Nursing: Public Health Safety
Answering Questions after Article Review
Question One- Does this scenario represent a public safety or public health issue?
Further, public health education would have been worthwhile in preventing the accident with regard to being careful on roadways being a personal precaution because road accident is a public health issue. Public safety is applicable in keeping dogs away from human traffic on the road ways. However, the accident could have been avoided had the boys been more alert to what happens on streets.
Again speeding cars, dogs dashing out unexpectedly are public health safety measures implemented on highways for the safety of pedestrians and motorists alike. Public safety laws cannot stop speeding neither dogs rushing out on pavements no matter how legislated. This is the reason for so many traffic offenses daily. However, public health sensitivity can control relationships on the road to prevent occurrences encountered by Marcus.
Question Two- How does this scenario exemplify the way legislative process influences public health?
It would appear that the voice of the majority rules. Despite Angie’s claim and petition support for public safety it was over-ruled in lieu of addressing community concerns for maintenance of their vehicles, which is another public health issue. Who pays the bill when tires and suspensions have to be replaced? Angie is not responsible, neither the neighborhood council, but individuals. This can initiate subsequent public health issues such as stress because of financial burdens.
Question-Three. Should the Neighborhood Council have acted in a different manner on this issue? Explain why or why not.
Precisely, the Neighborhood Council acted in a very appropriate manner, when considered from all sides of the scenario. The council had to address an emotional Angie who selfishly was thinking about her exclusive situation.
The accident could have been avoided had Marcus been more aware on the road. Nowhere in the story is Marcus cautioned about being more careful while ridding on the streets. The blame and anger were turned to the Charles and the Neighbor- hood council as if they were solely responsible.
In granting this petition no matter how sentimentally viable would mean that every person who had some emotional baggage to carry, as Angie could release it through a legislated petition approved by a Neighborhood council acting on the sentiments of a few disturbed parents.
Question Four- What Angie Young and proponents of the speed bumps could have done differently to receive a more favorable response from the Neighborhood Council?
The very first issue to be resolved in this situation is whether speed bumps could have prevented Marcus’ accident given the scenario presented in this case. It would not! The dog rushing out on the sidewalk chasing the boys as well as the speeding car had very little influence on the eventuality.
The supporting evidence points towards Marcus becoming scared; ridding faster and darting off the sidewalk around a parked car. (Young). These actions were taken without pondering the public health consequence which is an accident for the statistics.
Angie and her supporters had to take an objective view of the situation. Sure! Angie is angry about her son’s injury. Empathy extended in response to her concerns. The boy could have certainly died. Without addressing the undermining issues placing speeding bumps would not prevent any future mishaps.
Perhaps, a reconciliatory approach may have awarded more favorable outcomes. The persons involved undoubtedly were teenagers who still do no know how to interact with traffic on roadways. A massive public health education program using Marcus and Charles as case study examples could have aroused public empathy. Clearly, the outward projection blame game did not work and often does not.
Question V-What options for political influence might a person pursue in an effort to change public health policy?
Public health policy inevitably impinges on public policy, which in itself is the executive arm of government. Government and politics are interrelated, but are distinct entities in themselves. Three main arms of government exist; namely, the legislative; executive and judicial. The techniques through which these three arms are articulated to enforce public policy are described as politics (Schuster, 2009).
Options for political influence a person may have in pursuing change in public health policy begins with the executive arm of government and ends there too. Outside the boundaries of government and politics there is no scope for change from the level of individuals initiating the transformation.
In the case of Angie Young and her confederates, the political influence they instigated to effect change in public health/safety policy was obtaining signatures from the politic, which the masses. For them to enforce their influence, clearly, they must be in the majority to the opposing forces. As exemplified in the prevailing scenario, influence is rendered ineffective due to lack of majority support.
This has nothing to do with government represented by the neighborhood council. The process is inefficiently articulated because adequate political support is lacking. This identifies a principle by which every political option is influenced. How can an individual convince the masses of the change pursued?
References
Schuster, W Michael. (2009). For the Greater Good: The Use of Public Policy Considerations in
Confirming Chapter 11 Plans of Reorganization. Houston Law Review, Vol 9, 467
Young, Angie. Angie Young Season 3 Episode.
