Calendar+of+Events

= **Calendar of Events**  = = =

** MAY IS A BUSY MONTH!**  **Choose 1 or 2 of the topics below to explore with your family. It will make for some interesting dinner conversations!** **May 4 is the Get Fit McKinney Event.**
 * Ron Poe Stadium
 * 6 - 8 p.m.
 * It's a **free fun-filled family event** focusing on health and wellness and our great community resources!
 * []

**May 5 is the Historic McKinney Kiwanis Kids Triathlon. There is an adult version on May 6.**
 * [|www.mckinneykiwanis.org]

**May is National Allergy Awareness Month.**
 * []

**May is Mental Health Month.**
 * []
 * []

**May is National Skin Cancer Detection & Prevention Month.**
 * []
 * The above is an excellent website full of useful tools to help you prevent skin cancer or spot early warning signs of skin cancer.

**May is Better Hearing and Speech Month.**
 * []

**May is Hepatitis Awareness Month.**
 * You know you have to have your Hepatitis B vaccinations to attend school in Texas. Click on the link below to find out why it is important to prevent the spread of this potentially serious virus.
 * [].

**May is Lupus Awareness Month.**
 * []

**May is National High Blood Pressure Education Month.**
 * Often called "The Silent Killer," high blood pressure or hypertension can be symptomless, but deadly.
 * Click [|here] or [|here] for a good overview of high blood pressure.

**May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month.**
 * Back in March we talked about good nutrition, now it's time to get up and start putting those food calories to good use.
 * []

**May 6 is National Nurse's Day and May 9 is National School Nurse Day.**
 * ** So hug your nurse twice this week! **
 * School nursing is a specialized practice of professional nursing that advances the well-being, academic success and life-long achievement and health of students. To that end, school nurses facilitate positive student responses to normal development; promote health and safety including a healthy environment; intervene with actual and potential health problems; provide case management services; and actively collaborate with others to build student and family capacity for adaptation, self-management, self advocacy, and learning (National Association of School Nurses, 2010).

**May 13-19 is Women's Health Week.**
 * This is a good time to schedule the preventive screenings recommended by your physicians.
 * []

**May 13-19 is also Food Allergy Awareness Week.**
 * []
 * [|Be a PAL] **P**rotect **A** **L**ife from food allergies.

**May 25 is Heat Safety Awareness Day.**
 * Heat kills more people in the U.S. than any other weather-related event. Find out at the link below how to stay safe in our hot Texas summers.
 * []

**May 25 is Bike the Bricks in downtown McKinney.**
 * [|www.downtownmckinney.com]

**May 31 is World No Tobacco Day.**
 * Smoking or chewing tobacco is one of the hardest additions to break, but it can be broken. For those who overcome the habit the benefits can be tremendous for them, their families, and the community in general.
 * Click [|here] for helpful information related to quitting tobacco.
 * Talk to your doctor, too. It will significantly increase your chances of successfully kicking the habit once and for all.

**SUMMER WELLNESS OPPORTUNITIES in the COMMUNITY** **June 9 is the Collin Classic.**
 * 8 Routes
 * 2500 Cyclists
 * 200 Volunteers
 * Kicks off at McKinney North High School at 8 a.m.
 * [|www.collinclassic.org]

**June 23 is the American Heart Association's HEARTCHASE where your town becomes an adventure!**
 * []

**June 30 is Baylor McKinney's Open House Celebration.**
 * [|www.baylorhealth.com/mckinney]

**Check out the City of McKinney website for more great ideas to help you stay or get fit this summer!**
 * []


 * October is Child Health Month and Family Health Month. **

Plan a special dinner and involve the whole family in preparing it. Make sure it is balanced with at least two vegetables. Play frisbee in the park with the whole family or ride bikes together. Videotape your parents dancing! That's usually good for a few laughs, and, after all, laughter is the best medicine! Encourage your moms, grandmas, and aunts to get a mammogram if they are over the age of 40. It could save their lives! Read a magazine, newspaper, or internet article about a health issue. Discuss the article with a parent, friend, or me!
 * October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. **
 * October is Health Literacy Month. **


 * November 14 is World Diabetes Day. **

Wear ** blue ** on this day in recognition of all the people who have diabetes and to bring attention to the treatment and management of the disease. Did you know that 25.8 million children and adults in the U.S. have diabetes? Only about 18.8 million of them have been diagnosed. Another 7 million haven't even been diagnosed yet, but their uncontrolled blood sugars are already harming their bodies. There are an additional 79 million people in the United Stated that are "prediabetic" meaning that they are at an increased risk of developing diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes can’t be prevented. It isn’t contagious and eating too much sugar doesn’t cause it. Type 2 diabetes is different. An increase in t ype 2 diabetes among school-aged children is a growing concern nationwide. Type 2 diabetes can often be prevented. Proper diet and exercise and making healthy lifestyle choices are pivotal in its prevention. Please check out the following websites for more information:


 * []
 * __ [|www.Diabetes.org] __
 * []


 * November 17 is THE GREAT AMERICAN SMOKE-OUT. **
 * Make your car and home smoke-free.
 * Family, friends or visitors should never smoke inside your home or car.
 * Keep yourself and your children away from places where smoking is allowed.
 * If you smoke, smoke only outside.
 * Ask your doctor for ways to help you stop smoking.


