Health & Wellness Blog

Information posted is for information, entertainment, or educational purposes only.  Nothing is intended to be medical advice or to replace the advice of a licensed healthcare professional.

Blog Home

Jun 01
2020

National Safety Month

Posted by Scott  filed under Safety

National Safety Month

June is National Safety Month. National Safety Month was created to urge people to install preventive measures to reduce unintentional injuries in their homes, at work, and on the road. People are encouraged to think of at least one thing they can change to make their lives and the lives of those around them safer.

Injury Prevention at Home:  Most of the common injuries that occur at home, such as burns or falls, can be prevented. Some ways to prevent these injuries are:

  • Slip-proof your bathroom. The bathroom can be one of the most dangerous places in the house. To prevent falls, you can install grab-bars in your shower. It’s also a good idea to have no slip mats on the floor of your shower or tub.
  • Make sure your house is lit up. It’s easier to trip and fall over something you can’t see. To keep your house lit up at night, you can install night lights in your bathrooms, bedrooms, and hallways
  • Safety-proof your stairs. If your home has stairs, be sure to keep any clutter off of them, and make sure they’re well lit. They should also have handrails, preferably on both sides.
  • Make sure your windows are safe. Having a window screen may seem like a good way to prevent falls, but window screens aren’t always strong enough to stop a fall. You can install window guards on upper floor windows to prevent your kids from opening them. It’s also a good idea to keep furniture away from windows and be sure to watch your kids when they’re playing near upper floor windows.

Injury Prevention at the Workplace: Workplace accidents are as much a danger as accidents in the home. To prevent accidents at work, you can:

  • Keep the workplace orderly. If the floors of the workplace are cluttered and there isn’t much space for walking, falls are more common. Try to keep the area of your workspace clean and orderly.
  • Educate employees about safety. All employees should be trained in safety measures in case of an emergency
  • Know what injuries are most at risk in your workplace. Some injuries may be more common in some workplaces than in others. Try to find out what problems are most likely to occur in your workplace and find a plan to avoid them.

 Injury Prevention on the Road:  The road can be a very dangerous place, both for drivers and their passengers. Some steps for safe driving include:

  • Minimize distractions. Load music or having an argument while driving can be major distractions. If you want music on, keep it at a low level, and if you really need to talk to someone, pull over. If you’re a passenger, try to keep your voice down so the driver doesn’t get too distracted
  • Buckle your seatbelt.  Not only does this protect against injury in case of an accident, it is also the law.
  • Don’t drive while tired. If you’re taking a long-distance drive by yourself, it’s inevitable that you’ll get tired eventually. Stop frequently to walk around a bit and get some fresh air. If you notice yourself nodding off, you should pull over immediately.
  • Stay alert; stay alive.  Be on the lookout for walkers or bikers, especially when making a right turn.
  • Use proper equipment for children.  If you’re driving with an infant or a small child, be sure to get an appropriate car seat. Older children will still need a booster seat.

References

Health Department. “Prevent Injuries on the Road.” Retrieved from: https://www.tpchd.org/healthy-people/injury-prevention/on-the-road

Health Finder. “National Safety Month.” Retrieved from: https://healthfinder.gov/NHO/JuneToolkit2.aspx

Page, Lauryn. (2018). “10 Tips to Prevent Workplace Injuries.” Retrieved from: https://www.concentra.com/resource-center/articles/10-tips-to-prevent-workplace-injuries/

WebMD. “Home Safety: Preventing burns, cuts, and more.” Retrieved from: https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/wound-care-10/preventing-common-home-injuries

Back