CMSAF Cody Joins Retiree Council
Retired CMSAF Jim Cody has succeeded retired CMSAF Rod McKinley as co-chair of the Air Force Retiree Council. Chief Cody joins co-chair Lt. Gen. (Ret) Jim Hoog. The 18-member council, established in 1972, meets annually at Randolph AFB, Tex. Members represent geographic areas of the country and the pacific and European areas. Maj. (Ret) Lisa Forester, a volunteer in the Retiree Activities Office at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, is the area representative. There are two at-large positions. At the completion of the meeting, the co-chairs report council findings to Air Force Chief of Staff David Goldfein
Instant Medical Assistance
The Nurse Advice Line (NAL) is a great evaluation tool for those seeking care or who have medical questions. The telephone hotline provides instant access to a team of registered nurses who can answer urgent and acute healthcare questions. The NAL provides Tricare beneficiaries an assessment of their symptoms and what next steps they should take. To provide the highest level of care, the NAL needs to speak to the patient or have the patient present during the call. Without the patient’s presence, RN’s cannot give an accurate assessment or advice. Having access to a trusted medical professional at a moment’s notice is invaluable. Call 1800 874-2273, option 1, for your urgent medical needs, 24/7.
Secondhand Smoke is Deadly
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that secondhand smoke exposure causes more than 41,000 deaths each year from heart disease and lung cancer among non-smoking adults. Secondhand smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including 70 that have been linked to cancer. Young children are most affected. This is especially true for children that live in a household where one or both parents smoke cigarettes at home. Common symptoms in children exposed to secondhand smoke include ear infections, severe asthma attacks and respiratory problems. Tricare covers tobacco cessation counseling, nicotine replacement therapies and prescription drugs.
The Retiree Activities Office is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please consider joining the volunteer staff. Visit the office in Building 1604 at California and Colorado Avenues or call 301 981-2726. Call to ensure a volunteer is on duty. The RAO website is www.andrews.af.mil.