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Health and Safety Special Committee
2024-2025
State Health and Safety Committee Chair
Verna Mitchell
State Health and Safety Committee Members
Mary Ann Dolezal, Judy Hart, Debbie Prukop, Carol Rose
The TRTA Health and Safety Special Committee was created by President Marcy Cann and approved by the TRTA Executive Board for 2022-24. This committee will provide some of the information and resources previously promoted by the Healthy Living and Informative and Protective Services State Committees. It is an “opt-in” Committee at the district and local chapter levels.
Districts or local chapters can have a Health and Safety Chair, a Health Chair, a Safety Chair, or none.
The purpose of this special committee is to serve the entire membership of TRTA with health and safety information.
The goals of this committee are to provide monthly health and safety articles; and to promote health and safety programs and special events.
On the first Tuesday of the month, a health article will be posted on the TRTA website. On the third Tuesday of the month, a safety article will be posted on the TRTA website. These articles will include pertinent information for our members and will often include resources and online references. Once an article is replaced, it will become available under the appropriate menu tab. Please see the tabs below. This information is provided for all TRTA members.
Additional information will be provided, primarily for districts and local chapters, including newsletters, a monthly observances planning calendar, program ideas, and special events. Special events will include planning information for health and safety fairs, fitness walks, and other large-scale programs.
In addition to the committee members, advisors will serve in specific roles to assist the committee.
Districts or local chapters can have a Health and Safety Chair, a Health Chair, a Safety Chair, or none.
The purpose of this special committee is to serve the entire membership of TRTA with health and safety information.
The goals of this committee are to provide monthly health and safety articles; and to promote health and safety programs and special events.
On the first Tuesday of the month, a health article will be posted on the TRTA website. On the third Tuesday of the month, a safety article will be posted on the TRTA website. These articles will include pertinent information for our members and will often include resources and online references. Once an article is replaced, it will become available under the appropriate menu tab. Please see the tabs below. This information is provided for all TRTA members.
Additional information will be provided, primarily for districts and local chapters, including newsletters, a monthly observances planning calendar, program ideas, and special events. Special events will include planning information for health and safety fairs, fitness walks, and other large-scale programs.
In addition to the committee members, advisors will serve in specific roles to assist the committee.
IT’S FALL Y’ALL, DON’T FALL
- Keep moving. Stay active. Contact your area agency on aging to find a program you like—take a friend
- Get regular eye and hearing checkups
- Wear proper non-slip footwear; avoid heels
- Light up your living space including outside paths
- Install night lights, glow in the dark/illuminated switches
- Organize living space so furniture is not in your way
- Keep electrical cords out of your path
- Minimize climbing and bending
- Remove tripping hazards such as loose rugs
- Review your medication for possible side effects
- Get plenty of sleep and avoid or limit alcohol
- Install assistive devices with special attention in bathroom/shower—use a shower chair, install bars, rubber mats, raise toilet height
- Low, easy to get in and out of bed with light nearby
- Accessible way to call for help—keep phone in pocket
- Keep contact numbers of key contact people handy
- Keep frequently used items and small appliances within reaching distance in the kitchen
- Use mobility assistance devices—be sure to use brakes when sitting/standing
- Always stand up slowly
- Stay safe and enjoy the fall season!
