Pak Doktor a.k.a. Mr Doctor!

Kimberly-Clark Professional has created a new awards program designed to recognize and reward companies that have made a comprehensive corporate commitment to better hand and surface hygiene in the workplace as well as to the education of its employees in the importance of “wash, wipe and sanitize” office hygiene.

The Healthy Workplace Project Award, an additional initiative of Kimberly-Clark’s “The Healthy Workplace Project,” will be awarded to companies that have demonstrated a sustained, significant effort toward breaking the cycle of germ transmission in the workplace. The Award recognizes and celebrates the implementation of best practices around office hygiene initiatives as well as employee engagement and education.

The Healthy Workplace Project Award will be an annual program, and any office environment is eligible to participate. The program is self-nominating, and applicants are asked to complete a questionnaire that will serve as their award submission. Participants need to describe the hand and surface hygiene initiatives their company has implemented, as well as any educational programs that have been introduced to reinforce these initiatives. The application also requires a description of how the success of these initiatives is measured.

Applications for the awards will be accepted through April 30, 2012. More information, along with the application, can be found at this link.

The program submitted for consideration will be judged by independent, third-party experts in the fields of workplace health, office hygiene, and germ transmission. (The judges will be announced this summer.)

Winners, to include a Gold, Silver and Bronze winning company, will be announced in June 2012. In addition to other health and wellness awards the grand prize winner will receive $15,000 worth of hand and surface hygiene products from Kimberly-Clark Professional. The second place winner will also receive an office-based health and wellness award and will receive $10,000 of products, and the third place winner will receive $5,000 of products.

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Many of us sit a lot at work, in the car and at home on the couch.  That’s probably true for a lot of regular exercisers, including me. I used to think that exercising for an hour or more a day would negate all that sitting.

Now, a growing body of evidence says that’s not true.

That’s disheartening. But it’s also a wake-up call for everyone with an office job, even avid exercisers.

Here is some of the evidence:

The most recent comes from the American Cancer Society. Researchers there studied 123,216 people’s health outcomes over 14 years. It found that women who sit more than six hours a day were about 40 percent more likely to die during the course of the study than those who sat fewer than three hours per day.

 Men, however, were only about 20 percent more likely to die, according to a report on CNN.com.

 A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology earlier this year found that those who work a sedentary job have almost twice the risk of a certain type of colon cancer.

We’ve all been told for decades how much exercise we should get daily or weekly, with most recommendations now saying at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week or an average of 30 minutes for five days. If it’s vigorous, it can be less.

 Now, the latest research says that even people who do significant and regular exercise still increase risks of serious illness from hours of physical inactivity. In other words, you can’t just exercise for one hour and sit for eight or more without incurring some health risks.

 The American College of Sports Medicine, based in Indianapolis, just came out with new recommendations on the quantity and quality of exercise for adults. I’ll save all the details for another posting, but the bottom line is everyone needs a balanced program of cardiovascular, resistance (strength) exercise, flexibility and neuromotor or functional fitness training (balance, agility, coordination).

 But the ACSM further notes — and this is new — that “sedentary behavior (sitting for long periods of time) is distinct from physical activity and has been shown to be a health risk in itself. Meeting the guidelines for physical activity does not make up for a sedentary lifestyle.�

 Carol Garber, an associate professor of movement sciences at the Teachers College of Columbia University, is the lead author of the new guidelines. In a release from the ACSM, she says, “It is no longer enough to consider whether an individual engages in adequate amounts of weekly exercise. We also need to determine how much time a person spends in sedentary pursuits, like watching television or working on a computer.�

 So, we need to figure out ways we all can work in movement during the day, in addition to exercising. I get quite a bit of exercise, but I sit a lot, too, and have a long commute. This will be a challenge for me.

Here are a few things I plan on doing, in addition to exercising daily: Walk in the office while I’m reading reports or research. Stand up sometimes while I’m on the phone. Do more exercises at my desk, such as pumping legs up and down. Move for at least 15 minutes during lunch, even if I have to walk while I eat. Take a quick walk after work on some days.

This isn’t an insurmountable problem, just one we have to work at and think about more often.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WISH) – A new plan for controlling the use of alcohol on campus is in the works at Purdue University.

It’s being called a “good Samaritan policy.” The university says it’s meant to make sure students who have consumed too much alcohol don’t avoid seeking medical assistance because they’re afraid of getting into trouble for violating campus rules.

Barbara Kolb, who has four children in college including three at Purdue, told 24-Hour News 8’s news partner WLFI that type of situation – a student risking alcohol poisoning out of fear of discipline – is a parent’s worst nightmare.

“I’m thankful for this policy,” she said, “so I know there is more help besides what I will teach them.”

