This June, Scott & White and the National Safety Council want you to get set to “Make a Difference!”

June is designated as National Safety Month, and “Make a Difference” is the theme of the Council’s 2008 National Safety Month observance.

Unintentional injuries occur on the job and off, and preparedness is key. Throughout June, Scott & White will have downloadable information that will address the most significant reasons for unintentional injuries and deaths in the American workplace, on the road and in the home and community. We will offer tools and materials that can help you and your family make that difference in – both on and off the job – safety.

National Safety Month is broken down into four weeks that observe the following topics:

• Week 1: June 2 - 6 observes emergency preparedness
• Week 2: June 9 - 13 observes distracted driving
• Week 3: June 16 - 20 observes poisoning prevention
• Week 4: June 23 - 27 observes  falls prevention  

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Week 4: Falls Prevention

Falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among older adults. In 2003, more than 13,000 Americans 65 years and older died as a result of falls and more than 1.8 million had a fall injury that resulted in an emergency room visit. Slips are mainly caused by slippery surfaces such as wet or oily surfaces and by wearing inappropriate footwear. Other causes include loose rugs or mats and inadequate lighting.Trips occur when the foot strikes an object causing a loss of balance. Common factors causing trips are trailing cables, uneven surfaces, inadequate lighting and obstruction by materials or rubbish.

The National Safety Council has offered some tips for prevention of falls in the workplace, as well as fall prevention for older adults. View The National Safety Council tips for falls prevention .

To fall-proof your home, the National Safety Council offers the following suggestions, including securing rugs and runners, wiping away excess water, avoiding slippery ice, and more. Take the steps in the right direction by read their article about fall-proofing your home.

Safety in the workplace is paramount, especially when it comes to healthcare environments like Scott & White.

Read The National Safety Council’s “Cubicle Catastrophe” to see how to prevent cluttered aisles, computer eyestrain, electrical safety and more. Learn more about Cubicle Catastrophe from the National Safety Council .

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Week 3: Poison Prevention

While most people think of poisoning as a childhood issue, adults are overwhelmingly to blame for the steep recent increase in unintentional poisoning deaths. A survey conducted in fall 2007 by the National Safety Council revealed that most Americans (81%) still believe that children are at greatest risk for poisoning. Less than 4% said adults, though data shows that less than one percent of fatal poisoning deaths in 2004 affected children (ages 0-5) and more than 96% involved adults (19 years and older).

View some additional statistics from the National Safety Council 

Learn more about Misuse and Abuse of medications from the National Safety Council»

 While children rarely die today from unintentional poisoning, non-fatal poisonings remain a childhood concern. About 50,000 children under the age of 4 are injured by unintentional poisonings every year. This is testament to the success of national awareness efforts, such as poison prevention campaigns and child-resistant packaging. But you can take extra precautions. Too many adult medicines resemble children's candy. And you need to take extra precaution to keep those medicines from little hands looking for what they think is a sweet treat. Two Scott & White Pharmacy staff members have written an article with accompanying pictures showing the comparison between children's candy and adult medicine .

Visit the National Safety Council and find out more on children and poisons»

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Week 2: Distracted Driving

Driver inattention is the leading factor in most crashes and near-crashes, according to a landmark research report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Nearly 80% of crashes and 65% of near-crashes involved some form of driver inattention within three seconds before the event. Primary causes of driver inattention are distracting activities, such as cell phone use, and drowsiness.

The most common distraction for drivers is the use of cell phones. However, the number of crashes and near-crashes attributable to dialing is nearly identical to the number associated with talking or listening. Dialing is more dangerous but occurs less often than talking or listening. View some statistics from the National Safety Council that you may not be familiar with.

See Also

Senior Drivers

http://www.seniordrivers.org/driving/driving.cfm 

Parents for Teens Driving Safely

http://www.sdteendriver.com/ 

Texas Department of Public Safety: Motorcycle Safety

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/msb/draware.htm 

Attitude Awareness and Aggressive Driving

http://pointreducer.com/safety-tips.htm 

Safer Tomorrow

The Texas Department of Safety has compiled a short video on how to prepare your home for emergencies, and what the state is doing for emergency preparedness on the roadways and in public places. View the video (English)  | View the video (Spanish) 

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Week 1: Emergency Preparedness.

This year, the National Safety Council is urging citizens to learn CPR as part of being prepared for emergencies. Download the handy tip sheet we compiled for you.

 With the fickleness of Mother Nature, areas across the nation are experiencing heightened weather activity this year. Tornadoes, windstorms and hurricanes are all part of this time of year, and you should also have an emergency kit prepared at home.

You can pick up a brochure at any of our local pharmacies in Temple to help you prepare in case the weather catches you off-guard with all the necessities you’ll need to start your own home kit.

Additionally, whether neighbors, friends or family, individuals with special needs also need to have a home emergency kit prepared, with medical information handy.

Bell County has provided information and tips to download about Emergency Preparedness for People with Special Needs.