HENV-05/ Responses

I really enjoyed the CDC's zombie apocalypse emergency preparedness campaign. I work for a county health department and we are always trying to find ways to use social media to engage the general public in health. If you just post an article on social media explaining what to do to prepare for an emergency, most won't actually read it. But if you relate the information to something people will actually be interested in (zombies in this case) they will be way more likely to read the information and learn. Right now at my health department, we are working on a social media campaign for Public Health Week. We will be posting a video related to public health each day, but putting something silly or unusual in each video to engage people more. The point is, any public health awareness campaigns should be presented in as interesting a way as possible!

I am a HUGE fan of all things related to zombies (The Walking Dead, zombie movies, zombie video games etc) so I've thought a lot about what to do. You definitely want to to be somewhere rural instead of somewhere heavily populated. When I was in college and living in Kirksville, I didn't worry too much but now I live in the Kansas City metro area, so getting out of dodge is key in a zombie outbreak. I also think getting very very far away from hospitals is key, which is unfortunate since my office is in a hospital. 

My plan is to first go to the pharmacy, stock up on meds, then the grocery store, then get as far away from other people as possible. One tip I thought was great that the CDC gave was to always have at least half a tank of gas. I'm always driving around with my gas light on and rarely fill my tank up all the way. Definitely going to change that habit! 

Post two responses ( Zombies)

Zombies are not my thing.  I don't like scary movies or shows and living dead people fall into that category.  I do, however, appreciate this website prepared by the CDC.  While a zombie apocalypse is not going to occur, many other emergencies do and preparedness is key to survival in these cases.  This website is a fun way to encourage members of the younger generation to be prepared for emergencies.  If this helps the kids in a household convince their parents to prepare an emergency kit and plan, then it has done its job well. 

In planning for a zombie apocalypse myself, I think stealing a veterinary ambulatory vehicle will be key.  These vehicles are equipped with various instruments that could be used as weapons against zombies.  Large instruments for protection, such a calf jack and small instruments for closer comabt like scalpels and needles.  There are also numerous drugs that can be found on a veterinary vehicle including antibiotics and pain medications in case someone is injured.  These vehicles are also typically very large and have 4 wheel drive which would make them ideal for running over approaching zombies.  The one thing these vehicles lack is a food supply, which would therefore have to be included in the emergency preparedness kit. 

Post three response( Ghost map )

The pump handle is such a great reminder of how important innovative thinking is to public health.  It signifies not only John Snow's groundbreaking epidemiological work, but also the first steps taken in order to protect the public.  Without the removal of the pump handle, the people of Golden Square would have continued to be exposed to V. cholera and the outbreak would have never come to an end.  In thinking about the pump handle as the first control measure taken to protect public health, there are many "pump handles" today.

            In relation to this week's lesson on food safety, some of the most important pump handles today are legislation passed by Congress and the President in order to keep the public safe.  One of the most recent and sweeping reforms for food safety in the United States, is the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which was signed into law on January 4, 2011.  The purpose of this law is to shift the function of the FDA to more of a preventative role in foodborne disease outbreaks, rather than a reactionary role (FDA, 2015).  This law requires facilities to continually re-evaluate potential hazards, determine ways to prevent contamination from these hazards, and have control measures in place should contamination occur.  Additionally, it establishes safe standards for the growing, harvesting, shipping, and storage of fruits and vegetables, as they have been implicated in a majority of the recent foodborne disease outbreaks. The FSMA also places greater restrictions on imported food items, especially fruits and vegetables.  And finally, it increases cooperation between national, state and local public health agencies in order to increase oversight of food retail facilities to ensure they are in compliance (FDA, 2015).  These kind of laws are what is necessary today in order to protect the public from dangerous foodborne disease, much like the removal of the pump handle did in Golden Square.

            In terms of innovative thinkers in the realm of food safety, it has to be the individuals writing the reform laws.  These individuals see the problems with food safety in the United States and determine the best way to decrease foodborne disease outbreaks via legislative reform.  For example, imported food items, especially fruits and vegetables, have been a very important source of foodborne disease outbreaks in recent years (CDC, 2012).  In light of this information, the FSMA includes important measures to ensure the safety of these items (FDA, 2015).

            Other innovative thinkers include those individuals pursuing alternative farming methods, including organic, GMO-free, antibiotic-free, grass-fed and pasture-raised methods. In the Food Inc. documentary, Joel Salatin from Polyface farms is one of those innovative thinkers.  He has created a farm in which everything recycles.  His cattle are grass-finished, his pigs and chickens are pasture raised.  The animals raised on his farm are slaughtered and processed there.  He avoids the use of any type of mainstream processing in the care of his animal.  He is able to supply high quality products to many consumers that are willing to drive several hundred miles for those products. His production system is one that utilizes the land in a responsible way (Kenner, 2008).  While Joel Salatin has had little to no problems with foodborne illness associated with his food, these types of production systems will provide complications to the food safety systems we have in place today because they do not utilize the current production systems many of the laws target.  Perhaps these types of production systems are safer in terms of food safety?  No matter what everyone’s thoughts are on these issues, it will be important to make sure the food supply is safe, no matter where it is coming from.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012, March 12). CDC research shows outbreaks linked to imported foods increasing. Retrieved March 20, 2016, from http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2012/p0314_foodborne.html

Food and Drug Administration. (2015, August 20). Food safety modernization act - key legislative facts. Retrieved March 20, 2016, from http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/ucm237934.htm

Kenner, R. (Director). (2008). Food Inc. [Motion picture]. United States: Magnolia Pictures.

Post four responses ( Ghost map )

Questions:  Where are our pump handles today?  Who are our innovative thinkers, willing to risk everything in pursuit of a novel idea? What innovative ideas do you have?

My Answers:

1. My first suggestion is that one of today’s pump handle(s) can be found dangling in Healthy People 2020, specifically circling around the “Social Determinants of Health” (SDOH) model. This SDOH opportunity challenges all communities and consequently the population health scientist or team of MPH scientists who can generate a comprehensive solution to collectively solving SDOH issues will be a genius.