Brad Krites, former president of Purdue Student Government, was a driving force behind the policy. He hopes it makes one thing indisputable: “If students are in that situation, they know the university would rather have them make the call than have them worry about any disciplinary follow-up,” he said

The University Senate has been reviewing the policy, which will remain interim until after the Senate’s recommendations are forwarded this fall.

“Then, based on our experience under the interim policy and the recommendations of the Senate, we will make a final determination,” said Purdue President France A. Córdova.

Student organizations involved in violations would not be exempt from discipline, but the new policy says if an organization seeks medical help for a member or guest, that will be viewed as a “mitigating factor” when discipline is discussed.

Campus police applauded the push to make health and safety a priority, but said student wouldn’t be exempted from any legal ramifications.

“Police cannot and will not ignore violations of state law,” John Cox, Purdue chief of police, said. “Our hope is that students – intoxicated or not – will now put a higher priority on calling for medical assistance. One of the primary focuses of Purdue police officers and Purdue Fire Department emergency medical technicians is to help our students.”

Several dozen universities already have similar policies in place, Purdue said. 24-Hour News 8 learned Indiana University is discussing a similar program.

Tuesday, Bloomington’s student body president told us that without some protection, students may be afraid to call for help, for fear of punishment.

“Across the country, we’re entering into a new semester, and there’s the possibility – and almost a certainty – that someone somewhere across the country will die this semester because of a lack of medical amnesty policies, because people are scared to call an ambulance,” said Justin Kingsolver, student body president at IU’s Bloomington campus. “And no one should ever be scared.”

Kingsolver said a medical amnesty policy would not be a “get out of jail free” card. After the first violation, he said he hopes alcohol education would prevent a repeat of dangerous drinking habits.

Purdue’s Krites said their research supports that.

“Our research showed that at a comparable university, the adoption of such a policy increased the number of student calls for medical attention while at the same time not increasing student drinking,” he said.

The goal is a widespread attitude shift, he said.

“This policy aims to change the culture around alcohol consumption at Purdue, but education is also essential.”

orphanjones, Flickr

With the end of the month fast approaching, many people are looking forward to an upcoming payday. But researchers have found getting paid may actually be hazardous to your health.

A study from Notre Dame says people are more likely to die during the week after being paid, citing a temporary but significant spike in traffic fatalities, heart attacks and increased substance abuse during that time period.

While the study only looked at people who were being paid by the government, such as military personnel and social security recipients, much of the reasoning seems as though it would still apply to the population as a whole.

“There is increased economic activity after payday,” says Notre Dame economist William Evans. “Some of the activity, like driving and trips to bars, will naturally increase risk. Many types of activities are also known to trigger heart attacks.” Watch below as he explains more about the study’s findings.

Maybe it’s a better idea to just put the money in savings and stay home.

[Good]

INDIANAPOLIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Summer is here and it’s time to get away. But while you are making
vacation plans, take a few minutes to think about what you might do if
an unexpected medical emergency should occur, especially if you are
traveling away from home.

Before you pack your bags it is important to make sure you are prepared
to handle a medical emergency while you are on the road.

Below are a few tips from UnitedHealthcare’s Golden Rule Insurance
Company to help you prepare for your summer vacation.

1. Make sure you understand your medical insurance coverage before you
   leave home. Determine what your out-of-pocket expenses would be if you
   need to visit a doctor or emergency room while traveling.
2. Find out which urgent care centers, hospitals and pharmacies located
   in your destination city participate in your health plan’s care
   provider networks. Check your insurer’s website from your cell phone
   or computer, or bring a list of in-network care providers with you if
   you don’t have mobile access.
3. Always carry your health insurance identification card in your wallet
   or purse. It will make it easier to contact your insurance company if
   you or health care providers and facilities have questions about
   coverage
4. Bring a list of your prescription drugs. If you take over-the-counter
   drugs regularly, include those as well.
5. If you plan to travel abroad, learn whether your health insurance plan
   covers treatment outside of the United States. Make note of what
   documentation you need and the process for filing claims for treatment
   received outside of the country if treatment is covered. Consider
   buying an international health insurance policy before you leave if
   overseas medical expenses are not covered.

About Golden Rule

A leading provider of health insurance for individuals and families for
65 years, Golden Rule became a UnitedHealthcare company in 2003.
UnitedHealthcare’s personal health and dental plans are offered in 40
states and the District of Columbia, and marketed under the
UnitedHealthOne brand. For more information, consumers can call
1-800-444-8990, visit www.goldenrule.com
or contact a local independent insurance broker who offers Golden Rule
health and dental plans.

Golden Rule Insurance Company
Ellen Laden, 317-715-7843
eladen@goldenrule.com

Source: Golden Rule Insurance Company