 * November is National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month. **
 * []

**November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month.**
 * []


 * November is National Healthy Skin Month. **
 * Protect your skin from the sun with sunscreen, hats, and long-sleeves. Seek the shade when you are outside for long periods of time.
 * DO NOT USE TANNING BEDS. It will damage your skin and increase your risk of developing skin cancer as you age.
 * If your skin feels dry, moisturize with lotion after your bath or shower to trap the water in your skin.
 * Drink at least 8 glasses of water each day to keep your skin moisturized from the inside out.
 * Eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. Doing so can lead to healthier skin.
 * DO NOT SMOKE. People who smoke expose their skin to toxins that can accelerate skin's aging.
 * Manage your stress well. Uncontrolled stress can worsen many skin conditions.

**December is World AIDS Awareness Month.**
 * I encourage you to talk to your children about the threat of AIDS in the 1980's and 90's and the advances that have been made in the treatment of HIV/AIDS since that time.
 * Take this opportunity to discuss responsible behavior with your children.

**December is Cold and Flu Survival Month.**
 * [|Get good tips here from West Virginia University Health Sciences Campus.]

**December 4-10, 2011 is Handwashing Awareness Week.**
 * Handwashing is the most effective way to prevent the spread of illness according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
 * Start a healthy practice this week, then keep the suds soaping all season long!

**January is National Eye Care Month.**
 * Schedule eye exams for the whole family.
 * Donate your old glasses to the Lions Club. This local service organization can pass the glasses on to people in need. Donating your used eye glasses to a charity or to your optometrist could just help a homeless person to see well enough to obtain employment and become self reliant.

**January is Volunteer Blood Donor Month.**
 * Blood is often in short supply during the winter months. January, in particular, is a difficult month for blood centers to collect blood donations. A reduction in donations at this time of year can put our nation’s blood inventory at a critically low level.
 * Call the local American Red Cross at 972-562-0601 or Cater Bloodcare in Allen at 214-509-0083 to find out where you can donate.


 * January is Thyroid Disease Awareness Month. **
 * [|Click here to visit the Thyroid Awareness website.]

**February is Children's Dental Health Month.**
 * Brush your teeth at least twice a day to remove plaque. If plaque is not removed, it can lead to cavities.
 * Flossing daily helps to remove food debris from in between teeth that a toothbrush can’t reach.
 * Limit the amount of sugary foods and drinks you consume.
 * See a dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings. The dentist can apply fluoride treatments to your teeth to help prevent tooth decay.
 * Sealants applied to the chewing surfaces of your back teeth can also help to prevent decay. Ask your dentist about sealants.
 * Wear a mouth guard during sports activities to reduce the risk of injuries to your mouth and teeth.

**February is American Heart Month.**
 * The first Friday in February is GO RED Day! Wear red to bring attention to heart disease and the healthy lifestyle choices you can make to prevent heart disease.
 * **Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.**
 * Check out the following websites for more information about heart disease and what you can do to enjoy heart health:
 * []
 * []

**The Week of February 26 is Eating Disorders Week.**
 * []

**March is National Nutrition Month.**
 * []

**March 5 - 9 is National School Breakfast Week.**
 * []


 * The Week of March 18 is Poison Prevention Week. **
 * See Nurse Draper during Spring Showcase on March 8, 2012 to get a Poison Control Hotline magnet or sticker for your home phone.

**March 26 is Purple Day.**
 * Wear **purple** to show support for Epilepsy Awareness!
 * Epilepsy affects over 50 million people worldwide or approximately 1 in 100 people.
 * []

**April is Alcohol Awareness Month.**
 * []

**April is Autism Awareness Month.**
 * []
 * Did you know that something that seems as simple as going to the movies is not an option for many families affected by autism? The Autism Society is working with AMC Theatres to bring special-needs families //Sensory Friendly Films// every month. [|Click here] for more information.

**April is Foot Health Awareness Month.**
 * []

**April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.**
 * []
 * Suspected child abuse may be reported anonymously at **1-800-252-5400**. Please be patient. The information intake specialists at this call center handle a large amount of phone calls. If you believe a child is in immediate danger, you should call 9-1-1 instead for a quicker local response to the concern.

**April 27 is Relay for Life.**
 * [|www.relayforlife.org/mckinneytx]