The National Safety Council (NSC) and its chapters around the country have designated June 2002 as National Safety Month, an annual observance aimed at increasing public awareness of the dangers Americans face each day on the highways, in homes and communities and in the workplace.
"Through advances in public awareness, including new technology and more stringent safety and health laws, a safer environment exists today for Americans," said NSC President Alan C. McMillan. "Yet deaths from unintentional injuries continue to plague the nation."
According to the NSC''s publication Injury Facts 2001, unintentional injury deaths totaled 97,300. Motor vehicle crashes caused 43,000 deaths, 29,500 people died in the home, 22,000 were killed in public places, and 5,200 deaths occurred in the workplace.
During the four designated weeks of National Safety Month 2001, the NSC and its chapters around the country will focus on the most troublesome problem areas and offer programs, solutions and safety tips to help keep Americans safe and healthy.
- Driving Safety Week, June 2-8 - During this week, the focus will be on advising families about how to help teenagers become safe and responsible drivers, strengthening graduated driver licensing programs for teenagers and the correct use of child safety seats to protect children.
- Home and Community Safety Week, June 9-15 - During this week, the focus is on preventing falls in the home. Sixty-five percent of falls occur among persons 65 and over. Falls are the number one cause of injury-related death for males 80 and older and for females 75 and older. One fourth of those who sustain a hip fracture die within one year and another 50 percent never return to their prior level of mobility or independence. Lowe''s Home Safety Council joins NSC in sponsoring and observing Home and Community Safety Week.
- Preparedness Week, June 16-22 - During this week, the focus is on keeping individuals, families and organizations prepared to respond to emergencies of all types. NSC offers products and services to develop and maintain effective emergency response plans, and to help educate employees on corporate preparedness.
- Workplace Safety Week, June 23-29 - During this week, the focus will be on keeping employees safe both on and off the job through effective safety leadership. The NSC will show companies how they can realize greater productivity and profit through safety leadership. UPS joins the NSC in sponsoring and observing Workplace Safety Week.
The NSC''s Web site (www.nsc.org) has detailed information on each of the weeks'' activities, along with links to supporting sites offering safety and health information and solutions. Liberty Mutual is partnering with the NSC to sponsor National Safety Month.
by Sandy Smith ([email protected])