By Stan Davis Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death, killing more people each year than car crashes, suicide, homicide, alcohol, AIDS, and all illegal drugs combined. Preventing first use of tobacco by young people is most important, because once young people begin smoking they are unlikely to stop.
All educators can play a positive role in prevention.
Four million children die of diarrheal diseases. Drinking polluted or contaminated water causes most of these diseases. People are so poor they cannot afford a water-purification system. Five million more die of diseases such as measles, tetanus, and whooping cough, which has been brought under control through the use of vaccines a long time ago in the developed world. Over a million children also die of malaria, which can also be aided through the use of vaccines.