The Pump Handle is a place for people interested in public health and the environment to discuss the issues that interest us, particularly when they’re not getting the treatment we think they deserve in the mainstream media.
The story of the pump handle is familiar to any first-semester public health student: During the London cholera epidemic of 1854, John Snow examined maps of cholera cases and traced the disease to water from a local pump. At the time, the prevailing theory held that cholera spread through the air, rather than water, so Snow faced criticism from others in the science community – not to mention resistance from the water companies. He finally convinced community leaders to remove the pump’s handle to prevent further exposure.
More than a century later, thousands of people still die from cholera each year, and providing clean drinking water to the world’s entire population is a far-off goal. The Pump Handle symbolizes both a public health victory and the challenges facing the public health and environmental fields today.
Most of this blog’s founding members are epidemiologists from the US, and we’d like to bring in writers from other disciplines and places. If you’re interested in contributing to The Pump Handle, please send an email to thepumphandle [at] gmail[dot] com. If you’d like to subscribe to our weekly email digest, send an email with “subscribe” in the subject line to that same address.
Click here to read about our contributors.
The Pump Handle 
25 comments
Comments feed for this article
January 27, 2007 at 9:18 am
Dr. Rick Lippin
Congratulations to the founders of this excellent gathering place
Dr. Rick Lippin
http://medicalcrises.blogspot.com
August 27, 2007 at 9:48 pm
Ed Darrell
A great idea, and a great name. For my blogging purposes, I hope you do a lot of history of public health, a topic which, for my money and time, is grossly overlooked in U. S. history texts for junior high and high schools.
Rather hot issues for me at the moment: 1.) Whether understanding of evolution is of any use in medicine; 2.) Fighting malaria, and the role of DDT — as well as any public health hazards of DDT; 2.)(a.) Whether the proponents of removing bans on DDT are connected to pro-cigarette campaigners, and if so, how; 3.) Public health purposes behind anti-spitting ordinances, and whether they still apply; 4.) How public health has affected history, and how much of that story should be told in U.S. history courses in public schools.
Keep up the great work!
May 1, 2008 at 8:32 am
George Davis
Great Blog! TPH has been an excellent reference for news and for our writers. We appreciate what you do and your attitude toward safety and health!
August 25, 2008 at 3:03 am
Matt
Hey I was checking out your blog, and found it very interesting. I was wondering if you like to trade links with my site http://jaajoe.com/Health-Nutrition-and-Medicine/ . If so please email me.
September 22, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Heather
Very interesting site. I stumbled across “Pump Handle” when I was doing some research. I will definately bookmark. Thanks! H
September 23, 2008 at 10:23 am
Joe Stafura
Greetings,
I’m writing on behalf of the Clean Water Pipe Council. We’re an advocacy group concerned about the safety of drinking water, and we’re particularly concerned with PVC pipe, and its potential health hazards. While many people are well aware of the risks of using PVC in children’s toys and food packaging, very few know how PVC affects water quality.
After reading your blog, we’ve noticed that you often post on issues relating to environmental safety. And because we have similar interests, we’d like to introduce you to our CWPC blog. You’ll notice that we pay close attention to informed articles like those on your site, because they inspire us to add information about safe drinking water. We welcome you to look over our website and blog, and to send us anything you might consider relevant to our mission. Of course, we’d be honored to have your permission to link to your site, and will extend the same courtesy to you.
If you’d like more information about our mission and goals, or if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to e-mail our blog master at cwpcblogger@gmail.com .
Thank you for your time and consideration, and keep up the good work,
CWPC Bloggers
November 12, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Rebecca
Hello Celeste,
I’m Rebecca and I work with Ansell Limited and am a proponent of Occupational Safety. After reading your post “Worker Involvement: Critical to Health and Safety” I think you will be interested in what Ansell is doing for the PPE industry.
Safety professionals have often felt isolated, only getting the chance to network with colleagues once or twice each year at trade shows and
conferences. Many safety professionals are the sole individuals at their companies doing the important job of ensuring workplace safety. It can be a lonely road.
But not anymore! The Online Safety Community, located at http://www.safetycommunity.com, is a free social network created for safety
managers, foremen, safety engineers, factory and construction workers and anyone for whom workplace safety is a profession or a passion. The site, sponsored by Ansell Limited, is an opportunity for professionals to share ideas, read and comment on industry news stories, and work together to pioneer new ways of making workplaces safer and more productive.
