Health Department Biweekly Reports Folder 0066, 2000-2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Honorable Joseph J. Lhota -3- August 15, 2000

NOTEWORTHY ITEMS

Childhood Asthma Hospitalization Rates Decrease On Wednesday, August 2, Mayor Giuliani announced that NYC childhood asthma hospitalization rates have significantly decreased. The hospitalization rate for children 0-14 years of age with asthma in NYC decreased by 27.4% from 1997 to 1998. The Mayor acknowledged the Department's Childhood Asthma Initiative for its efforts to reduce the public health burden of asthma in NYC. Through the NYC Childhood Asthma Initiative, the Department has been able to mobilize the larger healthcare community as well as bring much needed information to families and caregivers.

Poison Control Center Launches Public Education Campaign The Department's Poison Control Center held a breakfast on July 26 announcing a new public education campaign in the Bronx. The event (sponsored by The Bronx Health Link, Inc.) was an effort to bring important and practical information on the dangers of potential household poisons to the health care providers and members of the Bronx community. Organizations were invited to learn more about the NYC Poison Control Center's new initiative to promote public awareness of poison exposure.

Lead Poisoning Prevention Media Campaign This month the Department's three-phase media campaign began with the airing of a radio public service announcement (PSA). The PSA informs families that in homes with chipped and/or peeling lead-based paint, building owners are required, by law, to remediate lead paint hazards in homes. The PSA also provides the information hotline 212-BANLEAD for families to receive facts about their rights and lead paint hazards. The second and third phases will take place this autumn with a direct-mail campaign to building owners and contractors, and television advertisements.

Lead Poisoning Evaluation Completed Evaluation of a pilot study conducted by the Department's Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (LPPP) has been completed and is being reviewed by senior staff. The project's goal was to maximize the use of existing staff resources by decreasing the number of field visit attempts required to gain access and deliver mandated activities in homes where DOH intervention is required. This would ultimately result in an improvement in case outcomes of children with elevated blood lead levels.

The pilot project entailed redefining the roles of LPPP staff. In the current activities. model, Public Health Sanitarians (PHS) perform all environmental hazard These activities include lead hazard assessments, monitoring lead abatement activities, and periodically reassessing a child's exposure to possible regarding lead hazards. DOH Public Health Advisors (PHA) provide education prevention and risk reduction, monitor follow-up care, communicate with health

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