By Kelly Sargent

As the number novel coronavirus cases have proliferated — as of April 10, 2020 more than 1.6 million confirmed cases and 100,000 death worldwide; more than 463,000 cases in the US and 17,000 deaths — doctors have recognized more potential warning signs than those first identified. In addition to taking as many precautions as you can, such as frequent, thorough hand-washing and physical distancing, monitoring your health and those of loved ones is vital. Here's a more comprehensive list.

1. Fever 
The World Health Organization reported that 88% of individuals infected with COVID-19 experienced a fever. But what temperature qualifies as having a fever? The 98.6 degree Fahrenheit benchmark we've grown up memorizing as 'normal' was arrived at in the mid-1800's, and it's been gradually dropping throughout the population ever since. It's now the exception rather than the rule. In fact 75% of us have a normal body temperature lower than that, so it's important to know what 'normal' is for you. My husband's, for example, runs steadily at about 97.7. Most adults are considered feverish when their temperature hits 100 F. Fever often elevates in the late afternoon or early evening which makes that an ideal time to check.

2. Difficulty breathing
Although shortness of breath isn't usually an early symptom of coronavirus infection, it's an extremely serious one. Medical experts say that it's important to seek medical attention if you can't breathe deeply enough to take in a normal breath or if you experience persistent pain or pressure in your chest. Some patients have reported feeling as though a tight band was bound around their upper chest constricting their ability to fully inflate their lungs. 

3. Dry Cough
A persistent cough is another prevalent warning sign, but doctors say that it's not just any cough; it's not a tickle in your throat or the urge to clear your throat. It's a dry cough that feels as though it emanates from underneath your sternum deep inside your chest. 

4. Chills and body aches
In journalist Chris Cuomo's case, he was shaking so violently from the chills he had that he chipped a tooth, and his body aches were so severe that he felt beaten up. It may be difficult for those with less pronounced symptoms to distinguish coronavirus chills and achy muscles and joints from flu symptoms. One gauge: if your symptoms don't improve after about a week, but get worse instead, it may be a sign that you're dealing with the coronavirus and not the flu.

5. Inability to wake up
The CDC warns that sudden confusion or the inability to wake up to full alertness, especially in conjunction with other critical signs such as bluish lips and fever, has a high probability of being a medical emergency. Call 911.

6. Digestive issues
In the initial months of the coronavirus pandemic, diarrhea and other digestive symptoms didn't seem to be warning signs. But as the infection has spread yielding more cases and more data, a study revealed there was a subset of milder cases for which the initial symptoms were digestive issues and didn't include a fever. 

7. Pink eye
Researchers from China and elsewhere found that about 1% to 3% of those infected with COVID-19 had conjunctivitis, a highly contagious condition also known as pink eye. Conjunctivitis isn't a case of everyday bloodshot eyes. A nurse on the frontlines of the residential nursing home in Washington state where dozens died at the onset of the US outbreak said her coronavirus-infected patients looked almost as though they had red eye shadow on the outside of their eyes. 

8. Loss of smell or taste
The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery issued a report saying that losing the ability to smell, called anosmia, or the ability to taste are also potential warning signs of COVID-19. Anosmia in particular has been seen in patients without any other symptoms who test positive. Analysis of milder cases in South Korea reported that in 30% of patients the major symptom was a loss of smell, and in Germany more than two-thirds of confirmed cases had anosmia.

9. Extreme fatigue
A World Health Organization study found that nearly 40% of patients out of nearly 6000 COVID-19 cases they analyzed, had experienced extreme fatigue. Chris Cuomo said he was so exhausted that he would he would take what he thought was a 10-minute nap when it had actually been three and half hours. 

10. Headache, sore throat and congestion
The same WHO report also found that almost 14% of the confirmed COVID-19 cases they analyzed suffered headache and sore throat, and 5% experienced nasal congestion, symptoms that can be difficult to distinguish from a cold or flu, so consider the totality of how you're feeling — and don't panic. 

