Carolyn Barber, MD
Contacting Carolyn Barber, MD
Federation handle:
@cbarbermd@med-mastodon.com
Carolyn Barber, MD's Information
Carolyn Barber, MD's Bio
Medical & science journalist. Contributor @Fortune @TIME @SciAm. 25-year Emergency Medicine physician. Book: Runaway Medicine. Co-Founder of a homeless work program, Wheels of Change. Pls send tips!
Carolyn Barber, MD's Posts
Carolyn Barber, MD has 27 posts.
Carolyn Barber, MD
Yikes! State to probe why PACIFIC PALISADES RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY when firestorm exploded. It had been closed since last Feb for repairs to its cover, leaving a 117-million-gallon storage complex empty. Numerous fire hydrants in the Palisades went dry during the fires. Newsom called of it "deeply troubling."
https://www.yahoo.com/news/pacific-palisades-reservoir-offline-empty-163924460.html #press #fires
Tags: #press #fires
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Carolyn Barber, MD
NEW: Health officials in San Francisco are investigating a presumptive case of #birdflu that was found in a child who lives in the city. It’s not clear how the child contracted the virus.
The child had fever & conjunctivitis, wasn’t hospitalized and has fully recovered.
https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/bird-flu-sf-health-officials-say-case-found-in-child-h5n1/ #press
Tags: #birdflu #press
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Carolyn Barber, MD
Dangers of wildfire smoke:
“There are many pollutants of concern in wildfire smoke,” including ozone, carbon monoxide and other toxic gases, says Hendrickson. Small particles in the smoke, called particulate matter 2.5 or PM2.5 — and even smaller ultra-fine particles known as PM0.1 — also pose a threat in large part because they can penetrate deep into the lungs, “enter the bloodstream, and reach every organ of the body.”
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-10/la-wildfire-smoke-adds-billions-to-healthcare-costs #press #CaliforniaWildFires
Tags: #press #californiawildfires
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Carolyn Barber, MD
Bill Nye’s advice for Gen Z grads: ‘Pessimistic people don’t get very much done'—and they’ll drag you down with them…No matter what else is going on, everyone, please, be optimistic.”
https://fortune.com/2025/01/10/bill-nye-gen-z-career-advice-pessimism-holds-people-back/ #press #healt
Tags: #press #healt
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Carolyn Barber, MD
“Now is the time to halt the spread of #H5N1 that is encroaching all around us.”—Bright
6 steps that Biden or Trump admin can take now to prevent a pandemic
https://fortune.com/well/2025/01/09/bird-flu-next-pandemic-steps-prevent-spread/ #press
#pandemic #birdlfu
Tags: #h5n1 #press #pandemic #birdlfu
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Carolyn Barber, MD
NEW: Mel Gibson’s Malibu home ‘completely toasted’ by LA fires while he was talking on Joe Rogan’s show
“When I got home, sure enough, it wasn’t there. I have never seen a place so perfectly burnt. I mean, nothing but a chimney and a few roof tiles, and you dare not walk around for the nails and the whole deal. The vehicles, everything,”
#fires
@cbarbermd I don't want anyone's house to burn, but if I had to choose he'd be on the short list.
by Matt Chambers ;
@cbarbermd
So Mel Gibson gets a 4:28 video segment all about him on Joe Rogan
Meanwhile:
"LA Times: More than 9,000 structures damaged or destroyed, at least 10 killed in L.A. County fires"
But who cares? Somebody rich and famous lost stuff
Excuse me while I go to the bathroom to puke into the toilet
I hope I make it
by FinchHaven ;
Tags: #fires
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Carolyn Barber, MD
Americans are spending more time alone than ever.
“A fundamental paradox at the core of human life is that we are highly social & made better in every way by being around ppl. And yet, we have opportunities to connect that we don’t take, or even actively reject, & it’s a terrible mistake.”
https://apple.news/AKlsSEPZzQ8qoa9UY8lti4Q #press #loneliness
@cbarbermd There’s no incentive, no future no fight for. The nuclear family is dead.
by TenaciousGoat ;
Tags: #press #loneliness
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Carolyn Barber, MD
The wildfires have killed at least 10, burned > 10,000 structures & consumed >35K acres or some 53 square miles. Forecasters estimate the damages and economic losses now at $135 -$150 billion.
