Blog
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RAMP’s Wildfire Smoke Project
As California’s fire season grows, the health impacts from smoke do, too. Wildfire smoke is unhealthy to breathe and can be especially dangerous for those with asthma—and even more for those without the means to purchase air filters that can provide healthier air at home. A new initiative from RAMP, the Bay Area Air Quality…
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Advice on Preparing for Wildfire Season from the American Lung Association
The American Lung Association has created a guide comprised of three main tips as well as supplemental information for preparing for wildfire season. Written by Dr. John Balmes, an air pollution researcher with over three decades of experience, the article discusses the impact of climate change on wildfires, steps to take to protect yourself, and types of filters to utilize during wildfire…
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Green & Healthy Homes Initiative Releases Report on Electrification and Emission Reductions in Housing
Green & Healthy Homes Initiative has released, “Leading with Equity and Justice in the Clean Energy Transition: Getting to the Startling Line for Residential Building Electrification.” The report looks at opportunities and strategies for electrification and carbon emission reduction efforts in housing. The paper looks closely at equity concerns, offering a pathway for addressing the…
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US EPA Updates Indoor Air Quality Webpage with New Guidance
In the summer, 2021, the Environmental Protection Agency updated its Emergencies and Indoor Air Quality webpage, offering new tips on how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters that affect indoor environments. Specifically, the guide looks at wildfires, power outages, hurricanes and flooding, extreme heat, snow and ice, earthquakes, and more. In addition, the…
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Helping Clients with Asthma Prepare for Wildfire Smoke Events
As everyone in California braces for what we anticipate being an extreme wildfire season, we are pleased to share with you a new tool, Helping Clients with Asthma Prepare for Wildfire Smoke Events: Tips for Asthma Educators. Wildfire smoke – a complex mixture of air pollutants – is unhealthy to breathe and can be especially…
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RAMP CHW Meeting: Housing Habitability
Erin Le, JD, MPH, East Bay Community Law Center, presented “Housing Habitability” on June 22, 2021. To view the full presentation, click here. RAMP hosts regular convenings for CHWs, promotoras, and others providing asthma education. For additional information about future meetings, including how to join them, please visit our Community Health Worker Network page under “Get…
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National Healthy Homes Month is Now Healthy Homes Awareness Month in California!
We are excited to announce that Assemblymember David Chiu has introduced a resolution in the state legislature (ACR 91) to recognize June as Healthy Homes Awareness Month across the state. Please join RAMP and our partners in the California Healthy Housing Coalition to use the resolution to raise awareness about the connections between our homes…
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ASHRAE Releases Planning Framework for Protecting Commercial Building Occupants from Smoke During Wildfire Events
ASHRAE, formerly known as the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers, has released a framework for protecting commercial building occupants from smoke during wildfire events. The framework includes actions that should be taken before and during such an event, checklists to determine the readiness of HVAC systems, information on how to use…
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EPA Releases Asthma-Friendly Schools Webinar for Viewing Online
The Environmental Protection Agency has released a recording of its webinar, “Asthma-Friendly Schools: Strategies to Reduce the Risk of COVID-19 Transmission and Improve Indoor Air Quality.” The webinar focuses on how to implement indoor air quality management approaches and use risk-reduction strategies to address COVID and asthma triggers. It also highlights guidance and tools from…
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California Breathing Releases Asthma Racial Inequities in California Infographic
Throughout Asthma Awareness Month 2021, California Breathing has released infographics presented in plain language to highlight different facets of asthma awareness. It released the final infographic in the series focusing on Asthma Racial Inequities in California. The infographic contains information about health inequities, as well as comparisons between white, Black, Hispanic or Latinx, Native American,…
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Safe Cleaning Tips and Resources During the COVID Pandemic
Early in the pandemic, there was a lot of concern about fomite (surface) transmission. However, as our knowledge about COVID has grown, concern about the risk of transmission from touching surfaces has reduced. Per the CDC: “The virus that causes COVID-19 can land on surfaces. It’s possible for people to become infected if they touch…
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Resources for Safe Schools During COVID
Schools in California and across the nation are returning to in-person instruction and planning for a broader reopening in the fall. How can schools reopen safely? To help answer that question, earlier this week, Dr. Naomi Bardach joined RAMP for a presentation, COVID, Asthma, and Safe Schools. An Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Policy in…