Climate Messages

Climate Messages was a project through the American Public Health Association's Public Health Nursing Section as part of the Nursing Collaborative on Climate Change and Health. For one year, I sent out weekly messages to help nurses better understand, prepare for, and mitigate the negative health effects of climate change and polluted air, soil, and water.

November 26, 2019

“This is not a job for one generation. This is a job for humanity.” -Luisa Neubauer, Climate Activist

💚A brief letter to my friends, family, and fellow humans,

Climate change is affecting the health and wellbeing of people RIGHT NOW. Children are getting hurt because of stronger, more frequent storms, bigger wildfires, serious downpours, movement of mosquitos and ticks and the disease that come with them, severe heat, food and water insecurity, and forced migration. These are just a few of the problems we are facing right now. If we do not make drastic changes at every level of society and government immediately, the devastating effects of climate change will be irreversible. By the time I am 50 and Freya is 20, we could be living (or dying) in a world where the air is too polluted to breath, the soil is impossible to grow food in, and the water is toxic and unsafe to drink. Entire species will be lost at a faster rate than today (we are currently losing 200 species every single day). And the worst part... is that the people who are contributing the least to climate change will be affected the most... the children, the elderly, the poor, African American and minority populations who the system has been set up to hurt from the very beginning... they are already hurting. They are already dying from the asthma, the cancer, heart disease, the autoimmune disease, and the trauma of this crisis that crosses all borders. But we have the choice to turn this around... if we all act now. We must talk about this and we must act on this. Our lives literally depend on it.

I am begging you. Children are relying on you. Future generations will come to you and ask what you did to secure their future. What will you say?

#climatestrike #climatechangeisreal #climatecrisischs #climatechangeshealth #strikewithus

November 24, 2018

Today there was a “king tide” and the creek next to my house was filled to its brim, overflowing into the carport. My friend, Kate’s neighborhood is under water. Hundreds of thousands of people in California could not celebrate Thanksgiving in their homes because their communities are on fire.The government released its most recent, science-based report on climate change yesterday and the takeaway: it is here and poor and coastal communities are suffering the brunt. Oh, and it’s not getting better. And if we do not do something about it (and by something, I mean drastically cut greenhouse gas pollutions, tax carbon emissions, implement clean energy solutions, reduce our personal impacts by consuming less, eating and buying local, reducing energy and water use in our own homes, and get our leaders’ hands our of the pockets of big oil companies, etc.)... the earth WILL NOT BE A LIVABLE PLACE BY THE END OF THE CENTURY.Did you read that?!? The place we all call home will be burned to the ground, destroyed by storms, dried up, or completely under water. The air we breath will be so polluted that our children and our childrens’ children WILL DIE. I am not over exaggerating here. This has been BACKED by science. It is happening.Meanwhile... I hope you experienced all the immediate gratification possible on Black Friday... while the world burns and drowns.Hey, shop local today okay? Support your local businesses. It’s the least you can do.What can we do as Nurses and As HUMANS... just talk about it. Please. I am begging you to talk about ithttps://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/its-happening-its-now-says-u-s-government-report-on-climate-change.

August 6, 2018

There are 98 large fires burning in the West RIGHT NOW!!

🔥🔥🔥

The #CarrFire is moving swiftly. Learn how #climatechange has increased the risk for wildfires in the Western US: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__bit.ly_2OhnJKx&d=DwIFaQ&c=qgVugHHq3rzouXkEXdxBNQ&r=Y1cZBgTUgkvEptUfPEvABCv551h1PiKhJRrpIe5Xp9s&m=kUIHoDP21xuh-TWtS8aZiN0mWj1MFyyzPA38XU-Azgc&s=yJYHTTtanRFDSy2bTT9mj2Y12EOhaKH8ja8Qz1Ag--0&e=

July 19, 2018

It is still raining in Charleston and the 15-day forecast states, "heavy downpours and thunderstorms." The most recent water quality update from @CharlestonWaterkeeper found high levels of fecal matter at 11 of their 15 sites around the area.

My driveway and half of my yard is under water.

Most of the northern hemisphere is suffering extreme heat.

