California wildfires can threaten community health

Wildfires increase the risk of respiratory distress, chronic disease and other ailments.


Many Californians awoke last week to ashen skies, school closings, and evacuations as wildfires erupted across the state, according to an article on the Direct Relief website.

The blazes began at the same time the state’s two main power companies, Pacific Gas and Electric and Southern California Edison, turned off electricity to counties across California in an effort to prevent wildfires.

The outages disrupted operations at health centers and clinics, forcing many of them to shut down locations, redirect patients, and struggle to house temperature-sensitive vaccines, the article said.

Active fires also bring health risk to respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms caused by inhaling fine particles or post-traumatic stress. When healthcare organizations close, the problems are compounded, especially for people too poor or unwell to leave the area. 

Read the article.



October 17, 2019


Topic Area: Safety


Recent Posts

3 Pillars of Stronger Cybersecurity in Healthcare

These strategies can help healthcare facilities stay ahead of evolving cyber threats.


Meridian Acquires Medical Office Building in Pasadena, CA

The property was acquired for approximately $13.35 million.


Expanded Maternity Unit Opens at Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill

The expanded maternity unit supports a dedicated flow from arrival through delivery and recovery.


Resilience Planning in Remote Healthcare Facilities

Assumptions about equipment failures and response times change when a hospital is hundreds of miles from the nearest major city.


Missouri Southern State University Opens Roy Blunt Health Science Innovation Center

The project broke ground in April 2024.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.