Environment and Human Health NWS Partners Workshop June 23, 2005 Margaret Fowke Office of Strategic Planning and Policy National Weather Service

Environment Human Health Well Established Connections Emerging Connections Scientific Advances Bring Environmental Information and Human Health Together

NOAA examples Temperature, Weather hazards, Wildfire, Solar, Ocean Conditions, Air Quality, Diving Safety, Climate “Bad” weather, Ocean Conditions, Floods, Climate “Bad” weather, Floods, Solar, Climate Marine and Coastal Ecosystems, Air Quality, Floods and droughts, Weather, Climate Marine and Coastal Ecosystems, Floods and droughts, Climate Pharmaceuticals and marine natural products Public health connections Direct effects on humans Transportation accidents Disruption of health infrastructure Effects through changes in incidence of diseases (vector-, water-borne, and otherwise) Effects through safety and nutritional value of food supplies Improved medical treatment Public health connects across all of NOAA

Medical/Health Care Delivery in US Preventive Curative Population BasedClinical-Hospital Delivery System Approach

Opportunities and Challenges for “Environmental Information Enterprise” to Support Human Health Education Decision support / Expert assistance R & D Information

Weather education in the medical community: most frequently missed questions Rip currents: (pre-score post-score 88.12) think undertow and rip tides are the same as rip currents how to escape a rip current if caught in one do not understand rip currents can occur in lakes too Space Weather: (pre-score post-score 83.85) do not understand origin of space weather do not understand greatest hazard caused by space weather do not understand geomagnetic storm, solar radiation storm, radio blackout

Weather education in the medical community: most frequently missed questions Lightning: (pre score 72 post score 89.75) believe it safe to be outside during a thunderstorm as long as lightning is not seen think it is best to lie flat on ground when lightning present have never heard of 30/30 rule UV: (pre score post score 85.65) believe a suntan is healthy and having a base suntan protects you from sun damage believe wearing sunscreen protects you so can sunbathe much longer

Weather education in the medical community: most frequently missed questions Hurricanes: (pre score 41 post score 75.29) do not understand the centerline on the hurricane cone of uncertainty believe majority of people die in hurricanes from salt water flooding, structural collapses, flying debris believe there is no relationship between hurricane strength and size. Windchill: (pre score post score 78) Believe it is possible to get frostbite if the temperature is above freezing but the wind chill is below freezing. (The air temperature has to be BELOW freezing in order for frostbite to develop on exposed skin.)

Weather education in the medical community: most frequently missed questions Air Quality: (pre score post score 85.42) believe the health effects of ozone and particle pollution are the same believe ozone and particle pollution affect the same groups of people do not understand particle pollutionoccurs year-round Seafood Safety: (pre score post score 83.94) do not know understand methylmercury Believe fish sticks unsafe to eat

Weather education in the medical community: most frequently missed questions Fire Weather: (pre score post score 91.11) believe NWS determines location of prescribed burns (USDA Forest Service) believe if trapped in a smoky environment and breathing becomes difficult, use a wet cloth to filter out the smoke in order to make breathing easier. (should use dry to avoid breathing in steam and burning lungs) Heat: (pre score 52 post score 92.67) believe cracking the window in a car to help ventilate the interior of the car will help to prevent hyperthermia related vehicle deaths.