Wildfires continue to burn the West Coast. Thousands of families have lost their homes. ▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️ I don't know about you, but for me... CLIMATE CHANGE HAS NEVER FELT SO REAL. ▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️▪️ Like me, you may feel overwhelmed, filled with dread, and nervous to engage in conversation about a topic that, like most things these days, has become intense and politically polarized. This blog post from ecoAmerica really helped ground me on the topic and supplied me with momentum to move forward. We, as Public Health Nurses, have an obligation to act of climate. The detrimental health effects of climate to our families, our friends, and our patients are becoming increasingly apparent. The first step: TALK ABOUT IT.

Check out the blog post here: https://ecoamerica.org/climate-change-can-bring-us-together-5-simple-rules-for-climate-advocacy/?mc_cid=59966b5014&mc_eid=d0fff89f01

July 12, 2018

💧I am currently sitting on my back patio on James Island, South Carolina watching the rain come down for the 16th continuous hour. My rain gauge says 3.5 inches have already fallen, and the forecast does not change until 4am tomorrow. Bridges to nearby Charleston are closed and many roads on the peninsula are under water, jeapordizing transportation, infrastructure, public health and safety. 💧The bottom line is this: Increases in frequency and severity of coastal flooding due to climate change is A) a real problem, B) a health risk to our families, friends, neighbors and patients, and C) something we, as nurses, have the power to address.

💧Check out this booklet created by the Centers for Disease Control on how you can prepare for the health risks of coastal flooding: Coastal Flooding, Climate Change, and Your Health What You Can Do to Prepare. "This booklet answers some of the key questions about coastal flooding in a changing climate: why these events are on the rise; how it might affect your health; and what you can do before, during, and after a coastal flooding event to stay safe" (CDC, 2017).

💧What else can NURSES do?
▪️VOTE, AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO VOTE, IN NOVEMBER for local, state, and national candidates who share your values regarding health and the environment. VOTE for representatives who will ENACT CHANGE. ▪️Contact your current representatives and tell them how important climate mitigation is to you and your patients. OUR HEALTH DEPENDS ON IT. ▪️Talk to your families, friends, neighbors and patients about the health effects of coastal flooding. Share resources on what all of us can do to help. ▪️Implement clean air and water solutions into your own life and home. See Climate Message from June 15 for tips and ways to reduce your personal impact on climate change.

Resources for today's Climate Message:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. November 2017. Coastal Flooding, Climate Change, and Your Health What You Can Do to Prepare. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/pubs/CoastalFloodingClimateChangeandYourHealth-508.pdf.

July 5, 2018

As greenhouse gas emissions rise and the world’s ice caps are melting, our coastal cities and hometowns are at risk!My home of James Island, South Carolina is on this list. Is yours?Check Here: https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/american-cities-that-will-soon-be-under-water/ss-AAyRWxS#image=1What can NURSES do?▪️“Cities and institutions can mitigate flood damage by implementing wetlands, levees, and other mechanisms” (Frohlich, 2018). ▪️It is important that nurses VOTE and support local leaders who are serious about implementing flood prevention and mitigation techniques. Once in office, hold your representatives responsible by CALLING THEM FREQUENTLY to let them know how they are doing and what you’d like them to focus on in order to earn your continuing support. ▪️Educate yourself on the effects of climate change and rising sea levels on the health of your families, patients and communities, then talk about it. MAKE HEALTH PART OF THE CONVERSATION! Don’t just talk about the problems, discuss solutions as well. See ANHE’s site and toolkit for tips: https://climateandhealthtoolkit.org/▪️Implement clean air and water solutions into your own life. See Climate Message from June 15 for tips and ways to reduce your personal impact on climate change.

