A lot of people don’t realize that poisoning in the home is a big problem in California as well as the rest of the country — poisoning has become the number one cause of death, ahead of car accidents. It’s estimated that around half of all poison exposures are to children under the age of six. Additionally, 92% of all poisoning deaths happen to adults over the age of 20. To help spread awareness of the danger of home poisonings, March 20th through March 26th is National Poison Prevention Week. What Causes Poisoning in the Home? The following are some of the most common causes of poisoning in the home: Painkillers – Opioids have been responsible for countless deaths over the years. In 2020, opioids were responsible for 68,630 deaths in the United States alone. Many of these painkillers are commonly prescribed as well. Personal care products – Personal care products include everything from cosmetics to shampoos. Such products are dangerous when left within reach of young children. Cleaning products – Like personal care products, cleaning products, such as bleach, can be incredibly dangerous if not properly stored and a child gets their hands on them. Sedatives – Adults who are prescribed sedatives can be poisoned if they take too much or combine them with other medications or with alcohol. Foreign bodies – Foreign bodies often include toys produced with certain chemicals that are dangerous to children. Preventing Home Poisonings The following are a few safety tips to help prevent poisonings in your home: Always put potential poisons away after use. Store potential poisons in their original containers. Do not move them to your own containers. Keep potential poisons out of reach of children. Use childproof locks or safety latches to keep them from getting access. Never put potential poisons near your food. Don’t mix medications. Safely discard containers that contained potential poisons or any products that are expired. Keep these safety tips in mind to prevent poisoning in the home. Be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store for more health and safety advice today. #causesofpoisonings #NationalPoisonPreventionWeek #poison #poisonprevention

The deadline for submitting your tax return is coming up, which means that you’ll want to make sure to protect yourself against potential tax ID theft. A significant amount of people use online tax return services, such as TurboTax or Credit Karma, to do their tax returns. Unfortunately, that means there’s a greater risk of having your social security number stolen. If your social security number is exposed, it can be used to file a false tax return in your name. However, if you’re careful, you can avoid such fraud. Ways to Prevent Tax ID Theft The following are a few tips that you should follow to prevent the theft of your social security number: File Your Taxes Early To commit tax fraud, scammers need to submit a fraudulent tax return before you do. The earlier you submit your tax return, the less likely it is that you’ll become a victim of tax fraud. Keep Your Social Security Number Safe As long as your social security number is safe, you won’t be the victim of tax fraud. As such, take every precaution to keep your number secure. For example, never carry your social security card with you. Instead, keep it locked up somewhere safe in your California home. If you’re planning to throw away documents with your social on them, shred them first. Sign Up for Identity Protection The Identity Protection Pin is a unique six-digit number that the IRS will assign to you if you request it. When it’s assigned, you’ll be required to provide it on your return. It’s another level of protection against potential theft since thieves will need your social security number as well as your pin to submit a fraudulent return. Be Wary About Scams The IRS will only communicate with you through direct mail. If you receive emails, texts, calls, or social media communications that are advertised as being from the IRS, they are likely scams trying to trick you into giving up your social security number. Be sure to use these tips to protect yourself against tax ID theft. For more safety awareness tips, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today. #IDtheft #PreventingIDtheft #PreventingTaxIDtheft #TaxIDtheft

March 14 – 21 is Brain Awareness Week What’s the key to keeping your mind sharp and your brain healthy as you grow older? Online puzzles? Nutritional supplements? Mall walking? Pickle-ball tournaments? The truth is, there’s no single “miracle cure” for memory problems or other brain changes that come with aging. But there is cause for optimism. Science points to a combination of social factors and healthy habits that—taken together—can help you build, preserve, and protect your brain’s function over time. How to maintain brain health Here are some tips for filling—and not draining—your reservoir of brain power: Exercise regularly If you smoke, quit Take care of your heart Avoid a high-sugar diet keep your mind stimulated Moderate of avoid alcohol sleep well Preventing memory loss Experts used to think brain development peaked in late adolescence and it was all downhill from there. They believed if a person lost brain cells due to problems like a head injury, stroke, or substance abuse, nothing could be done to restore memory and brain function. Now, thanks to discoveries in neuroscience, we know that the brain can grow new cells and form new neural connections. Like our muscles and other body parts, the brain can rebuild itself through repeated use and exercise. This is great news for people who intend to live a long time. It means we can prevent memory loss by focusing on mental, physical, and social activities that promote healthy brain development. Even people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias can benefit from a healthy lifestyle. Explore the brain. Visit www.Dana.org Learn more:Download Your Health and Safety Matters! Contact The Benefits Store for you an your families health insurance needs! #BrainAwareness #Californiahealthinsurance #Californiahealthtips #healthawareness

