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Bracing for Flu Season: Get Your Flu Shot!
Even if you think you are one of those people who never seem to get sick, there are many reasons why you should consider getting a flu shot. The flu shot not only protects yourself, but also others who are more susceptible to the virus. Elderly, children under 4 years and those with compromised immune systems are more susceptible to the virus and while it may only keep a typically healthy person out of work for a few days, for some people, it can mean hospitalization or death. Those who are in close contact with each other at home, commuting or in the work place have a high chance of spreading the virus. Although washing hands, disinfecting surfaces and covering a sneeze can keep germs at bay, getting the flu shot is the most effective way to prevent the virus from spreading.
The flu vaccine is available at health centers, pharmacies, health related events or other events. Some pharmacies have walk in clinics to get a flu shot, even without insurance. Follow this
link
to find the nearest location to receive your flu shot.
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Working in Tobacco Fields
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Workers in a tobacco field in Deep Run, NC In addition to locals, growers rely on temporary workers, often from Mexico, hired through the H-2A visa program. Very few are permanent employees like Jorge Rangel, left. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)
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Summer vacation from school should be a time when children play and relax, but for agricultural worker Eddie Ramirez, it involves back breaking, dangerous work in the tobacco fields of North Carolina. Eddie, now 17, started working on tobacco fields out of necessity to help his mother with bills. Heat, nicotine poisoning and pesticides are only a few of the major concerns.
The potential harm from nicotine poisoning (or green tobacco sickness) was one reason that in 2011, the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division drafted changes to child labor regulations that would have made it illegal for minors under 16 to work on tobacco farms.
Experts say children and adolescents are more vulnerable to the illness because of their smaller size and still-developing bodies. Nausea, headaches, vomiting and dizziness are common symptoms of green tobacco sickness.
Even with the policies banning children under 16 from working in tobacco fields, children just travel further for work because they need to help pay bills and put food on the table.
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Hugs Not Walls
Imagine being away from your loved ones for years. What would you say if you saw them again? Three minutes is all these 300 families got upon arriving at the Mexico-U.S. border. Immigration policies have split up these and many more families, preventing them from seeing each other for years at a time.
One of the participants, Karina
Román, 19, said, "I hadn't seen my mom in 10 years and it's the most beautiful thing that could have happened. I am very emotional, and I liked that we could see and hug each other, even for a short time." During this event, Karina also saw her uncle, grandfather and met her younger brother for the first time.
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The Great American Smokeout Nov. 17th
Smoking still remains one of the highest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the world. Whether it's cigarettes, cigars, electronic cigarettes or pipes, there is no "safe" way to smoke tobacco. Quitting smoking has immediate health benefits including a longer and healthier life. This one day is dedicated to quitting and supporting those who have or are in the process of quitting. For further information, free informational materials and support, visit
The Great American Smokeout.
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Upcoming Events
November
Fenway Community for Innovation in HIV Care will conduct a webinar titled Promoting Health Care Access to LGBT Farmworkers on Nov. 8th starting at 1:00pm EST. Click here to register
CRVFHP Monthly Meeting
will be held on Tuesday, November 15th from 10:00 AM. to 12:00 PM.
Conference Call Only. We highly encourage the use of the provided webcams.
Fenway Community for Innovation in HIV Care will conduct a webinar titled
Collecting Data on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity: Data Integrity and Quality Improvement on November 16th from 12:00pm EST to 1:00pm.
Click here to register.
Farmworker Justice presents a webinar titled
Community-based Approaches to Prevent and Treat Workplace Sexual Harassment and Violence in Agriculture on Monday, November 14th from 2:00 PM to 3:15 PM EST.
Click here to register.
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NATIONAL HEALTH OBSERVANCES
NOVEMBER
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Charities, fundraisers and donations are common place during this time of the year. There are so many that it can feel overwhelming about who to donate to. Make sure you or your company donates to an organization that aligns with your core values. For a guide on choosing an organization to donate to,
click here. In addition to donating money, there are many different, creative and local ways to donate this holiday season.
Cleaning out your closet and donating clothes to a local homeless shelter or picking up a few extra cans of food for a local food pantry is a good way to know your contributions are reaching those who need it.
For a company, large or small, raising money or donations through friendly competition is a great way to make a difference this holiday season. Compete between different departments for who can collect the most donations for a charity of the company's choice.
Consider some of these ideas:
Jeans Day Tickets: Don't offer jeans day on Friday? Sell tickets for use all year.
Pet/Baby Photo Contest: Use tip jars (or donation boxes) to vote for the cutest pet/baby!
Arrest the Boss: Employees pay to keep the boss in 'jail', while the boss has to use their contacts to pay the 'bail'.
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| Where to Look for Resources: Farmworker Health Network 
For key resources and farmworker health guides, please refer to the Farmworker Health Network (FHN). The FHN is a group of six National Cooperative Agreements in migrant health funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide technical assistance and training to migrant health centers. Click here for a comprehensive list of FHN agencies.
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| Outreach Resource Corner
Myths about the Flu Virus Debunked
Can you catch the flu from the vaccine? Do healthy individuals really need to get the vaccine? Click here to see the answers and more myths surrounding the flu vaccine.
(Mass Residents only) Pathways for Change
Pathways for Change is an organization dedicated to ending sexual violence. They offer bilingual services to Massachusetts residents. Click here for more information.
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