Summer First Aid

Summer time might bring to mind visions of swimming, being outside, water balloon fights, and more. While it is true that summer is a fun time for most, the need for certain first aid measures rises. Increased numbers of biting creepy crawlies, incredulous heat waves, and more may leave you not wanting to step outside. By following a few basic first aid rules, you can either avoid issues or be on the mend and out enjoying the weather again in no time.

Bees can seem to come up out of nowhere! The first thing to do immediately after being stung is to gently push out the stinger using a blunt-edged object. If you’re in a pinch with no tools handy, you can remove the stinger with your fingernail, but be careful not to squeeze venom back into the skin. Clean with soap and water as soon as you can, then dab on hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to help alleviate the pain. If you have a cold compress available, you can place it on the sting area to provide even more relief. Also, be sure not to scratch the area. This will cause the venom to spread and increase the chance of infection.

Poison Ivy is a quick way to ruin summer plans! It spreads incredibly easy and can be passed along to the whole family via simple contact. To prevent a breakout, wash exposed areas with soap and water within five to 10 minutes of contact. If you aren’t able to do that in time, take a cool to lukewarm bath laced with baking soda or oatmeal. This will help rinse and neutralize the rash spreading oil. Afterward, apply calamine lotion to help with the itching. Be sure to wash all clothes that came in contact including shoes. Also, it is important to wash your pet's fur! The plant’s oil is potent and can adhere to fabrics and other surfaces for up to a month. If the skin starts swelling or oozing, call your doctor immediately.

Ticks are incredibly dangerous since they can carry Lyme disease. If you will be adventuring into the woods or in tall grass or brush, dress in long-sleeved shirts and tuck pants into socks. Apply insect repellent that says it helps repel ticks. After you return home, check for ticks all over your entire body including your hair and scalp. It takes 24 hours for infection to occur, so being proactive significantly reduces the risk. To remove ticks, lightly grip it with tweezers near its head or mouth, close to the skin, then pull it off gently without crushing it. Be sure NOT to twist the body. Then, clean the area and apply an antiseptic. If within three to 30 days the bite mark expands or turns into a bull's-eye-shaped and you experience light sensitivity to the eyes or skin, trouble breathing, chest pain, or heart palpitations – see medical attention immediately as this could be a sign of Lyme disease.

Heat issues are yet another important thing to be aware of in the summer. Dehydration can happen quickly and before one realizes it. The elderly and children are especially prone. Heat cramps, which are caused by loss of salt from heavy sweating, usually happen first. They then lead into heat exhaustion which can progress to heatstroke. Heatstroke, which is the most serious of the three, can cause brain damage, shock, failure of vital organs, and even death. Be sure to keep an eye on everyone playing in the sun and provide plenty of water. Make sure that there is plenty of shade available and everyone is taking breaks to cool off. If you believe someone is suffering from any of these heat based illnesses, be sure to call 911 and follow a few tips while waiting.

· Have the person lie down in a cool place and raise their feet about 12 inches

· Apply cool water, bags of ice, or cool cloths to the individual’s skin. If a fan is available, turn that on and point it directly on the person.

· If alert, give the person beverages to sip. Water or a hydrating drink like Gatorade work best

Enjoy your summer but make sure you take all precautions you can for these common issues. Never leave home without plenty of water and a first aid kit containing medicine and bandages. If going to an area with no cellular service, make sure you know where the closest land line location is. By preparing ahead of time, you can ensure that you have a fun and safety filled season. We here at FreeRxPlus hope your summer is off to a great start! Don’t forget to visit freerxplus.com today to get your free discount prescription card.

Dental Needs

A great deal of Americans make sure they go to their primary physician for yearly checkups. While this is great and definitely something you should do, we unfortunately tend to forget about other annual checkups that we need to have. Our dental health, more often than not, tends to be one of the things we seem to statistically push off the most. Over 40% of Americans say they forgo dental visits until an emergency comes up. While we may think we are saving money by skipping the cleanings, research shows that regular checkups at the dentist may save you a lot of money down the line.

It’s important to remember that your dentist doesn’t treat only your teeth – they also help with your gums, jaws, and much more. Checking your teeth for tooth abnormalities is just one part of a thorough dental examination. Your dentist/dental hygienist will also look over the health of your gums, perform a lymph node examination on your neck, and examine your mouth for any indications of oral cancer, diabetes, vitamin deficiencies and more. Most dentists also examine your face, bite, saliva and movement of your lower jaw joints or TMJs. Dentists are able to treat a great deal of the things they are looking for and if they are not, they will be able to provide a proper recommendation to a doctor who can.

Making sure you go for regular visits or at the first sight of any issues can help you catch problems as they start which in turn saves on emergencies later. Preventative maintenance is key in the world of oral hygiene. If you are without insurance, going to the dentist for anything other than a major problem may be out of the budget. FreeRxPlus is happy to offer discount benefit plans which help you save tremendously when going to the dentist and more.

