Accidents happen—and they can cause more lasting damage to your health than illness or disease. You can prevent most accidents. Take steps now to guard your health and safety at home, at work, and on the road.

Here are suggestions to help you stay healthy:

• Prevent the spread of disease. Wash your hands with soap before meals, after you use the toilet, after touching pets, and after being outdoors. Practice safe sex. Don't share personal care items like razors.
• When outside, protect skin by using sunscreen. Follow the directions on the product for how often to apply it. Sunscreen usually needs to be reapplied every 2 hours when outdoors or after swimming or being in the water.
• Brush and floss your teeth every day. Have your teeth cleaned every 6 months or as advised by your dentist.
• Prepare food safely. Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Clean cutting boards and counters with hot, soapy water. Use disposable towels rather than sponges.

Here are some tips to follow:

• Store medicines, chemicals, and sharp items out of the reach of children and pets.
• Lock up unloaded guns and ammunition. Keep the locked ammunition in a different location than the guns. Hide the keys or combinations. If someone close to you has the potential for violence or suffers from severe depression or another mental illness, don't keep guns in your home.
• Install smoke detectors outside the kitchen and the bedrooms. Place a smoke detector on every floor of the home, including the basement. Test batteries twice a year. Test smoke alarms every month. Replace smoke alarms every 10 years.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors in the hallway outside the bedrooms in each separate sleeping area of the home. Don't put them in areas concealed by furniture or drapes.
• Use childproof fencing and gates around pools and spas. Never leave children by themselves.
• Always follow workplace safety rules.
• Decrease your risk of falling in your home by removing throw rugs and clutter. Wear sturdy shoes with low heels.

Here are tips for staying safe on the road:

• Always use your seat belt. Make sure that all children 12 years old and younger are in correct car seats or safety restraints in the back seat.
• Carry flares, a flashlight, a first aid kit, a blanket, and other emergency items in your car.
• Wear a helmet when riding a bike, scooter, skateboard, or motorcycle.