Gasoline pumping stations are objects which take a place of commonality and ritual in many American’s daily lives. Constantly we drive past them, waiting until that dreaded orange light to signal that it is again our turn to “fill ‘er up”. However, did you know that gas pumps can be great centers of Public Health? It’s true!For our “This is Public Health” campaign our group decided to visit the Marathon gas station located on the corner of Fletcher and Bruce B Downs. Each member of our group had initial ideas on how an everyday object such as a gas pump could be related to Public Health, and we were not disappointed in our assertions. It turned out that the pumps are a veritable fortress of Public Health!
Many of the features on the gas pumps relate to the sectors of Public Health dealing with protection and the spread of information. These features help to represent health to the public through the use of various stickers and labels. For example, there are stickers warning that the inhalation of gas may be harmful to your health as well as stickers proclaiming the flammability of the fumes.
Tools are another important asset which gas pumps utilize to protect the health of the public. These tools include such things as easy to reach fire extinguishers, located at each side of the many back to back pumps. Sanitation is also taken to account at the pumps, with paper towels being provided for quick and easy cleanup. Also, many gas stations now offer plastic “mitts” to use while pumping gas as well as hands-free hand sanitizer stations.
In choosing the commonplace gas station as the staging ground for our campaign our group hoped to show that even routine objects can hold significance in the realm of Public Health. In our expectations we were not disappointed, displaying for all to see the fact that the next time you fill up, remember, “This is Public Health”!
Chris Morrow
Jason Kupersmith
Doug Franz
Fellow classmates: your blog location was very wisely chosen. The information you used to justify your location goes to show that even the most mundane things such as pumping gas in the United States is widely influenced by Public Health measures, a phenomenon which unfortunately can not be generalized to other pockets of the world. The great extent to which we are protected by being exposed to health information every day and in most every place we visit is a major contributor to our current health status. We can only hope that the rest of the world will come to employ similar measures to increase their quality of life.
ReplyDeleteI honestly never considered a gas station to be a location of public health. In fact, this contributes to the testimony that public health is indeed the silent hero. People some times over look things that are considered daily rituals. However, gasoline pump stations can have dire consequences if someone does not acquaint themselves with proper handling. Therefore, it is great to know that there are warning labels and other features such as hand sanitizers to encourage proper safety and prevention of germs. It would be pretty sweet also that they have a sign that prevents drinking and driving. Yesterday, I saw several people coming out with alcoholic beverages and it would be keen to mention the hazards of drinking and driving as they pump their cars to their designated "locations".
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome guys! I didn't even think about that. Going to the gas station is something we get used to at a very young age. We all know the smell of gasoline, but I never thought about how that might affect my health. I don't fill up my car very often. However, in my home state of New Jersey you do not pump your own gas. There are attendants that always pump your gas, I wonder how constant exposure to these fumes effects these people. I wonder if there have been any studies done on this issue. I am also glad you brought up sanitation. We often think about washing out hands when we eat or do other things, but you don’t normally see someone wash their hands after pumping their gas. Maybe public health should try to address issues like washing after pumping your gas or even after grocery shopping. I think that would be money well spent!
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