EnvironAndOccupHealth

In Sacramento, there are a lot of programs and opportunities to volunteer for disaster relief.  The county's website provides a list of them including: - Medical Reserve Corps: medical professionals who support emergency response, public health and community efforts. Some tasks include staffing emergency shelters for displaced persons, providing first aid, promoting emergency preparedness - Citizen Corps: citizens that get trained in emergency response and participates in community exercises to help support first responders - Community Emergency Response Team: educates people about disaster preparedness and trains people in response skills - The Local American Red Cross Chapter

The thing I find most troubling about climate change is the vastness of it and how little time we have to stop or reverse the trends. There also seems to be a lack of urgency or denial about it from some people in power that can be negatively halting progress. It's hard to say what the biggest priority for public health professionals to focus on would be, since climate change will and has impacted so many areas of health. But I think one key area is to help build awareness and education around the consequences and solutions of it. With that though, I think as public health professionals the primary goal is to contribute to healing people in ways that most serve them. It is more of an upstream approach, but how will people care about the planet if they cannot even care for themselves? It almost feels like there is not enough time, and that it is up to the government to change things. But the government has not done enough, so more people will need to stand up and fight for the en...

I absolutely loved this module because it sums up a lot of what we've learned and puts it into action. I've become so much more aware of the waste and plastic I use just from this course, although it's been on my radar. I started using a reusable water bottle about 10 years ago, and since have done a few of the things mentioned in the Ted talk like using natural products such as vinegar for cleaning, and making some of my own products. Mainly, it came out of necessity when those available, didn't quite work for me. And although I try not to use bags at stores, it still happens. Some steps I have begun and want to take more seriously include: - using biodegradable bags for my cats' waste/and my own trash (if I can find these type of bags) - bring own reusable bags at stores and never accept plastic bags - say no to straws and plastic cups - buy in bulk more and eat less prepackaged foods

Pneumoconiosis is the general term for the inflammation of the lungs caused from inhaling dust particles, such as silica, coal dust or asbestos. Black Lung Disease is caused by the accumulation of coal dust particles, which can turn the lungs black-colored.  Coal dust is made up of carbon-containing particles and coal miners are most at risk of inhaling it. A person may not have any symptoms but some may exhibit signs such as shortness of breath, coughing, chest tightness or even hypoxemia (low oxygen blood levels). If exposure is long enough or intense, a person can develop more severe respiratory symptoms. Sometimes coal miners are also exposed to silica or graphite-containing dust, which can lead to similar health issues. The disease is still common among coal miners, with 10% of workers acquiring the disease if they've worked 25+ years. In some parts of the country such as Kentucky, Virginia and W. Virginia, nearly 20% of workers have the disease, which is the highest recor...

I looked up the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health or NIOSH. The organization ensures that worker health and safety is being improved and implemented, with two major areas of research and practice. The program that puts their findings into practice is called the Research to Practice program (r2p). They collaborate with organizations, stakeholders and partners on educating them on how to begin to implement better practices based on their research. One example included working with the US-Mexico Border Health Commission and the Mexican Foreign Ministry's health program on addressing the fatality rates of Latino immigrant workers. The rate of 5.9 per 100,000 persons is 50% higher than other workers. In partnership, they were able to create specific educational materials, such as pamphlets, videos and posters to raise awareness among Spanish-speaking immigrant workers. They provided tools and extra assistance to any workers who sought more help. The project not o...

I work in a typical office setting. One of the chemicals found on the MSDS was fluorotelomer alcohol, which can be used in manufacturing things such like furnishings, paper packaging and textiles. The chemical has been associated with skin and eye irritation and there is not enough data that shows whether or not it is a carcinogen. Studies have also shown these chemicals exist 3-5x higher in office environments than in homes and can affect lipid metabolism, liver health, reproduction and the immune system. Most consumers will not encounter the chemical in its pure, undiluted form, which requires more protective equipment. But precaution should still be taken when exposed to the chemical, including having well-ventilated areas, working in outdoor areas and using toxin-clearing plants into the office space.