With Halloween coming soon, watch out for these scary health problems — and see how city policies can make them better or worse!
1.SICK COWORKERS
Paid sick leave laws reduce the spread of contagious illnesses, increase employment, and save cities money in healthcare costs.
2. UNSAFE RESTAURANT FOOD
Policies requiring food establishments to publicly post safety inspection “grades” empower consumers, reduce foodborne illness rates, and cut down on health care costs.
3. DANGEROUS STREETS
From street lighting to bike lanes to crosswalks, complete street policies ensure that all residents have safe, convenient ways of getting around and staying active—regardless of their age or ability.
4. SECONDHAND SMOKE
Smoke-free air laws protect non-smokers from secondhand smoke and reduce consumption of tobacco, the leading cause of preventable death in the United States.
5. ALCOHOL-RELATED CRIME
Neighborhoods with high concentrations of alcohol sales are linked to more drinking and higher rates of violence and driving under the influence. Policies that limit the amount of alcohol sales in a neighborhood can reduce crime, increase safety, and reduce spending on health care and criminal justice.
CityHealth, an initiative of the de Beaumont Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, promotes healthy policies proven to improve community health, and evaluates cities on their adoption of the policies. Visit www.cityhealth.org to see the policies and how your city rates.
