Monday #24- Don't Honk

Make Today Matter...

Facts:

• Noise is among the most pervasive pollutants today.
• 28 million people have impaired hearing caused by noise.
• Hearing loss is occurring in people at younger and younger ages.
• Overexposure to noise can cause increased heart rate, respiration, sweating, headaches, stress, blood pressure, and sleep loss.
• The law states that a driver of a motor vehicle, when reasonably necessary to ensure safe operation, shall give audible warning with the horn. The law prohibits the use of horns for any other reason, except as part of an alarm system.
• Sound is measured by decibels (dBA). Common sounds include normal conversation (60 dBA), a noisy restaurant (85 dBA), a car horn (110 dBA), and a jackhammer (130 dBA).
• At 110 dBA, the maximum exposure time is 1 minute and 29 seconds before hearing damage can occur.

Noise-induced hearing loss, though  preventable, is permanent.

Take Action Today!

1. Only use your horn when it is reasonably necessary to ensure the safe operation of your vehicle.
2. Don't use your horn to let someone know you are angry, to tell people you are waiting outside to pick them up, to say goodbye, and/or as a way of protesting.
3. Get your hearing checked regularly.

You Matter!

You can be both the cause and the victim of noise. Noise-induced hearing loss is cumulative over one's lifespan. To avoid noise-induced hearing loss, pay attention to the noises around you, turn down the volume whenever possible, and don't honk your horn unnecessarily. 

Often, by the time you realize you are losing your hearing, it is too late.

(Adapted from Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways to Make a Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza)

Monday #23- Get Tested

Make Today Matter...

Facts:

• The US has the highest rate of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the industrialized world, with over 65 million people infected.
• 19 million new cases of STDs are diagnosed every year.
• 1 in 4 teens contracts an STD each year.
• 1 in 2 sexually active persons under the sage of 25 will contract an STD.
• Over $14 billion is spent each year to diagnose and treat STDs, excluding HIV.
• Nearly 1 million people are estimated to have HIV, and 25% are unaware of their infection.
• 50% of the population will likely have an STD at some point in their lifetime.

STDs and HIV are preventable.

Take action today!

1. Call your physician or locate a testing facility near you and make an appointment to get tested for STDs and HIV. Testing is anonymous and can be free of charge.
2. Get the information you need before getting tested. Counseling and support are available to help assess your risks and understand your results.
3. If your test results are negative and you are sexually active, use a condom. Abstinence is always the safest policy.
4. If you test positive, be responsible: get treated and tell your partner. Be honest and give full disclosure.

You matter!

No one is immune.

We need to take responsibility for transmitting infections and diseases to others. Save lives, money, heartache, and emotional burden by getting tested. 

If you could prevent yourself from passing along a life-threatening infection, disease, or inconvenience to someone, wouldn't you?

(Adapted from Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways to Make a Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza)

Monday #22- Thank a Firefighter!

Make Today Matter...

Facts:

• There are over 1,100,000 firefighters.
• 73% of firefighters are volunteers, with 66% or more of fire departments staffed 100% by volunteers.
• More than 100 firefighters die in the line of duty each year.
• 1.5 million or more fires are reported annually.
• Fire kills more Americans than all natural disasters combined, with over 4,000 deaths annually.
• The US has one of the highest rates of death due to fire in the industrialized world.

Take action today!

1. When you see firefighters in uniform, walk up and thank them for keeping you and your community safe.
2. Get our of the way. Pull your car to the right when you hear a siren or see a fire truck with its lights on.
3. Organize your friends, co-workers, neighborhood, or class to create and deliver thank-you cards to your local fire stations.
4. Donate to firefighter benefits and causes. If you don't know of any, ask your local fire department which organizations support them.
5. Minimize your risk of fires--install smoke detectors, keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen, don't overload power plugs, clear brush from around your house, and don't flick your cigarette butts!

You matter!

Firefighters fight to good fight...oftentimes for free!

Every day firefighters put their lives on the line to save people and property. Many of these firefighters are volunteers, so let's "pay" them by showing our appreciation, thanking them for the valuable service they provide, and letting them know that we are very aware of the significant positive impact they have on our communities. Firefighters, whether paid or not, make an incredible difference in our lives, so let's make a difference in theirs!

(Adapted from Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways to Make a Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza)

Monday #21- Learn CPR!

 Make Today Matter...

Facts: 

• Cardiac arrest may be caused by drowning, drug overdoses, poisoning, elecrtocution, and many other conditions.
• 95% of sudden cardiac arrest victims die before reaching the hospital.
• 75% to 80% of all out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home.
• 4 to 6 minutes after someone experiences cardiac arrest, brain death starts to occur.
• CPR helps maintain vital blood flow to the heart and brain and increases the amount of time that an electric shock from a defibrillator can be effective.

CPR can double a victim's chance of survival!

Take action today!

1. Call your local hospital to find a place near you that teaches CPR or to arrange for a certified CPR instructor to come to your school or workplace.
2. Sign up for a class with a family member or friend.
3. Learn CPR. It only takes a few hours!
4. Post CPR guidelines in a kitchen cupboard, office, car, and anywhere else you frequent. These guidelines may come in handy during emergency situations. Tell people around you that the guidelines are there in case they need to perform CPR.

You matter!

What if you could have saved a life had you known CPR?

What if you needed help and no one around you could help? Take a few hours today to learn this life-saving skill. It can change your life...and someone else's life...forever.

(Adapted from Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways to Make a Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza)

 

For information about CPR classes offered through American Red Cross of Northeastern California, please visit www.arcnec.org.