Climate change is an escalating threat to the health of people around the world. As emergency medicine physicians practicing in Australia and the US, we – and our colleagues around the world – have seen the impact of climate change on the patients we treat.
Will we see you soon? Hope not. However, an increasing number of people will face climate-related emergencies such as floods, fires and extreme weather. All of us can be proactive in preparing to protect our health when we need it. Here’s what to know and what to do.
How does climate change affect health?
As the planet warms, people are seeking emergency medical care for a range of climate-related health problems, such as heat stroke and heat stroke, asthma from air pollution, and infectious diseases linked to flooding and biome changes that trigger ticks Bugs, mosquitos, and other pests relocate. News headlines often focus on the physical and psychological trauma caused by hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes and floods.
We care about people who have been displaced from their homes and communities due to extreme weather events. Many people suddenly lose access to their usual healthcare team members and pharmacies, sometimes for extended periods of time. Extreme weather often takes its toll the most on the homeless, those with complex medical conditions, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, minorities and those living in poorer communities.
For example, on a recent 110-degree day, a woman came to the emergency room in Adelaide, Australia, complaining of headaches, fatigue and nausea, all symptoms of heat exhaustion. She told medical staff she had just walked for two hours in the sun to get groceries because she had no car or public transport. Although the health advice in the media that day advised her to stay in an air-conditioned room, going out and walking was the only option for her to support her family. For this woman and many others, well-intentioned public health warnings have done little to reduce the risk of illness during extreme weather. Achieving safe and equitable health outcomes will require addressing access to housing, access to transportation, and other social factors that put people at risk of adverse health outcomes.
Extreme weather causes massive health and safety concerns
Climate-related extreme weather is increasingly disrupting healthcare services and causing substantial morbidity and mortality. Extreme weather can damage critical infrastructure like power grids, making it unavailable to those who depend on home medical equipment. It could close health care facilities like dialysis centers or emergency rooms, or slow down care at facilities that remain open.
People fleeing fires or hurricanes may be displaced, and they may struggle to access medical care or desperately needed medicines such as insulin, dialysis, high blood pressure treatment and heart medication. These factors can worsen chronic conditions and may even lead to death, especially in people with existing medical conditions such as heart failure, lung disease, and kidney disease.
How can you prepare to protect your health?
In the face of the growing dangers posed by climate change, we all have a role to play in keeping ourselves and our communities well. Taking these steps can help.
If you or a loved one has a medical problem:
- Keep the printed summary handy, listing all medical conditions, medications and dosages, and your healthcare provider’s phone number.
- If you have to leave the house, try to keep all your medicines with you – even bringing an empty bottle will help the doctor try to refill you.
- Store the medicine in a waterproof bag, where it can be easily found. This will help if you need to evacuate quickly.
Think about what to do if you need to leave the house quickly. Now is the time to develop a basic emergency plan:
- Where would you go if you needed to evacuate?
- how are you going to get there
- How can you communicate with others without electricity or phone service?
- Do you have written contact information for some family members and friends in case you lose your phone or the battery dies?
In the end, we all need to care about other people in our community. Check on elderly neighbors and people around you who may be socially disconnected and make sure they live in a place that is safe and able to handle hot, cold, smoky, fiery, snowy, humid, or windy weather.
Climate change is here. It has had a real and significant impact on the health of our communities and people around the world. In addition, the increased risk of climate-related extreme weather will persist for the foreseeable future, and we must prepare for the threats it poses to our health now and in the decades to come. All of us—health professionals, communities, and individuals—have a role to play in keeping ourselves and each other healthy and safe.
