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Health Effects of Wildfires.
Citation:
Cascio, W. Health Effects of Wildfires. Presented at Case Western University, virtual, N/A, March 31, 2021.
Impact/Purpose:
The purpose of this presentation is to inform Case Western University medical students about the full range of health effects of wildfires and public health recommendations.
Description:
Smoke impacts from Wildfire are a concern for federal, state and local officials. At-risk populations include aged adults, children, people with respiratory disease, people with cardiovascular disease, and pregnant women and fetuses. Populations suspected to be a greater risk include women, non-white and populations with lower socio-economic status as well as populations with chronic inflammatory diseases (e.g., diabetes, obesity). EPA plays a supportive role in public health outreach through products, including but not limited to, AirNow, Wildfire Smoke: A Guide for Public Health Officials, the Smoke Sense App, the Smoke Ready Toolbox and the Community Health Vulnerability Index. EPA and partners want to provide communities with the tools and resources to assess their vulnerabilities in advance, plan for appropriate responses and, in turn, become smoke ready communities.