Firework Safety

The Fourth of July can be a fun time with great memories. But before your family celebrates, make sure everyone knows about fireworks safety. Each July 4th, thousands of people, most often children and teens, are injured while using consumer fireworks. The risk of fireworks injury is more than twice as high for children ages 10 to 14 as for the general population.

The good news is you can enjoy your holiday risk-free by following a few simple safety tips:

• Kids should never play with fireworks. Even sparklers, can be extremely dangerous- they can reach 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit (hot enough to melt gold).
• If you decide to give children sparklers, make sure they keep them outside and away from the face, clothes and hair.
• Never try to make your own fireworks.
• Always use fireworks outside and make sure to keep water near by in case of accidents.
• Never throw or point fireworks at someone.
• Don’t hold fireworks in your hand or have any part of your body over them while lighting.
• Wear some sort of eye protection
• Avoid carrying fireworks in your pocket – the friction can set them off.
• Light one firework at a time and never relight a dud.
• Soak all fireworks in water before throwing them in the trashcan

In addition to these tips, take a look at the following video for more fireworks safety tips from leading news source HealthWatchMD:

For more information, please visit:

http://www.fireworksafety.com/

National HIV Testing Day

Today is National HIV Testing Day! Each year on June 27, the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) organizes National HIV Testing Day, in partnership with other national and local entities across the country. NAPWA was one of the first AIDS organizations to advocate that people at risk of infection should seek out voluntary HIV counseling and testing.

Today, CDC estimates approximately 21 percent of the 1.3M Americans living with HIV are unaware of their HIV status. NAPWA believes voluntary HIV counseling and testing is a critical first step in taking control and responsibility over one’s health, hence their message: “Take the Test, Take Control.”

One of their big partners is, Greater Than AIDS, who has been running campaigns called “My Deciding Moment.”

They list 5 ways to be greater than AIDS:

1. Know– Get the facts about HIV/AIDS
2. Talk-Start the conversation
3. Protect– Use a condom
4. Get Tested– Find an HIV testing center
5. Take action– Get involved locally

For more information visit:

http://www.napwa.org/

http://www.greaterthan.org/

Home Safety Month

June is Home Safety Month, and this year the Home Safety Council’s theme is “Hands on Home Safety.” The Home Safety Council (HSC) is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing home injuries. HSC suggests simple hands-on steps to create a safer home environment from the five leading causes of home injury: falls, poisonings, fires and burns, choking or suffocation, and drowning.

According to the Home Safety Council, 5.1 million injuries resulted from slips and falls on average each year, with falls accounting for more than one-third of all unintentional home injury deaths.

The Home Safety Council urges families to follow these safe steps:

Prevent Falls:

• Have handrails on both sides of the stairs.

• Make sure handrails go from the top to the bottom of stairs.

• Have lots of lights at the top and the bottom of the stairs.

• It is easy to trip on small rugs.  Tape them to the floor or do not use them at all.

• Keep the stairs clear.

• Have nightlights in the bedroom, hall and bathroom.

• Have a mat or non-slip strips in the tub and shower.

• Have grab bars in the tub and shower.

• Wipe up spills as they happen.

Protect Young Children from Falls

• Use safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs.

• Use a safety gate to prevent falls from balconies.

• Window guards can keep a child from falling out the window.

• Don’t put cribs, beds and other furniture close to upstairs windows.

• Put away ladders and step stools after using them.

• Cover the ground under playground equipment with a thick layer (9-12 inches) of mulch, wood chips or other safety material.

Take a look at this video about preventing hazardous falls from breaking health news website HealthWatchMd:

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For more information, visit:

http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/AboutUs/HSM/au_hsm_w001.asp

Men’s Health Week

Men’s Health Week is celebrated each year as the week leading up to Father’s Day, in hopes of encouraging men and boys to seek regular medical advice and early treatment for disease and injury. According to the CDC, women are 100% more likely to visit the doctor for annual examinations and preventative services than men. On average, American men live sicker and die younger than American women.

Men’s health is truly a family issue because of its impact on mothers, wives, daughters and sisters. So, this week encourage the men and boys in your life to get a checkup and do something good for their bodies!

For more information visit:

http://www.menshealthmonth.org/week/index.html

National Cancer Survivors Day

National Cancer Survivors Day is a worldwide Celebration of Life that is held in hundreds of communities throughout the United States, Canada, and other participating countries. Participants unite in a symbolic event to show the world that life after cancer diagnosis can be meaningful and productive. It is typically held on the first Sunday in June.

