Anyone who has a pet will agree that they are family members. If you have a pet living in your home, then you’re responsible for pet safety. Unfortunately, there are more than 100,000 cases of pet poisoning in the U.S. every year, many of which are the result of common household substances. To ensure California pet owners are aware of these potential dangers, March has been designated Pet Poison Prevention Month. Improve Pet Safety by Understanding Poison Risks The odds are that you do everything possible to keep your pets safe. However, there are many common household items and foods that can poison your pet if you’re not careful. The following are a few of those items that you should be aware of: Flea and tick products – The anti-flea and tick products you spray on your pet’s coat may protect them against flea and tick bites, but they can also be poisonous if your pets ingest them. Herbal products – Any type of herbal supplements you’re taking can prove deadly for your pets. Household products – Many common household products contain chemicals that can poison your pets. These include products such as bleach and paint thinners. Human food – Certain foods cause severe allergic reactions in different types of pets. Some of the more toxic foods for pets include: Alcohol Avocados Chocolate Grapes Macadamia nuts Raisins Medications – Any medications you take can poison your pet, including over-the-counter medicines, such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and cold relievers. Almost all prescription medications, including antidepressants, can poison your pets as well. Plants – Certain plants can be toxic to your pets if ingested. Such plants can include azaleas, daffodils, lilies, sago palms, and tulips. Keep Your Pets Safe from Poisonous Products As you can see, there are many household products that are a risk to pet safety. Understand the poison dangers of the products around your home and make sure that you keep them away from your pet. For more safety awareness tips for the California home, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store. #Petpoisonings #Petsafety #Californiapetpoisonprevention #Petpoisonprevention #Californiapets

Dental care is an incredibly important part of childcare. Parents should begin paying attention to pediatric dental care as soon as possible to ensure their child grows up with healthy teeth. This is especially important when you understand how much children are affected by tooth decay. According to the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry, decay is one of the most common chronic conditions experienced by children in the U.S., with almost 50% experiencing tooth decay by the age of five. Why Is Pediatric Dental Care So Important? Children who don’t receive regular pediatric dental care are more vulnerable to tooth decay as they grow older. It’s estimated about 20 percent of children between the ages of 5-11 have at least one decayed tooth that hasn’t been treated. Around 13% of adolescents between the ages of 12-19 have at least one decayed tooth that hasn’t been treated. Tooth decay results when plaque builds up on the teeth. This produces an acid that erodes teeth. Plaque buildup can lead to many other issues as well, such as dental abscesses and gum disease. Children who have tooth decay can experience a variety of symptoms, including bad breath, aesthetic blemishes on their teeth (such as black spots), tooth sensitivity, and toothaches. Preventing Tooth Decay Fluoride can help to prevent tooth decay, which is why it’s important to teach children to brush their teeth every day using fluoride toothpaste. If you have children, don’t just tell them to brush their teeth. Show them how to do it by brushing yourself. Showing by example will make it easier for them to learn how to do it correctly. Dental sealants are another option. They can be applied to back teeth and will help reduce decay by 81% for upwards of two years. Finally, it’s essential that children receive pediatric dental care on a routine basis. Take them to the dentist at least twice a year. For more dental health tips for children or for health advice in general, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store. #Californiadentalhealth #Californiahealthtips #Californiapediatricdentalcare #pediatricdentalcare

