Posted: December 3rd, 2022

Public Health Threats, Emergencies, and Disasters

Public Health Threats, Emergencies, and Disasters
DUE DATE: NOV. 2nd
Natural disasters like tsunamis, hurricanes, sudden heavy snowstorms or blizzards, and flooding also jeopardize health. These types of disasters create environmental health concerns through the spread of toxic waste, increased water-borne infections and insect-borne disease, as well as loss of power or the inability to navigate roadways during floods or blizzards. In addition, natural disasters create environmental concerns such as low food supply, destruction of crops and livestock, and lack of clean water. Natural catastrophes like these are predicted to increase in frequency and severity as long as climate change with increasing global temperatures continues unchecked through slow reaction or frank inaction by governments.
Organizations across the globe are developing strategies for decreasing their carbon footprint in order to reduce pollution that contributes to climate change. Because no one is immune from this hazard, nurses must have a grasp of the growing concern for the impact of climate change and its associated implications for public health worldwide. It is important for nurses to learn how to increase their leadership capabilities to affect local, state, and national outcomes.
This week, you will consider the role of the nurse in preventing illnesses due to environmental issues. Additionally, you will discuss the role of nurses in developing health promotion and health protection strategies to address global climate change health concerns.

Students will:
• Analyze the role of the nurse in preventing illnesses due to environmental issues
• Analyze the implications of global climate change on health*
Write a 3- to 5-page paper that addresses the following:
• Describe two health care concerns related to global climate change.
o Topics could include increased exposure to vectors that transmit Zika, West Nile virus, or malaria; respiratory problems; food distribution problems due to drought or lack of water; or heat-related illness.
• Compare concerns in the United States related to these topics with one developed and one developing country.
• Describe health promotion/health protection strategies a nurse could implement.
• Support your ideas with references from the professional nursing literature.

Required Readings
Holtz, C. (2017). Global health care: Issues and policies (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett.
• Chapter 11, “Global Use of Complementary and Integrative Health Approaches” (pp. 287-320)
• Chapter 17, “Global Health in Reproduction and Infants” (pp. 465-493)
• Chapter 21, “Health and Health Care in Mexico” (pp. 579-590)
Levine, R. (2007). Case studies in global health: Millions saved. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett.
• Case 6, “Saving Mothers’ Lives in Sri Lanka” (pp. 41–48)
Douglas, M. K., Rosenkoetter, M., Pacquiao, D. F., Callister, L. C., Hattar-Pollara, M., Lauderdale, J., … Purnell, L. (2014). Guidelines for implementing culturally competent nursing care. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 25(2), 109–121.
Yeager, K. A., & Bauer-Wu, S. (2013). Cultural humility: Essential foundation for clinical researchers. Applied Nursing Research, 26(4), 251–256.
Required Content
• Presented two concerns regarding global climate change in the United States. Included information about why this concern is important to the US and, if left unchecked, what the result will be. Described what the US is doing to combat these problems, if anything.
• Presented two concerns regarding global climate change in another selected developed country. Included information about why this concern is important to them and, if left unchecked, what the result will be. Described interventions about what this country is doing to combat these problems, if anything.
• Presented two concerns regarding global climate change in a selected undeveloped country. Included information about why this concern is important to them and, if left unchecked, what the result will be. Described interventions about what this country is doing to combat these problems, if anything.
• Described 2–3 health promotion strategies public health nurses might implement to help mitigate concerns of global climate change?
• APA
“APA Formatting: cover page, title of paper on second page, level headings, Times New Roman 12 font, 1″” margins, and page numbers. APA References: Uses in-text citations appropriately and format correctly. Paraphrases to avoid plagiarizing the source.
Reference list is in alphabetical order, hanging indent, double spaced in format. Each specific entry contains all information required by APA format including author, year of publication, title of publication, pages, DOI, website, as appropriate.”

