June 6,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Health Department and the National Safety Council remind you that Injuries are the leading cause of death for Americans ages 1 to 40, but there are many things people can do to stay safe and prevent injuries.
This June, the Ridgewood Health Department encourages you to learn more about important safety issues like preventing poisonings, transportation safety, and slips, trips, and falls.
• Poisonings: Nine out of 10 poisonings happen right at home. You can be poisoned by many things, like cleaning products or another person’s medicine.
• Transportation safety: Doing other activities while driving – like texting or eating – distracts you and increases your chance of crashing. Almost 1 in 6 crashes (15%) where someone is injured involves distracted driving.
• Slips, trips, and falls: One in 4 older adults falls each year. Many falls lead to broken bones or a head injury.
Be prepared and learn basic steps to protect your child.
• Use a car seat, booster seat, or seat belt that’s right for your child’s size and age – on every trip.
• Teach your child to swim, and closely watch your child in or near water.
• Keep medicines, vitamins, and cleaning products where your child can’t see or reach them.
• Use smoke alarms. Make and practice a fire escape plan for your home.
• Make sure your child wears the right safety gear (like a helmet or pads) when playing sports or doing other physical activity.
• Create a safe sleeping area for your baby. Keep soft objects (like pillows, blankets, crib bumpers, or toys) out of the crib. Always put babies to sleep on their back.
Riding bikes is a great way to get active. Use these tips to stay alert and safe. Paying attention to the things around you can help you stay safe.
• Look for potholes, rocks, wet leaves, or anything that could make you fall.
• Be aware of cars that are parking or backing up.
• Listen for traffic and other activity around you. Don’t wear headphones when you ride.
• Try not to ride in bad weather – but if you must, go slowly.
Safety tip: Add the poison control number (1-800-222-1222) to your cell phone.
Staying safe at work is very important. If you don’t work in a safe way, you can get hurt or become sick. The good news is that there are things you can do – both at work and at home – to lower your chances of getting hurt.
Take these steps to prevent injuries at work:
• Lift things safely (use your legs if possible).
• Arrange your work area to fit your body.
• Take short breaks and stretch.
• Wear your protective equipment.
• Ask about available health resources at work.
• Ask questions when you need to.
Your overall health can also affect how you feel and perform at work. To be able to work safely, it’s important for you to:
• Get enough sleep.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Stay active.
• Manage your weight.
• Take steps to manage stress.
