Make Healthy Choices
 

Make Healthy Choices …HealthierUS.gov and BCHHC Gage County PATCH 2008

When faced with choices that may impact your health and the lives of those you love, it’s important to remember that there are options and resources to help you make healthy decisions.

You all know that cigarette smoking can cause cancer in smokers and in those who breathe in the air around them. You also hear stories of how substance abuse can destroy a person's life—whether it leads to the loss of a job, marriage, or even an innocent life.

You are lucky—you have choices and can learn how to avoid risky situations, break unhealthy habits, and protect yourself and the lives of those you love. You can also learn to prepare yourself against natural disasters and catastrophic events. Here are websites that can help.  Local information available through Gage County MAPS or area govt.

 
Protect Yourself, Family and Friends

 

Alcohol—What You Don't Know Can Harm You

http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/WhatUDontKnow_HTML/dontknow.htm

Consumer Education: What You Need to Know to Use Medicine Safely

http://www.fda.gov/usemedicinesafely

How to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones from Secondhand Smoke

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/secondhandsmoke/factsheets/factsheet3.html

Keeping Youth Drug Free: A How-To Guide for Parents and Caregivers

http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/govpubs/phd884/message.aspx

Keeping Youth Mentally Healthy and Drug Free

http://family.samhsa.gov

Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free

http://www.alcoholfreechildren.org/gs/pubs/html/Prev.htm

 

 

 

Checkup on Your Choices

 

Drug Use Questionnaire

http://www.drugfree.org/intervention/quiz/dast_10

If I Drink Alcohol, How Much Is Too Much?

http://www.alcoholscreening.org

Nicotine Addiction Test

http://www.smokefree.gov/quit-smoking/nicotine_addiction.asp

 
Kicking Bad Habits

 

7 Steps to Take If You Suspect Your Child Has a Drug Problem

http://www.drugfree.org/intervention/helpingothers/adultteen/you_suspect_your_child_has_a_drug_problem

Find Treatment—How Treatment Works and Where to Go for Help

http://www.drugfree.org/intervention/findtreatment

 

Getting Help: Locate Services

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/gettinghelp.cfm

Online Guide to Quitting

http://www.smokefree.gov/guide

SAMHSA's Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator

http://www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov

 

 

Safe Choices

 

Child Passenger Safety: Fact Sheet

http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/childpas.htm

Clean Hands Save Lives!

http://www.cdc.gov/cleanhands

Living Well/Living Safely

http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/lifeline

Medicines in My Home

http://www.fda.gov/cder/medsinmyhome

Safe Use of Over-the-Counter Drug Products

http://www.fda.gov/cder/offices/otc/consumer.htm

Safety Issues

http://www.nsc.org/issues

 
 
Preparedness

 

http://www.fema.gov/areyouready

Emergency Preparedness: Food Safety

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Emergency_Preparedness_Fact_Sheets/index.asp

Pandemic Flu Planning Checklist for Individuals and Families

http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/individual/checklist.html

Preparedness: An Everyday Task for Everyday Life

http://www.redcross.org/services/prepare/0,1082,0_239_,00.html

Ready.gov—Prepare. Plan. Stay Informed.

http://www.ready.gov

 

Brought to you by Beatrice Community Hospital Gage County PATCH

Community Health Promotion

Sharon Langvardt, MS, LCIMFTPATCH coordinator and Marriage and Family Therapist

223-3103 slangvardt@bchhc.org or slangvardt@bvbh.net  228-3386   

 
 

Return to Healthy Bodies/Healthy Minds March 2008