The health of everyone is increasingly threatened by climate change. As emergency care practitioners in Australia and the United States, we and our international colleagues are already observing the effects of climate change on the patients we meet.
However, a greater number of us will experience climatic emergencies, such as flooding, fires, and severe weather. And when the time comes, we may all take proactive steps to safeguard our health. Here are some things to be aware of and take action on.
What impact is climate change having on health?
People are turning to emergency rooms as a result of a variety of climate-related health issues, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke, air pollution-related asthma, infectious diseases linked to flooding, and shifting biomes that cause ticks, mosquitoes, and other pests to relocate. Hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, and floods often make the news because of the physical and mental damage they cause.
Many people find themselves suddenly without access to their regular healthcare providers and pharmacies, sometimes for extended periods of time. Individuals with complicated medical conditions, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, members of marginalised groups, and residents of disadvantaged regions frequently bear the brunt of the costs of extreme weather.
For instance, a woman recently visited an emergency room in Adelaide, Australia, complaining of a headache, weariness, and nausea—all signs of heat exhaustion—on a day when the temperature reached 110 degrees Fahrenheit. She explained to the medical staff that she had just walked two hours in the heat to get food because she didn't have a car or transportation. The only way she had to get food for her family was to venture outside, despite the media's health cautions that day telling her to stay indoors where it was cool. Well-intentioned public health warnings do little to lower the risk of sickness during harsh weather for this woman and many others. Access to housing, transportation, and other socioeconomic variables that put people at risk of poor health outcomes must be addressed in order to achieve safe and equitable health outcomes.
Extreme weather is a factor in widespread problems with health and safety.
Extreme weather linked to climate change is increasingly resulting in sporadic access to medical care, which increases the risk of later sickness and death. Extreme weather can disrupt vital infrastructure, such as the electrical grid, making it impossible for people who depend on home medical equipment to use it. A dialysis centre or emergency department may close as a result, and care may be provided more slowly in institutions that remain open.
People who are displaced as a result of a fire or hurricane may find it difficult to access medical care or essential medications like insulin, dialysis, therapies for high blood pressure, and heart medications. Especially in people who already have heart failure, lung disease, or kidney disease, these things can make chronic conditions worse and even cause death.
So if you’ve got an urge to pack your bags and head off to some exotic destination to find the best, most amazing diving sites the world has to offer, you’ve come to the right place. From scuba trips organized from the comfort of award-winning cruise ships to night dives from remote islands, these are some of the best locations for diving on the planet.
The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most iconic dive sites on the planet, a stunning natural wonder of the world. Made up of over 2,900 individual reefs, 600 islands, and a unique range of underwater habitats, it is hard to describe what a special place this is. Offering a truly unparalleled diving experience, the Great Barrier Reef is a bucket list destination for almost every diver and boasts a mind-blowing array of fish, corals, invertebrates, and marine mammals. There is nowhere more exciting or varied to dive on Earth, and due to climate change's impact on this remarkable natural habitat, it is worth going sooner rather than later.
Red Sea, Egypt
The Red Sea in Egypt has dive sites for every diver. From dramatic walls and technical swim-throughs to coral gardens, underwater caves, and ancient wrecks, there are so many sites to discover off the coast of Egypt. With a gorgeous climate year-round, warm water, and great visibility, this body of water offers stunning dive sites for both experienced and beginner divers. It is also a lovely and fascinating place for a vacation in general, making it great for non-diving members of the family.
Komodo, Indonesia
The Komodo National Park in Indonesia is a UNESCO World Heritage site, spread out across three islands; Komodo, Padar, and Rinca. It is home to one of the world’s most diverse marine ecosystems, with over 1,000 species of fish and over 2,500 species of invertebrates. It offers beautiful dives for beginners (including manta ray cleaning stations), but the true excitement is for fans of marine biology, as the biodiversity here is truly stunning.
Cocos Island, Costa Rica
Lying just off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, Cocos Island is an uninhabited speck boasting a rugged, rocky coastline that offers up some of the most spectacular diving in South America, and maybe even the world. Caves, walls, and drop-offs are the specialty here, alongside large pelagics like manta rays, whales, and whale sharks, as well as another megafauna like hammerhead sharks and dolphins. It has been protected as a Costa Rican National Park since 1978 which is why its marine life is so abundant and diverse and offers a truly special diving experience in a delightfully remote location.
Silver and gold ornaments play a central role in Irish jewelry. This stems from the fact that in both Pagan and Christian times, legendary tales seem to find a way to mention them as extraordinary pieces of individual décor and ornamentation. Yet, these unique pieces were worn mostly by the upper classes, and evidence of this has been found in several regions of Ireland. You can find an extensive collection of these beautifully designed ornamental pieces in the National Museum of Ireland, where you might be amazed by their loveliness and creativity. It is common to have pieces combine precious metals with fine stones and to have them go from the simplest to the most elaborate. Click here to shop or to read further on the beauty of traditional Irish jewelry pieces.
In these pieces of jewelry, it is easy to appreciate the Irish interlaced work, which reflects the long history of the Irish people. They are a true representation of the way both designers and artists poured their hearts into every item in which metals and stones were so artfully combined. You can easily confirm this by observing how even the simplest pieces include parallel lines, circles, zigzags, and spirals, figures tracing back to Pagan times, long before Christian influence reached Irish land.
In psychology, manipulation is a behavior designed to exploit, control, or otherwise influence others for personal gain. The specific behaviors included in the term's definitions vary based on culture and whether they are applied to the general population or in clinical settings.
Oftentimes, we make excuses for others, which is commendable, but knowing when to stop is crucial. Manipulation impacts how you feel about yourself, how you perceive life, and how you interact with others. It is vital that you do not allow anyone to manipulate you, and if you are curious about the signs you are being manipulated, listed below are five of them.