National Consumer Protection Week – March 6 – 12th Our personal data is everywhere, and providing information like passwords and account numbers to access online accounts is something many of us do on a daily basis. Unfortunately, whenever we supply our PII, we are taking some level of risk that a criminal could steal and misuse it. But there are ways to reduce the likelihood of identity theft, and many of these strategies are simple and free. The best way to help prevent identity theft is to sign up for an identity theft protection service. Although an identity theft protection service can’t prevent identity theft, it can alert you promptly when it happens to limit the damage and help you recover. Identity theft protection can help safeguard your personal information for a monthly or annual fee. Subscriptions can include monitoring of credit reports, financial accounts, medical information, social media activity, the dark web, and more. Identity theft protection companies also provide recovery services if your information is compromised. Some offer identity theft coverage of up to $1 million and access to attorneys or private investigators to help you restore your credit and reputation. Most also give you a dashboard to view notifications and contact customer service if fraudulent activity occurs. Besides subscribing to an identity theft protection service, there are other ways to help prevent identity theft. Freeze your credit. Collect mail daily. Review credit card and bank statements regularly. shred documents containing personal information before throwing away. Create different passwords for your accounts. Install antivirus software. Enable two-factor authentication on devices and accounts. What can you do if you suspect or know that your identity has been stolen? Recovering from identity theft can be a long, stressful, and potentially costly process. Many credit card companies have adopted policies that try to minimize the amount of money you are liable for, but the implications can extend beyond your existing accounts. To minimize the extent of the damage, take action as soon as possible: Start by visiting IdentityTheft.gov – This is a trusted, one-stop resource to help you report and recover from identity theft. Information provided here includes checklists, sample letters, and links to other resources. Possible next steps in the process – You may need to contact credit reporting agencies or companies where you have accounts, file police or other official reports, and consider other information that may have been compromised. Other sites that offer information and guidance for recovering from identity theft are: Federal Trade Commission – https://www.consumer.ftc.gov United States Department of Justice – https://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/websites/idtheft.html Social Security Administration – https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10064.pdf Learn more:Download Smart, Simple Coverage Starts Here. Protection for your family, your business & your personal identity. Your Health and Safety Matters! For more information on Identity Theft Protection, Click Here. #ConsumerProtectionWeek #healthawareness #Californiahealthtips #Californiahealthinsurance #HealthNews #ConsumerProtectionAwareness

Poisoning in dogs is a serious issue that every dog owner should be aware of. If you have a pet dog, then odds are you care greatly about it and do everything you can to keep it safe. Unfortunately, there are a lot of household items that may seem harmless that can end up poisoning your dog if they consume them. It’s estimated that there are around 232,000 pet poisonings in the U.S. every year. These poisonings are caused by everything from cleaning products and gardening products to plants and people food. To help prevent dog poisonings, March has been designated as Pet Poison Prevention Awareness Month. Signs of Poisoning in Dogs If your dog has consumed an item that is poisonous to them, you’ll want to act quickly by taking them to your vet as soon as possible. The quicker you act, the better the chances will be of saving your dog. With that in mind, the following are a few signs that indicate your dog may have consumed something poisonous: Your dog is breathing rapidly Your dog exhibits a weak or rapid pulse It’s experiencing a change in body temperature The dog’s gums appear pale The dog has lost consciousness Your dog is experiencing paralysis or is having trouble standing Your dog is having seizures It is bleeding excessively What To Do If Your Dog Has Been Poisoned First of all, call your vet. They will tell you what to do. If you can’t reach your vet, then call the Animal Poison Control Center. You can reach them at 888-426-4435. They will provide you with guidance on what to do for a consultation fee. They are available 24 hours a day.You can also call the Pet Poison Hotline. If you take your pet to the vet, take any of the potential poison that remains. If your dog ate it all and vomited, take a sample of the vomit. This will help the vet determine what poisoned your dog so they can treat it more effectively. Poisonings in dogs are a serious threat throughout California homes. Understand how to identify if your dog is poisoned so you can get them the care they need. For more pet safety advice, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today. #Petsafety #poisoningindogs #dogpoison #Petpoisonprevention #petpoison