Public Health Threats, Emergencies, and Disasters
Introduction
The American public is concerned by the risk of exposure to approximately 14-vector bone health conditions. According to the Centre for Disease Control, the deaths and health complications are on the rise as climate change worsens. One of the health risks that the country is facing today is the Zika virus. CDC reports show that another health concern related to climate change is food and water distribution challenges due to water-related illnesses (Spurlock et al., 2019). Canada is one of the developed countries experiencing extreme weather changes, polar ice decline, changes in temperature, and clean water availability. India is experiencing challenges of climate change, similar to the United States. Nurses have a responsibility to implement health promotion and health protection strategies to avert the risks. The purpose of the essay is to examine the public health threats and disasters in developed and developing countries and the role of nurses in health promotion strategies.
Healthcare Concerns
The United States is affected by various health issues due to environmental changes. Climate change is increasing the risk of exposure to vector-borne diseases. The American public is concerned by the risk of exposure to approximately 14-vector bone health conditions (Spurlock et al., 2019). The diseases spread by fleas, mosquitos, and ticks. Poor health conditions account for a significantly high number of deaths. According to the Centre for Disease Control, the deaths and health complications rise as climate change worsens (Spurlock et al., 2019). The United States Global Change Research Program, rising temperatures increase the prevalence of vector-borne diseases (Harvey et al., 2018). The research program shows that human beings are at a higher risk of contracting diseases from pathogens.
One of the health risks that the country is facing today is the Zika virus. In 2016, Congress provided an additional $350 million to the CDC to fight against the virus. According to the CDC reports, the funding is essential in developing a plan to mitigate the virus’s effects in the high-risk areas (Harvey et al., 2018). Monitoring efforts to eliminate the risk of vector-borne diseases is vital to public health. CDC reports show that another health concern related to climate change is food and water distribution challenges due to water-related illnesses (Harvey et al., 2018). Drinking, bathing, or swimming in infected water exposes the public to illnesses. Agricultural farms are struggling to find sufficient water for farming practices. For instance, high temperatures increase the risk of water shortage (Holtz, 2017). Contamination and shortage of water are on the rise due to climate change. Contaminated water triggers health conditions such as diarrhea, vomiting, skin, and eye infections (Holtz, 2017). According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the government is putting efforts to safeguard the public from the increasing threats caused by climate change.
The United States v. Canada
Canada is one of the developed countries experiencing severe effects of climate change. The effects include extreme weather changes, polar ice decline, temperature changes, and availability of clean water (Ludwig et al., 2019). The factors contribute to the deterioration of health conditions. According to the Canadian Public Health Association, the country is experiencing the effects of climate change. For example, the Arctic Ocean is warming, posing a risk to the neighboring regions. Climate change affects the frozen permafrost, underlies roads, and infrastructure (Ludwig et al., 2019). The effects undermine the effective delivery of food and medical supplies. Rapid thawing is increasing the risk of exposure to vector-borne disease. Environmental agencies in the United States appreciate that the effects of vector-borne diseases are on the rise due to climate changes. According to the Paris Accord, member parties such as Canada should put in measures to mitigate climate change (Ludwig et al., 2019). The Canadian Public Health Association is putting measures to reduce temperature increase to 1.5ͦ Celsius.
The United States v. India
India is the second-largest country in terms of population. The high population is prone to the transmission of illnesses and a shortage of necessities such as water and food. The country is experiencing climate change challenges, similar to the United States (Singh & AchutaRao, 2019). According to the Climate Institute, some regions in India are unlivable due to the high temperatures. People are exposed to high temperatures that can cause health complications or death. India is experiencing other climate change effects, including food and water shortage, air pollution, and vector-borne diseases (Singh & AchutaRao, 2019). Statistics indicate that India records over 2 million cases of malaria annually. The records show that other vector-borne diseases are on the rise in the country due to high humidity and temperatures. High populations and poor sanitation expose the public to water-borne illnesses. Diarrhea and cholera are some of the health complications affecting the populations (Singh & AchutaRao, 2019). Lack of public resources and poor social conditions undermine the government response to health challenges.
