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March is National Nutrition Month^®

Created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, this annual campaign focuses on educating people about the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. The organization’s vision is to have a world where all people thrive through the transformative power of food and nutrition.

To help individuals and families accomplish this, they offer these 10 tips:

1. Discover the benefits of a healthy eating style.
2. Choose foods and drinks that are good for your health.
3. Include a variety of healthful foods from all of the food groups on a regular basis.
4. Select healthier options when eating away from home.
5. Be mindful of portion sizes. Eat and drink the amount that's right for you, as MyPlate encourages us to do.
6. Keep it simple. Eating right doesn't have to be complicated.
7. Make food safety part of your everyday routine.
8. Help to reduce food waste by considering the foods you have on hand before buying more at the store.
9. Find activities that you enjoy and be physically active most days of the week.
10. Consult the nutrition experts. Registered dietitian nutritionists can provide sound, easy-to-follow personalized nutrition advice to meet your lifestyle, preferences, and health-related needs.

For more healthy eating resources, including tip sheets, quizzes, interactive tools, videos, and more, visit choosemyplate.gov.

National Poison Prevention Week

March 17 – 23 is National Poison Prevention Week. Celebrated annually the third week in March since 1962, this observance strives to raise awareness, reduce unintentional poisonings, and promote poison prevention. The week is an opportunity to highlight the dangers of poisonings for people of all ages and promote community involvement in poisoning prevention.

According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC), their 55 locations answer close to three million calls a year. Their 2017 Poison Control Data Snapshot provides an eye-opening view into the calls they handle, including breakdowns by age, substance, and exposure.

To learn more about the various poison risks and prevention tips, visit AAPCC’s prevention and education page. There you’ll find information on:

• Bites and stings
• Daycare and school safety
• Food and mushroom poisoning
• In the home
• Over-the-counter medicine safety
• Safe medicine disposal
• Seasonal poisoning hazards
• Older adults and medicine safety

If you still have questions, check out these FAQs from health Resources and Services Administration.

How to plan for workplace emergencies and evacuations

Nobody expects an emergency or disaster – especially one that affects them, their employees, and their business. Yet the simple truth is that emergencies and disasters can strike anyone, anytime, and anywhere. You and your employees could be forced to evacuate your company when you least expect it.

This booklet is designed to help employers plan for that possibility. The best way to protect yourself, your workers, and your business is to expect the unexpected and develop a well-thoughtout emergency action plan to guide you when immediate action is necessary.