Be especially alert to the more common and serious symptoms as you monitor your health and that of those you love.

In the meantime, until this is behind us — stay home as much as you possibly can and be careful!​

By Kelly Sargent

Together, we're all trying to stay safe and healthy as we collectively weather this global pandemic. In additional to taking as many precautions as you can, such as frequent, thorough hand-washing and physical distancing to avoid infection, monitoring your health and those of loved ones is vital. 

Recently new coronavirus warning signs have released. Here's a list of those you've already heard about and the new, less prevalent symptoms.

Fever 
The World Health Organization reported that 88% of individuals infected with coronavirus experienced a fever. But what temperature qualifies as having a fever? The 98.6 degree Fahrenheit benchmark we've grown up hearing as 'normal' was arrived at in the mid-1800's, and it's been gradually dropping across the population ever since. It's now exception rather than the rule. In fact 75% of us have a normal body temperature lower than that, so it's important to know what 'normal' is for you. My husband's, for example, runs steadily at about 97.7. Most adults are considered feverish when their temperature hits 100 F. Fever often elevates in the late afternoon or early evening which makes that the best time to check it. 

Cough
A cough is another warning sign: 68% of those infected. But it's not just any cough. Dr. William Schaffner from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine says it's not a tickle in your throat or the urge to clear your throat. It's a dry cough that you feel in your chest. 

Difficulty breathing
With coronavirus, shortness of breath can occur with or without a cough and can be a significant and dangerous warning sign. Doctors warn that you should seek medical attention if your chest gets tight or you start feeling as if you can't breathe deeply enough to get a good breath. The CDC also lists persistent pain or pressure in the chest, bluish lips or face indicating a lack of oxygen, and any sudden mental confusion, lethargy or inability to rouse as serious conditions that warrant calling 911 immediately.

Three new potential warning signs
The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery issued a report saying that losing the ability to smell, called anosmia, or the ability to taste, known as disgeusia, and conjunctivitis, a highly contagious condition also known as pink eye, are also potential warning signs. Anosmia in particular has been seen in patients without any other symptoms who test positive for COVID-19. 

Conjunctivitis isn't a case of everyday bloodshot eyes. Chelsey Earnest, a nurse on the frontlines of hard-hit Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington, said her coronavirus-infected patients looked almost like they had red eye shadow on the outside of their eyes. Data from elsewhere indicates that it's a much rarer indicator, but it could be one more sign to seek medical attention if you also have other tell-tale symptoms.

In the meantime, self-isolate as much as you possibly can. Make no unnecessary trips and keep washing your hands thoroughly — at least 20 seconds, making lots and lots of lather. 

By Kelly Sargent

We all touch our faces multiple times an hour without even realizing we're doing it . . . scratching little itches, brushing hair out of our field of vision or crumbs off fromour lips or rubbing our eyes. That’s a problem when there’s an extremely infectious disease on the loose. 

When we’re out in the world, at work or shopping or any public place, we touch all sorts of things scores of other people have touched before we got there. The microbes they left on the doorknob, light switch, handle, elevator button, shopping cart, card reader or whatever it was, are transferred to our hands, and from our hands to other parts of our bodies, particularly our faces. 

Face-touching is a hard habit to break because we all do it so unconsciously, but we should try to minimize it as much as we can. The CDC says that In addition to frequent, thorough hand washing (click here for the proper technique) and social distancing, not touching our faces — in particular eyes, nose and mouth — is another important precaution we can take to avoid being infected with the coronavirus.

Here are some tips to help minimize that involuntary, face-touching reflex.

— Identify triggers. For example if you tend to rub your eyes because they’re dry, try using moisturizing eyedrops. If wearing contact lenses makes you more disposed to rubbing your eyes, consider switching to glasses.

— Keep a box of pop-up tissues within sight and easy reach. When you get the urge to rub your nose, scratch an itch or any other face-touching activity, use a tissue to do it. 

— Apply strongly-scented lotion or essential oil such as lavender or eucalyptus to your hands. Your nose will tell you when your hands are getting close to your face. 