AS SUMMER ENDS, DON’T FORGET YOUR FEET
- Wash your feet daily and dry completely; moisturize but not between toes
- Change socks at least once daily
- Do not go barefoot
- Check for cuts, sores, swelling, dryness or infected toenails; apply treatment
- Wear well-fitting footwear and replace if footwear is worn out
- Measure feet periodically as size and width can change over time
- Only use licensed, clean nail salons with sterilized instruments
- Cut toenails straight across and not too short
- Prevent bunions and hammertoes by wearing shoes with plenty of toe room
- Stiff joints in feet or ankles could be a sign of arthritis elsewhere
- Swollen feet could warn of high blood pressure, kidney or heart disease
- Tingling, burning or numbness might signal nerve damage—possible diabetes
- Wear supportive footwear to assist with balance and stabilization
- Foot pain can cause dysfunction in back, hips and knees
- Get physician foot exam during your normal medical checkups
Source: National Institute of Health
| TRTA Health and Safety Special Committee | Effective Date: September 9, 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| Observances | Month and Week | |
| Month | Health | Safety |
| January | Glaucoma | Winter Safety |
| Cervical Cancer | Radon Action | |
| Birth Defects | Slavery and Human Trafficking | |
| Thyroid | Stalking | |
| Folic Acid Week | ||
| February | Heart Health | Earthquake |
| Girls and Women in Sports | Teen Dating and Violence Prevention | |
| Cancer Prevention | Burn Week | |
| Mascular Degeneration and Low Vision | ||
| Eating Disorder Week | ||
| Sepsis Survival Week | ||
| March | Kidney Disease | Ladder Safety |
| Nutrition | Spring and Flood Safety | |
| Colectal Cancer | Workplace Eye Safety | |
| Tuberculosis | Poison Prevention Week | |
| Brain Injury | Tsunami Week | |
| Multiple Sclerosis | ||
| April | Autism | Alcohol Awareness |
| Sexually Transmitted Diseases | Financial Capability | |
| Irritable Bowel Syndrome | Youth Sports Safety | |
| Stress | Sexual Assault Prevention | |
| Minority Health | Child Abuse Prevention | |
| Parkinson’s Disease | Occupational Therapy | |
| Testicular Cancr | Window Safety Week | |
| Infertilty Week | Playground safety Week | |
| May | Older Americans | Electrical Safety |
| Mental Health | Better Hearing and Speech | |
| Women’s Health | Clean Air | |
| Better Hearing and Speech | Wildfire | |
| Arthritis | Building safety | |
| Lupus | Motorcycle Safety | |
| Asthma and Allergy | Trauma | |
| Osteoporosis | Water Safety | |
| Physical Fitness and Sports | Healthy Vision | |
| Stroke | EMS Week | |
| Nurses Week | ||
| June | Alzheimer’s Disease and Brain Health | National Safety Month |
| Men’s Health | Hydration | |
| Cataract | Pet Preparedness | |
| Migraine and Headache | Summer and Extreme Heat | |
| PTSD | Lightning Week | |
| Scoliosis | Trailer Safety Week | |
| July | Hepatitus | Sunburn |
| Youth Sports | Vehicle Theft Protection | |
| Cleft and Crainiofacial | Fireworks | |
| Group B Stress | ||
| August | Children’s Eye Health and Safety | Water Quality |
| Breastfeeding | Back To School | |
| Immunization | Stop on Red Week | |
| Psoriasis | ||
| September | Healthy Aging | Suicide Prevention |
| Food Safety and Education | Pain | |
| Blood cancer | Fall Safety | |
| Childhood Obesity | Sport Eye Safety | |
| Yoga | Farm Safety and Health Week | |
| Ovarian Cancer | ||
| Prostrate Cancer | ||
| October | Health Literacy | Cybersecurity Awareness |
| Breast Cancer | Fire Prevention | |
| ADHD | Substance Abuse Prevention | |
| Dental Hygiene | Domestic Violence | |
| Down Syndrome | Crime Prevention | |
| School Bus Safety Week | ||
| November | Diabetes | Family Caregivers |
| Lung Cancer | Hospice and Palliative Care | |
| Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease | Holiday Cooking Safety | |
| Alzheimer’s Disease | Holiday Online Shopping | |
| Pancreatic Cancer | ||
| December | Flu Vaccine | Frostbite |
| HIV/Aids Awareness | Impaired Driving Prevention | |
| Holiday Fire Safety | ||
| Sources | health.gov | www.ready.gov/calendar |
| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | National Safety Council | |