Handrails are Public Health

Andrea Anger

Ann Mislovic

Candice Deschaine

Kendria McLean

Shalee Beckford

In the process of completing the task of applying our " This is Public Health" sticker to a location that constitutes a public heath issue, we chose to place it on a railing going down and up a set of stairs at the M.O.S.I. building. In the picture above, our group members who stand from left to right include Ann Mislovic, Kendria McLean, Candice Deschaine, Shalee Beckford, and Andrea Anger.

Hand rails on staircases are considered a Public Health service that prevents injuries, while walking up or down a set of stairs, before the injuries can can take place. The railing represents a Public Heath Issue because it prevents injuries while walking down or up a set of stairs. This is an important issue because it is applying the primary prevention method to prevent the risk factor before it happens. This is a Public Health safety precautionary measure.

Our group carefully planned out the location that we decided to place our sticker because we wanted to find a place that not everyone notices everyday that is considered Public Health. Public Health, as defined by The Future of Public Health, is organized work that ensures conditions to be healthy to assure that people will live longer and more healthy lives. Stemming from this definition, the railing going down a set of stairs takes primary action to prevent a risk before it occurs. If a person is walking or running up a set of stairs, he or she is at an incline that takes extra effort on the body and may have the dangers of falling or gaining an injury. To prevent this from occurring several times, a rail was placed to ensure public safety. You should take precautionary measures next time you go up or down a set of stairs by using the railing.

Public Health in the Park

Being that poor diet and physical inactivity are the number two leading actual causes of death, we believe that having a public place where people can come and exercise is very important to public health. This is why we chose to place our sticker on the fitness trail at Copeland Park. Located in the inner-city area of Tampa off of Fowler Avenue, Copeland Park provides a nature trail which can be used for walking, jogging, roller blading, or biking. Along the trail are various stations which provide equipment for different exercises, which work different parks of the body. For example, the station we took our picture at has monkey bars, which are excellent for building arm strength. Each station provides instructions for different exercises that can be performed on the equipment, making it more accessible for people who don’t know a lot about exercise and fitness, and also promoting safety so that the equipment isn’t used improperly which could result in injury. Since not everyone can afford a gym membership, we believe that free access to amenities like this can be very beneficial to society. Obesity related health problems such as heart disease and diabetes are very common, and a lot of the time they can be prevented by our behaviors, such as by leading a healthy lifestyle which includes proper diet and exercise. Not only is this nature trail better than going to the gym because it’s free, but it also allows you to enjoy sunlight and fresh air which many people neglect in today’s technology based society. Furthermore, it is known that exercise elevates mood by releasing endorphins, so if more people take advantage of trails like these, we may be on our way to a happier, healthier community!

By: Alexa Fernandez, Antinia Taylor, David Aristil, Natasha Salazar, Klaus Laleau, and Quintensia Gaitan-Harris

A taste of public health

We choose the restroom in a local Boston Market restaurant for our "This is Public Health" assignment. We put our sticker on a "wash your hands" sign in the bathroom to remind employees and customers to wash their hands after use. We choose this location because most infections occur after feces come in contact with ones hands and hands come in contact with raw or ready food, which results in food borne illnesses. It is imperative to wash one’s hands between handling foods; as well as after one uses the restroom, before starting work, and after touching body parts specifically lesions. This represents a public health issue by identifying and educating the prevention of spreading different germs as well as infectious disease through hand to food contact. We believe that this goes in line with the four P's of public health. This sign promotes public safety by creating awareness; prevents by educating and there for protecting the population. The sign also raises the idea for the employee to not only protect him or herself but the people they are serving in the community. According to the CDC there are about 400-500 food borne outbreaks in local and state health departments each year. Diseases such as E. Coli or salmonella are examples of food borne diseases that can be avoided by simply washing one's hands properly like the public health sign shows.

-Azeb Abera

-Deni Brave

-Roman Carrigan

Public health, right on schedule

We placed our public health sticker on one of the enclosed bus stops near the university transit center bus terminal for Hartline buses. We chose this location because it is close to campus and offers an excellent example of public health. Every person that rides a bus equals one less car on the road. Fewer cars on the road not only means a shorter commute for drivers, but also less carbon emissions from exhaust. This issue is important because less people on the roads not only makes them safer but the cleaner air also leads to decreases in health issues such as asthma. Buses also provide transportation to people who cannot or are unable to drive due to accidents. This allows people to get to work and earn money that they can put towards their own health and well being. Buses are also a means of transportation to hospitals that many people take advantage of. All of the Hartline buses are wheelchair and bike accessible. Many allow pets on boards so long as certain standards are met, increasing the number of people who can ride the bus. Hartline has also teamed up with the Emergency Ride Home program so that commuters can get a free taxi ride home in case of an emergency.

