Driving to work this morning, I played a game with my children called "Public Health on the Streets." It's a game I made up to teach my kids a little about public health and how it plays such an important role in our every day lives. Simply put, its a way for me to teach my kids how to be healthier. Everyone gets a turn and everyone gets to explain why what they saw is public health or prevention related. This morning in just 5 minutes we counted over 50 important public health activities here are just a few: bike helmets protecting kids and adults from head injury; sunglasses, preventing eye damage from the sun; seatbelts and carseats for little ones, preventing injury in automobile accidents; walking and running and skipping, getting exercise is essential in protecting our health; eating fruit, a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables is equally important; flu shots at a grocery store, annual vaccination against the flu prevents the spread of this highly contagious respiratory disease. And the list goes on. Do you see public health in action every day? Have you used a public health service that you would like to tell us about? Do you have a public health story to share?
Thanks!
I think this is a great story! I think I am going to try this with my kids.
ReplyDeleteFunny, but today was the day I decided to stop trying all the fad diets and all the promises of weightloss and just get moving more. So I actually ran for the first time in many years today. Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great story and fun Public Health game! To me this game illustrates the importance of public health education. We must preach, teach, and practice the simple fundamentals of good personal health and public health choices every day. By making good personal health choices we become a healtier society. When we choose and take on the responsibility to wear a bicycle helment, wash our hands when we serve and prepare food, wear DEET to protect against insect borne diseases and sunscreen to protect against skin cancer, eating nutritious food, and exercise daily we make ourselves a healthier society. We should all make good jpersonal health and public health choices every day,it's the Patriotic thing to do!
ReplyDeleteYes we should all try and pay attention to the choices we make about health. Part of the problem is that many are unaware of the simple things they can do to now to help them live longer and healthier lives. Just this morning I was at a stoplight behind a car of teens on their way to school. I was struck by how bright and motivated and healthy they all looked. Their car rocked a bit to the music and they were laughing and carrying on as young people do. One of the students in the back seat was smoking a cigarette and I could see the smoke curling up and swirling over the front seat. I couldn't help but wonder, do they know how dangerous that second hand smoke is. Do they know that the decisions they make today can impact their lives forever. I honked the horn and the teen in the passenger seat looked over at me. I rolled down my window as he did his. "Hey you guys ask your smoking friend to take it outside." Who knows, maybe they will ask their friends to smoke outside from now on. It would be really good if everyone understood the dangers of smoking and of secondhand smoke. Anyone reading this that would like help with quitting should go health.jeffco.us and click on the tobacco prevention link. Thanks.
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