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Things
you can do in "One Minute or Less for Health"
Take folic acid.
The B vitamin folic acid helps prevent certain birth defects.
If a woman has enough folic acid in her body before and while
she is pregnant, her baby is less likely to have a major birth
defect of the brain or spine. All women who could possibly get
pregnant should take 400 micrograms of folic acid every day in
a vitamin or in foods that have been enriched with it.
Wash hands.
Wash hands to lower the risk of spreading germs and getting
sick. It is best to wash hands with soap and clean running water
for 20 seconds.
Check inspection scores.
If you’re planning a cruise, check cruise ship inspection
scores before your voyage. Cruise ships are subject to health
and safety inspections twice a year to ensure that vessels
are maintaining adequate levels of sanitation and to provide
guidance to vessel staff when needed. CDC staff members inspect
cruise
ships with a foreign itinerary that call on U.S. ports and
that
carry 13 or more passengers.
Prevent poisonings.
Whether they're drugs, medications, or household chemicals,
follow instructions, and keep products out of the reach of
children. Put the poison control number (800-222-1222) on
all phones, and make sure all family members know when to
call it.
Protect your skin.
Wear sunscreen, seek shade, and cover up to help lower your
risk for sunburn and skin cancer. Wear insect repellent with
DEET or Picaridin to protect yourself from mosquito and tick
bites, which can cause disease. Set your water heater's thermostat
to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower to help prevent burns.
Buckle up.
Lower the risk for motor vehicle-related injuries. Make sure
everyone is properly restrained in safety seats or safety
belts. Placing children in age- and size-appropriate restraint
systems lowers the risk of serious and fatal injuries by more
than half.
Gear up.
When playing active sports or riding a motorcycle or bike,
make sure you and your family wear protective gear, such as
helmets, wrist guards, and knee and elbow pads.
Fight the urge to smoke or use tobacco.
The urge will usually pass in 2-3 minutes. When you feel
the urge, do something else. Take deep breaths and let them
out slowly. Drink a glass of water. Carry things to put in your
mouth, such as gum, hard candy, or toothpicks. Smoking even
a few cigarettes a day and being around secondhand smoke (smoke
from someone else smoking) can hurt your health. The only safe
choice is to quit completely.
Protect your hearing.
Noise-induced hearing loss is one of the most common occupational
diseases and the second most self-reported occupational illness
or injury. Use hearing protectors such as ear plugs and ear
muffs when you can’t lower noise to a safe level.
Wear a life jacket.
All boat occupants should wear a life jacket to lower the
risk of drowning. U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets are
now more attractive in appearance and comfortable to wear.
When properly fitted, a life jacket can help prevent a tragedy.
Read food labels.
See how much fat, cholesterol, sodium, sugars, protein, and
other ingredients are in the product. Note what the serving
size is to make sure you don’t eat more calories than
you think you’re getting.
Place infants back-to-sleep.
To help lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS),
always place infants on their backs (face-up) when they are
resting, sleeping, or left alone.
Send a health-e-card.
Health-e-cards are a quick and easy way to remind someone
that you care about their health. Choose from a growing list
of electronic greeting cards featuring a variety of health
and safety topics.
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One
Minute to Health