June 28, 2018

For the past weeks in these Climate Messages under What can NURSES do?, I've recommended,?"Implementing clean energy and water solutions in your own life and home." This week I'd like to elaborate on that a bit.? Here are SEVEN WAYS IN WHICH YOU CAN REDUCE YOUR PERSONAL IMPACT ON CLIMATE CHANGE:? 1. GET INVOLVED - Contact your political representatives and media and tell them you want action on climate change. Remind them that reducing greenhouse gas emissions will not only improve the health of the citizens in your community but will also spur economic innovation and create?new jobs. Here's a link to the Citizens' Climate Lobby, which will help you find your representative, understand their views on climate, and provide you with some sample scripts and messages to get started:?citizensclimatelobby.org/2. BE ENERGY EFFICIENT IN YOUR OWN LIFE AND HOME - There are so many ways to reduce your carbon footprint in the home. Start by changing light bulbs to compact fluorescents or LEDS. Wait until your washing machine and dishwasher are full before you start them, and wash clothes in cold or warm (NOT HOT) water. Dryers are also energy hogs, so try using wool?dryer balls or, better yet, hang clothes on the line to dry. Look for the?Energy Star?label when buying new appliances for your home. For more ways to save on energy at home, check out this tool kit put together by the Sonoma Library:?DO IT YOURSELF ENERGY AND WATER SAVINGS GUIDE?and this one by the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments:?climateandhealthtoolkit.org/3. CHOOSE RENEWABLE POWER - Ask your utility company to switch your account to clean, renewable power, such as from wind farms. If your energy company doesn't offer this option yet, ask it to! Here's a link to finding what resources and tax incentives are available to you based on your location:?DSIRE USA4. EAT WISELY - This means buying organic and local and avoiding processed foods. Grow your own food and cut back on meat, even if this means going meatless just one day per week. "New analysis shows that while meat and dairy provide just 18% of calories and 37% of protein, it uses the vast majority - 83% - of farmland and produces 60% of agriculture's greenhouse gas emissions" (Carrington, 2018). Read the article here:?theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/315. BE SMART ABOUT WASTE - Garbage buried in landfills produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Shop smarter by choosing items that aren't pre-packaged and buying local and organic. Products that have to travel long distances use more resources. Compost kitchen scraps and garden trimmings. Recycle paper, plastic, metal and glass.6. TRAVEL SMART - Fly less, buy an energy efficient car, or green your commute (walk, cycle, or use public transportation). 7. SHARE STORIES AND EXPERIENCES - I know I say this all the time, but human connection is so important to creating lasting change. Talk about how you see climate change impacting the health of your friends and family and also how climate mitigation?techniques are working in your life.?When we feel a connection to the problem on a personal level, we are able to take ownership of the solutions.

June 9, 2018

Topic: 🔥Wildfires🔥

Climate change has increased wildfire activity in many parts of the world.

Why? A) Spring and summer are coming earlier and lasting longer, leading to more extreme heat events and earlier melting of snowpacks. This results in scarce water availability during the hottest summer months, giving vegetation more time to dry out. B) Warmer air causes more water to evaporated into the atmosphere from the plants and ground, leaving the landscape drier and more susceptible to fire. (Harvey, 2017) C) Research shows that lightening-induced fires have increased in recent years and, because of the changing climate, lightning strikes could increase by 50% by the end of the century. D) Climate change causes more extreme winds in some parts of the world. Wind fuels the fire, leading to more damage and worsened health effects when fires do break out. (Thompson, 2014)

How does this affect human health? “Wildfire smoke contains particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and various volatile organic compounds (which are ozone precursors) and can significantly reduce air quality, both locally and in areas downwind of fires” (CDC). Exposure to air pollution from wildfire smoke exacerbates respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, increases hospitalizations for these conditions as well as hiking up emergency department visits, "medication dispensations for asthma, bronchitis, chest pain, COPD, and respiratory infections; and medical visits for lung illnesses” (CDC, 2014).

What can NURSES do?
🔹Learn more about the science behind climate change and wildfires, then talk to your friends, family and patients about the potential adverse outcomes and how to be prepared. 🔹For patients with chronic conditions, especially cardiovascular and respiratory related, educate on and ensure that action plans are in place to protect against exacerbation triggers like poor air quality due to wildfire activity.
🔹Knowledge is Power - Sign up to receive air quality updates at https://www.airnow.gov/
🔹Know where to find resources on up-to-date wildfire information, evacuation orders and procedures, and preparedness checklists. 🔹Here are a few from the American Red Cross and FEMA: http://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/wildfire#About, https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1409003859391-0e8ad1ed42c129f11fbc23d008d1ee85/how_to_prepare_wildfire_033014_508.pdf
🔹Implement clean energy and water solutions and climate mitigation techniques in your own life and home. Check out ANHE’s toolkit for suggestions: https://climateandhealthtoolkit.org/
🔹Get involved in community resilience initiatives to reduce wildfires and the health impacts that result from them. 🔹Don’t forget to share your experiences on the health impacts of climate change that you see happening every day. Human connection is so important to global change.

Resources for today’s Climate Message and where to find more information: -Center for Disease Control. Climate and Health: Wildfires. 2014. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/effects/wildfires.htm. -Climate Nexus: Health & Climate Change. Retrieved from: https://climatenexus.org/climate-issues/health/
-Harvey, Chelsea. 2017. Here’s What We Know About Wildfires And Climate Change. Climate Wire, Scientific American. Retrieved from: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/heres-what-we-know-about-wildfires-and-climate-change/. -Thompson, Andrea. 2014. Lightning May Increase With Global Warming. Climate Central, Scientific American. Retrieved from: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/lightning-may-increase-with-global-warming/.

June 1, 2018

Topic: Hurricane Preparedness

I’m going to make this week’s message short and sweet. It is hard to believe because so many of us are still recovering from the devastating effects of last year’s storms, but today marks the official start to the 2018 hurricane season. In 2017, four hurricanes made landfall: Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Nate, and the first three were classified as major hurricanes, affecting nearly 30 million people. During the same season, almost two dozen large wildfires burned more than 200,000 acres of land on the west coast of the US. (Next week’s climate message topic: Wildfires)

Let’s do our part by helping our friends, families, patients and communities be prepared for the possible health effects of these extreme weather events.

What can NURSES do? (Both on a personal level and reminders to patients)
🌊Understand the science behind climate change and its effect on increasing frequency and severity of storms, then talk to friends, neighbors and patients about it. Find more information here: https://nca2014.globalchange.gov/report/our-changing-climate/changes-hurricanes and https://envirn.org/climate-change/
🌊Keep a list of emergency contact information for reference
-Emergency Management Offices
-County Law Enforcement
-County Public Safety Fire/Rescue
-State, County and Local Government
-Local Hospitals
-Local Utilities
-Local American Red Cross
-Local TV Stations
-Local Radio Stations
-Your Property Insurance Agent
🌊Find information on your personal risk. Check online hazard and vulnerability assessment tools. Here is one to get you started: https://geothinq.com
🌊Create and Emergency Plan and review it with your friends and family. Where will you go in case of evacuation orders? Who will prepare you home and property for the storm? What important personal items, food and supplies, and documents need to be brought with you? Plan for your pets!
🌊Put together a Disaster Supplies Kit
🌊Be cautious of health risks upon returning home. Here’s a great article form the Washington Post by Ben Guarino about the short and long-term health risks of hurricanes and flood waters

Resource for today’s Climate Message and where to find more information:
FEMA - Are You Ready? Guide
National Weather Service Weather Safety
Be a Force of Nature with NOAA's Weather-Ready Nation
NWS Storm-Ready Sites & Communities
Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
Ready.gov Kids
American Red Cross

May 25, 2018

Topic: 🔥Extreme Heat🔥

☀️Summer has arrived and so has the heat! As our children are begin their summer vacations, our loved ones work tirelessly in the heat, and our community’s most vulnerable struggle to obtain safe and affordable housing during the summer months, it is so important that we shine light on the health effects of extreme temperatures. ☀️Of all climate change risks, according Climate Central's American Preparedness Report Card, "extreme heat is the most pervasive threat, affecting all 50 states” (2018). Extreme heat can "impact public health, strain the power sector, and put stress on critical infrastructure” (Climate Central, 2018). ☀️Extreme heat events most directly impact human health by compromising the body’s ability to regulate its internal temperature, which can lead to heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and hyperthermia. Heat stress can also "worsen chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, cerebrovascular disease, and diabetes-related conditions” (US Global Change Research Program, 2014).

👩🏻‍⚕️What can NURSES do? 👨🏽‍⚕️

💚Learn and teach others about the health effects of extreme temperatures. Help others understand how to recognize, prevent, and treat heat-related illness. Find more information here: https://toolkit.climate.gov/tool/recognizing-preventing-and-treating-heat-related-illness
💚Know where to find resources for the local temperature and heat index forecast. Here is a great place to start: http://reportcard.statesatrisk.org/
💚Remind those who work, play, or live in the heat to take frequent breaks, drink lots of water, and listen to their bodies
💚Utilize technology and mobile applications available to help take appropriate actions during extreme heat events. Here is a great tool from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to give you a good idea of what is available: https://toolkit.climate.gov/tool/heat-safety-tool
💚Implement clean energy and water solutions in your own life and home. Check out ANHE’s toolkit for suggestions.

