* Presented in Spanish with simultaneous interpretation to English *
In recent years we have observed the increase in frequency and intensity of climate-related events, including high temperatures, such as those we have seen in recent weeks where the heat index exceeded 116°F in some municipalities. In Puerto Rico and in the United States thousands of workers from different industries are affected every year by high temperatures, which not only affect their health, but can also cause their death. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, exposure to heat killed 815 workers and seriously injured more than 70,000 workers from 1992 to 2017, figures that are probably under reported, since in 2019 this number increased dramatically. As temperatures continue to rise, heat related illnesses are becoming more common in the workplace, and excessive heat exposure may cause life-threatening heat stroke. It also exacerbates pre-existing health conditions, such as asthma, kidney and heart disease, and diabetes. Although heat related illnesses and death often occur in occupations such as construction or agriculture where work is largely outside, the problem affects all workers exposed to excessive heat, including drivers, restaurant workers, and healthcare workers.
This webinar will provide information on how to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat related illnesses, as well as the effects it has on the worker health. In addition, worker rights and responsibilities will be identified, as well as the resources available to prevent heat related illnesses.
Watch the Webinar Recording
Presenters
Alma
Galván
MHC
Director of Community Engagement and Worker Training
Migrant Clinicians Network
Alma Galván, MHC is the Director of Community Engagement and Worker Training with MCN. Bicultural and bilingual, Galván has dedicated decades of work toward the health needs of border residents in Ciudad Juárez/El Paso, focusing on a wide range of public and environmental health issues including drug prevention, cultural competency, and water and sanitation concerns. She has collaborated with MCN regularly since 1999, including on our community health worker training guides and our popular pesticide comic book Poco Veneno...¿No Mata?" Galván has a Master’s degree in Health and Communication and has expertise in community development technical assistance and assessment of training programs and curricula. She has been an international leader in the use of community health worker/promotores de salud to impact the health of vulnerable populations. She also has devoted her efforts to addressing the needs of Indigenous communities along the U.S.-Mexico border. She came to MCN alternating her role as a consultant with the Panamerican Health Organization. In her free time, Galván spends time with her family, and enjoys movies, reading, and learning about different cultures.
José
Rodríguez
MD
Senior Medical Advisor, Puerto Rico
Hospital General Castañer, Puerto Rico
José Rodríguez is the Medical Director at Hospital General Castañer, Puerto Rico. Dr. Rodríguez also serves as a Senior Medical Advisor in Puerto Rico for Migrant Clinicians Network.
Renée
AboAmshe
MHA, LPN, CHES
Program Manager, Eastern Region Office
Migrant Clinicians Network
Renée E. AboAmshe, MHA, LPN, CHES is a Program Manager with Migrant Clinicians Network. AboAmshe emigrated from Peru to the US when she was 16 years old in pursuit of a better life and access to quality education. AboAmshe has dedicated her career to advocating for health equity in her community and beyond. Her professional experience includes years of efforts to promote diversity and inclusion, as Vice Chair at Fetter Healthcare Network representing the farmworker community, and as Vice Chair for the South Carolina Agricultural Worker Health Program. As a nurse and public health professional, AboAmshe believes that addressing social needs across the health system can improve health equity from the individual to the systems level. AboAmshe has previously worked for a nonprofit focused on holistic, high-quality, and comprehensive Head Start services to farmworker families. AboAmshe graduated with college honors with a bachelor’s degree in Health Promotion and Spanish from Charleston Southern University, South Carolina, and a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Ashford University in San Diego, California. In addition, she is a licensed practical nurse, graduated from Miami Dade College, Miami.