Cigarette Smoking Is The Most Common Form Of Tobacco...

Cigarettes are the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2015). Although cigarette smoking is the most common form of tobacco consumption; all types of tobacco increase the risk of chronic disease and mortality (World Health Organization [WHO], 2016). These chronic diseases result in long term health consequences, such as dependency on medications and/or physical assistance, which increases work absenteeism and decreases work productivity (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2016). Therefore, the societal consequences of smoking include increased mortality rates, decreases in productivity, and extensive health expenditures. Smoking prevalence remains high across the global, national, and state levels. Among the world’s population, 22% of individuals aged 15 years and older were regular smokers in 2011 (WHO, 2016). High prevalence of smoking results in increased development of chronic diseases, resulting in one death every 6 seconds (WHO, 2016). In 2014 an estimated 40 million Americans smoked cigarettes regularly. Meanwhile, more than 16 million Americans suffer from a smoking-related diseases (CDC, 2015). According to Jamal et al. (2015), this results in more than $300 billion in direct health care expenditures and productivity losses each year. In Hawai’i, 1400 deaths are attributable to smoking each year (Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, 2016). This results in $526Show MoreRelatedThe Use of Tobacco Related Products936 Words   |  4 PagesThe use of tobacco related products has over time become a global world epidemic. Day in and out, people die from tobacco related causes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), currently 12% of all deaths among adults aged 30 years and over were attributed to tobacco. 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It began with Native Americans who smoked through a pipe for medical and religious purposes (From the First to the Last Ash: The History, Economics Hazards of Tobacco, no date). This was before the arrival of European, which have heavily traded and popularized this resource during the industrial revolution. But the cigarette has not always been the most common type of consuming tobacco. During the 18thRead MoreWhy Smoking Should Be Regulated1293 Words   |  6 PagesSmoking is one of the main causes of cancer and death in the United States. Any type of tobacco is harmful to the human body. When people smoke, they are suffocating their lungs thus changing the color of their lungs from a reddish pink to a greyish black in the long run. This color change indicates that the lungs are slowly dying; common knowledge amongst people, yet they still ignore these facts. These dangers to human health are the reasons why smoking should be more regulated . 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Meanwhile, several people are suffering from health issues caused by consumption of cigaretteRead MoreTobacco Products : A Dangerous And Potentially Fatal Threat2407 Words   |  10 PagesSean Bower Ms. Crecelius Honors English II - Period 9 17 December 2013 Tobacco Products: A dangerous and potentially fatal threat to future generations that should be replaced or erased Every day, more than 3,600 teens smoke their first cigarette and about 900 teens become daily smokers. Over 15 billion cigarettes are sold worldwide daily. Approximately one out of seven people smoke tobacco products which is about 1,142,857,143 people! 5 million of these smokers die every year and it costs themRead MoreThe Negative Effects of Tobacco1424 Words   |  6 PagesEffects of Tobacco The nicotine can be consumed by chewing tobacco apart from smoking and sniffing .The article provides insight into the hazards of chewing tobacco . If you believe that only smoking is injurious, certainly not. Any form of nicotine consumption is injurious. Tobacco is bad for health, no matter in what form you take it the ill effects are always there. Tobacco are leaves of plant that are used in dried form, they are high in nicotine and consequently addictive in nature. Tobacco can be

Ottoman Empire and Empire Building Free Essays

string(139) " to maintain control of colonies so far away, appointed officials to rule over designated areas and report to the mother country directly\." Compare/Contrast Essay Student Essay Samples Directions: Using the grading rubric, read the attached essays and score them. Be sure to read thoroughly, and remember that you are trying to find ways to GIVE the writer points, rather than trying to find ways to TAKE points away. With that said, however, the information must still be correct in order for a point to be awarded **You MUST record the final score, as well as why you are/are not giving the writer points. We will write a custom essay sample on Ottoman Empire and Empire Building or any similar topic only for you Order Now **You are allowed to give the essay 2 possible scores (Example: I think the essay is either a 3 or a 4). *Please do not look at the official explanation until after you have scored the essays. You don’t get any special reward for getting them right. The goal is to learn something. Essay Question: Within the period from 1450-1800, compare the processes (e. g. political, social, economic) of empire building in the Spanish Empire with the empire-building processes in ONE of the following: The Ottoman Empire OR The Russian Empire. CC Essay #1 (3RR) Between the years 1400 and 1800, new empires appeared on the globe. One of these empires is the Spanish and the other is the Ottoman Empire. Both of these bear similarities but had their differences as well. They both carved out major chunks of the globe and were both major powers in the newly formed global world. Politically, economically, and socially, these empires were similar in many ways, but they had important differences that separated them apart. The Spanish were an up and coming world power in this time period between 1400 and 1800. They soon dominated overseas and trading. Differing from the Ottoman Empire to the east. The Spanish Empire