The IAA One Minute Blog

Although you may be too old for lollipops, children are not the only ones that need to go to the doctor's office to get vaccinated. College students need to receive vaccinations and get proof of immunizations already received, before heading off to school.

Recommended Vaccinations

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following vaccines for young adults, ages 19-24:

• Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine: Prevents meningococcal disease.
• Tdap Vaccine: Prevents against tetnus, diptheria, and pertussis (whooping cough).
• HPV Vaccine: Protects against the viruses that cause most cervical cancers.
• Seasonal Flu Vaccine

There may be other vaccines recommended for young adults because their health, job or lifestyle puts them at risk for certain diseases.

Why the Need for Vaccinations?

While parents and students may believe that once their child is headed to college the vaccinations stop, it is more important than ever to make sure that their student is vaccinated.

College students are at risk for certain diseases because of communal living spaces, less than sanitary conditions, and irregular sleep habits. Becoming vaccinated against diseases that can thrive in these conditions could help save your child's life. Teens that live in dorms are six times more likely to contract virulent diseases than teens in the general population.

Meningococcal meningitis is an example of such a disease. The disease is spread via bodily fluids: coughing, kissing or saliva. When living in tight quarters (such as a dorm) the disease can easily be passed from one person to another. 125 college students each year contract the disease and 5 to 15 die each year from it. According to the American College Health Association, up to 80% of these cases could have been avoided if they had received the currently recommended vaccine.

Before Heading Off to Campus

While some families might think that heading off to college just means buying supplies to decorate the dorm room, there is more to plan for. Most colleges send students a health form to fill out before starting school. This means heading to the pediatrician to talk about your student's immunization record.

Students and parents often overlook a crucial area of preparation when heading to college, ensuring physical and mental health while on campus. Byaddressing key issues before school begins, parents and students can avoid bumps on the road:

• Talk to your student about a proper nutritional diet while at school.
• Have your healthcare provider prepare a written summary of any acute or chronic conditions for college records.
• Parents and students should review details of the student's health plan.
• Remember to pack necessary prescription medication.
• Send your student off with basic medical supplies.

What IAA has to Say

Sending a child off to college is an exciting time for parents. It can also be a little scary too. Insurance Administrator of America wants to ease your worry by reminding you to send your student off with all of his vaccinations and immunizations. A strong and healthy kid can make for a strong and healthy student. Think of IAA as your back to school health checklist. School is back in session!

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With the end of summer drawing near, barbecues and picnics are great ways to spend these last few moments of summer. Just remember that warm weather events present opportunities for foodborne bacteria to thrive.

Pack and Transport Food Safely

As food heats up in summer temperatures, bacteria multiply rapidly. To protect yourself and others, proper food handling is critical. When transporting food to an outdoor event here are a few tips to remember:

• Keep cold foods cold: Place all cold food in a cooler with ice or frozen gel packs. The food must be stored at 40°F or below to prevent bacteria growth.
• Opening the cooler multiple times leaves perishable food exposed to warm, outdoor temperatures. Consider packing beverages in one cooler and perishable food in another.
• When transporting raw meat, poultry or seafood, double wrap or place the packages in plastic bags to prevent juices from the raw products dripping onto other food.
• Place food in the passenger seat. The trunk of a car can reach temperatures of 150°F.

One in six Americans will get sick from food poisoning. Make sure your outdoor event goes off without a hitch by transporting food with safety in mind.

How to be Safe When Grilling

Everybody loves to grill during the summer, but with grilling can come some health hazards. Here are some cooking tips:

• Marinades: Always marinade food in the fridge, never on the counter or outdoors. If you plan on using the marinade on cooked food, set a portion of the marinade aside before you use it on raw food.
• Partial Cooking: If you partially cook food to reduce grilling time, do so immediately before the food goes on the grill.
• Ready Foods: Food can be kept hot until served by moving it to the side of the grill rack, just away from the coals.
• Platters and Utensils: Re-using utensils and platters that held raw food allows bacteria from raw food juices to spread to the cooked food. Have a clean platter and utensils at grill-side to serve your food.
• Color: Color is not a reliable way to tell if food is done or not. Use a digital food thermometer to measure the food's temperature.
• Don't let your food go into the "Danger Zone," when food is between 40°F-140°F for more than two hours or one hour if the outdoor temperature is over 90°F.