— Keep your hands busy doing something else. If your work leaves one or both hands free for stretches of time, for example when you’re talking on the phone, get a stress ball, fidget-spinner or some other hand-held object to keep your hands occupied.

— Breathe. Anxiety and stress tend to make anyone antsy and restless. Meditation or focused breathing can help you still your body and mind.

— Keep washing your hands! If you forget and rub your nose or your eyes, if your hands are freshly washed, you’ll be fine. No need to obsess. Just be thoughtful and careful.

By Erin Tucker

We’re all living in a new reality that’s for sure! I’m referring of course to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As we’ve been urged and encouraged, it's important for all of us to take care of ourselves and support one another until this passes. 

Since government has advised the public not to gather in groups larger than 10 and make only absolutely necessary trips out for food, prescriptions, gas or medical attention, we’re all probably spending a lot more time at home.

In light of that, we’ll be posting a bit more frequently, sharing useful tips and perhaps a suggestion or two to help you pass the time.

As you heard and read over and over again, one of the most effective preventatives is washing your hands. But as you’ve also been couseled, you need to not only do it often, and you have to do a thorough job if it.

Here’s the hand-washing technique that health care professionals are taught to use:

1. Wet your hands using warm, running water.
2. Add soap.
3. During the hand washing process, rub your hands vigorously for a minimum of 20 seconds, making lots of lather while  paying special attention to the backs of your hands, wrists, in between your fingers and underneath your fingernails. 
4. Rinse well while leaving the water running.
5. With the water continuing to run, use a single-use towel and pat your hands dry.
6. Turn off the water faucet using the paper towel covering your clean hands.
7. If you have to operate a door knob to leave the room where you’ve just washed your hands, use the paper towel to turn the knob.

We’ll be back again with you soon. In the meantime, keep your spirits up and your hands washed.

By Kelly Sargent

Every four years there's a presidential election in the United States. Here's what also happens every four years: we get an extra day in February. 

These quadrennial years known as leap years just happen to coincide with election years. Oh joy; one more day to be subjected to campaign ads. 

This extra day is called a leap day and is added to February because it's the shortest month of the year. The additional day is necessary in order to make our calendar year match up with the solar year. 

It takes the Earth 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 45 seconds to go around the sun, but the Gregorian calendar we use only contains 365 days. If we didn't add an extra day every fourth year, we would lose almost six hours a year. After 25 years our calendar would be off six days, and after a hundred years, we'd be off by 24 days.

Not every country uses the Gregorian calendar, though. Afghanistan, Iran, Ethiopia and Nepal have their own. Bangladesh, India and Israel use both the Gregorian and their own, and Taiwan, Thailand, North Korea and Japan use modified versions of the Gregorian calendar.

Because leap day is an every-four-year oddity, it's not surprising that superstitions, rituals and traditions have arisen around it. In Scotland it used to be considered unlucky to be born on leap day. In Greece segments of the population believe it's bad luck to get married not just on February 29, but the whole of leap year. It gets even more dire: Greek couples who separate and divorce during leap year allegedly will never find happiness again. Yikes!

On a brighter note, according to tradition it's permissible for women to propose to men on leap day. I've never understood why women have to wait for men to propose in the first place, but that's another story. 

Irish legend claims that we have St. Brigid to thank for that window of opportunity. Born in the year 451, she supposedly complained to St. Patrick that women had to wait too long for marriage proposals, and he obliged by giving women one day to turn the tables and propose.

In some places leap day is known as Bachelors’ Day. Hypothetically, 1000 years after St. Brigid altered the rules, Margaret, Queen of Scotland, enacted a law that required any man who refused a marriage proposal from a woman on leap day to pay a penalty. In the upper classes, the reparation was purportedly a dozen pairs of gloves for the spurned woman to use to hide the embarrassment of not wearing a wedding or engagement ring.

We've never been asked to pursue recourse for nonpayment of 12 pairs of gloves, but if a statute exists supporting the claim, we'd be game to try. Happy leap day.

