Public health
& the mall
When you think about the phrase “Public Health”, what are
the first thoughts that come to mind? The term, Public health, focuses on
population health through the prevention of diseases and the promotion of
health. For this assignment, Jean, Nick and I, traveled into our local community
to find something that constitutes “Public Health”. We placed our public health
sicker in the University Mall, on a public hand sanitation machine, located
near a “caution wet floor” sign. Our group choose this location because we
thought the mall represented a great public place that everyone from the local
community goes to, whether its to shop, get a hair cut, eat, or socialize. Within
the mall, Jean and Nick found a Hand Sanitation machine, which we thought was,
a perfect representation of public health. These machines are intended to
prevent individuals from disease and promote healthy behavior. On a daily basis,
we use our hands more than we think, for example: handling money, using the
restroom, carrying shopping bags, shaking hands with a friend, or even texting
on the cell phone. All of the examples listed, are considered fomites, or non-living
objects that carry bacteria. Fomites can infect individuals who come into
contact with them, and spread diseases. Whenever there is a public place, often
times involving high volumes of people, fomites are everywhere, and therefore, leavening
more people prone to infectious diseases if they do not take proper health
precautions. This issue is important because bacterial diseases spread quickly
and easily, and can be very harmful; especially if you are that employee who
just used the restroom, didn’t wash hands, and now handing your customer their
shopping bags. (Yuck, E.coli everywhere!) You can’t see bacteria, but they are
present. Hand sanitation kills 99% or bacteria. All in all, Jean, Nick and
myself, agree that proper sanitation constitutes public health, and solves the
issue of spreading bacteria in a public place, such as the mall.
Jasmine , Nick and Jean
Jasmine , Nick and Jean
I feel like this is a very important part of public health. There are so many people that go to the mall everyday that could have bacteria on there hands and spread them to every place they touch such as clothes or hand railings. With these hand sanitizing stations everywhere in the mall, it could reduce the transaction of infectious bacteria. This would potentially make the public more healthy.
ReplyDeleteThat was a great place to illustrate the use of public health in our community. The mall is always full with people of all ages. I think that having a hand sanitizer machine there is really great and helping at preventing diseases after paying with cash, shake your friend’s hand or open the door. I have to say that’s a way of promoting not only clean hands, but also giving parents ideas on how they can help the children at home. Most of the time children leave the bathroom without washing their hands. If they have a hand sanitizer bottle by the refrigerator or the dining table, it would be helpful.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting post. Hand sanitation locations have become very popular recently. We find them everywhere from grocery stores to places like the mall. It is a big win for public health. Many people sanitize their hands just because the machine is there. If it was not, most people would probably not even think to sanitize their hands. We are preventing the spread of disease, especially during flu season these are popular. It is a good idea to have these because kids get into anything they can, and it is fun for them to do something as simple as sanitize their hands.
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