Episodes
Monday Apr 29, 2019
How the Notre Dame Fire Exemplified Torus Theory
Monday Apr 29, 2019
Monday Apr 29, 2019
Dr. Perrodin notes curious inaccuracies of the Notre Dame Cathedral fire, the bizarre subsequent investigation, a looming detrimental Paris health hazard and wraps this entire discussion within a the philosophical shell of torus theory. INACCURACIES ABOUT THE CATHEDRAL FIRE. This episode was originally drafted as a platform to use the cathedral fire as an example of torus theory - as interpreted by Dr. Perrodin. However, numerous oddities presented surrounding the fire and, more notably, the unusual activities hours and days following the fire. Dr. Perrodin clearly states that he believes the fire was accidental. Nonetheless, the borderline conspiracy elements surface in the dearth of media coverage specific to the spire renovation and an acknowledgment of the public health ramifications of 500,000 pounds of lead on the roof that was mostly vaporized during the fire. It is known that lead contaminants have been detected proximal to the cathedral, but Dr. Perrodin questions the assessment of lead contamination and also lead abatement in and near the cathedral. Also, firefighters are observed without breathing masks or air filtration masks which seems very dangerous when fighting a fire with a massive component of lead. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION’S POSITION ON THE ELEMENT LEAD. At high levels of exposure, lead attacks the brain and central nervous system to cause coma, convulsions and even death. ... There is no known safe blood lead concentration. Dr. Perrodin postulates that it might not even be an option to rebuild the cathedral due to contamination and that costs of lead abatement will certainly became public within the next 6 months. TORUS THEORY, SIMILARITY and the NOTRE DAME FIRE. David steps the audience through the steps that occurred as a typical day as Notre Dame Cathedral disintegrated into historic disaster. TYPICAL. Humans expect today to be similar to yesterday and also that tomorrow will be similar to today. This is known as torus theory and it was very much a contributing factor both the seemingly casual response to the initial fire alarm at Notre Dame as well as the billion dollars of donations that poured in within one day and earmarked to rebuild the cathedral. ACKNOWLEDGE. As we embrace routines and similarity, it took a while for it to “sink in” that Notre Dame was on fire and wouldn't open up in a "couple of weeks". The onsite fire inspectors had no choice but to become informed as they observed leaping flames. For the public, it took longer to grasp what was happening to this 850 structure not only from a physical perspective, but the gut feeling of how the desecrated structure impacted beliefs about permanence and Christianity. SHIFT FROM THE TORUS TO CHAOS. After the cathedral was cleared of occupants, everyone understood that the torus was shattered and the next several hours, days and years would negotiate chaos. Chaos, however, can be liberating - it simplifies things and also leaves us to “work the problem” as it unfolds. Hence, the line of people conveying artifacts from the cathedral and firefighters having to determine how to deploy over-matched assets to best prevent the destruction of the structure. ACCEPTANCE. As the flames consumed the attic structure, it became widely accepted that the cathedral had been rocketed into a state of chaos. Everyone realized it was failing and mourning displaced awe. ATTEMPT TO RESTORE SIMILARITY. President Macron seized the opportunity to proclaim that the cathedral would be rebuilt, better than before, within 5 years. He made this statement as firefighters were still poking around the structure to cool hot spots. It was a powerful declaration that served to help millions of people return to similarity and it also opened the flow of donations to restore the cathedral. Macron told people what they wanted to hear and not what they needed to hear. The reality was that it would take structural engineers weeks to assess the damage to the structure. Had the load-bearing stonework been substantially damaged, had toxic levels of lead been found throughout the structure? I mean, it might not have made sense to undertake the money pit of rebuilding a fatally-wounded landmark. This might still prove to be true. And, if so, what happens to the billion dollar donation fund? What if will cost a billion dollars JUST to address the toxic contamination of the site? 20 YEARS FROM NOW. Dr. Perrodin predicts that the health-related implications of the Notre Dame fire won’t be realized for at least a decade - similar to the disabling conditions that eventually afflicted workers removing debris at the World Trade Center complex in New York. What will be the long-term impacts of thousands of pounds of vaporized lead on Paris? FOLLOW DR. PERRODIN: Twitter @SafetyPhD and subscribe to The Safety Doc YouTube channel & Apple Podcasts. SAFETY DOC WEBSITE & BLOG: www.safetyphd.com The Safety Doc Podcast is hosted & produced by David Perrodin, PhD. ENDORSEMENTS. Opinions are those of the host & guests and do not reflect positions of The 405 Media or supporters of “The Safety Doc Podcast”. The show adheres to nondiscrimination principles while seeking to bring forward productive discourse & debate on topics relevant to personal or institutional safety. Email David: thesafetydoc@gmail.com LOOKING FOR DR. TIMOTHY LUDWIG, PHD? Dr. Perrodin’s “Safety Doc Podcast” negotiates school and community safety. To be informed about industrial safety, please contact Appalachian State University Professor Dr. Timothy Ludwig, PhD, at www.safety-doc.com
