Rates of Hospitalization for Dehydration Following Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 188-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel N. Swerdel ◽  
George G. Rhoads ◽  
Nora M. Cosgrove ◽  
John B. Kostis ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
New Jersey ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Linear Modeling ◽  
Volume Depletion ◽  
New Jersey History ◽  
Log Linear

AbstractObjectiveHurricane Sandy, one of the most destructive natural disasters in New Jersey history, made landfall on October 29, 2012. Prolonged loss of electrical power and extensive infrastructure damage restricted access for many to food and water. We examined the rate of dehydration in New Jersey residents after Hurricane Sandy.MethodsWe obtained data from 2008 to 2012 from the Myocardial Infarction Data Acquisition System (MIDAS), a repository of in-patient records from nonfederal New Jersey hospitals (N=517,355). Patients with dehydration had ICD-9-CM discharge diagnosis codes for dehydration, volume depletion, and/or hypovolemia. We used log-linear modeling to estimate the change in in-patient hospitalizations for dehydration comparing 2 weeks after Sandy with the same period in the previous 4 years (2008–2011).ResultsIn-patient hospitalizations for dehydration were 66% higher after Sandy than in 2008–2011 (rate ratio [RR]: 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.50, 1.84). Hospitalizations for dehydration in patients over 65 years of age increased by nearly 80% after Sandy compared with 2008–2011 (RR: 1.79; 95% CI: 1.58, 2.02).ConclusionSandy was associated with a marked increase in hospitalizations for dehydration. Reducing the rate of dehydration following extreme weather events is an important public health concern that needs to be addressed, especially in those over 65 years of age. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:188–192)

scholarly journals Challenges Faced and Support Received: Older Adults’ Perceptions of Hurricane Sandy

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison R. Heid ◽  
Seran Schug ◽  
Francine P. Cartwright ◽  
Rachel Pruchno
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
New Jersey ◽  
Older People ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
Community Networks ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
The People

AbstractObjectiveIndividuals exposed to natural disasters are at risk for negative physical and psychological outcomes. Older adults may be particularly vulnerable; however, social support can act as a resource to help individuals respond to severe stressors. This study explored the challenges older people faced before, during, and after Hurricane Sandy in October 2012 and the people they turned to for support.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 older adults in New Jersey drawn from the ORANJ BOWL (Ongoing Research on Aging in New Jersey – Bettering Opportunities for Wellness in Life) research panel, who experienced high levels of primary home damage during Hurricane Sandy. Content analysis of interview transcripts classified older adults’ perceptions on how they “made it” through—the challenges they faced and the support they received.ResultsThe findings suggested that older adults experienced emotional, instrumental, social, and financial challenges before, during, and after the storm. However, by relying on family and friends, as well as neighbors and community networks, older people were able to respond to stressors.ConclusionsOur findings carry implications for ensuring that older adults are connected to social networks before, during, and after disasters. The role of neighbors is particularly important when disasters strike. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:39–47)

Examining Public Health Workers’ Perceptions Toward Participating in Disaster Recovery After Hurricane Sandy: A Quantitative Assessment

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 371-377
Author(s):  
Nicole A. Errett ◽  
Carol B. Thompson ◽  
Lainie Rutkow ◽  
Stephanie Garrity ◽  
Kandra Stauss-Riggs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
New Jersey ◽  
Disaster Recovery ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Willingness To Participate ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Public Health Workers

AbstractObjectiveWe aimed to quantitatively gauge local public health workers’ perceptions toward disaster recovery role expectations among jurisdictions in New Jersey and Maryland affected by Hurricane Sandy.MethodsAn online survey was made available in 2014 to all employees in 8 Maryland and New Jersey local health departments whose jurisdictions had been impacted by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. The survey included perceptions of their actual disaster recovery involvement across 3 phases: days to weeks, weeks to months, and months to years. The survey also queried about their perceptions about future involvement and future available support.ResultsSixty-four percent of the 1047 potential staff responded to the survey (n=669). Across the 3 phases, 72% to 74% of the pre-Hurricane Sandy hires knew their roles in disaster recovery, 73% to 75% indicated confidence in their assigned roles (self-efficacy), and 58% to 63% indicated that their participation made a difference (response efficacy). Of the respondents who did not think it likely that they would be asked to participate in future disaster recovery efforts (n=70), 39% indicated a willingness to participate.ConclusionThe marked gaps identified in local public health workers’ awareness of, sense of efficacy toward, and willingness to participate in disaster recovery efforts after Hurricane Sandy represent a significant infrastructural concern of policy and programmatic relevance. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:371–377)

Preparedness and response at long-term care facilities following Hurricane Sandy: A qualitative analysis of experiences and attitudes among staff and administrators

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 383-398
Author(s):  
Lynn Jiang, MD ◽  
Christopher M. Tedeschi, MD, MA
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Extreme Weather ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Semistructured Interview ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Care Facilities

Background: In late 2012, Hurricane Sandy struck the eastern United States. Healthcare infrastructure in New York City—including long-term care facilities (LTCFs)—was affected significantly. The authors examined the impact of the storm on LTCFs 2 years after the event, using a qualitative approach consisting of a semistructured interview focused on preparedness and response. Important insights regarding preparedness and response may be lost by quantitative analysis or outcome measurement alone. During Sandy, individuals at LTCFs experienced the event in important subjective ways that, in aggregate, could lead to valuable insights about how facilities might mitigate future risks. The authors used data from a semistructured interview to generate hypotheses regarding the preparation and response of LTCFs. The interview tool was designed to help develop theories to explain why LTCF staff and administrators experienced the event in the way they did, and to use that data to inform future policy and research. Methods: Representatives from LTCFs located in a heavily affected area of New York City were approached for participation in a semistructured interview. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed. Recurrent themes were coded based on time period (before, during, or after the storm) and content. A grounded theory approach was used to identify important themes related to the participants’ experiences.Results: A total of 21 interviews were conducted. Several overarching themes were identified, including a perception that facilities had not prepared for an event of such magnitude, of inefficient communication and logistics during evacuation, and of lack of easily identifiable or appropriate resources after the event. Access to electrical power emerged as a key identifier of recovery for most facilities. The experience had a substantial psychological impact on LTCF staff regardless of whether they evacuated or sheltered in place during the storm.Conclusion: Representatives from LTCFs affected by Sandy experienced the preparation, response, and recovery phases of the event with a unique perspective. Their insights offer evidence which can be used to generate testable hypothesis regarding similar events in the future, and can inform policy makers and facility administrators alike as they prepare for extreme weather events in similar settings. Results specifically suggest that LTCFs develop plans which carefully address the unique qualities of extreme weather events, including communication with local officials, evacuation and transfer needs in geographic areas with multiple facilities, and plans for the safe transfer of residents. Emergency managers at LTCFs should consider electrical power needs with the understanding that in extreme weather events, power failures can be more protracted than in other types of emergencies.

scholarly journals Poisonings After a Hurricane: Lessons From the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System (NJPIES) During and Following Hurricane Sandy

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Susan B. German ◽  
Pauline A. Thomas ◽  
Bruce Ruck ◽  
Elizabeth G. Marshall ◽  
Amy L. Davidow
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
New Jersey ◽  
Health Education ◽  
Education System ◽  
Food Poisoning ◽  
Public Health Education ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
Toxic Exposures ◽  
Cooking Equipment ◽  
Case Data

Abstract Objective: Hurricane Sandy made landfall in New Jersey on October 29, 2012, resulting in widespread power outages and gasoline shortages. These events led to potentially toxic exposures and the need for information related to poisons/toxins in the environment. This report characterizes the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System (NJPIES) call patterns in the days immediately preceding, during, and after Hurricane Sandy to identify areas in need of public health education and prevention. Methods: We examined NJPIES case data from October through December 2012. Most Sandy-related calls had been coded as such by NJPIES staff. Additional Sandy-related cases were identified by performing a case narrative review. Descriptive analyses were performed for timing, case frequencies, exposure substances, gender, caller site, type of information requests, and other data. Results: The most frequent Sandy-related exposures were gasoline and carbon monoxide (CO). Gasoline exposure cases were predominantly males and CO exposure cases, females (P < 0.0001). Other leading reasons for Sandy-related calls were poison information, food poisoning/spoilage information, and water contamination. Conclusions: This analysis identified the need for enhanced public health education and intervention to improve the handling of gasoline and encourage the proper use of gasoline-powered generators and cleaning and cooking equipment, thus reducing toxic exposures.

