Human health, heat waves and wildfires in South America in the context of climate change
Keywords:
bush fires, curriculum, forest fires, heat waves, health professionals, one health, public health, South AmericaAbstract
Introduction: Heat waves and forest fires, exacerbated by climate change, have intensified in recent decades, threatening public health and human, animal, and environmental well-being.
Objective: To discuss the threats of heat waves and forest fires to the health of the South American population, presenting evidence of their effects and providing recommendations so that health professionals can receive academic training on these topics.
Opinion: Heat waves significantly increase mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Forest fires, on the other hand, cause widespread destruction and release harmful pollutants into the air, posing a severe threat to respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological health. Prolonged exposure to these extreme events can lead to the development of chronic diseases and exacerbate pre-existing conditions. The current health infrastructure in many areas of South America needs to be equipped to handle the magnitude of these events, underscoring the urgent need for updated training curricula for health professionals.
Conclusions: Implementing effective mitigation and adaptation strategies to protect the population and strengthen health systems is of utmost relevance. Equally crucial is health professionals’ pivotal role in mitigating these events’ health impacts, underscoring the need to update their training.
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