News
Simple Ways to Stay Safe (posted June 18, 2025).png)
By Adam Behnke, Communications Specialist for Brown County Public Health
By the time you finish reading the title of this blog and its opening sentence, someone in the United States has been injured in the workplace. It happens every 7 seconds, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). Since 1996, the NSC has led the observance of National Safety Month every June. It’s intended to focus on preventing injuries at work, at home, on the road, and in your community. This year, the NSC’s campaign has been split into four weekly topics to help people across the country stay safe. Governor Tony Evers officially declared June as Safety Month in Wisconsin, showing the importance of the initiative in the Badger State. You can read his proclamation here.
Today’s Healthy Herald will look at what the NSC is focusing on this month and the simple steps you can take to keep yourself and others safe, at the workplace and anyplace.
2025 Safety Topics
The National Safety Council decided on these four topics for each week of June:
Sobering Statistics
Almost anyone you ask would say they want safety for themselves and their families, but maintaining that safety requires active effort from employees, employers, leaders, and entire communities. Here are some recent statistics, from the national and state levels, that shows why National Safety Month is such an important awareness topic:
Today’s Healthy Herald will look at what the NSC is focusing on this month and the simple steps you can take to keep yourself and others safe, at the workplace and anyplace.
2025 Safety Topics
The National Safety Council decided on these four topics for each week of June:
- First Week: Continuous Improvement
- This week is all about finding better ways to prevent accidents. For example, companies can look at safety risks before something bad happens and take action.
- Second Week: Employee Engagement
- When workers are part of safety programs, workplaces are safer. Employers should ask for feedback, train workers well, and create safety teams.
- Third Week: Roadway Safety
- This week focuses on safer driving. That means not speeding, not using your phone while driving, and never driving drunk or high.
- Fourth Week: Wellbeing
- Good mental and physical health helps people stay alert and safe. Tired or stressed workers are statistically proven more likely to get hurt.
Sobering Statistics
Almost anyone you ask would say they want safety for themselves and their families, but maintaining that safety requires active effort from employees, employers, leaders, and entire communities. Here are some recent statistics, from the national and state levels, that shows why National Safety Month is such an important awareness topic:
- Workplace Injuries
- In 2023, 112 people in Wisconsin died from work-related injuries. Nationwide, more than 4,500 people died on the job that same year.
- Car Crashes
- Wisconsin saw 584 deaths from car crashes in 2023, which is higher than it was 10 years ago. Across the country, more than 44,000 people died in crashes in both 2023 and 2024. Car crashes are also the most frequent cause of work-related deaths.
- Falls at Home
- Falls are the top cause of injury for older adults. Wisconsin has one of the highest death rates in the country from falls. In 2021, there were more than 118,000 nonfatal emergency department visits (in which the person was treated and released) and another 13,000 nonfatal cases (in which the person was hospitalized) due to fall-related injuries.
- Child Safety
- Car crashes are the leading cause of death for kids ages 1 to 19 in the U.S. [29]. The majority of car seats are not installed correctly, so car seat checks are very important (see below!).
Safety Focus in Brown County
Here in Brown County, you and your kids can take part in a few programs and events this month that align with the themes of the NSC’s Safety Month.
- Safety Town
- The Center for Childhood Safety runs a program called Safety Town in Green Bay. It’s a fun place where kids learn how to stay safe around traffic, strangers, and cases of fire. Sessions are just getting underway this month, and last throughout the summer, for two different age groups. You can read more about it here.
- Car Seat Checks
- Brown County Public Health and the Center for Childhood Safety offer free car seat checks by trained experts. This gives parents the peace of mind that kids are riding safely. Find out more about car seat checks by clicking here.
- Kids’ Day in Green Bay
- Green Bay’s Kids’ Day is next week, Wednesday, June 25. Local fire and police departments will be on hand with safety gear, vehicles, and activities that teach kids how to stay safe. The main event of the day, called Meal with the Mayor, takes place from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. at Bay Beach Amusement Park (full details from the City of Green Bay.)
Simple steps can make a big difference in stopping you from getting hurt, or worse, while you’re at home, at work, or on the road:
- At Home
- Keep floors clear of clutter to prevent tripping, slipping, and falling.
- Add grab bars in bathrooms for older adults.
- Make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors work properly and have fresh batteries.
- Store medicines and cleaning products where children can’t reach them.
- At Work
- Report safety issues right away.
- Take part in safety training.
- Use the right tools and gear for the job.
- On the Road
- Always wear your seat belt.
- Don’t text or use your phone while driving.
- Never drive under the influence.
- Obey speed limits, especially in work zones.
- For Emergencies
- Make a family emergency plan.
- Build a kit with water, food, flashlights, and medicine.
- Stay informed with weather alerts and local emergency updates.
Don’t forget about mental wellbeing, as well! Stress and fatigue can lead to mistakes and accidents, so encourage breaks, adequate sleep, and getting help if you notice someone struggling. By caring for each other and speaking up when you see unsafe situations, we create a safer community for all.
Stay Safe (and Healthy), Brown County!
Resources
https://www.wisafetycouncil.org/2025/06/02/june-celebrated-as-national-safety-month/
https://www.wisafetycouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/05/060125_Proclamation_National-Safety-Month.pdf
https://www.nsc.org/resources
https://www.bls.gov/regions/midwest/news-release/fatalworkinjuries_wisconsin.htm
https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/work/work-overview/work-safety-introduction/
https://tripnet.org/reports/addressing-americas-traffic-safety-crisis-wisconsin-news-release-07-02-2024/
https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/overview/preliminary-estimates/
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/injury-prevention/falls/index.htm
https://www.wpr.org/health/larry-meiller-wisconsin-highest-death-rate-falls
https://www.centerforchildhoodsafety.org/copy-of-safety-town
https://www.stayhealthybc.com/residents/community-health/car-seat-program/
https://www.greenbaywi.gov/kidsday
https://www.cdc.gov/falls/about/index.html