Risk Perception and Risk Communication Risk Perception n

Risk Perception and Risk Communication

Risk Perception n “People are disturbed, not by things, but by the view they take of them. ” Epictetus n Judgements regarding risk fueled more by fear than facts

Risk Perception n Risk = Hazard + Outrage ¨ Peter n Sandman “There are 3 kinds of lies - lies, damned lies, and statistics. ” ¨ Mark Twain

Risk Perception n n Risks feared more: ¨ new ¨ human-made ¨ imposed upon them ¨ associated with death ¨ from untrustworthy source ¨ directly affect you ¨ affect our children ¨ high uncertainty Risks feared less: ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ natural choice involved may also provide benefit under your control from trusted source we are less aware of threatens others

Risk Communication involving Hazards (CDC) n Questions to prepare for: ¨ Why did this happen? ¨ Why wasn’t this prevented? ¨ What else can go wrong? ¨ When were you notified about this? ¨ What does this information mean? ¨ How are ill going to get help? ¨ What can we expect? ¨ What bad things aren’t you telling us?

Risk Communication involving Hazards (CDC) n Information sought by media: ¨ casualties, conditions, treatment ¨ property damage ¨ response to relief activities ¨ resulting effects (stress)

Risk Communication involving Hazards (CDC) n n n Don’t try to over reassure the public Inappropriate to ask people to abandon their fears Give people action steps to do

Risk Communication involving Hazards (CDC) Timely/accurate release of information n Be honest, report lack of facts now n Keep messages simple/straightforward (avoid scientific explanations) n Have experts ready to address risks n Get info out to local officials (they are trusted more - let them give info out) n

Risk Communication Examples ¨ Colony of Aedes Agypti found in research building one floor down from Containment Insectary where they are used in research ¨ BL 2 waste inadvertently disposed of in general trash ¨ Red biowaste bags found in dumpster at condominium ¨ Missing, unaccounted for animals infected with TSE’s

Risk Communication Examples ¨ Animal care staff potentially exposed to biohazards from unauthorized experiment ¨ Envelope, mail, packages with suspicious powder, oily substance on or in it ¨ Staff of child-bearing age exposed to reproductive pathogen ¨ Loss of biohazardous material from research lab (unaccounted for) ¨ Lab acquired infection in researcher; route of infection unknown