Dental only plans start at an affordable $5.95 a month for your whole family! With savings in most instances of 15% to 50% per visit, you can ensure that your family’s dental health lies safely in your own hands. If you need more than dental savings, other plans are available that cover vision, vitamins, chiropractic, Teledoc, and much more. It’s important to remember that these plans aren’t insurance but note that the savings potential and benefits are real. Visit www.yourdiscountbenefits.com to view dental plans and more and to learn how you and your family can take advantage of the savings.

Fad Diets

Most of us have been in a position where we thought we could lose a little weight or could stand to be healthier. There seems to always be some “craze” diet going on and you’re bound to know someone who has had great success with it. But what works for them may not work for you let alone be healthy for anyone. Fad diets don't help you keep off weight long term. Most of the loss you experience initially may be water loss or loss from sheer deprivation. So what is the best option for you? Changing your lifestyle and moving more may be all you need.

A body needs a healthy diet filled with variety to “run” properly. That means the right balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fat - as well as a great deal of other vitamins and nutrients. When you go on a fad diet and exclude necessary nutrients, you're putting yourself at risk for becoming sick in many ways. Getting too little of any nutrient may not cause an immediate problem. But if it's lacking for a long time, you may find you have health problems or complications later on.

Another thing to learn is to practice portion control. Food portions and sizes have gotten larger and larger over the years. This is particularly true with fast food or quick serve restaurants. But what exactly are healthy portion sizes? There are some easy tricks to measure your food when scales aren’t readily available.

• A cup of fruit should be no larger than your fist.
• An ounce of meat or cheese is about the same as the size of your thumb from base to tip.
• 3 ounces of meat, fish, or poultry (a normal serving) is about the size of your palm.
• 1 to 2 ounces of nuts equals your cupped hand.

You can help the struggle with portion sizes at home by serving your meals on salad plates instead of larger plates. This is a simple mind trick that will make you feel fuller, faster. Nutritionists also recommend eating several small meals a day as opposed to a few large ones. By putting healthy fuel into your body several times a day, your metabolism kicks into gear. Aim for 5 to 6 small meals a day and make sure they are on the healthy side.

One of the most important things to help lose weight is to exercise. The human body ideally needs 150 minutes of exercise a week. Of course this can be divided over several days. If you are just starting to work out, ease yourself into it to avoid sprains and injuries. Your body will adapt over time and you will find you are able to push yourself harder.

We all wish there was a magic pill or solution that we could take to become thinner or to gain more muscles. But unfortunately, that is not the case. While science is advancing quickly, most fad diets are built on hype and padding someone’s pocketbook on false hopes. Keep your health in mind and fall back on reliable methods to get where you want to be. Also stay on top of your health by saving big on the prescriptions you need to live a happy, active life. Head to FreeRxPlus.com to print your free card instantly!

Saving on Your Pet's Needs

If you’re a pet lover, you probably consider them to be a major part of your family. There are an estimated 164 million pets in households across the country. In 2013, Americans spent about 56 billion dollars on their pets. Of that total, $14.37 billion went for veterinary care while another $13.14 billion for prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines. These numbers are staggering but to make sure our pets lead a happy and healthy life, most are willing to spend whatever it takes to accomplish that.

Pet health insurance is often hard to obtain and unaffordable making it unrealistic for most families. However, pets still need routine visits to their primary veterinarian just like we need to our physicians. Even if your pet isn’t prescribed a medicine or supplement during these visits, you may still find yourself paying a great deal out of pocket. An average teeth cleaning can cost about $200 alone! Yearly vaccinations can also hurt the wallet. Routine visits and checkups are one thing but emergency costs can be even more with some surgeries and procedures reaching thousands of dollars.

As a responsible pet owner, you also know that the other costs of keeping your pet happy and healthy build up over the year quite rapidly. One grooming trip alone may be more than you are used to paying your own hairdresser! Boarding fees and training can also cost a staggering amount. Luckily, there are affordable options that you can take advantage of to make sure your furry pals still receive great medical care and more with less out of pocket expenses.

FreeRxPlus is happy to offer a discount benefit medical plan that offers huge discounts on both medical and routine pet services. The Premier Health with Pets plan not only offers massive discounts, it offers convenience and no stipulations to be eligible. Members save 25% on medical procedures with each visit to a network veterinarian. You can also save 10% to 35% at participating providers on pet services like boarding, doggie day care, training, pet sitting, and grooming. Savings can also be had on pet supplies that you purchase more frequently like food, beds, toys, treats, and vitamins. Along with all these repeat savings comes a free pet ID tag and a 24 hour location service in case your pet ever becomes lost. One of the best parts is that savings are immediate! The plan is able to be used with most animals, from dogs and cats to exotics like birds and reptiles.

While this plan does not replace insurance, the savings you will experience make it a great value! Not only do you save on your pets, but your two legged family will also be able to take advantage of medical savings, Teladoc usage, and much more. Head over to www.yourdiscountbenefits.com/PremierHealthwithPets.html to view more details and get signed up today.