Health Promotion/Health Protection Strategies
Nurses have a responsibility to implement health promotion and health protection strategies to avert the risks. One of the efforts is disseminating information about vector-borne diseases and water-borne diseases (Douglas et al., 2014). Educating the public will enhance the actions that prevent the transmission of illnesses. Nurses should advocate for behavior change among the vulnerable communities (Yeager & Bauer-Wu, 2013). For instance, nurses can educate people to boil water before drinking it. Empowering the communities with knowledge about the sources of bacteria in water or vectors will enhance their health.
Nurses should act as advocates for the communities. The healthcare workers should use the data about cases of illnesses to lobby for better policies to enhance the wellbeing of the public (Kelly et al., 2017). Advocacy will prompt the government to take action to secure the citizens. Healthcare professionals should use information about illnesses to educate the public about the risks facing them. The information will help the companies participating in climate change to review their actions (Kelly et al., 2017). For instance, industrial plants will review their carbon emission policies. For instance, nurses in India can sensitize government agencies and the public about the negative effects of carbon emission and contaminated water. Nurses have the responsibility of responding to health care issues. One of the responses is providing treatment to the patients (Kelly et al., 2017). The medical professionals should encourage the public to embrace behavior changes to reduce their vulnerability to vector-borne and water-borne diseases.
Conclusion
Developed and developing countries are at risk of health complications due to climate change. The United States is affected by two major health complications, including the Zika virus and water and food problems. The problems mirror the problems in Canada and India. The United States Global Change Research Program, CDC, and the Canadian Public Health Association appreciate that various countries are dealing with the effects of climate change. The situation requires a response from the nursing fraternity. Nurses are responsible for implementing health promotion and health protection strategies to prevent vulnerability and provide treatment.
References
Douglas, M. K., Rosenkoetter, M., Pacquiao, D. F., Callister, L. C., Hattar-Pollara, M., Lauderdale, J., … Purnell, L. (2014). Guidelines for implementing culturally competent nursing care. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 25(2), 109–121. https://doi.org/10.1177/1043659614520998
Harvey, C. A., Saborio-Rodríguez, M., Martinez-Rodríguez, M. R., Viguera, B., Chain-Guadarrama, A., Vignola, R., & Alpizar, F. (2018). Climate change impacts and adaptation among smallholder farmers in Central America. Agriculture & Food Security, 7(1), 57. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-018-0209-x
Holtz, C. (2017). Global health care: Issues and policies (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett.
Kelly, M., Wills, J., & Sykes, S. (2017). Do nurses’ personal health behaviours impact on their health promotion practice? A systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 76, 62-77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2017.08.008
Ludwig, A., Zheng, H., Vrbova, L., Drebot, M. A., Iranpour, M., & Lindsay, L. R. (2019). Climate change and infectious diseases: the challenges: increased risk of endemic mosquito-borne diseases in Canada due to climate change. Canada Communicable Disease Report, 45(4), 91. DOI: 10.14745/ccdr.v45i04a03
Spurlock, W. R., Rose, K., Veenema, T. G., Sinha, S. K., Gray-Miceli, D., Hitchman, S., … & Miller, E. T. (2019). American Academy of Nursing on Policy position statement: Disaster preparedness for older adults. Nursing Outlook, 67(1), 118-121. https://www.nursingoutlook.org/article/S0029-6554(18)30696-1/abstract
Singh, R., & AchutaRao, K. (2019). Quantifying uncertainty in twenty-first century climate change over India. Climate Dynamics, 52(7-8), 3905-3928. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-018-4361-6
Yeager, K. A., & Bauer-Wu, S. (2013). Cultural humility: Essential foundation for clinical researchers. Applied Nursing Research, 26(4), 251–256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2013.06.008

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Tags: Emergencies, Public Health Threats