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June Is National Safety Month

By SCMA On 01/06/2017  

June 2017 is National Safety Month and we at SCMA® have put together ways for you to continue serving as agents of health among your patients and customers.

From sharing information on what to do in an emergency to helping your patients with a list of what to do if someone has a heart attack or an allergic reaction, medical assistants play a key role in the campaign to prevent injuries.

Top Causes of Unintentional Injury and Death in Homes and Communities

According to the National Safety Council (NSC) in Injury Facts 2017, about 146,571 people died from unintentional injury-related deaths in 2015. That's 146,571 times someone's ordinary day turned tragic.

These deaths are at an all-time high. Often, these tragedies happen when least expected – during a vacation, while doing chores at home or while driving across town – and they are all preventable. NSC encourages everyone to be aware of hazards related to leisure and recreational activities and take proper safety precautions. Here, in order, are the top causes of unintentional injury and death in homes and communities.

Planning Ahead & Preparing for an Emergency

There is no way to know when the next disaster will strike. Medical assistants are great resource persons in helping patients and their family be more prepared for emergencies.

An accident or emergency can happen at any time. Helping a patient understand the importance of giving first aid and taking action right away may spell the difference between what happens before medical help arrives.

An accident or emergency can happen at any time. Giving first aid is what you can do to help someone before medical help arrives. Taking action right away can help save a life.

The National Ag Safety Database Fact Sheet describes first aid procedures including bleeding control and attending to victims of shock. Instructions for the Heimlich maneuver for choking victims, burn care, and the appropriate responses for heat exhaustion and poisoning are presented.

Of course materials like these are intended to be used as a refresher safety awareness guide and is in no way to be used as a substitute for job training nor for proper equipment use.

Using Medicines Safely

Remind your patients that they can lower their chances of side effects from prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines by carefully following the directions on the medicine label or from their pharmacist, doctor, or nurse. Side effects may be mild, like an upset stomach. Other side effects – like damage to your liver – can be more serious.

  • Prescription medicines

Prescription medicines are medicines one can get only with a prescription (order) from a doctor. Patients later get these medicines from a pharmacy. Prescription medicines shouldn't be used by anyone except the person whose name is on the prescription and should be disposed of properly once out-of-date (expired) or unused.

  • Over-the-counter medicines

Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are medicines you can buy at a store without a prescription. OTC medicines include cold and flu medicines; pain medicines like aspirin; acetaminophen, and ibuprofen; allergy medicines; sleep aids and toothpaste with fluoride.

Making Changes in The Home to Prevent Falls

Injuries are a leading cause of disability for people of all ages – and they are the leading cause of death for Americans ages 1 to 44. But there are many things people can do to stay safe and prevent injuries.

Despite the fact that falls are often due to hazards that are easy to overlook but easy to fix, each year, thousands of older Americans still suffer falls at home. Many of them are seriously injured, and some are disabled. In 2002, more than 12,800 people over age 65 died and 1.6 million were treated in emergency departments because of falls.

No doubt, health professionals like medical assistants can work with patients and their families to introduce ways of for everyone to stay safe and be prepared for emergencies.

Share News about National Safety Month

SCMA encourages you to use this month to raise awareness about the benefits of keeping safe and being prepared for emergencies:

  • From your facility's bulletin board, to your clinic's newsletter, from your company's social media account, even --- you connect with your patients. Work in these safety training tips and reminders into a news release or community billboard to highlight this month's national health observance.
    • Things you can post about:
      • A Checklist for Emergency Supply Kits
  • Take action to increase awareness about safety issues by volunteering within your community to do the following:
    • Encourage patients and their families to support information campaigns on safety in your community.
    • Host an information event (night featuring community members who can teach CPR steps or someone who may provide a testimony on how CRP can save a life. Talks like these underscore how even a layperson with the proper training can save a life. Distribute print materials and literature on the CPR steps.

References & More Information: