As a part of the many jobs of the school nurse, helping to educate and bring attention to health issues. Everything has an awareness day or month, it seems, but sorting through to find things that are appropriate for your school community may be a challenge. The best option is to promote issues that matter to those in your community specifically, but if you’re stumped, we have some ideas for the school year listed below.
When promoting the issues and awareness days to your school, there are a lot of things that school nurses can do. Consider decorating bulletin boards with catchy slogans that will have an impact on the age group of children that you’re serving. Include pertinent information in weekly or monthly newsletters for parents, helping to further educate the community while keeping them up to date on what their children are learning. Hold assemblies or presentations where appropriate. Offer free screenings and information wherever possible.
The US Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthfinder site has lots of great resources and information that you can share with your students and their families about each of the below health awareness campaigns, plus many others. You can also reach out to awareness and support organizations for additional resources and ideas.
Here are the suggested awareness observations you can focus on with students, starting next month:
September
- Fruits & Veggies—More Matters® Month
- National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month
- National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
- 9 – 15th National Suicide Prevention Week
- 19th National School Backpack Awareness Day
- 24th Family Health & Fitness Day USA®
October
- International Walk to School Month
- National Bullying Prevention Month
- National Dental Hygiene Month
- 7 – 13th Mental Illness Awareness Week
- 11th National Depression Screening Day®
- 16 – 20th National Health Education Week
- 23 – 31st Red Ribbon Week
November
- American Diabetes Month
- National Family Caregivers Month
- National Healthy Skin Month
- 9th National Diabetes Heart Connection Day
- 16th Great American Smokeout
December
- Safe Toys and Celebrations Month
- 1st World AIDS Day
- 2 – 8th National Handwashing Awareness Week
- 2 – 8th National Influenza Vaccination Week
January
- Cervical Health Awareness Month
- National Winter Sports TBI Awareness Month
- 22 – 28th National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week
February
- American Heart Month
- National Children’s Dental Health Month
- Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
- 1 – 7th African Heritage & Health Week
- 2nd Give Kids A Smile ® Day
- 28 – March 03rd National Eating Disorder Screening Program ®
March
- National Cheerleader Safety Month
- National Nutrition Month ®
- 4 – 11th National Sleep Awareness Week ®
- 6 – 10th National School Breakfast Week
- 18 – 24th National Poison Prevention Week
- 19 – 23rd National Youth Violence Prevention Week
April
- Alcohol Awareness Month
- National Autism Awareness Month
- National Child Abuse Prevention Month
- National Distracted Driving Awareness Month
- Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
- Sexual Assault Awareness Month of Action
- Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month
- STI Awareness Month
- 3rd Sexual Assault Awareness Day of Action
- 5th National Alcohol Screening Day ®
- 7th World Health Day
- 23 – 27th Every Kid Healthy™ Week
May
- Better Hearing and Speech Month
- Food Allergy Action Month
- Global Youth Traffic Safety Month
- National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
- National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
- National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
- 1 – 7th National Physical Education & Sport Week
- 2 – 8th Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week
- 9th Walk and Bike to School Day
- 13 – 19th National Women’s Health Week
- 21 – 25th Healthy and Safe Swimming Week
June
- 1 – July 4th Fireworks Safety Month
- National Safety Month
- 11 – 17th Men’s Health Week
- 18 – 22nd National Lightning Safety Awareness Week
Not in the school nursing field? No matter your specialty in education or healthcare, these awareness days can be applicable for your students and patients.
Have other ideas to celebrate and recognize these important days, weeks, and months? Share with us in the comments section below.
