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Health impacts of climate change

Climate change has been declared a public health crisis by the World Health Organisation, Australian Medical Association and most Australian Specialist Medical Colleges. Climate change is first and foremost a health problem. The impacts on human health can be explained through the climate’s impact on the environment we interact with, as shown in the graphic below.

source: https://www.cdc.gov/climateandhealth/

Our surf life savers are vulnerable to the same health problems as the rest of the community, however our physical competition and lifesaving activities on the beach, put our members at a higher risk.

Hundreds of people die prematurely every year in Australia due to the global warming which has already occurred (Vicedo-Cabrera et al (2021) Nature Climate Change). In addition, the PM2.5 emitted by burning fossil fuels has been estimated to cause 10 million premature deaths per annum globally (Vohra et al 2021, Environmental Research).

Heat stress is more prevalent in extremes of age and outdoor athletes.

Renal impairment has been demonstrated in outdoor workers, exposed to higher temperatures.

Hot weather leads to more heart attacks. Heart attack increases in Melbourne by 38% if 3 consecutive days average Temperature  > 27C or 10% increase if daily average temperature >30˚C

Premature births and stillbirths   ~  increase 5% for every 1˚C rise in ambient temperature (BMJ 2020;371:m3811). At what stage of pregnancy should our members avoid outdoor competition and lifesaving?

Mental health admissions increased by 7.3% during heat waves, based on Adelaide data.

For more detailed information on the health impacts of climate change read the Doctor’s for the Environment Australia report: “How climate change affects your health” (August 2021)

  • Climate Action Motions for your AGM & Director Duties
  • Electric ATV on patrol?
  • When will we have an electric IRB or jetski?
  • Line in the sand: No future for fossil fuel sponsors in surf lifesaving
  • Socials: Contact and collaborate with us

Sustain.Surf

1 week 1 day ago

E Class Outboards we like the look of your turbo jet electric outboard on the back of an old IRB. Let's get it made 'lifesaver

World first electric turbo jet outboard

6kW with greater speeds than 6kW regular electric. 12 knots with one up.

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Sustain.Surf

1 week 1 day ago

Great to see the The Climate Council ramping up pressure on Surf Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving WA to remove fossil fuel sponsorship

Call Time on Fossil Fuel Sponsorships | Climate Council

From flooded festivals, to concerts cancelled by bushfire threats and unsafe heat disrupting play at the tennis, footy and more, climate change is wreaking havoc on the activities and events we love. Meanwhile, polluting fossil fuel giants are using these events to buy community goodwill and distrac...

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Sustain.Surf

2 weeks 6 days ago

The Guardian has a great article on the issues with Fossil fuel sponsorship of #woodsidenippers. Let’s do the right thing by our kids and find

‘Walking billboard’ for Woodside: parents want end to fossil fuel company sponsorship of WA Nippers

New campaign supported by Greenpeace urges Surf Life Saving WA to scrap $5m naming rights deal

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Sustain.Surf

3 weeks 16 hours ago

2 years ago we started having the public discussion about Nippers being used as billboards for fossil fuel proliferation, after behind the scenes conversations were

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Sustain.Surf

3 weeks 16 hours ago

It’s going to be a hot summer on the beach. Check out some of the health risks for outside sports at sustain.surf/health-impacts-of-climate-change/

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Sustain.Surf

3 weeks 1 day ago

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Sustain.Surf

3 weeks 2 days ago

Ahead of the upcoming season it's time to see how your club is set up to deal with the risks and opportunities that climate change

Surf Club Sustainability & Adaptation Checklist - Sustain Surf

Why should clubs act? All surf clubs need to consider urgent action on climate change as it effects the health of members, changes surf conditions and puts club infrastructure at risk. Many club constitutions will demand this or will reflect SLSA’s constitutional objectives which include: Y) ensur...

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Sustain.Surf

1 month 2 weeks ago

How we deal with climate change will affect our beaches, infrastructure and communities.

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Sustain.Surf

1 month 3 weeks ago

Kick the habit. Fossil fuels need to be rapidly wound back for community safety & health. Using sport to promote companies who continue to expand

Pressure mounts on Dockers to give Woodside sponsorship the heave ho

High-profile West Australian organisations have left fossil fuel partnerships recently. Now fans are questioning whether Freo will kick its Woodside habit.

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Sustain.Surf

1 month 3 weeks ago

unsealed4x4.com.au/electric-converted-landcruiser-attempts-to-drive-under-darwin-harbour-7-kilometres-in-length-and-up-to-30-metres-deep/ If they can manage an EV underwater, 30m deep, then I reckon we shouldn't have too much trouble waterproofing an electric IRB ...

Electric converted LandCruiser attempts to drive under Darwin Harbour - 7 kilometres in length, and up to 30 metres deep!

Engineering an old Toyota LandCruiser to drive for seven kilometres under Darwin Harbour. At depths of up to 30 metres.

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