750: Heat Draws Policy Response, School Nurses Prep to Help Kids in Emergencies

ROBERT JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Monday, September 16, 2024 I'm Robert Johnson.

Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

CATHERINE JONES:

This past summer may be the hottest ever on record in 30 cities, with Arizona cities hitting 120 degrees Fahrenheit for the first time.

JOHNSON: 

It's not expected to get any better, as some forecasts indicate the next five years will be the hottest on record. Extreme heat is bad for public health, but ASTHO's Catherine Jones says policymakers are working on a response.

JONES: 

Congress has introduced a number of bipartisan bills, including those that would classify extreme heat as a major disaster and increase FEMA assistance. Offer support for weather research, especially for under observed and underserved areas, and offer universal protections against heat, illness, injury, and fatality.

JOHNSON: 

Jones says the administration is engaged, as well.

JONES: 

The White House's intra-agency working group on extreme heat launched heat.gov. A central hub providing data, forecasts, and resources. The White House also issued the national heat strategy, directing agencies to increase resiliency to extreme heat conditions.

JOHNSON: 

ASTHO has a new blog article about the federal response to rising temperatures. You can read it using the link in the show notes.

BOBBI KRABILL: 

What this program has done for us is given us very unique expertise to inform the work that we're doing.

JOHNSON: 

Public health agencies are focused on making sure everyone in the community is part of the plan when emergencies happen, including people living with disabilities. Bobbi Krabill is with the Ohio Department of Health. She says attention to the needs of this population has evolved since the pandemic with a plan that extends beyond the most familiar local partners.

KRABILL: 

But also, thinking about sectors who are important people in our communities and important entities in our communities, like schools as an example, employers, and have them have a better understanding of disabilities in general and inclusion in general, and what that does for you is it naturally improves your preparedness.

JOHNSON: 

Krabill says one example is the work happening with school nurses in the state.

KRABILL: 

And they are taking a very close look this year at, not only how do they serve children with disabilities every day, or children's special healthcare needs every day. But how do they better prepare for events that might happen at their school, and how do they prepare to serve every child and meet their needs.

JOHNSON: 

ASTHO, the National Association of County and City Health Officials, and the CDC supported this work through a program that sent disability and preparedness specialists to several public health agencies during the pandemic. You can read two ASTHO blog articles about this work by clicking the links in the show notes.

Also today, learn about campaigns and messaging to promote pharmacist prescribed contraception during an ASTHO webinar happening tomorrow, Tuesday, September 17. The online event begins at 2pm Eastern time. You can sign up using the link in the show notes.

Finally, this morning, on tomorrow's newscast, Michigan dedicates almost $300 million to address substance use disorder.

ELIZABETH HERTEL: 

We really focused in Michigan on significantly increasing the distribution and the availability of naloxone across the state, focusing on those communities of color and other more vulnerable populations.

JOHNSON: 

Hear more from Michigan Health Department Director and ASTHO member, Elizabeth Hertel, tomorrow morning. Follow the show, and you'll have it on your mobile device at 5am. Tap the plus sign in the upper right corner of the screen you're looking at right now.

That'll do it for today. We're back bright and early Tuesday with more ASTHO news and information.

I'm Robert Johnson. You're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition.

Have a great day.