This January, the American Red Cross celebrates National Blood Donor Month and recognizes the lifesaving contribution of blood and platelet donors. As we begin the New Year, the Red Cross encourages individuals to resolve to roll up a sleeve to give this month and throughout 2018.

National Blood Donor Month has been observed in January since 1970 with the goal of increasing blood and platelet donations during winter – one of the most difficult times of year to collect enough blood products to meet patient needs. During the winter months, inclement weather often results in cancelled blood drives, and seasonal illnesses like the flu may cause some donors to become temporarily unable to donate.

Blood donation appointments can be made by downloading the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or to receive more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients.

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Five health benefits from donating blood:

• Free blood tests – donated blood is tested and donor can asked to be informed if any irregularities are found.
• Satisfaction of saving human lives
• Calorie burn – Blood donation process burns 650 calories – about the same as an average spin class!
• Reduced risk of heart disease – helps eliminate excess buildup of iron in the blood
• Reduced risk of cancer – also due to reduction of excess iron buildup in the blood

Resources:

http://www.redcross.org/news/article/Resolve-to-Give-during-National-Blood-Donor-Month

https://healthprep.com/living-healthy/5-important-health-benefits-you-can-get-from-donating-blood/

Thanksgiving is a time to remember and embrace those who enrich our lives.  I am thankful for a lot of things, but most of all I’m thankful for you and your continued support of FEW.  As we celebrate this Thanksgiving, let us be thankful for the diversity we encounter each and every day, the uniqueness we each possess, and the freedom we have to fight for equality for all regardless of race, color, gender, language, or creed.

For 50 years Federally Employed Women has worked hard to advocate for opportunities that will assist women in realizing their career goals and to know you played a significant part in working for the Advancement of Women in Government is worthy of giving thanks. As we move forward into our next half-century let us be thankful for a new day to continue our fight for the advancement of women and stand stronger than ever – because our work is not done yet.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.

from https://www.opm.gov/news/releases/2017/10/opm-announces-2018-federal-employees-health-benefits-fehb-program-premiums/

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, October 04, 2017

Contact: Office of Communications
Tel: 202-606-2402

OPM Announces 2018 Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program Premiums

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced today that the overall average increase in total premiums for the 2018 Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program will rise by an average of four percent.

The Federal Benefits Open Season, which runs from November 13 to December 11, 2017, gives Federal employees and retirees the opportunity to evaluate their benefits, provider networks, and the 2018 rates for Federal benefits, which include FEHB, Federal dental and vision (FEDVIP), as well as elections for Flexible Spending Account (FSAFEDS) for health care and/or dependent care. Individuals have the chance to make changes to their coverage within the Open Season dates.

“Open Season is important because these health benefits can help Federal employees care for themselves and their families,” said OPM Acting Director Kathy McGettigan. “I urge Federal employees and retirees to carefully review their healthcare needs and to choose wisely among the plans and enrollment options available to them during this enrollment period.”

Additional information about this year’s Open Season:

• The share of FEHB premiums paid by the government and enrollees is determined based on a government contribution formula set forth in the law. As a result of this formula the average enrollee share increase will be 6.1 percent and the average increase in the government share will be 3.2 percent.
• For FEDVIP, which is fully funded by enrollee premiums, average vision plan premiums will decrease by 0.48 percent and average dental plan premiums will increase by 1.26 percent for 2018.
• In 2018, the FEHB Program will offer 262 health plan choices government-wide.

OPM encouraged all insurance carriers to thoroughly evaluate their health plan options to find ways to improve affordability, reduce costs, and improve the quality of care and the health of the enrolled population. Negotiations were geared to keep premium increases as low as possible while minimizing changes in out-of-pocket costs, such as for deductibles, co-pays, and coinsurance.

Established in 1960, the FEHB Program is the largest employer-sponsored health benefits program in the United States, providing health care benefits for about 8.3 million employees, retirees and family members. Approximately 85 percent of all Federal employees participate in the Program.

The OPM website provides a detailed breakdown on the FEHB Program premium rates and the FEDVIP rates.

– end –

“Caregiving Around the Clock”

Caregiving can be a 24-hours a day/7-days a week job. Caring for a senior with Alzheimer’s or a child with special needs can be non-stop. Providing care around the clock can crowd out other important areas of life. And you never know when you will need to rush to the hospital or leave work at the drop of a hat. What challenges do family caregivers face, and how do they manage them day and night?

