Tips when traveling with allergies

Allergies can make life more hectic then it already is. But life-threatening allergies can wreak havoc on a family vacation! Here are some family tips to make a better time for all!

First and foremost always be prepared! (carry your Medic tag)

• Always have your health information with you.
  • Medications
  • Allergies
  • Past surgeries
  • Medical conditions
  • Contact Names
  • Your Address
  • Doctors
  • Pharmacy phone number
  • Insurance card
• Always have your medicines with you and easily attainable
  • Check your medicines to be sure they are not outdated
  • Be sure to have enough

When staying at a hotel or even a friends

• Bring your own hypo-allergenic pillows
• Ask for an allergy proof room when making a reservation. If none are available ask for one that is sunny, dry and away from the pool if you are sensitive to mold.
• Check if cabins, friends, and resorts lend themselves to letting pets stay and if they do what their cleaning policies are.
• If you have food allergies do not hesitate to let them be known. Restaurants should be happy to comply, if not move on to another restaurant.
• Bring plenty of your own food in case you can not find food that is suitable this will be good for safety snacking also,

When you are camping and you know you have a very sensitive one to bee stings, pollen or poison ivy

• Go before the bees become to active or choose another location. Better to be safe,
• If you have outdoor allergies check the pollen count in the camping area before you go at nab@aaaai.org
• Call and ask ahead of time if the campsite is prone to poison ivy or if it is contained to certain areas that can be avoided.

If you are going to another state remember you may encounter an allergen you may have not encountered before. Be prepared.

• You can check pollen counts at nab@aaaai.org for this also.

If your allergies are severe have a person to rely on to be your point of action and make sure they know what to do in case of an emergency,

I want to thank Kathy Jenkins of Come To Order, former owner of Organizer AtoZ, for her role in creating the great article on Electronic Storage which features the Jakoter Health Tag in the Spring edition of Better Homes and Gardens Storage Publication.

Should you store your personal information digitally and online? Here’s how to weigh the risks and rewards to choose the best products and services to get started.
Your Life Electronically

STO_Spring11_electronic_storage

Homes and Gardens Special Publications,
STORAGE, Spring 2011 Issue © Meredith Corp

Jakoter created the Jakoter Health Tag for people needing health information but found it difficult to write and/or carry all of their information. Now, we are in a new wave of electronic storage. Here is my two sense as a Mom with three kids who needs to keep medical information at hand. Storing it all in my head is not the way to go. I like to have it on paper-the Jakoter Health Organizer but I also had a need to send my son with his information this summer (that story here) so my choice for him was the Medic Tag. If there really is no medical needs in the family I am finding AboutOne has a great on online tool to keep medical records, phone numbers and will create health forms for your needs.

AboutOne.com is an online family information management system; ONE place, accessible anytime, anywhere, from any device, where in just seconds busy moms can store, secure, and manage what matter most with bank-level security: precious memories (text, photos and videos) and household information (health, possessions, and education records, contacts and more). You can access the system from a computer, your cell-phone, or any web-enabled device.

What really peaked my interest in AboutOne is that I can have my kids health records available always without the need for remembering, carrying or worringing.

Long ago when I needed information with me I would have had my Jakoter Organizer and my Medic Tag. Those days have past for us. We now live a simpler easier time, but I know I still need information just in case, I need to stay ready for any situation. That is why I like knowing I can store all of my sons information on AboutOne and forget it.

• Eliminate the need to remember everything
• Keep all family profiles and information in one place
• Create printable caregiver documents
• Check new medications and keep a list

The emphasis is on quick entry and intelligent use of information to simplify your life! If you need health information for emergencies I still would recommend the Medic Tag or  Jakoter Health Tag and the Jakoter Health Organizer but if you are where I am today and just need some information sometimes and can be more relaxed about it I would recommend AboutOne.

AboutOne Discount Code LAURAH

Use the code LAURAH for a 10% discount. Please note that the discount code has to be entered at the time you register (for trial or regular plan).

To see more about how AboutOne can simplify your life view MomTechnology.com.

• Eliminate piles of paper
• Make milestones memorable
• Create family newsletters

Let us know how you use AboutOne to simplify your life and Medical Records.

