Thought those sniffles would take a summer vacation?  Not so fast.  Although cold and flu season is behind us, warmer weather brings another foe to the workplace - allergies.   Those annoying symptoms (runny nose, itchy eyes, inability to focus) can take a toll on productivity.  And what's worse, allergies can stick around longer than a cold.

"Allergies contribute to presenteeism, which is the measure of lost productivity when employees are on the job but impaired," says Brian Harrison, MD, director of Health and Productivity Management for Affinity Occupational Health.  Recent research at a heavy manufacturing plant found that allergies came at a price.  During their bad seasons, more employees called in sick and had difficulty concentrating.  Seasonal allergies led to more work injuries, Workers Compensation claims and group health claims. 

"In some cases, the medicines people use to treat their allergies can make them drowsy, an added safety risk," says Dr. Harrison. 

The solution:  Read the box!  When allergy sufferers use non-sedating medicines, their productivity goes back to normal.  Encourage employees to check the warning label on over-the-counter allergy medicines.  If it says "may cause drowsiness," it's the wrong choice for the job.

Some tips for allergy sufferers:

Summer should be a time of relaxation, right?  So why do your employees seem more stressed out?  "Having the kids home for the summer can disrupt the family routine," says Laurie Raupp, registered nurse and counselor with the Affinity Employee Assistance Program (EAP). 

Whether your kids are small or college-age, extra planning and costs are involved when they're out of school and under Mom and Dad's roof for the summer.  "Many parents stress about childcare costs or the added guilt of being at work when the kids are out of school.  Add to that the extra bickering that often happens when siblings are spending more time together, or the sadness of seeing a child off to college, and you've got some very anxious employees on your hands," Raupp says. 

What's a parent to do?  Raupp offers some advice for parents in two potentially stressful situations.  Pass these along to your employees and encourage them to talk with an EAP counselor if needed.  Read more. 

Supervisors beware - muscle strain lurks in every corner of the workplace!  Whether your staff is performing jobs with high physical demands or restricted to sitting most of the day, Affinity's Corporate Stretching program can help.  Through this fully customized service, a physical therapist or an athletic trainer designs a stretching regimen based on the work your employees do - on the machine, in the field or at a desk.
 
Goals of the program are to educate employees on proper body mechanics, reduce strain associated with prolonged postures on the job, improve flexibility and decrease the risk of musculoskeletal injury.  "Many jobs require workers to repeat a specific movement throughout the day or to remain in one position for long periods of time.  This puts stress on the body that can be alleviated with proper stretching," says Mark Schmitz, physical therapist for Affinity Health System.
 
In addition to a customized stretching plan, the program provides all employees with helpful tips to use at work or play.  These include how and when to stretch, and what signs to watch for that might indicate an injury.  Supervisors are supplied with "coaching cards" and posters to display in their departments.  Supervisor training sessions and educational presentations for employees are also offered.

Packing bags for a business trip?  Don't forget your check-up.  "We want business travelers to be closing a deal in the board room, not running for the bathroom.  Taking steps to ensure good health before a trip enables travelers to focus on the job at hand," says Carol Delwiche, a nurse practitioner specializing in traveler health. 

 

Affinity Occupational Health's Travel Medicine program is designed to check important health-related to-do's off the list before an international journey.  Working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other government resources, our travel medicine team stays on top of health and safety alerts around the globe.  We arm your employees with the necessary vaccinations and preventive measures specific to each destination. 

 

According to Ms. Delwiche, the key is to plan ahead.  "Travelers need to give their bodies time to develop immunity.  Some vaccinations need to be given weeks or even months ahead of time to provide the best immunity," she says.  Affinity's Travel Medicine experts can review each traveler's medical history, medications and allergies prior to the trip.  In addition, we provide helpful information on:

• understanding and treating travelers' diarrhea
• food and water precautions
• destination-specific vaccinations
• preventing blood clots
• insect precautions
• special risks.

Beyond the business trip, the Travel Medicine program can help recreational travelers, too.  For more information or to schedule a consultation, call (920) 223-7075.

Affinity Occupational Health launched an exciting new partnership with WebMD on June 1.  Have you taken advantage of it yet?  Join the other leading-edge companies in our area now benefiting from a wealth of user-friendly, customized health management tools.  Your employees will have access to:

• Comprehensive online HRAs, tailored to each person's needs
• Interactive programs on the key areas of nutrition, exercise, weight management, smoking and stress
• Personalized resources to help manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, back pain and arthritis.

For details, read more or contact Affinity Occupational Health at 1-800-541-0351 today!

A:  The body maintains a consistent internal temperature by sweating and increasing blood flow to the skin.  When high temps, hot sun and humidity enter the mix, the body's ability to regulate itself can become compromised.  This is especially true when a job demands intense physical activity, either outdoors or in a building without air conditioning.

There are three important types of heat illness to remember: fainting; heat exhaustion (weakness, headache, nausea); and heat stroke, a medical emergency in which a person can become delirious, unconscious or suffer seizures.  If you suspect heat stroke, call 911 immediately.

 

Prevent heat illness by taking these steps: Read more.