What is public health?

Public health encompasses both the study of factors that influence people’s health and the promotion of preventative care. Its research focuses on how to keep residents safe and healthy. Public health employees track disease outbreaks, create educational campaigns to inform the community how to make healthy lifestyle choices and encourage vaccinations. Other areas of focus include advocating for nutritious school lunch programs, advocating for legislation that promotes keeping indoor spaces smoke-free, and reminding the public of the importance of wearing seatbelts.