Podcast
Questions and Answers
Who are considered vulnerable during disasters?
Who are considered vulnerable during disasters?
Which of the following factors can contribute to population health after disasters?
Which of the following factors can contribute to population health after disasters?
What is a primary mechanism through which low socioeconomic status can affect health after a disaster?
What is a primary mechanism through which low socioeconomic status can affect health after a disaster?
What is the impact of income inequality on communities after a disaster?
What is the impact of income inequality on communities after a disaster?
Signup and view all the answers
How does culture influence health and social services during disasters?
How does culture influence health and social services during disasters?
Signup and view all the answers
What role does the physical environment play in post-disaster health?
What role does the physical environment play in post-disaster health?
Signup and view all the answers
How does infrastructure impact a city's ability to recover from a disaster?
How does infrastructure impact a city's ability to recover from a disaster?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is the primary focus of the objectives related to Disaster Preparedness?
Which of the following is the primary focus of the objectives related to Disaster Preparedness?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main purpose of the objectives related to Environmental Health Issues?
What is the main purpose of the objectives related to Environmental Health Issues?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of disaster occurs outside the control of humans?
Which type of disaster occurs outside the control of humans?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the three levels of post-disaster recovery resources identified in the objectives?
What are the three levels of post-disaster recovery resources identified in the objectives?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the role of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in protecting the environment?
What is the role of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in protecting the environment?
Signup and view all the answers
What are cumulative risk and multiple stressors in the context of environmental health?
What are cumulative risk and multiple stressors in the context of environmental health?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the purposes of the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act?
What are the purposes of the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act?
Signup and view all the answers
Which agency is the lead federal agency for emergency response and coordination in the United States?
Which agency is the lead federal agency for emergency response and coordination in the United States?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the phase of disaster that involves addressing the short-term, direct effects of an incident?
What is the phase of disaster that involves addressing the short-term, direct effects of an incident?
Signup and view all the answers
Which environmental health hazard is characterized by the release of harmful gases and particles into the air?
Which environmental health hazard is characterized by the release of harmful gases and particles into the air?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for efforts taken to lessen the effects of an emergency, either before, during, or after it occurs again?
What is the term for efforts taken to lessen the effects of an emergency, either before, during, or after it occurs again?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for the likelihood that harm will occur if exposure to a hazard occurs?
What is the term for the likelihood that harm will occur if exposure to a hazard occurs?
Signup and view all the answers
Which social factor is conducive to crime according to the text?
Which social factor is conducive to crime according to the text?
Signup and view all the answers
Which organization may be the only formal societal structure standing after a disaster, with the population's respect and trust?
Which organization may be the only formal societal structure standing after a disaster, with the population's respect and trust?
Signup and view all the answers
Which formula represents the calculation of risk?
Which formula represents the calculation of risk?
Signup and view all the answers
What does cumulative risk refer to?
What does cumulative risk refer to?
Signup and view all the answers
What does risk assessment establish?
What does risk assessment establish?
Signup and view all the answers
In the risk management process, what are the results of the risk assessment integrated with?
In the risk management process, what are the results of the risk assessment integrated with?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the goal of risk communication?
What is the goal of risk communication?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the mission of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)?
What is the mission of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)?
Signup and view all the answers
Which law aims to maintain the chemical, biological, and physical integrity of the navigable waters of the United States?
Which law aims to maintain the chemical, biological, and physical integrity of the navigable waters of the United States?
Signup and view all the answers
Which law regulates emissions of hazardous air pollutants?
Which law regulates emissions of hazardous air pollutants?
Signup and view all the answers
What can individuals do to contribute to environmental health?
What can individuals do to contribute to environmental health?
Signup and view all the answers
True or false: Risk assessment determines the need for and practicability of implementing risk reduction activities.
True or false: Risk assessment determines the need for and practicability of implementing risk reduction activities.
Signup and view all the answers
True or false: Risk communication involves the exchange of information related to the assessment, characterization, and management of risk.
True or false: Risk communication involves the exchange of information related to the assessment, characterization, and management of risk.
Signup and view all the answers
True or false: The ultimate goal of risk communication is to protect human health and the environment.
True or false: The ultimate goal of risk communication is to protect human health and the environment.
Signup and view all the answers
True or false: The Clean Water Act aims to regulate emissions of hazardous air pollutants.
True or false: The Clean Water Act aims to regulate emissions of hazardous air pollutants.
Signup and view all the answers
True or false: The Safe Drinking Water Act applies to private wells.
True or false: The Safe Drinking Water Act applies to private wells.
Signup and view all the answers
True or false: The Clean Air Act protects public health and public welfare.
True or false: The Clean Air Act protects public health and public welfare.
