 people, issued by the Bureau of Justice Statistics. ID theft resulted in $24.7 billion in financial losses last year. The crime affected 16.6 million people and fell most heavily on households with annual incomes of $75,000 or more. In that income bracket, 10 percent of such households were victimized.
Here are some scary statistics:
- Two-thirds of identity theft victims experienced financial losses, which averaged $1,769.
- 47% of victims who spent six months or more resolving the financial and credit problems, experienced severe emotional distress, compared with 4% who spent a day or less resolving the problems.
- Less than 10% of victims bought identity theft protection.
Theft involving existing credit cards and bank accounts made up for the vast majority of the 16.6 million victims.
Some 7.7 million victims reported the fraudulent use of a credit card, and 7.5 million reported the fraudulent use of a bank account such as a debit card, checking account or savings.
For more information about California Casualty’s FREE Identity Defense protection, visit here.
by California Casualty | Nominate a Hero |
Voting is now closed!
We are honored to have the opportunity to recognize each of these heroes. In our book, they are all Heroes of the Year!
Be sure to read all our heroes’ stories here.
Francis is a full-time firefighter and part-time nurse at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Philadelphia. Before serving in these life-saving capacities, Fran was a Paramedic. Firefighting runs in Fran’s family. His father was a retired Philadelphia Fire Department Captain who served for more than 30 years.
On July 4, 2012, Fran entered a smoke-filled home and heard a woman in distress on the 2nd floor. When Fran found her, she was trapped, panicked and out of breathe from breathing in too much smoke. In a split-second decision, Fran took a big breath, removed his tank and put it on the woman. Both got out safely, although Fran was hospitalized for smoke inhalation. Fran later met the woman he saved, and presented her with about $500 of his own overtime pay to help her and her family.
On April 9, Fran was injured in a warehouse fire. He was inspecting an adjacent building to the warehouse when the wall and roof began to fall. Fran was buried in the rubble but managed to dig himself out. Two of Fran’s Ladder 10 firefighter brothers, Lt. Robert Neary and Firefighter Daniel Sweeney, were killed in the fire and and Firefighter Patrick Nally sustained serious injuries. Fran was able to return to work 3 weeks later. Fran donated his Hero of the Month prize money to the Philadelphia Firefighters Local 22 Widow’s Fund and the assistance in healthcare fund at the Cancer Treatment Center of America .
Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29
by California Casualty | Nominate a Hero |
Voting is now closed!
We are honored to have the opportunity to recognize each of these heroes. In our book, they are all Heroes of the Year!
Be sure to read all our heroes’ stories here.
Officer Mansfield started his career in law enforcement officer at the age of 25, and now has been serving his community for more than 37 years. Before retiring in 2012, he served with the North Salt Lake Police, Woods Cross Police, Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Adult Probation and Parole, the Midvale City Police, and Utah Transit Authority Police Department.
Colleagues and Family say that he is trustworthy, honest, sincere, and has always stood up for those in danger. In one particular case, Officer Mansfield stopped theft of arcade tokens used for boarding transit trains and his investigation led to eight arrests. Officer Mansfield has suffered multiple injuries in the line of duty, including a life-threatening gunshot to the leg.
He stays busy as a security officer and volunteer Chaplain at the local children’s hospital. He also serves as Chaplain of his local American Legion Post. Officer Mansfield is active in many community activities, also active in several cancer support groups, as he is a cancer survivor himself. He has received many awards, including a Purple Heart and the Medal of Valor for saving a fellow officer’s life.
