7.17.3: Emergency preparedness (whether emergency is climate related or not)
- Page ID
- 119709
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Public health plays a key role in emergency preparedness for all kinds of disasters -- whether they are climate related or not. The need for a public health role in assessing risks, ensuring the availability of adequate medical resources, and carrying out prevention and intervention strategies seems to get highlighted in each major disaster (natural or human-caused) that occurs.
- The health dangers to the rescue and cleanup crews at the site of the World Trade Center after the September 11, 2001 attacks plus the mysterious anthrax attack through the mail that killed several people and threatened more in Washington, DC pointed to the need for public health expertise in responding to these disasters and planning for future bioterrorism attacks.
- The huge health inequities related to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005 revealed the need to attend to vulnerable populations when managing emergencies and, on the prevention end, to involve communities in developing emergency plans that will actually work for them.
- The relative public health success in managing the pandemic of H1N1 flu in 2009-2010 showed that advance planning works -- the death count from this relatively mild but highly contagious flu strain was kept low through rapid public health action (around 284,000 deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, cited by the Mayo Clinic).
- Obviously, the covid-19 pandemic that began in late 2019 and by 2020 was causing major disruptions and deaths worldwide pointed to both the value of emergency planning where it worked to prevent worse outcomes and the shortfalls of existing plans, given that this coronavirus has caused more than 7 million deaths worldwide to date.
Some of the roles that public health organizations can play in emergency preparedness include
- Surveillance. The public health practice of routine monitoring of disease outbreaks can assist in identifying a potential emergency in its earliest stages -- whether the pathogen is naturally occurring or spread through bioterrorism. With climate change, we expact vector-borne diseases (like malaria and dengue) to spread into new regions as mosquitoes, ticks and other disease-carrying animals migrate to newly-warm areas. Surveillance will be key to detecting these outbreaks early.
- Epidemiological and laboratory investigation of pathogens. Epidemiological investigation and analysis can determine the identity, source, and mode of transmission for disease agents (pathogens). Understanding how a disease spreads is essential to developing effective interventions to stop the spread. Laboratory capacity to test rare or unusual agents is not found everywhere -- different laboratories have different specializations -- yet the network of public health laboratories together need to be ready for any emerging threat.
- Risk communications. In an emergency, communication is more vital than ever. Public health communications to the public should be clear, concise, and accurate. When information changes -- as it undoubtedly will -- the change in message to the community must be explained adequately. (Otherwise, the public may be confused or distrust the messages.) Public health can also assist with interagency communication and coordination during an emergency.
- Planning. Involving key stakeholders, including vulnerable communities, in making emergency preparedness plans is a strength of public health planning efforts. Planning can help ensure that emergency medical services and hospital capacity can respond to a health emergency, including providing for the safety of medical personnel. Public health emergency preparedness can include running possible scenarios, establishing action protocols, training personnel, maintaining relationships among partnering agencies, and analyzing the vulnerability of specific communities. Where possible, planning efforts can help vulnerable communities reduce their exposure, for example, reducing the risk of wildfire, preparing cooling stations in advance of heatwaves so vulnerable people have a place to go to cool off, or reducing construction in flood zones.
- Community-wide response. Public health agencies can play a role in coordinating community-wide responses to an emergency, where many different entities are involved.
- Stockpiling supplies. In preparation for pandemic flu, the US, for example, stockpiled antiviral medications effective against the flu. These were not effective against covid, yet may still be a welcome forethought should the avian flu H1N5 evolve to be easily transmitted among humans, a public health nightmare. Stockpiles of masks, respirators, and other supplies is also warranted.
References
Mayo Clinic. (2023). H1N1 flu / swine flu. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-...s/syc-20378103
Schneider, M.J. (2021). Introduction to Public Health, 6th ed. Jones & Bartlett.
Turnock, B.J. (2016). Essentials of Public Health, 3rd ed. Jones & Bartlett.
World Health Organization. (n.d.) Number of covid-19 deaths reported to WHO, cumulative. https://data.who.int/dashboards/covid19/deaths