Tuesday Apr 16, 2019
Why May Should Not Be Food Allergy Month
Tuesday Apr 16, 2019
Tuesday Apr 16, 2019
Why is May designated as Food Allergy Awareness Month? Dr. Perrodin points out the merits of awareness activities centered to food and other allergies - some with potentially life-threatening consequences. However, he identifies the irrationality of devoting the month of May to allergy awareness primarily as it is at the very end of the school year! 55 million students that attend schools in America every day - not to mention students attending post-secondary institutions. FIRE PREVENTION MONTH. Since 1922, Fire Prevention Month (began as Fire Prevention Week) was recognized across America in October. This made sense. As the cooler months settled in, people would resort to fireplaces to heat their homes. In modern times, Fire Prevention Month expanded to include awareness of carbon monoxide poisoning due to using portable heating units in confined spaces. I don’t think anyone would argue to change Fire Prevention Month. So, we can identify the logic with October as Fire Prevention Month. We can’t identify the logic with May as Food Allergy Awareness Month. THE PROBLEM WITH ALLERGY AWARENESS MONTH IN MAY. It’s obvious. It’s recognized at the end of the school year when it will offer little benefit to students and staff. Would we ever consider having the first fire drill of the school year in May? No - and it certainly doesn’t make sense to roll out the allergy awareness activities weeks before students head into summer vacation. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE FOOD ALLERGIES? The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team (FAACT) is a robust clearinghouse for food allergy data and professional development resources. I have used information from their website to substantially inform this narrative. In the US, an estimated 12 million people have food allergies - and the prevalence of food allergies in school-aged children is rapidly rising. Actually, allergies in general are on the rise - including reactions to latex or clay. Food allergies cause roughly 30,000 emergency room visits and 150 deaths per year. KEYS TO FOOD ALLERGY MANAGEMENT IN SCHOOLS. In the United States, the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 causes people to be reminded of allergy problems every time they handle a food package, and restaurants have added allergen warnings to menus. We can look to 2004 as the “modern era” for awareness of food allergies. Dr. Perrodin shares his personal accounts of collaborating with food service directors and school nurses to learn how schools can best manage food allergy risks. In fact, a contributing factor to food allergies might be as simple as a product vendor changing from one brand of applesauce to another brand of applesauce. So, it’s less and issue of how we handle food allergy awareness - the issue is WHEN we spotlight this critical matter. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR FOOD ALLERGIES. Dr. Perrodin offers authentic examples of educating teachers and students to the symptoms of allergic reactions; the sometimes complex and also the political interface between schools responding to a student presenting with a severe allergic reaction and the requests of the student’s parent. WHAT ARE EPI-PENS? When someone presents with a severe allergic reaction which often includes swelling of the airway and difficulty breathing, an epinephrine autoinjector (AKA, Epi-Pen) is used for injecting a measured dose or doses of epinephrine by means of autoinjector technology. It is most often used for the treatment of anaphylaxis. This can be done per medical order or without a medical order. However, 911 must be called following administration of the Epi-Pen as it will delay the full manifestations of symptoms. David mentions that schools can often obtain free Epi-Pens by contacting their health insurance carrier or philanthropic groups. He also has suggestions of ways to use expired Epi-Pens for professional development. COMMON FOOD ALLERGY ITEMS - THE BIG 8: Peanuts; Tree nuts (cashews, pecans, walnuts, etc.); Milk; Egg; Wheat; Soy; Fish (halibut, salmon, etc.); Shellfish (crab, lobster, shrimp, etc.). WHAT CAN SCHOOLS DO? David recommends that schools unilaterally designate September or October as Food Allergy Awareness Month and engage in the full spectrum of professional development and awareness activities that would otherwise happen in May. Then, in May, a refresher about allergy awareness can be incorporated into instruction and might serve as a reminder for students to be vigilant as they enter different settings during the summer. FOLLOW DR. PERRODIN: Twitter @SafetyPhD and subscribe to The Safety Doc YouTube channel & Apple Podcasts. SAFETY DOC WEBSITE & BLOG: www.safetyphd.com The Safety Doc Podcast is hosted & produced by David Perrodin, PhD. ENDORSEMENTS. Opinions are those of the host & guests and do not reflect positions of The 405 Media or supporters of “The Safety Doc Podcast”. The show adheres to nondiscrimination principles while seeking to bring forward productive discourse & debate on topics relevant to personal or institutional safety. Email David: thesafetydoc@gmail.com LOOKING FOR DR. TIMOTHY LUDWIG, PHD? Dr. Perrodin’s “Safety Doc Podcast” negotiates school and community safety. To be informed about industrial safety, please contact Appalachian State University Professor Dr. Timothy Ludwig, PhD, at www.safety-doc.com
Food Allergy Resource: