Balanced Living

July 2007

Take Care of Your Eyes

July is Eye Injury Prevention Month

Eye injuries can be painful and heartbreaking. Taking a moment to learn about common threats to your eyesight and that of your family could prevent a painful injury or a serious loss of eyesight.

"Many eye injuries are the result of seemingly mundane things people have contact with every day -- things like sunlight, sand and other particles, and chemicals such as cleaning solvents -- and their activities," says George A. Moninger, M.D., a board certified ophthalmologist in Farmer's Branch, Texas.

Beware the sun
These days, people spend more time outdoors and enjoy a more active lifestyle than past generations. The American Association of Ophthalmology believes it's important to recognize that sunlight is a substantial source of UV radiation that may damage eye tissue.

UV exposure leads to cataracts, macular damage (area of the eye where most of the ligh collecting cells are found), pterygium formation (growth on the cornea), and skin cancers on the eyelids. Risk is highest in environments where a large quantity of UV radiation is reflected, such as in snow or water. Heat lamps and welding arcs are also sources of this type of eye damage.

“The good news about UV exposure is that it's reasonably easy to protect your eyes from it," says Dr. Moninger. "Simply wearing a hat will reduce your UV exposure by half. And a proper pair of sunglasses can eliminate virtually all of the UV as long as the glasses protect against 100 percent of UV light."

A darker pair of sunglasses isn't necessarily better. The degree of darkness of the sunglasses does not
indicate how much UV light they absorb.

The best sunglasses block 99 percent of UV light and wrap around the sides.

Take care
Eye injuries are the most common preventable cause of blindness. A few of the most common causes of these injuries and how to minimize risks are discussed below.

• Fireworks. Make sure an adult supervises any firework use by children. Avoid any fireworks that fly, such as bottle rocks and roman candles.
• On the job. If your job puts you in the path of flying particles ( for example, grinding machines) or near dangerous substances (for example, in a chemical factory), wear appropriate protective eye gear.
• Home improvement devices. If you use a grinder or woodworking machines that can spit out debris or particles, always wear eye protection.
• Particles and other foreign bodies. Don't touch, press or rub the eye to remove a particle -- doing so may cause scratching and damage the eye more seriously. Instead, flush the eye with water for up to 15 minutes and see your doctor.
• Household chemicals. The containers of most household products with potentially harmful contents list an emergency telephone number. In most cases of exposure, the affected eye should be flushed for 15 to 30 minutes and medical help should be sought immediately. "Your local poison control center can also give you instructions. Be prepared to give the exact name of the chemical, if possible," Dr. Moninger says.
• Black eyes. Applying cold compresses intermittently at about 10-minute intervals for the first 24 to 48 hours after the injury can sometimes help reduce discoloration. Call your doctor immediately if you experience symptoms such as increased redness, eye drainage, persistent pain, and distorted vision.

Sport injuries
What sport causes the most eye injuries in the United States? Baseball, with basketball a close second. Baseball is responsible for more than a third of sports-related eye injuries. Fortunately, protective eye gear is now required by many sports organizations.

Worldwide, racquet sports are the number one cause of serious sports-related eye injuries.

To protect your eyes when playing sports, make sure to wear proper eye protection.

"Protective goggles or unbreakable glasses can be very effective in preventing many types of eye injury," says Dr. Moninger.

For more information:
http://fhahelps.personaladvantage.com/content?sub=10000192
http://www.aao.org

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Essential Guidelines
for Fireworks Safety

Thousands of Americans, many of them children, are injured each year in incidents associated with fireworks, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Most of these injuries occur during the Fourth of July holiday and include serious burns, loss of fingers, and blindness. Though the most disabling injuries occur with illegal firecrackers, such as M-80s, the majority of injuries are caused by bottle rockets, sparklers, and Roman candles.

Staying safe
If you plan to celebrate the holiday with your own fireworks, these precautions can help prevent injuries:

• Don't let children play with the fireworks.
• Never place any part of your body over a fireworks device.
• Make sure anyone who handles fireworks wears safety goggles to protect from flying sparks or debris.
• Don't use bottle rockets. Their flight paths are often erratic, and rocket launchers sometimes explode, sending pieces of glass or metal flying.
• Don't consume alcohol when using fireworks.
• Read the cautionary labelsand follow all directions.
• Don't try to re-light fireworks that have not worked properly.
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of malfunction or fire.
• Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.
• Only ignite fireworks outdoors.
• Light only one at a time.
• Buy from reliable fireworks sellers.
• Never give fireworks to small children.
• Never carry fireworks in your pocket.

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Your Liability If You
Lose Your ATM, Debit,
or Credit Card

If you lose your ATM, debit, or credit card, don't panic. Federal laws and bank policies limit your liability for unauthorized charges, as long as you quickly notify the bank or card issuer of the loss or theft. Read below to learn about your notification duties and maximum liability for each type of card.

Credit Cards
If your credit card is lost or stolen and you act quickly, you won't be out much money. If you notify the card issuer within a reasonable time after you discover the loss or theft, usually 30 days, you're not responsible for any charges made after the notification. For charges made before the notification, you'll be liable for only $50 (many credit card issuers waive even this small charge).

ATM and Debit Cards
With ATM or debit cards you must act quickly in order to avoid full liability for unauthorized charges when your card is lost or stolen. Under the federal Electronic Fund Transfer Act, your liability is:

• $0 -- if you report the loss or theft of the card immediately and the card has not been used
• up to $50 -- if you notify the bank within two business days after you realize the card is missing
• up to $500 -- if you fail to notify the bank within two business days after you realize the card is missing, but do notify the bank within 60 days after your bank statement is mailed to you listing the unauthorized withdrawals, and
• unlimited -- if you fail to notify the bank within 60 days after your bank statement is mailed to you listing the unauthorized withdrawals.

If the bank claims that you are liable for amounts over $50, it must show that the additional loss would not have occurred if you had given timely notice of the card's loss or theft. The law considers written notice to have been given when you deposit it in the mail or deliver it personally to the bank. The timelines for giving notice are generally extended if your delay in giving notice was caused by extenuating circumstances such as extended travel or hospitalization.

For more information:
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Storm Preparedness:
Emergency Supplies You Will Need

The 2007 Hurricane Season is already underway. Is your home prepared for the threat of severe weather? To ensure that you and your loved ones have everything you need, we recommend you take a moment and consider what you should stock in your home. At a minimum, your supplies should include:

• Several clean containers for water, large enough for a 3-5 day supply of water (about five gallons for each person).
• A 3-5 day supply of non-perishable food.
• A first aid kit and manual.
• A battery-powered radio, flashlights, and extra batteries.
• Sleeping bags or extra blankets.
• Water-purifying supplies, such as chlorine or iodine tablets or unscented, ordinary household - chlorine bleach.
• Prescription medicines and special medical needs.
• Baby food and/or prepared formula, diapers, and other baby supplies.
• Disposable cleaning cloths, such as "baby wipes" for the whole family to use in case bathing facilities are not available.
• Personal hygiene supplies, such as soap, toothpaste, sanitary napkins, etc.
• An emergency kit for your car with food, flares, booster cables, maps, tools, a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, sleeping bags, etc.

To learn more about stocking up on supplies, putting together a hurricane preparedness kit, and building a personalized preparedness plan, we recommend visiting: www.onestorm.org.

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Understanding
Postpartum Depression

You’ve jus t had a baby. You know you should be excited and happy, but instead you find yourself crying for no reason. You feel sad, tired, and hopeless most of the time. You may even feel ashamed or guilty, but what you’re going through is not your fault. Talk to your doctor. He or she can help.

What Is Depression?
Depression is a mood disorder that affects the way you think and feel. The most common symptom is a feeling of deep sadness. You may also feel as if you just can’t cope with life. Other symptoms include:

• Gaining or losing a lot of weight
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Feeling tired all the time
• Feeling restless
• Feeling worthless or guilty
• Having trouble thinking clearly or making decisions
• Thinking about death or suicide

Depression After Childbirth
You may be weepy and tired right after giving birth. These feelings are normal. They’re sometimes called the “ba by blues." These blues go away after 2 or 3 weeks. Postpartum (meaning “afte r birth") depression lasts much longer and is more severe. It can make you feel sad and hopeless. You may also fear that your baby will be harmed. And you may worry about being a bad mother.

What Causes Postpartum Depression?
The exact cause of postpartum depression isn’t known. It may be due to changes in your hormones during and after childbirth. You may also be tired from caring for your baby and adjusting to being a mother. All these factors may make you feel depressed. In some cases, your genes may also play a role.

Depression Can Be Treated
The good news is that there are many ways to treat postpartum depression. Talking to your doctor is the first step toward feeling better.

For more information:
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