In partnership with our member charities, Community Health Charities continues to offer National Health Day email updates to businesses throughout New England. This email is designed to promote and enhance the health and wellness of employees and their families.
To support any of the health charities we represent, be sure to ask about our charitable giving campaigns for the workplace to support your health charity(ies) of choice.
National Minority Awareness Day - August 1
While approximately 74 people receive an organ transplant daily, 17 people die waiting for one. August 1st commemorates the need for more organ and tissue donors from minority and ethnic backgrounds. Successful transplantation is often enhanced by matching organs between members of the same racial and ethnic group. Minority donors account for about 25 percent of the available donors. This annual observance invites minorities to increase their understanding of organ donation, focus on the fears and myths associated with it, and discuss with family members their wishes to become a donor. Another objective of this awareness campaign is to promote healthy living and disease prevention while increasing awareness of the behaviors that contribute to the need for transplantation, such as smoking, alcohol and substance abuse, and poor nutrition. Organ failure caused by diseases of the kidney, heart, pancreas, and liver are found more frequently in ethnic minority populations. For more information about how you can participate in National Minority Organ Donor Awareness Day activities in your community, contact the National MOTTEP in Washington, D.C. at (800) 393-2839 or visit www.nationalmottep.org.
Sources: United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS); the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, the Office of Minority Health, and National Kidney Foundation
Children's Eye Health & Safety Month
Did you know that one in twenty preschoolers and one in four school-age children are affected by problems with their vision? Many vision problems begin at an early age. If you look closely at your child's eyes, would you be able to recognize a visual impairment? It's not unusual for even the most vigilant parents to miss a problem or for a child to be unable to describe a problem. Problems left untreated can worsen and lead to permanent vision loss and delayed development. There is a better chance that treatment will be successful and normal sight restored the sooner impairment is identified. Some signs of possible visual problems can include rubbing eyes constantly, sitting too close to the TV, squinting eyes or frowning. Other indicators may include extreme light sensitivity, difficulty doing close-up work, blinking more than usual, and eyes that don't line up. It's important to remember that your child might still have an eye problem even if there doesn't appear to be any unusual signs or complaints.
Vision is one aspect of your child's eye health. Also consider keeping those eyes safe from injury. Each year, thousands of children age five and under have eye accidents that occur at home, in the car, or while playing. Ninety percent of eye injures can be prevented through understanding, safety practices, and the use of proper eye protection. Take steps to reduce the likelihood of an injury that might impair your child's sight and even cause blindness. Read labels to ensure that toys are age appropriate. Avoid toys that shoot or have parts that fly off. Be sure that your child wears the proper safety goggle for racket sports and basketball. Keep items like cosmetics, kitchen utensils, and desk supplies out of reach. Watch your child closely, keeping them away from household cleaning products. Protect them from potential falls against the furniture or on the stairs. Identify potential eye hazards at your child's playground or in their play area. Purchase sunglasses for your child to wear to ensure protection from the harmful effects of the sun. Choose glasses that are large enough to keep the eyes shielded from most angles. For more information on children's eye health and safety, go to www.preventblindness.org. For information on eye research related to the prevention and treatment of eye disease, go to www.rpbusa.org.
Source: Prevent Blindness America