Kroger Employees' Hand Sanitization

Having hand sanitizers located by cash registers in Kroger encourages Kroger employees to disinfect themselves from the germs that they can acquire through their continuous interactions with various people and goods. By doing this, they are preventing themselves from getting sick as well as spreading illnesses to others. This is an example of public health for that exact reason. Its goal is to prevent illness and the spread of germs in an environment where they can be easily attained. We chose this example because we felt that it promotes public health proactively especially now that the weather is changing and more people are catching flus and viruses. Cashiers deal with more people than many people do in a day and by having them sanitize, they can stay healthy.

Kelly Shahgholami
Cindy Herrera
Halsey Perrin
Whitney Kenny

Aspen Heights Poop Stations

 

 

Reserved Parking

This is a reserved for handicap parking sign outside of the Cane’s dining establishment.

Public health helps improve the health and well-being of people in local communities and around the globe. This reserved handicap parking may not benefit everyone in the local community but it definitely improves the well-being and convenience of people that require handicap assistance. This handicap parking location offers aid in the act of entering and exiting their vehicle while also offering an incline to enter the building with ease. The existence of the handicap parking all over the country offers people with disabilities the opportunity to access food, health care, leisure activities, and everything non disable people have access to.

I chose this example because of the importance and reliance of handicap parking in so many people’s lives. There are currently 13.3 million people living in the United States that are in a wheelchair or require some other form of walking aid. This makes up a huge population of Americans and assists them every day, even if we don’t normally consider it.

It is important for people to see this as public health because of the impact that it has on so many Americans. It may just take up an extra spot in the front of the parking lot for many people but for others it is the means to have a life and to have the freedom to do what they want to do.   

Martina Vis
Morgan Pallimore
Nick Melton

Bodyplex dumpster

        

    This is a dumpster of trash behind Bodyplex Gym in the parking lot.  Bodyplex is a gym off Alps Road that encourages students to join by giving them discounts and free group activities on ocassion.  It is an example of public health because of the need of proper removal of waste in facilities like the ones surrounding it, not to mention the fact that it is used by a gym that promotes public health in its several locations around Athens.  We chose this example because in many places trash is left on the streets without containers like this one and it causes a public health hazard.  Also this dumpster looks very-well utilized considering it is almost all full and it has a phone number to the company who disposes the trash, which is important in case it is overflowing or not emptied on time.  It is important for others to realize this actually affects public health because most don't think about the possibility of people’s waste being displayed on sidewalks to be picked up, and the public can easily disregard the importance of the public health advocates that make sure these kinds of waste removal are in place everywhere necessary.

Savannah Zegers

Kathleen Murdock

Michelle Luce

The Cottage

The Cottage:

What: The Cottage is our example of public health.  It is a place in Athens where survivors of sexual assault or child abuse can go to seek "intervention, referrals, and support."  The Cottage also raises "awareness throughout the Athens community about these issues."

How:   The Cottage is an example of public health because it is a place for people to go when they are victims of violence in the community.  Places such as this one provide a safe place for survivors of trauma and help decrease violence in Athens.

Why: We chose this example because the Cottage represents a great public service method towards the community. There are so many victims of sexual assault and child abuse that need a place to feel safe and the Cottage creates a safe environment for them.  

Why is this Important: This example is important because places like the Cottage help victims of child abuse and sexual assault with services free of charge. The Cottage provides facilities and programs to help victims in need, who otherwise wouldn’t get the treatment they need. Not only does the Cottage provide healing services, but also provides prevention education. Finally, the cottage promotes awareness to the world about sexual assault and child abuse.

Elizabeth Halsey Perrin       

Whitney Kenney
Kelly Shahgholami
Cindy Herrera

Source: http://www.northgeorgiacottage.org/history-and-mission

The Exchange Living Green

Providing Contraception

This public health post is on contraception and its accessibility. It was taken at the Walmart near the "pharmacy" and "personal care" aisles. This is an example of public health because the use of condoms contribute to the decrease in unplanned pregnancies and the probability of contracting sexually transmitted infections. Condoms protect both partners who choose to engage in sexual activity. 

We chose this topic because of the abundance of teenage pregnancies as well as the frequent transmission of STI/ STDs, and the lack of awareness about contraception. It is an important topic for the public to be knowledgeable about and it is also important for them to have the proper protection available.

It is important that other people consider this an example of public health because the decision to engage in sexual behavior affects more than one person and is not discriminitive to a particular demographic.

