October 1, 2017
Get out that old LP of the Beach Boys warning us in 1971 to not go near the water and create your own lyrics thanking ANHE’s Cook, Curtis, and Huffling for their report: Water and Health – Opportunities for Nursing Action. Go to: Water and Health.
I know you are going to read the report! How sweet is this – this month’s Policy and Advocacy Workgroup call will be devoted to a webinar that will review the report and actions. This Thursday, the 5th, 3-4pm East Coast Time. Go to Water Webinar.
EPA
The report teaches us the role of the Clean Water Rule. The report calls out how the rule works and the potential repeal. Read this section of the report then find your way to the EPA process regarding the proposed changes. Go to: EPA and for the schedule of meetings go to Meetings.
Usage
I have read Cadillac Desert by Marc Reisner, Where The Water Goes by David Owen and for fictional side bar The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi, yet I am always humbled by how ignorant I am. The report (and you can still find it at Water and Health) tells me that over 40% of our freshwater withdrawal is for use by thermoelectric plants (coal, nuclear, natural gas). I am amazed at my cluelessness. To round it out – 37% for irrigation, 13% drinking water, 5% industrial, and 4% left for Other. Climate change has again, as too too often, stuck its head into the room!
Lead
Among the many great sections in the report is one on Lead. The report speaks to lead in schools and day care centers, and state policies that protect our children in those facilities. The west coast where I live gets a solid F. Though a couple states get a passing C- or D, that grade would get you only a hairy eyeball in this house.
What To Do
Please look over the Oppotunities for Action section. Make your checklist – what am I going to do! ANHE has an active Policy committee. Please go to Policy and Advocacy and participate.
Final Word
The report is only 25 pages. Do yourself, your family, your patients, and your community a favor – read it. I know you are going to have to put off watching that episode of Doctor Who, but isn’t streaming great, the episode will still be there tomorrow!
Conferences
Michigan Green Healthcare conference – October 4-5, 2017
APHA annual conference – November 4-8, 2017
APHN annual conference – April 29 – May 2, 2018
Clean Med – May 7-9, 2018
ACHNE annual conference – June 7-9, 2018
Webinars and Courses
Course – Case Studies in Environmental Medicine – Case Studies
Course – Chemicals of Concern – Six Classes
Webinar – EPA Schools – Archived
Webinar – EPA Rules and Children – Archived
Webinar – Mental Health and Climate – Archived
ANHE Website
Go to ANHE.
ANHE has a number of workgroups. Education, Practice, Research, Policy, and Climate. If you are interested in one of them, go to the pull down menu ‘Work Groups’ at the ANHE site.
Donate
ANHE is your nursing organization that works for you on environmental issues. Keep it going, go to Donate.
Be Well!
Tom Engle
Newsletter Ed.
tsengle@frontier.com
