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AgriSafe in Action:
June 2021
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AgriSafe on the COVID-19 Vaccine Frontline |
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Servant leadership in nursing is a concept of servant first. AgriSafe Clinical Director Charlotte Halverson has answered her calling in servitude to her Iowa community by listening with the heart, giving of herself with compassionate care, and going beyond the ordinary for the betterment of her Iowa community. Charlotte has volunteered her time by assisting in vaccinating over 15,000 individuals, to build protection against the COVID virus. Ingrained in Charlotte’s spirit is an attitude of caring for others first.
The strength and compassion of rural healthcare providers is evident throughout the nation. Time and again, they have made the public health needs of their communities a priority in the battle against COVID and in response to natural disasters.
"I am honored and proud to be a part of this workforce serving our agricultural producers, farmworkers, and their families."- Halverson
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What are mRNA vaccines and how do they work? |
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Do you find that your patients have questions about the COVID-19 vaccines? Many are encountering medical terminology they’ve never heard before. This, when combined with widespread misinformation, is making many vaccine hesitant. If your patients have questions, consider pointing them to this new article in the Genetics Home Reference section of MedlinePlus. MedlinePlus, a service of the National Library of Medicine, offers easy to understand health information for patients. This short article introduces the concept of Messenger RNA, explains how it works, and explains the authorization process for vaccines from the FDA – all in easy to understand language! Share this and more with your patients today! Click here to view the article!
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June Health Spotlight:
Men’s Health, Alcohol, and Agriculture
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Drinking claims the lives of 1 in 10 working adults aged 20-64. In fact, 75% of deaths attributed to excessive drinking are men. Public health statistics are clear, men outnumber women regarding reported alcohol use, binge drinking, and alcohol use disorder (CDC). A 2020 article by Rutt from the University of Nebraska Medical Center regarding alcohol misuse in agricultural workers supports the significant risk factors that exist in the industry.
Some medical consequences of excessive alcohol use include increased risk of cancer, dementia, injury, hypertension, infertility, and suicide. Males have higher alcohol related hospitalization rates than females (CDC). So, what this does this mean for a primarily male dominated industry that coexists with countless stressors and inherent work hazards? Are we doing enough to reach agricultural producers about the consequences of alcohol for their physical, mental, and business health?
Total Worker Health (NIOSH) recommends workplace processes that identify and refer workers for unsafe behaviors related to substance use. However, agriculture producers often work in isolation. Driving is a daily occurrence in agricultural work sometimes in or operating large equipment. The producer may be the CEO, manager, and workforce for the family-owned business. This often places a family in the awkward position of policing and confronting unsafe alcohol-related work behaviors with little to no control of the outcome. Finding alcohol dependence treatment in rural areas is also a challenge. Outpatient alcohol detox is in the best situations challenging. Lack of close supervision, limited patient commitment and lack of local resources create dangerous patient outcomes.
Alcohol acceptance, and generational use among this population are conversational barriers. Complexities of alcohol use in this population require that agricultural professionals recognize these risks and address the problem. Health and safety in agriculture depends on it.
AgriSafe recognizes that more needs to be done on this topic to support our agricultural communities. Call to action is needed. If you are doing work in this space, whether on the research or intervention side, AgriSafe would love to hear from you. You can contact Tara Haskins.
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Sarah Dauterive, AgriSafe’s Web Technologies Librarian, recently completed Level 1 of the Consumer Health Information Specialization (CHIS) through the Medical Library Association. The MLA CHIS provides training to librarians and other health information professionals who provide health information services to consumers. This specialization will aid AgriSafe in providing health and safety information to the agricultural community, primarily through the AgriSafe Health Hub which will debut later this year. |
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Say Hello to AgriSafe's Summer 2o21 Interns! |
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Sarah Baker is the intern for data analysis and women’s health. She is originally from Cleveland, Ohio but attended the University of Cincinnati for an undergraduate degree in biochemistry. She currently attends Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine working on an MSPH focusing on environmental health. In free free time she enjoys cooking, listening to jazz, and dancing. She is very excited to begin work at AgriSafe this summer!
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Anahita Dara is in her second year of her graduate studies as a student at Tulane University for School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine with a concentration in Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences. She acquired her B.S. degree in Public Health from the University of California, San Diego. Her work with AgriSafe will involve the promotion of the Nurse Scholar Program through the use of social media and other channels, while also finding additional partners that have connections with rural health organizations and agricultural centers.
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Mikaela Stoltzfus is the new Health Communications/Marketing Intern for AgriSafe. She is from Kennett Square, Pennsylvania and is attending Tulane University for undergrad. Next fall, Mikaela will be starting her Masters at Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine working on a degree in either Environmental Health Sciences or Epidemiology. In her free time, she enjoys running, reading, and spending time outdoors. She is excited to work at AgriSafe and learn more about agricultural workers' health!
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Using Naloxone to Reverse Opioid Overdose in the Agricultural Workplace: Information for Employers and Workers
Friday, June 11, 2021
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CDT
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Wildfire Health Threats: Risk Factors for Farmers and Ranchers
Thursday, June 17, 2021
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CDT
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Respiratory Protection Program Overview in COVID-19 and Beyond
Wednesday, June 30, 2021
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CDT
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CS-CASH 11th Annual Agricultural Health and Safety Course:
July 13-16, 2021
The Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health and the UNMC College of Public Health are excited to offer the Agricultural Health and Safety Course free of charge as a thank you to those working to improve the health and safety of communities across the world. The Agricultural Health and Safety Course for Medical and Safety Professionals is designed to examine key health and safety issues specific to rural and agricultural workers. Experts will present course material relevant to those working in health care, public health, education, and safety professions. Earn up to 36.75 Continuing Education Credits by completing all 3 sessions. Register here!
Course Dates
- Session A Livestream: Agricultural Health — July 13-14, 2021 (16.0 CEU)
- Session B Livestream: Agricultural Safety and Prevention — July 15-16, 2021 (16.0 CEU)
- Session C Online: Special Topics — Online modules available starting July 13, 2021 (4.75 CEU)
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