Power Outage: An Ignored Risk Factor for COPD Exacerbations.

Background: COPD is the third leading cause of death in the United States, with 16 million Americans currently experiencing difficulty with breathing. Power outages could be life-threatening for those relying on electricity. However, significant gaps remain in understanding the potential impact of power outages on COPD exacerbations.

The general use of outdoor warning sirens: a preliminary survey of emergency managers.

With more direct, personal warning systems becoming popular, the continued maintenance of older warning systems, such as outdoor warning sirens, may be jeopardized as emergency managers (EMs) seek to optimize their limited budgets. However, the extent to which sirens are embedded into the American landscape and culture argues against their removal. To better quantify the distribution and use of outdoor warning sirens, an international survey of EMs was conducted to learn more about where siren systems are deployed and how they are operated.