Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Assignment 5A



1: Mosquitoes bring health risks after rain – Stephen Hudack
Story: This article explains that mosquito eggs are laid in standing water and then hatch after being rained on again. It then goes on to explain the diseases that can be spread by mosquitos and the potential effects that they have on humans. It mentions the amount of Zika cases that have been recorded in the past year in Florida and also tells us that some horses have just been diagnosed with diseases that are transmitted by mosquitos. It also explains how the state fights mosquito borne illnesses with mosquito fish that eat mosquito eggs.
Problem: The main problem in this article is that we are going to be exposed to a very increased amount of mosquitos after the rain that we have been having and the potential health effects that we could experience because of it.
Who: The people who will experience these problems are local Floridians who have had heavy rain in their respective areas.

2: Florida under tropical storm warning for Alberto - As it moves north, Orlando area in flood watch – Roger Simmons and Michael Williams
Story: The article tracks the movement of Tropical Storm Alberto and its expected landfall in northwest Florida. The article contained an interview of an individual in Orlando who had already started preparing for the storm by getting food and water for a few days. It also explains that there could be potential damage to the community from the storm.
Problem: Tropical storms and hurricanes can cause devastating damage to homes and communities that are in their paths
Who: Pretty much everyone in Florida is affected by hurricanes and tropical storms throughout their lifetimes. This storm in particular could affect people on the west coast of Florida.

3: Rainy days mean more encounters with snakes – Roger Simmons
Story: This article interviews a local snake expert, Bob Cross, who explains that the rain we have been having causes snakes, that usually keep to themselves in wooded areas, to come out to higher, drier ground. He then explains that the main threat would be from venomous snakes like cottonmouths and pygmy rattlesnakes but other snakes like black racers will come out as well.
Problem: Venomous snakes that usually do not bother us will come out more and could potentially hurt people or their pets.
Who: Anyone living in areas that have snakes that live nearby can be affected by this issue.

4: In a decade, over 1,200 youth die from gunfire - In state, black children died 7 times more often than white kids – Erika Pesantes and Ben Crandwell
Story: This article explains the issue of gun violence and how it affects our state’s youth. It breaks down youth gun deaths in Florida on demographics based on race and location. It then gives different heartbreaking stories of specific children who were victims of gun violence in Florida.
Problem: The problem that our community face is that we are losing our youth to gun violence that can be stopped.
Who: Anyone in the entire state can be affected by this. Parents, sibling, friends, and anyone who knows a victim is affected by the violence.

5: How keyless ignition could kill you – Chicago Tribune
Story: This article explains that there is a health risk created by cars with keyless ignitions. When a driver parks and gets out of the car, they can forget to turn the car off. If this happens in an enclosed area, like a garage, then the results could be deadly.
Problem: The problem at hand is the potential health effects that these cars can cause.
Who: Anyone who owns a car with this feature or lives in a household that has one of these cars is at risk of being exposed to this problem.




3 comments:

  1. Hi Patrick,
    You chose some great articles here. I was really intrigued by the one about snakes becoming more common when it rains more. Growing up in South Florida it was quite common to see snakes in and around my house, but I never noticed how there would be more of them after we had a rainy spell. The old saying about snakes that my Dad always taught me was “Red and Black, stay back!”

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  2. The article you shared about snakes coming out of the woods is so true. Just this weekend I was down in our barn helping my husband when I come across a small oak snake. It scared me to death! Thankfully, it was just as scared of me as I was him and ran. I just hope the venomous snakes stay away, because I usually panicked first and then ask questions.

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  3. Hi Patrick,
    I thought the article about gun violence was heartbreaking. Gun violence is definitely an issue in this country, but to see the magnitude of how it has affected the youth in Florida is very sad. This is an issue that needs to be resolved, hopefully soon and with as much support as possible. The other articles were also very interesting. Great post

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