John E. Ford PK-8 School
June/ July 2016 Wellness
What's Up With Wellness June & July 2016
6/1-7/4 Fireworks Safety Month http://www.preventblindness.org/
Men's Health Month: http://www.menshealthmonth.org/
Nat'l Safety Month: http://www.nsc.org/act/events/Pages/national-safety-month.aspx
6/5th Nat'l Cancer Survivors Day: http://www.ncsd.org/
6/11 Global Wellness Day http://oylandwater.com/2016/04/global-wellness-day-jacksonville/
6/19th World Sickle Cell Day: http://www.worldsicklecellday.webs.com/
6/5th-11th Rip Currents Safety Week: http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/
6/13th-19th Men's Health Week: http://www.menshealthmonth.org/week/index.html
6/19th-25th Lightning Safety Awareness Week: http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/
7/1-31
7/28 World Hepatitis Day http://www.worldhepatitisday.info/
National Safety Month
Preventable injuries are the 4th leading cause of death in the U.S. right after heart disease, cancer and chronic lower respiratory disease.
Every 7 seconds a worker is injured on the job...Top 3 causes: 35% due to overexertion; 25% contact with object or equipment; 25% slips, trip or fall: All avoidable incidents.
Under 12 months, more than 2 children die per day due to suffocation. Put babies to sleep in cribs, on their backs, without blankets and stuffed animals in the crib.
From age 1-24, there are almost 21 preventable deaths PER DAY due to car accidents. Buckle up EVERY TIME you drive or ride in a motor vehicle, don't talk or text while driving to minimize your risk of being in a crash. Teens need plenty of supervised driving time to allow them to gain driving experience even after they get their license.
Ages 25-64, more than 92 preventable poisoning deaths per day occur, mostly due to prescription medications. Ask your pharmacist to prescribe the lowest dosage of pain medication or ask for an alternate non-opioid medication. Never borrow from or share medications with anyone. Prescriptions are written with an individual's size and health issues in mind.
Age 65 and above, each day 70+ people die as a result of preventable falls. Use of non-skid mats in the home can help keep older people safe from trips and falls. Grab bars in bathrooms and railings near stairs and adequate lighting in every room can help prevent injuries and premature death.
Men's Health Month
June is Men's Health Month! Even in a female-centric workplace we work with men, as well as have them in our personal lives. Share this information with the men you know, and encourage them to be proactive about their own health, as well as your own!
- Currently, men are dying an average of 5 years younger than women and lead 9 out of 10 of the top causes of death.
- Men are at greater risk for death in every age group. More males than females are born (105 vs 100), but by age 35, women outnumber men.
- Men have a higher suicide death rate than women. Men account for 92% of fatal workplace injuries.
- Men do not see physicians for a physical exam nearly as often as women and men are more likely to be uninsured than women.
Men and boys are told to "man up" or "walk it off" and expected to be stoic through most things using traditional gender stereotypes and expectations. Let's make sure we stop the cycle, and help prevent unnecessary risk and injury to the males in our lives. Preventive measures can stop avoidable illness and injury, whether it be encouraging them to have regular medical checkups catch things early or to get help when needed instead of leaving it until damage is done.
Lightning Safety Awareness Week
Florida has one of the highest lightning dangers in the US!
Protect yourself by knowing these safety tips:
Lightning: What You Need to Know
- NO PLACE outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area!!
- If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you.
- When you hear thunder, immediately move to safe shelter: a substantial building with electricity or plumbing or an enclosed, metal-topped vehicle with windows up.
- Stay in safe shelter at least 30 minutes after you hear the last sound of thunder.
Indoor Lightning Safety
- Stay off corded phones, computers and other electrical equipment that put you in direct contact with electricity.
- Avoid plumbing, including sinks, baths and faucets.
- Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches.
*Do not lie on concrete floors and/ or lean on concrete walls. The lightning can travel through the conductive properties of concrete to YOU, unlike in traditional construction, where the current is diverted.
Keep you and your family safe whether at the backyard, park or beach, particularly as we begin summer break.