SPARKS — A Healthier America Begins Today is the theme for National Public Health Week (NPHW), which begins Monday and continues through Sunday. Local health officials are supporting the American Public Health Association’s (APHA) efforts in drawing attention to the numerous small steps Americans can take to make big changes in their health and well being. During the week the Washoe County Health District and the APHA will offer tips on how you can live a healthier life. Daily topics and tips can be found at www.GetHealthyWashoe.com and at www.nphw.org.

Five different themes will be highlighted during the week encouraging participants to start small and think big about how to live healthier lives. The 2012 themes are:

Monday: A healthier America begins with active living and healthy eating. Some healthy choices you can make include using bicycles and shopping at farmer’s markets.

Tuesday: A healthier America begins with living tobacco and drug free and preventing alcohol abuse. Curtailing the use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs saves lives and billions of dollars in health care costs that taxpayers end up covering.

Wednesday: A healthier America begins with preventing communicable diseases. Proper hand-washing and food preparation habits begin early and can prevent the spread of many diseases like influenza and salmonella.

Thursday: A healthier America begins with reproductive and sexual health. Practicing safe sex and encouraging responsible contraception prevent sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies.

Friday: A healthier America begins with disaster preparedness. Individuals and households are encouraged to take four steps to get prepared: make a plan, make a kit, be informed, and get involved.

Other activities expected this week include the announcement of the Washoe County Health District’s new Food Policy Council and the release of the 2012 National County Health Rankings. For more information on NPHW and local public health initiatives call 328-2483.