NYU GPH Journal of Public Health Disasters
A student-led journal driven by the latest research in public health disaster preparedness and management.
Introduction: In an era of unprecedented challenges to public safety, the importance of preparing for and responding to the threat of an active shooter has become paramount. The urgency to safeguard the lives of New Yorkers in the event of such a tragedy requires a meticulously structured disaster plan that addresses both immediate action and long-term resilience.
Continue reading “Justin Andries, Aryeh Korman, and Patrick Agins Active Shooter Disaster Response Plan in New York City”
Water fluoridation, the controlled addition of fluoride to public water supplies, has been a cornerstone of public health initiatives aimed at reducing dental decay. Initiated in the United States in 1945, it has since been adopted in numerous countries, though not without controversy. In light of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services ahead of the second administration for incoming-President Donald Trump, both critics and supporters have pointed to Kennedy’s pronounced opposition to the fluoridation of water. Safety and health experts now share concerns about what this will mean for the future of public health.
Continue reading “History and Controversy of Fluoride in Drinking Water”
As the COVID-19 pandemic progressed, the internet emerged as a primary source of information, allowing people to become aware of the virus and how to prepare effectively. One study found information accessed during the COVID-19 pandemic changed the preparedness of Chinese netizens—active internet users—regarding the virus. According to the study, variable access to information influences how people perceive disastrous events, shaping their views on susceptibility and severity.
Continue reading “How Access to Online Information Reshaped COVID-19 Preparedness”
A recent study found critical issues within the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities, particularly focusing on the inadequate medical care provided to detainees. The research references a report written by three advocacy groups, the American Civil Liberties Union, American Oversight, and Physicians for Human Rights, which highlights numerous systemic failures.
Continue reading “Recent Report Finds ICE Detainees Suffer Preventable Deaths”
On the morning of Friday, July 19th, CrowdStrike customers experienced a major digital blackout as outages hit banks, hospitals, airports, and other services worldwide. Businesses scrambled to mitigate the effects of the sudden disruption, implement plans, rely on backup systems, and maintain operations to provide customer service.
Continue reading “Tech Outage Causes Worldwide Disruptions”From 2014-2016, an unprecedented tuberculosis outbreak occurred in Marion County in Alabama, resulting in an incident rate worse than experienced in many low and middle-income countries. Susan Nagel’s presentation discusses why the outbreak occurred, its effects, and the management of the event. The case study concludes that structural racism in healthcare settings must be addressed to prevent similar outbreaks from occurring in the future.
The concept of health system resilience is one that evokes images of communities and healthcare infrastructures and systems weathering a devastating event and working together to rebuild and emerge stronger. This idea is beginning to gain attention, as the subject of empirical studies more recently but has mostly been explored only conceptually in the past.
Continue reading “Improving Consistency in Health System Resilience Research”