Signup and view all the answers
True or false: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for monitoring pollutants in the environment.
True or false: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for monitoring pollutants in the environment.
Signup and view all the answers
True or false: The main mission of the EPA is to ensure clean air, water, and soil.
True or false: The main mission of the EPA is to ensure clean air, water, and soil.
Signup and view all the answers
True or false: Risk is calculated by multiplying hazard, exposure, and probability.
True or false: Risk is calculated by multiplying hazard, exposure, and probability.
Signup and view all the answers
True or false: Cumulative risk refers to the combined threats from exposure to multiple stressors in the environment.
True or false: Cumulative risk refers to the combined threats from exposure to multiple stressors in the environment.
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Disaster Preparedness
- A disaster is a traumatic event that affects many people, resulting in a wide range of mental and physical health consequences.
- Natural disasters occur outside of human control, while technological disasters are breakdowns in human-made systems.
- Complex emergencies, such as the 9/11 terrorist attack, require resources beyond those available locally.
Vulnerable Populations
- Children, elderly, pregnant women, poor and homeless, disabled, and chronically ill individuals are considered vulnerable to disaster consequences.
Determinants of Population Health after Disasters
- Geography: areas below sea level or near bodies of water, arid areas, and risk of recurrence are unavoidable.
- Political structure and governance: effectiveness of government, food, water, sanitation, healthcare, and law enforcement.
- Community socioeconomic status: individual poverty, lower perception of disaster risk, poorer disaster preparedness, and limited access to emergency response.
- Distribution of income and wealth: inequalities of income distribution, psychosocial stress, and social distrust.
- Culture: shared, learned behaviors and meanings transmitted socially, social relationships, religious institutions, and "moral economy".
- Health and social services: pre-disaster availability of health and social resources linked to post-disaster recovery.
- Physical environment: environment related to health conditions, infrastructure, and damage.
- Social environment: social order, stability, and limited social cohesion.
- Civic society: community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations, and lack of trust in government.
Implementation Strategies for Healthcare Professionals
- Focus on fundamental determinants of population health.
- Understand the context of disaster.
- Educate and assess patients regarding disaster preparedness.
- Interventions that are misdirected may have unintended consequences.
Emergency Responders
- Law enforcement, EMTs, paramedics, firefighters, healthcare providers, and public health officials.
Emergency Management Resources
- FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency): lead agency for federal disaster response.
- DHS (U.S. Department of Homeland Security): lead federal agency for emergency response and federal coordination.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: lead agency for public health and specific medical issues.
Stages of Disaster
- Preparedness: pre-event phase, continuous process involving efforts to identify threats, determine vulnerabilities, and identify required resources.
- Response: addressing short-term, direct effects of an incident.
- Recovery: actions needed to help individuals and communities return to normal.
- Mitigation: efforts to lessen the effects of an emergency.
Environmental Health Issues
- Definition: environmental health focuses on the relationship between humans and the environment, fostering healthy and safe communities.
- Statistics: over 12 million people die annually due to unhealthy environments.
- Environmental health hazards: air pollution, global warming, urban sprawl, acid rain, waste disposal, chemical pollution, ozone layer depletion, disease-causing microbes, water pollution, lack of access to healthcare, and climate change.
Environmental Health Issues Risk
- Risk: likelihood that harm will occur if exposure to a hazard occurs.
- Cumulative risk: combined threats from exposure to multiple stressors.
- Risk assessment: establishes whether a risk is present and its magnitude.
- Risk management: integrates risk assessment with economic and legal considerations.
- Risk communication: exchange of information among individuals, groups, and institutions.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Mission: protect human health and the environment.
- Ensure clean air, water, and soil.
- Develop and enforce standards or regulations.
- Monitor pollutants in the environment.
- Conduct research.
- Promote public environmental education.
Laws and Regulations
- Clean Water Act (1972): maintain chemical, biological, and physical integrity of navigable waters.
- Safe Drinking Water Act (1974): does not apply to bottled water or private wells.
- Clean Air Act (1970): protect public health and public welfare.
What You Can Do
- Go green.
- Reduce, reuse, recycle.
- Learn more about environmental health.
- Stay up-to-date on environmental health topics.
- Get involved in non-profit organizations and community activities.
- Educate others on environmental health issues.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Related Documents
Description
Test your knowledge on the impact of water pollution and social factors on disaster vulnerability with this quiz. Learn about the staggering number of people lacking safe drinking water, the alarming number of deaths caused by water-borne diseases, and how social order or disorder can affect crime rates. Discover how limited social cohesion can lead to poorer coping and adverse health outcomes during disasters. Don't miss the chance to explore the influence of pre-existing social stressors on disaster-affected communities.
