Solar Eclipse Retinopathy; an Underemphasized Public Eye Health Concern?

Aim: To evaluate the impact of public eye health campaigns on people's attitudes during the solar eclipse. Methods: Retrospective chart review of patients with solar eclipse retinopathy. Hazard awareness, source of information, and types of self-proclaimed safety measures were analyzed. It was a multicenter study conducted at Ophthalmology departments of different hospitals of Faisalabad, Gilgit, Sialkot and Dera Ismail Khan for one month from July 2020 to August 2020. Results: Data of a total of 31 patients were analyzed. Twenty-two (71%) patients had hazard awareness either from the internet or mainstream media, while 9 (29%) had no understanding of eclipse viewing hazards. Eleven patients had some idea about appropriate eclipse viewing glasses while none used them. Thirteen (42%) patients didn't use any protective measures, while the rest either used radiographic films or sunglasses (SG). Knowledge, availability and affordability were significant barriers towards using standard safety wear. There was no difference among patients who viewed the eclipse with the naked eye or with sunglasses and radiographic films in terms of initial and final visual outcomes. Conclusions: Most patients are aware of potential visual hazards from viewing solar eclipse; however, they are not well educated about appropriate ocular safety wear for viewing a solar eclipse. Keywords: Solar eclipse, Retinopathy, Health concern

Results of an Opioid Hazard Awareness Training Intervention for Stone, Sand, and Gravel Miners

In the USA, miners are at higher risk for work-related disorders that could precipitate an opioid prescription, injury-related opioid prescriptions, and opioid overdose. We aimed to support prevention of these outcomes with an “opioid hazard awareness” miner safety training module. In January and February 2020, the training module was embedded within required mining safety and health training for stone, sand, and gravel miners in Massachusetts (USA). Training impact and reception were assessed with a pre- and post-training survey of trainee characteristics, training content knowledge, and attitudes. Over 800 miners were trained and over 600 responded to surveys. We found statistically significant improvements in opioid risk factor knowledge and knowledge of resources to help a coworker. Nonstigmatizing attitudes were high both at baseline and following the training. The training was perceived as relevant and useful by trainees. Improving opioid hazard awareness in high-risk worker populations has potential to reduce opioid dependence and downstream impacts including overdose death. Employer injury-prevention efforts should be reinforced while worker health and safety training enhances awareness of opioid-related harms and prevention strategies for miners and other high-risk worker populations.

Changing hazard awareness over two decades: the case of Furnas, São Miguel (Azores)

Furnas (ca. 1,500 inhabitants) lies within the caldera of Furnas volcano on the island of São Miguel (Azores) and has the potential to expose its inhabitants to multiple hazards (e.g. landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and degassing). The present population has never experienced a volcanic eruption or a major earthquake, although the catalogue records six eruptions, sub-Plinian in style over the last 2 ka years. Today, the area experiences strong fumarolic activity. In the case of an eruption, early evacuation would be necessary to prevent inhabitants being trapped within the caldera. Awareness of potential threats and knowledge of what to do in the case of an emergency would assist in evacuation. In this paper inhabitants' awareness of volcanic and seismic threats in 2017 is compared with those revealed in a similar study completed more than two decades ago. It is concluded that, whereas awareness of earthquakes and the dangers posed by volcanic gas discharge has increased, knowledge of the threat of volcanic eruptions and the need to prepare for possible evacuation has not. Research suggests that changing awareness is related to effective collaboration that has developed between the regional government, through its civil protection authorities and scientists, and the people of Furnas.

Hazard Perception and Disaster Information of Turkish Secondary School Students*

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between the levels of hazard awareness, risk perceptions, the knowledge of response-related protective behavior, and disaster knowledge within the framework of secondary school curriculum in Turkey. A questionnaire examining various measures including hazard awareness, risk perceptions, and general disaster knowledge test was answered by 8th-grade students of schools in Erbaa, Niksar, and Taşova located in North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ) in Turkey. The data from a total of 654 surveys were analyzed utilizing chi-squared, t-test, and ANOVA.The research findings proved that students' disaster awareness and risk perceptions about the environment in which they live are quite realistic. The high levels of earthquake risk perception and fear were related to the fact that they live in settlements located in NAFZ with the highest level of earthquake risk in Turkey. However, research findings proved that most of the students had a fairly low level of knowledge of response-related protective behaviors, and significant differences were found in the context of schools and settlements. Key words: 8th-grade students, risk assessment, hazard education, disaster education, Turkey