No matter what you do, what line of work you are in, or what types of activities you participate in during your free time, there are certain behaviors you engage in to make sure your activities are safe. Every June, the National Safety Council (NSC) celebrates National Safety Month with the goal of preventing potential injuries and saving lives. The focus this year is on topics such as transportation safety; emergency preparedness; slips, trips and falls; and more.
The NSC encourages you to ask yourself: “What do I live for?” Do you live to snowboard? Then maybe that’s why you play it safe on the slopes and avoid engaging in risk-taking behavior. Are you a parent? Then that’s why you might never use your cell phone while driving; according to the NSC, an estimated 1 in 4 car crashes involve cell phone use! Do you own your own construction company and love your job? Then that’s why you make sure your employees have a safe working environment; according to 2009 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an estimated 212,760 workers were seriously injured by falls to the same or a lower level in a workplace setting.
Many materials to share with friends, family and co-workers are available from the National Safety Council website, which you can download by going here. Safety checklists about reducing workplace hazards, lifting items safely, and what you need in case of an emergency are just some of the PDFs available.
Of course, we all know the first step to staying safe and healthy is taking preventive measures. Meritage Medical Network offers many different wellness classes for our members throughout the year to help you get and stay fit, including classes like “Balance and Fall Prevention” for older adults. Despite all your efforts to stay safe, if something should happen, Meritage Medical Network is here for you too. We are your healthcare network, providing expert medical care and administering benefits for HMO/ACO members in Marin, Napa, and Sonoma Counties. We are here whenever you need us, ensuring that you receive the highest quality health care available when the need arises. To find a doctor or specialist in your area, visit our homepage and use our simple “Find a doctor” feature.
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015, January 29). Fall injuries prevention in the workplace. CDC. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/falls/
National Safety Council. (2015). Distracted driving: One call can change everything. National Safety Council. Retrieved from http://www.nsc.org/learn/NSC-Initiatives/Pages/distracted-driving.aspx