The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation defines a “survivor” as anyone living with a history of cancer-from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life.

The National Cancer Survivors Day is a great way for survivors, to celebrate their victory over a serious health threat, with the people that they love and with their communities. It is also a time for continued education, inspiration and encouragement.

For more information, please visit:

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Lupus Awareness Month

Every 30 minutes someone in the United States is diagnosed with Lupus. May is Lupus Awareness Month, so we wanted to help spread awareness of this unpredictable and potentially life threatening disease.

What is Lupus?

Lupus is a chronic, inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the body especially the skin, joints, blood and kidneys.

• Lupus affects mostly women age (15-44), however men, children and teenagers can develop lupus too.
• Women of color are 2-3 times more likely to develop lupus.
• People of all races and ethnic groups can develop lupus.
• Lupus can range from mild to life threatening and should always be treated by a doctor. With good medical care, most people with lupus can lead a full life.
• Lupus is not contagious, not even through sexual contact. You cannot “catch” lupus from someone or “give” lupus to someone.

For more information visit:

http://www.lupus.org/newsite/pages/lupus-awareness-month.html

Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month

The American Academy of Dermatology has designated May as Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month, to raise awareness of melanoma, a potentially fatal skin cancer, and to encourage early detection. Melanoma has a high cure rate, with early detection.

Who gets skin cancer?

Anyone can develop skin cancer, however, Caucasians are at higher risk than people of other races, especially if:

• You have more than 50 moles, large moles or atypical moles.
• A blood relative has had melanoma.
• You have fair skin.
• You have red or blonde hair.
• You have blue or green eyes.
• You have had skin cancer before.
• You have had other cancers, such as breast or thyroid cancer.

We would also like to share this video where real people address their 16-year-old selves by sharing stories about their struggles with Melanoma.

For more information visit:  http://www.melanomamonday.org/

Hepatitis Awareness Month

May is Hepatitis Awareness Month, so we urge everyone to learn what can be done to prevent the spread of hepatitis. Many forms of hepatitis are preventable and many more can be treated if detected early.

What are the common types of viral hepatitis?
In the United States, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C are the most common forms of viral hepatitis. Over 5 million Americans are living with chronic viral hepatitis today and many more who do not know it.

How can hepatitis be prevented? 

Taking the following steps and encouraging others to do the same can prevent viral hepatitis:

• Get vaccinated for hepatitis A and hepatitis B
• Practice good hygiene
• Practice safe sex
• Use only clean needles for tattoos and body piercings
• Do not share needles
• Do not share razors, toothbrushes, or other personal items
• Get medical care if you are exposed to blood or needle sticks

For more information visit:

http://hepatitisfoundation.org/

National Women’s Health Week

Women often serve as caregivers for their families, putting the needs of their spouses, children, and parents before their own. As a result, women’s health and wellbeing becomes secondary. As a community, it is our responsibility to support the important women we know and do everything we can to help them take steps for longer, healthier, and happier lives.

May 8-14 is National Women’s Health Week- a weeklong health observance coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health. National Women’s Health Week empowers women to make their health a top priority. It also encourages them to take steps to improve their physical and mental health and lower their risks of certain diseases. Those steps include:

• Getting at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous physical activity, or a combination of both, each week
• Eating a nutritious diet
• Visiting a health care professional to receive regular checkups and preventive screenings
• Avoiding risky behaviors, such as smoking and not wearing a seatbelt
• Paying attention to mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress

For more information, visit:

http://www.womenshealth.gov/whw

World Asthma Day

World Asthma Day is an annual event organized by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) to improve asthma awareness and care around the world. This year’s event will take place on May 3, and the theme will be “You Can Control Your Asthma.”

The number of patients suffering from asthma has doubled during the last 10 years. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 300 million people are affected and by the year 2025 another 100 million will have the disease.

According to the GINA Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention (2010), asthma control means that a person with asthma has:

• No (or minimal) asthma symptoms.
• No waking at night due to asthma.
• No (or minimal) need to use “reliever” medication.
• The ability to do normal physical activity and exercise.
• Normal (or near-normal) lung function test results (PEF and FEV).
• No (or very infrequent) asthma attacks.

Barriers to asthma control:

• Diagnosis-Some people with asthma symptoms may never receive a diagnosis of asthma
• Treatment– High cost of medicines, lack of access to medical care
• Education– People may not understand how to use medications properly
• Environmental Health– Avoiding risk factors that cause asthma symptoms

For more information please visit http://www.ginasthma.org//WADindex.asp.”