Associates Today

Your Good Health:
MYTHS & FACTS ABOUT THE FLU

It’s not too early to think about the 2019-2020 flu season, which can begin in the Fall and last well into Spring. Here are a few myth-busters, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention:

MYTH: I don’t need a flu shot.
FACT: Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you, including those who are more vulnerable to serious flu illnesses.

MYTH: The flu is just a bad cold.
FACT: The flu may cause cold symptoms (see below for a list), but influenza is a serious disease that can even be fatal for normally healthy adults.

MYTH: Antibiotics can fight the flu.
FACT: Antibiotics can only fight BACTERIAL infections. The flu is a VIRAL infection, so antibiotics have no effect on it.

MYTH: You can get the flu from the vaccine.
FACT: The vaccine is made from an inactivated or weakened virus that can not cause the flu illness.

Who is most at-risk for serious effects from the flu?
→ Adults 65 and over
→ Pregnant women
→ Young children
→ People with Asthma, Diabetes, Cancer, HIV/AIDS
→ Heart and Stroke patients

Flu symptoms:
→ Fever of feeling feverish/chills (but note that not everyone may get a fever)
→ Cough
→ Sore throat
→ Runny or stuffy nose
→ Muscle or body aches
→ Headaches
→ Fatigue
→ Some patients may have vomiting or diarrhea, but that is more common in children than adults

The World Health Organization selects the vaccine components to protect against the three or four viruses that research suggests will be the most common for the coming flu season.

REASONS TO JOIN THE ANHEUSER-BUSCH CREDIT UNION

Credit unions exist to help people and were first established to help the unserved and underserved in the community.

In a nutshell: Credit unions exist to help people. We’re member-owned, which means any dividends we make go right back to the members (that’s you). We don’t believe in shareholders or adding fees, and we never will.

Big banks create a facade that they have convenience because they’re everywhere, but that’s simply not true. With the help of the cooperative network, you can do your financial business at almost any Co-Op credit union same as you would at your hometown location.

Credit unions are not-for-profit, member-owned financial institutions that exist to serve the financial needs of our communities. We’re governed in a democratic way by a volunteer board of directors who are also credit union members.

Perks of Being a Credit Union Member

Finding better rates and lower fees.
Because stakeholders are members, credit unions are typically able to offer higher interest rates on savings and deposit accounts and lower interest rates on loan products and credit cards.

There’s a wide variety of financial services available.
Credit unions offer a variety of financial services. From credit cards (with great rates) to auto, home, or student loans, credit unions have many of the same products available that banks do.

Credit unions are happy to share free, financial education resources.
Credit unions want to make managing money easier.

Our Credit Union resource center has topics such as:
→ How to build a better budget.
→ Mortgage answers and advice.
→ Ways to begin and grow your investments.
→ Retirement tips, like when to collect social security.
→ The cooperative network makes us different.
→ Cooperative: adjective: Working or acting together willingly for a common purpose or benefit.
→ Cooperative: noun. Jointly owned enterprise engaging in the production or distribution of goods or the supplying of services, operated by its members for their mutual benefit, typically organized by consumer farmers.

And we’re protected by the NCUA
Credit unions are protected by the NCUA (National Credit Union Administration), an independent federal agency created by Congress to regulate, charter, and supervise federal credit unions. The NCUA insures up to $250,000 for anyone with a checking account, savings account, money market account, or certificate of deposit (CD). Higher amounts may be insured depending on the account.

What does it take to join a credit union?
The online application process should take about 10 minutes. All you need is $5, your ID and social security number. (And any current account information you’d like to transfer if applicable.) Additional questions about credit unions or credit union membership? Send us an email.

Become a part of the Credit Union Difference.
Questions about opening an account or just want to learn more about our loans, mortgages, and other services? Contact Teresa Evans at tevans@abecu.org or reach our Columbus branch at 1-614-888-2299.