The list of potential health effects of climate change is so
vast that I do not know if I am truly equipped to deal with them all. I think as
health care professionals, we need to look at particular areas and patient
populations individually and consider the effects of climate change in that
group. For example, those affected by flooding and severe weather may have
different health needs than those in areas that are ravaged by high
temperatures and fires. Here in California, perhaps we can narrow it down and
focus on the aspects of climate change that affect our citizens. Having more health
care providers that are experts in conditions like asthma could be one way to
focus on the pollution and regular fires throughout California. Public health
professionals can put more emphasis on the importance of shelters with air
conditioning for those in areas with severe heat waves during the summer
months.
Nurses in public health, or nurses in any setting, can help
raise awareness of the effects of climate change on health and advocate for
policy changes that combat climate change. We can follow local, state, and
federal government bills and policy changes and even become directly involved
by attending governmental meetings and offering our expertise. We can contact
government representatives and express our concerns based on our level of
knowledge. We need to also focus on vulnerable populations, such as children,
the elderly, the homeless, and refugees, who are more significantly affected by
climate change. Public awareness campaigns are a great way to influence voters,
from posters in public health clinics to television and internet ads.
I can see the importance now in obtaining a Population Health degree as a nurse. We are a product of our environment, and so much makes sense when you can add personal information and demongraphics to a patient's health profile. It's almost like a mini-CDC in the community. My focus on understanding what contributions the environment has on patients developing cancer in the Long Beach area has been very rewarding. From pointing out that longshoremen are at risk for HD exposure, and gas and oil workers are exposed to hazardous air quality, our cancer center was able to redirect a Lung Cancer Screening program that specifically benefited these workers. There is so much work to do in this area!
ReplyDeleteNurses play an important role for environmental health, especially because we are the first one that see what is done to the population. I found a website where nurses, share their concern about climate change. Nurses can learn and then practice and lead others on their personal and institutional practices, implementing the principles of reduce, reuse, recycle, recover and re-educate at home and in the workplace.
ReplyDeletehttps://envirn.org/climate-change-health-and-nursing/