People rarely think about severe burn injuries. It’s often assumed house fires are the only real cause of burns; however, there are many risks that can lead to burn injuries. Burn injuries are one of the main causes of wounds and death in the U.S., which is why February 4-10, 2021 was named National Burn Awareness Week by the American Burn Association. Why Is Burn Awareness Week Important? National Burn Awareness Week was established to help spread awareness of how serious burn-related injuries and deaths are, what can cause them, and how people can prevent them. The following are a few statistics showcasing how important it is to observe National Burn Awareness Week: Emergency departments reported there were almost 500,000 fire or burn injuries between 2011-2015. The majority of burn-related injuries are caused by scalds, electrical burns, chemical burns, fire-flames, or contact with hot objects. The odds of dying as a result of a fire (whether it’s from the fire itself or from smoke) are only 1 in 1,498. There were 3,390 deaths related to fires in 2016. How To Prevent Burn-Related Injuries Many burn-related injuries occur due to the lack of fire safety, especially in households with children. Here are a few safety tips to prevent burn injuries and deaths: Keep the space around your furnace clear. Make sure there are no flammable objects nearby. Lighters and matches should be kept out of reach of children. Children should be taught to inform an adult if they find lighters or matches. Never leave open flames unattended, whether it’s a gas stovetop, a fireplace, or a lit candle, especially if there are children around. Place your outdoor grill away from the house and flammable objects. Store gasoline and propane outside of the house in a cool, well-ventilated spot. Share these safety tips to properly observe National Burn Awareness Week. For more safety awareness tips, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store today. #Californiaburnawareness #burninjuries #preventingburns #Californiahealthawareness #treatingburns

High blood pressure is one of the most common health issues plaguing Americans today. According to the CDC, 47% of American adult males and 43 percent of adult women have high blood pressure (also referred to as hypertension). Unfortunately, only 24% of U.S. adults have high blood pressure under control. This has led to high blood pressure being either a primary or contributing cause to the deaths of almost 500,000 U.S. adults in 2018 alone. There are things that you can do to manage your high blood pressure risk. What Causes High Blood Pressure? There are two types of high blood pressure: primary hypertension and secondary hypertension. Primary hypertension has no real cause. It’s something that simply develops over time. Secondary hypertension is caused by an underlying condition or the use of certain medications. These conditions can include: Adrenal gland tumors Blood vessel issues Kidney conditions Sleep apnea Thyroid issues High blood pressure can also be caused by various medications, such as cold medicines or birth control pills. What Are the Risk Factors for High Blood Pressure? There are many risk factors for high blood pressure. These include a family history of high blood pressure, age, race, weight, tobacco use, lack of physical activity, lack of potassium, overconsumption of alcohol, too much sodium, and stress. What Are Health Risks Resulting From High Blood Pressure? If you have high blood pressure, you could be at greater risk for the following: Aneurysm Dementia Heart attack Heart failure Metabolic syndrome Stroke Weak blood vessels How Can You Reduce Your High Blood Pressure Risk? Californians with high blood pressure or at-risk of high blood pressure, can take steps to improve their health. These include: Controlling cholesterol levels Drinking alcohol only in moderation Exercising regularly Maintaining a healthy diet Maintaining a healthy weight Managing stress Quit smoking For more advice on how to manage high blood pressure or for California health tips in general, continue visiting us at The Benefits Store. #Californiahealthawareness #Californiahealthtips #Californiahighbloodpressurerisk #Californiatoysafety

Of all the health issues that cause the most problems in the U.S., heart disease is at the top of the list. “Heart disease” refers to a number of conditions, including: Arrhythmias Congenital heart defects Coronary artery disease Heart infections Heart valve disease Hypertension Because of the prevalence of heart disease and how deadly it can be, it’s important to learn as much as you can about it and take steps to prevent it. 7 Facts About Heart Disease You Should Know Here are five facts about heart disease you may not know: Heart attacks and coronary heart disease are 2 of the top ten most expensive hospitalization conditions. Both account for more than $10 billion/year. Heart disease is the number-one cause of death in the U.S. It’s estimated 790,000 Americans suffer from heart attacks every year; around 114,000 of those are fatal. More than 360,000 Americans die from heart disease every year. One heart attack occurs almost every 40 seconds. Strokes account for 133,000 deaths in the U.S. every year. They cause five percent of all American deaths. The average age of a male’s first heart attack is 65.3. The average age for a female is 71.8. What Are Risk Factors for Heart Disease? Risk factors for heart disease that you should know about include: Diabetes Drinking too much alcohol High blood pressure High cholesterol Lack of physical activity Obesity Smoking Take Steps to Prevent Heart Disease in California Heart disease affects thousands of Americans every year. Know the facts and learn the risk factors so you can take steps to avoid heart disease: Drink alcohol in moderation Exercise regularly Improve your diet Maintain a healthy weight Stop smoking For more information about heart disease or California health tips in general, be sure to continue to visit us at The Benefits Store. #Heartdisease #Californiahealthtips #HeartdiseaseinCalifornia #Californiahealthawareness #HeartdiseaseinSouthernCalifornia