was largely sea based. Their advanced ships and naval technologies allowed the to discover new continents and claim them to be their own. The Spanish set up colonies for the economy to run and they relied heavily on imports from their distant colonies across the Atlantic. They imported large amounts of silver and food goods to run their economy. Also, the foundation of their empire was primarily focused on the spreading of Christianity. They founded the Americas on their slogan â€Å"Gold, God and Glory† as they forcefully converted the natives in the New World. Also, their government was based on a monarchy with lesser nobles beneath him. The Spanish completely opposed the Islamic religion which can be seen it the Spanish Inquisition as they fought the Moors in Spain to make it purely Christian. The Ottoman Empire holds many differences against the Spanish Empire. Unlike the Spanish, the Ottoman Empire as a land-based empire that dominated the Middle East right up to Eastern Europe. The economy of the Ottoman Turks was based on conquering new lands and exploiting them for their value. The Ottoman’s continued to conquer, not only so their economies wouldn’t fall but also to spread their religion, Islam. Unlike the Spanish, they did have some religious tolerance in their empire, but hey mostly forcefully converted who they conquered The Ottoman Empire was an ethnocentric one, not open to too many outside ideas. The Empire was reigned over by a religious leader know as the Sultan, but his advisors, or the viziers were the rue voices of the government. They made those who didn’t covert to Islam their military or the janissaries, unlike the Spanish who just enslaved or killed them. Though having many differences, the Spanish and the Ottoman Empire were actually quite similar. Both were ruthless empires that conquered and dominated. Also, both empires wouldn’t have been established if it wasn’t for the desire to spread their religious beliefs and they both persecuted if necessary. Both of the empires had a lowe class of slaves or serfs that did all the work to maintain production and they both participated in the slave trade out of Africa. The governments of the Spanish and Ottoman Empire were run by religious icons or figures who had absolute control. These empires were among the wealthiest in the world, but only the elite had the money. The economy of both the Spanish and the Ottoman Turks both would not prosper if they had not conquered in the first place. Politically, economically, and socially the Ottoman Empire and the Spanish Empire were similar in many ways. The Spanish and the Ottoman Empire, one dominating the sea and overseas, one dominating the land, were politically similar in governing system, but different tin the way the distributed their policies. Economically, they differed in that the Ottoman’s relied on conquering and the Spanish on colonies but were similar in that they both needed to take over lands that weren’t originally theirs. Socially, the class system was rough and rigid in both with slaves at the bottom and absolute rulers at the top but they differed in the religion that was part of life in the two empires. Both empires would eventually see their downfall but for the time period 1400 – 1800 they made their time worthwhile, similarly and differently. CC Essay #2 (3EE) European colonialism had an enormous impact on the world, then and today. What most tend to overlook, however is the empire of Russia, simultaneously rising in the east. In the 350 years after 1450, Spain and Russia built their empires, each with different locations, political structures , and goals. Spain, during this time period, was colonizing Latin America. A very small mother country, in relation to its colonies, was expanding greatly into weakly established tribal lands. The strongest threat, the Aztecs were conveniently naive and unlucky, leading to their fall, and the ultimately largely uncontested spread of the Spanish Empire. In Russia, however, strongly established nations bordered a large mother country. Russia’s targets were its immediate neighbors. Russia needed careful diplomacy and established treaties and pacts to craftily add land to its empire, as opposed to Spain’s method of forceful takeover. Spain, in order to maintain control of colonies so far away, appointed officials to rule over designated areas and report to the mother country directly. You read "Ottoman Empire and Empire Building" in category "Papers" The landlords in the new colonies, who employed forced labor of natives, had to report to the officials. This was called the hacienda system. The Russians, by virtue of the means which they used to add to their empire, were forced to grant more power to their local governments, leaving them nearly sovereign. The landlords, employing forced labor of serfs, had to report to their local officials, who in turn made their own decisions. Oddly enough, the Spanish colonial system, spread out over the globe, was more centralized than the Russian counterpart. The Spanish colonies were set up in such a manner as to yield the greatest economic benefit to the mother countries. Precious metals were exported in vast quantities to Spain, cementing Spain’s economic influence in the world market. Spain’s silver was especially valuable in China, who would soon only accept silver as currency. Cash crops such as tobacco, sugar and bananas brought more wealth to Spain and only served to make the colonies more dependent on the mother country to staple foods and supplies. Russia, however assimilated the newly acquired land into their culture. Northern Eurasia has very poor farmland and so the farther south Russia expanded, the more crops Russia could make available. Northern Russia’s population could not support itself farming the dirt that the cold tundras provided, but the more warmer lands added to Russia’s empire, the more surplus crop that could be sent north. The most valuable resource of Russia’s empire was the vast numbers of people who could enlisted or recruited. Spain’s empire was meant to create wealth, while Russia’s was meant to create power. Two