Do you know someone who is taking a stand for the environment and the health of our planet? If so, The St. Mary’s County Health Department would like to hear from you. This year, during National Public Health Week, April 7-13 the St. Mary’s County Health Department will celebrate by holding its annual Public Health Heroes Breakfast to honor people who live or work in St. Mary’s County and who, through choosing to ‘go green’, are protecting the environment and ultimately reducing the risk of the public health related consequences associated with global climate change.
This year’s National Public Health Week theme, Global Climate Change: Our Health in the Balance, spotlights the relationship between climate change and the health of our communities, our families and our children. The World Health Organization is warning about the serious impact climate change will have on health. Cornerstones of the public health include safe drinking water, sufficient food, secure shelter and healthy social conditions. The changing climate is likely to have an effect on all of these conditions. Climate variability and change would also cause death and disease through natural disasters, such as heat waves, floods and droughts.
Although the idea of reversing the direction of a changing planet is overwhelming, there are many ways individuals are making a difference and adopting lifestyles and policies that increase stability. Choosing to drive less, conserving energy, buying local produce, purchasing products that are known to be energy efficient, recycling, educating others about the benefits of being environmentally friendly, or providing goods and services which are gentle on the environment are all examples of ways people are taking a stand for the environment.
Please honor their work and passion for the environment by nominating them to be 2008 Public Health Heroes. Request nomination forms via e-mail by calling 301-475-4318. Nomination Forms may be picked up at the Health Department, 21580 Peabody St. Leonardtown, MD or may be printed from the website at www.smchd.org. They will also be available in local libraries. Nomination forms should be returned no later than Friday, March 7, 2008. Drop your nomination off at the Health Department or mail the nomination form to P.O. Box 316, Leonardtown, MD 20650. You may also FAX a nomination to 301-475-4350. All nominators and honorees will be invited to an award ceremony breakfast on Thursday, April 10, at St. Andrews Church in Hollywood. Randy Larsen, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at St. Mary’s College, will be keynote speaker.