June is dedicated to eating fresh and healthy foods, being more active in the outdoors and preventing needless accidents. We’ve gathered links and tools for your internal wellness communications — or if you’d prefer, just forward this link to your employees: http://www.hrwebcafe.com/2014/05/wellness_focus_for_june_share.html. You can also share & follow our frequently updated Wellness Twitter feed, where we post more great health tools & tips: @WellnessESI.
June is National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month and June 17 is Eat Your Vegetables Day – a good way to kick off the summer months. The summer months are a great time to buy local and to bu fresh. Here are some resource to help you do just that:
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farmer’s Market Search tool
Local Harvest – Farmer’s Markets, Family Farms near you
Seasonal Ingredient Map – choose your state and the month to see what’s fresh
What’s In Season
Fruit and Veggie Recipes
Fruits & Veggies – More Matters
Fruit & Veggies on a Budget
Raw produce – Selecting & serving it safely
Nutrition information charts for raw fruits & vegetables
June is also National Great Outdoors Month. The National Wildlife Federation offers suggestions for ways to celebrate the month. Find more suggestions for celebrating June 14th, National Get Outdoors Day!
Here are some other suggestions:
Find Hiking Trails
Best Trails
National Parks
National Scenic Byways
Pedaling.com – routes & rides for recreational & avid cyclists
List of beaches in the U.S.
June is National Safety Month
Injuries are a leading cause of disability for people of all ages – and they are the 5th leading cause of death for Americans ages 1 to 44. According to the National Safety Council, someone dies of an unintentional injury every four minutes. Sixty-seven percent† of all injury-related deaths in the U.S. are due to unintentional causes, compared to just 9% to homicide. “Dramatic events like homicides and natural disasters headline the news every night,” said Deborah Hersman, NSC president and CEO. “Highlighting that hundreds of people are dying each day from completely preventable causes – that is what National Safety Month is all about.” The top three causes of unintentional injury in the U.S. are poisoning, motor vehicle crashes and falls.
The focus on the month by week is:
–Week 1: Prevent prescription drug abuse
–Week 2: Stop slips, trips and falls
–Week 3: Be aware of your surroundings
–Week 4: Put an end to distracted driving
–Bonus week: Summer safety
June is Men’s Health Awareness Month
The purpose of Men’s Health Month is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. The week leading up to Father’s Day, June 9-15 is Men’s Health Week. See BluePrint for Men’s Health, a series of downloadable guides to common men’s health issues and the A to Z Guide to Men’s Health.
Other important health & wellness dates in June
June 1 – National Cancer Survivors Day
June 19 – World Sickle Cell Day
June 22 – 28 – National Lightening Safety Awareness Week
June 27 – National HIV Testing Day
June – July 4 – National Fireworks Safety Month
Looking for the most comprehensive and effective wellness program for your employees? ESI TotalCare Wellness pairs Behavioral Health Clinicians with certified Wellness Coaches to provide employees and their families with the help, motivation, tools and support to make changes and improve their lives. Call 800-535-4841 for more information.