National Safety Month is Here

Every day 107,000 injuries occur in the U.S. and the goal of National Safety Month is to reduce that number. Injury and death is a risk for everyone regardless of age, class, race, or location. So, this article is intended to raise awareness of the risk of serious injury and how to prevent it.

Facts About Safety, Injury and Death

• According to the United Nations 2,473,018 people died in the United States in 2008, which is an average of 6,775 deaths per day.

• The Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT) reports that more than 37,000 people are killed in vehicle collisions every year with another 2.35 million who are injured. Of the traffic deaths that occur each year, approximately 1,600 are children under the age of 15, and 8,000 are people between the ages of 16 and 20.

• The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in a press release that the five leading causes of death in America (heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke) kill 900,000 Americans a year. 20-40 percent of these deaths are preventable.

• According to the National Floor Safety Institute (NFSI) 8,000,000 people seek emergency treatment each year for an unintentional fall, 25,000 people die as a result of these falls.

Everyday Tips on Safety

Unfortunately, personal safety is often overlooked or taken for granted. Sometimes the simple act of buckling a seatbelt or installing a railing can prevent a severe injury or death.

The best way to ensure safety is through awareness. Often people get hurt because they simply were not paying attention. Drowning is the leading cause of death among children between the ages of one and four. These drownings could be prevented in most cases if parents, homeowners and caregivers would pay closer attention. One large source of distraction for most people are smart phones. People walk around and even drive while completely immersed in their phone screens. You won’t see a car approaching, a child fall into a pool, or that you’re about to fall down a flight of stairs if you are constantly looking at your phone. So put your phone away and pay attention to your surroundings.

Always follow standard safety practices. This means doing common sense actions like buckling your seatbelt, looking both ways before crossing a street, and washing your hands. Hazard warnings are in place for a reason, so always be mindful whenever you see a caution or warning sign. You are responsible for the safety of others as well as your own, so keeping an eye on your children or helping the elderly is always a good idea. Additionally, keep up with regular medical screenings and keep a first aid kit in your house and vehicle just in case.

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