Saul isn’t only a good boy– he’s also an excellent rescuer. Saul is a border collie who led a search-and-rescue team directly to his injured owner.

The 53-year-old Nevadan had plunged 70 feet down a steep slope in the Tahoe Forest. The fall broke the man’s hip and some ribs. The next day, he managed to crawl his way to a patch of cell service and call for help.

Search and Rescue pinged the location of his last call, while a friend of the victim advised them, “Look for Saul.”

As it turns out, Saul would’ve been hard for the rescuers to miss. While searching the remote country, the black and white border collie ran up to them and began jumping up and down and spinning around in circles.

Saul had run about 200 yards away through the woods to find the Search and Rescue team. And, just like Lassie, led them to his owner. Saul’s rescue of his owner was so quick that the man was airlifted to a hospital within eight hours of when he first called 911.

According to Sgt. Dennis Haack of the Nevada Country Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, “At first, we didn’t believe it because it sounded like a movie. When they came back and described it to us, the reality was that they had followed the dog directly to the victim.” With a smile, Haack adds, “Great work and skill by all involved.”

The team got a helicopter to the scene and transported the man to a hospital for his traumatic injuries. While his owner received treatment, Saul was taken to the nearby town of Grass Valley where he “was given lots of treats and a well-deserved dinner,” Haack said.

Saul was reunited with his very grateful owner the following day.

While Saul’s efforts to aid rescuers to save his owner are invaluable, the expense of emergency medical transportation can still cost thousands of dollars. A Medical Air Services Association (MASA) plan can protect you from catastrophic financial loss when emergencies arise at home or while traveling by covering your ambulance or airlift, regardless of your age or medical condition. Services are paid in full, with no deductibles, co-pays, or dollar limits. MASA provides coverage in all 50 states and Canada. NCRGEA and AMBA make getting a MASA plan easy. You can even sign up online. Learn more at www.ambamedtransport.com/ncrgea or call 800-956-1228.

Source: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-07-18/dog-leads-rescue-team-to-injured-owner-in-tahoe forest#:~:text=Saul%20eventually%20led%20them%20to,in%20the%20Tahoe%20National%20Forest.

Two words that are rarely found side by side are “healthy” and “soda”. You were probably told time and time again as a child (and have gone on to tell your children and maybe grandchildren) that sodas aren’t the best things to consume for your dental health. These beverages, and other high sugar drinks, are certainly tasty and refreshing, but can have a harmful effect for waistlines or teeth, especially if enjoyed daily.

But there’s good news! According to recent studies, root beer is the least harmful soda when it comes to your teeth. One of the most prevalent myths surrounding tooth decay is that sugar causes it. While sugar does play a role in the formation of cavities, it’s not the sugar itself that leads to decay.

Yes, regularly consuming soda can cause dental erosion, as well as enamel loss. However, the real reason is that most sodas contain acids, most notably citric and phosphoric acid. In fact, some of the most popular sodas have an acidity ranking higher than battery acid! Battery acid has a pH level of 1.0, while some soft drinks ranked as high as 2.52.

Not only should you feel concerned with drinking sodas, but carbonated drinks in general. Sparkling water is a huge hit in the market right now. Would you be surprised to learn that may of the most popular brands of sparkling water have a pH between 3 and 4?

Is Root Beer Healthy for Teeth?

Although root beer is widely grouped in with other sodas, it has a significant difference: it rarely has any traces of citric or phosphoric acid. This makes root beer healthier for teeth when compared to typical colas. Root beer acidity is also much lower than other sodas on the market. It generally has a pH between 4.03 to 4.75 which is far less acidic than other types of sodas. With a lower acidic content, less harm occurs to the enamel. However, just like dark colas, root beer can still cause tooth staining.

Sipping sodas throughout the day is one of the worst things you can do to your teeth. If you can’t give up sodas or other sugary drinks entirely, try to limit them to mealtimes and finish them in one sitting. Following up with a glass of water will help neutralize some of the acids.