Jakoter Health Organizng products for yourself and loved ones this holiday season. Simple step by step fill in the blank binders and flash drives to help organize all your health records.

Life Saving Gift For Your Loved Ones

When giving a gift to someone with health issues a practical gift can truly be a life saving present.

Organizing your health as been made simple with Jakoter Health Organizer, Jakoter Health Tag and the Medic Tag .

All products by Jakoter are simple fill in the blanks either via the computer or on the paper based binder.

The gift you Give Yourself – Organizing Your Medical Information

When thinking about holiday gifts this year think about the gift of organizing your medical records for yourself. This is a great way to take the burden of trying to remember all details of your life and letting go of past history by writing it all down.

Medical information organizing sounds agonizing! Well, really it is not as anguishing as it sounds. Just follow these steps and you will be well on your way to having your health organized in case of an emergency.

• If possible grab an already made health organizer or flash drive to save time.

• Once you do have your health organized, make the most of it!

1. Make copies of your medication list and bring it with you to your appointments.
2. Bring your questions to your healthcare visits.
3. Keep your organizer/flash drive updated.

• Take time to make yourself safe if something should happen.

Medical information you should keep organized.

Important Information – If you do just one thing do this page! Take it with you if you need to go to the emergency room or an acute care center.
Write/type your name, date of birth, health conditions, allergies, surgeries, medications and person to contact in an emergency and any other important information, so that if needed there is a one-page overview of yourself or loved one. Put anything you feel is important in…ANYTHING!!!

Medication – Write/type a list of the medications you are taking, what dose, when you take them and what you take the medication for for. The start date of the medication is also helpful.

Insurance Information – Write/type down your insurance company’s phone number, your group or policy number, address, and anything else pertinent to your insurance. If you have supplemental insurance that should be included as well.

Emergency Numbers – Write/type your important phone numbers, i.e. ICE (in case of emergency) Keep these updated!

Family History - Filling this out might be tedious, but once it is recorded, you will always have it for future reference. Make sure that you keep it updated.

Major Events – A major event can be a broken bone, surgery, or a trip to the urgent care center for any reason. Write/type your major events for easy reference.

Immunizations - Keep track of your last flu, tetanus and all immunizations. Your doctor’s office should still have records.

Appointments – Keep a running list of your appointments, (date, who, why and the results).

Questions & Answers – You know how everyone is telling you what to ask? Now give yourself a place to write/type it out before you get to your appointment. Make sure you get your answers. Write/type these out for reference as well.

Notes – Remember to date your notes.

Feel Charts – These can be headaches records, long illnesses, pain, moods, or even food charts. Remember to date your charts!

Blood Work – Diagnostic Test Results You can ask your healthcare provider for a copy! Highlight dates and anything unusual. The doctor’s office should still have a copy, but it is useful if you are referred to another office to have your own copy. Type the place and information in your flash drive if you are using one and/or place the hard copy results in your health organizer.

Remember this is your information, recorded your way, so that you can understand it.

Do you visit an ailing friend or give them their privacy?

What Friends Do sent a very wonderful newsletter that contained some of the best information on this topic.

Good reasons to visit:

• A visitor can cheerfulyl remind the patient that he/she is loved.
• A visitor can lend an ear if the patient needs to talk.
• A visitor can bring helpful items as well as find out ways the patient needs help.
• A visitor can relieve family members who may want to go home to shower or eat, but do not want the patient to be alone.

Good reasons not to visit:

• The patient needs rest and may already have too many visitors.
• Some people are very private and do not want visitors in the hospital.
• Patients often need to have tests run, so the patient may feel uncomfortable with visitors being around during tests.
• If you have the sniffles you certainly don’t need to share!

For more great info please visit What Friends Do. Sign up for their newsletter to keep on getting great information.

Healthy Food

So we all think we are eating pretty healthy if we grab an apple or a peach, right? Think again. I know about pesticides and try to buy organic but what I have read here makes me want to go meet and greet my neighborhood farmer.

Learn from an eleven year old (Birke Baehr) what we should be doing to eat healthier, live healthier and have the knowledge we need to feed our children healthier food.

