Little known ways to increase your fluid intake

Continuing our tips for summer safety under the Florida sun, we are talking today about fluid intake. Under normal conditions, most people can drink enough fluids to meet their water needs, but if you are outside in hot weather for most of the day or doing vigorous activity, you may need to increase your fluid intake.

If you think you're not getting enough water each day, the following tips may help: 

1. Carry a water bottle for easy access when you are at work or running errands.
2. Freeze some freezer-safe water bottles. Take one with you for ice-cold water all day long.
3. Choose water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages. This tip can also help with weight management. Substituting water for one 20-ounce sugar-sweetened soda will save you about 240 calories.
4. Choose water instead of other beverages when eating out. Generally, you will save money and reduce calories.
5. Give your water a little pizzazz by adding a wedge of lime or lemon. This may improve the taste, and you just might drink more water than you usually do.

Do sugar-sweetened beverages count?

Although beverages that are sweetened with sugars do provide water, they usually have more calories than unsweetened beverages. To help control your weight, you should consume beverages and foods that don't have added sugars.

 Examples of beverages with added sugars:

·         Fruit drinks.

·         Some sports drinks.

·         Soft drinks and sodas (non-diet).

 Visit Rethink Your Drink for more information about the calories in beverages and how you can make better drink choices to reduce your calorie intake.

What everybody ought to know about Fireworks - tips from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Florida

Happy Fourth of July everybody! We are excited to celebrate this fun
weekend here in beautiful Florida. As always, we hope everybody has a safe time. Our Dr. Jannifer Harper, Vice President of Medical Operations, here at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida gave us some great information on fireworks and what to do in case of injury during this weekend.  

The Fourth of July is a notorious time for fireworks-related injuries and trips to the emergency room. According to a report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there are about 200+ fireworks injuries a day nationwide between mid-June and mid-July.

The most common cause of injuries is firecrackers, which are essentially gunpowder, followed by sparklers. Most people do not consider, when handing a young child a sparkler, that sparklers can reach extreme temperatures of 1200 degrees Fahrenheit.

My colleagues and I at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida encourage all Floridians, in their pursuit of health, to enjoy a safe and injury-free Independence Day celebration. That means leaving the fireworks to the professionals and enjoying one of the many fireworks displays offered in communities across South Florida.

If you decide to handle fireworks, here is some sensible advice in case of injury:

• First and foremost remain calm
• Only the mildest of injuries should be treated at home
• The best course of action is to seek medical care
• Urgent care centers can treat minor cuts, burns and abrasions, as well as some sprains and fractures Individuals with more severe injuries should go to the emergency room or be transported  by ambulance, especially in the case of head trauma or loss of consciousness

For additional information on health and wellness, visit your neighborhood Florida Blue Center or  CPSC's Fireworks Safety page, and from all of us at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida we wish you and your family a happy and healthy Fourth of July!

Dr. Jannifer Harper is Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida’s Vice President of medical operations, leading the clinical areas of the medical operations unit as well as oversight of clinical strategy for BCBSF.

Staying safe under the Florida sun

Summertime in Florida is here! While we love the warm weather and fun that comes with it, we also want to make sure that you take your sun care protection and health seriously. We found this very excellent infographic below that highlights the danger and the precautions you should take while enjoying time in the sun.

Via: Term Life Insurance