Alexis Diamond
Lydia Simms
Ben Bissell

Reflection from Class - 10/23/12

Last Tuesday, we had a class debate regarding the topic of harm reduction strategies for drug abuse. Marijuana, club drugs, prescription drugs and hallucinogens were some of the types of drugs used in the debate. My group was asked to discuss harm reduction strategies for marijuana. We came up with ideas such as, decriminalization of marijuana, smoking with a vaporizer to reduce the amount of carcinogens in the smoke, putting marijuana in food and ingesting the active chemical ingredient of THC which produces the feeling of being "high", and creating marijuana "bars" or designated areas for smoking weed. At first, I did not really understand the concept of harm reduction strategies and had no idea what to talk about regarding strategies to reduce harm for smoking marijuana. However, after thinking about it more actively and discussing with my group members, I came to find the concept to be pretty interesting. I do not think I necessarily agree with the idea of harm reduction strategies as a completely positive public health initiative; however, I did enjoy hearing different creative strategies both for and against various types of drug use.
Harm reduction strategies are ways in which drug addicts and abusers can acquire and consume drugs in the safest manner.  The concept of harm reduction strategies is often viewed as being very controversial, which is part of the reason why I found it to be so interesting. It also made it very fitting for a debate topic in class. Harm reduction strategies have been proven to increase the health of many drug addicts and is an example of public health. Specific programs and centers have been created nationwide to assist drug users and try to keep their level of health at its highest possible point. Programs such as needle exchange for HIV and drug substitution are examples of harm reduction strategies that are important to public health. Needle exchanges allow drug users to "shoot up" or inject the drug into themselves with clean needles rather than using dirty needles and risking the possibility of transmitting diseases such as HIV. Public health is all about protecting the overall health of our population, whether it be on a nationwide level or a communal level. Drugs are abused all over the world on a daily basis and the use of harm reduction strategies can hopefully help reduce the amount of risk while using, as well as maintain a good level of overall public health.
Another reason why I found this topic to be interesting is because it directly impacts my life on a familial level. My oldest cousin is a former drug addict and benefitted in multiple ways from harm reduction strategies. He attended rehabilitation centers many times; however, as the definition of addiction states, he could not shake the "drive" to use drugs. After being released from his last rehabilitation center, he began taking advantage of harm reduction strategies. Despite the fact that he was still using drugs, he was at least doing it in a safer way than he had been previously and reduced some risks associated with the abuse. I feel that harm reduction strategies are a large contributor to public health.


Susan Knighten
Abby Musselwhite
Ali Hogan

Botanical Gardens

     This is a picture of the public restrooms that are located near the visitors center of the State Botanical Gardens located just off campus. For those of you that do not know, the Botanical Gardens is a nature preserve that offers river access and nature trails with educational signs that label the natural environment. This Public park is a great place to de-stress and get in some physical exercise out on the miles of trails that cut through the park. There are many examples of public health that visitors are able to take advantage, but this is both the most obvious, and the most necessary.
     There are three examples of public health that are included in this picture. The first, located in the front of the picture, is a trash can. The second example would be the water fountain, and the third is the actual restroom. All of these examples can be combined to form one inclusive item that could be consuidered a "Rest Stop", something that is of critical importance to all those who visit the park.
    In particular, The reason that this rest stop can be considered an example of public health is that it provides for three essential needs that all park goers might come across. The water fountain is probably the most evident among these needs as it provides water for thirsty hikers. The public restrooms, which are handicap accessible, provide a safe and sanitary environment for people to answer the call of nature. Last, but certainly not least is the trash can. This provides visitors with a place to dispose of their own and others trash which leads to a sanitary and attractive place for the public to spend their time.
     We chose this example for obvious reasons. It is a place for everyone in the park to refresh, rehydrate, and dispose of potential health risks is a sanitary manor. Public health services like this rest stop are often overlooked and taken for granted, but if they weren't there, the park would not be able to function properly and would it would be extremely inconvenient to go. People should definitely consider rest stops as a public health service and should not take them for granted. I mean really, who likes to go in the woods?

Flu Shots

Description: 
     This is a picture of a sign at Walgreens for flu shots.

Description of how your choice is an example of public health: 
     A sign promoting flu shots for the season is a great example of public health. The public with the help of Walgreens is providing flu shots for those who find it more convenient to get it at a local drugstore than going to a hospital or doctors' office. Walgreens is one of the largest American drug retailing chain in the United States. They even have a pharmacy that provides their customers with exceptional care with their prescriptions, health needs, and low cost flu shots for the season. Walgreens in general is an example of public health for its participation in promoting health and providing health needs such as medicine, shots, and medical aid.

Why choose this example? 
    We chose this example because Walgreens is right down the street, somewhat close to campus, and many college students, teachers, and local residents frequent the store. Most essential needs can be found at Walgreens. However, not many people know that Walgreens offers flu shots for their customers during flu season. We wanted to inform the public of the option to receive a flu shot at their local Walgreens.

Why is it important that others consider this example of public health? 
     The flu, also known as influenza, is a serious disease that can sometimes lead to hospitalization and death in severe cases. Although many people do not get infected to this degree, the lesser symptoms are also quite annoying to deal with especially for busy college students. The seasonal flu vaccine can prevent these symptoms from occurring by allowing the body to develop antibodies as protection against the infection. Flu viruses are very contagious and the CDC estimates between 5 and 20 percent of the country's population get the flu each year. For those who believe in vaccinations as protection against certain diseases, it is important to consider getting the flu vaccine. Hospitals, doctors' offices, the University Health Center and even local drugstores such as Walgreens provide these vaccines. By receiving the vaccine, you are not only protecting your body but also preventing the spread of the flu vaccine to others. This is why we feel that it is important to consider this as an example of public health.

