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**LET'S TALK**

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| ##### SUMMER 2006 HEALTHY BODIES ● SOUND MINDS ● A SAFE PLACE TO WORK |
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Summer Is Fun--- But Drink Up!

When planning activities outdoors this summer, make sure you drink
plenty of water

because it's very easy to get dehydrated. The human body is capable of
storing only a limited amount of water, and through breathing, sweating
and eliminating we lose fluids. Environmental conditions like humidity
and heat trigger perspiration (to cool the body), which uses up even
more fluids. Add to that any exercise, even walking, and you deplete

still more fluids.

In hot or humid temperatures, you can lose from 2 to 3 quarts of water
an hour. This is dangerous because when fluids in the body are depleted,
you can become overheated. Lack of sufficient fluids strains the
cardiovascular system, increases blood pressure, decreases performance
and increases the likelihood of heat-related injury.

Unfortunately, feeling thirsty isn\'t a reliable indicator that it\'s
time to drink. By the time you

feel thirsty, you're probably already dehydrated.

If you're planning some outdoor fun, here are some important tips to
follow:

■According to the American College of Sports Medicine, you should drink
about

16 ounces of water two hours before beginning strenuous activities.

■During your activity, drink approximately every 15 minutes to replace
fluids lost

through sweating.

■Always remember to drink before you become thirsty.

■Watch for symptoms of heat stress, which include nausea, headache,
dizziness and a stoppage of perspiration. If at any time you think you
are experiencing heat stress, stop your activity immediately and find a
shady spot where you can rest. Then, drink enough water to lower your
body temperature.

Put the Brakes on Road Rage

IF YOU SPEND MUCH TIME IN YOUR CAR THIS SUMMER, you'll probably feel
your temper slipping as other drivers steal your lane, blast their horns
or flash their lights. You'll probably control your anger--- but not
everyone will. Every year, senseless traffic disputes end in death

or serious injury for at least 1,500 men, women and children, according
to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

There's more congestion, and there seems to be a growing impatience with
people under a lot of stress, and people act it out in their cars.

Those who lose their tempers on the road are usually men, usually young
and usually insecure. Typically they have short fuses. Still, hundreds
of average men and women have also snapped on the highways.

Even if you can control your stress on the road, you should realize that
some drivers can't.

And if you become the target of another motorist? Drop back. The worst
thing you can do is challenge them.

+------------------------+---------------------+-----------------------+
| Highway, Safe Way      |                     |                       |
|                        |                     |                       |
| To avoid danger on the |                     |                       |
| road, the National     |                     |                       |
| Safety Council and the |                     |                       |
| AAA Foundation for     |                     |                       |
| Traffic Safety suggest |                     |                       |
| you:                   |                     |                       |
+------------------------+---------------------+-----------------------+
| **Know and avoid       | **Watch for signs   | **Don't get pulled    |
| triggers**             | of an**             | into the**            |
|                        |                     |                       |
| **that can set off     | **aggressive        | **"game" with         |
| aggressive**           | driver:**           | aggressive**          |
|                        |                     |                       |
| **drivers:**           | ■ Tailgating        | **drivers:**          |
|                        |                     |                       |
| ■ Use your turn        | ■ Flashing          | ■ Create space        |
| signals.               | headlights          | between               |
|                        |                     |                       |
| ■ Don't cut off        | ■ Obscene gestures  | your car and theirs.  |
| drivers.               |                     |                       |
|                        | ■ Deliberately      | ■Avoid eye contact.   |
| ■ Don't drive too      | obstructing         |                       |
| slowly                 |                     | ■ Stay calm.          |
|                        | other cars          |                       |
| in the left lane.      |                     |                       |
|                        | ■Verbal abuse       |                       |
| ■ Don't tailgate.      |                     |                       |
|                        |                     |                       |
| ■ Avoid needless horn  |                     |                       |
| use.                   |                     |                       |
|                        |                     |                       |
| ■ Don't blare your     |                     |                       |
| radio.                 |                     |                       |
|                        |                     |                       |
| ■ Follow all rules of  |                     |                       |
| the road.              |                     |                       |
+------------------------+---------------------+-----------------------+

For more information: AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety,
***www.aaafoundation.org***; National Safety Council, ***www.nsc.org***

Be Safe in the Sun

IF YOU ENJOY BEING OUTDOORS IN THE SUMMER, you're probably looking
forward to the sunny days stretching ahead. But, don't let your guard
down. Getting sunburn can do more than spoil your fun --- over time; too
much sun can lead to skin cancer and other

health problems.

Sun damage accumulates over the years. So, today's sunburn can mean
tomorrow's skin cancer --- the most common type of cancer in the United
States.

**Protect Yourself From the Rays**

The good news is that there's a lot you can do to prevent sunburn and
skin cancer:

■ AVOID THE SUN WHEN UV RAYS ARE STRONGEST ---between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

■ COVER UP. Wear lightweight clothing and a broad-brimmed hat.

■ PROTECT YOUR EYES. Wear sunglasses that block the most common UV rays
--- UVA and UVB.

In addition, use sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays with a
sun

protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.

***Summer 2006*** 2

Follow these tips:

■ Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before being exposed to sunlight. Use it
even on cloudy days.

■ Reapply sunscreen every two hours. Do this more often if you've been
swimming or sweating.

■Don't put sunscreen on children ages 6 months and younger. Instead,
keep them in the shade and dress them in protective clothing. Children
older than 6 months need to wear sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more.

**Self-Care Tips**

There's no quick cure for sunburn, but there are some ways to help
relieve the discomfort:

■APPLY COLD COMPRESSES for 15 minutes once an hour.

■SOAK IN A COOL BATH. Add a half-cup of cornstarch, oatmeal (in a nylon
stocking to "dip" into the water) or baking soda.

