According to the Home Safety Council, falls are the leading cause of unintentional home injury death, accounting for an average of 5.1 million injuries and 6,000 deaths each year. As a result, here are some home safety tips and valuable information to help individuals and families, especially those with aging parents avoid being a statistic. Here are some quick safety tips to look for in your home, or your parent’s home, to prevent falls.

• Make sure stairs and steps, indoors and outside, have handrails on both sides that go form top to bototm.
• Make sure top and bottom of stairs, indoors and outside, are well lit.
• Small area rugs are easy to trip on. Tape them to the floor, or get rid of them.
• Keep stairs clear of stuff, inside and outside.
• Have night lights in bedrooms, bathrooms, and hallways.
• Use a bath mat or non-slip strips in the bathtub and shower.
• Use non-slip rugs on the bathroom floor.
• Install grab bars in the bathtub and shower.
• Wipe up spills when they happen, and keep bathroom floors dry.
• Make sure porches are well lit.
• Keep sidewalks and paths in good repair, and clear of toys and other things.
• Fix broken stairs or chipped sidewalks as soon as possible.

This June, and throughout the year, make sure your home is a safe place to live.

Summertime is when you can graze your way through the stacks of fresh produce now available in grocery stores, at farmers’ markets and, if you are fortunate, at nearby roadside stands. June is designated as National Fruit and Vegetable Month and this is a wonderful time for everyone to eat more fruits and vegetables and to select foods that promote good health.
Fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that may help protect you from chronic diseases. Compared with people who consume a diet with only small amounts of fruits and vegetables, those who eat more generous amounts as part of a healthful diet are likely to have reduced risk of chronic diseases, including stroke and perhaps other cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers.
Why eat more fruits and vegetables? Let me give you at least ten reasons.

1. Color and texture – Fruits and vegetables add color texture and appeal to your plate.
2. Convenience – nutritious in any form, fresh, frozen, canned, dried and 100% juice, so they’re ready when you are.
3. Fiber – Fruits and vegetables provide fiber that helps fill you up and keeps your digestive system happy.
4. Low in calories – Fruits and vegetables are naturally low in calories.
5. May Reduce Disease Risk – Eating plenty of fruits and veggies may help reduce the risk of many diseases, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and some cancers.
6. Vitamins and Minerals – Fruits and veggies are rich in vitamins and minerals that help you feel healthy and energized.
7. Variety – Fruits and vegetables are available in an almost infinite variety, so there’s always something new to try.
8. Quick, Natural Snack – Fruits and vegetables are nature’s treat and easy to grab for a snack.
9. Fun to Eat – Some crunch, some squirt, some you peel, some you don’t, and some grow right in your own backyard.
10. Taste Great – Enough said. They just taste great!