August is one of the quietest months of the year when it comes to holidays, key dates, and national health observances. Apparently, everyone is busy with vacations and getting ready to go back to school! To offer information that may be helpful in your employee communications, we’re including a few tips on back school prep, as well as dates for August observances.
Back to School: Tips for Parents
- Wrap up lingering summer assignments and plan post-school extracurricular activities.
- Set regular times for turning in at night and getting up in the morning.
- Plan schedules, lunches, and outfits the night before.
- Establish a breakfast time and routine.
- Plan safe routes to and from school.
- Make sure backpack loads are appropriate for kids.
- Watch for signs of stress as kids adapt to new routines, teachers, and challenges.
- Download the National Safety Council’s Back to School Safety Checklist.
August is Summer Sun Safety Month – The Skin And Cancer Institute reminds us that there are no safe tans unless they come from a bottle, and offer tips for keeping safe when in the sun. The CDC offers good information on sun safety, including videos and sun safety tips for schools and sun safety tips for employers. Also, from the National Cancer Institute, see Sun Safety Evidence-Based Programs for various environments.
Also, don’t miss our Extreme Heat Toolkit which offers tips, tools, and resources to help you stay safe from extreme heat related risks.
August is National Breastfeeding Month– The 2024 theme is “Nourish, Sustain, Thrive.” See the following weeks for more information.
- August 1-7: World Breastfeeding Week 2024 and National WIC Breastfeeding Week
- August 8-14: Indigenous Milk Medicine Week
- August 15-21: Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Week
- August 25-31: Black Breastfeeding Week
August is National Immunization Awareness Month – This is annual observance held in August to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages. Check out the Adult Vaccine Assessment Tool and the Child and Adolescent Vaccine Assessment Tool.
August 8/4 – 8/10 is National Farmers Market Week – This is the 25th year that a week is devoted to highlighting the vital role farmers markets play in our nation’s food system. It includes fun events, programs, contests, activities, and more. The week helps to boost market attendance and visibility as well as showcase the value markets bring to their communities. Find local Farmers’ Markets and pick-your-own farms.
Other August dates & events:
- 8/1 – World Lung Cancer Day
- 8/12-8/18 – Safe + Sound Week 2024
- 8/16-9/4 – Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
- 8/31 – International Overdose Awareness Day
ESI EAP Member Website theme for the month of August – In August, our employee members’ feature webinar is Did you Hear Me? Active Listening as a Key to Success. Miscommunication can lead to all sorts of problems and is one of the biggest challenges in relationships. During this fun and fast-paced session, get tweaks and tips for active listening that will help you to thrive at work and in your personal life. Members can simply log in to www.theEAP.com during July to view the webinar and explore related resources.