Summer 2023

FCPS Wellness Newsletter

No-Cost Teletherapy Available for All High School Students in FCPS

FCPS has partnered with Hazel Health to offer virtual mental health services to high school students, at no cost to families. Parents/caregivers who have been struggling to find a therapist for their child or who have noticed changes in their child’s behavior are able to connect them virtually with a licensed therapist.

Teletherapy services for students are short-term, evidence-based, and culturally-responsive. These services are available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., continuing throughout the summer. Rising 9th grade students will be able to access services beginning August 4th. 

Hazel Health’s licensed therapists can help students who are experiencing:

• Mood/behavior changes, lack of motivation, grief/loss.
• Anxiety, worry, fears.
• Bullying, challenging peer and family relationships.
• Academic stress.

The first step for parents is to provide information through an opt-in form. Visit FCPS’ Teletherapy webpage for details.

Fun in the Sun Safety Tips

Warm, summer days are coming as well as the risk of over exposure to the sun.  By following the tips below, you can protect yourself from harmful rays and enjoy the fun of longer days:

•   Wear Protective Clothing
  • A wide brimmed hat and sunglasses
  • Lightweight long-sleeved shirt and pants
• Apply Sunscreen
  • Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher
  • Apply 15-30 minutes before going outside and reapply every 2 hours (or more often if swimming)
•  Seek Shade
  • The sun’s rays are strongest between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
• Use Caution Near Water and Sand
  • These surfaces reflect the sun’s rays increasing the risk of sunburn

Tips for a Healthy Summer BBQ

The Office of Food and Nutrition Services is celebrating another successful school year and, with summer just around the corner, we’ve got some healthy tips for your next summer barbecue.

Tip #1: Add Fruits and Vegetables into the Menu

• Summer barbecues traditionally center around various types of animal proteins. Incorporating fruits and vegetables into the menu can be as simple as bringing a fruit or vegetable tray with dips or a homemade salad to accompany the main entrees. If you like to experiment, try grilling up some vegetables, such as sweet corn, zucchini, onions, and peppers.

 Tip #2: Build a Balanced Plate

• Barbecues will often have a variety of summertime dishes and it’s possible to enjoy your favorite foods without going overboard. To do this, start by filling half of your plate with fruits and vegetables. Split the remaining half of your plate with whole grains and protein options. Taking smaller portions of different dishes allows you to enjoy a variety of options while feeling satisfied.

Tip #3: Incorporate Food Safety Practices

• On a hot summer day, perishable foods can reach the danger zone more quickly, potentially leading to food borne illnesses. To prevent these, consume or refrigerate any perishable foods within two hours.

Tip #4: Stay Hydrated

• It’s important to stay hydrated at your next summer barbecue. If plain water doesn’t quench your thirst, try adding sliced fresh fruits, vegetables, or herbs to plain water to punch up the flavor. Sparkling water or unsweetened iced tea are other tasty beverage options as well. We hope these tips will help you to enjoy a healthy summer barbecue.

To learn more about the Office of Food and Nutrition Services, please visit: https://www.fcps.edu/resources/student-safety-and-wellness/food-and-nutrition-programs for more information.

Splish, Splash: Water Safety Tips

It’s almost summer time and there’s no place many of us would rather be than in the water.  Oceans, lakes, rivers, and pools entice visitors of all ages with their crashing waves, serene beauty, and sounds of splashing water.  But with those visits comes an increase of risk of harm.  Planning ahead and being prepared can help ensure that your summer can be filled with joyous memories.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that each year there are an average of 4,000 unintentional deaths caused by drowning. Many drownings can be prevented with the proper precautions.

Basic water safety and swimming is one of the most important skills an individual can learn. Fairfax County Park Authority offers swim and water safety lessons for all ages through group and private lessons.  There are also a variety of private companies and community pools that offer swimming lessons throughout the year. Ask your community pool or Google ‘swimming lessons in Northern Virginia' for a list of offerings.

While learning to swim can reduce an individual's risk of drowning, there are other precautions that should be taken to keep everyone safe.

•  Ensure that pools and other water features are fully enclosed with fencing.
•  Children should never be near water unsupervised and adults should communicate about which adult is watching each child.
• Always swim with a buddy.  Age and swim ability doesn’t matter, no one should ever swim alone, even the strongest of swimmers may need help in an emergency. 
• Swim where there are lifeguards whenever possible. Lifeguards are trained to spot and respond to emergencies keeping a watchful eye on both the water and the sky.
• Respect the natural environment. Natural waters have hidden risks such as currents and waves.  Be aware of the risks that are associated with oceans, lakes, and rivers.
• Be mindful of the weather.  Forecasts can change quickly, be attentive to the possibility of storms and at the first sign of unsettling weather, move to a safe location.
• Wear a life jacket. When boating, everyone (regardless of age or swimming ability), should be wearing a life jacket. Life jackets are also a good option for individuals who are still developing swim skills at pools, water parks, and natural waters.
• Avoid consuming alcohol when participating in water activities including swimming and boating.  Alcohol can impact an individual’s balance, response time, and decision making leaving themselves and others vulnerable to accidents.
• Learning CPR could save someone’s life when waiting for emergency services to respond, especially if lifeguards are not available.

