59°F
weather icon Clear

Honoring National Public Health Week

In my eight decades of this amazing life, I have worn a great many hats: son, brother, father, major (USAF), grandfather, council member, state representative, state senator.

Each had some sort of impact on others, and I am grateful for each of those. Many of my experiences as a physician impacted who I am and why I do what I do today. April 1-7, 2024 is National Public Health Week. I would like to salute public health workers everywhere.

Think about cholera. Over the past 200 years, seven cholera pandemics have led to more than 43 million deaths. The first known pandemic dates back to 1817 in India, with many localized outbreaks in between pandemics. Wars and natural disasters often led to higher transmission of the bacteria, due to crowded living conditions and poor sanitation.

In 1854, an epidemic of cholera hit London, England. Dr. John Snow, an epidemiologist, suspected the disease was spreading from water coming from the Broad Street pump. He reviewed death records and interviewed family members, finding most who died lived near the pump. When Dr. Snow presented his findings, local leaders removed the pump handle. Dr. Snow’s studies and the removal of the pump handle became a model for modern epidemiology.

Many roots of public health can be traced to the cholera pandemics. Today, we know things as simple as thorough handwashing, or avoiding contaminated water and food, can prevent the spread of deadly diseases.

This lesson still holds true today in slowing the spread of dangerous bacteria and viruses.

Over the past 200 years, those earliest efforts have been honed into scientific, evidence-based practices, fostering better development of sewer/sanitation systems for cities, protecting our drinking water, developing vaccinations for deadly diseases, and educating populations on disease prevention.

Physicians generally work one-on-one with their patients. Public health is unique in that the focus is on populations. Public health workers strive to improve the quality of life of their communities, help children thrive, promote safety and healthy habits, and more. You can find public health workers in a variety of roles, including restaurant inspectors, community health workers, nutritionists, epidemiologists and occupational health and safety professionals. Public health is responsible for:

■ Tracking disease outbreaks.

■ Vaccinating communities to avoid the spread of disease.

■ Setting safety standards to protect workers.

■ Developing school nutrition programs to ensure kids have access to healthy food.

■ Advocating for laws to keep people safe, including smoke-free indoor air and seatbelts.

■ Promoting emergency preparedness.

Boulder City is fortunate to fall under the umbrella of the Southern Nevada Health District (SNHD). At the time of its creation in 1962, the Health District had about 30 employees, including four sanitarians who inspected 800 eating and drinking establishments.

SNHD has grown to approximately 800 staff members working in its five divisions and the Southern Nevada Community Health Center.

Which brings me to a hat that I’ve been wearing since late 2022: I have been honored to serve as Boulder City’s representative on the Board of Health. The board identifies public health needs and establishes priorities on behalf of residents, tourists/visitors, and the commercial service industry.

So this week, when you drink a glass of water, eat in a restaurant or put on sunscreen, think of the public workers who make our world safer every day.

MOST READ
THE LATEST
Unclogging a drain can be as simple as boiling water

Seems like every time I visit my brother in California I end up doing a DIY project. This holiday was no different. While I love helping out with projects, especially since they’re great teaching moments for the kids, I didn’t plan on spending hours on the guest bathroom floor unclogging drains.

A personal milestone 40 years in the making

First off, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas yesterday and have a very happy, healthy and safe New Year ahead.

The gift that keeps on giving

Isn’t this the time of year we want to show love to our fellow human beings?

Veteran caregivers hope for financial boost

Much has been spoken and written about in recent months about military and veteran caregivers, and the responsibilities they are charged with.

City’s enduring dedication to historic preservation

The true spirit of Christmas has always been more about giving than getting. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son … .” (John 3:16). Yet too many of us increasingly focus on the receiving side of that equation.

City’s enduring dedication to historic preservation

The Boulder City Historic District embodies the unique historic, architectural, and cultural heritage that defines our community. The area was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is comprised of more than 500 residential and commercial buildings from the city’s formative years (1931–1945), reflecting its construction and early operational phase of Hoover Dam. Recognizing the district as a valuable community asset, the city later created the Historic District, regulations and various resources to ensure the preservation and improvement of its historic buildings.

New St. Jude’s Ranch facility provides healing, hope

We all love Boulder City. It’s quaint, quiet, and we have the lowest crime rates in the state. Sex trafficking may feel like a “big city problem” to many residents in our community. But we are just 30 minutes from a city where thousands of people are victimized every year. According to Awaken Justice Nevada:

Destressing the holidays can start in your bathroom

“Tis the season to be jolly!” Indeed, but with elevated stress levels during the holidays, I sooner find myself saying “Calgon, take me away!” For those of you unfamiliar with this phrase, it’s from a 70s TV ad where a stressed-out woman is unraveling over “the traffic, the boss, the baby, the dog!” She rescues herself by losing her cares in the luxury of a Calgon bath. I mistakenly thought Calgon was a bubble bath, but it’s actually the trade name for complex salt, Sodium hexametaphosphate (NaPO3)6. Simply put, it’s a water softener.

It’s the greatest most amazing thing ever

“Don’t forget you are up for a column this week,” read the text on my phone Monday morning. It was a message from Review Editor Ron Eland and, oops, I had forgotten.