June is National Safety Month, Join the Movement

Avoid distractions. Get 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Wear a seat belt while driving. Follow safety rules and practices at home and in the workplace. Eat healthy and exercise. These safety tips sound like common sense, but statistics show that we still need to be reminded.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more Americans age 1 - 44 die from injuries than from any other cause, including cancer. In fact, one person dies every three minutes. Preventable injury-related deaths are up 5.5 percent in a year-over-year comparison. What’s more, there are millions of others who are injured and survive, often plagued with lifelong mental, physical, and financial hardships.

In today’s hustle and bustle, work ’til you drop, power-hungry culture, common sense is sometimes relegated to an anachronism, a relic of the distant past. We ask a lot of ourselves each day, both in our personal and professional lives, and it can take a toll on our well-being, often manifesting in carelessness and lack of attentiveness when it comes to our safety.

June is National Safety Month. The National Safety Council and thousands of its partners nationwide work throughout the year to reduce leading causes of injury and death at work, on the road, and in our homes and communities. Let us slow down for just a moment and remember that implementing a culture of safety is a universal win-win.

Ready to get involved? The National Safety Council and its partners are sponsoring events throughout June in recognition of National Safety Month. See highlights below.

June 2 – 8: National Trailer Safety Week

With events hosted at manufacturing facilities across the nation, National Trailer Safety Week seeks to train the public, including consumers, dealers, manufacturers, and fleet managers, on proper trailer towing techniques and maintenance in order to protect the safety of everyone on the road.

June 6: Secure Your Load Day

According to the Federal Highway Administration, road debris has caused more than 200,000 crashes in the past few years, resulting in approximately 39,000 injuries and 500 deaths. Additionally, studies show that as a nation, we spend up to $11.5 billion on litter, with an estimated 20 to 40 percent resulting from unsecured loads.

Secure Your Load Day is backed by a number of advocates who know firsthand the potentially painful aftermath of unsecured loads. Robin Abel, one of the proponents, has worked to push new laws governing unsecured loads, after her only child was blinded and nearly killed by debris that flew out of the back of a trailer while they were on the road.

June 17: National Ride to Work Day

National Ride to Work Day encourages the use of motorcycles and scooters for transportation. Commuting in a smaller vehicle eases traffic congestion, extends the life of critical infrastructure such as roads and bridges, promotes a healthy lifestyle, and protects the environment.

Want to learn more? Visit the National Safety Council’s website.

Safety is up to all of us. It only requires a little intentionality and empathy. What will you do this month to join the movement?

Capitol offers a number of degree programs in the field, including security, facilities, and critical infrastructure and construction, facilities, and safety. To learn more, contact admissions@captechu.edu.