Stay Safe! Here's How.

We Care about the safety of you and your loved ones. June is National Safety month. Here are some tips for preventing and reducing injuries.

June is National Safety Month

We Care about your safety.

Injuries are a leading cause of disability for people of all ages — and they are the leading cause of death for Americans ages 1 to 44. The good news is everyone can get involved to help prevent injuries. During National Safety Month, Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley is working with community members to help reduce the risk of injuries. This June, we encourage you to learn more about important safety issues like prescription painkiller abuse, transportation safety, and slips, trips, and falls.

Here are the most common safety hazards:

Prescription painkiller abuse: Prescription painkiller overdoses are a growing problem in the United States, especially among women. About 18 women die every day from a prescription painkiller overdose — more than 4 times as many as back in 1999.
Transportation safety: Doing other activities while driving — like texting or eating — distracts you and increases your chance of crashing. Almost 1 in 5 crashes (17%) that injured someone involved distracted driving.
Slips, trips, and falls: One in 3 older adults falls each year. Many falls lead to broken bones and other health problems.

You can make a difference. Find out ways to help reduce the risk of these safety issues.

Call Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley with any questions at 860-767-0186. We Care about your safety.

Skin Cancer Prevention

Protect Yourself from UV Radiation with these Helful Tips:

Stay in the shade, especially during midday hours.
Wear clothing that covers your arms and legs.
Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade your face, head, ears, and neck.
Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block both UVA and UVB rays.
Use sunscreen with sun protection factor (SPF) 15 or higher, and both UVA and UVB protection.
Avoid indoor tanning.

For more information, click here.

Insect Repellent Use & Safety

EPA recommends the following safety precautions when using insect repellents:

Apply repellents only to exposed skin and/or clothing.
Do not apply repellents under your clothing.
Never use repellents over cuts, wounds or irritated skin.
Do not apply to eyes or mouth, and apply sparingly around ears.
Do not allow children to handle or spray the product.
Use just enough repellent to cover exposed skin and/or clothing. Heavy application does not give you better or longer lasting protection.
After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water or bathe.

For more information, including which mosquito repellents work best, click here.

Join National Safety Council and thousands of organizations across the country to raise awareness of what it takes to stay SafeForLife. Safety is no accident. It's a choice we need to make throughout our entire lives. Whether it's driving without passengers as a newly licensed teen, finding alternatives to prescription painkillers in middle-age or fall-proofing the bathroom as an older adult, we're all empowered to make safe decisions for ourselves and those we care about.

Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley