• Children's Allergies

• Benefits Corner

• Fitness Center Discounts
  for MISD Staff

• Kids Asthma Check

• National Volunteer Blood Donor Month

• Water Aerobics

Sometimes asthma stops kids from having fun. It also can make it hard to do well in school, or even difficult to sleep without waking up and coughing. If you've been told your child has asthma, or if they have trouble breathing when they run or play hard, take the simple Asthma Check from the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI). (http://www.acaai.org/public/lifeQuality/kac2.htm)  Just answer yes or no to the questions.

After you score the test, see how you can make sure that asthma doesn't take your child's fun away.

Take these steps:

• Take the Asthma Check test and score your answers.

• Then go back and print your answers to the Asthma Check.

• Consider contacting your doctor to discuss your child's breathing problems.

• If you have an allergist, ask to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Bring the Asthma Check and discuss it with your doctor.

• If your child already has asthma, continue your asthma treatment until you've seen your doctor.

Copyright © American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

January 2005 is National Volunteer Blood Donor Month.  Blood is traditionally in short supply during the winter months due to the holidays, travel schedules, inclement weather and illness. January, in particular, is a difficult month for blood centers to collect blood donations. A reduction in turnout can put our nation's blood inventory at a critical low.

AABB, in conjunction with America's Blood Centers and American Red Cross, is celebrating National Volunteer Blood Donor Month (NVBDM) 2005 to encourage donors to give or pledge to give blood. The theme for this year's campaign is, once again, "Give Blood…The Gift of Life," which highlights the importance of giving the gift of life through the donation of blood.

Every day in our country, approximately 38,000 units of blood are required in hospitals and emergency treatment facilities for patients with cancer and other diseases, for organ transplant recipients, and to help save the lives of accident victims. Our goal is to help ensure that blood is available to patients whenever and wherever it is needed because it is the blood on the shelves that helps saves lives.

If you are at least 17 years of age (some states permit younger people to donate with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and meet other donor requirements, you may be eligible to donate blood. Celebrate NVBDM with AABB by "Giving the Gift of Life" and encouraging others to donate as well.

Copyright © 2005 AABB

Water Aerobics

Wellness...a way of life!

An estimated 40-45 million Americans (15-20% of the population) have some type of allergy and, in most people, these allergies first appear during infancy or childhood. It is not surprising, then, that allergic disorders rank first among children's chronic diseases.

Any child may become allergic, but children from families with a history of allergy are more likely to be allergic. Children may inherit the tendency to become allergic from their parents, but only some of them will develop active allergic disease. Allergies can show up in different ways in children. Some children get skin rashes (atopic dermatitis) from allergy, some develop asthma, and some get allergic rhinitis, or hay fever.

Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, is the most common of all allergy problems. It is characterized by a runny, itchy nose, sneezing, postnasal drip and nasal congestion. The child with allergies may also have itchy, watery and red eyes and chronic ear problems. Despite its common name, "hay fever" these allergy problems can occur at any time of the year: seasonally or year-round.

The following are just a few points on potential problems for children with allergic rhinitis. Early identification of allergic problems in your child will improve their quality of life, decrease missed school days and keep you at work.

Allergies at school
Fall means going back to school. For allergic children, that may mean absences due to problems related to hay fever. The following are some of the problems to look for so that allergy can be properly diagnosed and treated, as well as several suggestions for helping the allergic child.

• Dust irritation: Reducing dust in the home will be helpful to most allergic family members. At school, children with allergic problems should sit away from the blackboards to avoid irritation from chalk dust.

• School pets: Furry animals in school may cause problems for allergic children. If your child has more problems while at school, it could be the class pet.

• Asthma and physical education: Physical education and sports are a big part of the school day for many children. Having asthma does not mean eliminating these activities. Often medication administered by using an inhaler is prescribed before exercise to control their symptoms. Children with asthma and other allergic diseases should be able to participate in any sport the child chooses - provided the doctor's advice is followed.

• Dry air: With the onset of cold weather, using a humidifier to accompany forced air heating systems may be helpful in some regions of the country. Adding small amount of moisture to dry air makes breathing easier for most people. However, care should be taken not to allow the humidity above 40%, which promotes the growth of dust mites and mold.

• Change in behavior: Since children cannot always express their annoying or painful symptoms, they may exhibit behavior problems in school and at home. Be on the alert for possible allergies if your child has bouts of irritability, temper tantrums or decreased ability to concentrate in school. These are all signs of "allergic irritability syndrome" often caused by nose, ear and sinus symptoms in allergic children. Sometimes allergic children manifest overactive behavior and usually, their schoolwork suffers. This should NOT imply that attention deficit disorder is caused by allergies! When a child's allergies are properly treated, his symptoms, behavior and school performance can improve.

Just remember

• Allergies are common in children

• Many childhood problems are made worse by allergies

• And, while most allergic problems are not life-threatening, like cancer, treatment of your child's allergies will make them happier and healthier.

Copyright © American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

HEALTH/DENTAL PLAN

A Mutual of Omaha claims examiner will be available at the Human Resources Building on January 21, 2005 from 1:00 PM. to 7:00 PM to assist with health/dental plan claims questions.  Please bring all documentation or correspondence on any claims to be reviewed.

Please be aware that certain information must be on file with Mutual of Omaha to properly and expeditiously process health/dental plan claims.  If you receive a written request from Mutual of Omaha, please respond timely to prevent any undue delays in the processing of a claim.  

EX. Other Insurance Inquiry.  This is an annual request for information on other insurance coverage, if any, requested from employees with spouse or dependent coverage triggered by the first health or dental claim.  It’s important to respond timely to this request.  Claims are not processed/paid until the necessary information is received. 

If you have questions about any written request for information from Mutual of Omaha, contact their Customer Service at 1-888-225-0046 or the Employee Benefits Office at 618-6007.  In many cases, such as the Other Insurance Inquiry, the necessary information can either be mailed, submitted online or provided over the phone to Customer Service.

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

The District has workers’ compensation coverage to protect you in the event of a work related injury or illness. 

If an employee suffers a compensable injury or illness, the district, through a self-funded program administered by TASB, will pay for the medical treatment if the injury occurred at work or the disease or illness is job-related.  It will also replace some of the worker’ lost wages if the injury or illness caused the worker to lose some or all income for more than seven days. 

Employee should notify the campus principal or direct supervisor of the job related injury or illness within 24 hours to initiate the claims process.  All campus/departments also have a primary point of contact (Safety Contact) familiar with the reporting and other procedures related to a work related injury that will need to be notified timely.  If an employee does not report the injury or illness within 30 days of the date on which the injury occurs or the date the employee knew or should have known of an illness, the employee could lose their rights to benefits.

The Mutual of Omaha benefit card should not be presented to the physician for treatment of a work related injury.  An authorization form for medical treatment obtained from the Employee Benefits office prior to treatment contains the necessary information required by the physician to verify workers’ compensation benefits.

Mr. Andres Silva is the Director of Employee Benefits/Risk Management

Statistics prove regular exercise can help reduce, stress, depression, insomnia, high blood pressure and heart disease. It can also improve circulation, weight management, muscle tone, self - esteem, and osteoporosis, so what are we waiting for, lets get started.

There are two fitness centers that give group discounts for MISD employees.

Have a great workout!