Emergency Preparedness
Can Volcano Smog Cause Serious Lung Problems?
When a volcano erupts, it makes big news. Seeing the lava and clouds of smoke that come from an eruption gets our attention even if the volcano is hundreds of miles away. We learned from the eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington, though, that smog from the massive eruption of a volcano can have a huge impact on us even if the volcano is a great distance off. In fact, the smog that spews out of a volcano can cause serious lung problems.
There are plenty of types of debris found in volcano smog that could represent a health risk. This includes sulfur dioxide and various gases. When they mix with the oxygen in the air, they can be easily breathed into the body to impact your lungs. As a result, the lungs can quickly become irritated.
One of the gases that you will take into your lungs from volcano smog is carbon monoxide. Tiny droplets and particles from the smog can be highly dangerous for you to breathe into your lungs. They can stick to the inside of the lungs making it harder to breathe. Individuals that already have breathing concerns, including asthma and bronchitis, will be affected more severely by the residue that comes from a volcano eruption in the form of smog.
Another problem is that the immune system can also be affected due to volcano smog. For those that already have serious health problems, this can be something that causes them to become hospitalized. Individuals that have circulatory problems will also find that volcano smog can create problems for them.
The lung problems caused by volcano smog exposure can trigger a variety of other concerns for you as well. The eyes may start to water, a dry cough that is persistent can develop as well as headaches, flu-like symptoms, a sore throat, and thick mucus being produced from the lungs that is coughed up. These symptoms can continue to get worse if you don’t take steps to alleviate them.
Since volcano smog can cause serious lung problems, it is important to avoid being around it as much as possible. Stay indoors so that you are less likely to be exposed to such smog. When you do have to go out, wear a respirator mask over the nose and mouth to keep those particles from getting into your lungs.
If you have breathing medication or treatments to take, make sure you do so on a regular basis. Some of them are prescribed to be taken as needed so you may want to take some extra treatments during the times when volcanic smog may be in the air. Smoking only further escalates the types of lung problems you will experience, which provides additional incentive to kick the habit. If you feel that you can’t breathe, it is important that you consult with your doctor for further assistance.
Consuming warm fluids, including tea, is a great way to offer your lungs some relief. You can suck on cough drops or hard candy, too, in order to prevent a dry cough from becoming a serious problem. Try to make your lungs healthier by practicing a variety of breathing exercises. Getting adequate daily exercise will also help to improve your overall lung strength and capacity. By being extra careful with the quality of your air when there is a potential of volcanic smog in your area, you will be prepared if the problem occurs so that this toxic form of air pollution doesn’t cause you serious health problems should it occur.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007468.htm
Surge Hospitals
Since 9/11, emergency preparedness has been a priority in most states. This incorporates businesses, services, and any number of other elements, of which one of the most important in healthcare. Numerous committees have examined the role of healthcare during the attack on the World Trade Center as well as numerous other events that are considered natural disasters and emergencies. As a result, they have been able to identify areas for improvement and come up with the best possible solutions to use under extreme circumstances. One such area of healthcare identified is the presence of surge hospitals.
Surge hospitals are designed to be buildings that can be converted into hospitals in order to increase the availability of healthcare following a major emergency. Hospitals are often unable to administer full healthcare to victims in emergency situations because demand outstrips supply. Similarly, it is impossible to know exactly where disaster is going to strike so it is may not be possible to have a hospital in the vicinity. However, a Joint Commission report points out that “…a patient with serious injury needs to be transported to surgery within the “golden hour” after the injury occurs for the best chances of survival.” As such, surge hospitals are essential in guaranteeing the best healthcare possible.
Surge hospitals cannot just be designated and left though. They have to be a part of a larger plan in order to make the most of their availability should disaster strike. As such, employing the services of pharmacy management companies like CompleteRx can actually help to bring them to life should the need arise. Several management plans need to be put in place to help manage resources, staffing levels, and operation plans at all times. 9/11 took New York by surprise but there is no need to have the same happen again. Emergency preparedness and surge hospitals are key.
http://www.jointcommission.org/PublicPolicy/surge_hospitals.htm
http://www.ahrq.gov/research/shuttered/
Emergency Preparedness
Emergency preparedness is a major area of healthcare that cannot be ignored today. Following the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York, it has been necessary to put numerous plans into place in the event of another attack. Although areas of the United States prone to natural disasters previously had comprehensive emergency preparedness plans, all healthcare facilities must now have plans in place.
According to The Joint Commission, all facilities should have an emergency preparedness plan and corresponding training for all staff in bioterrorism emergencies such as anthrax and smallpox, chemical emergencies, mass casualties, radiation emergencies, and natural disasters. Training now has to be in line with Emergency Preparedness Competencies to ensure that all hospital workers are fully aware of what is expected of them and the appropriate responses in emergencies.
In the event of a national emergency, it is essential that all healthcare facilities are fully prepared because the onslaught of massive numbers of patients can quickly and easily degrade the level of healthcare offered if workers do not know what to do. Furthermore, hospitals have to be prepared for a level of patients that goes above and beyond capacity, which is where surge hospitals come in. The Joint Commission released a white paper on surge hospitals in 2005 and defined them as care facilities that offer medical help when hospitals reach capacity level. However, this is not the only area that has attracted scrutiny.
A lot of money has actually been invested into this particular area of healthcare in recent years, and that was typified by the announcement made by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) in October 2008 relating to an award of $10.9 million for seven schools to develop Preparedness and Emergency Response Research Centers (PERRCs). Emory in Atlanta, Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, UNC at Chapel Hill in North Carolina, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Washington in Seattle have all received grants for development so emergency preparedness is definitely high on the healthcare agenda.
http://www.jointcommission.org/PublicPolicy/ep_home.htm
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/planning/
http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2008/r081006.htm