April 7-14, 2008

NHM Health Focus: National Public Health Week

Each year the American Public Health Association (APHA) joins with local and national public health groups to celebrate the first week in April as National Public Health Week.

This year's National Public Health Week theme is Climate Change: Our Health in the Balance. This is a good time for families, schools, businesses, and communities to join together to discuss the direct connection between climate change and the health of our nation. It's important to educate each other about the direct connection between the way we lead our lives, our impact on the planet, and the planet's impact on our health.

Depending on where in the U.S. you live, climate change can impact your life in different ways. For example:

• In the Southeastern U.S., hurricanes and other events are expected to be more intense which can lead to contaminated food and water.
• In the Northeast, rising temperatures could extend the range of insects and animals carrying diseases such as Lyme's disease and West Nile Virus.
• In the Midwest, hotter summers and milder winters are expected to reduce food production.
• In the Southwest, increased temperatures and decreased rainfall would reduce the supply of water.
• In the Northwest, heavier rainfall and the subsequent flooding of sewers would spread disease.
  Climate Change and Your Health, APHA

"Climate change impacts human health not only by region, but as a result of the relative vulnerability of different populations. Children, the elderly, the poor, and those with chronic health conditions are considered the most susceptible to the negative health impacts of climate change, and any strategies for managing climate change impacts should take their unique challenges and needs into account."
Climate Change and Your Health, APHA

There are many things that communities can do together to address the issue of climate change and health. Many exciting ideas can be found in the National Public Health Week Toolkit, please check it out to learn what you can do in your community.

As a National Partner, the National Health Museum joins APHA along with the Sponsors and other National, State/County, and Community Partners of National Public Health Week in saluting all the good work that is being done across the country to address the issue of climate change and health.

Access Excellence @ the National Health Museum resources related to climate change and health:

• Health Headquarters: Health, Science & Society– Global Warming: From "If" to "When"
• Activities Exchange: Fellows Collection – Making Connections
• Activities Exchange: Activities-to-Go – Design an Ecosystem