Being mindful of the risks associated with water activities can help everyone be aware and prepared, allowing the joy of summer to shine on. 

 Enjoy a Safe, Bite-Free Summer

Tick identification is conducted at the Fairfax County Health Department’s laboratory.

Summer in Northern Virginia means more time to enjoy more activities outdoors, with free evening concerts, swimming in the lakes or pools, and hiking or biking the many park trails. Enjoy the summer safely by protecting yourself and your family from mosquitoes and ticks. The Fairfax County Health Department offers the following facts about these insects and how you can protect yourself.

Did you know…

• Mosquitoes don’t just bite in the evening. The daytime biters can also be dangerous. Mosquitoes that spread diseases such as Zika, Dengue, and Chikungunya are aggressive daytime biters.
• Use insect repellent with the following active ingredients: DEET, Picaridin, IR3535 and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus
• Wear protective clothing. Long sleeve shirts, and long pants; consider treating clothing with permethrin.
• Mosquito-proof your home. Use screens on windows and doors and make sure they’re repaired or replaced as needed so bugs stay outside.
• Mosquitoes need standing water to develop. By eliminating standing water in containers from around your yard once a week, you can help reduce the number of mosquitoes in your yard.

The Fairfax County Health Department has a robust mosquito management program that includes monitoring, source reduction (elimination of standing water), larviciding (killing mosquito larvae), community education and outreach. Traps are set on a weekly basis during mosquito season to collect adult mosquitoes. Many of these mosquitoes are tested for West Nile virus and Zika virus. 

County-maintained storm water dry ponds are routinely inspected by Health Department staff for mosquito breeding during the months of April through October. These sites are treated with larvicides to control immature mosquitoes before they become flying adults. 

Routine monitoring activities may indicate the need for additional mosquito control activities. If the risk of disease transmission to humans is high, the County coordinates larval and/or adult mosquito control measures in public areas, as necessary.

The Health Department’s Disease Carrying Insects Program provides extensive outreach to the community. Staff are also available to attend community events or provide educational materials. Give us a buzz at 703-246-8931.

Mosquitos are not the only summer health risk. Fairfax County is home to at least four species of ticks; Deer Tick, Lone Star Tick, Dog Tick, and Gulf Coast Tick. Each of these can transmit disease to humans. Lyme disease, the most commonly reported tick-borne disease in the area, is spread by Deer Ticks which are tiny and can be hard to identify. The Health Department will identify tick species for all residents. There are several options; submit a photo online, bring the tick into the Health Department, or mail it. Knowing the species of tick is helpful information to be aware of, in case medical attention is needed.

• Remove the tick carefully using the following procedure:
• Use fine-tipped tweezers or shield your fingers with a tissue, paper towel or rubber gloves.
• Grasp the tick as close to the skin surface as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure.
• Do not twist or jerk the tick as It may cause parts to break off and remain in the skin.
• Do not squeeze, crush or puncture the body of the tick because its contents may contain infectious organisms.
• After removal, keep an eye out for fever, a rash at the site of the bite, a bull’s eye rash, and/or fatigue, chills, headache and muscle or joint pains. 

Earn Your $100 Employee Wellness Incentive!

Employees enrolled in an FCPS health plan (the primary cardholder) may earn up to a $100 gift card reward by completing their annual physical and laboratory screenings. This incentive is in addition to the prizes you can win by participating in our wellness challenges that occur each year.

Cigna Members:

Earn a $50 gift card reward for completing the Annual Preventive Exam.Earn a $50 gift card reward for completing the Biometric Screening.

Kaiser Permanente Members:

Earn a $100 gift card reward for completing the Total Health Assessment and Biometric Screening.

The Wellness Incentive program will run through December 31, 2023. For more information on the program, please visit the FCPS Wellness Incentive Program webpage.

If you have not already done so this year, contact your primary care physician to schedule your annual physical as soon as possible. Medical appointments are taking longer than usual to schedule due to the large influx of in-person visits after the Covid-19 pandemic.

If you do not have a PCP, contact Cigna or Kaiser to help you find one.

Kaiser Permanente Member Services

1-800-777-7902

https://my.kp.org/fcps

Cigna Member Services

877-501-7992 https://cigna.com/fcps

If you have questions about the Wellness Incentive Program, please email us at EmployeeWellness@fcps.edu or visit the FCPS Wellness Incentive Program webpage for more details.

Upcoming Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Webinar

Our upcoming webinars are scheduled with our staff in mind and provided by the FCPS EAP, Guidance Resources. Please join the live sessions to engage with the speaker and, if you cannot make it, the registration will give you access to the recording after the session ends.

NOTE: Attendees of each session are entered in a raffle for wellness prizes!

On June 14, 2023 at 4 p.m. – The selected topic will be Talking About the Tough Subjects With Your Parents or Older Loved One. This webinar is for anyone interested in communicating more effectively with an elderly parent or loved one about important and sensitive matters.

Recorded webinars on a variety of categories ranging from behavioral health to financial topics can be accessed on the Recorded EAP Workshops Hub webpage.

Visit our EAP Guidance Resources Online to learn more and use Web ID: FCPS, or call our EAP at 1-855-355-9097. Sign up for our EAP-Wellness Newsletter to get monthly updates and announcements of our Employee Wellness offerings.