Climate and Health Resources: IDAHO v>EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Climate change poses risks to human health. Already in the United States, we are seeing rising temperatures, increased frequency and intensity of some types of extreme weather, sea level rise, and other changes in weather and climate patterns. We are all vulnerable to the health impacts associated with climate change. However, these climate and health risks vary across the country. In the Northwest, climate change is expected to double the annual amount of land burned by wildfires by the end of the century. This and other climate impacts mean increasing risks to health in Idaho. Examples of risks and actions for Idaho residents include: - Rising temperatures and changing rain patterns will lead to more mosquitoes. Mosquito bites can transmit diseases like West Nile virus to humans. Learn how you can take action to protect against mosquitoes, such as: o Prepare: Get rid of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, o Prepare: Keep window and door screens in good condition. - More frequent and longer-lasting wildfires cause more emergency room visits for asthma, COPD, and other lung conditions. Learn how you can take action to protect against wildfires. o Prepare Keep your air-conditioning filter clean, and close the unit's fresh air intake, o Respond: Check local news and reports for information on air quality, visibility, and evacuation orders. - More floods will occur in some mountain watersheds. Floods can lead to illness, injury, and deaths. Learn how you can take action to protect against floods, such as: o Prepare Ask someone out-of-state to act as a "family contact" in case your family is separated. o Respond: Avoid driving or walking in or near flood waters, even after the flood or during cleanup. Learn more in the USGCRP Climate and Health Assessment. The examples of risks and actions provided in this document are not a comprehensive list. They provide users with illustrative impacts and resources for further information. Examples were selected based on relevance to the state or region and representation of a diversity of health threats. Selection does not imply ranking of severity of impacts nor prioritization of actions. The examples of impacts are based on "The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A Scientific Assessment," available at https://health2016.globalchange.gov, as well as the National Climate Assessment at http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/ such as: June 2016 ------- RESOURCES FOR IDAHO RESIDENTS Resource Topic Information Source Climate Change Impacts Learn more: What Climate Change Means for Idaho U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Learn more: National Climate Assessment: Northwest U.S. Global Change Research Program. 2014. Find Resources: EPA Region 10 (Pacific Northwest) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Public Health Information Find Resources: Idaho Department of Health and Welfare State of Idaho Find Resources: Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security State of Idaho June 2016 ------- |