Seasonal Health Tips

The Month of January Health Observations include:

1. Bath Safety – keep the water heater set at 120 degrees or lower to avoid accidental burns and never leave a child unattended in a bath tub: www.safekids.org
2. Birth Defects Prevention sponsored by the March of Dimes
3. Lose weight and feel great – maintain a normal body mass index (calculated at all well check examinations) Healthy Weight Network

The Month of February Health Observations include:

1. American Heart Month sponsored by the American Heart Association
2. Children’s Dental Health sponsored by the American Dental Association
3. Wise Health Consumer month sponsored by the American Institute for Preventive Medicine
4. Burn Awareness at www.shriners.org

The Month of March Health Observations include:

1. National Nutrition month by the American Dietetic Association
2. Poison Prevention Awareness – label it poison! Locks on cabinets. Poison Central at 1-800-222-1222
3. Talk With Your Teen at www.talkingwithkids.org

The Month of April Health Observations include:

1. Alcohol Awareness at National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
2. Autism Awareness at www.autism-society.org
3. Child Abuse Prevention at www.preventchildabuse.org
4. Counseling Awareness at www.counseling.org

The Month of May Health Observations include:

1. Physical Fitness and Sports at the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
2. Safe Boating at www.safeboatingcampaign.com
3. Better Hearing and Speech month – read to your kids! Hearing tests are done at all well check examinations. It is important to avoid excessively loud noises, see: www.entlink.net/news/bhsm.cfm

The Month of June Health Observations include:

1. Drive Safe Month – always wear a seat belt and use approved child safety seats: www.nhtsa.dot.gov
2. Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month at www.5aday.gov
3. Eye Safety Awareness – American Academy of Ophthalmology

The Month of July Health Observations include:

1. Fireworks Safety – do not let your child play with fireworks or be around others who are playing with fireworks www.preventblindness.org
2. Lead Poison Control at www.epa.gov/lead
3. Hug Week is the third week of July – pass it on!
4. American Red Cross water safety tips at www.redcross.org

The Month of August Health Observations include:

1. Immunization Awareness month at www.partnersforimmunization.org
2. World Breast Feeding Week at www.aap.org
3. Smile week – wear one!

The Month of September Health Observations include:

1. Child Cancer Awareness – National Cancer Institute
2. Cholesterol Education at www.cdc.gov
3. Library Card Sign-up Month – American Library Association
4. Self Improvement Month – a positive attitude is important to health

The Month of October Health Observations include:

1. Brain Injury Awareness at www.biausa.org. Wear those football and bicycle helmets!
2. Youth Against Tobacco – American Lung Association of Texas
3. Influenza Prevention at www.cdc.gov

The Month of November Health Observations include:

1. Diabetes Month at www.dibetes.org
2. World Kindness Day at www.actsofkindness.org. Random acts of kindness are never wasted and always make a difference for you and for others.
3. National Family Week at www.nationalfamilyweek.org. Children live better lives when their families are strong.

The Month of December Health Observations include:

1. Hand Washing Awareness at www.henrythehand.com and www.cdc.gov
2. Managing Stress at www.americanheart.org and www.aap.org