empires, occupying the same time period, were as different as empires can be. Spain had a spread-out, yet centralized empire governing forcefully conquered lands with the goal of creating great wealth, while Russia created her condensed, loosely organized diplomatic coalition of an empire, with the goal of accumulating power, should war become necessary. CC Essay #3 (3M) The Spanish and Otoman Empire were both involved in the process of empire building during the period of 1450 to 1800. Though both began to develop economically, politically and socially, their underlying strategies for this process differed greatly. The Spanish Empire followed and was helped along by the Catholic Church, while the Ottoman were a Muslim people that were governed by the Islamic religion. The differences between the Spanish and the Ottoman Empires stemmed from their very different religions, though the were both involved in global trade which made many of their developments similar. Economically, both the Spanish and Ottoman Empire had similar aspirations. During this period trade, as well as agriculture dominated. The Ottoman Empire, like the Spanish Empire cultivated their own crops and through importing received their needed goods on one of the developing trade routes such as the Indian Ocean route. However, the Spanish Empire during this period also began the process of widespread colonization along with the Portueugese. The Ottoman Empire began to conquer surrounding regions but was not a part of the major movement into the Americas. Both Empires, however, took part in the developing and growing slave trade during this period. The Ottoman especially used African slaves, as it was against the Islamic faith to use Muslim slaves. Economically the Ottoman and Spanish Empires followed very similar paths, though they differed significantly in their political structures. The Ottoman Empire based on Islam, and the Spanish Empire based on Christianity followed very different political paths. The Spanish Empire, for instance, began the process of colonization which meant the use of administrators as bureus. The Ottoman Empire also moved into surrounding areas in the Middle East, though they favored a more centralized form of government. Also a crucial difference was that the Ottoman Empire followed the Islamic faith. This meant strict adherence to Islamic laws. Similarly, the Spanish Empire had no separation of church and state and received influence from the Catholic Church. This often meant that both political structures were dominated by a leader that was influenced by religious motives, rather than what was best for the state. This religious backing also produced a new practice for the Ottoman, the janissaries, or an army of Christian men taken as prisoners. The Spanish Empire relied on their own men to produce an army, such as the conquistadors which were used in colonization into the Americas. The major differences between the Ottoman and Spanish Empires politically was significant as were those socially. Socially, both empires saw significant influence from religion. For example, the Ottoman Empire followed the practices of the Islamic faith, and remained tolerant of other religions in their Empire. However, those that were non-Muslim were forced to pay a tax, but conversion was still not mandatory. The Spanish Empire was not as tolerant of other religions, and missionaries were widely used to convert others. Also in the Spanish Empire stratifications between those in Latin America and Spanish Europeans developed, along with colonization. The Ottoman Empire promoted relative equality among its people, as all were seen equal under Allah. Nonetheless, however, traditional ideas towards women remained the norm in both empires. Women were seen as child-barers and remained in the home, while in the Ottoman Empire some even were convened to the Islamic faith. Socially, as in other regions, similar developments occurred among the Ottoman and Spanish Empires in their social structure. The period 1450 to 1800 saw many developments in Empire building for the Spanish and Ottoman Empire. Though, like in all other empires, these were forced to go through the tedious work of building a social, political, and economic structure, one major difference existed. In the case of the Ottoman and Spanish Empires religion had the biggest effect on the paths that were taken in building empires. CC Essay # 4 (3 AA) The Spanish Empire and Russian Empires during 1450 – 1800 were two different Empires with different goals in mind. The Spanish were more oncerned with overseas expansion, while the Russians were concerned with Westernization efforts. During 1450-1800 the Spanish were one of the leading countries in terms of overseas expansion. They were one of the first countries to have a representative sailor reach the New World. The reason for their great success in overseas expansion was the support the government had for it. The King and Queen payed for many explorations to n ew lands because they knew the fruit discovery could bear. They were rewarded with new goods and new markets of trade. Soon, Spain began colonizing these newfound lands which benefited them even more. By colonizing lands rich with resources and commodities such as silk, gold, and silver, the Spanish made themselves the primary beneficiary. They were able to control imports and exports from these lands and open new trade routes. Also, in the colonies they made the citizens work for the prospects of Spain, for example searching for gold, or growing prosperous cash crops. The result of all this was that Spain was becoming increasingly powerful and spreading throught the world. The Russian Empire during 1450-1800 was one that was trying to establish itself as a world. It’s leaders were focused using the ways of the West to promote itself. For example Peter the Great who greatly reformed Russia using Western European ideology. He rebuilt buildings, roads, and government systems. BY 1800 Russia, although not exactly a world power, had built itself up from its lowly state 400 years earlier. The major differences between the processes of Empire