June is National Safety Month.

National Safety Month aims to promote work, home, and travel safety! According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, accidental injuries are the leading cause of death to people aged 44 and under. National Safety Month is all about spreading awareness on ways to reduce risk of accidents and injury.

The US Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) has suggested the following ways to reduce risk:

1. Prevent poisoning: Most accidental poisonings happen to people at home. Some common sources of poisoning are spoiled food, medicines, cleaning products, and cosmetic products. Be sure to keep these items out of reach of children or impaired adults. NEVER share prescription medicine with others.
2. Driving safely: Focus only on driving. Do not let other activities distract you like eating, texting, or talking on the phone. Distracted driving causes nine deaths every day in the United States!
3. Avoid falls: Over 25% of seniors fall every year. Falls cause injuries like broken bones and skin lacerations that too often lead to death. But older adults aren’t the only ones at risk! With summer comes increased hiking and rock climbing, as well as increased construction. Anyone can fall doing these activities.

Additionally, the National Safety Council (NSC) chose four safety points to focus on for the month of June:

• Recognizing hazards: The NSC suggests thinking about every action you take before you take it. Avoiding hazards is all about learning to anticipate them. They also suggest reducing hidden hazards like replacing burnt out light bulbs that are causing poor lighting, and keeping potentially hazardous substances out of sight from children and pets.
• Avoiding Falls: Just like the ODPHP, NSC has also placed emphasis on preventing falls, especially in the workplace. Stairs are a common fall hazard. Always take extra caution when going up or down them, especially when carrying items. Avoid leaving open drink containers laying around that can easily spill and create slip risks. Trying to multitask while walking can also cause falls. Don’t text and walk at work!
• Fatigue: Being overly tired puts you at risk for having accidents. The NSC suggests “A.C.E.S.” to get the proper amount of sleep. A.C.E.S stands for:
  • A-Alcohol: drinking before bed can interrupt your circadian rhythm and cause your sleep to be less restful.
  • C-Caffeine: caffeine is a stimulant that can cause you to lose sleep. Limit your daily intake and avoid it at night.
  • E-Environment: keep your bedroom dark and cool for the best night’s sleep.
  • S-Screens: blue light from your phone, computer, or TV tricks your body into thinking it’s still daylight and causing you to produce less melatonin, keeping you awake. Avoid screen time before bed.
• Impairment: Impairment at work is a leading cause of workplace injury. Of course, we suggest you NEVER do drugs (including marijuana) or alcohol before or during work, but other things can cause impairment, such as loss of sleep and some medications. Certain prescription and over-the-counter medications cause mild to extreme impairment. Be sure you know how your medication affects you before taking it at or prior to work.

Some common medications that cause sleepiness include:

• Pain relievers like Percocet (oxycodone-acetaminophen)
• Antihistamines like Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
• Muscle relaxers like Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine)
• Certain mental health drugs like Desyrel (trazodone) and many, many more!

Ask your pharmacist for more information about your medication regimen!

For more information about National Safety Month visit https://www.nsc.org or visit us at Plain City Druggist in Plain City, Ohio, Happy Druggist in West Jefferson, Ohio, or Happy Druggist on Karl Road in Columbus, Ohio.

We sincerely wish you all a safe summer!

References:

1. National Safety Month. US Department of Health and Human Services. 06/2019. Accessed online at https://healthfinder.gov/NHO/JuneToolkit2.aspx on 6/25/2019.
2. Teen Safe. 100 Distracted Driving Facts and Statistics for 2018. 12/26/2018. Accessed online at https://teensafe.com/100-distracted-driving-facts-statistics-for-2018/ on 6/25/2019.
3. National Safety Council. National Safety Month Free Material. Accessed online at https://www.nsc.org/pages/nsm-public-materials on 6/25/2019.