Resources for today’s Climate Message and where to find more information:
Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/effects/temperature_extremes.htm
Climate Central. 2018. Extreme Heat. Retrieved from http://reportcard.statesatrisk.org/hazards/extreme-heat#key-findings.
ClimateNexus.org: https://climatenexus.org/climate-issues/health/extreme-heat/
Outrider.org: https://outrider.org/climate-change/impacts/heat-stress/
The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments’ Climate Change Toolkit: https://climateandhealthtoolkit.org/
U.S. Global Change Research Program, Melillo, J.M., Richmond, T.C., & Yohe, G.W. (Eds.). 2014. Climate change impacts in the United States: The third national climate assessment. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved from https://health2016.globalchange.gov/temperature-related-death-and-illness.
U.S. Resilience Toolkit, 2017. Extreme Heat-NIHHIS. Retrieved from: https://toolkit.climate.gov/topics/human-health/extreme-heat

May18, 2018

💚As May is Mental Health Awareness Month, it is important that we highlight the effect that climate change has on the mental and emotional well-being of our patients and communities.

💚As the climate changes, the frequency and severity of extreme weather events is increasing, causing serious mental health consequences. People exposed to extreme weather events and/or climate events that lead to food shortages and civil unrest often suffer from mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

💚What can NURSES do?

*Teach patients about the connection between climate change and mental health and know where to direct them in finding resources
*Teach resilience, stress management, and coping strategies to ALL patients
*Help patients be prepared for extreme weather events, like hurricanes, floods, extreme heat and wildfires

*Locate resources for evacuation plans and preparation guides
*Develop an emergency plan that will prepare you in case you need to evacuate your home or take shelter
*Pack a bag with some of your favorite things along with the essentials like insurance and homeowners paperwork, personal documents, a list of property and valuables inside your home, essential medications, flashlights, a battery-operated radio, a list of emergency contacts and phone numbers, and enough food and water for a few days
*Plan for your pets
*Advocate and vote in alliance with the mitigation of green house gas emissions at the local, state, and national level
*Support efforts and policies that increase access to mental health services, especially for those who are most vulnerable to the health effects of climate change (children, the elderly, the poor, the homeless, first responders, and those with pre-existing mental illness, to name a few)
*Implement clean energy and water solutions in your own life and home. Check out ANHE’s toolkit for suggestions.

Resources for today’s Climate Message and where to find more information:
The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments’ Climate Change Toolkit: https://climateandhealthtoolkit.org/
The Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health. 2017. Medical Alert! Climate Change in Harming our Health. Retrieved from https://medsocietiesforclimatehealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/gmu_medical_alert_updated_082417.pdf.
Padhy SK, Sarkar S, Panigrahi M, Paul S. 2015. Mental health effects of climate change. Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2015;19(1):3–7. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4446935/
South Carolina Emergency Management Division. 2017. South Carolina Hurricane Guide. Retrieved from http://www.scemd.org/files/Public%20Information/Publications/Hurricane_Guide/2017/Hurricane%20guide%20for%20website.pdf.
Union of Concerned Scientists. Climate Change and Mental Health: Extreme weather takes a toll. Retrieved from https://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science_and_impacts/impacts/climate-change-and-mental-health.html#.Wv2mNZOGOu4.

May 15, 2018

This Week’s Topic: Water Quality

Climate change is causing higher air and water temperatures, heavier downpour events, rising sea levels, and more flooding (because of sea level rise and heavy downpours). Each of these conditions can lead to the contamination of drinking water, recreational water, fish, and shellfish - it can also lead to field crops and food becoming contaminated by bacteria and toxins - all of which can make people sick. (Medical Society Consortium, 2017)

What can NURSES do?

* Find your local water quality experts, learn who they are and what they do, then share their work with your patients

* For me, this is Charleston Waterkeeper, a local non-profit whose "mission is to protect, promote, and restore the quality of Charleston's waterways while ensuring the public's right to swimmable, drinkable, fishable water." Find out more here: http://charlestonwaterkeeper.org/. Each Wednesday, the team tests the water in numerous places around the Charleston area and posts the results to social media for the public to better understand the issues impacting the water we drink, swim and fish in.

* Help friends, family, and patients understand and prepare for the effects that extreme weather and flooding may have of food and water quality.