By Kelly Sargent

If you're like many of us, you may have made New Year's resolutions . . . and already broken them. 

You're not alone. According to University of Scranton psychology professor  John C. Norcross  who has studied resolutions for decades, about 40% of Americans will make New Year's resolutions, and six months later 60% will have failed. 

But hey, that means 40% will still be on track in June. Not bad. Here are some tips to help you beat the odds.

1. Turn down the heat
Do yourself a favor and take the pressure off by not making January 1 a do-or-die start date. Good for you for aiming for personal improvement, but the start of the New Year isn’t your one and only opportunity to set goals. You can resolve to alter your habits and improve your life at any time. Putting so much emphasis on an arbitrary date just adds to the stress already inherent in change.

2. Set realistic goals
In resolving to make changes in your life, it’s crucial for you to take your own individual personality and inclinations into account. You’re the the person who’s embarking on this new course, not someone else or some fictionalized version of yourself — so don’t set yourself up for failure by making resolutions predicated on forcing yourself to do things contrary to your nature. In other words, don’t resolve to run a marathon if you hate running! Making the activities in pursuit of your goal as enjoyable as possible will help you stick to your plan. If your goal is to get more aerobic exercise and find running monumentally boring — which I admit I do, try taking up tennis, racquetball or something else that involves constant motion.

3. Make your goals specific and measurable
In a recent article, CNN author Katia Hetter pointed out that people often think they lack motivation when the problem is really a lack of clarity. "If you want to eat better, be specific. Resolve to add a fruit or vegetable to your lunch every day or limit fast food to once a week.” If your goal is to finally write that book you’ve been talking about for years, break it down to a specific, realistically-attainable goal of writing one page a day. Without a clearly defined and measurable objective, how can you tell if you’re getting anywhere? And if you can’t see progress, you’re much more likely to give up.

4. Pursue change one step at a time
If you’re embarking on a major lifestyle overhaul that involves multiple course corrections: let’s say you decided you want to cut down on your sugar intake, reduce alcohol consumption, get more exercise and spend less time in front of the television. Instead of taking on all of those challenges at once, try focussing on one goal a month or every quarter. For example, step one: spend a month adapting to your new limit of two glasses of wine a week. Step two: Stick to the new alcohol limit and add 20 minutes of weight-lifting a day for the next month. Step three: Continue adhering to the new parameters you've adopted over the last two months and cut sugar consumption to one donut a week . . . and so on. Layering change is easier than trying to take on multiple resets all at once.

5. Forget perfection
It’s impossible not to make mistakes from time to time . . . to have a lapse in will- or won’t-power once in awhile. As a matter of fact, the quest for perfection in itself probably isn’t healthy. Besides, if you were capable of being perfect, you wouldn’t have to be making resolutions in the first place, so do yourself a favor, and don’t turn your pursuit of improvement into an all or nothing exploit. Accept at the onset that you are going to have off days and lapses, and above all, don't confuse temporary setbacks with failure. Your goal is steady progress. If you suffer a lapse, put it behind you immediately and go right back to checking off the specific, measurable, incremental steps that will lead to the longterm improvement you're after.

Well, that’s it for today from your friends at Tucker Law. Now I’m off to put in my half hour of cardio followed by writing one more page of my book.

By Kelly Sargent





Few months offer as many celebrations as December. With permission from and thanks to WorldStrides, here's a look at some of this month’s holidays from around the world.


Christmas
Arguably the most widely known of December holidays, Christmas traditions vary around the world. While Americans celebrate with Christmas trees, visits from Santa Claus, and dreams of snowy landscapes, Christmas falls during Australia’s summer, where it is popular to go camping or to the beach over the holiday. Some Australians decorate a “Christmas Bush,” a native Australian tree with small green leaves and flowers that turn red during the summer.

In England, Christmas traditions are similar to those in the United States, but instead of leaving milk and cookies for Santa Claus, children leave mince pies and brandy for Father Christmas.