building between the Spanish and Russia from 1450-1800 was that Spain was already an empire to begin with which made it easier to grow. Spain was already powerful around 1450 while Russia was not. Therefore Russia and Spain had two different mindsets about building up their Empires. Russia was focused on establishing itself through reforms of government, architecture and other things. Spain wanted to expand its empire and did so by using their navy and by taking advantage of these newfoundlands. It was easy for the Spanish to colonize these new lands because they had superior weapons, tactics, and they brought diseases with them that killed off many of the native populations. CC Essay #5 (BBB) Within the period 1450 to 1800 the Spanish and Russian empires grew greatly. Both had changes in political structures, social structure, and economic structure. The political structure of the Spanish empire and Russian empire both changed within 1450 to 1800. The Spanish empire went from a monarchy to a democracy after having a few very bad kings and queens. The Russian empire went also from a monarchy to a democracy. This change also changed the social structure. As in most countries around this time the caste system was released and there was no more of it. With the change of the political structure also came the change of the economical structure. Spain along with Britain, France, and the other western countries, became westernized with factories and the new trade routes faster than Russia. The Russian empire became westernized later because, of course, they were very far away from the major technological countries. But as Spain did Russia became very westernized. The two empires were very similar and Russia seemed to follow in Spains footsteps. AP WORLD Scoring Rubric for 2007 CC Essay: Empire Building in Spain, Russia Ottoman Empire Sample Identifier: 3MScore: 9 Strong thesis in first paragraph. (1 pt) Addresses similarities at beginning of 2nd paragraph and differences in first paragraph of page 2. (2 pts) Evidence abounds. (2 pts) Direct comparison in 5th line of page 2. (1 pt) Analysis on 4th line of page 3. (1 pt) Two expanded core points for thesis and rich evidence. Sample Identifier: 3RRScore: 8 Thesis is found at beginning of last paragraph. (1 pt). Addresses similarities in 5th line, page 1. Address differences in 3rd line of the 2nd paragraph. (2 pts) Rich in evidence. 2 pts). Direct comparison found on page 2, 1st paragraph: â€Å"Unlike the Spanish†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1 pt). Analysis is found on page 3, at top: â€Å"Also, both empires wouldn’t have been established if†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1 pt). Expanded core for evidence and comparisons. A strong 8. Sample Identifier: 3JJScore: 7 Thesis is found in the last sentence of the essay: â€Å"†¦politically, and socially different but economically both needed to expand†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1 pt). Similarities are addressed in the narrative just above the thesis. Differences are addressed at the beginning of the essay (2 pts). Enough evidence for (2 pts). Direct comparison is found in middle of page 1: â€Å"The Spanish however†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1 pt). The analysis point follows immediately: â€Å"It was easier for the Spanish to expand rather than the Russians because†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Use asset model to ignore references to Ottoman Empire. A solid 7. Sample Identifier: 3CScore: 6 No thesis at beginning or end of the essay that compares (similarities and differences) of the process of empire building in Spain and Russia. Addresses similarities at the end of page 1, â€Å"†¦and Russia too felt the pull of expansionism. Beginning of the essay addresses a difference just before â€Å"because†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (2 pts). Rich in Spanish evidence on page 1. Russian evidence is on page 2, 3rd line. (2 pts) Direct comparison in first sentence of page 2, which references the previous sentence. (1 pt) First sentence of last paragraph on page 1 isn’t a direct comparison because it is not true of Russia in 1450. Analysis of a comparison is found in the 3rd line of page 2, â€Å"†¦so Russia expanded eastward†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Evidence may be found within analysis or within a direct comparison. ) Addresses similarities on line 10 of page 1. Sample Identifier: 3EEScore: 5 No thesis. Addresses differences at beginning of essay. (1pt) Especially strong in Spanish evidence. 2 examples of Russian evidence. (2 pts) Direct comparison in second paragraph: â€Å"In Russia, however†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1 pt) Analysis of differences between Spanish and Russian empires on first half of page 2. Sample Identifier: 3RScore: 4 No thesis. Addresses similarities in middle of first paragraph, and differences beginning in 4th line of page 2, in regard to the way each empire accumulated wealth as they expanded. 2 pts) Evidence for Spain: silver, encomiendas, haciendas and â€Å"mining† (other than silver). Ottoman evidence in 2nd paragraph: â€Å"religion played a big role when building the empire. † (2 pts) Last paragraph unscorable because the argument is unquantifiable. Sample Identifier: 3AAScore: 3 No thesis. (â€Å"†¦Russians were concerned with Westernization efforts† does not explicitly address empire building p rocess). Addresses differences in first paragraph. (1 pt) Evidence for Spanish empire building on most of page 1. Russian empire building evidence begins in 1st paragraph of page 2 (2 pts). Attempt at direct comparison at bottom of page 2 is historically inaccurate. Sample Identifier: 3DDDScore: 2 No thesis. Addresses similarities in first two sentences of 4th paragraph. Addresses differences in first sentence of 3rd paragraph. 2 relevant examples of evidence for Spain, none for Ottoman Empire. No direct comparison or analysis. Sample Identifier: 3BBBScore: 1 No thesis. Addresses similarity in first sentence of second paragraph. Not sufficient evidence supporting empire building in Spain and Russia. No direct comparison or analysis. How to cite Ottoman Empire and Empire Building, Papers

