QUESTION: IS THE INTERVAL 12 YEARS OR 12 MONTHS?
Answer At the End…
Public Health Preparedness: Climate (Change) and Public Health
George T. DiFerdinando, Jr., MD, MPH
Director, NJ Center for Public Health Preparedness (CPHP) at UMDNJ
Co-PI, NY-NJ Preparedness and Emergency Response Learning Center (PERLC)
Looking North on Rt. 23 - McDonald’s Beach on left
8-29-11
Pompton Lakes Flood Gates
8-29-11
Maroon Kia
CVS
Looking North on Rt. 23 at Jackson Ave
Virginia Plaza
8-29-11
Looking Southeast over Virginia Plaza at Rt 23 & Jackson Ave. Intersection
8-29-11
A&P on Rt. 23 North
8-29-11
Extreme Heat
An extreme heat event is characterized by weather that is substantially hotter and/or more humid for a particular location at a particular time
Extreme Heat Events
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Extreme Heat
Extreme heat events can cause: Heat tetany (hyperventilation) Heat rash Heat cramps Heat exhaustion Heat edema (swelling) Heat syncope (fainting) Heat stroke Death
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Extreme Heat
Risk Factors
Lack of air conditioning in home Low socioeconomic status Living in urban areas Living in topmost floor of a
dwelling Living in nursing homes or being
bedridden Living alone or a lack of social or
family ties Prolonged sun exposure Drinking alcohol Exercising outside on warm days
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Extreme Heat
Vulnerable Populations
Everyone Elderly persons 65 years and
older Especially those who live
alone Children Persons with pre-existing
disease conditions Persons taking certain
medications Athletes Outdoor workers Homeless 17
Urban Heat Islands
• Higher temperatures in urban areas relative to surrounding suburban and rural areas can be caused by:
• Reduced vegetation and green space
• Heat-absorbing surfaces, such as pavement
• Heat-reflecting surfaces, including many building materials
• Skyscrapers obstructing free air flow
18Images from the Metropolitan Design Center Image Bank. Used with permission.
The Competency Project• Mandated by the Pandemic
and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA)
• Partnership of Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) effort
• Finished in Dec 2010 – “In Effect”
1:Model Leadership 1.1 Solve problems under emergency conditions. 1.2 Manage behaviors associated with emotional
responses in self and others. 1.3 Facilitate collaboration with internal and
external emergency response partners. 1.4 Maintain situational awareness. 1.5 Demonstrate respect for all persons and
cultures. 1.6 Act within the scope of one's legal authority
2: Communicate and Manage Information
2.1 Manage information related to an emergency. 2.2 Use principles of crisis and risk communication. 2.3 Report information potentially relevant to the
identification and control of an emergency through the chain of command.
2.4 Collect data according to protocol. 2.5 Manage the recording and/or transcription of
data according to protocol.
3: Plan for and Improve Practice 3.1 Contribute expertise to a community hazard vulnerability
analysis (HVA)
3.2 Contribute expertise to the development of emergency plans
3.3 Participate in improving the organization’s capacities (including, but not limited to programs, plans, policies, laws, and workforce training).
3.4 Refer matters outside of one's scope of legal authority through the chain of command.
4: Protect Worker Health and Safety
4.1 Maintain personal/family emergency preparedness plans.
4.2 Employ protective behaviors according to changing conditions, personal limitations, and threats.
4.3 Report unresolved threats to physical and mental health through the chain of command.
RESOURCESReports, Trainings, and Webinars
QUESTION: IS THE INTERVAL 12 YEARS OR 12 MONTHS?
Recall the 1999 (Andrew), 2011 (Irene), 2012 (Sandy), …
Questions
Best BasicsMinnesota Department of Health
• Climate and Health Home - http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/climatechange/index.html
• Climate Change 101 – Under Development http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/climatechange/climate101.html
• Resources - http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/climatechange/resources.html
National Efforts – CDC
• Climate and Health Program - http://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/
• Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) Framework - http://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/BRACE.htm
• CDC Climate Ready States - http://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/climate_ready.htm
National Efforts - APHA• Climate Change Guide Book -
http://www.apha-environment.org/pdf/APHA_ClimateChg_guidebook.pdf
• Climate Change Webinar Series Part 1 - http://www.apha.org/advocacy/reports/webinars/climatewebinars.htm
• Climate Change Webinar Series Part 2 - http://www.apha.org/advocacy/reports/webinars/series2.htm
National Efforts – Other• NRDC - http://www.nrdc.org/health/climate/
• NIEHS – A Human Health Perspective on Climate Change - http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/assets/docs_a_e/climatereport2010.pdf
• EPA - http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/
Regional/State Efforts• NYS DEC – Climate Change Assessment
http://www.dec.ny.gov/60.html • PA - Climate Change Advisory Committee -
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/climate_change_advisory_committee/10412
• NYC - Climate Adaptation in NYC – NYAS - http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nyas.2010.1196.issue-1/issuetoc
• NJ - Global Climate Change Site - http://www.state.nj.us/nj/green/global/
• NJ - NJ Climate Adaptation Alliance - http://climatechange.rutgers.edu/njadapt.html