Health and Safety: Diseases, Natural Disasters, and Self-Esteem

Posted on Dec 10, 2024 in Geology

Epidemic, Endemic, and Pandemic Diseases

An epidemic disease crosses borders, extending into several countries and affecting continents, e.g., AIDS. An endemic disease persists for a long time in a specific location, e.g., Chagas’ disease. An epidemic is a sudden appearance of a disease that attacks a large number of individuals in a particular area, e.g., the dengue outbreak in 1989.

Malaria

Malaria is a disease caused by Plasmodium, a parasite of the genus Plasmodium.

Plasmodium Life Cycle

The Plasmodium life cycle is divided into two stages:

  1. Schizogonic: Occurs in some vertebrates, e.g., humans. This cycle is divided into two phases:
    • Exoerythrocytic: (Outside the red blood cells) Begins when an Anopheles mosquito bites a person, injecting sporozoites, which enter the liver and thrive in liver cells.
    • Erythrocytic: (Within red blood cells) The merozoites that have invaded red blood cells evolve into a parasitic form known as a schizont, which divides and multiplies, giving rise to other merozoites, called blood merozoites.
  2. Sporogonic: This cycle occurs within the Anopheles mosquito. The process takes 7 to 14 days. Gametocytes circulating in the blood of an infected person can pass to a female Anopheles mosquito when it bites to feed.

Types of Malaria

The etiological agent of malaria is Plasmodium, of which there are four species: vivax, ovale, malariae, and falciparum. All are transmitted by female hematophagous dipterans of the genus Anopheles.

How to Avoid Malaria

  1. Use clothing that covers the body’s surface.
  2. Use mosquito netting.
  3. Spray with insecticide at night.

Dengue

Dengue is a viral disease characterized by a sudden onset of fever that lasts 3 to 5 days.

Symptoms of Dengue

  1. High fever
  2. Headache
  3. Eye pain
  4. Muscle pain
  5. Rash

Symptoms of Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

  1. High fever lasting 5 to 7 days
  2. Hemorrhagic manifestations of various intensity
  3. Difficulty breathing
  4. Lack of appetite
  5. Faintness, sweating, sleepiness, vomiting

How to Prevent Dengue

  1. Keep all containers where water is stored tightly covered.
  2. Fill gaps in trees with soil or sand.
  3. Remove containers with standing water, such as tires, etc.

Natural and Anthropogenic Disasters

Earthquake

Before an Earthquake

  1. Protect yourself under a sturdy table, desk, or other strong furniture.
  2. If there is no furniture, stand beneath a beam.
  3. Do not panic; stay calm.

After an Earthquake

  1. Assist in the rescue and care of the wounded.
  2. Evacuate promptly and in an orderly manner.
  3. Do not light matches, candles, or any other flammable materials.

Flood

During a Flood

  1. Listen to the radio or television to be informed of the emergency.
  2. Turn off the electricity, water, and gas, and evacuate your home if the situation warrants it or the authorities indicate it.
  3. Climb to a high place and stay there.
  4. Avoid walking through moving water. Up to 15 inches of moving water can cause you to fall.

After a Flood

  1. Return home only when it is safe or authorities indicate it.
  2. Do not enter buildings if there is still water around them.
  3. Wear sturdy shoes and use a battery-powered flashlight.
  4. Check the walls, floors, doors, and windows to ensure the building is not at risk of collapse.
  5. Beware of animals that may have been dragged by the water.

Fire

Before a Fire

  1. If there is a fire, exit by crawling and cover your mouth and nose with a wet towel.
  2. If your clothes catch fire, stop immediately, drop to the ground, and roll to extinguish the fire.
  3. Touch doors before opening them.
  4. If the door is hot, do not open it and use an alternate exit.

After a Fire

  1. Call your insurance company’s help desk.
  2. Evaluate if it is possible to re-enter the building, considering the damage.
  3. Rescue relevant documentation if possible.
  4. Perform a review of electricity, water, gas, and telephone services, taking precautions when inspecting basic services.

Types of Disasters

Disasters can be natural, anthropogenic, or a combination of both.

Natural Disasters

  • Topographic: Related to the variety of materials and constituents, e.g., floods and landslides.
  • Tectonic: Phenomena that originate in the lower crust of the Earth, including earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic phenomena.
  • Weather or Climate: Caused by fluctuations in climatic factors, e.g., hurricanes and floods.
  • Astronomical: Involves the fall of large objects onto the Earth.

Anthropogenic Disasters

  • Forest Fires: A forest fire is characterized by mainly occurring and developing in natural areas with abundant vegetation, usually caused by humans.
  • Fires in Tall Buildings, Landslides, and Fallen Bridges: Originate from failures in buildings due to poor protection, production, and safety standards in building construction.
  • Environmental Contamination Events: These phenomena originate from industrial activity, where wastes pollute the air, water, and soil.
  • Nuclear: Produced by the emanation of toxic gases or radioactive wastes originating from failures in nuclear power plants.
  • Technological: Some product constructions, such as dams, allow communities to provide hydroelectric energy.
  • Warlike Disasters: Caused by war, resulting in damage and human losses.

Self-Esteem

Self-esteem is the valuation that each individual makes of their potential, abilities, activities, and personality, along with the honor and respect they feel for themselves.

Self-Concept

Self-concept refers to the attributes a person uses to express and describe themselves, i.e., personal value judgments.

Elements of Self-Esteem

  1. The child’s emotional relationship with their parents.
  2. Social competence with peers.
  3. The intellectual process at school.
  4. Attitudes of society and the community toward them.
  5. Body image.