Emergency Preparedness free essay sample

Improving Flood Emergency Preparedness in League City Abstract This paper explores a vital need to the residents of League City in regards to flood emergency response. Based on online research from the City of League City Mitigation Plan, Galveston County Mitigation Plan, and The Council for Excellence in Government, a local flood preparedness campaign focusing on a coordinated community emergency preparedness educational class is recommended. While here are many resources in place for League City residents in regards to emergency management, a problem lies in the lack of knowledge residents have about this information. This paper examines how a local flood preparedness campaign focusing on a coordinated community emergency preparedness class will improve preparedness in League City. A local flood preparedness campaign with focus on a coordinated community emergency preparedness conference is recommended to assist the residents of League City in the event of a flood. Floods have been and continue to be the most frequent, destructive, and costly natural hazard facing not only League City, but the state of Texas as well. Last, we will offer suggestions to enhance personal preparedness for this type of emergency and similar community emergencies. Summary of Events and People The Neighborhood is a town with a population of 64,200 people, one-third of which are elderly. It is situated along a river and located west of a forest. For the last five days, a wildfire has been burning out of control in the forest and is nearing the town. This fire, spread by an earlier-than-expected windy season, is destroying numerous acres of land. Firefighters are trying to control this wildfire in the forest, as health care workers are working to help patients with restrictive and obstructive lung disease, experiencing difficulty with breathing. City officials have urged citizens in the Neighborhood not to go outside, unless absolutely necessary. This advice was given due to the poor air quality from ll the smoke blown by the winds, in the direction toward town. The poor air quality is impacting all of the town’s population; especially those with lung disease. Both the hospital and outpatient clinics are filled to capacity with patients. The city officials have also advised the Neighborhood’s citizens, that currently there is no direct fire danger, but, if the fire gets any closer, and the town is in danger, they will notify the people in advance. Two of the Neighborhood’s inhabitants are Jimmy Bley and his wife, Cecelia, who have been married for 56 years. Both are Native Americans, in their mid-70s and they both have have health issues. Jimmy suffers hearing loss and moderate emphysema, which he says â€Å"it’s not that bad†, yet he frequently is short of breath. Jimmy knows that if he ‘pushes’ himself, he can suffer exhaustion and be ill for days. Jimmy has smoked for most of his life, and has no intention of stopping. Cecelia suffers from osteoarthritis that she says is â€Å"an annoyance†. During the poor air quality alert, Cecelia lets Jimmy know that the dryer is broken, yet again. Jimmy knows that he needs to go to the hardware store to purchase the parts and repair the dryer. Cecelia wants the dryer fixed, but Jimmy knows that he needs to wait until the air quality improves before he goes outdoors. One of the Bley daughters comes over to take Cecelia to the laundromat so she can finish their laundry. The middle school is scheduled, over the weekend, as the site of the annual science fair. More than fifty children from the school are going to this science fair. The event has not been cancelled in spite of the advice to stay indoors due to the poor air quality. The school nurse has assessed one student, in particular, for breathing problems; increased respiratory rate, a cough and wheezing during this week. The Neighborhood also has a senior center which offers activities, as well as health screenings for the geriatric population. The nurse who runs the center has thirty-plus years of geriatric experience. She has educated seniors to stay inside, away from the smoke irritants in the air, after noting their increased oxygen use and coughing. Actions of Health Care Workers Actions at the Emergency Room and Hospital Neighborhood’s hospital is filled with patients who are ill with exacerbations of asthma and emphysema related to the poor air quality and smoke. The hospital’s emergency department calls for in-patient beds but there are no beds available. There are more patients needing beds than there are beds available. The emergency room nurses keep calling the floors to request beds, and none are available. The staff morale is low because they all feel the stress related to the pressure of early discharge for patients to make beds available. The nurses are kept busy with discharges and admissions, and are feeling overwhelmed and under-staffed. Hospital administration has decided to implement mandatory overtime adding to the stress of the staff. Actions at the Senior Center Many seniors have been using their oxygen more frequently. One client has told her he is coughing since the fire began. The geriatric nurse, Karen, who works at the center has advised many seniors to stay indoors and away from the irritants in the air. She has provided health screenings and education to the center’s clients for the last five years. Actions at the School The school nurse, Violet provides coverage for the elementary, middle school and high school in the town. She often feels that she is unable to be as effective as she would like related to the extensive needs of so many students. This week, a teacher sent a student to the office because of her coughing. Violet assessed the student who had an increased respiratory rate, coughing and wheezing. After the assessment, Violet called the student’s mother to request she come and pick up her daughter from school to be seen at the doctor’s office. Violet also provided education for the student’s mother regarding