There are many simple but important steps to lead a safer, healthier life. Preventive health maintenance and home safety awareness should be key factors in your general safety plan. Here are a few simple, yet effective ideas to implement into your lifestyle:
1. Update Immunizations
Children and adults should be immunized against potentially life-threatening illnesses like measles, pertussis (whooping cough), human papillomavirus (HPV) and more. These immunizations will protect the recipient and the community at large.
2. Get Health Screenings
Be aware of your health risks and take steps to address and treat them, if indicated. Health screenings like mammograms, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screenings, colonoscopies, and blood pressure and cholesterol screenings are preventive steps that can save your life.
3. Review Medication List
Reviewing an accurate list of current medications, prescription and over-the-counter, with your primary care physician is an important step to avoid potential drug interactions.
Discard expired and unused medications. Expired medication loses its potency and will not be as effective as it was prescribed to be. Unused medications in the cabinet cause dosage errors and confusion. Get rid of them safely by returning them to your pharmacy or participating in your community's drug collection program.
4. Keep Medical Information on Hand
Keep a list of your current medications, allergies and serious medical conditions in your wallet. In the event of an accident or serious illness, the information is invaluable to health professionals and, ultimately, to your prognosis.
5. Get Certified
Being certified in CPR and basic first aid is critical to the welfare of the community. The ability to help someone during a medical emergency, until emergency medical service arrives, is invaluable.
6. Keep Smoke Detectors and Fire Extinguishers
Safety in the home is enhanced when there is a working smoke detector on every level and a fire extinguisher is easily accessible. Test the smoke detectors weekly and change the batteries on a regular basis.
Implementing a wellness and safety plan in your life will lead you to a safer, healthier life.
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