Public health laws can work to shape our environments and behaviors from the very beginning and impact where we live, work and play throughout our lives. This year, the theme for National Public Health Week 2014 is "Public Health: Start Here." Throughout the week of April 7-11, we will share evidence and participate in events that correspond to the daily themes.
Follow along via our social media channels — Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter — and through exclusive posts to the Harvard Petrie-Flom Center’s Bill of Health blog.
Daily Themes and Activities
Check back during National Public Health Week, we will update this list with all the content we share each day.
- Monday, April 7: Be healthy from the start. From maternal health and school nutrition to emergency preparedness, public health starts at home.
- Local laws helped reduce childhood lead poisoning from 20 percent to less than 2 percent in the past 10 years: bit.ly/1e3Ny5u
- All US states have laws that address youth sports concussions, but are they making kids safer? Find out: ow.ly/vvDGH
- Fortifying corn flour could help prevent birth defects that impact 1 in 33 babies born every year: bit.ly/1ey24Hn
- Tuesday, April 8: Don't panic. Disaster preparedness starts with community-wide commitment and action.
- Practice makes perfect. Simulations help us practice making key decisions in emergencies: http://bit.ly/1fGSWlO
- Wednesday, April 9: Get out ahead. Prevention is now a nationwide priority.
- Raising alcohol taxes & adjusting for inflation could help prevent alcohol-related health issues: http://bit.ly/1b5umtL
- Local laws helped reduce childhood lead poisoning from 20% to less than 2% in the past 10 years http://bit.ly/1e3Ny5u pic.twitter.com/ahrBmmOk9T
- Fatal childhood injuries dropped by 35% after child seat safety laws were introduced. http://bit.ly/1n4fMUH pic.twitter.com/rUkFI0XZLX
- Raising the tobacco-buying age to 21 could prevent more kids from starting smoking. Learn how: http://bit.ly/Q4urnK
- Wearing a helmet while riding a bike can reduce head injury risk by 85%. Helmet laws work to encourage safety! http://bit.ly/1iv3gfj
- Thursday, April 10: Eat well. The system that keeps our nation's food safe and healthy is complex.
- Not just bad for your waistline, sugar-sweetened beverages are terrible for your teeth: http://bit.ly/1eWNXgG
- 77% of sodium in food comes processing. 22 states regulate salt, find out which ones: http://bit.ly/1dt7b79 pic.twitter.com/xoTjmDjVdT
- Why not make food labels less confusing? Here’s how we could do it: http://bit.ly/1mgKwoO
- Friday, April 11: Be the healthiest nation in one generation. Best practices for community health come from around the globe.
The Public Health Law Research program (PHLR) is an official national partner of National Public Health Week 2014.
See how PHLR partcipated last year by clicking here.