Before the Online Safety Community, interaction and networking with your fellow safety professionals may have taken place only a few times
per year during tradeshows. By joining the Online Safety Community, you’ll have 24 hour access to the most up-to-date information and the
brightest minds in the industry.
Once you sign up, don’t forget to participate. You can:
* Personalize your page with a customized theme
* Post photos and videos to your page or to the main blog
* Start your own blog
* Comment on other pages, blog posts and articles
* Invite your colleagues and friends
* Add friends to build your network
The more you participate and contribute to the Online Safety Community, the more you’ll get out of it. As we all begin to share and
interact online, knowledge is spread and workplaces will become even safer!
We look forward to seeing you in the Online Safety Community, where we are all about promoting a safer and more productive workplace.
Hope to see you on the community site soon!
Thanks,
Rebecca Roebuck
http://www.safetycommunity.com
January 29, 2009 at 2:17 am
Bill Marler
I added Pump Handle as a link to http://www.marlerblog.com. When I was in England last Spring speaking before the Royal Society of Public Health I joined the John Snow Society – and had a beer at the bar on Broad Street. Bill
June 2, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Cynthia Tara Ferguson
Greetings All,
As I have perused the “Pump Handle”, I’ve been impressed with the quality and quantity of its contributions. I may have missed it, however, I didn’t see any areas pertaining to issues of Violence and Public Health in particular, and would love to see a specialized area created for this in the Pump Handle. Issues of violence are becoming an important area of consideration in the Public Health arena because violence truly impacts the health and well being of our communities worldwide.
To highlight the importance of this subject, I’ve attached a portion of a paper I previously wrote on this issue. The purpose of this is to initiate future conversation and consideration of including a new section in the Pump Handle dedicated to Violence Assessment, Prevention and Response (VAPR) in Public Health.
Thank you.
Cynthia T. Ferguson
*****************************
Violence as a Public Health Issue
The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has only recently recognized violence as a significant Public Health issue. From criminal incidents such as sexual assault, domestic violence, homicide and suicide; medical providers, and other members within the healthcare system sometimes find themselves caught in between the two worlds of medicine and law. Medical providers who address cases related to violence frequently devote long hours of medical service towards these patients because of the complexity of the care they become involved in, however there are few resources available for them to turn to. Although medical providers frequently encounter aspects of violence in their daily patient care routines, issues related to violence remain inadequately addressed within national and state Public Health policy, and therefore efficiency and efficacy of violence prevention programs are suboptimal.
In 1979, the Carter Administration’s U.S. Surgeon General Julius B. Richmond identified violent behavior as a key public health priority . In the year 1980, the CDC made a particular effort to study the patterns of violence, and their efforts grew into a national program aimed at reducing the death and disability of violence associated injuries in the workplace. In 1992, the CDC established the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) with the purpose of having it serve as the lead federal organization for violence prevention. Currently, the Division of Violence Prevention (DVP) serves as one of three divisions within NCIPC.
The main mission of the Division of Violence Prevention is to prevent both injuries and deaths that result from violence, and its goal is to do this by stopping violence before it begins. The DVP feels this can be done by: utilizing database systems to monitor all violence-related injuries; researching factors that put individuals and communities at risk and/or factors that protect them from violence; and assessing, planning, implementing violence programs as well as evaluating the effectiveness of those programs.
While the CDC has begun to develop programs and policy that link violence programs together, and has begun pooling resources; individual U.S. states, other federal programs and the Department of Defense (DoD) have yet to recognize the benefits redesigning the structure of their violence prevention programs. Independent silos of violence prevention exist in the health care arena, and many of these silos of prevention are structured around the social services/psychology programs instead of Public Health programs. By developing state and federal programs that address violence overall, and by utilizing shared education and training, staffing, policy, and database resources, there can be maximum efficiency and efficacy within the system.
Violence issues most frequently encountered in the medical system include the following: Sexual Assault; Domestic Violence; Adult Assault; Child Sexual and/or; Physical Abuse; Trafficking of Persons; Workplace Violence; Gang Violence; Hate Crimes; Stalking; Suicide and Homicide.
Each one of the issues listed has an independently financed state and/or federal program dedicated to it, and each of these programs is housed in its own independent public health office.
