Meteorologists report that the 2022 wildfire season could be one of the worst ever.Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires¹severe drought, rising temperatures, and high winds are causing wildfires that are more widespread, hotter, and burning faster in parts of the United States. Wildfires can also further accelerate climate change through greenhouse gas emissions and forest loss.¹

As is the case with other consequences of climate change, such as more intense hurricanes, extreme heat, and deteriorating water quality, pregnant women and newborns are particularly vulnerable to wildfire-related health hazards.² Wildfire smoke exposes you to toxic gases, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter. In pregnant women, these exposures are associated with an increased risk of gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes.³ A condition that can pose long-term health risks to the mother. Exposure to wildfire smoke or its components increases the risk of preterm and low birth weight babies.¹ Results that may also have lifelong health effects. Communities displaced by wildfires can disrupt access to health care, including prenatal and neonatal care, as well as access to social support and other services, and reduce the health of pregnant and postnatal populations and newborns. may have a detrimental effect on² These consequences are disproportionately borne by marginalized populations and could have long-lasting effects across generations if wildfire-affected newborns suffer poor parental health. I have.^Four

Failure to fight climate change poses a significant health threat to the entire population. We believe that reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing underlying problems by enhancing carbon sinks should be a global priority. Given their increased vulnerability to climate change-related hazards, the protection of pregnant women and newborns requires special consideration. More research is needed on interventions that can mitigate the impacts of climate change on these groups, but we believe action must begin now to mitigate these impacts. Over the past 25 years, our work has focused on emerging infectious diseases, highlighting the need for special consideration of preparedness and response with a focus on pregnant women and newborns. We believe the lessons learned from that research can be applied to efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change on these people.

beginning, Preparedness and response plans to address the impacts of climate change should be a priority for public health agencies and health systems, including plans specifically focused on pregnant women and newborns.As part of investments in pandemic flu preparedness in the 2000s, public health leaders emphasized efforts to target vulnerable populations, including pregnant women. In April 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hosted a meeting of infectious disease, public health, obstetrics, and neonatal care experts and key partners to discuss and share their knowledge on special pandemic-related considerations for pregnant women. identified gaps in Develop public health approaches that can be pursued in the event of a pandemic. Issues such as prevention and treatment, vaccine use, non-pharmaceutical interventions, health care system planning for prenatal and obstetric care, and communication were discussed.^Five Plans that emerged from this meeting facilitated the response to the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic.

For example, pre-pandemic debates about the benefits and risks of using antivirals in pregnant women with influenza have led to the CDC recommendation to treat all pregnant women with known or suspected H1N1 influenza with oseltamivir. . Reduced ICU admissions and deaths. Additionally, the planning process brought together a wide range of experts and partners, many of whom continued to work together in subsequent responses to emerging infectious diseases such as Ebola, Zika and the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

As the impacts of climate change are increasing in frequency and intensity, we believe that planning specifically for the needs of pregnant women needs to be developed now. Such plans may include recommendations for patient-, health-system-, and community-level interventions to mitigate these impacts. An example of an intervention that could have an immediate impact is improving prenatal care by making electronic medical records accessible to all pregnant patients, especially those living in areas at high risk of extreme weather events. We can help you move to a new location. In case of confusion.

We also need to develop better methods to monitor the impact of climate change-related events on pregnant women and newborns. can be adapted. For example, after perceived delays in the implementation of his 2009 H1N1 flu-related study results, British researchers found that several of the emerging infectious diseases, including his one system that focused on pregnancy, I developed a surveillance system and put it into “hibernation”. future pandemic. The program was launched early in the Covid-19 pandemic and provided timely data on the impact of Covid-19 on her during her pregnancy.^Five

We also need to address the kinds of data collection challenges seen when affected people were scattered across the United States after Hurricane Katrina. Among evacuees from infectious disease-affected areas, using a system that uses mobile phone technology similar to v-safe (the CDC’s surveillance system for monitoring the safety of Covid-19 vaccines) can collect information about pregnancy complications and neonatal issues. severe weather phenomenon. Surveillance systems are also needed to identify pregnant women at particularly high risk of harm, such as those living in low-income areas and members of racial or ethnic groups who tend to be disproportionately affected by climate change-related events. Interventions can be tailored to those at highest risk. Strategies to reduce harm to pregnant people from these events should be monitored for effectiveness.

Finally, it is imperative that maternal and child health professionals work with climate scientists to address the impacts of climate change. Recently, in response to the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic and Zika virus outbreak, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) launched a working group (Vaccinations, Infectious Diseases, and Public Health) focused on reducing infectious diseases. Preparedness Expert Working Group). Morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases. The ACOG also maintains an associated website (http://www.immunizationforwomen.org) with Ob/Gyns updates and works closely with the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization to Provides information on vaccine recommendations for pregnant women. These collaborative efforts have facilitated the development and dissemination of recommendations for her Covid-19 diagnosis, treatment and vaccination during pregnancy. Obstetric care providers also need to be educated about the impact of climate change on patient health. By adding this content to medical school curricula, obstetrics and gynecology training, and certification maintenance activities, clinicians will be able to counsel patients on ways to reduce risks related to climate change, and help address climate change and its issues. You can become proficient at advocating. Health damage.

Climate change is a major threat to public health. National and global leaders urgently need to work together to limit the fossil fuel emissions that drive it. However, the impacts of climate change are already threatening human health, and pregnant women and newborns are at particularly high risk of related harm. It is important to minimize adverse effects on other vulnerable populations. The health of future generations depends on what we do today.