Health & Safety Topics Highlighted in 2008
Visitors to CDC's Web site find thousands of Web pages providing credible health and safety information. The home page includes rotating photos segments linking to unique Web pages that offer overviews on timely public health topics as well as tips on leading safer, healthier lives.
Some segments provide public health professionals, healthcare providers, and the general public quick access to information about health issues discussed in national news media, such as a measles outbreak, MRSA infections and traveling to China for the Olympic Games. Other topic pages are seasonal, such as hurricane preparedness and safe food preparation at Thanksgiving. All are based on existing CDC research data. Whatever the subject matter, these pages include essential science-based facts and links to CDC or partner Web pages with more detailed information.
Health consumers may naturally turn to CDC's Web site to learn about healthy living and find popular feature pages such as
- Wash Your Hands
- If You Have a Cold or Flu, Antibiotics Won't Work for You!
- Stop Ticks
- 10 Things You Need to Know about Sickle Cell Disease
- Protect Yourself against Shingles: Get Vaccinated
- Get Smart with Fruits and Veggies
- Learn to Prevent and Recognize Concussions
- HIV Testing during Pregnancy
Public health has a light side too. A popular holiday segment includes an audio file of CDC employees and friends singing The 12 Ways to Health. Another segment links to the Express Your Health!™ activity book with healthy heroes who encourage kids to adopt safe and healthy habits.
While the home page segments typically highlight broad public health topics, they also are used to focus communication during emergencies. During 2008, when visitors clicked on a home page segment about foodborne Salmonella and E. coli outbreaks, summer hurricanes, and winter blizzards, they immediately viewed specific emergency pages that were frequently updated.
These featured pages are short-lived on the CDC.gov home page, running for one week and then moving to an archive. Archived photo features are accessible through the archive or the CDC.gov search tool.