Although the madness and
overt preparedness that accompanies most major storms is enough to keep most
American families safe until the power returns and the roads are cleared, the
ferocity of natural disasters in recent years has deprived many of the ability
to reach healthcare services, as well as subjecting others to new or unforeseen
health risks. As was evident in last year's atrocious Hurricane Irene, the
dangers of large scale weather events are far reaching and effect both those
who are or will be in need of medical care, as well as the systems of healthcare
providing and insurance.
This year’s most recent
disaster, Hurricane Sandy has been no different, with at least fourteen states effected, and the death toll reaching twenty four in New York alone. Boasting
wind speeds above eighty miles an hour, and widespread flooding, millions of
households across the American East have been put at risk. As citizens may
require heightened healthcare needs to the specific dangers of the storm, many
individuals may face obstacles to appropriate health care, as well as new
dangers which may require access to health care.
With millions cut off
from society due to fallen trees, flooded streets, and the dangers of fallen
power lines, many individuals simply cannot travel to the nearest health care
provider in a convenient manner. Due to mass telephone unavailability and overused cellular systems; many other citizens could not
even signal for help in the event that they needed emergency assistance.
Geographical bars to healthcare services are possibly the most expected and
normal dangers that this natural disaster has posed to the healthcare system.Claims of differing and unforeseen health risks have also been reported
from many different areas effected by the storm, ranging from the typical
flooding and structural collapses to more unusual dangers.
For example, in New York
City, the “”Positive Pest Management corp” as well as other members of the
scientific community have voiced concern over the viability of two less evident
threats; mice and raw sewage. While it is estimated that a large number of rats
which dwell below the water level may have drowned, there have been reports of
increased rat sightings as well as warnings that the large number of rats out
on the street can exacerbate the risks posed by disease. Sources have also
hypothesized that the flooded landscape may provide much more food for the newly
surfaced rats that usually habitate in the underbellies of now-floded urban
areas; which may necessitate heightened pest-control needs in order to promote
general health.
Although the rising
tides may allegedly dilute the disease pathogens associated with rats and other
disease-bearing creatures, as reported by the Huffington Post; researcher Joan
Rose, the chairmen of water research at the University of Michigan was reported
as saying that there is almost always an uptick in illness after a major
flooding event due to the spreading of pathogens in flooded sewage
waters; most notably E. Coli. This could be cause for concern in some of the more flood-afflicted portions of New York, New Jersey, and the greater eastern seaboard.
Regardless of exposure
to sewage, flood waters in general may pose considerable risks to the public.
For example, health officials in Atlantic City New Jersey are
advising residents to not use water unless it is boiled. Dr. Rick
Hong, an emergency medicine specialist at Cooper University Hospital asserted,
“To be on the safe side, make sure you boil water first, right after an event
so you don’t get sick from the bacteria, the parasites that might be in the
contaminated water.” This type of danger has pushed many residents to bottled
water, as the safety of their tap water appears to be in question.
Although the everyday
citizen faces increased health care difficulties created by Hurricane Sandy,
the health care system as a whole is also significantly strained and damaged
by the costly hurricane. for example, in its most immediate form, the hurricane
itself bars emergency and health care services from running at efficient levels
due to power outages, flooding, and the unreliability of phone services. As
healthcare providers must struggle to meet the needs of the public, providers
and insurers alike must bear the heightened cost of mitigating the
health-related damage from the hurricane.
On top of the costs of
meeting health needs, Sandy has also lead to the cancellation
of more than 300 American Red Cross blood drives across fourteen afflicted
states. These cancellations have stopped approximately nine thousand lost units
of blood and blood plasma from reaching those patients who are in need. This
situation is exacerbated by the fact that hospitals and emergency health
facilities could face heightened workloads due to Sandy before
the noticeable dip in the blood supply.
Aside from risks to
the everyday citizen ,Hurricane Sandy also poses significant
risks to the health care system at large; and will have significant economic
and healthcare availability consequences in time. Hopefully, future natural disaster damages can be prevented given the knowledge gathered during this particular event.
Sources
1) "storm barrels through region, leaving destructive path." James Barron
2) "rats add health concerns to list of new york's problems." Liz Kilmas. TheBlaze.com
3) "hurricane sandy hinders blood and platelet donations." American Red Cross. PortageLife.com
4) "health: drinking water safety after hurricane sandy." Stephanie Stahl. CBS.com/Philladelphia