The Palisades fire 🔥 is just 6% contained & the Eaton fire 0%, but the Hollywood fire is fully contained.
Dear Chef Jose Andres has set up a food truck nearby. "Everybody needs support and love in these moments, wealthy or not, poor or not.
🙏🔥🙏
https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/hollywood-hills-burn-la-engulfed-by-the-big-one-2025-01-09/ #press #fires
Tags: #press #fires
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Carolyn Barber, MD
“Given the magnitude of the disaster, I'm announcing that the federal govt will cover 100% of the cost for 180 days. This is going to pay for things like debris & hazard removal, temporary shelters, first responders salaries, & all necessary measures to protect life and property. I told the governor, ‘Spare no expense and do what they need to do to contain these fires & help these communities that have been devastated.’”
Than you, President Biden!🙏 #wildfire #press
@cbarbermd
People who are not actively following this enormous disaster have no Idea of the scope of "massive California wildfire"
I follow @ai6yr at https://infosec.exchange/lists/7279
He does storm and fire tracking in Southern California particularly, but nationally too
This was 18 minutes ago
"Start planning for Oak Park to be impacted. Launching 5 closest engines from VNC."
Edit @ 3:21 PM PST
"#KennethFire -- Oak Park and Agoura need to be on top of this. They are evacuating people, RROS. #Agoura #OakPark "
Edit @ 3:28 PM PST
"Update MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDER Brush Fire - Kennith Fire (name update); INC#1365; 03:12PM; 24850 W Victory Bl; MAP: https://bit.ly/3C2XV2k; Woodland Hills; The Kenneth Fire is burning south (updated). LAFD is issuing a Mandatory Evacuation Order for Vanowen south to Burbank Blvd. County Lane Road east to E Valley Circle Blvd. This is an immediate evacuation order for all residents within this area.; "
His final update @ 3:40 PM PST
"I will not be posting much, Kenneth Fire is heading this way. Hopefully folks at Watch Duty will step up to this one. Good luck, folks. #VenturaCounty"
See: https://app.watchduty.org/i/40508
by FinchHaven ;
Tags: #Wildfire #press
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Carolyn Barber, MD
“The time for urgency, the experts say, is now—even if acknowledging the scope of the bird flu problem upsets people and companies with a vested interest in seeing it downplayed.”
https://fortune.com/well/2025/01/09/bird-flu-next-pandemic-steps-prevent-spread/
#press #birdflu
@cbarbermd
I think we have multiple pandemic-scale epidemics right now, chiefly Covid, Whooping Cough, and A(H1N1)pmd09.
Pasteur Institute says enhanced virulence factors are driving the Pertussis epidemic, and its definitely unusual for A(H1N1)pmd09 to be gaining as it is since the tendency for pandemic influenzas of attenuation rather than enhancement.
Beyond that, Clade Ib MPox is threatening to become a pandemic. America sure as heck isn't ready for that.
by J.H.Noyes ;
Tags: #press #birdflu
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Carolyn Barber, MD
Santa Monica pier… So tragic.
@cbarbermd
Luckily the Fire is in background, there are no reports of the Pier burning.
by Kevin Russell ;
@cbarbermd this looks so tragic, but also AI generated. Why is the California flag waving in the opposite direction of the US one? Anyway, let’s hope the LAFD gets this sorted
by Die Sternburg ;
@cbarbermd perfect time to be shooting a zombie movie, rogue AI movie. Ooh! Generation Zero fan film!
by Crow ;
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Carolyn Barber, MD
BirdFlu will be the next pandemic unless health officials take 6 critical steps, experts say
https://fortune.com/well/2025/01/09/bird-flu-next-pandemic-steps-prevent-spread/
#press #birdflu #pandemic
Tags: #press #birdflu #pandemic
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Carolyn Barber, MD
Drone footage of the assault on L.A.
“This is the worst that I’ve ever seen. And it’s going on and on and on.”
