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Health Dates

  • January
    Rollover to Expand January

    • Tobacco-Free Awareness Week – January 20–26th

      Cigarette smoking is the number one cause of preventable death in the U.S. Commercial tobacco kills more Americans than AIDS, alcohol, car accidents, murders, suicides, drugs, and fires combined.

      Here's what you can do:
      * Create a Display Showing What's Really in Cigarettes
      * Host a Clean Up A Butt Event in Your Community (Cigarette Butt, That Is)
      * Host a Tobacco Trade-In Day (Ask People to Trade In their Tobacco
         Products for Something Else)
      * Organize a Benefit Concert, a Rally, or a Poetry Slam for Your Cause
      * Host a showing of TRUTH videos at your school, or create a tobacco
         prevention video of your own: www.thetruth.com

      Need more Ideas?       Check out: www.dosomething.org

  • February
    Rollover to Expand February

    • American Heart Month

      Many of us don’t get as much physical activity as we should. The American Heart Association recommends that teens get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Invite your friends to join you - It’s never too late to start a healthy habit!

      Here’s what you can do:
      * Organize a Just Move It event for your school or community. Get tools
         and ideas at: www.justmoveit.org Host a walk, fun run, lacrosse game,
         bike ride, kick ball tournament, or basketball game.
      * Take the NFL Play 60 School Challenge: www.nfl.com/play60
      * Celebrate National Wear Red Day. Encourage everyone in your
         community to wear red.
      * Contact your local Red Cross and invite then to train your school in CPR.
         CPR skills can help save a life.
      * Host a showing of Supersize Me at your school, or create a health
         promotion video of your own: www.youtube.com

      Need more Ideas?       Check out: www.dosomething.org

    • Through With Chew Week – February 17-23rd

      You can call chewing tobacco by whatever name you want — smokeless tobacco, spit tobacco, chew, snuff, pinch or dip — but don’t call it harmless. Whether you use chewing tobacco or other types of smokeless tobacco, be forewarned: chewing tobacco can cause serious health problems.

      All tobacco products contain nicotine, which is super addictive. Smokeless tobacco also contains 28 cancer-causing agents (carcinogens).

      Here's what you can do:
      * Download the Through with Chew Week Toolkit:
         www.throughwithchew.com
      * Create a Display Showing What's Really in Chew
      * Host a Green Ribbon Activity in Your Community
      * Host a Tobacco Trade-In Day (Ask People to Trade In their Tobacco
         Products for Something Else)
      * Organize a Benefit Concert, a Rally, or a Poetry Slam for Your Cause
      * Host a showing of TRUTH videos at your school, or create a tobacco
         prevention video of your own: www.thetruth.com

      Need more Ideas?       Check out: www.dosomething.org

  • March
    Rollover to Expand March

    • National Nutrition Month

      Eating healthy means getting the right balance of nutrients your body needs. A healthy plan includes fruits, vegetables, low-fat milk products, lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, nuts, and whole grains.

      It’s also important to balance food choices and control portion sizes. You don't have to give up foods like hamburgers and ice cream to eat healthy. You just have to be smart about how often and how much you eat.

      Here's what you can do:
      * Organize a Fear Factor event. Prepare unusual fruits and vegetables,
         cut them into bite-size pieces. Get your classmates to taste and guess
         what it is.
      * Host a healthy meal scavenger hunt. Divide into teams and head to the
          market. See which group can plan the most nutritionally balanced meal.
      * Host a traditional foods cooking class or cooking contest. Find recipes
         and get ideas at: www.facebook.com/StoreOutside
      * Celebrate a "Salute to the Troops." Invite local veterans to lunch.
         Serve Hero Sandwiches, All-American Apples, and Military Milk.

      Need more Ideas?       Check out: www.dosomething.org

    • National Native American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day – March 20th

      More than 3,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives have been infected by HIV. Think you’re not at risk? Think again – Half of new HIV infections occur among teens and young adults!

      Here's what you can do:
      * Get ideas and order awareness day materials: www.nnhaad.org
      * Host a luncheon with community members to discuss STD/HIV and
         other issues affecting teens and their health.
      * Organize a Wall of Moccasins in a prominent place, to honor Native
         people who have died from HIV/AIDS.
      * Organize a STD/HIV testing event for your school or clinic. Learn how at:
         www.itsyoursexlife.com/toolkit
      * Organize a Benefit Concert, Open Mic Night, or Poetry Slam for
         Your Cause
      * Watch and discuss videos from Native STAND, or create and share
         your own HIV prevention videos: www.youtube.com/user/nativeStand7

      Need more Ideas?       Check out: www.dosomething.org

    • Kick Butts Day – March 24th

      Cigarette smoking is the number one cause of preventable death in the U.S. Commercial tobacco kills more Americans than AIDS, alcohol, car accidents, murders, suicides, drugs, and fires combined.