scholarly journals Tree-Related Injuries Associated With Response and Recovery From Hurricane Sandy, New Jersey, 2011-2014

2018 ◽  
Vol 133 (3) ◽  
pp. 266-273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth G. Marshall ◽  
Shou-En Lu ◽  
Abimbola O. Williams ◽  
Daniel Lefkowitz ◽  
Marija Borjan
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
New Jersey ◽  
Wood Chip ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Syndromic Surveillance System ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Response And Recovery ◽  
The Impact

Objectives: Extreme weather events require extensive tree removal and disposal, tasks associated with severe injury risks among workers and residents. To help understand the risks of such activities, we evaluated the impact of a large and destructive storm (Hurricane Sandy in 2012) on the incidence of tree-related injuries. Methods: We searched chief-complaint text fields for patients aged 18-65 from 2011-2014 emergency department visit records submitted by New Jersey hospitals through the state-based syndromic surveillance system. Tree-related keywords (eg, saw, branch, wood chip, woodchip, tree) identified possible injuries that we then reviewed to exclude unrelated cases and classify mechanisms of tree-related injury. We used Poisson regression analysis to evaluate changes in the rates of probable tree-related injuries, adjusting for total emergency department visits and seasonal variation. Results: We identified 698 probable tree-related injuries from 2011-2014 among patients aged 18-65, including 104 (14.9%) falls, 241 (34.5%) machine-related injuries, 311 (44.6%) struck-by injuries, and 42 (6.0%) other tree-related injuries. Tree-related injuries increased significantly in the quarter immediately after Hurricane Sandy (November 2012–January 2013) compared with the same quarter the year before (rate ratio [RR] = 1.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-2.47) and the year after (RR = 2.47; 95% CI, 1.62-3.78) Hurricane Sandy, especially for struck-by injuries compared with the year before (RR = 2.74; 95% CI, 1.47-5.12) and the year after (RR = 4.17; 95% CI, 2.09-8.32) Hurricane Sandy. More than one-third of the injuries (33.4%) involved chainsaws. Conclusions: A major hurricane was associated with an increase in tree-related injuries in emergency departments, especially for mechanisms consistent with handling downed and damaged trees. Further research should confirm these findings and evaluate opportunities for preventing tree-related injuries.

Reframing Fatness: Critiquing ‘Obesity’

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bethan Evans ◽  
Charlotte Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Weight Loss ◽  
Michel Foucault ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Policy Language ◽  
Religious Imagery ◽  
Fat Bodies

Over the last twenty years or so, fatness, pathologised as overweight and obesity, has been a core public health concern around which has grown a lucrative international weight loss industry. Referred to as a ‘time bomb’ and ‘the terror within’, analogies of ‘war’ circulate around obesity, framing fatness as enemy.2 Religious imagery and cultural and moral ideologies inform medical, popular and policy language with the ‘sins’ of ‘gluttony’ and ‘sloth’, evoked to frame fat people as immoral at worst and unknowledgeable victims at best, and understandings of fatness intersect with gender, class, age, sexuality, disability and race to make some fat bodies more problematically fat than others. As Evans and Colls argue, drawing on Michel Foucault, a combination of medical and moral knowledges produces the powerful ‘obesity truths’ through which fatness is framed as universally abject and pathological. Dominant and medicalised discourses of fatness (as obesity) leave little room for alternative understandings.

European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption: the ESAC programme

2004 ◽  
Vol 8 (32) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Antimicrobial Consumption ◽  
Public Health Concern ◽  
Major Public Health Concern

Resistance to antimicrobials has become a major public health concern, and it has been shown that there is a relationship, albeit complex, between antimicrobial resistance and consumption

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