the benefit of keeping a metered dose rescue inhaler at the school. Resources for Local, State and National Response Assistance Keeping the community safe in times of disaster is a collaborative effort between community, state and national agencies. Stanhope and Lancaster, (2008) discuss local community healths responsibility in a disaster, In case of an event, state and local health departments in the affected area will be expected to collect data and accurately report the situation, to respond appropriately to any type of emergency, and to ensure the safety of the residents of the immediate area, while protecting those just outside the danger zone. This level of knowledge—to enable public health agencies to anticipate, prepare for, recognize, and respond to terrorist threats or natural disasters such as urricanes or floods—has required a level of interstate and federal-local planning and cooperation that is unprecedented for these agencies (pg. 61, Para. 5) The American Red Cross is a nonprofit organization which helps people after a disaster by providing immediate needs such as food, water, clothing and shelter. (What Happens Now, 2008). The Red Cross could have been accessed to help the Neighborhood with the fire danger. American Red Cross, (2010) writes, â€Å"The American Red Cross is where people mobilize to help their neighbors-across the street, across the country, and across the world in emergencies† (Pg. 1 Para. 1). Another local resource to assist during times of crisis, is a local medical reserve corps. In this writers area, the Kootenai County Medical Reserve Corps works with the state of Idaho to provide medical and non-medical volunteers to assist the public’s health throughout the year and in times of crisis. The Medical Reserve Corps of North Idaho, (2010, explain how the corps recruit healthcare professionals (active and retired) throughout all five counties of the District– physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists, social workers, EMS, veterinarians and medical/health students. Non-medical members who can serve as administrative, clerical or support staff during a major public health emergency †¦are also recruited†¦ has volunteers from medical, public health professionals, and epidemiologists that help improve disaster preparedness and response capabilities for their local jurisdiction. ( pg. 5, para 4) These volunteers can assist an over-taxed medical system to help triage patients and support medical or other staff. A federal resource for areas struck by fire disaster is the United States Fire Administration, (USFA), under the umbrella of FEMA. Per USFA’s annual report, (2010) The United States Fire Administration (USFA) recognizes the challenges presented by the Nation’s fire problem, and continues its efforts to contribute to the safety of not only the residents of this Nation, but our firefighters and emergency responders and allied professionals as well. ( pg iii, para. ) USFA offers advance training and education in many areas for emergency preparedness, and according to the 2010 annual report, †¦continued to provide career and volunteer fire service education and training at the National Fire Academy (NFA) through a vast amount of courses and programs to include, but not limited to, fire prevention and suppression technologies, incident management, leadership and advanced managerial skills†¦ Since the creation of the USFA and its programs of public education and awareness initiatives, training, research, technology development, data collection and analysis, and partnering with other fire safety interests, the non-fire-service death and injury rates have improved steadily. USFA remains committed to providing a solid foundation for our fire and emergency services stakeholders in prevention, preparedness, and response. ( pg. iii, para. 9) Besides full-time staff, USFA and FEMA have disaster assistance employees on standby, who can be deployed when a disaster strikes. According to FEMA, (2011), FEMA has 7,474 employees across the country working to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. All of these federal resources are ones that might be accessed by a local community experiencing a disaster, which is overtaxing local resources. These agencies also have resources available to help a community prepare before disaster strikes. There are grants, which can be applied for, by local communities to help with training and staffing for fire prevention. Stanhope and Lancaster,(2008) remind us of the invaluable resources from Homeland Security, The DHS orks with first responders throughout the United States and through the development of programs such as the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), trains people to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their communities( pg. 60, para. 2). By having proper resources, being prepared for emergencies and having a plan, a local community can prevent the loss of life, while moving toward recovery faster. How Public Health Care Teams Can Enhance Personal Preparedness Public health care teams have partnerships with volunteer agencies, as well as law enforcement and government agencies for safety and disaster assistance. Because of these alliances, communities are better equipped to respond to an emergency. Public health can increase the community’s awareness by providing education regarding emergency preparedness. Educating the public so they can be prepared for any disaster, will help people respond in an organized manner and reduce confusion and panic. Public health can help people prepare by conducting mock drills, as well as assisting people put together a personal disaster plan. Public health nurses can also help by providing education regarding specific ways for individuals and communities to prepare for emergency situations. Suggestions to Enhance Personal Preparedness There are many things that a person can do to enhance personal emergency preparedness. The very first thing is to understand what risks exist in a persons environment. Once risks are identified, then proactive and specific planning can occur. Individuals should