Morning: Getting off to work. The average family caregiver is a working mother of school-aged children. Mornings become a tricky balancing act of getting the kids ready for school, making sure your loved one has what they need for the day before getting yourself out the door for work.

All Day Long: Managing medications. Up to 70% of the time, the family caregiver – not the patient –manages the medications. The more serious the condition, the more likely it is that the family caregiver manages the medications for the patient. This means ensuring your loved one is taking their medication correctly and maintaining an up-to-date medication list.

During the Workday: Juggling caregiving and work. Six out of 10 family caregivers work full- or part-time in addition to juggling their caregiving responsibilities at home. And most of them say they have to cut back on working hours, take a leave of absence, or quit their job entirely.

Evening: Family time and meal time. Ensuring that you get proper nutrition will help you maintain strength, energy, stamina, and a positive attitude. Nutrition is as important for you as the caregiver as it for your loved one. Caregiving affects the whole family.

Late at Night: Taking time for yourself. Late at night might be the only time you get a few minutes for yourself. Make sure you take time to rest and recharge. The chance to take a breather and re-energize is vital in order for you to be as good a caregiver tomorrow as you were today.

The Middle of the Night: Emergency room visits. Have you ever had to take your loved one to the emergency room in the middle of the night? Be prepared ahead of time with what you need to know and what you need to have with you.

During National Family Caregivers Month, we recognize the challenges family caregivers face when their loved ones need Caregiving Around the Clock!

 

Federally Employed Women’s (FEW) National President and I, as Vice President for Membership and Chapter Organizations, challenge all members to join us as we commemorate and celebrate FEW’s 50th Anniversary in 2018. For 50 years, FEW has maintained inexpensive membership dues in order to reach a broad base of members and to provide a cost-effective organization for anyone who supports the mission and vision of FEW.

FEW currently has three membership levels: Regular ($45 annually), Lifetime (one-time fee of $300) and Diamond Lifetime (must have paid the Lifetime membership fee and then an additional one-time fee of $200). As many of you heard during the 2017 National Training Program’s Closing Luncheon, we have already gained 50 new members. We want to encourage 50 current members to consider upgrading their membership to Diamond Lifetime membership. National President, Wanda Killingsworth, became the first Diamond Lifetime member under the new membership cycle (July 1, 2017 – June 1, 2018). Let’s add 49 more in the coming months so that we have yet another proud investment to announce during our 50-year celebration.

You may upgrade your membership by logging onto the FEW website at www.few.org, then clicking on My Account. If you’d rather upgrade your membership by mail, please fill out the Lifetime/Diamond Lifetime Application by clicking here.  Follow the instructions for where to mail the completed application along with your check or money order. On page two of the application, you will find an explanation of the eligibility for Lifetime and Diamond Memberships. If you have any questions, please contact Suzi Inman, Vice President for Membership and Chapter Organization, at membershipVP@few.org.

We look forward to your continued investment in FEW!

Diamonds Are Forever!

Wanda V. Killingsworth
National President
Federally Employed Women

Suzi Inman
Vice President for Membership and Chapter Organizations
Federally Employed Women

We are in the middle of hurricane season which will not end until November 30.  Keeping that in mind it important now, more than ever, to be prepared to do what you can for those in affected areas.

The news is still reporting daily on the damage, the ongoing flooding, and on people helping people. The Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and many other organizations are on site doing what they can to help. And every organization, when asked how people can best help, has the same answer: Money. They have the bodies. They have the procedures. They simply need cash to provide whatever is needed at any given time.

The Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund (FEEA) is endeavoring to raise funds to send along to aid southern Texas. You can Donate Here to add to that pool.

The Red Cross is always a good selection, and they are set up to take donations Here, as well as via iTunes and wireless text.

 

 

Give to other major organizations by clicking their logo below:

 

 

 

Every dollar helps. Consider how you can best help with the recovery.

 

From https://www.yoursightmatters.com

With a large number of states beginning the school year earlier, August is the new September! Along with school supply shopping and purchasing those back-to-school clothing items, it’s time to make comprehensive eye exam appointments for the kids. Conveniently, August is designated as Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month!

