Summary of How Laws Affect Your Health: Crash Course Public Health #8

00:00:00 - 00:10:00

The video explains how laws and policies can impact human health, using the example of seat belts in cars. It discusses how public health policies can be helpful in improving the health of a population, but notes that they must be considered in all policies.

• 00:00:00 In this Crash Course Public Health video, Dr. John States describes how laws and policies impact human health. He explains that even though race cars are going faster than regular cars on the highway, drivers are more likely to walk away from crashes without serious injury. This is due to safety precautions like seat belts and helmets. States credits this to his work as a physician at Watkins Glen International Speedway in New York state during the 1950s. In 1984, New York became the first US state to mandate the use of seat belts. Since then, 49 other states have followed suit. States also discusses the tension that can come with crafting health policy in the face of public health crises. He explains that policies need a few different tools in their toolbox, including policies that aim to educate and provide nutrition information.
• 00:05:00 Laws affecting public health can have a significant impact on the health of a population. Zoning laws, for example, can restrict the use of land and increase the risk of exposure to pollutants. These indirect effects can have serious consequences, particularly on communities of color and low-income individuals. Brazil is a notable example of a country that has successfully used public health policies to improve the health of its citizens.
• 00:10:00 Public health policies are important for improving the health of everyone, but they must be considered in all policies. Public health policies can be about anything, such as car safety, air pollution, or pizza bagels. Crash Course Public Health is a series created by the American Public Health Association (APHA) and filmed in the Castle Garrity Studio in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is made with the help of all these brainy people, and if you would like to help keep it free for everyone forever, please consider joining their community of supporters on Patreon.