■TRY A PAIN RELIEVER. Aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen
sodium can ease the pain of sunburn, if your doctor says it's OK. Don't
give aspirin to anyone younger than age 19 years. It's linked to Reye's
syndrome, a rare but sometimes fatal condition.

VITALITY-ON-DEMAND

**A world of additional health information available via your
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You may think of this publication as just a newsletter. But would you
believe it's also an access index to one of the largest databases of
family health and personal self-care data

around? With our free Vitality-on- Demand (VOD) service, you can get all
of the information you need any time you want it!

**Visit www.vitality.com for more articles and to search for topics you
would like to learn more about.**

**It's simple. And it's free.**

**Via the Internet:** Visit our home page at *www.vitality.com* and
press the Vitality-on-Demand button to search by keyword. Or click on
Special Reports to access the articles listed below.

SPECIAL REPORT

**119** Identity Theft

**120** How to Quit Smoking

**541** Sensible Weight Loss

**542** Lowering Your Cholesterol

**543** Reducing Your Stress

**544** Walking for Fitness

**545** Workstation Comfort

**546** Fixing an Aching Back

**547** Start An Exercise Program

**548** Controlling Allergies

**549** Lowering Health-Care Costs

**550** Living With Arthritis

**551** Dealing With Headaches

**552** High Blood Pressure

***Summer 2006*** 3

Safe Harbor: Floods and High Water

MANY COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES experience some kind of flooding

from heavy rain, hurricanes or winter snow thaws.

No one can stop a flood. But if you're faced with one, you can take
actions to protect your family and keep your property losses to a
minimum.

**Before a Flood**

Floods or high water can be slow or fast rising. In either case, you
should do the following:

■ Develop an emergency communication plan in case family members are
separated from one another during a flood; have a plan for getting back
together.

■ Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the "family
contact." After a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance.
Make sure everyone in the family knows the name, address and phone
number of the contact person.

■ Teach children how and when to call 911, the police and fire
departments, and which radio station to tune to for emergency
information.

**When It Arrives**

If the water is rising, take these steps:

■ Fill bathtubs, sinks and plastic soda bottles with clean water.
Sanitize the sinks and tubs first by using bleach. Rinse, then fill with
clean water.

■ Turn off all utilities at the main power switch and close the main gas
valve if evacuation appears necessary.

■ Be prepared to evacuate. Take your pets and pet food with you.

■ Don't drive through a flooded area. If you come upon a flooded road,
turn around and go another way. More people drown in their cars than
anywhere else.

■ Abandon your car if it stalls and climb to higher ground. Many deaths
have resulted from attempts to move stalled vehicles.

■ Don't walk through flooded areas. As little as 6 inches of moving
water can knock you off your feet.

■ Stay away from downed power lines and electrical wires. Electrocution
is another major source of deaths in floods. Electric current passes
easily through water.

■ Retreat to the second floor, then the attic and, if necessary, the
roof if the water starts to rise inside your house before you evacuate.
Take a cell phone, dry clothing, a flashlight and a portable radio with
you, then wait for help.

■ Help your neighbors who may require special assistance --- elderly
people and people with disabilities.

**After the Flood**

Flood dangers don't end when the water begins to recede.

Take these precautions:

■ Keep power off until an electrician has inspected your system for
safety.

■ Boil water for drinking and food preparation for five minutes before
using it until local authorities announce your water supply is safe.

Don't underestimate the damage and danger a flood can cause; keep your
family safe.

For More Information:

Federal Emergency Management Agency,***www.fema.gov/hazards/floods***

***Summer 2006*** 4

Help Prevent Children's Health and Safety Risks

EACH YEAR, MORE THAN 14 MILLION CHILDREN in the United States ages 14
and younger suffer injuries that require medical attention. Yet, health
experts estimate as many as 90 percent of these injuries can be
prevented.

The following recommendations can help protect your children.

**Car Safety**

The National Transportation Safety Board reports that highway deaths are
the number one killer of children in the United States.

Depending on their weight and age, children should ride in one of the
following:

■ **INFANT SEATS** are designed for babies from birth to at least 20
pounds and

one year old. They must ride rear facing in the back seat.

■ **CONVERTIBLE SAFETY SEATS** convert from rear-facing for infants to
forward facing

for toddlers between 20 and 40 pounds and up to four years old.

■ **BOOSTER SEATS** are for older kids who are not quite ready for a
vehicle belt system.

■ **SAFETY BELTS** can be used when children are old enough and large
enough. The lap portion should fit snugly across the upper thighs, and
the shoulder strap should cross over the shoulder and across the chest.

**Bike Safety**

Don't let children go biking without helmets. Head injuries from falls
off bicycles are the leading cause of death in bicycle-related crashes,
and more than 85 percent of head injuries can be prevented by wearing a
helmet.

**Poison Prevention**

To prevent poisoning:

■ Never leave children alone with household products or medications.

■ Call the Poison Control Center immediately at **800-222-1222** if you
believe your child has swallowed a poisonous substance.

Being informed and vigilant are the best things you can do to keep your
children

safe and healthy.

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| # ![](media/image1.png){width="1.0in" height="0.7083333333333334in"}  |
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| **The Federal Consortium EAP provides assessment, counseling,         |
| referral, training and consultation to federal employees and agencies |
| throughout the United States.**                                       |
|                                                                       |
| *Information published in Let's Talk is the opinion of the sourced    |
| authors. Personal decisions regarding health, finance, exercise and   |
| other matters should be made after consultation with the reader's     |
| professional advisers. All models are used for illustrative purposes  |
| only.*                                                                |
|                                                                       |
| ### *Copyright ©                                                      |
|  2006 StayWell Custom Communications. All editorial rights reserved.* |
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***Summer 2006*** 5