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What We're Thinking - National Public Health Week

By: Chrissy Hugyez | 04/05/2011

According to the American Public Health Association (APHA), nearly 30 million people each year visit the emergency room as a result of an injury, while nearly 150,000 people die from injuries. This week, during National Public Health Week, the APHA is encouraging everyone to take the time to help prevent injuries and violence in our communities. To help people start thinking about reducing the amount of injuries, the APHA has provided several safety tips for home, work, play, on the move and within the community including:

• At Home - Establish a plan for how you would evacuate from your home in the event of an emergency.
• At Work - Participate in worksite safety trainings programs and follow all workplace laws and safety rules.
• At Play - Drink plenty of water to avoid becoming dehydrated.
• On the Move - Walk facing traffic and make yourself visible when walking at night.
• Your Community - Join your Neighborhood Watch program.

To help raise awareness of the importance of safety, our Standing team members shared their favorite safety tips: 

• Amber Morris - I immediately think of popular public health and safety campaigns including Daylight Saving Time: Change your clock, change your smoke detector batteries; Stop, Drop and Roll; and Click It or Ticket. These phrases demonstrate how successful public health campaigns can be when they share meaningful message across a variety of channels, including paid media, public relations and community organization activation.
• Christi Dixon - "Prevention is key!" From child-proofing to dog walking, we always need to be aware of our surroundings, identify the potential risks and prepare for the worst. Does that make me paranoid? I like to think that I'm just saving time-the time I would have spent remedying the situation!
• Dana Purkey - No text messaging while driving!
• Jessica Hartman - I always check my blind spot while driving. It's amazing how many times that quick glance over my shoulder has avoided a nasty accident.
• John Guest - With two little ones at home, I always make sure pot handles on the stove are facing inward and not hanging off the stove.
• Julie Layton - "Always buckle up!" Whether you're in your neighborhood or out on the highway; whether you're traveling 10 mph or 70 mph, there's no excuse for not fastening your seat belt. That one piece of material is often the very thing that saves lives.
• Maggie Brandt - I pay careful attention to my surroundings when I'm out for a run or walking across a parking lot.
• Maria Tonge - "Only a fool breaks the two-second rule." On the road, I look to keep adequate space for braking between my car and the one ahead of mine.
• Mary Phelan - I always clean my hands after handling money, especially before eating--money spreads germs.

 What is your favorite safety tip?

Posted in Health Care