Release Date: April 11, 2008
Contact: Christine Patmon, Metro Health Public Relations Manager, 207-8638
Metro Health Makes Environment-Friendly Move with Fleet of New Hybrids
Food Sanitarians to mark National Public Health Week by rolling out 30 hybrids
Thirty new fuel-efficient and eco-friendly hybrids will be rolling along streets throughout San Antonio and Bexar County next week as Metro Health food sanitarians begin their daily inspections. The Food and Environmental Health Services Division received the fleet of new cars this morning.
Final delivery of the hybrids comes as Metro Health marks National Public Health Week, taking place April 7 – 13. This year’s theme is Climate Change: Our Health in the Balance. The 2008 goal is to encourage all individuals to consider minor changes they can make in their daily lives to affect a major impact on climate change and our nation’s health.
“Purchasing hybrids for our field staff is one of the ways the City is proactively working to improve air quality for our residents and visitors. This is an important public health issue and I encourage our entire community to do the little things that can make San Antonio more environmentally friendly and maintain our clean air status,” said District 7 Councilman Justin Rodriguez.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles and industries are among the top ways most people can affect change. People are encouraged to:
• Travel Green – use public transportation, carpool, walk, bike or telecommute.
• Use Green Products – recycle more, increase use of recycled products and use energy saving settings on lights, computers, etc.
• Green Your Home – seal and insulate your home appropriately, and use water and heating/air conditioning efficiently.
Climate change impacts health in the most basic and critical areas - through air, water and food sources. It affects asthma and the ability of those at risk to exercise or enjoy outdoor activities, especially the young, elderly and those with chronic or poor health. Extreme weather events and changes in rainfall also carry other dangers such as heatstroke or an increase in insect populations, which heightens the risk of diseases like West Nile Virus. Grassfires and limited food production are two more results.
Metro Health plays a role in virtually all of these areas through public health preparedness, vector control, and monitoring local weather conditions to issue heat alerts, as needed.
For more information about National Public Health Week, visit www.nphw.org.
