FEDINFO E-letter from Pueblo, January 2008

FEDINFO E-Letter
Issue 2008-1

Welcome to the January/February 2008 edition of the Federal Citizen Information Center's(FCIC) FEDINFO E-letter! These subscription e-letters from Pueblo are sent six times a year with helpful updates, practical information, and special offers to make your life a little easier. You can always find the latest information on our family of websites: Pueblo.gsa.gov, USA.gov, ConsumerAction.gov, Kids.gov, and GovGab.gov.

This issue includes:

Take Care of Your Heart
Pueblo is 35
Confronting Mortgage Difficulties
Banking Questions Answered
“No Cavities, Mom”
Stay Warm and Safe This Winter

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Take Care of Your Heart

February is American Heart Month, focusing attention on the number one killer of men and women in the United States. Heart disease kills about 700,000 Americans annually, accounting for about 29 percent of all U.S. deaths. heart

Heart disease has long been considered a “man’s” disease in the United States, and so National Wear Red Day, which falls on Feb.1 this year, was conceived to show support for women’s heart disease awareness. The Heart Truth is that women account for 51 percent, or 357,000, of those 700,000 U.S. deaths annually. One in four American women dies of heart disease, but most fail to make the connection between risk factors—such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol—and their personal risk of developing the illness.

Fortunately, there is a lot we can do to lower that risk. A healthy diet and lifestyle are the best weapons we have to fight heart disease. You can monitor your blood pressure, weight and activity level, while you undertake a 12-week activity program and compare notes with other participants through emails, posts and blogs.

It’s also vital to recognize the warning signs of heart attack and stroke when they occur, and to get medical help immediately.

Also, check out these free publications, available for reading or ordering on the FCIC website: Cholesterol—Medicines to Help You, High Blood Pressure—Medicines to Help You, and Smoking—Medicines to Help You.

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Pueblo is 35 pueblo

We hope you remember this oft-heard phrase on radio and TV, “For your free catalog, write Consumer Information, Pueblo, Colorado 81009.” That message has been on the air waves since the mid-70s, and this January marks the 35th anniversary of the Pueblo, CO, distribution center for government information. There, the dedicated crew of the Government Printing Office mails out the Federal Citizen Information Center’s quarterly Consumer Information Catalog and all the great government publications listed in it.

You can revisit those entertaining TV Public Service Announcements from the 70s to the present, listen to radio ads, check out old (and new) print ads, and look at old Consumer Information Catalog covers. While you are at the Pueblo page, you may want to read or order some of our most popular publications, check out our Consumer Focus articles, or visit our family of consumer-friendly web sites. Meanwhile, the Pueblo crew will be packing up your print orders or preparing for the next Catalog shipment.

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Confronting Mortgage Difficulties A couple is filling out the mortgage form

If you are one of the thousands of homeowners facing huge hikes in their home loan interest rates and serious challenges making their monthly payments, check out this helpful guide. It's a step-by-step way to deal with the problem head on, starting by acknowledging the issue, preparing to contact your mortgage lender, working with the lender to find solutions you can agree to, and avoiding mortgage solution scams.

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Banking Questions Answered lady is counting the coin

Have you ever wondered about a questionable practice by your bank, but were unsure who to ask about it? Perhaps the bank kept adding new fees to your account, or some of the money in your checking account was frozen after you rented a car. If so, take a look at the Federal Reserve Consumer Help, a web site and toll-free phone line, newly-established to help you deal with commonly asked banking questions and concerns.

You can download the brochure How to File a Consumer Complaint About a Bank andactually file a complaint right from the web site. You can also reach the Fed by calling toll-free: 888-851-1920 (8 am – 6 pm CT) or by mailing your inquiry to Federal Reserve Consumer Help, P.O. Box 1200, Minneapolis, MN 55480.

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“No Cavities, Mom” girl is brushing teeth

Start your children’s or grandchildren’s teeth out right with help from the American Dental Association and the National Children’s Dental Health Month. Getting kids to appreciate the importance of dental health can be a challenge, and the ADA has provided a variety of fun activities on its web site that encourage good habits, including word jumbles, puzzles, coloring sheets, a maze and a smile calendar.

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Stay Warm and Safe This Winter winter road

Even though 2007 was a record warm year according to NOAA, there’s still a lot of cold winter weather ahead for much of the U.S. Even areas that normally experience mild winters can be hit with a major snowstorm or extreme cold. Who would have expected the arctic storm that hit California in early January, knocking out power to more than a million residents and closing ski resorts?

A winter storm can mean a loss of home heating, being snowed in, having to drive on icy roads or getting stranded in your car. Prepare your home, your family and your car to face the hazards of winter with this round-up of safety tips from FCIC.