Party Smarter: Plan - Prepare - Pace
Plan - Where are you going? Who are you going with? How are you getting home?
Prepare - Eat, drink water, and make sure you take just enough money to have a good time. Leave the credit cards at home!
Pace - Limit how much you drink in a night.
Size Matter
When it comes to alcoholic drinks, the size and amount of alcohol varies widely. The chart below may help.
Alcohol-Free Weekend is April 6-8
The first weekend of April is the annual Alcohol Free Weekend. This year, April 6th-8th is the NCADD's (National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence) 25th year raising awareness of alcohol disease by challenging people to go alcohol free for one weekend a year. To learn more visit www.ncadd.org.
National Alcohol Screening Day is April 5
Held annually on Thursday of the first full week of April, National Alcohol Screening Day is an outreach, education, and screening program that raises awareness about alcohol misuse and refers individuals with alcohol problems for further evaluation and treatment. To take a quick, confidential online screening visit www.alcoholscreening.org.
National Cancer Control Month
"Cancer Control" is an approach to managing cancer in the best way possible, in each stage of the disease. It is a system which ensures that cancer risk is controlled as much as possible, that cancers are screened for as early as possible, and that patients receive effective care and support which meets their needs and situations.
Prevention
Advances in medicine are making cancer treatment more effective, and making it possible to treat forms of cancer that were untreatable a short time ago. Despite the advances in treatment, the best way to beat cancer is to never get it. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), up to a third of cancer cases are preventable. To reduce the risk of cancer, the WHO advises that people should:
- Adopt a healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables
- Get regular exercise
- Avoid tobacco
- Avoid excessive sun
- Avoid environmental carcinogens
Early Diagnosis and Screening
While it is not always possible to prevent cancer, early detection is one of the most important factors in beating cancer. Self-examinations are recommended for possible detection of breast, skin and testicular cancers. If you detect anything to give you concern, make an appointment with your medical provider for further screening.
Many other types of cancer form within the body and are not easy to detect. There are a number of tests that help doctors detect cancer from blood samples or imaging devices. Talk with your medical provider about what screenings and methods are appropriate, given your age, gender, medical and family history. To learn more visit www.cancer.org
Stress Awareness Month
For the 20th consecutive year, April 2012 has been designated Stress Awareness Month. During this thirty day period, health care professionals and health promotion experts across the country will join forces to increase public awareness about both the causes and cures for our modern stress epidemic. Sponsored by The Health Resource Network (HRN), a non-profit health education organization, Stress Awareness Month is a national, cooperative effort to inform people about the dangers of stress, successful coping strategies, and harmful misconceptions about stress that are prevalent in our society.
The Health Resource Network is a non-profit health education organization established in 1982. It consists of health professionals, health promotion experts, and educators committed to developing more effective programs for improving health and preventing disease. In addition to sponsoring Stress Awareness Month, the organization also sponsors National Stress Awareness Day, held every April 16--or the day after income taxes are due!
Call Amy today to discuss ways your worksite and employees can better manage stress 588-5019.
National Humor Month
Celebrates its 36th anniversary, National Humor Month is designed to heighten public awareness of the therapeutic value of laughter and how it can improve one's overall health, boost morale, increase communication skills and enrich the quality of one's life. To learn more or for resources visit www.aath.org/authors_crisis.htm, www.larrywilde.com/month/htm, www.humormonth.com; www.thehumorcollection.org and www.comedycures.org.
National Public Health Week is April 2-8
Every April since 1995, communities around the country have come together to celebrate National Public Health Week (NPHW). This year, with the recent release of the National Prevention Strategy, we will address the issue of prevention and wellness to ensure that all is being done to improve our nation's health.
This year, during NPHW 2012, we will focus on the theme: "A Healthier America Begins Today: Join the Movement." Each day of NPHW, we will discuss ways in which Americans can take preventive measures to live longer and healthier lives. Preventing disease before it begins is critical to reaching this goal, as well as to lowering the cost of health care. If we take small actions, our communities, homes and families will see the large benefits of preventive care and grow the movement.
Each year, chronic illnesses such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes are responsible for millions of premature deaths and cause Americans to miss 2.5 billion days of work, resulting in lost productivity totaling more than $1 trillion.
Americans dying every year from diseases that could be prevented, even small preventive changes and initiatives can make a big difference in leading healthier lives. Preventive measures can help create a healthier America and can help us reach our goal of becoming the healthiest nation in just one generation.
