National Public Health Week is April 7-11 and the DuPage County Health Department will be celebrating the work of public health professionals more than ever this year as public health continues to evolve at a rapid pace with the onset of Affordable Health Care.

Public Health Week is a nationally recognized event that takes place during the first full week of April every year since 1995. Communities from coast to coast will be raising awareness of issues that are important to everyone’s health.

This year’s daily themes for Public Health Week are:

• Monday, April 7: Be Healthy from the Start: public health starts at home, take action to protect your health by better meal planning, conducting recommended safety upgrades and preparing for emergencies.
• Tuesday. April 8: Don’t Panic: Disaster can strike at any moment and you can’t always predict when or what, but you can be prepared for it.
• Wednesday, April 9: Get out Ahead: 7 in 10 deaths are related to preventable disease.  Get out ahead of them by taking preventative health measures like regular check-ups and living a healthy lifestyle.
• Thursday, April 10:  Eat Well: Many people do not understand the important information listed on a food label or what precautions to take during a foodborne illness. This day will be dedicated to bringing awareness to these issues.

Friday, April 11: Be the Healthiest Nation in One Generation: For the first time in decades, the current generation isn’t as healthy as the one that came before it. Communities will band together to try and reverse this disturbing trend.

DuPage County residents are encouraged to visit the DuPage County Health Department’s Facebook and Twitter pages for daily tips on each of these themes and take small steps to protect their health not just during Public Health Week, but all year round.

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