Awarenesses MONTH
National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness & Prevention Month
July is set aside to raise awareness and improve understanding of orofacial clefts, clefts of the lip and palate, and other conditions of the head and face. Babies born with a cleft palate, cleft lip, craniosynostosis (skull sutures fusing prematurely), anotia/microtia (ear is missing or underdeveloped), and anophthalmia/microphthalmia (missing or abnormally small eye) can suffer from an inability to feed, develop their language skills, and have an increased risk for a greater number of ear infections, hearing issues, and problems with their teeth. Learn about the cause of and treatment of these debilitating conditions and consider aiding those organizations that work with those afflicted.
http://www.nccapm.org Sarcoma and Bone Cancer Awareness Month
Sarcomas are cancers that develop from bones or soft tissues anywhere in the body. It can affect either adults or children, but while rare for adults, it represents about 15% of all childhood cancers. Because of its rarity, it is often called “the forgotten cancer”, even though tens of thousands of Americans suffer from it. Sarcoma research represents less than 4% of all active clinical trials for cancer in the United States.
https://www.aacr.org/patients-caregivers/awareness-months/sarcoma-and-bone-cancer-awareness-month/ UV Safety Awareness Month Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays causes most cases of melanoma, the deadliest kind of skin cancer. Sun protection is critical to use when outdoors in the sun, especially during summertime outdoor activities. Learn how to protect yourself while still enjoying warm-weather activities. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/sun-safety.htm Hepatitis Awareness Month
Hepatitis Awareness Month calls into focus the inflammatory liver disease and encourages learning about the advantage of medications used to treat the condition. There are five recognized types of hepatitis. Type A is transmitted by consuming food or water contaminated by the feces of Type B is transmitted through infected body fluids or shared needles and razors. Type C is transmitted through direct contact with infected body fluids. Type D is transmitted through direct contact with infected blood and only occurs in conjunction with Hepatitis B. Type E is transmitted by infected water supplies.
https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/awareness/HepatitisAwarenessMonth.htm WEEKS
Clean Beaches Week - July 1 - 7 Clean Beaches Week celebrates beaches and focuses on the importance of clean beaches. The Clean Beaches Coalition challenges us to follow 7 simple principles: 1. Leave no trace and carry out what you carry in; 2. Move your body by walking, running, or swimming; 3. Don’t tread the dunes and instead use a walkover or walk-thru; 4. Know your limits when you swim, surf, or boat; 5. Eat healthy seafood; 6. Feed your mind by reading books; and 7. Respect the ocean, especially riptides, storms, and natural resources. http://www.cleanbeaches.com/events.html
Birth Trauma Awareness Week - 3rd week of July (July 16 - 22) Current estimates are that up to one in three people describe their birth as traumatic, where the mother, father, or other witness believes the mother’s or her baby’s life was in danger, or that a serious threat to the mother’s or her baby’s physical or emotional integrity existed. From 5 - 9% of these patients develop Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This week intends to raise awareness of birth trauma and provide a path to sharing feelings and stories of traumatic births, opening the way to seeking treatment. https://birthtrauma.org.au/birth-trauma-awareness-week-2023/
Coral Reef Awareness Week - 3rd full week of July, starting on Monday (July 17 - 23) Coral reefs are home to more than 25% of aquatic species, form natural coastline barriers that reduce coastal storm damage, and support the economy through fishing, tourism, and recreation industries. Human disregard for them has led to bleaching, where higher water temperatures, chemicals, oil pollution, and other threats cause them to die — and with them, their ecosystem. Sadly, scientists estimate that more than 90% of all coral reefs will die by 2050. Learn what you can do to help protect them and our world. https://www.aza.org/connect-stories/stories/endangered-species-profile-coral-and-coral-reefs
DAYS
Panic Attack Awareness Day - July 10
