| Protecting Our Children in a Changing Climate Children's Health Month Week 5 Increasing extreme weather events have caused rising floods, wildfires, and high heat events. Children are especially vulnerable to the health impacts of these emergencies. Their developing bodies, behaviors, and exposure risks require special attention to keep them safe and healthy. Being prepared starts with being informed about the health risks. Learn more about the health impacts of climate change to children and to maternal health.  Floods Flooding can cause mold growth on water-damaged items which can trigger respiratory distress, especially in children with pre-existing conditions. Flooding can also contaminate tap water and take out power. Extreme Heat Due to their smaller bodies and higher fluid loss, children are at greater risk of dehydration and heat exhaustion. Signs of heat exhaustion include flushed skin, dizziness, fatigue, and muscle cramps. Wildfires and Smoke Events Children's developing lungs are especially sensitive to smoke and ash. Symptoms of exposure include coughing, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. | By staying informed and prepared, you can protect children and vulnerable family members during environmental emergencies. Monitor local health alerts, heat warnings, and air quality reports. Learn more about how to keep kids safe: Protecting Children's Health During and After Natural Disasters. | | Resources Spotlight Kids and Climate Health Zone Check out the Zone to find information on how climate change can affect different climate stressors and life stages, and read stories about:  - A toddler who is struggling with stress after his home is flooded and the steps that can be taken to mitigate the risks associated with flooding.
- A teenager who is dealing with extreme heat during practice and what the teenager can do to stay healthy.
- A pregnant woman who is exposed to wildfire smoke in her area and what resources she can use to keep herself and her baby safe.
View all these stories and more at the Kids and Climate Health Zone. Climate Change and Children's Health Report This national-scale, multi-sector report quantifies projected health effects associated with extreme heat, air quality, changing seasons, flooding, and infectious diseases. Where possible, it also considers the extent to which these risks disproportionately fall on children from overburdened populations. Read the report and report summaries. Schools as Cleaner Air and Cooling Centers Factsheets Schools across the United States are facing the impacts of climate change, including severe health consequences from disasters like heat waves and wildfires. These factsheets, also available in Spanish, can help guide important school partners on how to make schools safer during these increasingly frequent and more severe climate change impacts. Get the factsheets. | | | | |
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