bring to an end

Part 1

I see that South Carolina also experiences cases of emergencies but do you have an example of the type of emergency? 

Part 2

Take a look at the article below; I welcome your comments:

http://www.aappublications.org/news/2017/12/20/DisasterPres122017

Thoughts?

Part 3 compare and contrast to South Carolina and give opinion 100 words

amine your state's emergency preparedness rankings.  Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your state according to the 10 criteria, and why you feel your state is prepared or unprepared. What public health strategies can be implemented to increase your state's preparedness?

Hello class, as I take a look at Mississippi’s strengths and weaknesses in emergency preparedness we seem to need some work in a few categories. According to Drahos (2007) Mississippi scored a six out of 10 in the emergency preparedness report in the year of 2007. A state by state health preparedness scored was based on 10 key indicators but as the years have progressed the State of MS still has the need to make major changes to their state’s emergency preparedness. Some key indicators include the state public health lab reporting having an enough capacity to work five, 12 hour days for six to eight weeks in response to an infectious disease outbreak, if the state has a disease tracking system to collect and monitor data electronically via the internet, and whether they purchases 50 percent or more of federally subsidized anti-viral (Pittman, 2009). Some states key indicators use to include not testing year around for the flu which is necessary to monitor pandemic outbreaks, lacking the sufficient capabilities to test for biological threats, and facing a shortage of nurses (Drahos, 2007).

As I look at ‘Trust for America’s Health,’ Mississippi’s weaknesses lies with overweight and obesity in children ages 10-17, scoring a 5 on the Public health emergency preparedness score in 2017, and deaths related to alcohol, drugs, or suicide. We seem to have strengths in making sure that the children are vaccinated and lowering our numbers in adults who have diabetes. According to a news article in TFAH (2018) Mississippi has a higher adult obesity rate than most states which the rate is above 35 percent. Mississippi’s drug, alcohol, and suicide death rate could increase by 39 percent in the next 10 years. The reports are showing that Mississippi’s rate could rise to 42.8 per 100,000 people from those three causes by 2025.

With the look of these numbers and I know everyone can agree that numbers do not lie but I feel that Mississippi is not prepared for these two major issues. When it comes to obesity, we live in the south where everyone likes to eat well. What we choose to put in our food and what we choose to eat makes us unhealthy. I think implementing Healthy Food Programs that are not based on age will help a lot. WIC provide nutritional food for kids but we should also have a program where it provides healthy foods for adults as well. We should look into community based gardens and healthy cooking so they can have access to fruits and vegetables as well as learn how to cook healthier. When it comes to drug, alcohol, and suicide related deaths I think implementing programs will be helpful for these issues also. Providing information through the news media, social media, radio stations, hospitals, and clinics on how serious these issues are can be a wakeup call to a lot of people. Making announcements, providing research details and reports, giving out public health brochures, and even getting the provider to acknowledge if the patient may need help with drug or alcohol issues and even mental health issues can be vital. I remember we use to have the DARE programs in school and now that is hardly ever implemented. I think getting the law more involved into implement Zero-Tolerance Law for those who abuse drugs and alcohol can make those aware that it is wrong and hurting others as well as them. It is important to stress the information to the communities and provide reliable resources that they can use even if that means partnering with businesses and community groups in planning and increasing whatever it is needed to prove effective.

Drahos, L. (2007, January 8). Half of states score poor disaster preparedness scores. Retrieved fromhttps://www.ehstoday.com/training/ehs_imp_44322

Pittman, E. (2009, December 15). States scored on health emergency preparedness capabilities. Retrieved fromhttp://www.govtech.com/em/health/States-Health-Emergency-Preparedness-Capabilities.html

TFAH. (2018). State profile Mississippi. Retrieved from https://www.tfah.org/state-details/mississippi/

Part 4, 100 words opinon

   I live in the state of sunny Florida! According to Trust for American’s Health (TFAH) website, the emergency preparedness ranking is a “6 out of 10” (Trust for American’s Health, 2018, p.1). After reading the literature, I understand prevention and preparedness is the key to becoming ready for unsuspecting emergencies that may occur. The state of Florida’s ranking is slightly higher than the average score of 5; though, not as high as the leading score of 9 in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Though, Florida is not at the bottom of the rated list, it is far from perfect and in need of adjustments to be better prepared for potentially looming emergencies and disasters (Trust for American’s Health, 2018).

            Florida is not as prepared as they should be as a lack of attention to the National Health Security Preparedness, insufficient flu vaccine rate, no efforts in reducing greenhouse gasses, and absence of paid sick leave for workers. With recent threats of bio-terrorism globally, I am surprised all states have not made this more of a priority to protect the public. Climate changes in Florida have affected escalating temperatures, intensities of hurricanes, water algae concerns, and rising sea-levels.

            Some strategies that must be implemented for greater preparedness include increasing public health’s workforce and education to deal with the rising issues of the population. More climate change initiatives to help deter the effects of the eroding lands in Florida is of necessity. Greater programs to increase vaccine rates are needed to decrease infectious preventable diseases like influenza. (Trust for American’s, 2018). Paid sick leave is the topic of conversations for many states. The ongoing concern about how to fund paid sick leaves are particularly worrisome. Florida may be one of the last states to enact such a policy and are not as liberal as others states are with leave or paid policies.

 

References

Trust for American’s Health. (2018). Ready or Not 2017. Retrieved from https://www.tfah.org/releases/readyornot2017/?state=florida

United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2016). What climate change means for Florida. Retrieved from https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/climate-change-fl.pdf