Exactly one year ago this week, I had a friend on his death bed in Stonybrook Hospital. He had leukemia and things weren’t looking good for him. He needed bone marrow and his weakness left one of his kidneys in an unstable state.
And then he had an anonymous donor approach on National Minority Organ Donor Awareness Day.
Now he’s out of the hospital and living as every 21-year old should. While occasionally weak, he’s cancer-free and enjoying life for the first time in over two years.
My friend is one of the lucky ones. Everyday, 16 people die waiting for a transplant. And of all potential donors, minorities only make up 25%. It is also statistically more probable for someone to find a matching donor of the same race. Which is why minors in need of a transplant have a very difficult time with getting the medical attention they need.
So, I strongly believe National Minority Organ Donor Awareness Day singlehandedly saved my friend’s life.
Promotional giveaways are a great way for hospitals to get more donors. Small incentives like promotional t-shirts and promotional hats or even larger incentives such as promotional electronics are great ways to get donors in the door and saving lives.

Consider giving on August 1, 2011.

We’re smack-dab in the middle of summer here in the United States, and that means the UV index is high on an almost daily basis.  The sun’s UV rays can have a harmful effect on our bodies if we do not take the proper precautionary measures.  It should come as no surprise that July is our nation’s UV Safety Month, sponsored by the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

HealthFinder.gov, the official Web site of the US Department of Health & Human Services, states that UV radiation is not only the leading cause of skin cancer, but can also damage our eyes.  According to the department’s July 2011 National Observances Tool Kit, “Anyone can get skin cancer, but the risk is greatest for people with white or light-colored skin with freckles, blond or red hair, [and/or] blue or green eyes.”  However, there are ways to prevent contraction of skin cancer.

The US Department of Health & Human Services suggests that those who are more susceptible to sun damage remain out of the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.  Addittionally, using a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher can help prevent skin cancer from developing.

To help raise awareness for UV Safety Month, the department offers a few pre-made Tweets:

-Be cool. Wear your shades. UV rays can hurt your eyes. Get more tips for healthy eyes: http://1.usa.gov/lgkLhw
-Go the extra step. Protect your skin from skin cancer by doing a skin self-exam. Learn how: http://1.usa.gov/kWqvoo

More are available in the department’s July 2011 National Observances Tool Kit.  Alternatively, interested parties can hand out promotional UV safety awareness products.  They’re items that your friends, family, clients and employees can use in order to stay out of harm’s way.  These promotional products are the perfect way to help people take caution during the scorching summer months.

The everyday blessings of having a family and a career can often lead to an exorbitant amount of stress. While stress is common and can be healthy if managed, being overwhelmed by stress can lead to anxiety, depression and arthritis – just to name a few.  But if we take some time from our hectic and monotonous schedule to unwind and catch our breath, we can keep these harsh, adverse effects at bay.

That’s why International Massage Week is a very important awareness event. Massages are proven to alleviate stress and to benefit the body in numerous ways. Starting on the third Sunday of July, International Massage Week is sponsored by the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals organization. This organization’s primary objective is to promote the profession while helping those who are less fortunate.  There are promotional products that show you care about people’s personal health while promoting your name and the benefits of massage. Consider handing out promotional massagers to your hard-working employees or to your clients. They are inexpensive and are guaranteed to boost morale around the office.

What is Therapeutic Recreation?  Most people are unfamiliar with the form of therapy, and yet it’s seen by many as an extremely effective means through which to heal.  According to RecreationTherapy.com, the purpose of therapeutic recreation is to “restore, remediate or rehabilitate in order to improve functioning and independence as well as reduce or eliminate the effects of illness or disability.”  It’s meant to improve overall health and well-being.

There are so many different forms of therapeutic recreation that you can utilize.  From aroma therapy to fitness activities, there’s a huge amount of treatments and activities ideas that can help to reduce the effects of a disease or disorder.  RecreationTherapy.com provides viewers to its Web site with a list of ideas.  Click here to find out more.

To help raise awareness about this unique form of therapy, you can hold workshops, write letters to local businesses, and more.  For a more comprehensive look at how you can help, check out the National Recreation and Park Association’s “20 Ways to Celebrate Therapeutic Recreation Week.”