What is public health?

What is

PUBLICHEALTH?

PUBLIC

HEALTH

Public health workers may be best known for responding to disease outbreaks,

ensuring safe drinking water, promoting healthy life choices, and other diverse and far reaching services, but what exactly is public health?

Public Health is the science of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of communities and individuals.C.E.A. Winslow, “The Untilled Fields of Public Health,” Science, n.s. 51 (1920), p.23

PREVEN

TING D

ISEASE

Public health workers detect and investigate disease outbreaks, promote

immunization, and provide education about how to prevent chronic and infectious disease.

About 71 percent of Texas children ages 19 – 35 months are fully immunized making Texas above the national average for immunization in young children. Despite this, the state experienced almost 8,500 cases of vaccine preventable infectious diseases in 2009.

The bottom line? Vaccines save lives.

www.cdc.gov/vaccines

PROMO

TING G

OOD HE

ALTH

Public health provides information and services that help people make

healthy choices regarding diet and exercise.

Good health is influenced by social, economic, and physical factors in your community. Public health strengthens your community’s health through education, planning, and an infrastructure with access to physical activity and healthy foods.

Per-capita, health care spending for obese adults is about 40 percent higher than spending for those who are not overweight.

Presently, thirty-two percent of children between the ages of 10 and 17 are overweight or obese.

Contact the local health department in your area for obesity prevention resources.

ENSURI

NG A S

AFE AN

D HEAL

THY EN

VIRONM

ENT

Public health identifies and responds to potential health hazards in the environment,

ensures sanitation, and safeguards air and water quality.

Local health departments around Texas inspect restaurants and other facili-ties where food is served to ensure sanitation. They also investigate the quality of drinking water and the water in public swimming areas.

Believe it or not, public health spans everything from educating you about sun protection to responding to natural disasters.

AWARE

NESS A

ND ADV

OCACY

Public health provides educational resources and advocates for the health and

wellbeing of the community

Education is key to empowering the community to make informed decisions.

Whether it’s advocating for your right to breathe clean, smoke-free air in public places or providing you with the necessary information to detect the seven most common symptoms of a heart attack and call 9-1-1, local public health works diligently to keep you safe, healthy, and informed.

www.TALHO.org