Public Health and You

What is public health? Government and other agencies working together to develop and maintain healthy communities Why was it developed? After WWI and the results of the Spanish Flu pandemic, the Canadian government established its first department of health to monitor water, check the air for pollutants and take measures to avoid outbreaks of disease

Now the Provincial Governments are responsible for maintaining Public Health Programs and Services. So what do they do to improve human health? Your turn…. Complete the Public Health Worksheet

Public Health Guidelines It is true that vaccinations have reduced the number of people who die from communicable disease. But does that mean communicable diseases are no longer a serious problem? Should you just ignore public health guidelines?

NO! Diseases are not going away. In fact, many old diseases that were thought to have disappeared are resurfacing. These include polio and drug-resistant variations of tuberculosis. New diseases, such as SARS and the Avian Bird Flu are also emerging. So what are public health guidelines?

Factors and Public Health Guidelines –Open your text to pg. 184 and read the Public Health Guidelines given for each factor. –Do you think they are all necessary? –Which do you think is most important? –Do you think there should be more guidelines?

How do you know when there is a major health warning? Food recalls? –Radio and television Boil Water advisories? –Radio and television Mass vaccinations? –Radio, T.V., free vaccines for at risk populations, information pamphlets, advertising campaigns Road Safety? –Radio, T.V., free vaccines for at risk populations, information pamphlets, advertising campaigns

Is being aware about Public Health issues important? Do you know what smoking does to your body? Do you know how you can contract HIV? Do you know what you should be eating everyday? Do you know what a flu shot is? That is because of Public Health Awareness

Tomorrow’s project…. You have been hired by the Health Department of the Alberta Government to create a new information brochure about a public health issue. Your brochure will go to all Albertan schools, doctor and dental offices and be available online in 2008.

For today… Read pg. 186 on the “Walkerton Water” EventRead pg. 186 on the “Walkerton Water” Event –Complete “What to Do” #1 –Answer the Analyze question #2 When finished,When finished, Read and complete Q’s # 1-4 (p. 189)Read and complete Q’s # 1-4 (p. 189)