A good rule of thumb is to have your children’s eyes examined during well-child visits, beginning around age three. Your child’s eye doctor can help detect refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism as well as the following diseases:

• Amblyopia (lazy eye)
• Strabismus (crossed eyes)
• Ptosis (drooping of the eyelid)
• Color deficiency (color blindness)

If you or your doctor suspects that your child may have a vision problem, you can make an appointment with your local ophthalmologist for further testing. There are some specific warning signs that may indicate that your child has a vision problem. Some of these include:

• Wandering or crossed eyes
• A family history of childhood vision problems
• Disinterest in reading or viewing distant objects
• Squinting or turning the head in an unusual manner while watching television

Keeping your children’s eyes safe is another part of maintaining healthy vision. Eye injuries are the leading cause of vision loss in children. There are about 42,000 sports-related eye injuries every year in America, and children suffer most of these injuries. Help prevent your child from being one of the more than 12 million children who suffer from vision impairment by remembering a few basic rules of safety:

• All children should wear protective eyewear while participating in sports or recreational activities
• Purchase age-appropriate toys for your children and avoid toys with sharp or protruding parts (Source: HAP).

Help your children have a successful school year by scheduling a comprehensive eye exam and taking safety measures to ensure their eyes are free from injury.

Why is an Eye Exam so Important?

Many of us believe that if we can see well, we don’t need to visit an eye doctor. While good vision is clearly important, an eye exam does more than just test your vision. In fact, your eyes can be portals that offer a glimpse of your overall health. In fact, many diseases show early signs in the eyes, including cardiovascular health and diabetes. So a comprehensive eye exam can help you at any age:

• Vision and learning are closely linked. Children don’t know what ‘normal’ vision is like, so they may not know to complain. Children’s eyes change rapidly as they grow, so eye care is important.
• Around the age 40, most of us have difficulty reading due to Presbyopia. A natural part of the aging process, presbyopia makes it harder to read small print. Computer monitors become more challenging as well. While “drugstore readers” may help, your eye doctor offers a range of options to fit your lifestyle.
• Many eye diseases, including glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, have no symptoms in the early stages. If left untreated, the vision loss is usually irreversible. Seeing your eye doctor on a regular basis can protect your vision through early treatment.

A comprehensive eye exam, offered only by an ophthalmologist or optometrist, looks at both eye health as well as your vision. Your doctor will check for:

• Refractive error: nearsighted, farsighted or astigmatism
• Focusing problems, including presbyopia
• Other vision problems, such as strabismus, amblyopia or binocular vision
• Eye diseases, such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy
• Other diseases, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, can often be detected in an eye exam

While tests will vary based on your doctor and your medical history, most comprehensive eye exams include the following:

• Visual Acuity to assess the sharpness of your vision, usually using the “Big E” or Snellen chart.
• Visual fields test, to determine if you have blind spots or peripheral vision issues.
• Cover Test, which can identify strabismus or binocular vision problems.
• Retinoscopy, autorefractor or aberrometer, to approximate your eyeglass prescription.
• Refraction, to fine tune the final eyeglass prescription using a phoropter.
• Slit Lamp exam to detect common eye diseases and conditions. The instrument allows your doctor to examine the structure of your eye to assess its health.
• Glaucoma test, known as tonometry, measures the pressure within your eye.
• Dilation of the pupil and ophthalmoscopy to examine the optic nerve, retina and blood vessels.

Since 2012, May has been recognized as National Mobility Awareness Month, sponsored by the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA). Driven by the theme “Life Moving Forward,” NMEDA members and industry partners team up to organize an international campaign that works to highlight and celebrate the ways in which people living with disabilities persevere and triumph over their physical challenges while bringing attention to the many life-changing mobility solutions available to make independence more accessible.

People with disabilities constitute the second largest minority in the United States. In the United States and Canada, over 18 million people have mobility issues, six million of whom are veterans. NMEDA wishes to draw awareness to the fact that there are mobility equipment manufacturers, dealers, driver rehabilitation specialists and other professionals in every community dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities. Automotive mobility solutions are available for people with disabilities enabling them to enjoy active, mobile lifestyles.

Resources:
http://www.nmeda.com/mobility-awareness-month/
https://www.facebook.com/pg/NationalMobilityAwarenessMonth/about/
http://mobilityawarenessmonth.com/