The existence of violence within the United States is a significant health problem that affects people in all stages of life, from infants to the elderly. As an example, in 2005, there were 18,124 deaths from homicide as well as 32,637 from incidents of suicide. It is important to understand that violence unravels and deteriorates communities as well as individuals, by reducing productivity, disrupting social services and decreasing the value of local property. In addition, survivors of violence suffer permanent physical and emotional scars, and many have a greater need of counseling services, as well suffer as an increased risk of future violence, homicide and suicide incidents.
Understanding this, it is up to Public Health to address issues of violence, to gather data, to assess its origins and impacts, to consider appropriate responses via programs and interventions related to violence. Until Public Health begins to lead the way in violence prevention and response in communities, efforts to combat violence and to reduce its effects will remain largely inefficient and ineffective.
References
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (2008) Public Health Approach to Violence Prevention. Retrieved on 16 January, 2009 from: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/PublicHealthApproachTo_ViolencePrevention.htm
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (2008) Violence Prevention at CDC. Retrieved on 16 January, 2009 from: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/prevention_at_CDC.htm
August 26, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Mark
Celeste,
Thank you for your great insights which I read weekly. I spend most of my time in the throws of teaching combustible dust safety, which is approached from a long career of utilizinig PRB Coal, which breaks down to combustible dust before or sometime during its offloading and processing at a Cement Plant or Generation Facility.
I understand the ANPRM for the Combustible Dust Standard is/was due August of 2009, is most likely ready to go, but may not continue its expiditious coarse through ANPRM or Stakeholder Meetings until the new Asst. Secretary of Labor (OSHA), David Michaels PhD,MPH, is confirmed and installed. What do you think the timing will be for his confirmation, and why wouldn’t Jordan Barab, with his background in Combustible Dust, let the ANPRM continue as scheduled?
Thanks in advance for your answer.
Regards, Mark
September 1, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Doug
Recently discovered your site. What a great resource you provide here. I wanted to let you know that I read daily and to Keep up the awesome work!
September 2, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Victor
I like your site, great name and congratulations for the extremely well organized site.
I have been wondering for years why the issues of health care reform has not been at the center of the public health professional meetings in the US (sorry if this sounds to US-centered, but I will explain why everyone should care). I went to APHA in San Diego (October 2008) after so many years I quitted going to APHA since there was a repeat of the same topics, and not much change. I also joined other professional organizations, and unfortunately I have to say I am disatisfied with the lack of leadership of our profession during this critical times. I say critical because the US for the first time could (and I say could not sure if would) at least move one step closer to joining other industrialized democracies in having a national health system or universal health care. I think there is something rotten with a XIX century “liberal” system that wastes lots of resources in health care that does not work: why should all kinds of health care be free, and not only EFFECTIVE healthcare as advocated by Archie Cochrane?
October 18, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Geekblog
Hello, would you exchange links with my blog Geekblog?
thanks 1000! http://www.geekblog.it
Claudia
November 24, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Gramma Willi's Rough Times Cooking
Thank you for sharing your wonderful blog. I came here to see your latest food security article and find myself so impressed with the rest of the articles that I’ll be keeping your continued well being in my prayers.
By the way, I work with Dr. Rosalie Bertell and the International Institute of Concern for Public Health (iicph.org). If any of you want to share in our work, come on along!
Best wishes to all,
In health,
Willi Nolan (aka. Gramma Willi “Good Clean Food For Everyone” Nolan – http://roughtimes.ca)
January 27, 2010 at 5:14 am
Mark Armstrong
I am really enjoying reading the articles on the site, in particular the Diacetyl debate which has received no attention over here in the UK.
My background is in asbestos consultancy and surveying and I was wondering whether any of your contributors have expertise or an interest in this area ? It seems that the concerns surrounding asbestos are far greater in Europe than in the US and Canada and the different perceptions of the danger to public health are hard to reconcile in the light of the clear scientific evidence.
February 6, 2011 at 10:52 pm
Stewart Fist
I am a journalist tracking the activities of a large group of science-for-sale specialists who operate in the USA. I have a query about research accreditation that some of your readers may be able to help me with.
Most of the science-for-sale operations employ as the primary research staff (predominantly young women) boast of their MPH accreditation. When I track some of these newly recruited researchers, I often find that only months before joining the staff of these operations, they were working as secretaries, or in lobbying or merchandising, etc.
What surprises me is that those research staff who’s qualification came from the better-known US universities appear to me to be as bas as those from obscure universities. Very often they seem to gain their MPH following relatively trivial periods of study.
