Climate-Driven Extreme Weather Events: Australian Nurses’ and Midwives’ Experiences

Le résumé fourni par la source

Across the world, 2023 saw unprecedented high temperatures, with heat records broken across all continents1. Rising temperatures are driving changing weather patterns and having a catastrophic effect. Extreme weather events – including heatwaves, bushfires, droughts, heavy rains, severe storms, hurricanes, and cyclones – are escalating in intensity and frequency, and resulting in significant human, economic and environmental loss2. The impact of climate change on global health is undeniable3 and as extreme weather events escalate, healthcare systems face growing pressures. The direct health implications of these events are substantial, encompassing not only immediate injuries and fatalities but also long-term psychological, physical and social health issues. Extreme weather events have also revealed critical vulnerabilities in health emergency responses and infrastructure resilience4. Amid these challenges, nurses and midwives play a crucial role in emergency responses and broader health system adaptation to climate change. Their frontline experiences in addressing the health outcomes of climate-driven disasters position them to contribute to resilience and adaptation strategies. This report presents a series of case studies of nurses and midwives who have led or been actively involved in responding to a range of extreme weather events. Their inspirational leadership during the crisis situations portrayed will enable healthcare and educational organisations to re-imagine the role of nurses and midwives in preparing for and responding to climate driven disasters. The case studies were developed following interviews with nurses and midwives from four Australian States.

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