The purpose of this course is to develop an understanding of the concepts of public health as they relate to disaster management. The student will apply Noji’s five phases of a disaster to actual public health disaster events during the last 25 years. The course will focus on what preparedness actions are necessary to safeguard the health of citizens and emergency personnel during a disaster event, as well as public health disaster response and investigation. Public health issues in disaster management that are covered include water and food supply disruption and contamination, waste disposal, environmental pollution and infectious disease outbreaks. The basic principles of epidemiology and health surveillance will also be reviewed. Statistical epidemiology will not be covered in this course due to the limited time allotted to give a taste of material which, in its full form does fill an entire master’s of its own.

– The required Textbooks for this course (please see the syllabus): Required:
Textbooks:

1. Ciottone, Gregory – Disaster Medicine, (2015) .
2. Landesman, Linda – Public Health Management of Disasters – The Practice Guide, 3rd Edition (2012)
3. Wisner, B and Adams, J. – Environmental Health in Emergencies and Disasters – A Practical Guide, (2003) World Health Organization
4. Koenig and Schultz—Disaster Medicine: Comprehensive Principles and Practice, (2011)
   The topic of this week, Wk 1: Introduction to Public Health

– THE RESOURCES (Reading Assignments) OF THIS WEEK: (PLEASE USE SOME OF THEM WHEN DOIN G THE ASSIGNMENT OF THIS WEEK):
Textbook Assignments

1. Koenig and Schultz, Chapter 9: Public Health and Emergency Management Systems
2. Landesman chapter 1: Types of Disasters and Their Consequences
3. Landesman chapter 2: Role and Responsibility of Public Health
4. Wisner chapter 2: The nature of emergencies and disasters.

Journal Articles-required reading

1. Erik Noji. Public Health Issues in Disasters.Noji public health issues in disasters.pdf (I WILL UPLOAD IT AS “FILE 1”)
2. James Blessman et al. Barriers to At-Home-Preparedness in Public Health Employees: Implications for Disaster Preparedness Training. At home preparedness.pdf (I WILL UPLOAD IT AS “FILE 2”)

The assignment of this week, Week 1, is as follows:

1. Read the article and complete the survey instrument which Dr. Blessman and colleagues administered to employees of a local health department prior to a training event (last two pages of the Blessman article linked in Topics of Study). Most of you will walk away from this exercise dismayed that you have not performed better. That’s part of the solution to the problem–enlightenment. Briefly discuss how you did on the survey, why you think you performed well or poorly, and what you think you can and will do to improve. There is no correct answer here, but the results will generate their own discussion.
2. Read the Noji article on public health and disasters. Do the myths that he puts forth apply to regional disasters in the United States or other developed countries or only national-level disasters in third world countries? Support your opinions with some examples from history. Include references.
   – Please follow ALL the previous instructions AND USE THE REFERENCES MENTIONED IN THE QUESTION, PLEASE. – and I don’t know what to do regarding the last part f the question which says: Also find one peer-reviewed journal article which helps to back up your or your expert’s opinions.
   NOTE: Take care to cover both questions regardless of number of pages. Please also use the number of references appropriate for the nature of both questions but if it is possible and the nature of questions allows, use at least 3 references.