I need to understand what is going on here, and I don’t have the luxury of much knowledge about US university systems.
And, I quess that my question is rather US specific because of the way in which your diploma mills operate. In many other European countries, universities are state-funded, and so state controlled (at least to a much greater extent) so diploma-mills don’t exist in the same way.
• What is the range of genuine study requirements needed to get an MPH qualification in the USA ?
• Are they available at a college level, rather than just at universities ?
• What is the range of normal full-time study requirements ?
• Are many MPHs granted by (genuine – or not?) night-school study courses ?
• Is there any listing of university accreditations that can be relied upon?
Thanks
February 7, 2011 at 9:47 am
Liz Borkowski
Stewart, the Council on Education for Public Health is the organization that accredits programs and schools of public health, and you can view their accreditation criteria here:
http://www.ceph.org/pg_accreditation_criteria.htm
Among the criteria for MPH degree programs is that students must complete at least 42 semester credits to complete an MPH degree. The schools and programs that have met their criteria are listed here:
Click to access Master_List.pdf
March 1, 2012 at 2:44 pm
Mike Postorino
Hi,
I am contacting you on behalf of the Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com. I was wondering if you would be interested in our organization contributing an article about asbestos and occupational safety. Our goal is to bring awareness to the topic and educate the public about the dangers of asbestos. Our website is HON code certified and we have over 3,000 pages of content on the subject and we strive to have the most up to date information on the topic. We have a team of knowledgeable writers that would love to write original content about the topic for your website and its visitors.
If this is something you would be interested in or if you have any questions please let me know. I look forward to hearing back from you. Thank you for your time.
Best Regards,
Mike Postorino
National Awareness Director
mpostorino@asbestos.com
March 14, 2012 at 1:21 pm
Richard Lane
I am a thirty-seven year old male with a history of seizures dating to 12/18/09 due to well documented lesions, or abnormalities of the brain. On February 10, 2012 my family called 911 because when they checked on me I was having a seizure. When the ambulance arrived they asked my mother if she had a preference of hospitals. She asked that they take me to the VA hospital. She was told that they wouldn’t accept me in that condition. She didn’t argue she just told them the nearest hospital. Which turned out to be Tempe St. Lukes. On the way to the hospital she rode in the front of the ambulance and gave the driver a history of my condition. She was not allowed in the ER until almost four hours later. They were about to intubate me because they said I was thrashing about and uncontrolable. They told her that I said that I had done drugs. She repeatedly tried to tell them that my seizures are not drug or alcohol related but according to them I told them that I did drugs. The hospital records say I claimed I did “bath salts.” My mother repeatedly tried to explain that I have no idea what I am saying when I am in this condition. If you asked if I robbed a bank I would say yes. As usual all my test revealed no illegal drugs or alcohol and there are repeated mistakes on my hospital records. One states that I was intubated at a certain time yet it also states that eight minutes later I claimed I had done bath salts. How can I say anything if I am intubated? The addmission records state that there is no other information available. What about the information that my mother was trying to give them? My records also state that my mother insisted that I was not to be given opiates but says they weren’t given a reason why. She clearly stated to them that opiates make him puke. However the hospital records make it sound like she was afraid that I was a drug addict when I have no history of opiate use. My mother was threatened that she would be made to leave the hospital because she tried to help in my care. I was also allowed to lay there in my own crap because of there assumption that I was a “DRUGGIE” instead of just calling the VA and confirming my medical issues!SO 1 the VA wont take me was a lie on the ambulance drivers part.And 2 the fact that ST’Lukes didn’t instantly call the VA hospital to confirm all my medical issues and allowed me to lay there and suffer?Or am I the only one that all DR’s automatically figure is on drugs?
September 15, 2012 at 2:53 am
Davis
Nice Blog. Thank you for sharing and I want to share information about Pump Express which is a Stocking distributor and national service center for the world’s leading manufacturers of industrial pumps and pump parts.
November 21, 2012 at 1:51 am
http://www.pearlandlawyer.com/sexualassault.html
Effective. I agree.
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That insight solves the prlembo. Thanks!
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December 28, 2021 at 11:24 am
John R. Corker, MD
I have been misidentified as the author of a quote in a 5/23/2016 post by Kim Krisberg, entitled “In the Fight for a Rest Break, Dallas Construction Workers find their voice: “This is the not the end, but a stepping stone to something bigger.” I am hopeful that you can help me in rectifying this. thank you. John R. Corker, MD