have ready access to the following in case of an emergency; important documents such as insurance policies, home deeds, current medication lists, enough medications on hand for at least 10-to14 days, cell phones, battery operated radios, food, and water ( American Red Cross , 2012). In the case of wildfires, a home owner must be aware of their risks. Clearing ten to thirty feet of brush space around the home is the best defense according to FEMA, (2012), as well as having an outside water source. Fire Wise, a project of the National Fire Protection Association, (2011), also provides homeowner safety suggestions, The Home Ignition Zone begins with at least30 feet of space immediately around the home and extending out as far as 100 to 200 feet depending on the characteristics of the surrounding forests or grasslands. Creating and maintaining the Home Ignition Zone reduces or eliminates ignition hazards presented by vegetation (by thinning or spacing, removing dead leaves and needles and pruning shrubs and tree branches) and combustible construction,(wooden porches, decks, storage sheds, outbuildings, swing sets and fences). WHY? Reducing ignition hazards improves the chances hat the structure will survive a wildfire Part of being prepared is understanding and taking responsibility for methods to stay safe; with fires, this includes taking steps to keep a home safe by understanding environmental planning and fire-safe landscaping. Another important aspect is to understand ones limits, and plan emergency staffing resources appropriately. The Neighborhood hospital was understaffed, and had not planned for additional space for an overflow and large influx of patients, related to emergencies. Stanhope and Lancaster , (2008) cite Kowalczyk, (2004),in discussing the patient safety threat of understaffing for nurses, In a follow-up report, Keeping Patients Safe: Transforming the Work Environment of Nurses, the IOM (2003) stated that nurses’ long work hours pose one of the most serious threats to patient safety, as fatigue slows reaction time, saps energy, and diminishes attention to detail. The group called for state regulators to pass laws barring nurses from working more than 12 hours a day and 60 hours a week—even if by choice. The hospital administration has announced they will be starting mandatory overtime immediately; add this to the already stressed nursing staff, and a recipe for unsafe practice may be the result. The hospital would be serving their patients better if they requested assistance rom the local medical reserve corps; setting up a triage area to better determine the needs of the patients. Some beds could be set up at the senior center, local schools and/or outpatient clinics to care for those who did not have as acute needs as some others. One last suggestion, to help minimize risk would be to cancel the science fair event; this would serve to keep more people from venturing outdoors and breathing the smoke-filled air. Conclusion Emergencies and disasters happen when we least expect it; although some events are not controllable, we can predict risk, and then prepare for potential emergencies. Public Health has many different roles in emergency preparedness and disaster mediation. One role is to provide education for communities to help people prepare individual plans, thereby minimizing risk from disasters. Another role is to organize and manage a response to emergencies, while effecting collaboration with other agencies and organizations. One of the keys to public safety is proactive preparation and education regarding approaches to minimize the risks from disasters. Part of this is conducting a mock emergency drill, prior to a real emergency occurring. With knowledge, preparation and collaboration between community, state and federal levels of public health organizations, lives can be saved and property loss minimized when a disaster occurs. A community’s ability to recover faster, depends upon the proactive planning by public health when assisting the community.

Legal Aspect of Health Care Essay Example

Legal Aspect of Health Care Essay The main goal is always to provide the best healthcare possible to a patient given the physical state they are in. There weren’t any expectations of miracles or extraordinary risk to bear but thankfulness to the doctor for doing his very best. Even if the result was death, the thoughts were that the doctor did all he could by making the patient better and for most, the goal was always to prevent demise. Our time’s have changed so has the preponderance of this paternalistic belief regarding the decision made concerning a persons care. Has a deterioration of trust in the provider tighten the reigns of control and switched the power to the hands of the consumer? Whatever the underlying cause may be, there has been an enormous shift in legislation since the days of old where its modifications are now holding physicians to an elevated level of responsibility when it comes to the degree of communication anticipated by the modern patient. This â€Å"general principle of law† that charges the physician with the obligation of divulging the risks linked to a recommended sequence of care will enable the patient to take consideration of their own welfare when choosing to undergo treatment, selecting a substitution or foregoing care and is known as Informed Consent (Dabbagh, 1999). To put it simply, informed consent allows the patient to be trained in the details of their condition, purpose of treatment, dangers and alternatives to come to a more knowledgeable resolution. There are four elements of informed consent that signify sufficient admonition: †¢Adequate disclosure of information. Patient’s comprehension of information. †¢Patient’s freedom of choice. †¢Patient’s capacity for decision making (Ascension Health, 2007). The following are also some elements that a plaintiff must make evident in a court of law to prove liability of informed consent. †¢Failure to adequately in form. †¢If adequately informed, patient would not consent. †¢Adverse consequences occurred. †¢Plaintiff suffered injuries. An evaluation of the case