Climate Change, Extreme Weather, Natural Disaster & Human Health and Integrating Climate and Public Health Data into the Hazard Vulnerability Analysis Process

Course Objective

Discuss the research findings of the effects of extreme weather and natural disaster on human health
Identify population vulnerability to extreme weather events and climate change
Develop evidence-based interventions based on research findings
Following the second half of the webinar, participants will be able to:Describe how climate change is altering the way emergency preparedness is conducted
Explain how local health departments can incorporate climate change into Hazard Vulnerability Analysis process

Begin Module

For NYS Employee

More Information ▾

Date: April 13, 2016

Presenter:
Shao Lin, MD, PhD, MPH
Professor, Research Director of Global Health Program
University of Albany, New York School of Public Health

Elena Grossman, MPH
BRACE-Illinois Project Manager
UIC School of Public Health

The first half of this webinar focuses on the specific health risks associated with extreme weather conditions. High temperatures and humidity increase hospital admission rates due to respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, renal disease, and total mortality; conversely, cold temperatures contribute to and increase in asthma and incidence of congenital cataracts. Vulnerabilities due to severe weather, based on post-Hurricane Sandy health evaluations, include but are not limited to mental health and substance abuse, kidney disease, and COPD. The webinar outlines the risks, vulnerabilities, and health burden associated with climate change, and offers next steps for addressing these issues in the future

The second half of the webinar focuses on preparation for the public health impacts of climate change. As a way to encourage emergency preparedness professionals to recognize the impact of climate change in, Grossman encourages requiring them to acknowledge the possibility for extreme and/or severe weather in their Hazard Vulnerability Analysis when applying for CDC grant money. She outlines four pieces necessary for success in doing so, which include: 1) historic weather data, 2) projected weather data, 3) health indicators data, and 4) social vulnerability index data.