Beaufort County Health Department Celebrates Public Health Month! | Eastern North Carolina Now

News Release:

    The more effective public health efforts are in keeping the community safe, healthy, and free of diseases, the less residents notice them. Although you may not consider yourself a user of health department services, public health is working for you every day in Beaufort County.

    A Day in Your Life with Public Health:

    Morning -

    • You take a shower and brush your teeth. Thanks to public health efforts, the water is clean and safe.
    • You start your day with a healthy breakfast as you have heard the public health messages about the importance of eating healthy.
    • You drive the kids to school and head to work. Wearing seatbelts and securely putting children in safety seats are automatic habits. Public health helped to pass child safety seat and seatbelt laws and promotes their use to save lives and prevent serious injuries.

    Afternoon -

    • Before eating lunch, you take a brisk walk down at the waterfront. Public health studies have proven that exercising regularly reduces your risk for chronic diseases. It is also helpful to have the walking trail signs provided by the health department to track your distance.
    • For lunch, you stop at one of the many restaurants in our community. The food is safe to eat because public health inspects all food and lodging establishments. The restaurant is also free from second hand smoke thanks to public health!

    Evening -

    • You remind your family to wash their hands before eating. Public health teaches us that proper hand washing is necessary to protect against diseases and prevent spreading infections.
    • After dinner, you receive a telephone call from the health department reminding you to schedule your child's immunization appointment. To protect children from serious childhood diseases, Public Health promotes early immunizations.

    PUBLIC HEALTH...

    • is the practice of disease detection and prevention in populations
    • is the art and science of protecting and improving the health of communities through education, promotion of healthy lifestyles, and research for disease and injury prevention
    • helps improve the health and well-being of people in local communities, across the nation and throughout the world
    • helps people achieve healthier lifestyles

    Here's just a few of the things Beaufort County Public Health staff does to keep you and your family safe and healthy!

    • Inspects restaurants, public school cafeterias, public swimming pools, and septic systems
    • Monitors, investigates, and implements control measures for communicable diseases
    • Provides education to the public to make healthier lifestyle choices

To learn more, please visit www.bchd.net

    Kelli Russell, MPH, RHEd

    Preparedness Coordinator   •   Human Services Planner III
    Beaufort County Health Department

    Office: (252) 940-6528   •   Cell: (252) 402-5467   •   kelli.russell@bchd.net