study involving Mrs. Sparza, as the circumstances apply to these four components of informed consent, will build a greater understanding and relevance for legal action. We will write a custom essay sample on Legal Aspect of Health Care specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Legal Aspect of Health Care specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Legal Aspect of Health Care specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Mrs. Sparza seemed to have every thing in order as she and her son reviewed and signed her admissions paperwork on the day of her surgery, but things started to unravel quickly as she was being prepared and taken into the operating room. A key piece of information to point out is that Mrs. Sparza had prepared legal documentation, known as the Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare, designating her son and daughter as the medical decision makers if she became incapacitated. After receiving muscle relaxants prior to surgery, Mrs. Sparza was presented with a Surgical consent form which she was not able to understand because she did not speak English, could not comprehend under the influence of medication and was altered from the original parameters of surgery by including both eyes. In these facts lie the perpetrations of the first element to adequately disclose this new information before her capacity for decision was greatly disrupted. The doctor’s efforts to bring in an interpreter did not change the fact that her brain functions were altered due to the effects of the muscle relaxant, therefore it would have been illegal to ask her to make a decision based on he binding Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare. Benak and Applegate supports that Mrs. Sparza’s distorted mental state took away her legal authority to give consent and immediately transferred this liability to her son and daughter (Journal for Forensic Nursing, 2006). Her initial refusal of the procedure reveals that if she were ade quately informed there is a possibility she would not have consented to surgery on both eyes consequently establishing one of the four elements against the physician for failure to obey the statutes of informed consent. In the article Grandmother’s Plea, the author states that the provider could have consulted the hospitals ethics committee in determining the competency of a patient in making a decision for or against treatment if he was unsure (Salladay, 2000). Instead, it is believed that Dr. Pinnette coaxed Mrs. Sparza into making the decision to proceed with the surgery. After the operation was completed and Mrs. Sparza was in an inpatient status, she had a heart attack, lost the use of her kidneys and went into a coma. The addition of these three adverse outcomes along with all the improper acts committed thus far, confirm the third element that could be central in convicting Dr. Pinnette of medical malpractice. In the introduction of the case study, Mrs. Sparza made a declaration that life support be terminated and no heroic efforts be taken in the event she succumbs to a coma. During the notification of the children, the physician was duty-bound to consult them as agents to Mrs. Sparza before placing her on dialysis. In the Journal of Medical Ethics it is stated that medical treatment allowed without consent is unlawful and could cause the defendant to be prosecuted for battery or a civil action for damages (Ferguson, 1997). When Dr. Lox refused to terminate life support he willfully disobeyed Mrs. Sparza’s end of life wishes and the decision made by her agents which implicated him for legal pursuit as well. The nurse’s compliance with the family’s request for comfort medicine in the form of morphine is legal given the order is validated through the physician. According to the position statement provided by the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association, the rule of double effect as it pertains to comfort medicines states: †¢The act must be good or morally neutral regardless of its consequence. †¢The clinician must intend to relieve pain although death may be foreseen but not intended. †¢The view must not be that the patient needs to die to relieve pain. †¢The benefit of achieving pain relief outweighs the risk of hastening death (Ersek et al, 2003). Contrary to this rule, Mrs. Esparza’s nurse administered the lethal dose to ease pain and expedite death which is a direct defiance of the purpose of comfort medicine and could cause him/her to be implicated in the suit. It is apparent in the large scale insolence of medical judgment that each guilty party connected was thoroughly unaware of their limits and the rights of the patient set forth by law. It is also probable that the physicians and nurse involved fully understood their roles but wished to disregard those boundaries which can result in the surrender of their practices and the degradation of their current lifestyles. Nonetheless, it is certain that the penalty each person faces will never prevail over the basic human right to have a choice. References: 1. Ascension Health (2007). Healthcare Ethics: Principles of Informed Consent. Retrieved on January 18, 2010 from http://www. ascensionhealth. org/ethics/public/key_principles/informed_consent. asp. 2. Benak, L. D. and Applegate, S. (2006). Informed Consent and Issues Surrounding Lack of Capacity vs. Incompetence. Journal of Forensic Nursing 2 (1), pg. 48. Retrieved on 17 Aug 2009, from Proquest. 3. Dabbagh, N. (1999). Informed Consent Case Study. Retrieved on January 18, 2010 from http://itdev. gmu. edu/projects/ollbook/GallBladderUn/history3. htm. 4. Ersek, M. et al (2003). Providing Opioids at the End of Life. Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association. Retrieved on January 18, 2010 from http://www. hpna. org/filemaintenance_view. aspx? ID=27. 5. Ferguson, P. (December 1997). Causing death or allowing to die? Developments in the law. Journal of Medical Ethics 23 (6), 368. Retrieved on 17 Aug 2009, from Proquest. 6. Salladay, S. A. (August 2000). Grandmothers plea. Nursi ng 30 (8), 66. Retrieved on 17 Aug 2009, from Proquest.