Michelle Kim
Georgia Haynes
Krishna Koganti

Tobacco Use in College Students

Reaction/Reflection

For our first reflection piece, I chose to write about tobacco use. During lecture, we spoke about patterns and statistics associated with tobacco use.  During the discussion, we learned about the profile of a typical smoker. Smokers are more likely to be male than female and young people are more likely to use tobacco than older people. And to me the most shocking statistic was that college students are more likely to smoke than the general population, specifically 1 in 3 young people smoke.  I thought this was surprising because I expected with more education, people would be less likely to participate in risky behavior especially smoking because we know how harmful tobacco is. Nicotine, carbon monoxide, and tar are all known to cause serious health issues in smokers such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and emphysema. I was aware that a significant amount of young adults were smokers but I anticipated tobacco use to be more prevalent among older generations because they did not have the same information that our generation has today about the negative health effects. As a college student these statistics impact my daily life because I am a member of the population who is most likely to smoke. I am not a smoker but I am exposed to second hand smoke most days as a walk through campus. The regular exposure will ultimately have adverse effects on my health and although I can actively try to avoid smokers, sometimes I don’t have the option to get away from someone who is smoking. Public health aims to prevent poor health and improve the health of populations. The benefits of quitting smoking are immediate and satisfy the public health goal of taking preventive measures rather than treatment like clinical health and will ultimately improve the quality of life. Smoking in college students affects the entire population, both those who are smokers and those who are not and is classified as a public health issue. Aside from the health issues that smokers must face, people who live and study in an environment where smoking is common will also have consequences. Public health measures such as smoking policies and laws can be used to implement better health practices for both smokers and non-smokers. I am curious, is smoking in college students is only a phase and they stop once they graduate?  Also are there campaigns that specifically target the issue of smoking in college students since this population is more likely to smoke than the general population?

Eva Russo, Will Hedgpeth, and Klade Harmon 

Reinforcement of the 2005 Smokefree Air Act

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 Our example of public health is a sign hanging in The Grill’s (restaurant located downtown) window that states smoking is prohibited. It clearly hangs by the door in which people enter. This is an example of public health because they are concerned about the non-smokers who do not wish to be around smoke, especially while eating, but also for people walking passed their store, so their customers won’t have to worry about breathing in any second hand smoke. We chose this example because it shows that the Smokefree Air Act of 2005 is being reinforced. It is important for others to consider this example because not all restaurants have a sign posting that they are smoke-free, they just assume people know, but out of state tourist might not be aware. This is also important because it protects people, like ourselves, from dealing with the negative aspects of smoking.  

Jacob Holtzclaw

MacKenzie McGinnis

Jacqueline Pottier

Photo Credit: Julianne Aberle

Downtown Recycling

1. Our example is a green recycling bin located on the street in the middle of Downtown Athens.  This bin has directions on it indicating it as a proper place to put discarded plastic, paper, cardboard, and other recyclable components.

2. Public health is about protecting and improving the health of the community.  This recycling bin serves as a place for people to properly dispose of trash items.  This act results in less littering and cleaner streets; increasing the health of residents and passerby of the city.  As people utilize this recycling bin they help the environment and the community to be healthier.  Also, once the recycling bin's contents are collected, what was once trash becomes reusable products enabling our society to reach greater sustainability.

3. This recycling bin has such a profound impact on the Athens community.  It serves as a method of keeping the city cleaner.  It reminds you to think more about recycling and to do your part in this health initiative.  As well as the fact that the city of Athens is proactive rather than reactive when it comes to the issue of recycling.

4. This issue is important because we all have only 1 world and pollution is a global health problem.  However, recycling bins and awareness efforts about recycling provide us all with a solution to help curb this problem.  Recycling helps us maximize the use of one-time-use products in a world of scarce resources.

Group Members: Eva Russo, Will Hedgpeth, and Klade Harmon

Whistlebury Walk Bicycle Rack

We photographed a bicycle rack that is located in the Whistlebury Walk apartment complex off campus. Whistlebury Walk is located approximately 20 minutes away from North Campus (by foot), and thus residents have to use alternative forms of transportation to get to and from their classes. The bicycle rack in the complex, then, allows residents to bike to campus, which is beneficial because it takes less time than walking, but also saves gas and prevents additional pollution from being emitted into the air. The bicycle rack exemplifies public health because it provides a benefit to residents, but also promotes environmental consciousness and awareness.

One of our group members lives in Whistlebury Walk, and she has begun to utilize the bicycle rack on almost a daily basis. She enjoys walking to class as well, but has found that biking saves her a lot of time. On the other hand, it prevents her from having to pay for parking on campus, and saves her gas as well. We chose the bike rack, then, because of its relevance and importance in our lives. Other individuals should be informed about the existence of this and additional bike racks on campus so that they will realize the potential and benefits of biking. If more people chose to bike to class instead of drive, we could reduce the amount of pollution in the air by significant amounts, which would then result in greater air quality for the public. This is public health. 

Group members: Samantha Mandel, Allison Goldstein, Marc Goldner