September key dates and events offer two opportunities to protect and even save lives — simply by being prepared. For these and other observances, we’ve compiled links to tools that might be useful in your employee communications.
National Preparedness Month
Natural disasters and extreme weather can strike without warning — floods, hurricanes, wildfires, and more. National Preparedness Month reminds us to take time now to plan for emergencies that could affect our families and communities. Even small steps — like conducting an annual home safety check — can make the difference in an emergency.
Steps to prepare:
- Know your risks: Identify the most common disasters in your area. Conduct an audit of risks in your home.
- Create an emergency kit: Include essentials like water, food, medications, a flashlight, and first-aid supplies.
- Plan for evacuation: Establish routes and identify a family meeting place in case you’re separated.
- Protect vital information: Store copies of IDs, insurance policies, vital documents, and important contacts in a secure digital location.
- Learn lifesaving skills: Consider taking a CPR course and building a home first-aid kit.
Helpful resources:
- Ready.gov – Guides for disaster planning and response.
- Grist Disaster 101 – Free downloadable guide to extreme weather preparation and recovery.
- FEMA and Red Cross Apps – Provide local alerts and step-by-step safety instructions.
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
September also shines a light on another lifesaving topic: suicide prevention. First and foremost, if you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This free, confidential resource is available 24/7 across the U.S. and Canada, and it’s also there for friends and family seeking support.
Raising awareness can save lives. Suicide is a highly stigmatized issue, but awareness and open conversation are powerful tools for prevention. By knowing the signs and where to turn for help, we can all play a role in saving lives. Warning signs may include:
- Expressions of distress: Talking about wanting to die, feeling trapped, hopeless, or like a burden.
- Behavior changes: Withdrawal from friends and family, loss of interest in activities, extreme mood swings, or increased substance use.
- Planning behaviors: Researching ways to die, giving away possessions, writing a will, or saying goodbyes.
Helpful resources:
Other Key September Dates
- National Fruit & Veggies Month
- Baby Safety Month
- Healthy Aging Month
- National Recovery Month
- World Alzheimer’s Month
- Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
- National Sickle Cell Awareness Month
- Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
- Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
- National Yoga Awareness Month
- 9/1 – Labor Day
- 9/7 – Grandparents Day
- 9/15 – 10/15 – National Hispanic Heritage Month
- 9/22 – 9/26 – National Falls Prevention Awareness Week
- 9/29 – World Heart Day
ESI EAP September Member Webinar (Online)
In September, our members’ featured webinar is Finding Harmony: Being a Parent and a Professional. Being a parent and a working professional requires a delicate balance. This seminar will discuss the realities of the modern working landscape for parents. It will review strategies for time and household management, and how to find quality time just for yourself. To access this webinar and related resources, members can simply log in to www.theEAP.com during September.