National Public Health Week is being celebrated by public health advocates this week from April 6 through April 12. Public health awareness has allowed us to control infectious disease, reduce our nation’s use of tobacco products, work in safer workplaces, and improve motor vehicle safety among many other significant public health improvements. Even with all of this improvement, the CDC estimates that we spend approximately 16% of our gross domestic product on health care every year. Improvements still need to be made.

 

My children are vaccinated. When I’m driving, my seat belt is always secured along with the seat belt of anyone else riding in my vehicle. Five days a week I exercise by running, walking, biking or swimming. I don’t smoke, and I don’t allow my children to be in environments where they are exposed to second hand smoke. What do you do to contribute to public health efforts?

 

For more information on National Public Health Week visit http://www.cdc.gov/Features/PublicHealthWeek/