A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause. Although panic attacks themselves aren't life-threatening, they can be frightening and significantly affect your quality of life. Some people never experience a panic attack, and many only experience 1 or 2 in their lifetime. For some, repeat occurrences can mean they have a panic disorder and should seek treatment.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/panic-disorder-when-fear-overwhelms Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST) Awareness Day - July 13 Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare tumors that form in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, also known as the digestive system. The GI tract begins when you chew and swallow food and includes the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. The ultimate goal of GIST Awareness Day is to bring so much attention to GIST that knowing what it is will no longer be so “rare”. https://nycancer.com/blog/2021/07/09/gastrointestinal-stromal-tumors-gist-awareness-day/ Shark Awareness Day - July 14 Share Awareness Day is not a day to warn of the dangers of Sharks, but to celebrate the sea creatures and work to remove the hysteria created by Hollywood and the unreasonable fear of them. The odds of a shark attack are small: it’s more likely you will be struck by lightning than be attacked by a shark. Fear of them, along with the overharvesting of them for their skin, meat, and fins, have driven them onto the endangered species list. https://www.sharktrust.org/blog/shark-awareness-day Glioblastoma (GBM) Awareness Day - 3rd Wednesday of July (July 19) Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most complex, deadly, and treatment-resistant brain cancers. The five-year survival rate for glioblastoma patients is less than 7%. The average length of survival after diagnosis is estimated to be only 8 months. These statistics have remained virtually unchanged for decades. While this disease strikes men, women, and children of all ages and backgrounds, the mean age of diagnosis is 65. GBM Awareness Day hopes to raise awareness of this killer disease and work for finding effective treatments, cures, and prevention. https://www.gbmresearch.org/glioblastoma-awareness-day Samaritans Awareness Day - July 24 Samaritans Awareness Day is intended to emphasize the need for listening to persons with mental health issues. More than 700,000 people die by suicide each year worldwide. Listening to someone who is experiencing depression or thinking about taking their own life can be crucial to saving them. Lend a nonjudgmental ear and let them share their sentiments; it can give them a sense of security and be assured there is a place to be heard and find help. Gastroschisis is fatal if left untreated, but with treatment, about 90% of infants can survive. https://pybhealth.com/samaritans-awareness-day-the-big-listen/ Gastroschisis Awareness Day - July 30 Gastroschisis is a serious and uncommon birth defect in which an infant is born with part of its intestines protruding outside of the body through a hole in the abdomen. The exact cause is unknown, but risk factors include alcohol consumption during pregnancy, tobacco smoking during pregnancy, and the age of the mother being less than 20 at the time of birth. https://averysangels.org Holidays and Observances Canada Day was celebrated on July 1st. It is traced back to July 1, 1867, when the British North America Act merged the provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick into a single Dominion called Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/canada-day-history.html Independence Day honors the day on July 4, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed by the American colonies of Great Britain and is celebrated as the beginning of what was to become known as the United States of America. https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/july-4th Bahamas Independence Day on July 10 celebrates the day in 1973 when the Bahamas gained its independence from 250 years under British rule. World Population Day on July 11 focuses on raising awareness about global population issues and the importance of family planning, gender equality, poverty, maternal health, and human rights. https://www.bestonbahamas.com/bahamas-independence-day/ Bastille Day Celebrates the birth of the French Republic. On July 14, 1789, the Bastille prison was stormed by the people of France and marked the beginning of the French Revolution. The largely symbolic act freed only 7 remaining prisoners in what traditionally held political dissidents, but by 1789 it was already scheduled for demolition. https://www.parisdiscoveryguide.com/bastille-day-paris.html Nelson Mandela Day on July 18 seeks to celebrate the political and social achievements of the former South African President. Mandela spent more than 30 years in prison for his political activism. He became the first black president of the Republic of South Africa in 1994 at the end of apartheid. https://www.un.org/en/events/mandeladay/ Islamic New Year is celebrated on July 19. Also known as Hijri New Year or Arabic New Year, marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. https://www.almanac.com/islamic-new-year National New Jersey Day on July 