Ewww! Your house’s germiest places aren’t where you think they are

Posted on by TP Mechanical

By Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz — Chicago Tribune

Given how often they’re on the floor, occasionally inside a public restroom, it should come as no surprise that a third of women’s purses crawl with E. coli.

And given how many grubby hands and baby bottoms touch grocery store shopping carts, we shouldn’t flinch at the fact that, on average, they carry 115 times more bacteria than a toilet seat.

It’s a dirty world we’re living in, and often our germiest encounters are not where we expect them. Not all germs are harmful, and healthy bodies can resist many illnesses. But the more people are exposed, the greater their chance of becoming infected with or transmitting a dangerous bug, whether respiratory viruses or a host of food-borne bacteria.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2013/03/29/2578836/the-germiest-places-around-the.html#emlnl=PM_update#storylink=cpy

Employees tips on healthcare insurance consumerism and its advantages

Posted on by TP Mechanical

Magnetic resonance imagingDid you know that you could be charged a wide range of prices from different providers for the same medical service? With insurance costs statistically rising, we encourage everyone to be a smart consumer when it comes to the money spent on medical procedures. Spending money wisely can benefit you in two different ways, once up front when the money is coming out-of-pocket for medical expenses, and secondly when it comes time for company’s insurance renewal and if the annual rates will increase.

An example of insurance consumerism and its benefits. For instance you or a family member has a knee that has been in pain, after seeing your primary care doctor he/she suggests getting an MRI to see what could be the root of the problem. The price for an MRI can vary depending on whether the procedure takes place at the hospital location or at a standalone imaging facility. This is where your consumerism power comes into play. One method is to call the different facilities to get a price from each of them or simply go onto UnitedHealthcare’s website http://www.myuhc.com to do a cost comparison.

After doing our own research for the above mentioned knee MRI scenario, we found multiple prices ranging from $430 to $2774. The standalone facility was the cheapest at just $430 for the MRI of a knee, where the most expensive was at the hospital’s location for the same MRI which priced at $2774.

Coping with Cold Weather

Posted on by TP Mechanical

Cold weather is here to stay for a few months – keep your guard up against cold weather injury.

Keep your body temperature at or about normal (98.6° F)

  • Wear layers of clothing both inside and outdoors
  • Wear cotton or lightweight wool next to the skin and wool layers over your underwear
  • Keep dry by having proper rain gear available and a pair of good, waterproof boots
  • An extra pair of clean, dry socks can really come in handy
  • Don’t forget to protect your neck and ears; you can lose a lot of heat from these two areas
  • A good pair of gloves is essential

Signs of frostbite

  • Skin will become white
  • Reduced circulation
  • In the worst case, blisters will form but you won’t feel any pain

First aid for frostbite

  • NEVER rub the frozen part of the body with snow
  • Add extra clothing or use a blanket to cover the frozen area
  • Get out of the cold and into a warm location
  • The frozen area may be immersed in warm water but NEVER use hot water
  • If the condition does not improve seek professional medical attention

Portable heaters

  • If they are not properly maintained they can cause accidents
  • Carbon monoxide can result from defective ventilating and from incomplete fuel burn
  • All portable heaters should be checked by a competent person before being put into use
  • Locate fuel containers, regulators, piping and hose where they will not be subject to damage
  • LP gas containers not in use should be stored upright, in a specified outside location and protected against damage
  • Containers in use must be kept in an upright position and secured
  • Always be sure to protect the valves from physical damage