August has fewer key dates and events than most months, perhaps because everyone is on vacation or preoccupied with back-to-school prep. Regardless, we’ve compiled notable observances, along with links to tools that might be useful in your employee communications.
Back To School Month
At one time, September was pretty much the default month for “return to school” but over the last decade or two, that’s changed, and August seems to be the biggest back-to-school month throughout the country today. Some places even start the school year in July! See the article Back to school’ means anytime from late July to after Labor Day, depending on where in the U.S. you live. Regardless of when you start, download the National Safety Council’s Back to School Safety Checklist. Also, see our newsletter about Family Tips for Easing “Back to School” – we published it a decade ago, but the tips are still relevant today!
Also, for our EAP members with or without children who want to get in on that back-to-school feeling, we urge you to log in at www.theEAP.com to explore new offerings in the online Training Center. Whether you want to earn a certificate, learn new work skills, or improve your personal life, we’ve got you covered. We’re big proponents of lifetime learning!
Summer Sun Safety Month
In Summer Sun Safety Month, the Skin And Cancer Institute reminds us that there are no safe tans unless they come from a bottle, and offer tips for keeping safe when in the sun. The CDC offers good information on sun safety, including videos and sun safety tips for schools and sun safety tips for employers. be sure to keep an eye on the UV Index, which provides a daily forecast of the expected intensity of UV radiation from the sun in your location. Also, don’t miss our Extreme Heat Toolkit which offers tips, tools, and resources to help you stay safe from extreme heat related risks.
National Farmers Market Week – 8/3-8/9
According to Local Harvest, there are almost two million farms in the US, and about 80% of those are small farms, and a large percentage are family owned. In addition to offering peak food freshness and nutrition, locally grown food strengthens your community by supporting local jobs and keeping money in your community. It’s also good for the environment because it cuts down on shipping and packaging. Plus, your local farmers markets are fun and a chance to interact with the people who are experts on the food they grow and who can offer helpful tips on preparation. National Farmers Market Week is now in its 26th year, promoted by the Farmers Market Coalition, which offers a promotional tool kit. Local Harvest is an excellent resource for finding farms, farmers markets, and food events and festivals near you. The US Department of Agriculture also has USDA Local Food Directories that helps you search for local farms, farmers markets, farms with on-site markets, and more.
International Overdose Awareness Day – 8/31
Why is International Overdose Awareness Day important? Although there was some good news here in the U.S. on this front recently – there were 30,000 fewer U.S. drug overdose deaths in 2024 than the year before, Although this was the largest one-year decline ever recorded, drug overdose was still the leading cause of death for people 18-44 years old, with an estimated 80,000 deaths.