(StatePoint)

While last year’s cold and flu season was mild, experts say this year could bring you a wallop of sniffles and sneezes. While there is no cure for the cold or flu, despite what mom says about her soup, over-the-counter (OTC) medications can provide relief for the most common symptoms. And these guidelines can help you better navigate the cold and flu aisle:

Sneezing Got You Down?

OTC antihistamines can provide relief from sneezing, runny noses and watery eyes by blocking the action of histamine, a chemical in the body that triggers congestion and upper respiratory discomfort.

Constant Cough

Cough suppressants, also known as antitussives, basically tell your brain to stop coughing. One commonly used cough suppressant is dextromethorphan, which relieves cough symptoms but doesn't speed recovery.  If you’re producing mucus, however, don’t take a cough suppressant. Instead, look for an expectorant, a medicine that helps thin the mucus in the lungs and soothe an irritated respiratory tract.

All Clogged Up!

Decongestants like pseudoephedrine (PSE) relieve a stuffy nose and congestion by actually narrowing the blood vessels in nasal passages so you can breathe more easily. PSEs are now located behind the pharmacy counter because they are an ingredient that can be used to make the illegal drug methamphetamine (meth). Rest assured though, PSE has been safely used for decades. If you’re clogged up, consider treating your symptoms and doing your part to keep your community safer at the same time. Ask your pharmacist about new Nexafed 30mg pseudoephedrine HCl tablets, the next-generation PSE that provides the same effective cold and allergy relief from standard PSEs, but with technology that disrupts the extraction and conversion of pseudoephedrine into methamphetamine.

Stop the Pain

If your symptoms include muscle aches or high fever, consider an analgesic or painkiller. Most OTC analgesics fall in to two categories:  acetaminophen or NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Both medications can reduce fever and ease aches and pains from the flu or cold.

Scratchy Throat

Help ease throat pain with cough drops or throat spray. While not a cure-all, cough drops or hard candy can help provide relief from a dry, tickling cough. Also consider taking a warm shower or using a vaporizer to increase the moisture of indoor air. No matter what your symptoms are, it’s important to get some rest and stay hydrated. Doctors recommend six to eight hours of sleep every night to fight and prevent illnesses and keep the immune system healthy. If you have any questions or doubts about which medications may be best for you, talk with your pharmacist. And if symptoms worsen or last for more than two weeks, be sure to see your doctor. More tips on how to prevent and treat a cold or the flu can be found at www.CDC.gov. Don’t needlessly suffer this season. With the right treatment, you can help alleviate your cold and flu symptoms.

WASHINGTON

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and former Texas Attorney General, issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Reporting (SAFER) Act, a bipartisan bill to audit and reduce the backlog of untested rape kits sitting in the possession of law enforcement agencies across the country:    “For far too long untested rape kits have been piling up due to limited resources prescribed by antiquated laws, denying justice and compounding the pain for an untold number of victims in cities across Texas and the nation.   “Today we took a large step toward ensuring justice for victims of sexual assault. I’m encouraged by the unanimous support the SAFER Act received in the Senate and look forward to a vote on the House floor.”   Sen. Cornyn along with Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced the legislation to fight the backlog, which experts have pegged as high as 400,000. Endorsed by key national victims’ rights groups, this deficit-neutral bill will provide funding for state and local governments to conduct audits of untested DNA evidence and create a national reporting system to help track and prioritize untested rape kits. U.S. Reps. Ted Poe (TX-02) and Carolyn Maloney (NY-14) recently introduced similar legislation in the House of Representatives.  

The SAFER Act

• Provides state and local governments with funding to conduct one year audits of the untested sexual assault evidence in their possession. • Creates a national reporting system to help track these audits, prioritize the analysis of untested rape kits and better target existing Debbie Smith Act appropriations. • Amends current law to require that at least 75% of Debbie Smith Act funds be spent directly on either analyzing untested DNA evidence or increasing the capacity of labs. • Allows the National Institute of Justice to publish a report on protocols used in cases that include DNA evidence, and allows SAFER Act grantees to use existing funds to implement those protocols. • Prohibits grantees from holding funds in offshore accounts and using funds for conferences and lobbying, and limits the amount of funds that may be used for administrative costs.

