October 2012
69 posts
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Volunteer and Donate Responsibly to Help Hurricane... →
If you want to support Hurricane Sandy survivors, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has tips on how to volunteer and donate responsibly.
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Happy Halloween! Have Fun and Stay Safe With These...
It’s Halloween! Make sure you and your family have a fun-filled, safe holiday with these tips.
Halloween activities like trick-or-treating or parties provide opportunities for you and your family to be exposed to germs. With flu season just around the corner take precautions and get a flu shot.
Check your local weather report before you head out and be prepared to bundle up underneath...
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The 2014 Diversity Visa Lottery Closes on November... →
Find out if you qualify and learn how to apply.
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Find Shelter and Let Your Family Know You're Safe...
There are several shelters open along the East Coast ready to assist anyone who needs help after Hurricane Sandy. To find a shelter near you:
Text “Shelter” and a zip code to 43362 (example: Shelter 01234)
Download the FEMA mobile app
Visit the American Red Cross shelter map
Contact your state or local emergency management office.
You can also let friends and family know you are...
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Disability.gov Offers Resources in Support of...
Did you know October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM)? NDEAM celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities and raises awareness about disability employment issues. This year’s theme, “A Strong Workforce is an Inclusive Workforce: What Can YOU Do?” recognizes the many and varied talents of America’s workers with disabilities.
Disability.gov’s...
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How to Keep Food Safe During a Power Outage →
If you lost power, find out how to tell if your food is safe once power is restored.
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Hurricane Sandy Expected to Make Landfall Within...
Hurricane Sandy is expected to bring life-threatening storm surge flooding to the Mid-Atlantic coast, including Long Island Sound and the New York Harbor. Winds are expected to be near hurricane force at landfall.
If you’re in an area that will be impacted by the storm, follow the instructions from your state and local emergency management officials.
Make an Emergency Kit and Plan
If you...
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Five Tips to Make Your Halloween Safe →
These five tips will help kids have a safe Halloween. Share it with the children in your life.
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Prepare for Hurricane Sandy
Image description: The National Hurricane Center’s predicted path for Hurricane Sandy as of 2 p.m. Friday.
Hurricane Sandy is moving up the eastern coast of the United States. The storm will bring lots of heavy winds and rain, which could lead to flooding in some areas. Make sure you and your family are ready for the storm by using the tips on Ready.gov.
If you’re in an area that...
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Report Voter Intimidation
As we get closer to the election, officials are cautioning voters to be aware of attempts at voter intimidation and fraud.
There have been some reports of people receiving official looking letters, phone calls or other communications questioning their eligibility to vote. These communications seek to intimidate voters and prevent them from casting a ballot.
Any attempt at voter intimidation...
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Keep Your Personal Information Safe Online
The Internet provides unprecedented levels of connectivity and information across many channels, such as email and social networks, and it also helps us accomplish everyday tasks like paying bills, filing taxes and much more. October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM), which encourages you to always pay attention when you’re sharing information on the internet.
NCSAM is a reminder...
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Struggling to Pay Student Loans? Find the Best... →
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How to Prepare for Election Day
As the election approaches, it’s important to make sure you’re familiar with the voting procedures in your state.
Polling Place Location and Hours
Prepare for election day by confirming the location of your polling place and when it opens and closes. Check your state election website to find your polling location and hours.
Some states allow early voting. If your state offers this option, be...
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Keep Your Kids Safe Online →
Keep your kids safe online and protect them from child predators using these tips from the FBI.
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Protect Your Identity When Using Mobile Devices
By Gail Cunningham, Vice President of Membership and Public Relations at the National Foundation for Credit Counseling
Being in first place usually brings with it bragging rights, but not if it’s the top spot in the Federal Trade Commission’s annual complaint report. For the 12th year in a row, identity theft has held that dubious distinction, as ID theft complaints once again topped the 2011...
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Learn Your Rights After a Mastectomy →
If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer and need to have a mastectomy, you have certain rights under the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998. Learn about what benefits your health plan is required to provide.
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What Are the Leading Causes of Death for...
You can use these charts from the Centers for Disease Control to better understand risks to your health.
This grid shows the top ten causes of death for Americans in ten different age groups in 2009. For example, the number one leading cause of death of Americans aged 1 to 44 is unintentional injury.
This similar ten by ten grid shows the leading causes of death by unintentional injury. The...
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Looking for a Job? Check Out the Social Jobs... →
The Department of Labor, Facebook, and others have teamed up to help people find jobs using social networks.
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Learn Symptoms and Treatment Options for...
More than 5 million people in the United States have Alzheimer’s Disease, a form of dementia that causes memory, behavior, and thinking problems that get worse over time. If you or a loved one is suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, get information and resources on Alzheimers.gov, including:
Symptoms and Risk Factors
Treatment Options
Planning Ahead and Paying for Care
Taking Care...
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Watch the Leaves Change Color
If you’re planning a long trip—or even a short local trip—to see fall colors, check out the U.S. Forest Service’s Fall Colors 2012.
You can view webcams that show scenic views in a few states; call the hotline to get predictions about fall colors; get ideas about activities for kids; learn about the science behind fall colors; and more.
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How to Research Candidates in the Upcoming...
In less than a month, people across the country will vote for the next president, as well as other state and local offices. If you want to vote, it’s important to make sure you are registered and know about your voting options, such as early voting and requesting an absentee ballot.
It’s just as important that you are familiar with the races on your local ballot so you can make informed...
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Apply For Military Stop Loss Retroactive Pay by... →
The deadline to apply for military stop loss retroactive pay is this Sunday. Find out if you’re eligible and how to submit your claim.
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Learn How to Participate in Clinical Trials →
If you’re interested in participating in a clinical trial for a medical condition, search the listings to find ones that are available.
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It's Time to Get the Flu Vaccine
What if there was something that would help kids miss fewer days at school? Or if there were a way that parents wouldn’t miss work?
There is something: the flu vaccine. And now is the time to prepare yourself and your loved ones for the flu season.
Getting vaccinated is easy. The Federal Government has several resources to help you figure out if you are considered high risk and where you...
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Learn How to Avoid Fake Online Pharmacies
Ninety seven percent of online pharmacies don’t follow U.S. pharmacy laws. If you buy from one of these online pharmacies, you run a high risk of receiving counterfeit or substandard drugs. You also put your personal and financial information at risk.
Beware of an online pharmacy that show these signs of being fake:
Allows you to buy drugs without a prescription from your doctor
Offers deep...
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Medicare Open Enrollment Starts Today →
The Medicare open enrollment period begins today. Learn more about the health and drug plans available.
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Track Fundraising and Spending in Federal...
Do you ever wonder how much money candidates spend to run in federal elections in the United States or where the money comes from?
The Federal Election Commission’s Campaign Finance Disclosure Portal provides access to the campaign finance data that candidates and their supporters must share by law. Use maps, charts, and other tools to learn about donations and expenditures in the Presidential...
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Get the Latest on the Current Meningitis Outbreak... →
Meningitis is a swelling of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
Some symptoms of meningitis are:
New or worsening headache
Stiff neck
Fever
Slurred speech
Learn more about the current outbreak from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Buying U.S. Savings Bonds as a Gift
Many people like to buy U.S. Savings Bonds as gifts for loved ones. However, you can no longer buy Savings Bonds on paper from your bank. As a cost saving measure, these bonds must now be both purchased and given electronically. During the process, you get the chance to print out a certificate to physically give the recipient.
This video presentation walks you through the details of buying U.S....
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Did You Request an Extension on Your 2011 Taxes? →
If you requested a time extension to file your 2011 taxes, they are due on October 15.
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Find Help and Hope for Victims of Intimate Partner...
Intimate partner violence or abuse, often referred to as domestic violence, can be any physical, emotional, sexual or psychological action that one person uses to gain power or control over another.
Anyone, anywhere, regardless of age, race or gender, can be affected by intimate partner violence, and it is important to know the resources available to get help if or when you might need it.
That’s...
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How to Request an Absentee Ballot →
Find out how you can request an absentee ballot to vote if you are not available on election day.
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Recognizing the Importance of Mental Health to our...
By Colleen Labbe, Senior Science Writer/Editor and Press Officer at the National Institutes of Health
Since 1990, the first full week of October has been designated National Mental Illness Awareness Week. This year, National Mental Illness Awareness Week takes place from October 7-13. It reminds us all that our mental health is vitally important to our overall health.
In the United States,...