As the sun wakes you up, the radio announcer says, "It's a genuinely gorgeous Illinois Day!" "How nice," you think as you stretch and climb out of bed. "Our air quality is as good as it is thanks to Public Health pollution monitoring and clean air programs." As you finish showering, you reflect on how easy it is to take water safety and the availability of clean, drinkable water for granted.
You hear your child laughing in the other room while being dressed by your spouse to go to the childcare center. Public Health nursing assured that your child is a healthy baby, thanks to the series of immunizations they offered and reminded you to get to ward off once-deadly infectious diseases. Watching your child drink a glass of milk, you are confident in the knowledge that your child is safe because the health department regularly inspects dairies, and tests laboratory samples and refrigeration levels of dairy products.
As you make sure you have everything you need before leaving home, you remember that your mother called last night to tell you she is participating in a blood pressure screening this morning. Although she lives in a small town in a county that doesn't have many health services, prevention screenings such as these have been a real blessing. It's amazing how in protecting and promoting the health of a whole community (be it the county, the region or the state), the Public Health system does so many individuals so much good.
It's time to leave for work, and you fasten your child's safety seat restraints and your own seat belt as you get into your car. Although it's the law, it's now also a healthy habit, thanks to Public Health promotion programs and messages that have greatly reduced highway deaths and injuries in Illinois.
The childcare center director welcomes your child who is then taken to a room full of children. The director and staff have been trained in the Public Health measures necessary to run a safe, healthy childcare program. This particular center has been especially effective in avoiding the unnecessary infectious disease outbreaks that can occur with improper hand washing and improper childcare techniques. Historically, Public Health has looked at the root causes of disease, and has addressed them from a prevention-oriented standpoint. It's reassuring to know that thanks to the priority Public Health gives prevention, the staff is trained to prevent your child from getting sick or hurt, and is not just waiting to deal with problems after they occur.
Heading to work, you stop and pick up a take-out breakfast from your favorite fast food restaurant. You know the quality of food is good because inspectors from your local health department have conducted random inspections, ensuring that certain health and safety standards have been met. As you begin to eat, a Public Health message you heard on the radio or saw on a billboard or at a recent health fair runs through your mind. "I need to limit my fat intake because my cholesterol level is high" you remind yourself. Fact is, you had never even heard of cholesterol until the local health department began its campaign last year. Enjoying the last bite of your breakfast, you resolve to get up earlier the next day and eat a fruit and cereal breakfast...and to talk with your doctor.
Work is less stressful and more enjoyable now that you and five of your colleagues have started a walking program at lunchtime. Perhaps even more importantly, the exercise increases your aerobic fitness and reduces the risk of certain chronic diseases. You make a mental note to call and thank the Public Health Educator who got the program started. Coming in from the walk, you notice that the air inside your building is pleasantly fresh. You realize that there are many benefits to working in a smoke free environment, and avoiding respiratory disease is certainly one of them. Public Health has lead efforts, both locally and nationally, to prevent serious chronic diseases through reduction or elimination of the use of tobacco products.
On the way home, after picking up your child at the
childcare center, the two of you
stop off for a quick walk and some quality time together. The
stream running through the park is clean. Both you and your child
are pleasantly surprised to see fish swimming in the small pool.
You smile as you realize that, once again, Public Health has
improved your quality of life by evaluating and monitoring the
condition of your natural environment, including the disposal
of toxic wastes. Now that you think about it, even the number
of cavities in your family has gone down thanks to Public Health
- you'd forgotten all about the dental care and health education
programs and the once hotly contested county fluoride program!
It's growing dark, so the two of you head home. As you drive
through your neighborhood, you see that the effect of the terrible
storm that did so much damage to the town last week have been
cleaned up. Thank goodness, garbage pick-up is back to normal. You shake
you head, wondering how it was you ever took something so basic
as sanitation for granted. It was just awful when services were
so strained due to the disaster-driven demands. Garbage piled
up; rats and raccoons were running around with who knew what
diseases; water wasn't safe to drink for a while and even the
sewers backed up...all problems you thought only happened in
third world countries. Now you realize, they could happen anytime,
even in Illinois. So Public Health services make a difference
during disasters as well as in every day living! What do you
know about that?
Your spouse has made dinner, and afterward, you relax with your family and watch the news. An alert about a new drug resistant virus is the leading story. The announcer introduces a health department spokesperson who explains where the virus came from, how many people have been affected, what has happened to these people, and what you and your family can do to protect yourselves. You are tremendously relieved to see that Public Health officials are on top of the issue and have collected so much information about the virus, are monitoring its progress, and are telling community members how best to protect themselves. In other news, you learn about a Public Health injury prevention project that won an award for innovation in the area of injury prevention in the home. At this point in your day, today, you're glad to hear it, but not really surprised that once again, Public Health is involved in making a difference in your state, community, and your home.
Your family goes to sleep. The moon glows brightly. As you lie in bed musing on the day, you realize that we celebrate Public Health each day by enjoying the quality of life it has provided for all Illinois residents.
Public Health, Improving the Quality of Life Across the County, the State and the Nation.