      Here's what you can do:
      * Download a Kick Butts Day activity guide: kickbuttsday.org
      * Create a Display Showing What's Really in Cigarettes
      * Host a Clean Up A Butt Event in Your Community (Cigarette Butt, That Is)
      * Host a Tobacco Trade-In Day (Ask People to Trade In their Tobacco
         Products for Something Else)
      * Organize a Benefit Concert, Rally, or Poetry Slam for Your Cause
      * Host a showing of TRUTH videos at your school, or create a tobacco
         prevention video of your own: www.thetruth.com

      Need more Ideas?       Check out: www.dosomething.org

  • April
    Rollover to Expand April

    • Alcohol Awareness Month

      Alcohol Awareness Month gives us the opportunity to raise awareness about alcohol abuse and encourage community members to make
      healthy, safe choices.

      Here's what you can do:
      • Order I Strengthen My Nation campaign materials, and post them around
         your community: www.npaihb.org
      • Host an alcohol-free community event to show how much fun you can
         have without drinking. Share free information on preventing alcohol
         abuse and provide demonstrations, such as using drinking goggles to
         see what it’s like to be impaired.
      • Organize a concert, rally, or poetry slam for your cause
      • Show the I Strengthen My Nation video at your school, or create a
         prevention video of your o      wn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLoovbxaoFE

      Need more Ideas?       Check out: www.dosomething.org

    • National STD Awareness Month

      1 in 2 sexually active people will get an STD by age 25. Most won’t know it. The only way to find out is to Get Yourself Tested (GYT). GYT is about knowing yourself and knowing your status, while carving your own path in life.

      Here's what you can do:
      • Order the GYT Toolkit, and post the materials around your community:
         www.itsyoursexlife.com/toolkit
      • Organize a testing event at your school or clinic
      • Host a 16 & Pregnant watch party
      • Organize a concert, rally, or poetry slam for your cause
      • Create a GYT prevention video of your own.

      Need more Ideas?       Check out: www.dosomething.org

  • May
    Rollover to Expand May

    • Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month

      About 40% of cancers are preventable, including skin cancer! But skin cancer cases among young people have continued to increase since 1992.

      So slather on that sunscreen. And don't wait until you're at the pool -- It takes 30 minutes for sunblock to fully soak in and protect you from the sun's UV rays.

      Here’s what you can do:
      • Organize a rally outside a tanning salon.
      • Create a flier or display showing facts about melanoma
      • Organize a concert, rally, or poetry slam for Your Cause
      • Create a skin cancer prevention video of your own.

      Need more Ideas? Check out: www.dosomething.org

    • National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month

      Nearly one-third of all girls in the U.S. get pregnant at
      least once by age 20.

      Here’s what you can do:
      • Visit www.StayTeen.org and encourage your friends to take the
         teen pregnancy quiz.
      • Host a 16 & Pregnant watch party. Get a discussion guide from:
         www.itsyoursexlife.com/toolkit
      • Organize a concert, rally, or poetry slam for your cause
      • Create a teen pregnancy prevention video of your own.
      • Learn more about sexual health youth activism at:
        www.amplifyyourvoice.org

      Need more Ideas?       Check out: www.dosomething.org

  • June
    Rollover to Expand June

    • National Safety Month

      A fatal injury occurs every six minutes. The good news is, that many of these injuries can be stopped – by preventing crashes, unintentional overdoses, falls, and fires.

      Here’s what you can do:
      • Invite the Red Cross to your school to provide first aid, CPR, and AED
         training to you and your classmates.
      • Get friends together and conduct “home safety inspections” for
         elders and families with young children. Check and change batteries in
         smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Install free detectors for those
         who don’t have them.
      • Work with your clinic or pharmacy to host a Trade-In Event for expired
         prescriptions (ie. Ask people to trade in their old prescriptions for
         something else, like movie tickets or a healthy dinner). Doing so can
         prevent drug abuse and accidental overdose. 
      • Create and share a home safety video of your own.

      Need more Ideas? Check out: www.dosomething.org

    • National HIV Testing Day – June 27th

      More than 3,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives have been infected by HIV. Think you’re not at risk? Think again – Half of new HIV infections occur among teens and young adults!

      Here's what you can do:
      • Host a dinner with community members to discuss HIV, STDs and other
         issues affecting teens and their health.
      • Organize a Wall of Moccasins in a prominent place, to honor Native
         people who have died from HIV/AIDS.
      • Organize a testing event for your school or clinic. Learn how at:
         www.itsyoursexlife.com/toolkit
      • Organize a Benefit Concert, Open Mic Night, or Poetry Slam for
         Your Cause
      • Watch and discuss videos from Native STAND, or create and share your
         own HIV prevention videos: www.youtube.com/nativeStand7

      Need more Ideas? Check out: www.dosomething.org

  • July
    Rollover to Expand July
  • August
    Rollover to Expand August

    • National Immunization Awareness Month

      Vaccines are not just for babies anymore. Vaccines for teens prevent serious, sometimes life-threatening infections. For diseases like pertussis, you may have been vaccinated when you were younger, but the protection wears off over time, so you may need another dose. Also, as you get older, you are more likely to catch diseases like meningitis and HPV.

