Typhoon Krathon approaches Taiwan on Oct. 2. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 15 (Korea Bizwire) – As climate change continues to intensify, a new study warns that emergency medical services worldwide are woefully unprepared for its impacts. Despite the looming crisis, few countries have assessed the scale of the threat or developed plans to address it.
International emergency medicine experts are sounding the alarm, calling for increased awareness and preparedness at both national and global levels. They argue that the world is facing a health emergency due to the lack of readiness for climate change’s effects on emergency medical services.
The findings were presented on October 13 at a special session of the European Society for Emergency Medicine (EUSEM) in Copenhagen, Denmark. Led by Luis García-Castrillo from Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla in Spain, the research team surveyed focus groups comprising emergency and disaster medicine specialists from 36 countries.
Dr. Roberta Petrino, head of emergency medicine at Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale in Switzerland and co-chair of the special session, emphasized the urgent need for greater awareness among policymakers, healthcare providers, medical professionals, and the general public regarding climate change’s impact on emergency medical services.
The study, conducted between February 15 and March 15, involved 42 focus groups across 13 global regions. Participants were asked about their perceptions of climate change, its severity, impacts on emergency medicine, and necessary mitigation measures.
On a scale of 0 to 9, experts rated the severity of climate change’s current and future impact on healthcare systems and emergency medicine at an average of 7 points, indicating high concern.
However, only 21% of respondents reported that their region or country had assessed the effects of climate change on emergency medical services. A mere 38% said any measures had been taken to prepare for these impacts.
The study revealed a significant lack of governmental action, with 62% of respondents stating that their governments or policymakers had never evaluated climate change’s impact on emergency services. Furthermore, 55% reported that no steps had been taken to prepare for these effects.
Emergency medicine experts identified air pollution, floods, and heatwaves as the most significant climate-related risks. Secondary concerns included extreme cold, wildfires, and vector-borne diseases such as malaria.
Focus groups from high-income countries were most worried about heatwaves, extreme cold, and wildfires. They anticipated increased patient numbers as the primary risk and highlighted education and strategic planning as crucial mitigation strategies.
In low and middle-income countries, focus groups identified climate change’s impact on food production and disruption of health services as the most severe risks.
Regionally, Australia, New Zealand, Southwest Pacific islands, Eastern Europe, South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Central Asia were expected to be most affected. Australia, Central Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa faced higher risks of vector-borne diseases, wildfires, extreme weather events, and food shortages compared to other regions.
Dr. Petrino emphasized that climate change affects both wealthy and poor countries across all regions. “The entire world is facing a climate emergency, and healthcare services are also in a state of emergency,” she warned.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
