Be aware, be very aware

America sure does care about health. There is a lengthy list of national awareness months, weeks and days in the 2007 calendar. Here are just a few of the most interesting ones:

January: National Blood Donor Month, Thyroid Awareness Month

February: It’s probably no coincidence that Valentine’s Day brings us American Heart Month and National Condom Week (Feb. 12-17).

March: National Nutrition Month—learn that pyramid.

April: Watch what you drink during Alcohol Awareness Month (April 5 is National Alcohol Screening Day). It’s also Foot Health Awareness Month. World Health Day is April 7.

May: Take advantage of the weather—May is National Bike Month (and May 14-18 is Bike to Work Week). While you’re biking to work, think about stuttering because it’s also Stuttering Awareness Week. If you need a day to quit smoking, try May 31—it’s World No Tobacco Day.

June: The 3rd is National Cancer Survivors Day. June is, fittingly, Fireworks Safety Month (and it ends July 4, go figure).

July: Yes, it’s hot outside, but wear your sunscreen—it’s UV Safety Month.

August: A little behind on your shots? Now’s the time to get it over with—it’s National Immunization Awareness Month.

September: Fruit and Vegetable Month—yummy. It’s also National Alcohol and Drug Addiction and Recovery Month. Sept. 9-15 is National Suicide Prevention Week.

October: It’s Eye Injury Prevention Month and National Dental Hygeine Month. It’s also apparently time to “have the talk”—it’s National Family Sexuality Education Month. October is also Halloween Safety Month—whatever that means.

November: National Adoption Month. It’s also National Family Caregivers Month and National Hospice Palliative Care Month. The Great American Smokeout is Nov. 15.

December: World AIDS Day is Dec. 1. Dec. 2-8 is National Handwashing Awareness Week.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion