Response to "A Safe Adventure!"

I think that your idea of placing your sticker on a lifegaurd was genius! This was very original and made me connect them to public health. I have always been a big fan of the courses taught to the public such as CPR. Many of people take advantage of these opportunities and these techniques help save lives everyday. Lifegaurds are an important safety measure when it comes to water safety and you guys brought it into the public health perspective in a great way.

Reponse to: Crossing the street with Public Health

This article primarily interested me because, as a student without a vehicle i walk everywhere. Conveniences like being able to get fast food or groceries becomes a lot more difficult and a lot more demanding. Where it takes 2 minutes to drive to the grocery store it takes 40+ minutes to walk there. Walking is a very healthy activity especially in longer duration. Crosswalks and sidewalks and road crossings all provide a safe means for the pedestrian to cross. Introducing these safeguards should give pedestrians assurance they are not going to be creamed by an oncoming vehicle. Being that our college is located in a larger metropolitan area than most universities in the state of Florida, you tend to see a lot less people walking around due to the high volumes of traffic. Sidewalks and catwalks provide a safe way aiding transportation via foot and promoting heart healthy activities. THIS IS PUBLIC HEALTH!!

Response to:Toilet Liners in Public Restrooms

I really enjoyed reading this blog post "Toilet Liners in Public Restrooms" I am not going to lie, before coming a public health major i was always like" why are these toilet liners even here.... just squat". But now, I know the real reasons why they are there. Bathrooms in Malls, Gas Stations, and High Schools i feel like have the most disgustingly repulsive bathrooms i have ever used in my 19 years of living. Without these Toilet Liners, everyone would have an even greater chance to catch the foreign bacteria that may lead to infections and other diseases that are left behind. There are so many risks to doing anything in a public restroom now-a-days. It truly is a good health practice to prevent bacteria with providing the liners.

Response to '' One for One''

This particular blog interested me because, now in this generation shoes is highly important to some and some barely have any to wear. I thought that this was a great blog to speak of because in Haiti where my mom is from she always talks about how kids run barefoot all their lives unless they find one lying somewhere. Having an organization such as, ''TOMS'' is very important for kids who have no shoes, so go out there and buy some shoes!

Response "Let's Talk About Sex"

Planned Parenthood is a great example of Public Health. Of course it's one we've discussed in class however I feel that many people still don't know all the benefits of it and services it offers. Having a clinic like this is very important for low income women and those who aren't fortunate enough to have health insurance. Having this clinic even just for a preventitive PAP exam is a great benefit to ones health as well as the STD/STI testing and other services offered. Good Job!

See ya on the other side response!!!

This particular blog spoke of the importance public health displays in motor and pedestrian safety through the use of crosswalk safety buttons. This public health safety measure is evident throughout my daily life as I travel to and from class each day. Without these crosswalk aids many more accidents and fatalities would occur in the community. Thanks to this simple yet effective design the health of USF students and those throughout the entire community has improved.

Let's Talk About Sex

This article was informative and gave some good information and key points about planned parenthood, including it's relevance in the community, location, relevant issues, and it's overall purpose.
I think we need more resources and education for this organization. It tends to have a somewhat negative "connotation" if you will with some people. There is a "stick your head in the sand" mentality out there.
Ultimately, this organization would benefit all of society in the long run if brought to the forefront in the community/political arena.

Worms Way!!

(Alyssa Torres, Betlhem Biratu, Elishca Charles, Victoria Bryant)

When there is a McDonalds, Burger King, or some sort of fast food restaurant on practically every street corner, it’s important to ask ourselves what kinds of food are we really putting into our bodies? Good health as a nation, a collective population, is a primary goal of public health. And a huge factor in how healthy one is is determined by the things that he or she eats. As a group, we chose to place our public health sticker at Worm’s Way. A gardening center that provides customers with earth-friendly products that allow anyone to be able to grow organics, and where there is a knowledgeable staff ready to answer any gardening questions one may have. It’s important that Americans research the qualities of food that they eat on a daily basis, such as the kind of “beef” in Taco Bell tacos, or even the kind of fruits and vegetables available to us on Publix shelving units. Two thirds of the American society is considered over weight, this is an important public health issue. It is important for people to realize that there are great ways to ensure one’s health, and one way is by growing your own fruits and vegetables, organically. No pesticides or chemicals added, that in the long run are extremely bad for any ones health. Worm’s way is a gardener’s heaven; materials include nothing but natural chemical free ingredients, which ensures the best quality of food anyone could grow for themselves, which is why we chose Worm’s way as the place to put our public health sticker. The foods you eat today are what affect your health tomorrow. Know your options, you can become your main food supplier, with just bit of research.

This is Public Health: Toilet Liners in Public Restrooms

Our group placed our public health sticker on a toilet liner dispenser in a public restroom located in the food court at the University Mall. We chose this location because it is frequently occupied by guests, all day long, and is full of germs. It is an important place for public health because the toilet is a receptacle for human body waste including fecal matter that contains a lot of bacteria. Using the toilet liner creates a barrier to prevent the occupant from coming in contact with foreign bacteria that may lead to infections and other diseases. A search on WebMD.com says the bacteria does not live long therefore the person utilizing the facility is not at high risk of being infected. However, we believe the extra, added protection of the liner provides a measure of comfort and safety in the occupants’ minds of knowing there is a barrier between them and the previous occupant. Also, when men sit, due to their anatomy, there is more of a chance of contact with the inside rim of the toilet, thus creating a bit more of an opportunity for germs to come into contact with their genitalia. Additionally, some people do not like to sit directly on the toilet seat so they will use the hover or squat position. The result could cause splatters and smears that would be left behind. In that case, the next occupant would have to wipe it down and put a liner down on the toilet seat. It is probably a personal preference with people and their bathroom habits. Some are probably more vigilant than others, but that is the risk you take when you use a public restroom. We think it is still a good preventative health practice to provide the liners in the public restrooms.

Group Members:

Dustin P.

Karen J.

Milora M.

Go Green!

 Go Green! Sound familiar? Lately that’s what most people are talking about. Go green and save our planet, which is why we chose to place our public health sticker on recycling bins. Each year hundreds of millions of wastes, such as plastic, aluminum, and glass goes into the land field. Those wastes take years before they are able to decompose; and in the meantime they are taking up land and polluting our air. Recycling has become a big part of our society and the way that it effects our environment; it reduces wastes, air pollution, saves energy, as well as lowers the greenhouse gas emissions. Recycled objects also reduce the cost on certain items that you can buy at the store, and that makes things cheaper for everyone, the producers and the consumers. We decided to go green with our public health sticker at a local student apartment near USF. This location was chosen because it shows the effort that the public is making to help reduce waste and encourage recycling. The public is making recycling convenient and accessible to everyone in almost all locations including restaurants, hotels, and street corners. This is a public health issue because it deals with the environment and the common good of the population. Cleaner air is always healthier for simple reasons such as breathing and diminishing odors. Recycling is important because it helps keep our environment clean for future generations to come. Recycling is something that does not take a lot of time to do, it can become a habit and every bit helps.

Vivian Brimm, Cathia Jean, Priscilla Jaime, Charandeep Singh

Let's talk about SEX...

When we think of public health the four P's come to mind: population, prevention, promotion, and personal responsibility. Planned Parenthood is a nonprofit organization that provides services and resources to the community to treat and/or maintain personal health, specifically sexual health. With a focus in preventative care, contraceptives such as condoms, birth control, etc., are supplied, and education about HIV/AIDS, sexual health, abortion, and family planning is made available. In fact eighty-three percent of clients come to this organization to receive supplies, such as contraceptives, to prevent unplanned pregnancies which are estimated to be over 612,000 every year. Taking action against the troubling issues of teen pregnancy, the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases, and early detection of certain types of cancers, Planned Parenthood provides visitors with a comforting atmosphere, and more importantly, with privacy. Tests for HIV, STD's, UTI's, and examinations such as the PAP test, breast exam, and other routine screenings are also offered.

In Tampa the center of Planned Parenthood can be found in a little hidden plaza right off 56th Street, and before the street light at Puritan Road. The area surrounding is a seemingly less privileged an underdeveloped neighborhood in Temple Terrace, which is the reason we decided this location would be great place for our public health sticker. It is in the epicenter of the demographics most in need of affordable health care, that of lower income families, college students/young adults, and teens lacking the finances demanded by physicians and/or lacking the insurance. With the belief that every individual has the right to his/her own sexual health, despite his status, ethnicity, or age, they fight to provide each individual with the care and knowledge needed to make smart decisions about her sexual health. From a healthy individual materializes a healthy community, an ideal representation of what public health does in our society.

BY: Amisha Chapadia, Brycen Herman, Jessica Cambridge, and Stephanie Velardi

Reuse or Lose!!

What happens when we use all the resources in the world? It runs out. How do we save up on those resources or make better use? One way is to recycle. Recycling takes the resources and makes it new again so it can be reused. This is one of the many examples of good public health. Public health assures the health of the people and the environment. Recycling saves the environment as well as the resources with in the environment that people use. According to Waste-to-Energy (WTE), “Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours -- or the equivalent of a half a gallon of gasoline.” Recycling is preferred over using original resources because it saves energy, reduces greenhouse effects, and other pollutants. Therefore, the general public benefits from it. The pictures above demonstrate use of public health through recycling plastic bags, glass, plastic, aluminum, and electronic devices. The recycling bins here were located at front of the store which made it convenient for people to use which increased its service. We chose Target because it was a good location for the general public to access while they went shopping. This is an important issue because we as consumers can make a difference with each little effort and to repay the environment from which we have taken from. The number of times a recycled aluminum can can be reused is unlimited. Recycling prevents or slows down the destruction of our natural resources as well as prevents more public health problems from arising. 

See ya on the other side!!!

The location our group chose to represent a public health is the crosswalk located on the busy intersection between Bruce B. Downs and Fletcher. We placed our sticker near the button that pedestrians can press when they want to safely cross the street. This device can also be used by bicyclists who frequent the area. A 2010 study published by USA Today reported Florida as the deadliest state in the nation in terms of pedestrian related accidents. In 2008, “11.1% of pedestrians and 17.4% of bicyclists killed in the U.S. died in the Sunshine State, which has 6% of the nation's population,” and most of the reported incidents occurred in metropolitan areas, such as Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg. The crossing device we chose includes a countdown screen that shows both pedestrians and drivers when the crossing signals will change, serving to reduce the risk of collisions and accidents. A designated crosswalk also encourages people to cross at the right location at the right time, rather than darting into incoming traffic in the middle of a wide road. The use of this device represents the primary prevention level in public health because it is stops a negative effect on health before it can occur. There are also laws in place that punish individuals who fail to yield to pedestrians, and many such policies are assessed and changed based upon need. These crosswalks can be utilized by anyone in the community, ensuring that people have the opportunity to live healthier and safer lives. When people in the community feel that it is safe for them to walk due to such safety devices and measures, they may be more inclined to use this method of locomotion. Thus, walking can provide a healthier lifestyle for individuals, and produce better living environments due to a decline in harmful emissions from an abundance of vehicles. Many people agree that the risk of incidents could be reduced by community oriented informational programs to educate people about pedestrian safety.

By: Daniel Cepeta, Krissalee Henriquez, Sydney Jordan, and Jessica Lowe

Pedestrian Safety is Public Health!

Did you know pedestrians traveling by foot, bicycle or wheelchair stand a higher chance of getting into an automobile accident then those traveling in cars or trucks! For this reason our contribution for the This is Public Health campaign was by putting a sticker on the cross walk signal on the corner of Fletcher Avenue and Bruce B. Downs Blvd. We chose this location because it is a very busy intersection in Tampa especially being so close to the University of South Florida campus. Crossing signals at busy crosswalks such as this are an important public health issue because without them people run the risk of being hit by a car, which can result in serious injury or possibly even fatalities. With the initiative to go green more people are riding their bikes or walking to their destinations. Areas with the crosswalk signals see a lower rate of accidents. This is important because by feeling more safe and secure more people will be willing to walk which gives us exercise and helps the environment with one less vehicle on the road. Remember to press the button and wait for the signal to cross!

MOSI Recyclosaurus

The average life expectancy for Americans rose from 48 years in the 20th century to 72 years in the 21th century. Proper sanitation, preventative health practices, and clean air, water, and food were the major contributors to this 50% increase in life expectancy. Completely built from recycled material in 1992, the reyclosaurus at the Museum of Science and Industry on Fowler Avenue stands as physical evidence for the effort to continue sanitation and preservation of the environment.

Innovative medical technology and surgical practices are invaluable to saving lives from infectious disease. However, these same techniques are not as effective for the chronic illnesses currently responsible for the most disease-related deaths in our country. Heart disease, cancers, and neurodegenerative diseases are often not linked to pathogenic organisms; their source is much more diverse and ambiguous. Sanitation of the air, water, and food is absolutely crucial to the longevity of human life; the correlation between stricter sanitation and pollution laws in the 20^th century and the rise in average life expectancy is evidence for this fact.

In recent years, communities have put forth even more effort into “going green” by encouraging recycling and reducing their carbon footprint. Recycling has grown, hybrid and electric cars have risen in popularity, and President Obama’s Cash for Clunkers program demonstrate the concerted public effort in being more environmentally conscious. The practice of going green not only conserves the amount of usable energy and fuel, but also significantly reduces the amount of pollution going into our air, water, and food. The recyclosaurus is more than just a “green” statue; it is an example of what our communities are doing to increase the health of the general population.

One for One

One for One

Our group placed our public health sticker on the bottom of a pair TOMS. We chose this location because with TOMS 'One for One' program, each pair of shoes sold means a new pair will go to a child in need. According to the TOMS website, "a leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet." It is extremely important that these children have shoes, not only to keep them safe from disease but also so they can obtain an education seeing as shoes are a required part of their uniform (TOMS.com).

"After learning about the 'One for One' program, my next pair of shoes will be TOMS!" -Christine Goddard

"When I wear my TOMS it brings a smile to my face knowing that somewhere a child has a pair of shoes because of me!" -Mandy Langer

"TOMS are cute and comfortable! And, I love being a part of the 'One for One' program!" -Asmith Joseph

“I wear my TOMS with style, comfort, and the satisfaction that I made a difference in a child’s life somewhere. You can’t put a price on that” -Alexi Weeks

TOMS are made for men, women, and children, and they come in several styles such as classic, cordones, botas, cords, glitters, and artist. There truly is a style for everyone. Our group stands behind the mission of TOMS 'One for One' program and because of that, combined with the support of others, TOMS has given over 1 million pairs of new shoes to kids in need all over the world.

www.toms.com

Reusa"BULL"

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. We've all heard it before, but why exactly is it so important to Public Health?
Waste can create many problems for our world including:

Global Warming

Environmental Destruction

Harmful Emissions

Depletion of Natural Resources

Pollution: Air, Water, Land

Rising Number of Landfills

Not to mention it smells bad

and is unattractive!

Why care about these problems?

Because they affect us directly!

Pollution can cause long term health problems such as asthma and heart disease, .

Depletion of resources ruins the beautiful world we live in. Have you ever enjoyed playing in a park, swimming in a lake, or camping in the woods? Imagine if all this outdoor beauty was destroyed, never to be enjoyed again.

In order to protect our health and enjoy our world for years to come recycling is absolutely necessary!

Recycling reuses materials that have been used before so we do not have to make more of the same material out of a limited natural resources. Also not having to make new materials cuts down on energy use and pollution from factories. Recycling also cuts down the need for landfills.

Recycling is so easy to do, but often overlooked. Luckily, recycling bins are popping up everywhere. Just like the one we are with at our local gas station.

Almost everything can be reused. The most common items recycled are paper, plastic, and glass. But you'd be surprised to know that you can also recycle cell phones, paint, oil, batteries, and medical waste.

Recycling protects our environment and our health today, so we can have a better tomorrow. Recycling is Public Health.

- Katherine Bentley, Simon Matthews, Melody Rubio, & Cassandra Vil.

Source: http://www.recycling-guide.org.uk/materials/clinicalwaste.html

This is Public Health

Our contribution to the "This is Public Health" campaign for promoting public health awareness was found at the University Mall in Tampa. Our group wanted to identify a public health advocate in a common yet unlikely place for health. Many people visit the mall daily; the first thing you think of when talking about a mall is shopping NOT how it contributes to your health. When we arrived onsite we saw many indicators of health around us. The mall provides hand sanitizing stations, offers wheelchairs and bike racks outside to promote physical activity. Our group came across this yellow janitorial cart and a janitor who was cleaning in the hall area. We chose this location for our sticker because it promotes sanitation and helps keep mall visitors from catching germs from others. Everyone has probably seen this cart in various public places before and thought nothing of it. However, this cart represents public health through epidemiology. By keeping the mall clean and sanitary, the mall prevents the spread of any germs and bacteria that can lead to many infectious diseases. The mall is a place for everyone in the community from newborns to the elderly. This high volume of people also creates high potential for germ spreading. This cart, which contains: antibacterial cleaning supplies, mops, brooms and towels, along with the janitorial staff, work in the hallways, food court and restrooms to keep the mall population healthy. In the food court they wash tables, they sanitize and stock up personal hygiene items in restrooms, and in the halls they mop and wipe down areas where germ spreading could occur. Public health focuses on prevention and this yellow janitorial cart is without a doubt an untiring advocate for primary prevention and our choice for the project.

I placed my sticker on the bench press machine. Located in the Avalon Heights weight room. The issue of obesity is endemic. I look at so many individuals that carry excess weight and I think to myself "What excuse can you possibly have for getting so big?" Some of these guys resemble Peter Griffin from Family Guy. I chose this location because society does not place enough emphasis on physical activity such as strenth training. The same people who say "Oh man I just dont have the time" are the exact same people who sit on the couch watching T.V. in their free time. If their health was more important to them they would make a greater effort to squeeze it in their schedule. This is a public health issue because these are the same people that will one day walk into a doctor's office and hear bad news. "Sir you have type two diabetes" or "Mam there is a lump on your left breast, we need you to undergo furth testing to determine if its cancerous." As much as we criticize society for creating environments that promote these health ailments we need to place some blame on the individual for not taking his or health more seriously. The benefits of physical activity such as strength training cannot be overstated. This issue is important because if we added proper nutrition and physical training to our daily lives many common diseases would be prevented and health insurance costs would not be so high. Strength training is even good for the mind. Its been proven that strength training increases Dopamine, Serotonin, and norepinephrine levels in the brain, combatting depression. If we are to move toward a healthy society, we better make changes to our lifestyle such as becoming good friends with the dumbells and bench press.

Public Health At Your Neighborhood Wal-Mart

While we originally planned on placing our This Is Public Health sticker on a hand sanitizer dispenser, we ultimately placed it on a blood pressure machine at the Wal-Mart across the street from USF.  We chose this location because, quite frankly, Wal-Mart was in the general vicinity and has almost everything (almost being the keyword as this particular store didn’t have hand sanitizer dispensers). Heart disease is the leading cause of death in this country and one of many conditions that claim millions of lives across the world each year. With Wal-Mart having such a strong foothold in this country’s economy, it’s good that they provide free blood pressure measurements in the Pharmacy section of their stores across the country. One of the key factors in determining if someone has heart disease is measuring their pressure and seeing if it’s above normal, known as hypertension, or below normal, known as hypotension.  After assessing these measurements, a doctor will generally either give you a clean bill of health or order more tests depending on the results.

Removing all bias considering we chose this particular topic, it can be easily argued that heart disease is the biggest public health issue our country is facing at the moment since it has the highest mortality rate. Even though lifestyle changes can alter and even diminish heart disease within an individual, the death rates have consistently risen year after year. One of the leading reasons for this is due to people leading sedentary lives and eating a lot of fast food, high in saturated fats, sugars and cholesterol, which negatively affect heart health.

It’s important to note that while some people are predisposed to heart disease, proactive steps can be taken to ensure a healthy life by means of exercise and diet, amongst other things. Feel free to visit the site below to assess your risk of having a heart attack. Note that this calculator shouldn’t be construed as a sound answer to whether you are at risk or not. Measure your blood pressure at Wal-Mart and other locations that offer the service free of charge and seek advice from your doctor.

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/HeartAttackToolsResources/Heart-Attack-Risk-Assessment_UCM_303944_Article.jsp

Participants: Ashlie Walker (photographer), Christopher Oural, and somewhere underneath the pound of facial hair is George Daniel :)

A Safe Adventure!

We decided to place our sticker on a lifeguard at the Temple Terrace Parks and Recreation Center. This was chosen because lifeguards serve as a large public health measure towards preventing deaths caused by drownings. This location was chosen because the recreational center offers many different activities both for children and adults, so it is a highly populated area. They have swimming pools open year round and a lifeguard on duty at all times. The presence of lifeguards is important to public health because they ensure the safety of the community during water activities. Before the usage of lifeguards, rates of water related injuries and deaths were higher due to a lack of nearby personnel trained in CPR. The C.D.C reports “more than three-quarters of drownings occurred at times when beaches were unguarded.” This means that many drownings could have been prevented by the presence of lifeguards. According to the CDC, “drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 1 to 14 years.” Public health is concerned with lowering incidences of drowning and educating the community about the issue. Laws on lifeguards vary from state to state, but Florida law states that every public, nonresidential pool is required to have a lifeguard on duty at all hours of operation and must be “certified by the American Red Cross, the Y.M.C.A., or other nationally recognized aquatic training programs.” Requiring certification ensures that all lifeguards receive the same level of education and important skills of CPR, AED operation and the ability to discern distressed swimmers. However, no system is perfect and research has shown that approximately 20% of drowning deaths occur when lifeguards are present. Lifeguarding, like all public health measures, is a work in progress to improve the health of the community and, ultimately, mortality rates.

-Hyacinth, Deidre, Dayalis, and Michelle

Sources:

http://statutes.laws.com/florida/TitleXXXIII/chapter514/514_071

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/dsDrowningRisks/

http://www.poseidon-tech.com/us/statistics.html

http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/pubs/LifeguardReport-a.pdf

It's a Bloody Good Day

To think something so common as blood donation vehicles, to the
donation centers that dispatch them, could be such a beneficial part
to our society’s health as a whole. Public health takes the emphasis
off of the individual and places it on communities or even the nation
in a broader spectrum. As a group we looked to place our “this is
public health sticker” somewhere there would be a greater frequency
for people to see in hopes that it would have a greater impact. We went to the blood drive being held at Jesuit High School by Florida Blood Services. Blood,
like water and air are essential needs of the human body, and blood is
in great demand. By donating blood, you are not only helping to save
or improve another human beings life, but at the same time blood
donations have proved to give the donor positive health benefits,
however Florida Blood Services and other “blood banks” do not just
donate blood.


FBS is also a screening service and they test every
blood sample that passes through their facilities, as a safeguard so
that recipients can have “assurance” that they are not going to come
across a disease or an infection by receiving blood. FBS also has a
commitment to transfusion medicine leadership by way of Education,
Research, and Training. Education is one of Public Health’s greatest
tools to help advance the movement that has seen our Life Expectancy
as Americans go up as well as a healthier overall lifestyle. The
donation of blood not only is beneficial to the donor, but the
recipient as well. With screenings alone, FBS serves a vast
geographical area that helps cut down on contraction of infectious
diseases and provides the donor with a free screen informing them of
their results and what measure to take. This safeguard is just one
preventative measure that helps the efforts of Public health, as well
as donating blood to “in need” patients that saves lives daily!!

Trenton Braxton Powers

Marlene Villaneuva

Quetia Revolte

Your My Type

What is Public Health? Public health goes beyond the well being of any one individual. Public health looks at health on a wider perspective. Putting research into how to effectively assess what is needed to increase the over-all level of public health. Florida Blood Services is a non-profit organization that serves the greater Tampa Bay area. By support from local volunteer donors, patients, and affiliated partners, Florida Blood services has remained a life saving entity in Tampa for over 60 years. In the Tampa Bay area alone, 38 hospitals and 80 ambulatory care centers count on us for whole blood, blood products and services, and we must collect more than 750 pints of this gift of life every day, just to meet the needs of our neighbors in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Manatee Counties. Florida Blood Service is also a vital testing resource for 30 East Coast blood centers and medical facilities from Maine to Puerto Rico This Organization has saved numerous lives throughout Florida and continues to be a very important component of the community and the overall public’s health. On average a single blood donation can possibly save the life of up to three patients. It is estimated that nine out of ten people who live to the age of 70 will need a life saving blood transfusion. It is no stretch of the imagination that this service is crucial to the continuation of life and therefore a huge factor in not only continuing but also advancing public health.

Would You Like a Side of Diabetes with that Whopper?

Considering that we are the “Microwave Generation” it doesn’t come to a surprise that most Americans go to fast food restaurants for most of their meals. The drive thru has taken the place of Sunday dinner in many homes. Though consuming ready-made food is clearly the easier option than a home cooked meal, there are many consequences that coincide. If people only knew that an apple today keeps obesity at bay they would make much healthier choices.

To be honest, most of us would have frequent flyer miles at the local McDonald’s, but would ever admit to that due to its poor nutritional value. With that said, our group posted the ‘This is Public Health” sticker on the one place we all know best: the Burger King menu. We felt that this location has a major impact on our nation’s health conditions. Heart disease, diabetes, and cancer are at the top of the list for leading causes of death in America.

Knowing this, people continue to binge on greasy burgers and super size fries.

Obesity is a common problem in the United States where one in three Americans is considered obese. In fact, there are children as young as six that have been diagnosed with this problem as well. This fact is important because in the long run, these poor eating habits can be life threatening. People tend to consume foods with less nutritional value and more fat. Meals should be well balanced among the food groups. Time, convenience, taste, and cost are some of the factors contributing to why people eat fast food.

All in all, the fact still remains that eating malnutritious foods can lead one’s downfall. Healthy People 2020 is the goal for Americans to become more proactive and take initiative for their well-being. Since we are now aware of these issues, the people who turn into the Burger King drive-thru will face this public health concern.

Participants: Christina Walters, Layla Aysheh, Michelle Christie, and Jusena Supreus.

Public Health Near Home

The public health sticker was placed on one of the signs located at the University Community Resources Center. This community center is part of the Hillsborough County Health Department. The health center was chosen because it provided several resources to mothers, children and other groups in the community. This location is a clear representation of how important the encouragement of Public Health is in the community. This site also promotes the wellness of the community and provides the community with awareness. It is also within 5 minutes of the USF campus and available to anyone.

The way the University Area Health Center represent a public health issue is the department provides a variety of services in a area of high needs community and low income families. Public Health and the wellness of the community is a major concern that we all should have and that should be addressed. The health department focuses on the aspect of Public Health and the well being of the community.

The reason why the Health community services are important to a community is because they provide health care services to all regardless of ability to pay. Also public health is important due to the fact that whether the health of the public is good or bad it affects us all. Not just now but for generations to come. The problems in health we address and take care of today are less outbreaks and epidemics we have to worry about tomorrow.

The services that are provided are:

AIDS Surveillance Unit-The AIDS Surveillance Unit staff are responsible for the collection of AIDS case report forms, as well as the compilation and analysis of the data for both Hillsborough and Manatee Counties (HRS District VI).

Child Health-Regular medical checkups beginning at birth help ensure a healthy childhood and play an important role in early identification of health-related problems.

Communicable Diseases-Providing services, treatment and testing for STD's, TB and AIDS.

Community Health-Our goal is to encourage our community to strive for good headedness for emergencies and disasters.

Environmental Health-Studies conditions in our environment that could cause disease

Epidemiology and Public Health Surveillance-Epidemiology and Public Health Surveillance is in charge of monitoring and investigating over fifty reportable diseases or conditions in Hillsborough County.

Healthy Start-Improving access to medical and social services to ensure healthy pregnancies, babies and children.

Human Resources - Personnel Services and Recruitment-Information on applying for employment with the Department of Health and the Hillsborough County Health Department. Applications and weekly job vacancies are also posted here.

Immunizations and Travel Clinic-Provides all childhood and international travel immunization services.

Pharmacy Services-The Hillsborough County Health Department's Pharmacy is able to fill a wide array of prescription drugs.

Preventive/Primary Health Service-A variety of preventative health services through outreach, home visits and its eight center locations.

Sexually Transmitted Disease Program-The STD program provides laboratory test, physical examination, treatments, partner notification, family planning services and confidential HIV testing.

Vital Statistics Office-Birth and Death Certificates. Includes a form for certificate requests by mail.

WIC: Women Infants Children Nutrition Program-Providing food and nutritional education for eligible women, new mothers, infants and children under 5 years old.

The Mission Statement of the University Area Health Center

To protect and promote the health of all residents and visitors in the state through organized state and community efforts, including cooperative agreements with counties.

Location of the center:

University Area Community Center

13601 N. 22nd Street, Tampa, FL 33613

(813) 307-8058 ■ Fax (813) 903-3360

For other locations please see link: http://www.hillscountyhealth.org/contacts.pdf

Members of the Group: Victoria Vilsaint, Tiara Doyle, Arnet Archie, Katy Smith, Caitlin Keene