Safety Goggles and STD's

So April is full of Awareness Month's.....

• Cancer Month,
• Autism Month,
• Alcohol Awareness Month,
• Counseling Awareness Month,
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month,
• National Donate Life Month
• Child Abuse Prevention Month
• Donate Life Month
• Humor Month
• Minority Health & Health Disparities Month
• Occupational Therapy Month
• Sexual Assault Awareness Month
• Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month
• National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month,
• Sports Eye Safety Month and
  
• STD Awareness Month.

So where do I start? Some of these 'awareness months' are ones we know about. The Cancer charities sell daffodils in April promoting donations for cancer awareness, treatment and research. Having been affected by cancer many times over (I lost my grandfather to lung cancer, close friends of the family, I've had my own scares, and most recently lost a vibrant friend to cancer only a month after she was diagnosed), I have been 'aware' of April being Cancer month most of my life.

Many families are increasingly being affected by Autism in recent years. There are many issues we should all be aware of when you have a family member with autism. The Vancouver School Board recently announced (in April of course) that they will be funding more programs for students with Autism. Bravo!

The other issues we are apparently meant to be aware of in April are too critical to only think about them one month out of the year. Child abuse happens year round. I read a statistic early in the month (now I know why) that a child is abused in North America every 10 seconds. Minority health and health disparities issues are something we should be ashamed of every month. I would hope that who might consider donating an organ - or blood - don't wait for Donate Life Month. After all - we can sign the backs of our drivers licenses or register to be a donor any day of the year.

Now, as for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness.. I certainly became aware at the movies this week. The guy in front could have been the poster child. Would that be a scratch and sniff?

I do find it peculiar that this is sarcoidosis month... on the 8th of April, a friend was in for a minor bit of surgery to have a sarcoid removed from her ass. The butt jokes were bad, but (I said but) there seems to be a theme to April. Is it a coincidence that it is Alcohol Awareness Month and Counseling Awareness Month? Is it not enough to be aware of liquor? Do I need counseling too? Of course I have a few other questions about the nature of the Awareness Month. Who comes up with them? And do they consult at all?

April is indeed Sports Eye Safety Month. It is important that when engaged in sport, one wears eye protection. April is also STDs Awareness Month. So... the moral of the story (and I'm not just saying this because it is also National Humour Month), if there is a penis coming at you... protect yourself. Be sure you wear your goggles!