* Teach patients that, due to stormwater runoff, everything we do on land (think - wash our cars, deciding to pick up pet waste, fertilize our lawns and crops, etc.) ends up in our waterways.

* Advocate for laws, regulations, and local representatives who will protect your area's water.

* Last month, I wrote an email to my Town Board opposing the addition of a new car wash, which was proposed to be built less that 20 feet from an intercoastal waterway, putting the health of local residents, visitors, and marine wildlife at risk. The proposal was denied.

* Implement clean energy and water solutions in your own life and home. Check out ANHE's toolkit for suggestions.

Resource for today’s Climate Message and where to find more information:
The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments’ Climate Change Toolkit: https://climateandhealthtoolkit.org/
The Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health. 2017. Medical Alert! Climate Change in Harming our Health. Retrieved from https://medsocietiesforclimatehealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/gmu_medical_alert_updated_082417.pdf.
Trtanj, Juli M. et al. 2016. US Global Change Research Program. Climate and Health Assessment Chapter 6: Water-Related Illness. Retrieved from https://health2016.globalchange.gov/water-related-illness.
World Health Organization. 2017. Drinking Water. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs391/en/.

May 4, 2018

I received my Daily Air Quality Forecast email from the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control on Wednesday morning and noticed something I hadn’t yet seen: YELLOW, which means that "Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution” (airnow.gov). l am lucky to live in a place (Charleston, SC) where air quality is typically in the green, or “good” range, but did you know that, according to the World Health Organization, 9 out of 10 people worldwide breath polluted air (WHO 2018)? Climate change causes increased ground ozone and particulate matter air pollution in many locations. Ground-level ozone, which is a key component of smog, is associated with numerous health problems, such as "diminished lung function, increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits for asthma, and increases in premature deaths” (NCA 2014). Also, a new collaboration of the Center for Climate Change Communications and Healthy Babies Bright Futures has released a report summarizing the science linking air pollution to neurological problems. It has been found that air pollution from fossil fuels is harmful both to the developing brains of children as well as the cognitive functioning of older adults (2018). We, as nurses, have a responsibility to bring attention to the health care needs of our patient populations, including the harmful effects of pollution on human health.

What can NURSES do?

Review and understand he science of air pollution and its effect on human health
Talk to your patients and communities about the harmful effects of air pollution
Suggest solutions, including advocating for clean energy regulations and rules concerning air pollution, pesticides, other chemicals, and more
Sign up on airnow.gov to receive daily air quality reports and teach patients to do the same. Make sure to help patients understand what each alert color means and how to react
Implement clean energy solutions in your personal home and life

Resource for today’s Climate Message and where to find more information:
airnow.gov
World Health Organization. 2018. WHO Global Urban Ambient Air Pollution Database (update 2018). Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/airpollution/data/cities/en/. National Climate Assessment. 2014. Human Health. Retrieved from: https://nca2014.globalchange.gov/report/sectors/human-health#statement-16518
Healthy Babies Bright Futures and George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication. 2018. The Link Between Fossil Fuels and Neurological Harm. (Attached)
The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments’ Climate Change Toolkit: https://climateandhealthtoolkit.org/

April 18, 2018

As part of my work representing APHA’s Public Health Nursing Section in the Nursing Collaborative on Climate Change and Health, my partner, Linda, and I have started a weekly Climate Message. Our hope is to help nurses and community members be more informed and involved in the topic of climate and health.

To reach more humans, I want to share these messages with all of you! Here’s week 1: -April 20, 2018-

Did you know that climate change, specifically increasing temperatures, too much or too little rain, and severe weather events, has a serious impact on the number and geographic range of disease-carrying vectors, like mosquitos, fleas, and ticks? As these insect carriers are moving to new areas, diseases not normally found in those areas can spread.
For example, the tick that carries Lymes disease is now reported in 45% of US counties, up from 30% in 1998.

What can NURSES do?
Know the facts
Talk about it with your friends, families, patients, and communities
Encourage others (and yourself) to wear appropriate clothing and repellant when participating in outdoor activities (even if it’s not “bug season” or “that vector doesn’t live here”)
Get involved in community initiatives that are driving positive change

Resource for today’s Climate Message and where to find more information: https://health2016.globalchange.gov/vectorborne-diseases
#climatechangeshealth #APHA #publichealth #publichealthnurse #climatechangeisreal #ecoamerica