Tie One on for Safety – Typically, about 1,000 people are killed in alcohol related crashes between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) targets this high-risk time with an annual “Tie One on for Safety” campaign to raise awareness about and prevent drunk driving over the holiday season. MADD invites all Americans to put a red ribbon or window decal on their vehicles as a pledge to drive safely, soberly, and with seat belts buckled during the holidays and throughout the year. Seat belts are an important aspect of the safety message because a buckled seat belt is the best defense against a drunk driver. Employers can support and reinforce this message throughout the month and can incorporate safe practices in any holiday celebrations. And speaking of driving safety, do you conduct an annual review of license status for all employees that have driving as an essential job task? If not, that might be a good resolution for early in the new year.
Toy Safety – With December being the world’s biggest gift-giving month, it’s fitting that it should also be toy safety month. More than 65% of annual sales of the 3 billion toys sold in the U.S. occur in the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Safe Kids USA offers a comprehensive site on toy safety, with tips, buying guides, and lists of recalls. ToyInfo.org is a toy industry sponsored site that also offers buying information and links to comprehensive recall lists.
Handwashing Awareness Week – Since 1999, the first week of December is Handwashing Awareness Week and Henry the Hand has been a tireless ambassador in carrying a serious message: the importance of hand-washing in preventing the spread of illnesses and infectious diseases. Henry is the brainchild of a Dr. William sawyer, an international expert in hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. He employees the friendly, humorous mascot of Henry the Hand to carry frank talk about the spread of germs to kids and their parents.
World AIDS Day – While December 1 is World AIDS Day with a 2007 theme being “Leadership,” every day is really a good day to communicate about AIDS and AIDS prevention. Both The National Institute for Health and MedlinePlus offer comprehensive resources on treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS, with everything from multilingual fact sheets to information on clinical trials, vaccines, various health topics, and information for various special populations such as teens and seniors.
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