CommonHealth Wellnote 

October 9, 2024 / Get Well

How can your Virginia State Employee Wellness Program help? CommonHealth’s programs and campaigns cover a variety of health topics and are available in a range of formats to meet the needs of different workplaces. Highly skilled Wellness Consultants provide the latest on stress, sleep, nutrition, exercise and more for faculty/staff meetings, special events, conferences, benefit fairs, safety meetings, lunch and learns, etc. They provide traditional, in-person presentations and displays as well as virtual presentations, on-demand videos and seasonal health-related challenges that are fun and engaging. Visit the website to see how CommonHealth can help you. If you’re looking to book an event in November, connect sooner rather than later to ensure you get a date that works for you. 

  • Click here to view this week’s CommonHealth Wellnote. Check out this week’s highlights below.
    • OEWW Preventative Community Health Activity: Free Mobile Health Clinic Coming to NOVA! Will you be on the Annandale or Alexandria campuses on  Monday, October 28th?NOVA  is partnering with Kaiser Permanente, one of our health insurance providers, to bring the Mobile Health Vehicle to the Annandale and Alexandria campuses on Monday, October 28. Registration is open. Space is limited. Walk-Ins are welcome, but appointments are preferred. This van will visit Annandale Campus (outside CA Building) from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m., and the Alexandria Campus (outside AA Building) from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. Insured or uninsured, this FREE one day event is open to all NOVA Community members.
    •  The Kaiser team will be performing:
      • Flu Vaccines
      • Blood Pressure Checks
      • BMI (height and weight)
      • Diabetes (A1C)
      • Cholesterol  Screenings (non fasting)
      • Health Education

NOTES:

  • Spotlight on Healthcare: Prevent Respiratory Illnesses

The season of sniffles and sneezes is on its way! Viruses such as the flu spread more easily in the fall and winter. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers these tips to help us protect ourselves and others: 

  • Keep immunizations (vaccines) up-to-date. Vaccines help the immune system fight off viruses to prevent severe illness and death. Talk to your doctor about which vaccines are appropriate for you. 
  • Practice good hand hygiene. Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. Keep hands away from your face, cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow, and clean high-touch surfaces regularly. 
  • Improve air quality. Some germs spread more easily in indoor, crowded spaces with poor airflow. Ways to reduce risks include opening doors and windows, using exhaust fans, changing your HVAC filter regularly, and moving activities outdoors when possible. 
  • Stay home if you have respiratory virus symptoms. Examples of symptoms include fever, chills, fatigue, cough, sore throat, runny nose, and headache. Wait at least 24 hours after your fever ends (without medication) AND your symptoms improve to return to normal activities. 

Visit the CDC website to learn more, including additional tips. 

Try It This Week: Skip the Antibacterial Soaps
Over-the-counter antibacterial soaps, also known as antimicrobial or antiseptic soaps, have not been shown to be better than plain soap at preventing illness. 

In fact, they may increase our risks. Their added chemicals can cause dry, cracked skin which can be an entry point for germs. Plus, some studies have shown that using antibacterial soaps may contribute to antibiotic-resistance. 

Choose plain soap, and wash with clean running water for at least 20 seconds. Liquid soap tends to be easier to use, contain moisturizing ingredients, and be less likely to spread germs if soap is shared. 

Source: US Food & Drug Administration

Benefits Buzz:  Free Flu Vaccines
The CDC recommends yearly flu vaccines (flu shots) to help keep us from getting sick with flu, reduce the severity of illness if we do get sick, and protect the people around us who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness, such as babies, older adults, and people with certain health conditions. Check your state employee health benefits for information on the 2024-25 flu season coverage.

For questions regarding this week’s communication or the CommonHealth program, please reach out to your respective campus coordinator below:

Submitted by:
Faith Redd-Walker, Office of Employee Wellness and Wellbeing, employeewellbeing@nvcc.edu