New Resources Critical for Stroke Recovery

The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA), the world’s leading voluntary organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke has developed new stroke rehabilitation tools for healthcare professionals and clinical providers, to help stroke patients achieve the best recovery outcomes and quality of life possible.The tools, which are developed through the AHA/ASA’s Together to End Stroke initiative,

leverage recommendations from the first-ever, AHA/ASA issued Adult Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery Guidelines for healthcare providers, and call for intensive, multidisciplinary treatment.The Healthcare Provider tool-kit includes recommendations in the following areas (and more):* The Rehab Program* Prevention and Medical Management of Comorbidities* Transition in Care and Community InterventionsThe Patient and Caregiver toolkit is also available and includes:* Patient guide to making good rehab decisions, such as what to expect in medical rehab and how to choose the right rehab facility.* Patient quick sheet to rehab planning to ask the right questions at the hospital,

before discharge, for rehab providers and questions family members should be asking.Together to End Stroke, which is nationally sponsored by Kindred Rehabilitation Services, elevates awareness that stroke is largely beatable through high-quality rehabilitation, patient support and implementation of the AHA/ASA’s Stroke Rehabilitation and Recovery Guidelines."The science of stroke rehabilitation is advancing rapidly, due to the development of new technology, and stroke outcomes are improving as a result," says Dr. Mitchell Elkind, chair of the American Stroke Association and professor of Neurology and Epidemiology at Columbia University.

Stroke is a leading cause of serious disability. But there’s increasing evidence that rehabilitation can have a big impact on a survivors’ quality of life. In many cases, survivors regain skills and return to independent living. However, many survivors do not receive the appropriate level and amount of rehabilitation services needed to maximize recovery."Stroke is largely preventable, increasingly treatable, and, now more than ever, beatable. With the AHA/ASA and its alliances putting more strategic efforts in place, all of us can provide better care, which can translate into fewer stroke recurrences and less disability in stroke survivors," says Elkind.For more information and to access the free rehabilitation and recovery resources for healthcare

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Help for Homeowners On the Hook for Billions in Hurricane Damages

And now comes the arduous task of rebuilding hundreds of thousands of houses destroyed or damaged by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.And with it, alas, the realization by all too many homeowners that they’re the ones on the hook for the cost of a large chunk of their own repair work.The main reason? In a word: flooding.While areas like the Florida Keys were decimated by winds that reached 130 mph — a quarter of all houses there were demolished and another 65 percent suffered major damage — a lot of the wreckage from this summer’s double wallop came from floodwaters. And since homeowners’ insurance policies typically cover wind and hail but exclude (you guessed it) flood damage.

Well, even given the miscellany of federal, state and local aid programs out there, you can see why some estimate the total out-of-pocket costs for Texas and Florida homeowners at $28 billion and $13.1 billion respectively."There’s going to be a huge uninsured economic loss here," Pete Mills, a senior vice president at the Mortgage Bankers Association, has said.As in past emergencies, fellow Americans immediately joined a long list of companies like Apple, Verizon, and Chevron in donating truckloads of money, clothes, and other products to help with the relief efforts.One of the latest corporate initiatives seems especially apt, given all those houses that need to be rebuilt.In what it says is a first-of-its kind program for them,

GAF, North America’s largest roofing manufacturer, is offering a special financing program for homeowners in need of roof repairs in FEMA-designated areas for individual assistance of Texas, Florida, and Georgia. Through November 30, 2017, they can take advantage of zero percent interest over 36 months of equal payments."The hurricanes have had a devastating impact on so many people," said Jim Schnepper, president of GAF. "We recognize that restoring communities begins with getting homeowners back into their homes as quickly as possible, with a roof they can trust to protect the things that matter most in their lives."Know that the financing is available only through GAF factory-certified contractors, who can be located through the company’s website at gaf.com/rebuild.

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Solving A Major Problem in Additive Manufacturing

A new approach to making everything from jet engines to toys, called 3D printing, is creating a revolution in manufacturing — and a small company called Sigma Labs, Inc (NASDAQ:SGLB) has an enabling technology that can make it happen.In traditional manufacturing, companies start with metal or other materials, then cut, shape or drill the material to get the finished products.In the late 1980s, however, researchers at MIT came up with a radical new idea. Instead of cutting material away, why not build things by adding layer after successive layer? The method they developed was similar to printing ink onto paper, only in three dimensions.

3D printing, also called "additive manufacturing," is now becoming big business. GE Aviation uses it to build jet engine fuel nozzles, for instance, instead of welding together 20 small pieces. Technology Review recently named additive manufacturing one of its 10 "Breakthrough Technologies."But 3D printing turns out to have a major challenge: It’s extraordinarily difficult to build identical top-quality parts every single time. In fact, Sigma Labs has now solved this problem, ensuring that every part and product is built correctly.How?

The company uses sensors to measure key parameters such as the temperatures of the material as each layer is deposited. Then it uses sophisticated algorithms to process the data, and to determine if the resulting part meets customer quality standards."When we monitor every layer, for every part, we can tell if it’s a good part," explains John Rice, CEO of Sigma Labs.Sigma has installed its PrintRite 3D system at 3D manufacturing facilities for more than a dozen key companies, such as Siemens, Honeywell, Woodward, and Pratt & Whitney.Rice envisions that, once the technology is proven in actual operations, Sigma’s patent-protected approach may fuel explosive growth in 3D printing, and become an essential part of 3D metal manufacturing operations, dreaming of "Sigma Inside," such as Intel chips in personal computers."This has the potential to be a major transformative technology by enabling the leap to volume AM metal production," says Rice.

