Celebrate National Safety Month
By Emma Bernick, Injury and Violence Prevention Planner
Did you know that June marks the 30th anniversary of National Safety Month, a time dedicated to reducing the leading causes of preventable injury and death?
Living in Colorado, many of us prepare for natural disasters by packing go kits (check out the handy guide at ready.gov/kit), considering neighborhood evacuation routes and signing up for emergency alerts (visit elpasoteller911.org/peak-alerts), among other steps. Those are all important efforts! But we often think less about the dangers we encounter in our daily lives.
At El Paso County Public Health’s (EPCPH) Injury and Violence Prevention (IVP) program, we know that simple changes and smart strategies can help everyone avoid injuries at home and on the road. Please consider some of these tips.
Safety at Home
You probably feel safest when you are at home. But did you know that according to the National Safety Council, the number of injuries that result in a trip to the doctor that occur in the home is greater than the total number of such injuries that occur in public places, the workplace, and motor-vehicle crashes combined?
Injuries can include everything from drownings to burns and choking, but the most common injuries are from falls and poisonings. To prevent falls, remember to keep pathways in your home clear, ensure proper lighting (including nightlights), secure rugs, use nonslip products in the bath/shower and on stairs, and ensure sturdy handrails on stairs. It’s also important to only use ladders and stepstools safely. Older adults may also want to talk to their health care providers about their fall risk and steps they can take to stay safe.
To prevent poisoning in your home, keep all medications in a locked cabinet out of reach of children and store them in their original containers. Always properly dispose of unused medication at your local pharmacy or at a drug take back day (learn more at dea.gov/takebackday). All chemicals and cleaners should likewise be kept in their original bottles and in a locked cabinet out of reach of children. Do not mix cleaners or chemicals. Remember to keep batteries away from children.
To keep your home safe for the whole family, make sure to always practice safe sleep with infants under 1 years old. Local data from 2020 to 2024 reveals a sobering statistic: 100 percent of sleep-related infant deaths in El Paso County involved soft bedding or toys in the sleep environment and 57 percent occurred when the baby was sharing a sleep surface with another person (co-sleeping). To keep babies resting safely, follow the ABC method: infants should sleep Alone, on their Backs, and in a Crib or bassinet. Creating a safe environment is a simple step that saves lives. Have questions or need resources to create a safe sleep environment? Contact safesleep@elpasoco.com.
Safety on the Road
Whether you are hitting the trails or the open road, it’s important to consider safety first. According to the National Safety Council, motorized passenger transportation incidents account for about one out of seven preventable injury-related deaths.
To stay safe on the road, always drive sober and avoid all distractions, such as phones and eating. Put all your focus on driving. Don’t forget to buckle your seatbelt and properly restrain children in car seats and booster seats. Remember to follow the speed limits and to slow down for hazards like winter weather, construction and traffic jams. Maintain at least a 3-second following distance, but increase the distance during bad weather, heavy traffic, or when following a motorcycle. Watch carefully for cyclists and always allow at least three feet of distance when passing a cyclist.
Cyclists should remember to follow the rules of the road and wear a helmet. Don’t forget the “Three 2s” of helmet safety:
- The helmet ridge should be two finger-widths above the eyebrow.
- Straps should form a V shape around the ears.
- The chin strap should be tight enough that only two fingers fit between the strap and the chin.
National Safety Month is a reminder that “safety” is a verb—it requires action. Whether it is attending a CPR training session, checking your child’s car seat, or simply clearing a tripping hazard from your porch, your actions contribute to a safer El Paso County.For more information on local safety resources, visit the El Paso County Public Health website. Together, we can make June—and every month—a season of safety.