Some believe switching to diet or sugar-free sodas is the solution to saving their teeth. However, these alternatives come with their own dangers. They contain acids that erode teeth at the same rate as regular sodas. Sports drinks and juices contain sugar and acids that make them problematic as well. However, soft drinks are ten times more erosive than fruit juices.

Of course, the food and beverages you eat are only part of maintaining a healthy mouth and smile. As the saying goes, “everything in moderation”. Your oral health will probably be fine if you enjoy a soda every once in a while but routine/daily consumption can cause problems.

Along with a twice-daily brushing and routine flossing, to keep your teeth healthy, you need routine professional care. NCRGEA and AMBA offer an excellent Dental Plan with access to any dentist you want with bigger savings by staying in-network. You also get comprehensive coverage with low deductibles, high maximums, and NO WAITING PERIOD for covered services. Sign up now at www.ambadentalvision.com/ncrgea or call 800-956-1228.

Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/03/070320191048.htm

As we get older, it’s normal to notice some vision problems. Issues like difficulty telling colors apart and taking more time to adapt to changes in the amount of light are all too common. Daily activities like looking at a computer screen or exchanging text messages on your phone or spending time outside without protective sunglasses can increase risks for eyestrain and vision problems.

Aging Vision Means Common Vision Problems

As the years tick by, it’s common to have more problems regarding your vision. Many older people find themselves having increased difficulty seeing things up close, distinguishing between colors and noticing more sensitivity to glare and needing more light for specific tasks.

A lot of the problems you might encounter with aging eyes stem from specific conditions. Here are some to keep on your radar.

Presbyopia 

Have you noticed you’re squinting at menus or turning up the brightness to try and read texts on your phone? You might have presbyopia, or age-related farsightedness.

After age 40, most people will deal with some level of gradual loss of their eyes’ ability to focus on nearby objects. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for correcting this issue, from eyeglasses and contacts to surgical solutions.

Age-related macular degeneration 

Age-related macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision problems, including vision loss, in people over 50. This condition affects your central vision but leaves your peripheral vision unchanged. You get AMD when your macula, a key part of your retina, changes. Most people get dry AMD, which causes you to lose your central vision slowly over time.

Dry eyes 

Dry eyes don’t just cause redness, a stinging sensation, and discomfort. The condition can also blur your vision. People of all ages deal with dry eyes, but the issue is most frequent for older people. This is because our bodies make fewer tears as we get older. After age 65, it’s highly likely for people to have some dry eye symptoms.

Fortunately, over-the-counter artificial tears are an easy solution for many people.

Glaucoma 

Glaucoma is a blanket term for a variety of conditions related to damage to the optic nerve that can cause serious vision problems. Open-angle glaucoma, the most common type, usually doesn’t cause symptoms at first, but slowly deteriorates the peripheral vision. Without treatment to relieve the pressure on the optic nerve and prevent further vision loss, the condition can eventually lead to total blindness. 

Cataracts 

More than 50% of Americans over the age of 80 either have cataracts or have had them removed. 

Cataracts are caused by the proteins in the eye start to break down and clump together. Over time, this causes visible cloudiness in the eye and makes vision fuzzy, causes colors to look faded and diminishes night vision.

While different eyeglasses or contact lens prescriptions can help, many eye doctors eventually recommend surgery to remove the cataract. 

Common Vision Problems and Solutions

Aging eyes can mean problems down the road, but with regular eye checkups, your chances of catching problems early on are far greater. A good eye doctor can evaluate your eyes and catch issues early when they’re easiest to treat.  That’s why the Vision Plan from NCRGEA and AMBA is so important. The plan covers annual WellVision exams, 100% coverage for most lenses, even progressives, and thousands of nationwide in-network providers. Sign up today – acceptance is GUARANTEED! – at www.ambadentalvision.com/ncrgea#vision or call 800-956-1228.

Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/presbyopia/symptoms-causes/syc-20363328

https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/glaucoma