The flu can be a deadly virus, depending on your age and health. Even if you’re young and healthy, you should still get vaccinated. It’s important that you get your flu shot every year, especially this year. There are different strains of the flu every year, which is why a flu shot is required annually. The time to schedule a flu vaccination is before winter hits, which is the peak flu season in California. Why You Should Get Your Flu Shot in California The following are some of the many reasons why it’s important you get your flu shot this year. With your annual flu shot you can avoid: Illness – The flu vaccination can prevent you from getting the flu. The flu can be deadly because it can cause medical complications and lead to other issues, such as pneumonia. Even if you’re healthy, the flu can cause unpleasant symptoms that can keep you home and “down.” Mistaking symptoms for COVID-19 – COVID-19 is a deadly disease that has raged into a worldwide pandemic. Its symptoms are so broad that it can be difficult to determine if you have it or “just the flu.” COVID-19 and the flu share similar initial symptoms, and the last thing you want is to be stressed-out thinking you have COVID-19 when you have a less dangerous flu. Spreading the flu to others – The flu is a virus that spreads easily. If your loved ones aren’t as young or healthy as you, they can “catch” the flu from you. Getting vaccinated for the flu is critical to your health. The flu can make you seriously sick, even if you’re young and in good health. Because we now have experience with a pandemic, we need to take our health as seriously as possible. The last thing you want to do is get someone sick with the flu, which could cause them to become even more vulnerable to COVID. Get your flu shot in California today. For more flu health advice, visit us at The Benefits Store. #fluseasoninCalifornia #flushot #flushotinCalifornia

Most of us experience holiday stress in one form or another every year. This stress can be the result of large family gatherings, traveling in and out of California, the obligation to attend various social functions, the need to purchase gifts for multiple family members and friends, and much more. Holiday stress is so common that many people think it’s normal. However, this shouldn’t be the case. Stress can have a negative mental and physical effect. It can diminish your ability to actually enjoy the holidays. How To Reduce Holiday Stress Although you may not be able to avoid the holidays in California, there are ways to reduce stress. The following are a few effective methods to manage stress and to reduce your stress levels so you can enjoy the holiday season: Ask for gift suggestions – If you’re planning on buying gifts for friends and family, don’t spend hours of your time trying to find the “perfect gift.” Stressing-out over what the perfect gift is and worrying about getting something they won’t like isn’t necessary. Just ask them for suggestions. It’s the act of giving a gift itself they will appreciate, after all. Don’t do everything yourself – Are you hosting a holiday dinner or party? Ask for help. For instance, have a family member or friend (or two) help with the meal prep so you don’t spend the entire night running around instead of enjoying yourself. You could even ask guests to bring small dishes to contribute to the meal. Don’t wait until the last minute – Whatever it is you’re doing, whether preparing a meal for a group of friends and relatives or shopping for gifts, give yourself plenty of time to do it. Waiting until the last minute is going to cause a massive amount of stress. Give yourself “you” time – Although the holidays are generally shared with friends and family, make sure you take time out to relax on your own. Do some yoga, exercise, or read a book; these can reduce your stress levels. Use these tips to reduce your holiday stress. For more California holiday health and safety tips, be sure to keep visiting us at The Benefits Store. #Californiahealthtips #Holidaystress #Reduceholidaystress

The AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association) established Older Driver Safety Awareness Week to spread awareness of how changes to physical, mental, and sensory abilities can affect your ability to drive safely. It’s important to understand that Older Driver Safety Awareness Week, which is December 7-11, 2020 doesn’t only focus on the problem, but also provides solutions. New technologies are being developed every year to help senior citizens in California drive more safely despite physical or sensory changes. Importance of Older Driver Safety in California Things change as we age. Our eyesight worsens, we become more sensitive to light, and our hand-eye coordination decreases. These changes can affect our ability to drive safely. Almost 18 percent of all traffic crashes in 2015 involved people ages 65 and older. Considering the senior citizen population is growing significantly every year, older driver safety has become even more important. Technology Aiding Older Driver Safety The following are a few technologies available in new cars that can help older drivers navigate the roads safely during the day and at night: Assistive parking – An assistive parking system helps drivers to park more effectively, reducing the risk of fender-benders. Lane departure warning – The lanes on roads can sometimes be difficult to see at night, which makes the lane departure warning system so useful. It warns drivers if their vehicle is swerving or leaving their lane. Reverse monitoring – Judging distances can become more difficult for an older driver, especially when it comes to checking the rear of the vehicle (which can be physically difficult, too). A reverse monitoring system helps drivers to back up safely and warns the driver if there are objects in the way. Smart headlights – Smart headlights automatically adjust the headlights’ intensity and range based on the distance of traffic. This makes it easier to drive at night. These are just a few of many new technologies aiding older driver safety in California. Visit us at The Benefits Store to continue receiving helpful safety awareness information. #olderdriversafety #olderdriversafetyweek #olderdrivers

For children, there’s no better time of the year than the winter holiday season. Not only do they get some time off school, but they get to spend time with friends and family they may not see that often. It’s a season when they’re spoiled by all kinds of presents, giving them a chance to build up their toy collection. If your kids will be receiving toys or if you’re planning to buy children’s toys in California, keep toy safety in mind. Toy Safety Risks The last thing you want is to put children at risk of injury as a result of the toys you bought for them. Certain toys can be especially dangerous to younger children under the age of three. For example, toys with small parts can be a choking hazard. Additionally, riding toys may seem like a lot of fun, but they are also responsible for most toy-related injuries to children ages 14 and under. Tips for Choosing Safe Toys in California Keep toy safety in mind and understand that certain toys aren’t appropriate for children of certain ages. The following are a few tips on how to choose the right toy: Avoid flammable toys – All toys with fabric should be labeled flame-retardant or flame-resistant. Avoid potentially toxic toys – Make sure the materials of the toy are labeled non-toxic and lead-free. Avoid projectile toys – Even if you think the child is old enough for the toy, think twice about projectile toys (such as toy guns). Projectile toys can lead to facial injuries. Be present when the toy is given – If the children are younger, make sure you’re present to instruct them how to use the toy safely, if necessary. Follow the age recommendations – Toys have labels with clearly defined age recommendations. Always look for these labels to ensure the toy is age-appropriate. Keep these toy safety tips in mind when buying toys in California. For additional holiday safety tips, visit us at The Benefits Store today. #Californiatoysafety #holidaytoys #toysafety

