APHA’s National Public Health Week – “Safety is No Accident”

In their efforts to create a healthier nation, the American Public Health Association (APHA) is using the National Public Health Week (this week April 4^th – 10^th) to promote safety awareness which can be applied to life at home, at work, at play, on the move and in your community. This year’s campaign “Safety is No Accident: Live Injury-Free” is geared toward preventing accidents and injuries which occur in all areas of our daily lives.
APHA wants everyone to know “injury prevention starts at home, at work, at play, on the move and in your community.” Each day of the week (Monday through Friday) represents one of these areas for safety awareness.
Today, remember injury prevention starts at home.
You may be aware of how to handle hazardous materials on the job – but are your household hazardous chemicals stored properly?  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Every day in the U.S., about 82 people die as a result of unintentional poisoning, and another 2000 are treated in emergency departments”¹
For more information or to locate your local Poison Control Center visit: aapcc.org
Fire safety should be another “hot” topic around your house. The National Fire Protection Association provides a variety of resources on their website to inform you about important safety procedures. They provide safety tip sheets for a variety of situations and topics related to staying safe at home.

Stay tuned for more on 2011’s National Public Health Week.
¹ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Poisoning in the United States Fact Sheet. (2010). Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Poisoning/poisoning-factsheet.htm.