Transcript mitigation

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Seminar
Discussion Question
Week 9 Assignment – Final Project
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Complete the Public Health Emergency
Preparedness Simulation according to instructions
provided. Using materials from the course and
independent research, respond to the assignments
outlined within the Simulation.
Your responses should be in APA format and follow
the conventions of Standard American English
(correct grammar, punctuation, etc.). Your writing
should be well ordered, logical and unified, as well as
original and insightful. Your work should display
superior content, organization, style, and mechanics.
Upon completion of each portion, save your work;
when the entire Simulation is completed, save and
upload it to the Dropbox.
This assignment is due by the end of Unit 9
 One of the most subtle yet most lethal
disasters
 These produce greater mortality than
hurricanes, tornadoes, & earthquakes
combined
 Future predictions of heat wave
occurrences & severity look harsh
 The human body maintains an internal
temperature within a very narrow range
 When environmental conditions or
physical activity generate more heat than
the body can regulate, there is an
increased risk for heat-related illnesses
 Dehydration is also a critical risk factor for
heat illness
 The NWS has developed a Heat Index to
reflect the apparent temperature when
humidity is factored into the conditions
 All deaths from heat waves are
preventable
 Heat waves can be predicted & the
measures needed to successfully
manage their impact are well
understood & inexpensive
 It is important that the community
engage in preparedness activities
specifically for a heat emergency
 This refers to the alteration of the environment resulting from
urban development combined with the added heat
generated by population density
 The combination of the following factors contributes to a rise in
urban & suburban temperatures:
◦ Urban industrial & transportation activities
◦ The reduction in vegetation across urban areas reduces the
shading of buildings & surfaces
◦ Dark colored roofs & pavements are less reflective & absorb
more heat
◦ Taller structures block air movement & further reduce the rate
at which these surfaces can cool
 Mitigation measures to reduce urban heat islands are simple &
offer benefits far beyond the reduction in heat
 The most important steps a community can take is to identify
vulnerable populations in advance & determine the best
methods to get information into their hands
 Many cities have poor heat emergency plans or none at all
 No specific standards exist that prescribe appropriate
preparedness & response actions
 An effective plan will reduce the impact of a heat wave on the
health of the affected population and must include:
◦ A phased approach that addresses the measures taken by each
agency leading up to the summer season
◦ A clearly defined role of each local agency
◦ A standard warning system that must emphasize & target
vulnerable populations
 OSHA mandates that employers must
“furnish to each of his employees
employment & a place of employment
which are free from recognized hazards
that are causing or are likely to cause
death or serious physical harm”
 If you work in a hot environment, you
must be oriented before regular heat
exposure, which should include:
› A screening process to identify & quantify risk
factors
› A time must be established for
acclimatization of the body to the hot
environment through incremental exposures
 The basic steps needed for an effective response to
a heat wave begin with community planning &
personal preparedness
 Effective strategies should begin with the formation
of a local or regional Heat Wave Task Force
 Building a heat wave resilient community includes
measures that reduce the possibility of failure of
critical infrastructures such as power grids
 Reducing the health impact of heat on vulnerable
populations is best achieved through
communicating basic personal preparedness
measures & emphasizing actions taken to cool
down
 All the personal variables that may
influence your risk & plan for the warm
season need to be considered:
◦ Lighter colored clothes
◦ Loose-fitting, light weight clothing
◦ Plan activities that keep you in the shade or
prepare to wear a hat & use sunscreen with a
high SPF
◦ Simply slow down
◦ Avoid excessive exertion during peak
temperatures of the day
◦ Avoid heavy meals
 The central focus of community heat wave
preparedness is identifying &
communicating with vulnerable populations
 Each public & private organization involved
must clearly understand their function
before the emergency & be prepared to
quickly carry out their assigned roles
 The media can assist in reaching a large
portion of vulnerable individuals
 Wildfires have always been part of the ecosystem
& are often natural occurrences started by
lightning strikes
 They are also sometimes manmade through
carelessness or intentional fire starting
 These fires thrive best in areas that have
vegetation, winds, & periods of dry weather
 These fires can naturally occur & actually have
long-term benefits for some ecosystems
 Human habitation near susceptible areas places
populations at risk for major public health,
economic, & environmental damage
 Wildfire smoke is a complex assortment of gases &
particles
 The obvious risks are burns & heat injuries, but the
most far-reaching & challenging health issue is
smoke
 The smoke produced by wildfires can produce
effects ranging from airway & eye irritation to death
 The primary short-term inhalational challenges are
particles that irritate the airway & cause symptoms
even among healthy exposed individuals, including
coughing, wheezing, & difficulty breathing
 Other smoke components have toxicity potential as
allergens, carcinogens, mutagens, & teratogens
 The majority of the exposed population will not
experience long-term effects from wildfire smoke
 Preparing for wildfires begins with an
assessment of local risk & history of wildfires
in the region
 A long dry weather period can introduce
the risk of wildfires to areas with little or no
history
 A 30-foot safety zone around a home is
recommended to reduce the wildfire risks
to the structure
 The amount & type of vegetation in a
zone known to have wildfire risks should be
carefully considered
 If there is a reasonable chance that a wildfire will
threaten human lives & property, evacuation
orders are issued
 The following precautions should be taken:
› If you are trapped in a stranded vehicle, it is usually better
to stay in the vehicle than to try & outrun the advancing
fire on foot
› If you are trapped inside a home or other structure, it is
best to remain inside long enough for the worst of the
wildfire to pass by
› If you are outside when fires approach, the best action is
to find the closest area with the least amount of
vegetation or fuel to burn
› The minimum protection against wildfire smoke is a
properly fitted N-95 respirator
 It is important to check the roofs & attics
of affected buildings for fires & embers
 For several hours after, there should be a
“fire watch” with regular monitoring for
signs of smoke & fire throughout nearby
structures
 The primary residual hazard is the fire ash
accumulation
 Volcanoes are responsible for the
formation of much of the Earth’s surface
 They are typically hills or mountains that
surround a vent leading to reservoirs of
molten rock below the Earth’s surface
 There are four primary types of volcanoes:
◦ Cinder Cone
◦ Composite
◦ Shield
◦ Lava Dome
 The Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) is a
composite, semiquatitative estimate of a
volcano’s eruptive power
 During a volcanic eruption, there are a variety of
hazards produced:
› Gases and particles are rapidly ejected, reaching heights
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of up to 10–20 miles and can literally be carried around
the planet
Direct blasts and flows are projected laterally
Large rocks and enormous volumes of materials can be
hurled at a high rate of speed for many miles
Clouds of hot particles and gases that spill down the
slopes of a volcano (pyroclastic flows) may form
Particles separate into layers of different charges
generating lightening similar to what is seen during
thunderstorms
Downwind areas are covered with ash
Lahars are often formed
 Direct hazards include rocks, ash, gases,
and heat from an eruption
 Larger solid debris can cause ballistic
injuries for miles
 Gases can cause respiratory damage
 Pyroclastic flows and lava flows can cause
thermal injuries
 Carbon dioxide and debris from an
eruption can cause asphyxiation
 Other hazards result from secondary
events, including earthquakes, flooding,
landslides, lightening, and even tsunamis
 Preparedness measures for volcanoes begin with a
home preparedness kit and an understanding of
the risk for volcanic eruptions
 Unlike many other natural disaster threats that are
focused tightly on a specific geographic region,
volcanoes can reach hundreds of miles downwind
and cause severe interruption in critical
infrastructure
 Even if you are near a dormant volcano, you
should have a plan and be prepared to evacuate
quickly
 People should be encouraged to avoid active
volcanoes
 If you are close enough to observe a volcanic
eruption, you are in unnecessary danger
 Ideally, there should be an evacuation order given and
everyone should evacuate from the area
 During evacuation, avoid areas downwind and avoid river
valleys downstream from the volcano
 If you are outside, seek inside shelter immediately
 Avoid low-lying areas where mudflows are possible
 Remember to help neighbors that may need assistance
 Bring all animals and livestock under cover in closed shelters
 Put all machinery inside closed garages or barns
 Once indoors:
› Close all the windows, doors, fireplace dampers, etc.
› Close down your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
› Place damp, rolled towels along base of the doors and
anyplace else where a draft may introduce ash into the building
 Local emergency management officials
will provide detailed instructions to area
residents
 If it is necessary to go outside, during or
immediately after the ash fall, cover your
mouth and nose to filter out the larger
particles and protect your respiratory
tract
 All exposed skin should be covered
 Goggles should be worn when clearing
the roof of ash accumulation
 Outer clothing should be removed
before entering the building to limit the
transport of ash into the structure
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It is our job to protect the public’s health
◦ WHO estimates that in the year 2000, there were 150,000 excess deaths
per year due to climate change
◦ Climate change is already affecting health around the world, and its
impact on health will continue to grow
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Fighting climate change is aligned with protecting and
promoting health
◦ Many of the proposed solutions for climate change are healthy for
everyone

