The dangers of the smoke of health fires

Last hour of fires in Spain: the big spotlights continue active and without control

Extremadura recommends using FFP2 masks for fires

The Spanish Society of Epidemiology (See) has warned on Tuesday that The smoke of forest fires that affect Spain is associated with Mortality increases due to respiratory and cardiovascular causes.

This has been shown by society, which wanted to express its concern about the wave of forest fires and high temperatures that affect Spain and that, for the moment, They have already razed more than 300,000 hectares. In addition, the See (@seepidemiology) points out that These fires emit highly toxic particles that can reach thousands of kilometers away and whose effects are related to hospital income, premature births and even low birth weight.

It also warns about the food security risk and malnutritionaccess to drinking wateras well as the risk that these fires suppose to Outdoor working people and/or for those who work in the extinction of fires.

A real and growing threat to public health “

The scientific society emphasizes that certain meteorological phenomena such as Floods, forest fires or heat waves can affect mental health. In this sense, since the SEE they remember that Spain has also lived a 16 -day heat wave, one of the longest in history, and has put the health of the most vulnerable population at risk.

“Forest fires, in addition, contribute to depopulationin areas already affected by this phenomenon, which also has direct consequences on the health of the population, such as displacements and uprooting, social losses, or less access to health care services, among others, “he adds.

For See, the convergence between great magnitude fires, deforestation and climate change constitutes “A real and growing threat to public health“. Regardless of the origin of the fires, the See warns that climate change enhances its virulence and makes its extinction difficult. In fact, it points out that forest fires will increase 30 percent by 2050 and 50 percent by the end of the century due to the climate crisis, according to a study of the United Nations Program for the Environment.

“The fires and other extreme meteorological phenomena, which will be increasingly frequent, are A global threat which requires immediate preparation and response, “says the SEE, while remembering The importance of having tools and action plans that integrate the public health perspective.

Protection of the most vulnerable

That is why they call Reinforce, also from public health, surveillance, prevention and protection of the population with the highest risk: older people, minors, homeless or at housing risk, or with chronic diseases. “Given this and other catastrophes, Attention to people in vulnerability should be a priorityguaranteeing access to medications, adequate food and psychological support, “he adds.

To do this, the SEE also highlights the importance of having professionals trained in field epidemiology and health emergency responseto achieve rapid and effective actions that allow protecting public health and mitigating the impact of these phenomena on citizenship. All this, from a global health approach (One Health) And without forgetting The need to bet on investing in prevention, the professionalization of citizen intervention and education and awareness teams.

“Climate change does not only affect a forest, a region or a region of a country: It must be approached globally and thinking about the coming generations. This requires planning, organization, monitoring, professionalization and investment in resources, in order to have a Adequate prevention, management and recovery“It ends.