Connecting the dots between global warming and youth health promotion

Global Warming has become an increasingly important issue for global and public health. It is an environmental health issue that presents a danger to nature, wildlife, and human health. The Greenhouse Effect produced by Global Warming has an impact on youth health. Physicians have written on the projected effects of climate change on public

health, but little has been written specifically on anticipated effects of climate change on children's health. Children represent a particularly vulnerable group

that is likely to suffer disproportionately from both direct and indirect adverse health effects of climate change. Anticipated direct health consequences of climate change include injury and death from extreme weather events and natural disasters, increases in climate-sensitive infectious diseases, increases in air pollution–related illness, and more heat-related, potentially fatal, illness. Within all of these categories, children have increased vulnerability compared with other groups. Youth health problems influenced by climate warming include:

1. Increased susceptibility to injury/death during floods, hurricanes, tornadoes,

; Posttraumatic stress, loss of caregiver, disrupted education, displaced populations.

2. Damage to lung function and growth including exacerbations of asthma and allergies from increased air pollution.

3. Increased waterborne, foodborne illness such as diarrhea, dehydration, malnutrition; increased vector borne infections such as malaria, West Nile virus…

4. Heat exhaustion, heat stroke – increased exposure and vulnerability to excessive heat.

This advocacy and health education presentation will illustrate the connection between Global Warming and Child/Adolescent Health. Integration of the National Health Education Standards into Global Warming Youth Health Instructional Modules will be highlighted.