We chose Hartline buses because they work with USF to provide free service to students with a valid USF student ID. Teachers also get discounted fare with valid ID’s. Many of Hartline’s shaded terminals are running on solar energy. Hartline has also started buying Hybrid buses and their entire fleet meets EPA standards. Their extended hours also help to provide better service to its riders.

For more information on all the things Hartline is doing visit their website at http://www.hartline.org/

Frances Diaz

Deanna Wood

Dustin Nichols

Public Health is the Target

Picture this. An adorable little girl is sitting in the top of a Target shopping cart while her mother does her normal weekly grocery shopping. While mom is busy looking for the pasta that’s on sale, the little girl is doing what all little children do—picking her nose, sneezing, coughing(it is flu season, after all) and, of course, being “Mommy’s Little Helper”, grabbing onto the cart’s handle to help mommy maneuver the cart through the tight aisles. Cute, right? Not so much. While the little girl’s soaring imagination is helpful in making the time at the grocery store less boring, it is no match against the germs that are being transferred between the girl and the shopping cart.

Only a few hours later, the same cart is picked out of the stack by a woman who has just exited the restroom-- without washing her hands. She grabs the handle of the cart and starts heading towards the purses when the café catches her eye. She makes her way over to the counter, hands the cashier a dollar bill (which has been touched by an innumerable amount of people), and takes a bite of her warm, salted pretzel, all while still pushing around her big red cart. Sounds delicious, right? Not when you start to think about the number of germs accumulating on both this woman’s hands and the cart as well, just waiting to be used again.

To help cut down on the spread of germs, Target has installed a station for distributing disinfectant wipes that can be used to sterilize the handles of their shopping cart. This is an excellent idea, and it would be interesting to see if it actually is effective in hindering the spread of disease. Still, however great the idea and concept, most Target shoppers grab a cart and speed past the station with no more than a second glance. Target has chosen to give their customers the opportunity to improve and safeguard their health but now its up to the individuals to take advantage of this opportunity. All in all, it’s up to both the businesses and individuals in the community to take the simple steps to help prevent the spread of diseases. This is Public Health.

Public Health at the Pump

Public Health at the Pump

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

They go where Wheego!

Stats:

"all electric-not a hybrid. zero emissions. no gas required."

"range-about 100 miles a charge."

"time to charge from 50% to 100%-about 5 hours"

"size- two seats, plus plenty of room for your groceries and gear."

"price- 32,995 plus freight and options. also qualifies for tax credits."

the future is taking place right in St. Pete - at Suncoast!

^^we even went for a test drive! (well, Sam did)

"Before I rode in this car, my basic concerns about electric cars was that they might be slow, or you'd know the difference. When I got to ride in it, there was no noise, and we literally sped right off the lot. The other thing that you'd be amazed to know is that the Wheego looks small, but just like the mini cooper or smart car, they're a little roomier than you might think." -Sam

This is Public Health.

Our group took a trip across the bay to St. Petersburg to visit the only 100 percent electric car dealership on Florida’s west coast, Suncoast Electric Vehicles. We decided to tackle the problem of air pollution right where it starts, auto emissions. We were given the opportunity to meet with some of the dealer agents who provided us with information about all their products. They carried everything from fully electric cars to work trucks; some of us even had the chance to go for a test drive! We, of course, placed our sticker on their flagship two-seater, the Wheego. We visited the dealership because electric cars are the solution to the urban air pollution problem. Urban air pollution is a major public health issue in much of the industrialized world. Air pollution can lead to asthma, lung cancer, heart disease, and even shorten a person’s lifespan one to two years. In cities like Los Angeles and Mexico City, smog levels are so high that on many days advisories are made for residents to remain indoors. Air pollution not only affects your health, but also your quality of life. Electric vehicles aim to greatly reduce air pollution and reduce dependence on foreign oil. Other electric cars coming to age include the Tesla - an all electric sports car and more familiar ones like the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt (not fully electric, from what I can tell). There are also many other off the wall brands that are emerging such as the Aptera.