With warmer weather, people are spending more time outdoors, so it’s the perfect time to reinforce the heath benefits of fitness and exercise. The Centers for Disease Control says we should all get a minimum of 150 minutes a week or moderate intensity exercise. Find a promotional tool kit for National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, and here are a few other ideas to promote to your employees: It’s National Bike Month, with May 15-19 designated as Bike to Work Week and May 19 as Bike to Work Day. Swimming is also a great seasonal activity – May 22-28 is National Healthy and Safe Swimming Week. For healthy activities targeted by age, May 1-7 is National Physical Education & Sport Week and May 31 is Senior Health & Fitness Day.
Hand-in-hand with the warmer weather and outdoor activities, May is a good time of year to think about and plan for environmental risks to health. The month kicks off with Air Quality Awareness Week, May 1-5. It’s also National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. And with more time spent in the great outdoors, Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month focuses on safety and prevention. The American Academy of Dermatology offers great resources to check yourself and check your partner. Coming right before the holiday weekend – May 26 – is Don’t Fry Day, a timely reminder to limit sun exposure.
Mental Health Month – This year for May is Mental Health Month, MHA is talking about Risky Business:
“We believe it’s important to educate people about habits and behaviors that increase the risk of developing or exacerbating mental illnesses, or could be signs of mental health problems themselves. These include risk factors such as risky sex, prescription drug misuse, internet addiction, excessive spending, marijuana use, and troublesome exercise patterns. We hope the tools and resources that we’ve put together help individuals and communities to raise awareness of the risks that these types of behaviors present—especially to young people—and help people who may be struggling to detect early warning signs and seek help early, before Stage 4.”
Stroke Awareness Month – Strokes are the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. and a leading cause of adult disability. Stroke can happen to anyone at any age so it’s good to know risk factors and signs of stroke. The National Stroke Awareness Association resource center has free and ready-to-use promotional materials, presentations, discussion guide, and media materials.
Other health & wellness observances