In Iceland, capital city Reykjavik turns into a winter wonderland with its Christmas markets, and for the children there’s not one but thirteen Santas, known as Yule Lads. One arrives each night in the thirteen days before Christmas, leaving small gifts in shoes left in window sills.

Hanukkah
Hanukkah, or Chanukah, is an eight-day Jewish celebration that commemorates the re-dedication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem following the Maccabean Revolt. Those who took part in the re-dedication witnessed what they believed to be a miracle. Even though there was only enough untainted oil to keep the menorah’s candles burning for a single day, the flames continued to burn for eight nights.

Also known as the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah begins on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar. Celebrations revolve around lighting the menorah. On each of the holiday’s eight nights, another candle is added to the menorah after sundown. The ninth candle, called the shamash (helper), is used to light the others. Typically, blessings are recited and traditional Hanukkah foods such as potato pancakes (latkes) and jam-filled donuts (sufganiyot) are fried in oil. Other Hanukkah customs include playing with dreidels and exchanging gifts.

Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 after the Watts riots in Los Angeles. He founded US, a cultural organization, and researched African “first fruit” (harvest) celebrations. From there, he combined aspects of several different harvest celebrations to form the basis of Kwanzaa.

The name Kwanzaa comes from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits” in Swahili. Each family celebrates Kwanzaa in its own way, but celebrations often include songs and dances, African drums, storytelling, poetry reading, and a large traditional meal. On each of the seven nights, families gather and a child lights one of the candles on the Kinara, then one of the seven principles, values of African culture, is discussed. An African feast, called a Karamu, is held on December 31.

Boxing Day
Only recognized in a few countries, Boxing Day originated in the United Kingdom during the Middle Ages and is celebrated on December 26. It is so named because it’s the day when the alms box, collection boxes for the poor often kept in churches, were opened and their content distributed, a tradition that still takes place in some areas. It was also the day servants were traditionally given the day off to celebrate Christmas with their families.

Boxing Day has now become a public holiday in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, among other countries. In England, soccer matches and horse races often take place on Boxing Day.

The Irish refer to the holiday as St. Stephen’s Day, and they have their own tradition called hunting the wren in which boys fasten a fake wren to a pole and parade it through town. The Bahamas celebrate Boxing Day with a street parade and festival called Junkanoo.

However you and your family celebrate (or don’t) all of us at Tucker Law wish you every good thing.

 By Erin Tucker

This year, as every year, we're grateful to our clients, past and present, for trusting us to represent them in matters of concern in their lives. Wherever you are, on T-Day, we hope that you will be safe, warm, well fed and surrounded by loving souls — whether two- or four-footed.

And speaking of the four-footed variety, what could be more fun than watching Teddy Bear, the ‘talking’ porcupine munching on miniature pumpkins and telling us all about it. Although filmed at Halloween, it's still perfect for Thanksgiving. Have a great time  overeating . . . but maybe not raw pumpkin.

By Kelly Sargent

Everyone at Tucker Law gets excited for Halloween, especially me. I love getting to be someone else for a day. 
​
My husband Paul and I have had great fun dressing up over the years: murderous bride and murdered bride groom, Sonny and Cher, presidential candidates, tub of pop corn and a bottle of Tobasco sauce, cheerleader and a football player, except we reversed roles entirely; he was the cheerleader in a wig, skirt and pompoms, and I was the football player complete with shoulder pads, uniform and helmet.
​ 
Once I dressed in a nun’s habit, accurate to the last detail. As I went about my day, I forgot what I looked like, and pretty much literally put the fear of God into two 12-year-old boys who were tearing around an office supply store where I’d stopped. I gave them a stern look, possibly accented with a foot tap, and wow, did they ever calm down.

Later that afternoon, I popped by a friend’s daughter’s house to drop off a baby gift. I knew that she was still in the hospital, but I’d forgotten that her husband had never met me. When he answered the door, I swished in saying, “I’ve brought some things for the new baby.” The poor guy looked like a guppy gasping for air.

