1. Impact of Sandstorms on Health & Safety of the Public
Keeping the dust down
Impact of Sandstorms on
Health & Safety of the Public

2. Objectives Understand why Public Health is concerned with sandstorms.
Know who is at risk.
Know why a group is considered high risk.
Know what you can do to protect yourself and others.
Share information resources.

4. Why is Public Health worried about Sandstorms?
Our Fundamental Mission and Duty:
Acute Care focus is on restoring individual health, whereas Public Health focus is preventing disease / harm through mitigation.
Promoting Environmental Health & Safety is included in the mission.
Protection of citizens through education

5. Why is Public Health worried about Sandstorms?
Legislative Reasons
The Clean Air Act of 1970.
Natural Events Policy.
Clean Air Act Amendments 1990.
Clean Air Act
Environmental Protection Agency
Arbitrary limits for 6 major air pollutants established for health reasons.
One of these 6 was particulate matter
Good idea / best of intentions but was poorly implemented
Heavy handed approach led to push back from states
Determined that in many cases these levels were unattainable which led to widespread practice of “non-attainment” designation
Limits were set using health-based criteria for 6 major pollutants
Natural Event Policy (NEP)
Western states joined forces with EPA to develop a more common-sense policy to address high particulate matter pollution resulting from Natural Events.
Provides more flexibility to deal with problem.
Gives more control and responsibility to local governments.
Totally unlike the traditional approach of “non-attainment” designation

6. Why is Public Health worried about Dust and Sandstorms?
Health Concerns
Inhaled deeply into lungs, dust can:
Increase breathing problems,
Damage lung tissue,
Trigger allergic reactions.

7. Why is Public Health worried about Dust and Sandstorms?
Health Concerns
Inhaled deeply into lungs, dust can:
Aggravate existing health problems:
Asthma,
Bronchitis,
Cardiovascular disease.

8. Why is Public Health worried about Dust and Sandstorms?
Health Concerns
Prolonged and unprotected exposure of the respiratory system in a dust storm can also cause silicosis, which, if left untreated, will lead to asphyxiation.
Silicosis is an incurable condition that may also lead to lung cancer.
Farmers Lung
Dust Pneumonia

10. Why is Public Health worried about Dust and Sandstorms?
Health Concerns
There is also the danger of keratoconjunctivitis sicca ("dry eyes") which, in severe cases without immediate and proper treatment, can lead to blindness.

14. Why is Public Health worried about Dust and Sandstorms?
Health Concerns
The dry air and dust causes chapped and cracked fingers and hands, reducing manual dexterity.
The areas of the body that collect sand and dust, such as the ears, armpits, groin, knees and feet, are likely to experience chafing, abrasion and, possibly, fungal, viral or bacterial infections, such as Valley Fever, Ringworm or MRSA.

17. Why is Public Health worried about Dust and Sandstorms?
Safety
Reduced visibility,
Disorientation / Loss of Direction,
Risk of injury.

18. Close to home
Two People Killed, Two Critical After 17 Vehicle Pileup on Interstate 20 in Midland County.mp4

19. Why is Public Health worried about Dust and Sandstorms?
Economic Impact
Impaired health of animals and vegetation,
Reduced crop production,
Reduced quality of life.
Impair health of animals and vegetation
Care for companion animals, lower supply of meat animals and vegetable crops leads to higher prices if demand remains constant
(ex: E-coli contaminated Tomatoes and spinach)
Reduce crop production
Less wheat, less cotton lead to higher bread and clothing
Reduce quality of life
Dealing with health issues
Lowered income imposes limitations

21. Who is at risk? Groups at risk due to health reasons include:
Infants, children, & teens,
Elderly,
People with asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, or other respiratory aliments.
Infants, children, & teens
Immune system not yet fully developed
Elderly
Immune system worn out
People with asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, or other respiratory aliments.
Dust has direct impact on cardiovascular and respiratory systems

22. Who is at risk? Groups at risk due to health reasons include:
People with heart disease,
Healthy adults working or exercising vigorously outdoors.

23. Who is at risk?
Groups at risk due to safety and / or economic reasons include:
Everyone.

24. What can I do to protect the health of myself and others?
Avoid going outside during severe dust storms,
Wear some type of covering over your nose and mouth,
Wash your face and eyelids several times per day to reduce the dust buildup.

25. What can I do to protect the health of myself and others?
Breathe through a wet cloth or coat the nostrils with a small amount of petroleum jelly to keep the membranes from drying out,
Protect your lips with lip balm.
Don't wear contact lenses. The sand will cling to the lens and may easily damage your eye.

26. What can I do to protect the health of myself and others?
Wear goggles to protect your eyes whenever possible during sandstorms,
Wear long sleeve shirts,
Button top button and turn collar up on shirt,
Use a moisturizing lotion to protect the hands and skin.

27. What can I do to maintain the safety of myself and others?
If you are working outside during a sandstorm:
Take cover inside a solid structure if possible,
Watch for flying debris.
If walking / working outdoors
Take cover.
Inside solid building is ideal, but you may not be near a building
Watch for flying debris.
Tree limbs may break and street signs may become loose during the strong wind gusts which accompany sandstorms.
Protect your head

28. What can I do to maintain the safety of myself and others?
If you are driving:
Pull over and get off of the road as far as possible,
Do NOT turn on hazard lights if stopped as this increases the likelihood of a rear-end collision.

29. What can I do to maintain the safety of myself and others?
If you driving during a sandstorm and MUST continue driving:
Keep both hands on the steering wheel,
Slow down,
Turn hazard lights on.
If you are driving and CANNOT stop:
Keep both hands on the wheel and slow down.
Use the center divider line as a guide.
Honk horn periodically.
Watch for objects blowing across the roadway and into your path.
Keep a safe distance from cars in adjacent lanes as strong gusts could push a car outside its lane of travel.
Take extra care in a high-profile vehicle such as a truck, van, SUV, or when towing a trailer, as these are more prone to be pushed or even flipped by high wind gusts.

30. What can I do to maintain the safety of myself and others?
If you are driving during a sandstorm and MUST continue driving:
Use the center divider line as a guide,
Honk horn periodically,
Watch for objects blowing across the roadway and into your path.

31. What can I do to maintain the safety of myself and others?
If you are driving during a sandstorm and MUST continue driving:
Keep a safe distance from cars in adjacent lanes as strong gusts could push a car outside its lane of travel,
Take extra care in a high-profile vehicle such as a truck, van, SUV, or when towing a trailer, as these are more prone to be pushed or even flipped by high wind gusts.

32. Haboob don’t play
Driving Through Arizona Dust Storm (Haboob)- July 21, 2012.mp4

33. Resources Ready.gov National Weather Service CDC
Texas Department of Transportation
Arizona Department of Transportation

34. Resources Adventure Magazine: How to survive a sandstorm
How to prepare for a dust storm
How to Survive a Dust Storm or Sandstorm
Scouting Emergency Preparedness

35. Resources Desert Survival Skills Survival Kit for Desert Travel
Ken Burns: The Dust Bowl
The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl

36. Recap Discussed why Public Health is concerned with sandstorms.
Identified who is at risk.
Discussed why a group is considered at risk.
Discussed protective measures.
Shared resources

38. Thank you
John Floyd