This is National Public Health Week, a time to recognize the contributions of public health and highlight issues that are important to improving our nation.  This year’s theme is, “Public Health: Start Here” and each day has a specific focus.  Public health professionals help communities withstand the impact of a natural or man-made disaster by planning ahead, acting as a source of information during the crisis and helping to mitigate the long- and short-term effects.  Every year, thousands of people are affected by severe weather threats, such as tornadoes and severe thunderstorms.  Preliminary data for 2012 shows there were more than 450 weather-related fatalities and nearly 2,600 injuries.  Make plans for putting together an emergency stockpile kit, create a crisis communication plan, designate an emergency meeting place and hold household emergency drills.  All Americans should have at least a three-day supply of food and water stored in their homes, with at least one gallon of water per person per day and a week’s supply of food that doesn’t require refrigeration.  Visit www.ready.gov/ for more information.  Also, each year, more than 2,500 people die and 12,600 are injured in home fires in the United States, with direct property loss due to home fires estimated at $7.3 billion annually.  Home fires can be prevented.

Flu seasons are unpredictable and can be severe.  Over a period of 30 years, between 1976 and 2006, estimates of flu-associated deaths in the United States range from a low of about 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people.  Promote awareness of how local public health systems keep communities healthy at home, such as keeping our food and water safe.  The Center for Disease Control recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older as the first and most important step toward protecting against this serious disease.  While there are many different flu viruses, the flu vaccine is designed to protect against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. Get the flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available each year – the protection you get from vaccination will last throughout the flu season.