One of the reasons some people are less healthy than others is because they weren’t properly educated about their health. A person who hasn’t received the necessary health education, either as a child or as an adult, is more likely to suffer worse physical and mental health as a result. To raise awareness about the importance of health education, National Health Education Week was established in 1995. National Health Education Week will be October 19-22, 2020. The Importance of Health Education Proper health education can help prevent ailments or physical diseases. But good health education can help people achieve better mental and social well-being. People are more capable of maintaining their own health with improved health education. They will also be less likely to participate in harmful behaviors that lead to disease and other issues (for instance, smoking or eating unhealthily). Observing National Health Education Week The idea behind National Health Education Week is to generate awareness of how important health education is. Here are a few examples of ways to do your part to improve awareness: Campaign for health education – Speak with local, state, or federal officials about how important their votes are to promoting good health. Schedule a check-up – There’s no better way to observe the importance of health education than to safeguard your own health. Get a check-up with your doctor and find out how you can maintain a healthier life. You can share the information your doctor has given you about maintaining a healthy lifestyle with family and friends. Share health information online – Share articles (such as this one) about health education and information in general on social media to generate more awareness. SOPHE (Society of Public Health Education) has online resources you can share as well. Be sure to observe National Health Education Week in October. To stay up-to-date with the latest health news or to educate yourself about other health-related matters, continue to visit us at The Benefits Store. #healthawareness #NationalHealthEducationWeek

Although earthquakes don’t occur everywhere in the country, they do occur in California on occasion. It’s been a while since a severe earthquake hit, but it’s still important to remain prepared. The state encourages its residents to stay informed about earthquake safety and promotes awareness for earthquake safety every year through its Great California “Shake-Out,” which is October 15, 2020, at 10:15 a.m. What is the Great California Shake-Out? The Great California Shake-Out allows families throughout California to prepare for potential earthquakes. Essentially, everyone who registers practices the steps they should take should a real earthquake hit. The event always takes place on the third Thursday of October and millions of people from around the world participate. This year, more than 9 million California residents have registered online to take part. Earthquake Safety Tips You can practice earthquake safety steps with your family at any time as well as during the Great California Shake-Out: Drop – The first thing you should do when an earthquake hits is to drop to the ground. Because the ground is unstable and shaking, you could fall and injure yourself if you try to stay upright. Cover – Once on the ground, crawl toward cover. For instance, if you’re inside and near a table, crawl under the table. If there’s no cover nearby, scoot next to an interior wall away from a window. Bend over to protect your organs and cover your head. Hold On – Stay on the ground and covered for as long as the shaking continues. If you’re under an object such as a table, hold onto it with one hand and be prepared to move if it shifts. If you don’t have shelter above you and you’re next to a wall, hold your head and neck with your arms and hands. Earthquakes are rare but can be incredibly devastating. Practice these earthquake safety tips and participate in the upcoming Great California Shake-Out. For more safety tips, visit The Benefits Store today. #earthquake #earthquakesafety #earthquakesafetytips #GreatCaliforniaShakeOut

Superbugs have started to become a bigger problem over the years because bacteria are becoming resistant to certain antibiotics. A “superbug” is essentially an antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can cause numerous health issues due to an inability to treat it with standard antibiotics. The chief medical officer in England, Professor Dame Sally Davies, said superbugs could be a bigger risk to humanity than climate change. She estimated they could kill over 10 million people annually. A recent study revealed the massive amounts of antibiotics being dumped into the River Thames could result in such a superbug. Development and Spread of Superbugs The study was performed by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH). It revealed across 75% of the river’s catchment, antibiotics present in the water were at levels high enough to spark the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The presence of such a high level of antibiotics is due to effluent discharge. This occurs because 90 percent of the antibiotics people take passes through their bodies. These antibiotics then end up in the sewage system; half of that ends up in the river. It’s why rivers are a known reservoir for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Once antibiotics get into the water, it can result in mutation or bacterial reproduction, leading to the development of superbugs. Researchers believe to prevent the development of superbugs in the River Thames, the amount of effluent discharge occurring will need to be cut by 80%. This may seem like a tall task, but experts have recommended some solutions, including: Finding a way to improve wastewater treatment processes to remove antibiotics from the sewer systems Focusing more on preventative care so that fewer antibiotics are needed Reducing the number of unnecessary antibiotics being prescribed If action isn’t taken soon, the number of antibiotics entering the River Thames could result in the development of superbugs. For more information about superbugs or for more health-related news in general, visit The Benefits Store. #antibioticresistance #antibiotics #superbugs #superbugs