• Did you know that peaches have the highest pesticide load?
• Did you know that registered pesticides are NOT safe?
• Did you know that GMO stands for genetically modify organism?

I do not want to be scared to eat an apple and I am sure you do not either but I am grateful to have read this article so that I can be more knowledgeable so that I can make better, healthier, food choices.

It was time for a new look and feel for our website. This site is filled with great SEO and is a wordpress site with the SmallBiz theme.

If you are looking for a resource to find out how to start a PHR, find out what a PHR is all about or just find stories about why a PHR is a good idea I recommend myPHR.com. While you are there you will find Jakoter Health Organizers as a resource and be sure to look for my articles in the parents blog. I would love for you to comment or to hear your thoughts.

Thank you!

PICCKA has made shopping for healthier foods for your family a little easier. It has also made finding the right foods to eat with diabetes and other medical conditions a little simpler.

Maintaining a healthy diet to control weight and health conditions is about managing the nutrient balance of the food you eat, and what you eat is predicated by what you buy. PICKKA’s Shop to Lose ™ helps you buy the right food by steering you to the proper products as you shop, based on your diet program and health profile. Shop to Lose balances your macronutrient mix, tracks your weight and glucose levels, and keeps your household pantry stocked with healthy choices. It’s a personal Dietitian in Your Pocket ™ every step of the way:

• Smart shopping list ™: All food products in grocery stores are analyzed and screened per your weight and health objectives. You can virtually pick any food items from any grocery store – 130,000 plus products – in seconds.
• Health Sidekick ™ sets the right balance of carbs, fat and protein per personal diet preference and health profile and reminds you every step of the way. Recommendations are made according to your buying pattern, severity of the health condition and weight loss progress.

• All aspects of foods are covered: Not only does Shop to Lose cover fresh and packaged foods in grocery stores but also dishes in major restaurants.
• Family Profile Manager ™ allows you to set up multiple profiles to fit different requirements and health conditions for individual members of your family.
• Motivator keeps you motivated by sharing your health enhancement and weight loss progress with your friends using Facebook or Twitter. It even allows you to bet on your weight loss and win some along the way.
• And Shop to Lose is FREE for the next six months – no strings attached.

Is This a Good App for You?

If you want a dietician to call upon at any time without the expense give this a try. If you want to know some calories of your favorite foods at your fast food resturaunts give this FREE app a try. If you need to keep track of your sugars, calorie intake or want to make the healthiest food choices possible then PICCKA Shop to Lose can help.

iPhone Applications now available on iTunes.com! Shop Now!

2. Check out the family tree. Compile a list of diseases and medical conditions that are common among relatives in your family. Identifying illnesses you are at a higher-risk of contracting may spur the doctor to recommend preventative treatment or tests for early detection.

3. Record symptoms and health-related activities in a calendar. Having a time line of symptoms can help doctors identify trends that may impact diagnosis. For example, flu-like symptoms that occur at the same time every year may be an allergy rather than a cold. Migraines clustered around a menstrual cycle may be related to hormonal fluctuations. And more than four ear infections in a year could lead to more aggressive treatment than another round of antibiotics.

4. Journal symptoms as they occur. Don’t wait until the doctor’s appointment to try and remember every pain or abnormal feeling you’ve experienced since the last visit. Seemingly unrelated symptoms may prompt the doctor to try different tests or treatments than originally planned. Frequent urination, for example, may indicate a bladder infection. But excessive urination coupled with fatigue and persistent thirst, may be a sign of diabetes or another more serious condition.

5. Write out questions and answers. Again, don’t rely on memory to make the most of doctor visits. Write questions down ahead of time and then write the doctor’s response next to each question. The personal Q&A will be a handy reference later and can assist in communicating with family members or caregivers who might have similar concerns.

6. Keep health information in one place. Keep all health-related documents including family medical history, symptom journals, test results, immunization charts, list of prescriptions taken, insurance coverage, blood work, question/answer sheets, etc. in one organized binder. Having the information at your fingertips can be a real timesaver and it can also help ensure everybody involved in taking care of an ailing family member has the information to do so properly.