Blog
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US Department of Energy’s Efficient and Healthy Schools Campaign Offers Air Sensors to Schools and Districts
The US Department of Energy’s Efficient and Healthy Schools Campaign is now offering schools and districts use of air monitors. Available monitors can measure particulate matter, carbon dioxide, temperature, and humidity, and the Campaign will guide users through the process of using them. For more information about the Efficient and Healthy Schools Campaign, click here. …
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EPA’s Child Asthma Risk Assessment Tool Generates Personalized Risk Profile for Children with Asthma
The US Environmental Protection Agency’s Asthma Community Network has released the Child Asthma Risk Assessment Tool (CARAT), an app for generating a personalized risk profile for children with asthma. Utilizing information provided by patients and health care providers, CARAT helps identify and prioritize individuals’ unique asthma risk factors. The tool also provides information about how…
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Scaling Up the Distribution of Air Cleaners for Low-Income People with Asthma
California’s wildfire season has been growing in length and severity, regularly exposing millions to harmful particulate matter and hazardous air pollutants. While air cleaners, also known as air purifiers, can help improve indoor air quality during wildfire smoke events, many low-income Californians cannot afford to purchase air cleaners and replacement filters. In the summer of…
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Implementing Medi-Cal Policies in Support of Asthma Home Visiting Services
In 2022, as a result of advocacy led by RAMP and partners, Medi-Cal – California’s Medicaid system – adopted two nationally-leading policies to increase access to asthma home visiting services for low-income Californians with poorly controlled asthma. Now, our attention has shifted to ensure those policies are implemented as effectively as possible. What are the…
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RAMP CHW Meeting: Helping Clients Protect Their Health During Extreme Heat
On September 6, 2023, Daniel Woo, Team Lead, Climate Change & Health Equity Section, and Abigail Ramirez, Health Program Specialist, with the California Department of Public Health Office of Health Equity, presented “Helping Clients Protect Their Health During Extreme Heat.” To view the full presentation, click here. To view the slides from the presentation, click…
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Infant Food Allergy Phenotypes and Association with Lung Function Deficits and Asthma
The Lancet’s July 2023 edition contains an article examining the association between infant food allergy phenotypes and lung function deficits and asthma. Over 5000 one year old children were recruited and completed skin prick and food testing for four allergens. Researchers then followed up at age 6, testing lung function and aeroallergens. Researchers found “Food…
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CDC Releases New Data as Part of PLACES (Population Level Analysis and Community Estimates) Initiative
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released new data as part of its PLACES (Population Level Analysis and Community Estimates) initiative. This data includes several new years of information on 36 health-related measures for every county, city, and census tract in the US. Interactive maps allow you to view health-related measures on a…
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Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Releases Breathe 4 Baby Resources
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, along with the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, published a set of tools and resources to help pregnant and lactating people with asthma. The toolkit includes a specialized asthma action plan, as well as an asthma control test, and is available in both English and Spanish. …
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RAMP CHW Meeting – Community Air Quality Monitoring
David Chang, MA, Project Coordinator/Health Educator with Tracking California, a program of the Public Health Institute, in partnership with the California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) National Environmental Public Health Tracking Program, presented “Community Air Quality Monitoring.” on August 15, 2023. To view the full presentation, click here. RAMP…
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Drug Manufacturer Cipla Announces Albuterol Recall
The drug manufacturer Cipla announced a voluntary recall of several batches of Albuterol inhalers out of concerns they won’t provide the recommended medication dose. For more information on the specific inhalers, click here.
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RAMP CHW Meeting – Racial Inequities in Asthma Care-History, Findings and Opportunities for Solutions
Dr. Sande Okelo with the Division of Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine, at the David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles., presented “Racial Inequities in Asthma Care – History, Findings and Opportunities for Solutions.” on July 19, 2023. To view the full presentation, click here. RAMP hosts regular convenings for CHWs, promotoras,…
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Study Examines Associations Between Extreme Weather Events and Asthma-Related Outcomes
The June 2023 edition of European Respiratory Review contains an article exploring the associations between extreme weather events and asthma-related outcomes. Researchers conducted a systematic literature search for relevant studies and found “extreme weather events were associated with increasing risks of general asthma outcomes,” and “that extreme weather events more prominently increased the risk of…