Thanksgiving Day is National Family History Day. A family health history helps identify people who may be at a higher risk for some diseases because it reflects risk factors that family members share, like genes, environment, and lifestyle. Take a few minutes to know your family health history

• Start a family health portrait today.
• Update your family health portrait as you learn about family members’ diseases and conditions.
• Share your family health portrait with other family members. Encourage them to create one, too.

Five Minutes or Less for Health Weekly Tip: Be Smoke-Free

Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causing many diseases and affecting the health of smokers and those around them. Quitting smoking has immediate as well as long-term benefits for you and your loved ones. Take a few minutes to make the decision to be smoke-free.

• If you smoke, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669) or your doctor or nurse for help in quitting.
• Avoid secondhand smoke. Stay away from other people’s smoke.
• If you’re pregnant, choose not to smoke.
• Choose restaurants and businesses that are smoke-free

Five Minutes or Less for Health Weekly Tip: Check Alarm Batteries

Everyone should have smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in their homes. Take a few minutes to ensure your alarms will sound in an emergency.

• Install a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector near bedrooms.
• Check or change the batteries to your carbon monoxide detectors at least twice a year.

Five Minutes or Less for Health Weekly Tip: Keep Foods Safe

To help protect yourself and others from foodborne illness, take a few minutes to ensure foods are safe.

• Refrigerate leftovers promptly. Bacteria can grow quickly at room temperature, so refrigerate leftover foods if they are not going to be eaten within 4 hours. When in doubt, throw it out.
• Wash hands, utensils, and cutting boards after they have been in contact with raw meat or poultry and before they touch another food.
• Wash produce before you eat it.
• Take a few extra minutes to make sure meat, poultry, and eggs are cooked thoroughly.
• Report suspected foodborne illnesses to your local health department.
• Check foodsafety.gov , your gateway to federal food safety information.

• Install smoke alarms on every floor of your home.
• Test smoke alarms monthly to ensure they work properly. For smoke alarms that use regular alkaline batteries, replace the batteries at least once a year. For smoke alarms that use lithium (long-life) batteries, replace the entire alarm unit every ten years or sooner if it chirps or stops working.
• Make a disaster plan. Know where to meet other family members in case of an emergency, such as a fire.