Increase in Immunizations, Decrease in Smoking Rates Highlight Report

Oklahoma improved in America’s Health Rankings, a report issued by United Health Foundation, to 45th overall. The state has improved since ranking 49th in the nation in 2009. The report highlights progress on immunization rates, preventable hospitalizations and a reduction in the adult smoking rate.
The most dramatic achievement in the report was Oklahoma’s more than 10 percent increase in the number of children immunized, from 62.7 percent in 2014 to 73.3 percent this year. That rate is almost two percent higher than the national rate of 71.6 percent and will effectively prevent children from contracting dangerous diseases.
“It’s rewarding to see the progress our immunization staff and county health departments have made in providing access to life-saving vaccines for our state’s children,” said Dr. Terry Cline, Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) Commissioner. “Even more rewarding is the knowledge that increasing vaccine coverage saves lives, particularly among our youngest and most vulnerable residents.”
America’s Health Rankings 2015 report also highlights Oklahoma’s lowest ever smoking rate at 21.1 percent. While still three percent above the national smoking rate, Oklahoma has continued to make dramatic improvements in the number of people who smoke.
“The success we have seen in smoking rates is due to the commitment of organizations like TSET, health policy leaders such as Governor Mary Fallin and scores of community partners who have rallied to combat this health threat.” Dr. Cline said. “While we celebrate this progress together there is still work to be done. We have 88,000 kids alive in Oklahoma today who will die prematurely from smoking. That is just not right.”
Oklahoma was recognized for accomplishments in other areas important to public health. In the past five years, preventable hospitalizations have declined by 29 percent for Medicare beneficiaries. Prevalence of physical inactivity was almost five percent lower than the previous year, with 28.3 percent of state residents reporting that they were not physically active. Oklahoma was also cited for strengths in low prevalence of excessive drinking and small disparity in health status by education level.
While rates of obesity, diabetes and drug deaths rose in the state, those categories followed a similar national trend. The report also cites challenges in the state due to limited availability of primary care physicians and the continuing high rate of cardiovascular deaths.

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak is encouraging Oklahomans to prepare for the winter weather season as weather forecasters warn about the possibility of freezing rain and flooding over the holiday weekend. “It’s important to understand what is and isn’t covered by your home and auto insurance,” Commissioner Doak said. “Winter storm damage can be financially devastating to a family without the proper insurance coverage. That’s why I’m urging all Oklahomans to review their policy before any storm hits.”
Liability coverage under your auto insurance policy will cover damage you cause in an auto accident where you are found liable. The optional collision coverage of an auto policy will cover damages to your vehicle from an accident where the other driver is uninsured, a single-car crash or where you were at fault. Comprehensive coverage, which is also optional, would cover damage to your car caused by falling trees or ice. Review your policy for further clarification, or contact your insurance agent for more information. A standard homeowner’s insurance policy covers the following: · Wind-related damage to the house, roof or contents · Tree limbs that fall on a house – this includes both the damage done by the tree and the cost of removing the tree · Damage from ice and other objects that fall on the home · Freezing conditions such as burst pipes and ice dams; however, there is generally a requirement that the homeowner has taken reasonable steps to prevent this.
You’ll want to review your policy with your agent for further clarification regarding the homeowners policy.
Damage caused by flooding is not covered by standard homeowners or renters insurance. Melting snow that seeps into a home from the ground up would be covered by flood insurance which is provided by FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program. If you have winter weather related damage, contact your insurance agent as soon as possible to start the claim process. Don’t forget to document the damage with lists, receipts and pictures.
This is also a good time to assess your home inventory and make sure it’s up-to-date. For a free home inventory list, go to oid.ok.gov.

Christmas is less than two weeks away, and the stores and malls will be filled with last-minute shoppers. About 44 percent of people will do their holiday shopping in December or later, according to one annual survey. While all the spending is good for retailers, it can also be irresistible to thieves. But there are ways to discourage crooks from targeting you whether you shop at a local store or online.
With 40 percent of households expected to do their holiday shopping on a computer, consider these tips to fight cyber criminals:
· Only shop on secure websites.
There are two ways to tell if a website is secure. First, check the web page URL. On a secure connection, the web address should start with “https.” The “s” at the end stands for secure. Second, check for the “Lock” icon. Depending on which web browser you use, the “Lock” could be in lower right or lower left corner.
· Designate one credit card for online shopping only.
By only using one card for your online purchases, you can easily monitor that particular card if there is any suspicious activity.
If you are a victim of identity theft, it can be expensive to reestablish your credit and identity. Identity theft insurance can cost between $25 and $60 per year. It does not cover direct monetary losses incurred as result of identity theft. Instead, identity theft insurance provides coverage for the cost of reclaiming your financial identity, such as the costs of making phone calls, making copies, mailing documents, taking time off from work without pay and hiring an attorney.
Your current homeowner’s policy may include identity theft insurance. If not, you may be able to add identity theft insurance to your current policy or purchase a stand-alone policy.
If you prefer to shop at local stores for your holiday gifts, use these common sense tips to protect yourself:
· Don’t tempt a crook. Don’t flash cash or credit cards when making a purchase.
Take time to put your money away properly after you checkout.
· Limit the number of packages and bags you carry.
Struggling to carry several shopping bags makes it easy for a crook to steal your wallet or take one of your packages.
· Protect your identity
Take only the credit cards you plan to use, and guard them carefully. Crooks can memorize credit card numbers over someone’s shoulder. Also, make sure the cashier hands you back your card. Mistakes can be made in the hustle and bustle of shopping. And finally, safeguard your receipts. Thieves often look for discarded papers to steal credit card information.
If you are the victim of a crime, report it to the police immediately and ask for a police report. This will help you decide if you want to file an insurance claim. Theft of personal possessions is generally covered by homeowners and renters insurance policies. There is also limited coverage for stolen credit cards – usually up to $500. For any other insurance information contact the Oklahoma Insurance Department at 1-800-522-0071 or visit our website at www.oid.ok.gov.

The Oklahoma Insurance Department, an agency of the State of Oklahoma, is responsible for the education and protection of the insurance-buying public and for oversight of the insurance industry in the state.

The recent ice storms in the state have left a significant number of Oklahomans without power for hours and even days. The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) reminds those affected by a power outage to be mindful of safe practices to prevent illness and injury.
Food Safety
OSDH recommends the following guidelines for refrigerated and frozen foods to citizens or food establishments which have been without power for more than four hours: · Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. · Discard any potentially hazardous foods such as meats, eggs, dairy products and leftovers when the power has been off for more than four hours. When in doubt, throw it out. · Frozen foods in a freezer can normally be kept up to 48 hours without power. A frozen product that has thawed should not be refrozen—it should be used immediately or thrown away.
Water Safety: Residents in rural areas may also be without water during a power outage. If the safety of the water is not known, it is recommended to vigorously boil the water for at least one minute to prevent potential waterborne illnesses. Safe water would include store-bought bottled water, or uninterrupted city water. Untreated water should not be used to prepare foods, wash hands or brush teeth.
Heat Safety: It’s important to use caution when heating a home with a fireplace, space heater or wood stove, using them only when they are properly vented. Never use generators, grills, camp stoves, or similar devices inside the house, in basements, in garages or near windows. Don’t use gas appliances such as an oven, range or clothes dryer to heat your home. Improper use of such devices can lead to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

Whodunit Dinner Theater’s original format presents
‘Showdown! At Madam Yahoo’s Saloon!”
This hilarious western written by Oklahoma’s playwright Earline Cottet is a crowd favorite! Dates include:
Friday December 4th & 11th; January 15th at Cattlemen’s Steakhouse 1309 S. Agnew okc- you can not access tickets by calling the restaurant, you must call Whodunit’s number at 405-420-3222 or go to www.whodunit.net.
Tuesday December 8th & Friday January 22nd at Teds Escondido North 6900 N. May you can not access tickets by calling the restaurant, you must call Whodunit’s number at 405-420-3222 or go to www.whodunit.net.
Whodunit Part YOU is our newest format where the audience actually plays a part! Six audience members receive a script & costume accessories and join in on the mystery! They may even be the one ‘Whodunit’!!
We’ve teamed up with Oklahomas historical Grandison Inn for this show, we present, ‘Murder At The Grandison Inn!’
This brand new comedy mystery written by Oklahoma playwright Terri Myers will give you fond memories for years to come!
Dates include: Saturday January 30 & our ‘sweethearts show’ on February 19th at The Grandison Inn 1200 N. Shartel Ave Okc get tickets by calling 405-232-8778.
Ticket prices for all Whodunit shows are $48 and include dinner & show! Arrival times for all Whodunit shows is 6:15pm.

Dear Savvy Senior,

Is pill splitting safe? I have several friends who cut their pills in half in order to save money, but I have some concerns. What can you tell me? Cautious Kim

Dear Kim,
Pill splitting – literally cutting them in half – has become a popular way to save on pharmaceutical costs but you need to talk to your doctor or pharmacist first, because not all pills can be split.
The reason pill splitting is such a money saver is because of a quirk in the way drugs are manufactured and priced. A pill that’s twice as strong as another may not be twice the price. In fact, it’s usually about the same price. So, buying a double-strength dose and cutting it in half may allow you to get two months worth of medicine for the price of one. But is it safe? As long as your doctor agrees that splitting your pills is OK for you, you learn how to do it properly, and you split only pills that can be split, there’s really no danger.
Ask Your Doctor
If you’re interested in splitting your pills, talk to your doctor or pharmacist to find out if any of the medicines you use can be safely split. It’s also important to find out whether splitting them will save you enough money to justify the hassle.
The pills that are easiest to split are those with a score down the middle. However, not every pill that’s scored is meant to be split. Pills that are most commonly split include:
· Cholesterol lowering drugs, like Crestor, Lipitor, Mevacor, Pravachol and Zocor.
· Antidepressants, like Lexapro, Celexa, Serzone, Paxil, and Zoloft.
· High blood pressure medicines such as, Accupril, Zestril, Diovan, Avapro, Norvasc, Tenormin, Toprol and Cardura.
· Erectile dysfunction pills, like Viagra, Cialis and Levitra.
Use a Splitter
Having the right equipment is very important too. Don’t use a knife or scissors to cut your pills in half. It can cause you to split them unevenly resulting in two pieces with very different dosages, which can be dangerous. Purchase a proper pill cutter that has a cover and a V-shaped pill grip that holds the pill securely in place. You can find them at most pharmacies for $3 to $10.
For convenience, you might be tempted to split the whole bottle of pills at once. But it’s best to do the splitting on the day you take the first half, and then take the other half on the second day or whenever you are scheduled to take your next dose. That will help keep the drugs from deteriorating due to exposure to heat, moisture, or air. It will also help ensure that any deviation in the size of one dose is compensated in the next. It’s also important to know that pills are only safely split in half, and never into smaller portions such as into thirds or quarters.
Don’t Split These
Some pills should never be split. Drugs that are time-released or long-lasting and tablets that contain a combination of drugs probably shouldn’t be split, because it’s difficult to ensure a proper amount of active ingredient in each half. Pills with a coating to protect your stomach, and pills that crumble easily or irritate your mouth shouldn’t be split either, along with chemotherapy drugs, anti-seizure medicines, birth control pills and capsules containing powders or gels.
Again, your doctor or pharmacist will know which drugs can and cannot be split. If you’re taking a medicine that can be split, you’ll need to get a prescription from your doctor for twice the dosage you need. Then you can start splitting safely, and saving.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.