      Here’s what you can do:
      • Check out this easy-to-use chart, to learn more about vaccines 
         recommended for teens and young adults.
      • Work with your clinic to host an Immunization Update event for you
         and your classmates. Select a day, make fliers, offer incentives for
         those who get “shot.”
      • Take and share the Vaccine Quiz.
      • Organize a concert, rally, or poetry slam for Your Cause.

      Need more Ideas? Check out: www.dosomething.org

  • September
    Rollover to Expand September

    • National Suicide Prevention Week – September 9-15th

      And World Suicide Prevention Day is September 10th every year.

      In the U.S., suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for young people 10- to-24 years old. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for AI/ANs 10-34 years old. But suicide can be prevented.

      Here’s what you can do:
      • Organize a candlelight ceremony or walk to remember those who have
         died by suicide.
      • Organize a cultural or spiritual event to raise awareness about suicide.
      • Organize a training at your school on suicide and depression... host a
         QPR training or TeenScreen event.
      • Educate yourself about suicide and warning signs at: www.sprc.org
      • Visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention’s (IASP)
         webpage for more information, factsheets, and World Suicide
         Prevention day events worldwide: www.iasp.info
      • Create a video about suicide prevention and post it on We R Native.

      If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

      Need more Ideas? Check out: www.dosomething.org

  • October
    Rollover to Expand October

    • Teen Driver Safety Week – October 14-20th

      Did you know that traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for American teens? And young people are among the most likely to text and talk behind the wheel. One in four of American teens say they have texted while driving, and half say they’ve been a passenger while a driver has texted.

      Here’s what you can do:
      • Prevent distracted driving… Take the pledge. Speak up.
         Spread the Word. Visit www.Distraction.gov
      • Need help talking to your friends about distracted driving?
        Check out: CreateRealImpact.com
      • Organize a concert, rally, or poetry slam for Your Cause
      • Host a showing of RU Lethal videos at your school, or create a car
         safety video of your own.

      Need more Ideas? Check out: www.dosomething.org

  • November
    Rollover to Expand November

    • American Diabetes Month

      American Diabetes Month is a time to come together as a community to Stop Diabetes! The good news is that diabetes can be prevented by eating healthy and staying active.

      Here’s what you can do:
      • Visit www.diabetes.org to get promotional materials and activity guides. • Check out the Dribble To Stop Diabetes Campaign and take their risk
         test: www.nba.com/stopdiabetes/risktest
      • Host a diabetes awareness walk, fun run, lacrosse game, bike ride, kick
          ball tournament, or basketball game.
      • Organize a concert, rally, or poetry slam for Your Cause
      • Create a diabetes prevention video of your own.

      Need more Ideas? Check out: www.dosomething.org

    • Great American Smokeout - November 18th

      Smoking is the number one cause of preventable death in the U.S. Commercial tobacco kills more Americans than AIDS, alcohol, car accidents, murders, suicides, drugs, and fires combined.

      Here’s what you can do:
      • Calculate the cost of smoking, take quizzes, and get tools to quit
         at: www.cancer.org
      • Host a Clean Up A Butt event in tour community (Cigarette Butt, That Is)
      • Host a Tobacco Trade-In Day (Ask People to Trade In their Tobacco
         Products for Something Else)
      • Organize a concert, rally, or poetry slam for Your Cause
      • Host a showing of TRUTH videos at your school, or create a tobacco prevention video of your own: www.thetruth.com

      Need more Ideas? Check out: www.dosomething.org

    • National Meth Awareness Day – November 30th

      Here’s what you can do:
      • Learn the facts, read true stories, and get tools to quit at:
         www.justthinktwice.com
      • Download the Just Think Twice teacher’s guide – share it with your
         teacher, or lead an activity on your own with classmates.
      • Encourage your community to wear black in recognition of National
         Meth Awareness Day.
      • Organize a concert, rally, or poetry slam for Your Cause
      • Create a meth prevention poster or video of your own.

      Need more Ideas? Check out: www.dosomething.org

  • December
    Rollover to Expand December

    • World AIDS Day – December 1st

      More than 3,000 American Indians and Alaska Natives have been infected by HIV. Think you’re not at risk? Think again – Half of new HIV infections occur among teens and young adults!

      Here's what you can do:
      * Get ideas and online resources: www.worldaidsday.org
      * Host a luncheon with community members to discuss STD/HIV and other
         issues affecting teens and their health.
      * Organize a Wall of Moccasins in a prominent place, to honor Native
         people who have died from HIV/AIDS.
      * Organize a STD/HIV testing event for your school or clinic. Learn how at:
         www.itsyoursexlife.com/toolkit
      * Organize a Benefit Concert, Open Mic Night, or Poetry Slam for
         Your Cause
      * Watch and discuss videos from Native STAND, or create and share your
         own HIV prevention videos: www.youtube.com/user/nativeStand7

      Need more Ideas? Check out: www.dosomething.org

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