Health in the 406

See Public Health Differently: Stop the Bleed

Severe bleeding can lead to death in 5 minutes. In Montana, the average time from a 9-1-1 call until EMS arrives on the scene is 14 minutes.
Bystanders are often the first to step in and help; everyone should be trained on how to Stop the Bleed. Find out more about classes in your area and how to get a Bleeding Control Kit.
Montana ranks in the top 10 nationally for the percent of Stop the Bleed instructors per person. Missoula and surrounding area have been the trendsetters offering 40 classes and training approximately 1,000 Montanans.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest, or SCA, is among the leading killers of Americans, claiming an estimated 350,000 people each year.
Individuals should know what to do in a SCA emergency. Learn CPR and how to use an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED).
Communities can come together and improve survival rates from SCA with help from the Cardiac Ready Communities Program at DPHHS.

Did you know, the percentage of people with disabilities who are employed (18.7%) is 47 percent less than people without disabilities (65.7%).
Employed individuals are healthier than people who are not employed; regardless of disability status. Employment can improve health by providing social, psychological, and financial benefits.
Prepare your workplace for people with disabilities using the JAN toolkit or EARN resources.

October 1, 2019 marks the 10-year anniversary of the full implementation of the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act (CIAA), which has led to decreases in both youth and adult cigarette smoking and reduced secondhand smoke exposure.
More work needs to be done; 30% of Montana’s high school students use e-cigarettes.
E-cigarette aerosol can contain nicotine, metals, ultrafine particles and chemicals that have been known to cause respiratory disease and cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges communities to take action by including e-cigarettes in local smoke free policies.

One mile of walking translates to 2/3 of the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day.
Safe Routes to School programs promote health and physical activity among children of all ages and abilities by encouraging travel to school via safe, active transportation.
Parents, schools, public health officials, and transportation representatives can celebrate National Walk to School Day on October 2, 2019.

More than 21,000 Montanans are living with Alzheimer’s Disease; understand the early signs and symptoms.
Talking to a loved one about memory loss or cognitive decline is a conversation no family wants to have, using a conversation starter kit can help.
If you're concerned that you or your loved one may have Alzheimer's, you are not alone, here are some helpful resources.

Every year, one in four older adults aged 65 years and older experience a fall.
Falls death rates are the third leading cause of accidental deaths for older Montanans.
Falling is not a normal part of aging—prevention starts with practical lifestyle modifications and possibly even attend a falls prevention class.