We have the appropriate skills
◦ Public Health has the skills to effect behavior change, and those skills
can help people adopt greener behaviors too
◦ Public Health has policy and advocacy skills that will help encourage
organizational and societal changes

Effects of rising sea level
• Coastal areas will become
vulnerable to storms and
flooding
• Loss of coastal wetlands
and erosion of beaches
• Saltwater contamination
of drinking water
• Potential damage to
roads, highways, and
other infrastructures near
coastal areas
 Warmer
temperatures can
result in premature and
rapid snowmelt in the Sierra
snow pack, which alters the
timing of run-off water
supplies for ½ of CA’s
surface water
Severe flooding may
occur during winter
and spring, with
slower water flow
during summer
seasons
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Drought risk may be acutely
elevated during the summer
months
 Los Angeles
projected to have an increase of 62% 88% in heat-related mortality by 2080
 Health impacts likely to be seen 1 to 3 days after the
onset of the heat waves
Health effects of extreme and prolonged heat exposure
include: heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, heat
syncope (fainting)
 Devastating heat waves seen elsewhere recently
5-day heat wave in Chicago in 1995: 700 excess deaths,
most attributed to the heat
August 2003 European heat wave: 35,000 excess deaths

Greater risk for people
who do not have access
to air conditioning

Two vulnerable
populations during heat
waves:
 May not be able to
 Elderly: Population of
afford air conditioning
 For populations
unaccustomed to heat
waves, people may
have air conditioning
but chose not to use it,
not realizing danger
senior citizens (> 60
years old) in Los
Angeles County is
expected to increase by
83% by the year 2020
 Low SES: Over 16% of
LA County residents
under 100% FPL

Increased temperature and increased carbon dioxide in atmosphere
leads to
 Increase in formation of ground-level ozone (and smog)
 Increased allergen production (e.g. pollen)
 Longer seasons for allergen producing weeds

Senior citizens, children, and people with respiratory and chronic
diseases are most vulnerable to high levels of ozone and increased
allergens

Health effects of high levels of ozone exposure include:
 Reduced lung function
 Respiratory discomfort
 Exacerbation of chronic respiratory illnesses
 Public
health already utilizes a multi-level prevention
approach – analogous approach can be taken to
respond to climate change
Primary prevention = climate change mitigation
Efforts to slow, stabilize, reverse climate change by reducing GHG
emissions
Efforts will occur in sectors other than PH, such as energy and
transportation
Secondary/tertiary prevention = climate change adaptation
Efforts to prepare for, and minimize health burden of, climate change
Similar to public health preparedness for other uncertainties (e.g.
pandemic flu, bioterrorist attack), so likely that PH as sector will be
involved in adaptation efforts
Mitigation = reduce GHG emissions
Reduce energy usage and Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
1.
2.
As individuals, at home
As organizations, at work
Adaptation = prepare for impact of climate change
Emergency preparedness
1.
2.
As individuals/families
As local health department
Mitigation and adaptation = advocate for healthy
policies
1. Support legislation that reduces GHG emissions
2. Support sustainable lifestyles & communities

We need to prepare now for the inevitable effects
of climate change, such as heat waves and
wildfires
Good news: preparing for one type of emergency
prepares us for all types of emergencies
Preparation minimizes impact of disasters and
fear/anxiety
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We need to prepare ourselves as individuals and
as health agencies
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Questions for the Professor:
› AOL Instant Messenger (AIM): ShanaMedika
› Email: [email protected]
› Phone (emergencies ONLY): (706) 294-8962
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THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING
Shana M. Scott, MPH
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