Georgia PH week [Apr. 1, 2013]

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Celebrating Public Health
A letter from DPH Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D.

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In This Issue
Celebrate Public Health Childhood Obesity
Public Health Protects

Think about this for a minute. Since 1900, life expectancy for Americans has increased by 30 years. CDC estimates that 83 percent of those increased years have been due to public health efforts. That's quite an achievement! It is also a good reminder for all of us as we deal with rising health care costs that the dramatic achievements of public health such as clean water, immunizations and preventive measures promoting healthy living have increased our quality of life at a fraction of the cost of clinical care.

Schools & Communities Rewarded 'Escape Fire'
State of Public Health App Create, Find Walking Paths

April 1-7 is National Public Health Week,

and I invite you to celebrate with me. During this week, when you go to a

Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., DPH Commissioner

restaurant or drive by one, think of the public health worker who

has done the inspection there to make sure the food is safe. If you

PHBRIEF

see a baby, think of the 28 newborn tests the Georgia Public Health Lab has done to protect his life. When you take a breath in Atlanta,

consider that public health has been testing that air for bioterrorism

DPH employee Suleima Salgado has been promoted to the
position of telehealth director.

agents. And when you turn on the water in your home, consider all the public health efforts to make sure that water is clean and safe.

She is responsible for managing



the department's



telehealth/telemedicine program

and will oversee its expansion as Georgia Agencies Unite Against DPH implements telehealth in
every health district and county Childhood Obesity

in Georgia in an effort to increase

access to care and connect Georgia Department of

Georgians with the specialized Public Health (DPH)

care they need. Salgado has been Commissioner Brenda

a great asset to public health Fitzgerald, M.D., joined

while serving as deputy director leaders from more than

of the Division of Communications 30 organizations around

and as public information

the state for a "United

officer/risk communicator for the Against Childhood

Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale Obesity" day at the state

County Health Departments. Capitol on Wednesday.

Attendees, including

PHEVENTS

Gov. Nathan Deal and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle,

DPH Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D.,

signaled that the

describes state efforts to make Georgia kids healthier at the state Capitol.

childhood obesity

2013 Dr. Daniel S. Blumenthal epidemic is at the forefront of the state's health agenda.

Annual Public Health Summit

Morehouse School of Medicine's Dr. "The problem is huge in Georgia. The state ranks second in the

Daniel S. Blumenthal Annual nation for childhood obesity," Fitzgerald said.

Public Health Summit, "Preventing

Obesity through the Life Stages,"



will be April 2-3, 2013. DPH

Commissioner Brenda Fitzgerald,
M.D., is a featured speaker. Click Public Health Protects

here for more information. at Home and on the Road

Disaster Preparedness for Faith-Based Communities The first 72 hours, a free disaster preparedness summit for leaders of faith-based communities, will be April 11 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at Changing a Generation Church, 3350 Greenbriar Parkway in Altanta. Click here for more
information.
Georgia Public Health Association Conference The 84th annual Georgia Public Health Association Conference will be April 22 and 23 at the Grand Hyatt in Atlanta. Join fellow public health professionals for two days of education, networking, awards and camaraderie! Click here to
register.

April 1 is the start of National Public Health Week, and the American Public Health Association wants everyone to know that public health programs provide a solid return on investment by saving lives, preventing injuries and protecting property whether at home or on the go.

So what does public health do for you? Here are a few examples:

This smoke alarm was destroyed in a home fire, but not before it saved the
lives of the family living there.

Fire and smoke protection: It's been 50 years since Duane Pearsall, a Denver businessman, invented the smoke detector, and in that time, the device has become one of the most important home safety tools in recent history, saving tens of thousands of lives and preventing debilitating injuries by giving families an early warning and chance to escape a home fire.

Free Exercise Classes DPH offers group exercise classes



every day at 2 Peachtree. Classes include dance, kickboxing, yoga,

Schools and Communities Reap Public

walking and more. Classes are Health Rewards
open on a first come, first served

basis and there is no need to preregister. Download the monthly schedule.

$43 billion. $147 billion. $193 billion.

Submit Calendar Entries to

Those are the costs in

communications@dhr.state.ga.us health care and lost

productivity that the

U.S. has paid for

PHTRAINING

childhood lead poisoning, obesity and

CPR Course A CPR class will be held April 8
from 9 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m. at 2 Peachtree. According
to the American Heart

cigarette smoking, respectively, according to the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Association, 70 percent of the Public health problems like these are obviously costly, but they are

population has no CPR

also preventable. That's where public health comes in. Keeping

experience or have let their people physically and fiscally healthy are two of the core missions

knowledge of the practices lapse. of public health organizations across the world, including the

The course will be led by EMS Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH). National Public Health

team members Margaret Prince Week highlights two places where public health routinely fulfills

(Peki) and Kelly Buddahagen. these missions: schools and communities.

Registration is limited to 25

persons, so sign up early. To



learn more and to register,
click here or email Donna District 2 Public Health, Brenau

Dunn or Susanne Koch.

University to Show 'Escape Fire'

Introduction to Public Health Think you know what public
health does? Here's an opportunity to know and learn more about the field of public health and specifically how it works in Georgia. This course is open to all employees, new and seasoned, to learn more about what we are doing in Georgia and
how your role supports the department's goals. Course dates
are April 23, May 21, June 25, July 23, Aug. 27, Sept. 24, Oct.
22 and Nov. 26. Click here to learn more and to register, or
email Donna Dunn.
Submit Calendar Entries to communications@dhr.state.ga.us
PHNEWS

Film explores America's health care system
District 2 Public Health and Brenau University are teaming up to show the film "ESCAPE FIRE: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare" in the Thurmond-McRae auditorium on Brenau's campus at 4 p.m. on April 2 as part of National Public Health Week. The film, which won multiple awards at the Sundance Film Festival and has aired on television, focuses on the need to transition from a system that deals with diseases (many of which are preventable) to a system of prevention and wellness. According to the film's website:


CVS Tells Workers, Reveal Weight or Pay

Hundreds Attend Inaugural State of

Public Health Conference
Nurses can practice without
physician supervision in many DPH Commissioner focuses on department's

states

progress

Misuse of emergency rooms: A costly but avoidable error
PHRECIPE
Classic Green Monster Prep and Cook Time: 5 minutes
Serves 1 Click Here for Full Recipe
PHWEEK

Emphasizing the value of data and importance of building coalitions, Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health, told attendees of the inaugural State of Public Health Conference the state's broader public health status is trending in the right direction. The conference brought together more than 200 representatives from public health, primary care and academic and business communities to discuss the various public health challenges facing Georgia. Hosted by the Georgia Public Health Training Center at the University of Georgia, the conference featured several interactive, solution-driven workshops tackling a variety of key public health issues in the state.


Editor Nicole Price
Content Coordinator Connie F. Smith
Sr. Graphic Designer Ginny Jacobs
Interim Web Developer Jimmy Clanton, Jr.
Editorial & Design Team Tammy Beasley Carrie Gann Eric Jens Nancy Nydam Sandra Roberts
Director of Communications Ryan Deal

App Helps Create, Find Walking Paths
Now you can create, find and track walking paths anytime, anywhere with the American Heart Association Walking Path App. Create paths on the go, find paths near you, start walking and get healthy! Sync the app to your American Heart Association account and easily access your saved info and favorite paths from your phone.
Click here to download.


Georgia Public Health Observances | April 2013

STD Awareness Month

National Alcohol Awareness Month

National Autism Awareness Month