• Our Motto Must Be "Prevent and Prepare"

• Benefits Corner

• Safety Tip!

• Wellness Lab & Flu Shot Program Calendar

• Wellness Staff Development Sessions

• Kickboxing

• Salsa Dancing Lessons

• Water Aerobics

• Employee Assistance Program

USDA Offers Food Safety Advice For Your Thanksgiving Meal

Let's Talk Turkey—A Consumer Guide to Safely Roasting a Turkey

Fresh or Frozen?

Fresh Turkeys
Allow 1 pound of turkey per person.
Buy your turkey only 1 to 2 days before you plan to cook it.
Keep it stored in the refrigerator until you're ready to cook it. Place it on a tray or in a pan to catch any juices that may leak.
Do not buy fresh pre-stuffed turkeys. If not handled properly, any harmful bacteria that may be in the stuffing can multiply very quickly.

Frozen Turkeys
Allow 1 pound of turkey per person.
Keep frozen until you're ready to thaw it.
Turkeys can be kept frozen in the freezer indefinitely; however, cook within 1 year for best quality.

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US Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the public health agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture responsible for ensuring that the nation's commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged.

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Home/index.asp

Kickboxing

Salsa Dancing Lessons

Water Aerobics

Wellness...a way of life!

Each year we hear about the flu and we are encouraged to obtain a flu shot because the flu kills approximately 36,000 Americans and sends more than 200,000 to the hospital. This kind of flu is called seasonal flu. Health experts are now warning us about an even more dangerous type of flu this year, a pandemic flu, which could kill over half a million Americans and have devastating economic and social repercussions.

Seasonal flu, although annoying, makes the individual very sick for about two or three weeks. People can return to work and normal life once they recover. Pandemic flu has devastating, long-lasting effects, because life may not return to normal for months following an outbreak. This flu is a serious threat to life. Families may be quarantined; businesses, schools and services may close down for long periods of time.

I will provide information regarding the differences between seasonal flu and pandemic flu in this Newsletter, but my primary focus in this issue is to give you a message of hope. Rather than panic, our motto must be “Prevent and Prepare”. We can prevent the spread of most infections simply through the use of good hygienic practices. Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands! Such a simple practice, it is the most effective way to keep your self and others healthy, to prevent the spread of germs. Use soap and water or hand sanitizer following any use of bathroom facilities (or changing baby diapers if you are a caregiver), and before every meal or before anything is touched which will be put into the mouth.

Prepare by beginning to collect non-perishable foods and supplies for your family. Keep on hand enough supplies to sustain your family should you be quarantined for about a month—soap and cleaning products, paper products, medicines, baby formula/food, diapers. Don’t forget your pets!

Although the threat of Pandemic flu is real, the US has not been placed on alert as yet. We must be careful, exercise good hygiene, and use common sense. Again, I emphasize, do not panic---prevent and prepare.

WHO Handbook for Journalists: Influenza Pandemic

Pandemic Flu Information

The potential threat for a pandemic or global epidemic of influenza is from a new or “novel” virus,one that has not previously infected humans. The novel virus influenza currently circulating in birds is Influenza A subtype H5N1 virus. This avian virus, most commonly found in chickens, first jumped from birds to humans in Hong Kong in 1997, infecting 18 people and causing 6 deaths. In late 2003, the virus began sweeping poultry flocks in East Asia and as of October 24, 2005, has infected 121 humans, and killed 62. The virus circulating in Asia has expanded its host range to include cats, tigers, and leopards, which generally have not been considered susceptible to influenza A. Migratory birds have been linked to the spreading of the virus between countries. In recent months, the disease has spread from chicken flocks in Vietnam and Thailand to flocks in China, Indonesia, Russia, Turkey, Romania and Croatia. Although, there has been no evidence that the virus is genetically mutating to allow human-to-human transmission, response plans are geared toward this potential event.

• Letter from U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings re: Pandemic Flu

• Texas Department of State Health Services (previously known as the Texas Dept. of Health) is coordinating state efforts regarding the possibility of a pandemic.

Pandemic Influenza - Frequently Asked Questions

Sharon B. Wilkes, RN, MA, CPS, CCS, Coordinator, Prevention Services

ANNUAL BENEFITS OPEN ENROLLMENT

Disability Plan

During the initial week of the enrollment period, the Disability plan representatives communicated that the plan options available to employees included a provision for first day hospital coverage for plan elimination periods of 14 or 30 days.  This provision is not part of the current District’s disability plan offerings.  This provision was communicated in error to staff and printed in error in the sales materials.  For all currently available plans, a minimum waiting period of 14 days, depending on the plan, applies before income benefits are due.   

Employees that enrolled during this period will be notified by letter from UNUM/Carruth & Associates advising of the error.  Employees will have an opportunity to cancel or change their election. 

The error does not impact current insured’s or campuses/departments that were scheduled for the benefit presentation during the second week of the enrollment (October 30-November 3).  These groups received the correct information and sales materials.     

Life/AD&D

The agreement with the current Life/AD&D provider, Hartford Life Insurance Company, will expire December 31, 2006.  It is expected that Hartford will raise the rates for all life insurance age bands resulting in a higher monthly premium for the same level of benefit effective January 1, 2007.  The companies that provide the voluntary insurance benefits must be evaluated on a regular basis.  To evaluate other Life/AD&D providers and their rates, the District has solicited proposals through a competitive bid process.  A selection on a provider to be effective January 1, 2007 will be finalized in the month of November. 

To reduce any disruption to the employees, proposals are requested on a guarantee take over basis which means employees already covered would not need to take any action to continue their coverage with a newly appointed provider.  If necessary, however, an enrollment opportunity will be coordinated for this benefit only once a provider is selected to allow employees to meet with agents about their Life/AD&D coverage options.  Look for additional information by email and/or interdepartmental mail in the latter part of November.  

Visit the MISD Employee Benefits Department web site for up-to-date benefit forms and information.

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

Through our insurance plan, each year we are given the opportunity to have blood tests, flu shots and mammograms or PSA (prostate) tests. These screenings are designed to give us a report on our health status and alert us to potential problems which might not be detected otherwise until symptoms begin (and it is too late for the condition to be treated).

School nurses at every campus will be making arrangements for their staff members to have the wellness screenings. The district schedule is listed in this publication. If you miss the blood drawing at your campus, you may participate at a nearby campus, but you must call that school’s nurse in advance for approval.

The cost is a one-time fee equivalent to your co-pay ($20 for the high plan or $30 for the low plan). One co-pay covers 24 blood tests, a flu shot, and a mammogram or a PSA test (for those 40 years of age or older). What a deal!!!

Staff members who do not have district insurance and family members (over the age of 18 years) may participate in the screenings; however, they must pay regular price for the tests.

School nurses have additional information.

Be good to yourself.  Make plans to participate in the health screenings offered.

Lunch and Learn Sessions

All sessions will take place in the Board Room of the McAllen ISD Administration Office from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm.