Influenza is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes death. Every flu season is different and the influenza infection can affect people differently. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and spread it to others. Over a period of 31 seasons, between 1976 and 2007, the Centers for Disease…

WASHINGTON D.C. — President Barack Obama signed an executive order that provides increased access to mental health services for service members, military families and veterans, Aug. 31. The order, signed as Obama left Washington for a visit to Fort Bliss, Texas, directs the Defense Department, the Department of Veterans Affairs and other key federal departments…

As emergency management responders, we continually preach about the biggest threat to southern California—earthquakes.  However, Mother Nature reminded us last week that she can strike in different forms, on a moments notice and with tremendous force. Mid-afternoon, Thursday, Aug. 30, we were hit with east coast-like impersonation of a mid-summer storm. The skies turned dark,…

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The start of school is a good time to talk to children about the complicated and heartbreaking problem of bullying. Fortunately, there are at least two good websites devoted to the cause. The Federal Partners for Bullying Prevention website, http://stopbullying.challenge.gov/, created by the Health Resources and Services Administration and its eight partner…

In response to a recent surge of West Nile Virus, an illness transferred to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito, Nancy Driscoll arranged a fact sheet to assist with answering questions that may be of concern to the Team March population. The upcoming Operational Readiness Exercise will be conducted in Gulfport, Miss., so…

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. — There’s a new Air Force Reserve Wingman Toolkit website. The site has a new look and tools, but the same mission as the old Wingman Project website: to provide Citizen Airmen and their families with everything they need to be resilient wingmen. “The Wingman Toolkit is your training center…

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) — As an area defense counsel in the Air Force, it is my job to represent Airmen who get into legal or administrative trouble and I love my job. I have spent the majority of my legal career as an attorney representing people in trouble, both as a civilian…

When the Air Force initially tackled the challenge of protecting personnel and assets from chemical weapons, the process involved placing the entire installation in MOPP 4 condition status. Due to limited knowledge of the threat, we erred on the side of conservatism, which inflicted a heavy burden on the base populace when performing critical tasks….

Immunizations are the most effective way to prevent disease and complications from disease, especially among young children. August is Immunization Awareness Month, the perfect time to make sure children have gotten their recommended immunizations before heading back to school. Most primary schools in the United States require students to have an annual physical and to…

Health professionals have long known the promise of electronic health records. For more than two decades, DOD and the VA have been working together to apply the benefits of this fast evolving technology. The departments already share more clinical health information than any two health care systems in the world and together will comprise the…