National Safety Month Resources to Ensure “No 1 Gets Hurt”
By Shelley Scott Wright, Contributor
June is National Safety Month, a time to prioritize safety at work, at home, and on the road.
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), accidental injuries have now become the third leading cause of death in the United States. The NSC’s 2018 National Safety Month theme is “No 1 Gets Hurt” and, to further that goal, each of the four weeks in June will spotlight a different cause of injuries and fatalities:
- Emergency Preparedness
- Wellness
- Falls
- Driving
Preventable deaths are on the rise, but you can feel empowered by that news since it is within our control to change these statistics. Use these resources to identify risks and help spread awareness.
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National Safety Month Resources (by week)
Emergency Preparedness Resources
CDC: Health and Safety Concerns for All Disasters -- resources to protect yourself, your family and your home following a natural disaster.
Preparedness Training for Nurses -- links to free online courses for nurses, hosted on the California Hospital Association website.
Office of Nursing Services National Emergency Management -- VA nurses workgroup to support disaster response and emergency preparedness efforts.
Related Articles: Five Steps to Prepare Yourself and Your Patients for a Hurricane
Wellness Resources
ANA's Healthy Nurse Initiative -- broad list of topics related to nursing health.
Sleep Help for Shift Workers, from The Sleep Help Institute -- general information and statistics, plus links to additional related articles.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH):
Related article: 10 Tips for Nurses to Sleep Better
Resources Related to Falls
Fall Prevention Center of Excellence -- list of organizations active in preventing falls.
OSHA Nursing Homes and Personal Care Facilities -- solutions for common hazards associated with working in nursing homes and personal care facilities.
NIOSH Ergonomics -- ergonomic recommendations and musculoskeletal health-related research.
Related article: 5 Ways ER Nurses Can Help Prevent Patient Falls
Safe Driving Resources
Drowsy Driving -- National Sleep Foundation's list of studies, advocacy groups and educational materials.
Occupational Driving Safety Resources, from Texas Department of Insurance -- under "The Driver" heading, links for driving safety issues including distracted driving, seat belt use, impaired driving and fatigue.
Related article: An All-weather Driving Guide for Nurse Travelers