Support

• Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) • Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) • National Organization for Women (NOW) • Concerned Women for America (CWA) • National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) • National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV) • National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) • Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA) • Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV)

AUSTIN

As temperatures drop, Texas residents are reminded that colder weather can bring new hazards that are unique to this time of year. The Texas Department of Insurance provides the following tips to help keep your winter safe and insurance-claim free.

Frozen Pipes

A fast-moving cold front can cause temperatures to drop below freezing within hours. Outdoor pipes, pipes in unheated areas, and pipes that run along uninsulated exterior walls can burst if the water in them freezes, sending water pouring through your home. You can avoid thousands of dollars of damage to your walls, ceilings, carpets, and furniture by taking a few simple steps.  

Before the Freeze

• Protect faucets, outdoor pipes, and exposed pipes in unheated areas by wrapping them with rags, newspaper, trash bags, or plastic foam.

• Insulate your outdoor water meter box and be sure its lid is on tight.

• Cover any vents around your home’s foundation.

• Drain and store water hoses indoors.

• Protect outdoor electrical pumps.

• Drain swimming pool circulation systems or keep the pump motor running. (Run the pump motor only in a short freeze. Running the motor for long periods could damage it.)

• Drain water sprinkler supply lines.

• Open the cabinets under sinks in your kitchen and bathrooms to allow heated indoor air to circulate around the water pipes.

• Set your thermostat at a minimum of 55 degrees, especially when you’re gone for an extended period.

• Let indoor faucets drip; it isn't necessary to run a stream of water.

• Make sure you know where your home’s shut-off valve is and how to turn it on and off.

• If you leave town, consider turning off your water at the shut-off valve while faucets are running to drain your pipes. Make sure you turn the faucets off before you turn the shut-off valve back on.

• If you drain your pipes, contact your electric or gas utility company for instructions on protecting your water heater.  

If Your Pipes Freeze

• If a pipe bursts and floods your home, turn the water off at the shut-off valve.  Call a plumber for help if you can’t find the broken pipe or if it’s inaccessible.  Don’t turn the water back on until the pipe has been repaired.

• If the pipe hasn’t burst, thaw it out with an electric heating pad, hair dryer, portable space heater, or towel soaked with hot water. Apply heat by slowly moving the heat source toward the coldest spot on the pipe. Never concentrate heat in one spot because cracking ice can shatter a pipe. Turn the faucet on and let it run until water pressure returns to normal. • Don’t use a blowtorch or other open-flame device. They are fire and carbon monoxide exposure risks.

• Contact your insurance agent or company promptly. Follow up as soon as possible with a written claim to protect your rights under Texas’ prompt-payment law.

• Review your coverage. Many homeowners and renters policies pay for property repair, and may also pay for debris removal and additional living expenses if you have to move temporarily because of damage to your home. If you can’t find your policy, ask your agent or company for a copy.

• Homeowners policies may require you to make temporary repairs to protect your property from further damage. Your policy covers the cost of these repairs. Keep all receipts and damaged property for the adjuster to inspect. If possible, take photos or videos of the damage before making repairs. Don’t make permanent repairs. An insurance company may deny a claim if you make permanent repairs before an adjuster inspects the damage.

• Most homeowners policies do not cover loss caused by freezing pipes while your house is unoccupied unless you used reasonable care to maintain heat in the building.

Fire Safety

Home fires are more prevalent in winter. The use of space heaters results in more fires and fire fatalities than any other heating sources.  The State Fire Marshal urges you to follow safe space heater practices:

• Keep heaters at least three feet away from drapes, furniture or other flammable materials.

• Put the heater on a level surface away from where people or pets might knock it over.

• Plug heaters only into outlets with sufficient capacity and never into extension cords.

• Never leave a space heater unattended or running while you sleep.

• Keep electric heaters away from water.  Never use them near a sink or in the bathroom.

• Never use or store flammable or combustible liquids near or in rooms with heaters. Test your smoke alarms monthly. If you don’t already have a home escape plan, make one and practice it.  Your plan should include knowing two ways out of every room and having a designated meeting place outside and away from your house.

More Information

Consumers with any questions or concerns about their insurance coverage should call the TDI Consumer Help Line: 1-800-252-3439. (Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)