National Public Health Week is this week; features light bulb swap National Public Health Week 2008 is April 7-13. The theme this year is Climate Change: Our Health in the Balance. There is a direct connection between climate change and the health of our nation today. Yet few Americans are aware of the very real consequences of climate change on the health of our communities, our families and our children. In recognition of National Public Health Week, the College of Nursing public health students have partnered with the Grand Forks Public Health Department and WalMart to conduct a light bulb swap. The swap will take place in the WalMart parking lot Wednesday, April 9, from noon to 4 p.m. If you bring a standard incandescent light bulb, students will replace it with an Energy Star light bulb. It is estimated that if every American home replaced just one light bulb with an Energy Star bulb, we would save enough energy to light three million homes for a year, more than 600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars! Do your part and participate. Remember light bulb quantities are limited! The public health community has an important role to play in making the connection between the way we lead our lives, our impact on the planet, and the planet’s impact on our health. During National Public Health Week 2008, APHA will encourage individuals, families and communities to change their daily behavior in five important ways: be prepared, travel differently, eat differently, green your work, and green your home. For more information please visit http://www.nphw.org/nphw08/default.htm