WeHealth Notify: A New Resource for Amplifying Public Health & Safety Alerts
Wehealth Notify is a free app available to the general public. It watches verified sources of health & safety information and sends enhanced alerts with personalized action plans. Sources include the National Weather Service, the CDC, and various state, city, county and tribal agencies nationwide. The heat alerts that the app sends in Maricopa and Pima also include links to local resources in the county for finding shelter, getting a
New OSHA Regulations on Heat Exposure: A Potential Lifeline for Arizona Workers
The U.S. Department of Labor (OSHA) released a proposed rule last week aimed at protecting millions of workers from the significant health risks of extreme heat. If finalized, the proposed rule would help protect approximately 36 million workers in indoor and outdoor work settings and substantially reduce heat injuries, illnesses, and deaths in the workplace. The proposed rule would mandate comprehensive safeguards against heat stress in the workplace. This development could be
Free Member Webinar: Arizona’s 2024 Legislative Session: The Bills, the Budget & the Ballot Measures
Friday, July 12, 2024 | 9-10am Arizona’s 2024 legislative session saw the passage of about a dozen laws that will be good for public health and state government accountability – especially in the areas of behavioral health and licensing of care facilities. There were also many missed opportunities – mostly in the areas of behavioral healthcare and care home assurance accountability. Some detrimental bills were successfully vetoed or blocked. The budget saw
Pima County Public Health Service Center Under Construction
Pima County Health Department Director Theresa Cullen, Deputy Director Andrew Rowe, and Deputy Director Shanika Noel and team toured the construction grounds for the new Pima County Northwest Service Center on June 28th. Pima County purchased an old bowling alley on Miracle Mile in Tucson, AZ and are building a new north clinic, vital records, and food truck inspection location and is slated to open spring of 2025. This service
US Surgeon General Declares Firearm Violence a Public Health Crisis
Last week the US Surgeon General declared firearm violence a public health crisis. While this is not a declaration of a public health emergency and federal agencies won’t get any added regulatory authority from the declaration, it nevertheless underscores the urgent need to address the devastating impact of firearms on public health across the United States. The landmark report highlights that firearm-related deaths have reached unprecedented levels, with an alarming
SCOTUS’ Decision Allows the Criminalizing Homelessness: A Public Health Focus in Arizona
Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing the criminalization of homelessness has ignited concerns about public health, particularly in states like Arizona, where extreme heat adds a critical layer of public health threat from the ruling. See the Ruling: City of Grants Pass v. Johnson (6/28/24) | SCOTUS In Arizona, homelessness isn’t just a crisis of housing but a public health crisis. The ruling essentially allows cities to penalize people for sleeping