Assessing community response to wildfire smoke: A multimethod study using social media.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess health-related responses to wildfire smoke on social media. We examined whether seasonal wildfire smoke is an active topic on Twitter, the correlation between fine particulate matter (PM2.5 ) and Twitter search terms, and dimensions of community-level expression to wildfire smoke through tweets. DESIGN: Search terms were identified using a conceptual model developed and refined by healthcare providers and public health experts. Wildfire-related tweets were downloaded from Twitter users in Spokane, Washington during the 2017 and 2018 wildfire seasons. PM2.5 data were correlated with the search terms. A subset of tweets was deductively and then inductively coded to identify perceptions and behavioral responses to wildfire smoke. RESULTS: Seasonal wildfire smoke is an active topic on Twitter. The term "smoke" was strongly correlated with poor air quality and "unhealthy" was moderately correlated. Deductive analyses revealed a multidimensional response to wildfire smoke. Inductive analysis identified new areas of concern, such as pet and animal health. CONCLUSIONS: Social media is a lens through which public health professionals can assess and respond to local community needs. Findings will be used to broaden the conceptual model, enhance ongoing surveillance of community-identified health risks, and communicate protective actions.

Supporting Kids' Active Travel during the Pandemic: Milwaukee SRTS Program.

The Milwaukee Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program, a partnership between the city of Milwaukee Department of Public Works and the Wisconsin Bike Federation continued their commitment to children's active travel during the COVID-19 pandemic through offering "walk audit"-style traffic safety community walks and a variety of other biking and walking programs in neighborhoods with majority Black or Latine residents. These efforts included public involvement activities to discuss and incorporate preferences for planned infrastructure improvements; urban summer bicycle camps for kids; and support for teachers as SRTS champions. Staff made modifications such as conducting programming outdoors; modifying materials and facilitation methods to support physical distancing; providing face coverings and minimizing touching equipment. The National Center for Safe Routes to School recognized their efforts with the 2021 Vision Zero for Youth Innovation Award.