With summer approaching, June is the perfect time to focus on ways to keep your whole family safe. 

Now, more than ever, families need to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. We know that the current pandemic has certainly affected a lot of lives, and so it’s the perfect time for our Lake Orion MI family doctor Dr. Joseph Gorz to recognize that June is National Safety Month. Here are some helpful tips to keep you and your family safe, healthy, and happy this summer and all year long.

Emergency Preparedness 

Being prepared for emergencies means that you have supplies on hand and that you and your family have a detailed plan about how to handle a serious event such as a natural disaster, public health emergency, or act of terrorism. This includes having on hand a First Aid Kit, flashlights, and extra batteries. You and your family may also want to consider taking a CPR and first aid course. This is invaluable knowledge that could end up saving a life.

Questions to ask yourself:

• Do you know the first steps to take during a natural disaster, accident, or serious event?
• Do you have an emergency contact list that is readily available?
• Do you have the first aid supplies and tools necessary in case of injuries, power outages, flooding, etc.?
• Do you have a meeting place in case your family gets separated?

Wellness

Wellness is something that we could all focus a little more on improving. The CDC wants you to adopt ways to bolster your wellness and wellbeing during National Safety Month. While a more generalized term, wellness encompasses your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Ways to improve wellness for yourself and your family include:

• Getting 7-9 hours of quality sleep a night (children may require more hours of sleep)
• Staying hydrated
• Being physically active at least 30 minutes a day for adults and one hour a day for kids
• Eating a healthy, balanced diet and avoiding processed, junk foods and sodas
• Managing stress through meditation, deep breathing, exercise, yoga, and other outlets
• Finding support groups and outlets to help you cope with chronic illnesses, addictions, and other issues that you or a loved one may be going through

From planning a proper course of action in case of an emergency to teaching your young children when to call 911, you and your family must be discussing ways to stay safe when personal, local, nationwide, and worldwide problems and disasters happen. And remember that the team at Neighborhood Primary Care in Lake Orion MI is always here to answer questions, provide medical care, and address any concerns you may have. Call us at (248) 690-9181.