In a given year, less than half of people diagnosed with a mental illness receive treatment. The unmet need for mental health services is greatest among underserved groups, including elderly people, racial/ethnic minorities, those with low incomes, those without health insurance, and residents of rural areas.
Everyone has a role to play, and each action, no matter how small, can make a big difference in a community. You can help by raising awareness of prevention and wellness in your community during NPHW 2012 (April 2-8). Begin by observing this year's
daily themes:
Monday: A healthier America begins with active living and healthy eating
such as bike lanes and farmer's markets.
Tuesday: A healthier America begins with living tobacco- and drug-free
and preventing alcohol abuse drug use disorders early to
reduce high-risk alcohol and drug consumption.
Wednesday: A healthier America begins with preventing communicable
diseases preparation habits.
Thursday: A healthier America begins with reproductive and sexual
health contraception behavior and promote access to
preventive health services.
Friday: A healthier America begins with mental and emotional well-being
thinking to appropriate resources and help centers.
To learn more visit www.nphw.org, www.npha.org and www.mpha.org
National Healthcare Decisions Day is April 16
National Healthcare Decisions Day exists to inspire, educate and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning. National Healthcare Decisions Day is an initiative to encourage patients to express their wishes regarding healthcare and for providers and facilities to respect those wishes, whatever they may be. To learn more visit www.nhdd.org
International Moment of Laughter Day is April 14
When was the last time you gave yourself permission to laugh out loud in public? Well, get ready to do it again, because April 14 has been set aside to do just that, according to "America's Humorologist" Izzy Gesell.
To encourage more people to laugh, he invites America and the whole world to join in the fun on April 14, the planet's International Moment of Laughter Day. You can celebrate by:
* laughing out loud at the funny cards in a greeting card shop
* calling a friend to share a funny story
* showing your baby pictures to someone who's never seen them
* just laughing for no apparent reason at all
To learn more visit www.izzyg.com/content/International_Moment_of_Laughter_April_14th/1002
Dental Health Month
Although the mouth is part of the body, we often think of it as something separate. We often ignore bleeding or tender gums, while an irritation or pain elsewhere in the body would mean a trip to the doctor.
Poor oral health can affect a person's quality of life. Oral pain, missing teeth or oral infections can influence the way a person speaks, eats and socializes. These oral health problems can reduce a person's quality of life by affecting their physical, mental and social well-being.
The reality is that oral health problems could be a sign of something serious such as oral cancer. This devastating disease has a low survival rate because it is often diagnosed very late. With early detection the survival rate of oral cancer can be greatly improved. This means going to your dentist for regular dental exams. Your dentist has the training and experience to detect oral cancer early.
Everything that happens in your mouth affects your whole body, which is why it is so important to visit your dentist regularly. Only your dentist has the training, skills and expertise to properly address all your oral health care needs. Regular dental exams help prevent small problems from getting worse.
Poor oral health can lead to other serious conditions like heart disease and premature births.
To learn more visit http://www.cda-adc.ca/
National Volunteer Week is April 16-22 Thank You!!!
Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week has grown exponentially in scope each year since, drawing the support and endorsement of subsequent U.S. presidents, governors, mayors and other respected elected officials.
National Volunteer Week is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities. It's about demonstrating to the nation that by working together, in unison, we have the fortitude to meet our challenges and accomplish our goals. National Volunteer Week is about taking action, encouraging individuals and their respective communities to be at the center of social change-discovering and actively demonstrating their collective power to foster positive transformation.
Screen Free Week is April 30 - May 6
Screen-Free Week is an annual celebration where children, families, schools, and communities turn off screens and turn on life. Instead of relying on screens for entertainment, participants read, daydream, explore, enjoy nature, and enjoy spending time with family and friends.
Screen-Free Week isn't just about snubbing screens for seven days; it's a springboard for important lifestyle changes that will improve well-being and quality of life year round. To learn more visit www.commercialfreechildhood.org/screenfreeweek/index.html
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time for children under age 2 and less than 2 hours per day for older children.
To learn more visit www.letsgo.org or www.healthymainekids.org/resources/maine_resources/
Earth Day is April 22
For over 40 years, Earth Day April 22 has been a valuable tool for inspiring and mobilizing citizens and organizations to demonstrate their commitment to environmental protection and sustainability. The Earth Day Birthday is also referred to as World Environment Day 2011. To learn more visit www.earthday.net
Alcohol and the Worksite 
Many well-meaning parents think that it is enough to take away car keys at their teen's parties so the teens can't drink and drive. Parents provide the alcohol or allow alcohol to be consumed based on the false belief that it's a rite of passage, especially at prom and graduation parties. 
Safety Works!
