Environmental Disasters and Public Health

Catalog description

The course will rely on lecture and small group work for students to gain in-depth understanding of factors contributing to and necessary responses to natural and man-made disasters. Each lecture will utilize a historical example of a natural or man-made disaster to, where applicable, describe issues relating to risk assessment and preparedness, environmental and human health consequences, and appropriate public health and medical responses. Specific emphasis will be applied to health consequences of disasters including acute illnesses caused by disaster-related exposures, exacerbations of chronic disease caused by interruptions in health services, risk of transmissible disease, mental health, trauma, and issues relating so disruptions of security and law and order. Where applicable, emphasis will be applied to the ongoing and escalating climate crisis – specifically its effect on disaster risk and response.