Health and Safety

During the summer months, along with rising temperatures and more daylight, comes the nuisance of mosquitoes, ticks, and other insects. In the United States, mosquito bites are largely no more than an annoyance, but worldwide, mosquitoes transmit disease to more than 700 million people every year, according to the Annals of Internal Medicine. And the recent outbreaks of the Zika virus have made people especially wary. The best way to avoid the threat of any insect-borne disease is to prevent bites from occurring in the first place.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has recognized February as American Heart Month since President Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1964 proclamation made it an annual occurrence. Throughout the month, Occupational Health Services did its part to help educate NCI and Frederick National Lab employees about the dangers of heart disease.

The Campus Improvement Committee (CIC) has recently been re-established, with Mike Addington, manager, Operations and Maintenance, as chair. Addington is excited to be involved in a committee that’s so near and dear to his heart, and he’s a big believer in the value of increasing morale and productivity through an appealing and pleasant work environment. 

Occupational Health Services (OHS) recently took part in the 41st Great American Smokeout, an event that highlights the dangers of smoking and encourages smokers to make a plan to quit. Tobacco smoking is the single most preventable cause of chronic disease and death.

As summer ends, many students will be heading off to college. While it may be an exciting time of year, there are a lot of things to take into consideration. College means new experiences and knowledge, but it can also mean stress and anxiety for some students. Not to mention, there’s always the potential for illness.

Interns were promised pizza, but they got more than just food as they watched “Someone You Love: The HPV Epidemic” at this summer’s second student seminar. In the Building 549 auditorium, students learned about human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI).

Even the blazing heat could not stop people from enjoying the Occupational Health Services’ (OHS) most recent Take a Hike event, which promoted healthy living.  

The red, white, and blue–themed, 1.3-mile walk was the fifth such event since 2014 for NCI at Frederick. People got out of their offices to exercise, show off their patriotism, and win prizes.

Summertime is synonymous with t-shirts, shorts, and spending time outdoors. However, summer also marks the return of one of nature’s most annoying and dangerous pests: the mosquito.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is promoting wellness by encouraging individuals to take the stairs. In an effort to increase participation in this program, NIH has teamed up with Occupational Health Services (OHS). OHS is placing NIH-sponsored “Take the Stairs” stickers on stair entrances, stair exits, and elevators.

Check your blood pressure for free at Occupational Health Services every Tuesday and Thursday as part of Blood Pressure Awareness Month.

Free screening is available every Tuesday during the Farmers’ Market in Building 549 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m, and every Tuesday and Thursday in Building 426 from 12:30 to 1 p.m.

Sarah Hooper, manager of Occupational Health Services (OHS), said the health of the employees at NCI at Frederick is important to OHS, and OHS staff wants the community to stay informed.