Food Poisoning

Food poisoning sends more than 100,000 Americans to the hospital each year. The symptoms of food poisoning usually develop within 48 hours. Symptoms are similar to the flu:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Sometimes dehydration

Remember suspect everything. If you don't trust it, don't serve it.

What IAA has to Say

Insurance Administrator of America wants you to have a fun time these last few weeks of summer, so be safe when handling food outside. Just think of IAA as your safety conscience party planner. Have fun this Labor Day weekend!

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A study published in Pediatrics on Monday, August 13, 2012, found a strong association between healthier weight in children and tough state laws regulating competitive foods in schools. Adolescents in states with strict laws regulating the sale of snacks and sugary drinks in public schools gained less weight over a three-year period than those living in states with no such laws.

What the Study Found

The study tracked weight changes for 6,300 students in 40 states during 2004-2007 (the children's fifth through eighth grade years). The results were used to compare weight change over time in states with no laws regulating snacks and sugary drinks, states with strong laws, and states with weak laws. The types of laws were defined as follows:

• Strong Laws: Set out detailed nutrition standards.
• Weak Laws: Merely offer recommendations about foods for sale in schools, but offered no specific guidelines as to what qualified as healthy.

The study found the following:

• Students who lived in states with strong laws gained an average of 2.25 fewer pounds for a 5 foot, 100 pound child, than adolescents in states with no policies.
• Obese fifth graders were seen to reach a normal weight by the time they entered eighth grade, if they resided in states with strong junk food laws.
• In states with weak or no laws, nearly 37% of fifth graders were overweight and 21% were obese. There were no real changes to these numbers by the time the children entered eighth grade.

Competitive Food Laws

Competitive food laws regulate foods that can be sold outside a school's meal program. Competitive foods are those served in vending machines, snack bars, and other venues. These are known as "competitive foods" because they compete with school breakfasts and lunches.

Public health experts have urged local and state governments to remove competitive foods from schools. In recent years, states have started to pass laws that restrict competitive food sales, either banning them outright or setting limits on the amount of sugar, fat or calories they contain.

New School Standards

On January 25, 2012, the government released new nutrition standards for school meals for the first time in more than 15 years. New standards require schools to:

• Serve larger portions of fruits and vegetables daily.
• Offer a minimum of dark green vegetables, red/orange vegetables, starchy vegetables, and legumes each week.
• Make sure at least half of the grains are whole grains by July 1, 2012. All grains must be whole grain rich by July 1, 2014.
• Follow new calorie and sodium guidelines. Sodium limits are being phased in over ten years.
• Offer milk that is either 1% low-fat or fat-free. Flavored milk, such as chocolate, must be fat-free.

What Parents Can Do

If you're a parent and are concerned about what your child is eating at school, you can do something about it:

• Talk to school administration officials and tell them your concerns.
• If you're involved with fundraising for your child's school, suggest healthy alternatives to candy and similar items.
• If you have younger children (elementary school) do not send them with money for candy. Instead, pack a healthy alternative you can both agree on.

What IAA has to Say

Insurance Administrator of America wants you and your family to lead the healthiest lives you can. Think before you put food into your lunch bag or pick something out from the cafeteria line-up. Just think of IAA as your back to school helper, helping make sure you and your children have the healthiest lunches on the playground.

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You've seen the commercials; the ones advertising a vaccine that will protect you from the shingles virus. But what exactly are shingles and who can get the vaccine? Insurance Administrator of America is here to explain what shingles are and how becoming vaccinated may help.

What Are Shingles?

Almost one out of every three people will develop shingles. Shingles are caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chicken pox. After a person recovers from chicken pox, the virus stays in the body in a dormant state. For reasons that are not fully known, the virus can reactivate years later, causing shingles.

Shingles usually starts as a painful rash on one side of the body or face. In rare cases (usually among people with weakened immune symptoms) the rash may be more widespread and look similar to the chicken pox rash.

The rash forms blisters that typically scab over in 7-10 days and clear up within 2-4 weeks. Before the rash develops, there is often pain, itching or tingling in the area where the rash will develop. This may happen anywhere from 1-5 days before the rash appears.

How Can I Get Shingles?

Shingles cannot be passed from one person to another; however, the virus that causes shingles can be spread from a person with active shingles to a person who has never had chicken pox. The exposed person might develop chicken pox.

The shingles virus is spread through direct contact with fluid from the rash blisters. It is important to keep these facts in mind:

• A person is not infectious before the blisters appear.
• A person with shingles can spread the virus when the rash is in the blister-phase.
• Once the rash has developed a crust, the person is no longer contagious.

If you have shingles:

• Keep the rash covered.
• Do not touch or scratch the rash.
• Wash your hands often to prevent the spread of varicella zoster virus.

There are an estimated 1 million cases of shingles each year in America. If you have shingles do your part by preventing the spread of the virus.

What is the Shingles Vaccine?

The shingles vaccine (Zostavax) reduces the risk of shingles and its associated pain in people 60 years of age or older. Though the Center for Disease Control (CDC) does not recommend the vaccine for routine use in people 50-59 years old, the vaccine is approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for people 50 years of age and older. Almost half of all shingles cases occur among men and women 60 years of age or older. Don't get the shingles vaccine if:

• You have a life threatening allergic reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin or any other component of the shingles vaccine.
• A weakened immune system.
• Untreated, active tuberculosis.
• You are pregnant.

The shingles vaccine is not fail safe; some people may develop shingles despite having received the vaccine. The vaccine will still reduce the severity and duration of the shingles.

What IAA has to Say

Shingles are no fun, which is why IAA wants you to take this information and make a well informed decision about the shingles vaccine. IAA is here to give you information on health and wellness topics. Remember, with IAA one call does it all.

Do you know somebody that's suffered from shingles? How did they neutralize the outbreak? Tell us in the comment box below. Feel free to share this blog post with other people or post it around your office. Sharing this information could help your family, friends, and colleagues!

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Camping trips are a great way for families to have fun together and enjoy the outdoors. Although camping is meant for leisure and the enjoyment of nature's beauty, there are safety precautions every smart camper should take.

Before You Leave

Taking a few extra minutes to plan out your trip can decrease the chances of serious complications occurring:

• Know where you are going, the route you plan on taking, and when you plan on returning.
• Inform a responsible person of your arrival and departure time.
• Plan on arriving at the campsite a few hours before dusk. This will give you time to survey your surroundings.
• Check the weather frequently before leaving.
• Check all the camping equipment you plan on using to ensure it is in good condition.
• Pack warm clothing and rain gear in case of an unexpected storm.
• Pack plenty of food and water in case you are trapped by accident due to severe weather.
• Fresh batteries are useful, bring enough to last plus spares.

Planning ahead can never hurt, so keep these tips in mind before you leave!

Arriving at Your Campsite

When arriving at the campsite it is important to check for any potential hazards. Nature can hide things from humans, such as snake holes, bee hives, and upturned roots, just to name a few. Make sure to walk around and check out the area before you begin to unpack your equipment. Clear out as many rocks, leaves, and branches as possible in preparing your campsite.

Building Your Campfire

A highlight of any camping trip is building the fire. When building a campfire:

1. Know the rules: Campgrounds have their own rules on building fires.
2. Use designated fire pits.
3. Clear area of all debris: Build away from overhanging branches and make sure there are no extraneous twigs, leaves, paper products or other flammables within several feet of the campfire.
4. Use the right wood.
5. Don't overbuild.
6. Be ready to put it out.
7. Be safe.
8. Douse, dreg, and dig.

Fun Camping Activities

Camping is a great opportunity for physical activity, such as hiking or swimming. Just remember to never hike or swim alone. Some campgrounds even have planned activities that you and your family might enjoy.

Last Minute Tips

Camping trips are meant to be fun and enjoyable. Make sure that everyone goes home with smiles on their faces with these tips:

• Never use gas stoves, heaters, lanterns, and charcoal grills inside the enclosed shelter you are sleeping in, as this can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Avoid touching, feeding, and getting near wild animals.
• Keep food in sealed containers and out of reach of animals.
• Know who to contact at the campsite if issues arise.

When you return home after your fun camping experience, check yourself and your family for ticks, poison ivy, and other issues that might have occurred while camping.

What IAA has to Say

Camping is a great way for families to put down the remote and spend time together. What can be better than scaring the kids with your famous ghost stories or sleeping under the stars? Insurance Administrator of America wants you to experience what nature has to offer. Just keep IAA's helpful tips  in mind and you can have a fun and safe camping experience this summer!

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