National Brain Injury Awareness Month Brain Injury Awareness Month is an annual observance of the causes and consequences of brain injury and the need for greater prevention, research, education, and advocacy on behalf of individuals who sustain a life-changing—sometimes devastating—brain injury and their family caregivers. For more information, contact:

Brain Injury Association of America | phone: 703.761.0750| www.biausa.org

National Child Life Month During Child Life Month, child life programs around the world will join the Child Life Council in educating healthcare colleagues and the public about the psychosocial needs of children in pediatric settings. Research has demonstrated that child life interventions reduce the anxiety that children and families experience in a medical setting. Child Life Month is designed to honor child life specialists as they work to ensure quality family-centered and developmentally appropriate care for children. For more information, contact:

Child Life Council | phone: 301.881.7090, ext. 16 | communications@childlife.org | www.childlife.org

National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month  During this month, cancer groups, hospitals, and communities focus attention on preventing, treating, and curing colorectal cancer. Education is provided to the public, and colorectal screenings are encouraged. For more information, contact:

Prevent Cancer Foundation | phone: 703.837.3682 | sarah.abou@preventcancer.org | www.preventcancer.org

National Eye Donor Month  Each year, the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) promotes March as National Eye Donor Month to raise awareness of the need to donate eyes. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Eye Donor Month in 1983, and since then, a member of Congress has read a proclamation into the Congressional Record each March to note this special occasion. For more information, contact:

Information Specialist | EBAA | phone: 202.775.4999, ext. 118 | trish@restoresight.org | www.restoresight.org

National Kidney Health Awareness Month  During National Kidney Month, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) urges Americans to get to know two humble, hardworking organs: the kidneys. To help raise awareness of and appreciation for all the vital functions the kidneys perform, the NKF is encouraging Americansto learn more and take steps now to preserve kidney health. For more information or a free screening through the Foundation’s Kidney Early Evaluation Program, contact:

NKF | phone: 212.889.2210 | ellies@kidney.org | www.kidney.org

National Nutrition Awareness Month  National Nutrition Month is a nutrition education and information campaign held annually in March by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The campaign focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. For more information, contact:

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics | nnm@eatright.org | www.eatright.org

National Save Your Vision Month  National Save Your Vision Month was started by members of the American Optometric Association in 1927 to remind the public about the importance of vision and professional eye care for all ages. For more information, contact:

Public Relations | American Optometric Association | phone: 800.365.2219 | mcbryson@aoa.org | www.aoa.org

March 1-7 Aplastic Anemia Awareness Week  Aplastic Anemia and MDS Awareness Week was created to raise awareness about acquired bone marrow failure diseases that are diagnosed in more than 15,000 people each year in the United States alone, with tens of thousands people more living with these life threatening diseases around the world. Bone marrow failure disease can strike any person, of any age, any gender, or any race, anywhere in the world. For more information, contact:

Patient Education and Information | Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation | phone: 301.279.7202 | info@aamds.org | www.aamds.org

March 26 is American Diabetes Association Alert Day  American Diabetes Association Alert Day, which is held every fourth Tuesday in March, is a one-day wake-up call asking the American public to take the Diabetes Risk Test to find out if they are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. For more information, contact: American Diabetes Association | phone: 800.342.2383 | www.stopdiabetes.com