Health Care
please use the links below to answer to the questions on the worksheet.
https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ph172/Arizona/story_html5.html
https://www.nhonews.com/news/2017/feb/28/solar-power-brings-light-some-navajo-homes/
ANSWER
Week 5: Vulnerable Populations Worksheet
Heatwaves are expected to be more common in the southwestern United States as the climate continues to warm. During a heatwave, some populations are at greater risk of health impacts than others. This worksheet assumes that all of your team members have gone through the Destination: Navajo Nation Interactive Online Lesson that placed you in Arizona. Once you have done so, please answer the questions below.
- Why do you think the Command Center coordinator reacted dismissively when your team arrived? (True, she wasn’t expecting you, but what other reasons might she have?) (at least 3 to 5 sentences)
The Command Center Coordinator might not have experienced a similar situation as others did. Considering heat waves affect people differently, she might have been one of the individuals experiencing lower impacts and thus leading to her dismissiveness. She was unable to understand the experiences of the others due to heatwaves. Also, she might have wanted to paint a picture that the situation is manageable and not as adverse as people made it appear. She needed to make others believe that she could handle the situation. These perspectives led to her attitude and perception.
- How might you have been able to change this interaction? (at least 2 to 4 sentences)
The best way to change interaction is by putting oneself in the shoes of other people. Even though one might not experience a similar situation, it is always essential to develop empathy. This helps someone to cultivate an appropriate attitude that helps to handle the challenge at hand. In this case, the interaction is changeable through the development of an empathetic mindset.
- How would a lack of electricity impact your team’s response to a heat emergency on the Navajo Nation? (at least 4 to 6 sentences)
The lack of electricity in the Navajo Nation region extensively affects response activities to a team emergency. It tampers with the provision of medications and other necessary emergency services. For example, electricity would have helped to store medicines in the refrigerators. However, medicines might go bad due to the absence of systems that can keep it cool. Also, in cases where the team might need to attend to emergencies during the night, the lack of electricity complicates their missions. Power connections would have eased their work because it provides enough light that allows the team to move around at ease.
- How did it feel being immersed in this emergency response situation in Arizona? (at least 4 to 6 sentences)
Handling the emergency response situation in Arizona was a challenging task due to the exposure to heatwaves. There is always a chance that someone develops fear when dealing with extreme situations because they expose themselves to risks. However, an emergency responder, one is committed to helping community members address prevailing issues. We commit to protect and save lives. These people depend on us to provide the right assistance.
- What is the role of public health professionals in responding to heat emergencies? (at least 3 to 5 sentences)
Public health professionals’ role in responding to heat emergencies is to provide quality information about safety and security. This information enables community members to take suitable actions when under the threat of heatwaves. For example, they educate people about wearing appropriate clothing, staying in air-conditioned places, and limiting outdoor activities.
