Climate Change Awareness: The Role of Health Providers

As trusted professionals in the eyes of the public, health providers are considered stewards of public health and safety.

Health providers are ethically bound to advance health holistically, and with climate change, this means translating information into advocacy. The effects of climate change call for the many roles that medical providers take on: first responder to disaster, risk educator of patients and public, and — in an almost exact reenactment of Florence Nightingale’s work — defender of clean water, nutritious food, and sanitation.

The scope of climate-related effects on human health is simultaneously as broad as global drought and as specific as increased incidence of skin cancers. Health providers are uniquely positioned to address the health implications of climate change, providing education within the context of direct patient care and speaking with authority on policy decisions that affect public health.

Climate Change and Human Harm

Scientists are still working to understand the full impact of climate change on human health; however, there are existing studies that show severe effects on human health as a result of environmental hazards. According to the National Institutes of Health, there are several key areas of concern regarding climate and health, and many opportunities for health providers to offer prevention and education.

THREATS TO RESPIRATORY HEALTH

Implications: Lung disease, allergies, and asthma will be worsened by longer allergy seasons and deteriorating air quality.

Health Provider Recommendations: Support staying inside on poor air quality days and remind vulnerable populations to adhere to medical treatment plans and medication.

VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES

Implications: Ticks and mosquitoes will be more active for longer and range farther.

Health Provider Recommendations: Encourage people to use bug repellent when outdoors or in any areas with insects. Monitor and record reports of disease outbreaks. Inform others about signs and symptoms of diseases and when to call a health care provider.

WEATHER-RELATED ILLNESS AND INJURY

Implications: Extreme temperature fluctuations affect outdoor laborers, children, pregnant women, and older adults and can cause pulmonary and cardiovascular problems and dehydration. In addition, increased particulate matter, ozone concentrations, and extreme weather events may trigger stress and respiratory issues that lead to heart disease.

Health Provider Recommendations: Educate about the risks of heat exposure. Ensure access to air conditioning for vulnerable or older adults and homeless populations. Also, encourage people to drink enough water throughout the day and not just when they feel thirsty.

MENTAL HEALTH AND STRESS DISORDERS

Implications: Extreme weather can be destructive to property and quality of life, often resulting in the loss of homes, belongings, and loved ones. Prolonged exposure to these stressful experiences can manifest psychologically as people try to navigate grief and loss with interrupted access to care.

Health Provider Recommendations: Encourage others to speak openly about their grief to reduce stigma. Identify gaps in mental health literacy and teach patients about signs and symptoms of mental health risks. In addition to educating, refer at-risk patients to a mental health provider as soon as possible.

Spreading the Word About Disaster Preparedness and Dangers

In a 2018 World Health Organization report on climate change and health,  experts state that “globally, the number of reported weather-related natural disasters has more than tripled since the 1960s.” For this reason, it’s essential that health providers inform their communities about disaster preparedness and dangers. The best time to get involved is before a disaster; therefore, it’s critical for providers to leverage any one-on-one time with patients to address holistic health and emergency concerns. Special attention should be paid to those who may be vulnerable in the wake of disasters. For example, this could include people with chronic conditions, physical disabilities, or respiratory diseases; infants and children; pregnant women; and older adults.

Thin Ice: The Life-Threatening Effects of Climate Change

Air Temperature Change

• Increase in heat exhaustion
• Spread of disease vectors among animals, insects, and people

Air Pollution

• Increased movement of airborne allergens and diseases
• Higher risk of respiratory illness  

Extreme Weather

• Chronic stress
• Geographic displacement
• Loss of loved ones and pets

Water Temperature Change

• Changes to coastal ecosystem health that will affect food supply and erosion
• Increased likelihood of extreme precipitation, drought, or flooding
• Water contamination due to harmful chemicals and pathogens

Food Security

• Malnutrition, especially for prenatal or early childhood development
• Exposure to pesticides and toxic contaminants
• Increase in harmful algal blooms

Source: Health Effects of Climate Change.  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2018. Accessed April 23, 2019.

All health providers are important voices in preemptively educating patients about disaster preparedness, but nurses specifically make up a crucial part of disaster response.

More than 20,000 licensed and student nurses serve the Red Cross in a variety of roles — some as first responders and CPR educators and others as supervisors and organizational managers.

While the effect of climate-related health issues increases alongside the shortage of nurses and other medical providers, there’s great reason for all providers to advocate for change.

A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats: Advocacy for Climate-Related Health Policy

Climate change may be politically polarizing, but illness and injuries seen by first responders and health providers are concrete outcomes and can translate into loss of life on a global scale.

In a 2018 report on climate change and health that accounted for continued economic growth and medical progress, the World Health Organization stated that “climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year between 2030 and 2050.” These fatalities are projected to come from the following climate-related health complications:

— 38,000 due to heat exposure in older adults

— 48,000 due to diarrhea

— 60,000 due to malaria

— 95,000 due to childhood undernutrition

Health providers can draw awareness to this dire need for attention at the policy and community levels. They can also share firsthand experience and research. This is an ethical duty that can result in widespread support of strong public health programs and climate justice.

How to Get Involved in Climate and Health Policy

In addition to in-person education with patients, health providers can do a variety of things to spread awareness about climate and health policy in their communities:

Leverage social media. Share articles with verified, evidence-based information on social channels. Use hashtags related to climate and health that make your posts easier to find. For example, #ActOnClimate, #Go100Percent, #Renewables, #SaveThePlanet, and #ClimateChange.

Continue your education. Request or attend an educational presentation from a trained professional, then collaborate with community organizations to educate people in your area. Volunteer with climate- or policy-focused organizations to gain perspective.

Participate in civic engagement. Call your representatives to let them know whether you support specific legislation. And always, vote in local and national elections.

Organizations for Further Reading or Involvement

If you are a health care provider looking to learn more about climate and health policy, you may wish to visit the websites of these organizations.

• National Wildlife Federation 
• Environmental Defense Fund 
• Alliance for Climate Education 
• Climate Adaption Mitigation E-Learning 
• Climate Change Education Partnership Alliance 
• Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments

Citation for this content: Nursing@Simmons, the online DNP program from the Simmons School of Nursing