Recovery from Catastrophic Weather: Mold Exposure and Health-Related Training.

摘要

The University of Connecticut/UCONN Health project- Recovery from catastrophic weather: mold exposure and health-related training is focused on research and training to increase knowledge and protective behavior related to mold mitigation and health effects within emergency and recovery responder groups, construction workers, and the public in states affected by Hurricane Sandy. The Connecticut Department of Public Health/CT DPH, Connecticut Council on Occupational Safety and Health Inc./ConnectiCOSH, and Turner Building Science and Design, LLC/TBS are partners in this work. Severe weather, typified by Superstorm Sandy and flooded buildings, brings attention to respiratory health and the threat from indoor pld/bioaerosols. The UCONN team worked to: -better understand why some workers and the public haven’t prepared well-enough to respond to the health risks associated with mold/bioaerosols, and haven’t utilized protective gear and resilient building practices (Aim 1); -make carefully-vetted technical materials and risk messaging accessible (Aim 2) through development of collaterals, a web resource and workshops (Aim 3); -increase health provider awareness of how bioaerosol exposures during hurricane response and recovery activities may affect health (Aim 4); -explore the feasibility of having information available on personal devices (Aim 5); and -disseminate education through multiple channels (including using social media and building synergy with Sandy Science Group contractors) to sustain positive outcomes of the program (Aim 6).