“One day you’re swimming in the pool and the next day it’s all gone,” said actor James Woods
#press #fires
@cbarbermd @DemocracyMattersALot Is this the same James Woods? If so it would seem he’s in the “finding out” phase.
by pmonks (330ppm) ;
@cbarbermd
What part of LA is this video from? Palisades? Altadena?
by Space Wrangler ;
Tags: #press #fires
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Carolyn Barber, MD
🔥 Predictions of the economic devastation of the fires—in terms of damage to homes, the film & TV industry, etc—are climbing. Damages are now estimated to be $57 billion.
The blazes are already the most destructive in LA history, burning >27K acres. https://shorturl.at/eCpb9 #press #fires
Tags: #press #fires
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Carolyn Barber, MD
Uncanny! Photographer François Brunelle searches & photographs similar people, not related to each other. #press
Tags: #press
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Carolyn Barber, MD
The Pacific Palisades—looks apocalyptic. So tragic. Friends reporting that they’ve lost homes, memories, their “charming neighborhood”… 🙏
My heart goes out to everyone. No words. #press #wildfire
@cbarbermd "If you're near Palisades fires, please be mindful that wild animals are fleeing the flames & may show up in your yards. California Forest & Fire Protection advises bringing pets indoors to give wildlife a safe path. Consider leaving out buckets of water for animals - they are scared, exhausted, & may have lost their homes. A little kindness can help them survive."
by Chris McCabe ;
Tags: #press #Wildfire
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Carolyn Barber, MD
We overscreen, overtest & overdiagnose patients & sometimes we hurt them in the process.
An analysis of 18 randzd trials (2.1M people)concluded that “current evidence does not substantiate the claim” that common #cancer screens (mammography, colonoscopy, prostate-spec Ag (PSA) testing, etc) save lives, by extending lifetimes with the possible exception of sigmoidoscopy, for colon cancer. Read that again & ck below👇.https://shorturl.at/MiArZ
If paywall, this works: https://shorturl.at/FT7si #press
@cbarbermd
I think there should also be less of a stigma on when people choose not to screen, and when the person then develops cancer, not to blame that person.
It is a risk that someone took, just like others choose to drink, or smoke, or not protect themselves against Covid.
by Another concerned scientist ;
Tags: #cancer #press
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Carolyn Barber, MD
After Palisades fire 🔥 hydrants lacked water.
“We had a tremendous demand on our system. We pushed the system to the extreme,” Quiñones said. “4x the normal demand was seen for 15 hrs straight, which lowered our water pressure.”
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-08/lack-of-water-from-hydrants-in-palisades-fire-is-hampering-firefighters-caruso-says #press #wildfire
Tags: #press #Wildfire
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Carolyn Barber, MD
We are not prepared.
“There’s no number of helicopters or trucks that we can buy, no number of firefighters that we can have, no amount of brush that we can clear that will stop this,” Garcetti, said. “The only thing that will stop this is when the earth, probably long after we’re gone, relaxes into a more predictable weather state.”https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/08/opinion/california-wildfire-los-angeles.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
#press #wildfire
Tags: #press #Wildfire
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Carolyn Barber, MD
HOW FAR IS TOO FAR?
A surgeon had to scrub out of surgery to speak with an @UHC United Healthcare rep who wanted to cancel the inpatient stay of the woman who was under anesthesia in the O.R. Crazy.
Insurance companies can’t be in charge of healthcare decisions. #press #health
@cbarbermd
I work in healthcare in Australia and surgeons don't leave for anything I've ever seen in 25 years. I'm in theatre a couple of times a week at least.
by ideogram ;
@cbarbermd health insurance and their interests are inherently opposed to actual health care for the patients.
Shareholder value is an obvious conflict of interest.
by Urban Hermit ;
@cbarbermd
As someone who knows more than anyone ought to about the rigamarole of a physician getting paid, both from the insurer and the health care pro's positions -
Pretty much every physician / anesthesiologist / inpatient administrator has at least two people involved in dealing with the insurance firms - let's not even start in on getting Medicare to pay.
by tuban_muzuru ;
@cbarbermd And MANY still scratching their heads at the UHC CEO motive. Not me.
by 🇺🇸My Head’s Exploded 🤯 💥 ;
Tags: #press #health
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