27 calls for the entire nation to celebrate the Garden State. https://www.jerseysbest.com/community/its-national-new-jersey-day-this-is-why-we-love-living-in-the-garden-state/ The International Day of Friendship on July 30 highlights the importance of friendship and how it can help to spread peace and bring cultural understanding among diverse communities. https://www.un.org/en/observances/friendship-day Fun Days World UFO Day was on July 2nd and hopes to encourage governments around the globe to share any knowledge they have about UFOs and extraterrestrial life. July 2, 1947, is the date of the Roswell incident https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_UFO_Day International Kissing Day is on July 6. It celebrates the act of kissing as a sign of affection and love between people. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Kissing_Day All American Pet Photo Day on July 11 encourages people to share pictures of their pets and raise money for animal-related charities. https://www.lifesongmilestones.com/blogs/blogs/all-american-pet-photo-day-and-what-to-do-with-your-photos-afterwards National French Fry Day is on July 13 and celebrates one of the most popular side dishes in America. French fries can be traced back to 17th-century Belgium, where potatoes were fried in a way that was similar to fish. Of course, the French argue that the delicacy was invented in Paris by pushcart vendors in the late 18th century. In any case, since this is an unofficial holiday, the origins of this being National French Fry Day also remain elusive. https://www.nationalfrenchfryday.com National Avocado Day on July 31 calls for a celebration of the fruit that gives us guacamole and has become recognized as a healthy fruit owing to its rich monounsaturated fat content and essential nutrients such as potassium, vitamin E, and fiber. https://www.nationalavocado.day
Historical Events
July 1, 1862: President Abraham Lincoln signed the first income tax bill, instituting a 3% income tax on annual incomes from $600 to $10,000, and a 5% tax on incomes over $10,000. July 2, 1881: President James A. Garfield was shot as he entered a railway station in Washington, D.C., leading to his death on September 19. July 2, 1917: In St. Louis, Missouri, a race riot resulted in the death of around 75 African Americans, with hundreds of others injured. July 2, 1964: President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, prohibiting discrimination based on race in public accommodations, publicly owned or operated facilities, employment and union membership, and voter registration. July 2, 1908: Future U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall was born. He became the first African American to sit on the Supreme Court. July 4, 1863: Confederate General Pemberton surrendered to General Grant, ending the Battle of Vicksburg after a 6-week siege. July 6, 1885: The first-ever anti-rabies shot was administered by Louis Pasteur to a boy who had been bitten by a rabid dog. July 7, 1898: Hawaii was annexed by a resolution signed by President William McKinley. July 9, 1868: The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, prohibiting individual States from abridging the rights of any American citizen without due process, and barring individuals involved in rebellion against the U.S. from holding public office. July 10, 1943: The Allied invasion of Italy began with an attack on the island of Sicily. July 16, 1769: Mission San Diego de Alcala was founded by Father Junipero Serra. July 16, 1945: The first atomic bomb was exploded. The experimental bomb nicknamed "Fat Boy" was set off at 5:30 a.m. in the New Mexico desert. The mushroom cloud rose over 40,000 feet high, reached a temperature three times that of the interior of the sun, and wiped out all plant and animal life within a mile. July 17, 1918: The Bolsheviks murdered deposed Czar Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra, and their 5 children. July 19-20, 1848: A women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York to discuss the rights of women to vote, own property, and divorce marked the beginning of an organized women's rights movement in the U.S. July 20, 1969: Apollo 11 Astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first human to step foot on the moon. July 22, 1934: Bank robber John Dillinger was shot and killed by FBI agents in Chicago as he left the Biograph Theater after watching the film Manhattan Melodrama. July 25, 1909: The world's first international overseas airplane flight was completed by Louis Bleriot, flying from France to England. July 27, 1953: The Korean War ended with the signing of an armistice between the United States and North Korea. July 30, 1975:- Former Teamsters Union leader Jimmy Hoffa disappeared after leaving a restaurant near Detroit, Michigan. July 31, 1790: The U.S. Patent Office was established. | 