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How to Increase Your Savings on Your Terms

"You need to save money." You tell yourself this. Others tell you this too. However, according to the 2015 FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households*, approximately nine million U.S. households don’t use any type of bank account to save their money. Since banks tend to offer similar products and services, even those who do save often don’t see a need to explore their options. Understanding the ins and outs of saving for the future is the first step to becoming a successful saver.It’s important to note that all savings accounts are not created equal. Online bank accounts often offer higher yields than traditional bank branches, with savings account interest rates and certificate of deposit (CD) interest rates that are higher than the national average annual

percentage yield (APY).For instance, Goldman Sachs Bank USA (GS Bank) empowers consumers to save by offering a high yield savings account and CDs to help achieve savings goals, while at the same time providing the convenience and the security of a traditional bank. Additional advantages include no minimum deposit required to open an account, no transactions fees and only a $1 balance required to earn the APY associated with an account. With the backing of Goldman Sachs, GS Bank customers have access to a range of savings products that will help them save, as well as the expertise of a 148-year-old financial institution.Digital alternatives to traditional banking don’t have the

overhead that comes with managing branches and are therefore able to be more competitive with their rates, providing consumers with a realistic way to accumulate savings with higher interest rates and a stronger financial portfolio.Accumulating savings can be difficult at any age. Here are some small steps that can make a big difference in the long run:Make a budget: If you don’t know what you’re spending each month, start paying attention. Track your spending for a few months and make a budget to live by. Track the money you save by eliminating unnecessary spending and put it right into your online savings account.Split-deposit paychecks: Consider having your employer split-deposit

your paycheck to your checking account and a separate high-yield savings account. This way, saving becomes automatic and because your savings account is separate, you might be less tempted to spend it.Manage spending: For instance, you could save money by bringing your lunch. If, for example, you average $8 a day for lunch at work, that’s $40 per week and $2,000 per year. It adds up. If you were to bring your lunch from home for about $2 per day, you could achieve a savings of $1,500 per year to add to your savings account. Homemade sandwiches taste pretty good when you’re watching your savings grow.Sock your money away: Once you accumulate significant savings, you may want to

move some of your savings to an FDIC-insured fixed-rate CD account to lock in an interest rate. A CD is a type of savings tool that offers a higher rate than most standard savings accounts. Generally, there is little risk and most typically don’t have monthly fees.Keep your savings safe and secure: Consider keeping all or a portion of your core savings in an FDIC-insured bank. This can mean keeping your money in savings or CD accounts that are insured by the FDIC up to the maximum allowed by law. According to the FDIC**, since the FDIC was established in 1933, no depositor has lost a penny of FDIC-insured funds. For more information about FDIC deposit insurance coverage

and limits, visit FDIC.gov/deposit.As you work towards achieving your savings goals, you can learn more about savings strategies and financial insights from GS Bank by visiting www.GSBank.com. Have additional questions? You’ll find someone to connect with at 1-855-730-SAVE (7283). Start saving more right now to make a difference for your future.*2015 FDIC National Survey of Unbanked and Underbanked Households (link to: https://www.fdic.gov/householdsurvey/) **According to the FDIC (link to: https://www.fdic.gov/deposit/deposits/) **According to the 2015 FDIC

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Parents Get Help Coaching Teen Drivers from Michelin, NFL Star

As a parent, there is no shortage of things to worry about when it comes to your kids. If you have teenagers, that anxiety can rise even more, especially when they start to drive.Car crashes remain the top killer of teenagers in the United States, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.To bring awareness of teen driver safety among teens and parents, top tire manufacturer Michelin has teamed up with football legend -; father of a teen driver -; Emmitt Smith in an educational campaign,

"Coaching Your Teen Driver.""As parents, we play a critical role in coaching our teens to be safe drivers," Smith says in a statement announcing the campaign in conjunction with National Teen Driver Safety Week."Keeping a cool head on the road starts with a strategy and a plan -; that’s where Michelin’s resources for coaching your teen driver can help."The campaign features a downloadable handbook that includes practical road safety advice for coaches and trainees, as well as a series of "offensive" and "defensive" driving plays to master with your teen driver.Offense: The handbook’s offensive driving plays are designed to build new drivers’ confidence on the road. Offensive plays include adjusting mirrors for maximum visibility,

as well as changing lanes, passing other cars and merging smoothly onto highways safely and with confidence.Defense: Defensive driving maneuvers are essential for safety on the road. The handbook reinforces key defensive driving plays, such as how to manage tailgaters, drive safely near large trucks, keep a safe following distance and respond to changes in road conditions due to weather or other factors."The handbook also emphasizes critical tips for coaches -; such as knowing when to call a "time out" and pull over when stress levels rise, and the importance of conducting a "post-game analysis"

with your teen after the driving lesson to review what went well and where they can still improve.In addition, a section on basic vehicle and tire maintenance includes information that teens should know to stay safe on the road, but that often are not taught in drivers’ education classes."Sharing even simple tips with teens, like how to maintain tires, could result in a few extra feet of stopping distance that could mean the difference between life and death," Scott Clark, chief operating officer for Michelin North America says in the statement.Find more driving and tire safety information for teens – and download the full Coach’s Handbook

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