Burn injuries are more serious than a lot of people realize. They continue to be one of the leading causes of unintentional deaths in the US. Because people may not be aware of how serious injuries caused by burns can be, February 6th through February 12th has been designated as National Burn Awareness Week. Facts About Burn Injuries To help spread awareness throughout California about the importance of burn safety, the following are some burn-related facts you should know: It’s estimated that around 400,000 people are treated for injuries caused by burns in the U.S. every year. In 2018, there 40,000 experienced injuries caused by burns that were bad enough to require them to go to the hospital. The odds of a U.S. resident dying due to exposure to smoke (caused by a fire) or fire are one in 1,498. An estimated 73 percent of all burn-related injuries that were treated in burn centers were the result of accidents within the home. Children under the age of five are twice as likely to be seen for burn-related injuries in hospital ERs than the general population. Around 40 percent of all burn-related injuries happen to children that are under the age of 15. Fire Safety Tips Although around 96.7 percent of burn victims that are treated in burn centers survive, many of them will have significant scarring and physical disabilities that can last their entire lives. Because many burn-related incidents occur to children at home, it’s critical that you keep the following fire safety tips in mind, especially if you have kids: Teach your kids about fire safety: Make sure your kids don’t play with matches or lighters if they find them. Teach them to tell the nearest adult if they find them. You should also teach them to stay away from open flames (such as if there’s a fire in the fireplace). Never leave candles burning unattended: If you’re lighting a candle, don’t leave the room without putting it out. Never leave the stove or grill unattended if it’s in use. Especially if there are kids around. Burn injuries are a serious problem in the U.S., especially where kids are concerned. Make sure to keep fire safety in mind to help prevent burn-related injuries. For more safety tips, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #burninjuries #Californiaburnawareness #NationalBurnWeek

What is and eating disorder? Eating disorders are serious, complex and potentially life-threatening mental illnesses. They are characterised by disturbances in behaviours, thoughts and attitudes to food, eating, and body weight or shape. Eating disorders have detrimental impacts upon a person’s life and result in serious medical, psychiatric and psychosocial consequences. Before you can address and treat a problem, you must identify the problem. Warning signs of an eating disorder include: Alterations in Weight Unusually marked weight loss. If the person weighs less than 85 percent of their ideal body weight and exhibits other characteristic signs of an eating disorder, this person can be diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa. Patients can still be close to, at, or even above their ideal body weight and still have an eating disorder. This is fairly often seen in binging and purging behaviors typical of patients diagnosed with Bulimia Nervosa. Preoccupation with Body Image May spend an inordinate amount of time looking in the mirror. Makes negative comments about her physical appearance and insists that she is overweight. May become preoccupied with certain celebrities and models on the Internet and magazines and compare themselves unfavorably to them. Wears baggy clothing to hide their body shape. Learn more:Download Your health and safety matters! Contact The Benefits Store today for you and your families health insurance needs! #Californiahealthinsurance #Californiahealthtips #eatingdisorderawareness #healthawareness