I said all this to make sure you know I’m not dissing Halloween. I’m a fan.

I do feel duty-bound to warn you, however, that Halloween and Beggars’ Night — in some places, Des Moines included, they don't necessarily coincide — pose risks for your children and your home and property.

For example, Halloween brings 17% more crime-related insurance claims than any other day of the year, including theft and vandalism. 

Here are some preventative measures.

• Clear an easy path for trick-or-treaters to get to your doorstep to avoid liability suits
• Make sure your home is well-lit and shows some activity to deter vandals and break-ins 
• Use timers inside and outside of your home, garage and sheds
• Don’t leave lit candles unattended inside a pumpkin or anywhere else 
• Put your car(s) in your garage, if you have one

And here are Halloween safety tips from Safe Kids Worldwide to prevent your children from becoming a statistic. 

Trick-or-treat with children who are under 12 years of age
If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision make sure they

• Trick or treat in groups and stick to areas that are familiar and well lit     
• Never go into a stranger's home alone
• Cross streets at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks
• Look left, right and left again before crossing and keep looking while they cross
• Put electronic devices down
• Walk, don’t run across the street
• Never dart into the street or cross between parked cars

Ensure their attire is as safe as possible by

• Decorating costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers
• Using face paint and makeup instead of masks, which can obstruct vision
• Having kids carry glow sticks or flash lights to help them see and be seen
• Choosing costumes that aren’t too big to prevent trips and falls

Just have fun this Halloween, although you might want to make an effort not to frighten unsuspecting husbands and children.

By Erin Tucker

September means that school is once again in session, perhaps already for several weeks by now where you live.

Although July and August are the most accident-prone months of the year, the school year brings with it an additional set of risks for your family.

According to Stanford University Children’s Health and School Transportation News, more than 23 million elementary and secondary school children ride a bus to and from school, and each year about 17,000 of them are treated in emergency rooms for bus-related injuries. Thankfully, most of the injuries are minor: sprains, strains, scrapes or bruises. Still an average of seven children die in school bus crashes every year, and 19 are killed getting on and off the bus.

Most victims are aged five to seven, run down in the bus danger zone — 10 feet in front of the bus, 10 feet behind it and 10 feet on either side — hit either by the bus or by a passing vehicle. Afternoons are more dangerous than mornings, and fully 38% of school bus fatalities occur in a one-hour time period: between 3 and 4 PM.

To protect children, some bus companies have added a mechanical arm that keeps children a certain distance from the bus, and some school districts have mounted cameras on their buses to record motorists who fail to stop for a school bus. (Remember, in Iowa it’s illegal to pass a school bus from behind with red or yellow flashing lights.)

Parents can help prevent accidents by keeping a watchful eye on children who are waiting for or getting off a bus and by teaching them to always walk far enough forward to be visible to the driver before attempting to cross the street and never walk behind the bus.

So is it safer to drive your children to school? Statistically, the answer is no.

According to analysis by the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration, riding the bus is 20 times safer than being driven by their parents, and it's 50 times safer for students to travel by bus than either driving themselves or riding with other teenagers. Specifically, about 500 students are killed each year in passenger vehicles during the hours of school-related travel — 6 to 9 AM and 2 to 5 PM.  Almost 75% of those fatalities involve teenage drivers.

Speaking of teenagers, there are five teen pedestrian deaths every week in the US. While teens aged 15 to 19 make up about 26% of all children, they make up about half of the pedestrian fatalities, much of it caused by distracted walking.

The organization, Safe Kids, conducted a study in 2016, observing 39,000 middle school and high school students and 56,000 drivers in school zones. Unsafe street crossing was observed in about 80% of the students, and unsafe drop-off or pick-up behavior was observed in nearly a third of the drivers! Parents can help by being extra cautious in school zones and by emphasizing to their children how vital it is to stop and look in all directions before crossing any street.

So once again, we say be careful!! And if you need us, we’re here.