By Catherine Carlton, volunteer contributor, American Red Cross

Today starts National Public Health Week (April 4-10) – a week designated by American Public Health Association (APHA) – that recognizes the contributions of public health and highlight issues that are important to improving our nation. The Red Cross mission ties very closely to public health – and safety.

According to the APHA: “Despite what we often hear and read, Americans are not the healthiest people in the world. In the U.S. we spend more on health care but live shorter lives and suffer more health issues than our peers in other high-income countries.”

To create the healthiest nation, the APHA encourages you to take the pledge:

Creating a healthy me:
We promise to make healthy choices that improve our health and set an example for our family and friends.

Creating a healthy we:
Everyone deserves the opportunity for a long and healthy life. We promise to support efforts to improve the social and environmental factors that affect everyone’s health and limit the ability for many people to make healthy choices.

When it comes to the Red Cross, one way you can make good on your promise to make a health me, healthy we, is to sign up to donate blood (link) and encourage your family to have a emergency preparedness plan (link) for fire, weather and natural disaster. Find more resources at redcross.org.

To keep the healthy we pledge going, tell a friend! And comment below on why you take the pledge.