A lot of people don’t know or dismiss heart attack signs in women because heart attacks are commonly associated with men. However, in actuality, more women die from heart attacks than men. While many people are aware of the heart attack signs in men, they don’t realize that those signs are a bit different in women. To help spread awareness about the signs of heart attacks in women and how to reduce the risk of heart attacks, February has been designated as American Heart Awareness Month. What Are the Heart Attack Signs in Women? Women do share some symptoms with men when it comes to heart attacks; however, there are a few symptoms that they are more likely to experience than men. With that in mind, the following are the primary signs that a woman is having a heart attack: Chest pains: The most common symptom of a heart attack for both men and women is the feeling of pain in the chest. The pain may be accompanied by a feeling of tightness or pressure in the chest, but these are symptoms men tend to have more than women. Pain in the arms: Both men and women may experience pain or discomfort in one or both of their arms. Shortness of breath: Shortness of breath is a symptom men don’t have nearly as often as women have during a heart attack. Nausea: Men don’t typically experience nausea prior to having a heart attack, but women do. In fact, women may even vomit during the onset of a heart attack. Other symptoms: Other symptoms women may feel during a heart attack include pain in the jaw, neck, or back as well as feelings of lightheadedness or weakness. Know the Signs of a Heart Attack It’s crucial that you know what the heart attack signs in women are so that you can warn someone if you think you’re having a heart attack or call 9-1-1 if you think someone you’re with is having one. For more health awareness tips, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #Heartdisease #healthawareness #heartattack #heartattacksigns #heartattacksinwomen

Tooth decay (cavities) is one of the most common chronic conditions of childhood in the United States. Untreated tooth decay can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning. The good news is that tooth decay is preventable. Fluoride varnish, a high concentration fluoride coating that is painted on teeth, can prevent about one-third (33%) of decay in the primary (baby) teeth. Children living in communities with fluoridated tap water have fewer decayed teeth than children who live in areas where their tap water is not fluoridated. Similarly, children who brush daily with fluoride toothpaste will have less tooth decay. Keep Healthy Teeth with the 2-2-2 Rule Help keep your child’s teeth healthy by using the 2-2-2 rule: visit your dentist two times a year, and brush and floss TWO times a day for TWO whole minutes! How Do You Get Kids to Brush Their Teeth? Our pediatric dentists recommend parents follow the “tell, show, do” model: Tell: In age-appropriate language, explain how to brush and floss and how those actions keep teeth clean and healthy Show: Let children watch when mom or dad brush and floss their own teeth. Do: Help children brush and floss their teeth in the morning and before bed, and keep a regular routine so they know it’s expected. Continue helping to brush a child’s teeth until age 4 or 5. After that, let them do it themselves, but supervise them until age 7 or 8. both children and adults should brush for two minutes, twice a day. Oral Hygiene: the Importance of Brushing and Flossing Your oral health can offer clues about your overall health or that problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body? Like many areas of the body, your mouth is teeming with bacteria. Typically, the body’s natural defenses and good oral hygiene can keep these bacteria under control. However, if you don’t remove the bacteria daily with brushing and flossing, it can cause cavities or gum disease. Learn more:Download Your health and safety Matters! Contact The Benefits Store today for a Free Dental Quote! #healthawareness #Californiahealthtips #PediatricDentalAwareness #PediatricDental #Californiahealthinsurance

It’s incredibly important to schedule regular pediatric dentist visits if you have young children. This is because of how common cavities are. Not only do more than 50 percent of children experience tooth decay before they turn five (according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry), but cavities are five times more common in children than asthma. Scheduling Pediatric Dentist Visits According to the CDC, an estimated 42 percent of children between the ages of 2 and 11 have cavities that are untreated. It’s important that your child have their teeth checked for cavities on a regular basis. Untreated cavities can lead to pain and infections as well as issues speaking, eating, and even learning. A pediatric dentist can identify the beginnings of tooth decay and help address it before it gets any worse. How to Prevent Cavities It’s important that you don’t just rely on the dentist. After all, cavities can cause serious discomfort, which means you’ll want to help prevent them altogether. The following are a few tips to help you prevent your child from getting cavities: Use fluoride toothpaste: Fluoride helps to prevent tooth decay, so be sure to buy toothpaste for your kids that contains fluoride. Brush twice a day: Get your children in the habit of brushing their teeth twice a day. They should brush for at least two minutes in the mornings and in the evenings before going to bed. They should also floss to make sure plaque doesn’t build up between their teeth. Consider applying dental sealants: A dentist can apply dental sealants to the back teeth of your child. These sealants are effective for four years and can help to reduce decay in the permanent molars by as much as 81 percent. Dental Health is Important to Your Children The last thing you want is for your children to suffer from dental cavities. Cavities can be incredibly uncomfortable and even painful. Not to mention that they’ll spend even more time at the dentist getting their cavities filled, potentially missing school as a result. Be sure to promote dental health to your kids and schedule pediatric dentist visits twice a year. For more health awareness advice, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #children039sdentalhealth #kidsdentist #pediatricdentistvisits

In recognition of 2022 National Burn Awareness Week, Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey encourages families to practice safe-cooking habits. National Burn Awareness Week runs Feb. 6-12. This year’s theme from the American Burn Association is “Burning Issues in the Kitchen.” How to prevent injuries causes by burns in the kitchen: Keep your stovetop clear. Dress appropriately. Wear short or close-fitting sleeves when cooking to avoid a burn. Never leave the stove unattended. Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling or broiling food. Keep children safe in the kitchen. Have a “kid-free-zone” of at least three feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drink is prepared or carried. Monitor your appliances. After cooking, check the kitchen to make sure all burners and other appliances are turned off. Have a Plan of Action For All Burns 1. Stop Burning Immediately Put out fire or stop the person’s contact with hot liquid, steam, or other material. Help the person “stop, drop, and roll” to smother flames. Remove smoldering material from the person. Remove hot or burned clothing. If clothing sticks to skin, cut or tear around it. 2. Remove Constrictive Clothing Immediately Take off jewelry, belts, and tight clothing. Burns can swell quickly. 3. See a Doctor The doctor can test burn severity, prescribe antibiotics and pain medications, and administer a tetanus shot, if needed. Resources for American Burn Week: For more information, contact the American Burn Association: #NBAW www.ameriburn.org 312-642-9260 Learn More:Download Your Health and Safety Matters! Contact The Benefits Store for you and your families health insurance needs. #Californiahealthinsurance #Californiahealthtips #healthawareness #NationalBurnWeek

An estimated 9% of people in the U.S. will have an eating disorder in their lifetime. Additionally, there are over 10,000 deaths resulting from an eating-related disorder every year, making eating disorders the second deadliest mental illness behind opioid overdoses. Unfortunately, few people realize how severe eating-related disorders are in the U.S., which is why February was designated as Eating Disorders Awareness and Screening Month. Signs of an Eating Disorder It’s important that you be able to identify if a loved one is struggling with an eating-related disorder to get them the help they need. With that in mind, the following are a few signs that indicate someone may have an eating disorder: Significant weight loss: If a person has lost too much weight, it could be the result of anorexia, which is a disorder in which a person stops eating. Someone who weighs less than 85% of their ideal body weight could be suffering from anorexia. Binging without weight gain: If you notice that someone will purge when they eat, meaning that they will eat a substantial amount of food at any given time, but they never gain weight, they may be struggling with bulimia. Bulimia is a disorder in which a person will binge on food, then immediately purge it from their system. Preoccupied with self-image: Individuals who spend a lot of time looking at themselves in the mirror, making negative comments about their weight, or who are preoccupied with their perception of the ideal body may have some sort of eating-related disorder. Eating patterns have changed: If the eating patterns of a person have changed, there could be an issue. For example, if they no longer eat family meals, are obsessed with counting calories, eat smaller portions or no longer eat at all, go to the bathroom after every meal, or binge certain foods, they may have an eating-related disorder. To help someone who is struggling with an eating-related disorder, you need to be able to identify the signs so that you can get them help. For more health tips, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #anorexia #bingeeating #eatingdisorder #mentalhealth